the Reign of Britannicus Part 1
Sorry for taking so long with the update various real life things have interfered with me completing the update. So this is first real updater (the last one being something of prologue). So please comment (I love to hear from you guys it gives me motivation to write this) and enjoy.
Britannicus (Tiberius Claudius Caesar Britannicus) [56 AD-74 AD]
Emperor Britannicus
The reign of Britannicus began with one of the bloodiest civil wars in its history. The war know as Nero’s war claimed the lives of 400 000 people. Nero had been in exile in Parthia biding his time waiting for his chance, keeping in contact with Otho, and Lucius Caesennius Paetus convincing them to put him on the throne. Paetus went east to meet with a rebellious Galba who felt he had been shafted by Clauidius and told him that he to gain his revenge against the family by joining him, he accepted though historian often say that he would have killed Nero and Otho to gain the throne if he won. Britannicus was crowned amongst pomp and fanfare, but within days their had been reports of Nero appearing in Antioch causing a huge revolt claiming himself to be the emperor and that he would bring a new age of greatness. Many legions defected him those that didn’t either fled or where killed.
Nero the usurper
Otho and Paetus launched an invasion of loyalist Anatolia crushing the loyalist with ease. Britannicus grabbed the legions in Italia and Pannoia and head south taking command himself and went to try to meet with the exiled governor of Syria Corublo who had with him three legions. He orders that most of the legions in Gaul, Britain, and Iberia come down to the Mediterranean to sail to Egypt. But Galba and the Iberia refused and instead joined Nero and began to march to cut off Gallic legions off at the Alps beginning his famous Alpine campaign.
Galba
Vitellus governor of a major province in Gaul headed south with 4 legions to meet Galba armies. The battle of Vindonnisa while hiding a cavalry force in the woods lured Vitellus up the hill and stroke with the cavalry trapping and encircling him killing Vitellus and destroying 2 legions. The rest flee the battlefield. With this battle he is able to cut off Rome from its strong armies in the North. The loyalist regrouped and the army of Gaul lead by general Vespasian, and coordinating through spies with his Son Titus who commanded the Italian armies coordinated a attack on Galba army from two sides. The resulting battle is called the Bergintrum and it turned the tide of the war in the West. The battle in the beginning was going well for Galba, but it turned on him when he committed his cavalry to charge the flanks, he was meet by wall pilums devastating a routing his cavalry. The Vespasian legions began to turn inwards on his flanks, at this time Titus troops arrived and took out the reserves and massive rout began and Galba fled all the way to Hispania.
The Battle of Bergintrum
Vespasian and his now growing army followed him to the city of Tarraco, which he besieged. He then orders Seutonius to pacify the countryside then join Praetorian Prefect Burrus in Africa. Titus at this time was order back East to assist with the campaigns there. After a long siege 1 yr siege Tarraco was taken with a final assault on its citadel, but only to discover that Galba had escaped south through a secret passage. The final battle in West occurred in the dying days of the war. Galba had regrouped and gathers the last of his legion to defeat Vespasian. The battle of Acci was a quick affair the two legions of Galba where surrounded and killed by loyalist army, and Galba is killed. Vespasian then heads east to join in on the Egyptian campaign
Vespasian the Victory in the west
The Eastern Front
The Eastern Front is where the majority of the war was fought. Britannicus led the armies despite protest from the senate, those fear where quieted by Burrus. (Quote from the saga of Civil disputa by Tacitus)”Britannicus, is the future, for Rome, for Man. Never have I seen a man so wise beyond his years, with energy of 4 men. His spark in his eye means nothing but greatness for Rome, so let him fight, let him prove to the gods he is worthy of their gifts” (Burrus to the senate). Weeks earlier Generals Otho and Paetus invaded and occupied the entirety of Anatolia, and began to invade Greece and Thrace. Britannicus haste fully gathers the entirety of the eastern legions in the Balkans. Otho and Paetus advanced appeared to be unstoppable Athens, Thessalonica, and Byzantium all fell. A quote from Seutonius annuals of Britannicus about the advance of Neron forces “as the great cities of Athens and Thessalonica feel, Nero partied, he went to drunken orgies performed for the people in Athens in a play and acted most uncivil, when a man refused to obey him he had flogged to death in the middle of streets and laughed as the poor man died. As Larissa was taken, a fire broke out a Nero dressed as the emperor took out his lyre a play a song, refusing to help the poor people.”
