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fears。 In fact the procurator Valerius Paullinus； an enterprising
officer； who had been a friend of Vespasian before his elevation to
the throne； had made the neighbouring States swear allegiance to
that Prince。
Paullinus had collected all the troops who； having been disbanded by
Vitellius； were now spontaneously taking up arms； and was holding with
this force the colony of Forum Julii； which commanded the sea。 His
influence was all the greater； because Forum Julii was his native
place； and because he was respected by the Praetorians； in which force
he had once been a tribune。 The inhabitants themselves； favouring a
fellow…townsman； and anticipating his future greatness； did their best
to promote the cause。 When these preparations； which were really
formidable and were exaggerated by report； became known among the
now distracted Vitellianists； Fabius Valens returned to his ships with
four soldiers of the body…guard； three personal friends； and as many
centurions； while Maturus and the rest chose to remain behind and
swear allegiance to Vespasian。 For Valens indeed the open sea was
safer than the coast or the towns； yet； all uncertain about the
future； and knowing rather what he must avoid than what he could
trust； he was thrown by adverse weather on the Stoechades； islands off
Massilia。 There he was captured by some Liburnian ships； dispatched by
Paullinus。
Valens once captured； everything turned to swell the resources of
the conqueror； the lead was taken in Spain by the 1st legion （the
〃Adjutrix〃）； whose recollections of Otho made them hate Vitellius；
they drew with them the 6th and 10th。 Gaul did not hesitate to follow。
A partiality long felt in Britain for Vespasian； who had there
commanded the 2nd legion by the appointment of Claudius； and had
served with distinction； attached that province to his cause； though
not without some commotion among the other legions； in which were many
centurions and soldiers promoted by Vitellius； who felt uneasy in
exchanging for another ruler one whom they knew already。
These dissensions； and the continual rumours of civil war； raised
the courage of the Britons。 They were led by one Venutius； who；
besides being naturally high spirited； and hating the name of Rome；
was fired by his private animosity against Queen Cartismandua。
Cartismandua ruled the Brigantes in virtue of her illustrious birth；
and she strengthened her throne； when； by the treacherous capture of
king Caractacus； she was regarded as having given its chief
distinction to the triumph of Claudius Caesar。 Then followed wealth
and the self…indulgence of prosperity。 Spurning her husband
Venutius； she made Vellocatus； his armour…bearer； the partner of her
bed and throne。 By this enormity the power of her house was at once
shaken to its base。 On the side of the husband were the affections
of the people； on that of the adulterer； the lust and savage temper of
the Queen。 Accordingly Venutius collected some auxiliaries； and； aided
at the same time by a revolt of the Brigantes； brought Cartismandua
into the utmost peril。 She asked for some Roman troops； and our
auxiliary infantry and cavalry； after fighting with various success；
contrived to rescue the Queen from her peril。 Venutius retained the
kingdom； and we had the war on our hands。
About the same time； Germany suffered from the supineness of our
generals and the mutinous conduct of our legions； the assaults of
enemies and the perfidy of allies all but overthrew the power of Rome。
Of this war； its origin and its issue； for it lasted long； I shall
hereafter speak。 The Dacians also were in motion； a people which never
can be trusted； and which； now that our legions were withdrawn from
Moesia； had nothing to fear。 They quietly watched the opening of the
campaign； but when they heard that Italy was in a blaze of war； and
that the whole Empire was divided against itself； they stormed the
winter quarters of the auxiliary infantry and cavalry； and occupied
both banks of the Danube。 They were then preparing to destroy the camp
of the legions； but Mucianus sent the 6th legion against them； for
he knew of the victory of Cremona； and he feared this double
pressure of barbarian power with Dacians and Germans invading Italy
from opposite sides。 We were helped； as often before； by the good
fortune of the Roman people； which brought to the spot Mucianus with
the armies of the East； and by the decisive settlement which in the
meantime was effected at Cremona。 Fonteius Agrippa was removed from
Asia （which province he had governed as proconsul for a year） to
Moesia； and had some troops given him from the army of Vitellius。 That
this army should be dispersed through the provinces and closely
occupied with foreign wars； was sound policy and essential to peace。
All other nations were equally restless。 A sudden outbreak had
been excited in Pontus by a barbarian slave； who had before
commanded the royal fleet。 This was Anicetus； a freedman of Polemon；
once a very powerful personage； who； when the kingdom was converted
into a Roman province； ill brooked the change。 Accordingly he raised
in the name of Vitellius the tribes that border on Pontus； bribed a
number of very needy adventurers by the hope of plunder； and； at the
head of a force by no means contemptible； made a sudden attack on
the old and famous city of Trapezus； founded by the Greeks on the
farthest shore of the Pontus。 There he destroyed a cohort； once a part
of the royal contingent。 They had afterwards received the privileges
of citizenship； and while they carried their arms and banners in Roman
fashion； they still retained the indolence and licence of the Greek。
Anicetus also set fire to the fleet； and； as the sea was not
guarded； escaped； for Mucianus had brought up to Byzantium the best of
the Liburnian ships and all the troops。 The barbarians even insolently
scoured the sea in hastily constructed vessels of their own called
〃camarae；〃 built with narrow sides and broad bottoms； and joined
together without fastenings of brass or iron。 Whenever the water is
rough they raise the bulwarks with additional planks according to
the increasing height of the waves； till the vessel is covered in like
a house。 Thus they roll about amid the billows； and； as they have a
prow at both extremities alike and a convertible arrangement of
oars； they may be paddled in one direction or another indifferently
and without risk。
The matter attracted the attention of Vespasian； and induced him
to dispatch some veterans from the legions under Virdius Geminus； a
tried soldier。 Finding the enemy in disorder and dispersed in the
eager pursuit of plunder； he attacked them； and drove them to their
ships。 Hastily fitting out a fleet of Liburnian ships he pursued
Anicetus； and overtook him at the mouth of the river Cohibus； where he
was protected by the king of the Sedochezi； whose alliance he had
secured by a sum of money and other presents。 This prince at first
endeavoured to protect the suppliant by a threat of hostilities； when；
however； the choice was presented to him between war and the profit to
be derived from treachery； he consented； with the characteristic
perfidy of barbarians； to the destruction of Anicetus； and delivered
up the refugees。 So ended this servile war。 Amidst the joy of this
success； while everything was prosperous beyond his hopes； tidings
of the victory of Cremona reached Vespasian in Aegypt。 This made him
hasten his advance to Alexandria； for； now that the army of
Vitellius was shattered； he sought to apply the pressure of famine
to the capital； which is always dependent on foreign supplies。 He
was indeed also preparing to invade by sea and land the province of
Africa； which lies on the same line of coast； intending by thus
closing the supplies of corn to cause famine and dissension among
the enemy。
While with this world…wide convulsion the Imperial power was
changing hands； the conduct of Primus Antonius； after the fall of
Cremona； was by no means as blameless as before。 Either he believed
that the necessities of the war had been satisfied； and that all
else would follow easily； or； perhaps； success； working on such a
temperament； developed his latent pride； rapacity and other vices。
He swept through Italy as if it were a conquered country and
caressed the legions as if they were his own； by all his words and
acts he sought to pave for himself the way to power。 To imbue the army
with a spirit of licence； he offered to the legions the commissions of
the centurions killed in the war。 By their vote the most turbulent men
were elected。 The soldiers in fact were not under the control of the
generals； b