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knowing none； and themselves unknown。 Those of Otho were betrayed by
their strange faces in a place where all knew each other。 Vitellius
wrote to Titianus； Otho's brother； threatening him and his son with
death； unless the lives of his mother and his children were spared。
Both families remained uninjured。 This in Otho's reign was perhaps due
to fear； Vitellius was victorious； and gained all the credit of mercy。
The first encouraging tidings came to Otho from Illyricum。 He
heard that the legions of Dalmatia； Pannonia； and Moesia had sworn
allegiance to him。 Similar intelligence was received from Spain； and
Cluvius Rufus was commended in an edict。 Immediately afterwards it
became known that Spain had gone over to Vitellius。 Even Aquitania；
bound though it was by the oath of allegiance to Otho which Julius
Cordus had administered； did not long remain firm。 Nowhere was there
any loyalty or affection； men changed from one side to the other under
the pressure of fear or necessity。 It was this influence of fear
that drew over to Vitellius the province of Gallia Narbonensis；
which turned readily to the side that was at once the nearer and the
stronger。 The distant provinces； and all the armies beyond the sea；
still adhered to Otho； not from any attachment to his party； but
because there was vast weight in the name of the capital and the
prestige of the Senate； and also because the claims which they had
first heard had prepossessed their minds。 The army of Judaea under
Vespasian； and the legions of Syria under Mucianus； swore allegiance
to Otho。 Egypt and the Eastern provinces were also governed in his
name。 Africa displayed the same obedience； Carthage taking the lead。
In that city Crescens； one of Nero's freedmen （for in evil times
even this class makes itself a power in the State）； without waiting
for the sanction of the proconsul； Vipstanus Apronianus； had given
an entertainment to the populace by way of rejoicings for the new
reign； and the people； with extravagant zeal； hastened to make the
usual demonstrations of joy。 The example of Carthage was followed
the other cities of Africa。
As the armies and provinces were thus divided； Vitellius； in order
to secure the sovereign power； was compelled to fight。 Otho
continued to discharge his imperial duties as though it were a time of
profound peace。 Sometimes he consulted the dignity of the
Commonwealth； but often in hasty acts； dictated by the expediency of
the moment； he disregarded its honour。 He was himself to be consul
with his brother Titianus till the 1st of March； the two following
months he assigned to Verginius as a compliment to the army of
Germany。 With Verginius was to be associated Pompeius Vopiscus；
avowedly on the ground of their being old friends； though many
regarded the appointment as meant to do honour to the people of
Vienna。 The other consulships still remained as Nero or Galba had
arranged them。 Caelius Sabinus and his brother Flavius were to be
consuls till the 1st of July； Arrius Antoninus and Marius Celsus
from that time to the 1st of September。 Even Vitellius； after his
victory； did not interfere with these appointments。 On aged
citizens； who had already held high office； Otho bestowed； as a
crowning dignity； pontificates and augurships； while he consoled the
young nobles； who had lately returned from exile； by reviving the
sacerdotal offices； held by their fathers and ancestors。 Cadius Rufus；
Pedius Blaesus； Saevinius Pomptinius； who in the reigns of Claudius
and Nero had been convicted under indictments for extortion； were
restored to their rank as Senators。 Those who wished to pardon them
resolved by a change of names to make； what had really been
rapacity； seem to have been treason； a charge then so odious that it
made even good laws a dead letter。
By similar bounty Otho sought to win the affections of the cities
and provinces。 He bestowed on the colonies of Hispalis and Emerita
some additional families； on the entire people of the Lingones the
privileges of Roman citizenship； to the province of Baetica he
joined the states of Mauritania； and granted to Cappadocia and
Africa new rights； more for display than for permanent utility。 In the
midst of these measures； which may find an excuse in the urgency of
the crisis and the anxieties which pressed upon him； he still did
not forget his old amours； and by a decree of the Senate restored
the statues of Poppaea。 It is even believed that he thought of
celebrating the memory of Nero in the hope of winning the populace；
and persons were found to exhibit statues of that Prince。 There were
days on which the people and the soldiers greeted him with shouts of
Nero Otho； as if they were heaping on him new distinction and
honour。 Otho himself wavered in suspense； afraid to forbid or
ashamed to acknowledge the title。
Men's minds were so intent on the civil war； that foreign affairs
were disregarded。 This emboldened the Roxolani； a Sarmatian tribe； who
had destroyed two cohorts in the previous winter； to invade Moesia
with great hopes of success。 They had 9000 cavalry； flushed with
victory and intent on plunder rather than on fighting。 They were
dispersed and off their guard； when the third legion together with
some auxiliaries attacked them。 The Romans had everything ready for
battle； the Sarmatians were scattered； and in their eagerness for
plunder had encumbered themselves with heavy baggage； while the
superior speed of their horses was lost on the slippery roads。 Thus
they were cut down as if their hands were tied。 It is wonderful how
entirely the courage of this people is； so to speak； external to
themselves。 No troops could shew so little spirit when fighting on
foot； when they charge in squadrons； hardly any line can stand against
them。 But as on this occasion the day was damp and the ice thawed；
what with the continual slipping of their horses； and the weight of
their coats of mail； they could make no use of their pikes or their
swords； which being of an excessive length they wield with both hands。
These coats are worn as defensive armour by the princes and most
distinguished persons of the tribe。 They are formed of plates of
iron or very tough hides； and though they are absolutely
impenetrable to blows； yet they make it difficult for such as have
been overthrown by the charge of the enemy to regain their feet。
Besides； the Sarmatians were perpetually sinking in the deep and
soft snow。 The Roman soldier； moving easily in his cuirass；
continued to harass them with javelins and lances； and whenever the
occasion required； closed with them with his short sword； and
stabbed the defenceless enemy； for it is not their custom to defend
themselves with a shield。 A few who survived the battle concealed
themselves in the marshes。 There they perished from the inclemency
of the season and the severity of their wounds。 When this success
was known； Marcus Aponius； governor of Moesia； was rewarded with a
triumphal statue； while Fulvius Aurelius； Julianus Titius； and
Numisius Lupus； the legates of the legions； received the ensigns of
consular rank。 Otho was delighted； and claimed the glory for
himself； as if it were he that commanded success in war； and that
had aggrandised the State by his generals and his armies。
Meanwhile； from a trifling cause； whence nothing was apprehended；
there arose a tumult； which had nearly proved fatal to the capital。
Otho had ordered the 7th cohort to be brought up to Rome from Ostia；
and the charge of arming it was entrusted to Varius Crispinus； one
of the tribunes of the Praetorian Guard。 This officer； thinking that
he could carry out the order more at his leisure； when the camp was
quiet； opened the armoury； and ordered the wagons of the cohort to
be laden at night…fall。 The time provoked suspicion； the motive
challenged accusation； the elaborate attempt at quiet ended in a
disturbance； and the sight of arms among a drunken crowd excited the
desire to use them。 The soldiers murmured； and charged the tribunes
and centurions with treachery； alleging that the households of the
Senators were being armed to destroy Otho； many acted in ignorance and
were stupefied by wine； the worst among them were seeking an
opportunity for plunder； the mass was as usual ready for any new
movement； and the military obedience of the better disposed was
neutralised by the darkness。 The tribune； who sought to check the
movement； and the strictest disciplinarians among the centurions； were
cut down。 The soldiers seized their arms； bared their swords； and；
mounted on their horses； made for the city and the palace。
Otho was giving a crowded entertainment to the most distinguished