Nero during the burning of Larissa
Their advance reached all the way to Moesia and Illyricum before battle was made. Paetus decided to head north and besiege the city of Singidum where the former governor of Syria now General Corbulo was, trapping him and his legions in the city. Hearing this Britannicus headed there to relive him. The resulting Battle was the first example of Britannicus military prowess. He arrived just as the Paetus was launching a assault use quick and fat auxiliary cavalry took out the Onagers and Ballistas and drew a large section of the army to chase them, right into a wooded area where Britannicus launched his ambush catching the rather large division of troops of guard destroying them utterly. Paetus then committed the majority of his troops to fighting the newly appeared army. This allowed Corbulo to repel the assault and set up his troops in Paetus rear flank. Britannicus kept Paetus distracted till Corbulo struck the rear causing a massive rout, Paetus flees south to Naissus. With the Corbulo force regroup and re-supplied Britannicus rushes towards Otho Army at Narnoa, the Battle there was a victory for Britannicus and Otho takes discretion as the better part of valor and retreats south to Stobi to regroup with reinforcements. Britannicus then begins his siege of Naisuss, which would last till august of 58 AD. During this time Corbulo was defeated by Otho at the battle of Stobi using the high ground and the very effective use of cavalry defeated Corublo.
Key Neron General Otho
Otho begins to try to cut off Britannicus from the rest of Rome by keeping in Naisuss area. The siege becomes desperate as Britannicus begins to become besieged and is assaulted by both sides from the outside by Otho,and Paetus as a result he uses the same technique that Caser used at Alesia.
Seige of Naisuss
During one of these assaults Paetus is killed by arrow to throat, shortly afterward Britannicus is able to take the city. But the young Emperor is still trapped. Corbulo who retreated north is now able to meet up with Titus with reinforcements from the East and defeats Otho at the Battle of Docleau.Titus by using his fresh troops is able to flank Otho army from both sides causing a massive rout all the way to Asia Minor. The rest of Greece quickly is reclaimed by Britannicus. Titus launchs an invasion of Asia minor and is able to defeat the disorganized defending the Ioanian coast at Ephesus. Otho decided to regroup at the city of Mazaka gathering with him all of the legions in the Roman east still held by Nero forces. This new force was bigger than armies of Britannicus and Titus put together. Britannicus seeing this as major danger decided to attack before the army got to large. The resulting battle would be the highlight of his military career. The Battle of Mazaka would define the fate of the empire. With a small force Britannicus set them selves up on a hill with a forest to the left and the Anti-Tarsus mountains to his back, and a small river in front of him. Otho had hoped to use his overwhelming numbers to his effect but with so many natural barriers forces them and has to cross in a narrow spot a cross the creek while crossing Britannicus attacks with the majority of the forces, and slowly begins to push the still crossing army. The tide of the battle slowly began to turn in favor when a small opening presented it self in the center. Taking his cavalry charged the small opening causing a huge rout. The flanks turn inwards and the troops having nowhere to go where pushed back into the river where most drowned.
Emperor Britannicus at the battle of Mazaka
The army rushed into the camp and captured the pretender Nero who was foolish enough to join the army and what was thought to be an assured victory. In short time the emperor has Nero executed for treason. There is famous scene written by the historian Tactius. “When the praetors and the emperor came to executed Nero, they found him lying on the bed pouting like a child. And said, “so it is time, the time where a great artist dies”, he reaches for a dagger and attempted to stab the emperor but the emperor reacts to quicker than Nero can attack and stabs Nero in the throat, saying No, Brother, a monster dies today”. With Nero death the civil war for most part ceased.
