en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Otho
2 corrections found
the fourth and first Germanica legions of Germania Superior refused to swear loyalty to the emperor
This names the wrong Upper Germany legion. Tacitus says the mutiny in Germania Superior involved the Fourth and Twenty-second legions, not Legio I Germanica.
Full reasoning
Tacitus' Histories explicitly says that in the army of Upper Germany (Germania Superior), "the Fourth and Twenty-second legions" tore down Galba's images on 1 January 69. He separately describes the situation in Lower Germany, where "The First and Fifth" were among the mutinous legions. A modern synthesis at Livius likewise explains that after the Lower German revolt, a standard-bearer reported to Vitellius that in Mainz the Fourth and Twenty-second legions had thrown down Galba's portraits. So this sentence incorrectly substitutes Legio I Germanica for Legio XXII Primigenia in Germania Superior.
2 sources
- LacusCurtius • Tacitus, Histories - Book I Chapters 50-90
In the Upper army, however, the Fourth and Twenty-second legions, who were wintering in the same camp, on the very first of January tore down the images of Galba...
- Aulus Vitellius (2) - Livius
He brought word to Vitellius... that the Fourth and Twenty-second legions had thrown down the portraits of Galba and sworn allegiance to the Senate and People of Rome.
On the following day, the soldiers of Germania inferior also refused to swear their loyalty and proclaimed the governor of the province, Aulus Vitellius, as emperor.
This gets the sequence wrong for Lower Germany. Tacitus says the Lower German legions had already taken the oath to Galba on 1 January, though hesitantly; Vitellius was then proclaimed emperor on 2 January.
Full reasoning
Tacitus distinguishes the two Rhine armies. For Lower Germany, he says the legions "had taken the usual oath of allegiance to Galba on the first of January," even if only reluctantly. Only after news arrived from Upper Germany did the nearest Lower German legion salute Vitellius as emperor on the following day. Livius summarizes the same sequence: the Lower German legions took the oath on New Year's Day, and then on the next day Fabius Valens entered Cologne and greeted Vitellius as emperor. So the article is wrong to say the soldiers of Germania Inferior "also refused to swear their loyalty" on the following day.
2 sources
- LacusCurtius • Tacitus, Histories - Book I Chapters 50-90
Yet the legions of Lower Germany had taken the usual oath of allegiance to Galba on the first of January, although there was great hesitation... The next day he entered Cologne... and saluted Vitellius as emperor.
- Aulus Vitellius (2) - Livius
On New year's day, they had to take the usual oath of loyalty to the emperor... On the following day, entering the city of Cologne... he greeted Vitellius as emperor.