Nero before his death
There was a brief movement to place Otho on the throne. But Otho wanted to avoid more blood a committed suicide. A most noble for the man who more less fought the civil war as described by Martial "Although the goddess of civil warfare was still in some doubt, And mighty Otho had perhaps still a chance of winning, He renounced fighting that would have cost much blood, And with sure hand pierced right through his breast. By all means let Cato in his life be greater than Julius Ceaser himself; in his death was he greater than Otho?”. When Britannicus found his body a few days later he gave him a proper Roman funeral, and latter in his life called him his most, noble and toughest opponent he ever faced. During all of this time Burrus and Seutonius had made quick work with forces in Africa defeating them at the Siege of Carthage, and the battles, of Utica, Apllonian, and pushing north in Judea when Otho committed suicide. Thus with Otho death on May 14th 59 AD the Civil War had ended, but it was no means the end of the fighting Britannicus had left to do.
British war
While the bloody civil war erupted across the empire, the queen of Iceni took her opportunity and rebels against the Romans. The majority of the legions where off fighting in the civil war. As a result Bouddica queen Iceni conquered almost all of Roman Britain and proclaimed herself Queen of all the Britons. The refuges retreated to the last stronghold of roman power in Britain a enclave in Lemanis led by the Acting legate Gneaus Julius Agricola (who will play a key role in Rome’s future) who had been able to resist all attempts to destroy him. His legion the Legio XX Valeria Victrix would become famous for their Bravery and become one of the most important and well-trained legions in roman history.
Gneaus Agricola
Determined not to allow the legacy of his father fall he gather the very experienced legion that fought in the civil war promising new lands in Britain, appointing the proven generals Vespasian, and Seutonius to command the three armies. And choose the very prominent senator a supporter Piso, and his dear friend Titus as consuls and regents while he was away giving them power to rule in his stead, (he would later make this system more official later in his reign and it would become popular with other emperors), and marries the daughter of Vespasian, Domitilla (a what is reported to be a very happy marriage). General Corbulo was left in the east to quell revolts. The British Wars began for Britanniucs with the pitched battle of Lemanis. Britannicus landed in Lemanis to reveal Agricola force as Vespasian, and Seutonius invaded other parts of the island. With the fresh numbers (which are not know to the Britons) easily defeat Bouddica army.
Queen Bouddica of the Britons
Agricola for his bravery and leadership skills is promoted to legate and made a patrician; his legion is absorbed into Britannicus army. Vesepasian is quickly able to catch up with Boudicca army at a place called Watling Street. Here he delivers the Britons a crushing defeat, splitting the army in two and killing one of her daughters. Dobunni chieftain Vosenius takes one half of the force and heads north to Wales, while Bouddica heads north across the border to regroup. Within weeks after the victory at Watling Street Vespasian defeats Vosenius at Canovium, he too flees across the border.
Statue of Bouddica in her war chariot
During this time Britannicus enters a destroyed, and slowly rebuilding London and treated like a hero. He vows to push the Britons into the sea. Reorganizing his force he prepares for an invasion northwards dividing the armies into three prongs. The right would be Britannicus’s as he would fight Queen Bouddica, Vespasian would take the left fight the chief of the Dobunni Vosenius, and Seutonius would take the center fighting Boudicca’s nephew Ventius. The invasion goes of flawlessly. At the battle of Ouse River Seutonius utter destroys Venutius army killing him. At the battle of Mersey River against Boudicca Britannicus defeat Boudicca army killing another one of her daughters by drowning her (she is captured and drowned by his troops after they have their way with her). Vosenius is killed at the battle of Vinocium. The final battle of the war would be the Battle of Cheviot Hills Britannicus using the hills and superior well disciplined troops. Bouddica is killed reportedly by a spear to the chest, with her dies the rebellion. Seutonius is proclaimed the governor of the Britannia inferior, and superior tasked with rebuilding and establishing a system that would protect and make Britain prosperous. Shortly before Britannicus leave a wall is beginning to be constructed called the Seutonian named after governor Seutonius, though it was proposed that it would be named after Britannicus. He famous refused by saying according Tactius “the hole damn Island is named after me. And it not like I am not going to come back a conquer the rest later on”.
Seutonian Wall as seen in modern days
The Great fire and the short peace of 62-64 AD
After years of war peace finally settled down across the empire. The booty from the wars in Britain revitalized the economy. With some of the money he began the Months of Triumphs, a series of celebrations, games, and triumphs to honour the heroes of the Civil war and Britain. Giving the brave Seutonius the noble, Titus, the elder Burrus (who would die in 62 AD a few months after his triumph), the smart Corbulo, the wise Vespasian, and finally the most biggest of them all himself.
Solider during a Triumph
These years of peace and prosperity lasts for two years, as Rome and its empire rebuilt its self. That was till the great fire of Rome. While away at his villa in Capri, Rome erupted in flames. Though the causes for the fire where, But Rome burned for days.
The Great Fire of Rome
Upon arriving on the scene he immediately began the relief effort, personally going to save the people of Rome risking his life to save theirs, as well as opening his own estates as refugee for the people. As in this famous scene from the historian Seutonius: “when Rome burned, the emperor heard a child scream, with out any thoughts smashed through the front door. After a few minutes he came out with the child in his army. The child father began to offer him rewards not knowing the smoked covered man in front of him was his emperor. He refused all rewards by saying “ I am in no need of money, for I have much of it, I am in no need of land, for I have much of it, I have no need of worship, because I am the Emperor. My reward is to know that the child is safe”. The fire continued for a total of 5 days. When it did Britannicus left to gather money and supplies from several of the provinces to help rebuild it. Before he left he vowed that Rome shall be rebuilt, as the capital the mightiest empire in world deserves. This would turn out to be a mistake, the current praetorian Prefect Tilliginlus decides to blame it on the Christians, and begins a ruthless persecution, executing first their leaders (St.Peter, St. Paul, etc) hundreds die in brutal spectacles. Piso immediately sides with the crowd and tries to get Tillignilus to stop, but he refuses.
The Christian Martyrs
Piso writes to Britannicus to return to Rome immediately to avoid the deaths of more innocents die. He returns a begins an official investigations. He becomes disgusted by the violence and begins to admire the Christian’s sprit, and courage. It is said by Christian writers that he personally save the apostles St. Matthew (who lives because of the civil war, and tolerant polices of Britannicus and Piso, but dies shortly after this incident), and St James. He official proclaims the Christians not guilty of starting the fire yet this does not stop the persecutions and executions.
The Emperor turning away in disgust after a christian is martyred under Tillignilus orders
He then orders Tilliginlus to stop but he is refuse. The emperor has him striped of rank, his position, he is found dead in the streets of Rome a month later. The Persecutions in Rome stop but it will take years before they stop across the empire despite the emperor policy of tolerance. He names Vesepian praetorian prefect, and consul and becomes his most important advisor along side Consul and senator Piso. He begins to rebuild the city in a new grandeur building many more public works, and new place, new homes, and expands the forum, Rome becomes one of the most beautiful cities in world. But Britannicus dream of a new grand city hits a problem there is a lack of finances money gained from Britain is not enough to pay for the project. That when a man from Armenia takes his opportunity. Claiming himself to be the nephew of the last king of Armenia he began to pressure the emperor, and senate into investing into a war to put him on the throne instead of the Pathian puppet currently on the throne. He begins to appeal to the sense of hatred towards Parthia after their support of Nero. The senate and the people were for Tirganes VI proposal of war now all he had to do was convince the emperor. Britannicus was opposed to the idea of war since they just came out of a civil war and war in Britian. But as finances began to run out Tirgannes told the emperor that all the booty, and tribute gained by the war could help rebuild the empire. He agreed and declared war on Parthia, arriving in Roman-Armenia 5 months later at the head a large army with Titus commanding a equally large one in Syria, as well a smaller army led by Corublo coming up from Egypt. The Armenian war had begun.
End of Part 1
Part 2 of the reign of Britannicus : Armenian war, the conquest of the low lands, and the reforms of Britannicus, and his death.
