HAPPY BATHINUS DAY!

[ASCLEPIADES]

Salve, guys & Ladies!

 

Contrary to common misconceptions (some of them intentional), there is plenty of evidence that Tiberius Claudius Nero was quite a fine commander, maybe the best Roman general after Agrippa's death.

 

Today ( III Nones Sextilis) is the MMXVIth anniversary of the big crush of the Dalmatian rebel army commanded by Bato and Pinnes at the battle of River Balthinus (probably today's Bosna river in Bosnia-Herzegovina) at DCCXLV AUC (9 BC) by Tiberius' army of five legions (presumably IV, V, VII, VIII and XI) plus predominantly Thracian auxilia. during the consulship of Nero Claudius Drusus (Tiberius' brother) and T. Quinctius Crispinus Sulpicianus.

 

This cardinal victory for the Empire is frequently neglected, mainly because of the anti-tiberian perspective of many historians, specially Cassius Dio, who ignores it completely and made a very negative commentary about Tiberius' strategy in his long account of this war (Book LV, Chapters 29 to 34).

 

You get a totally different view from an eye witness, V. Paterculus )Book II):

 

"113 Listen now, Marcus Vinicius, to the proof that Caesar was no less great in war as a general than you now see him in peace as an emperor...

114 ... Throughout the whole period of the German and Pannonian war there was not one of us, or of those either above or below our rank, who fell ill without having his health and welfare looked after by Caesar with as much solicitude indeed as though this were the chief occupation of his mind, preoccupied though he was by his heavy responsibilities. There was a horsed vehicle ready for those who needed it, his own litter was at the disposal of all, and I, among others, have enjoyed its use. Now his physicians, now his kitchen, and now his bathing equipment, brought for this one purpose for himself alone, ministered to the comfort of all who were sick...

The winter brought the reward of our efforts in the termination of the war, though it was not until the following summer that all Pannonia sought peace, the remnants of the war as a whole being confined to Dalmatia. In my complete work I hope to describe in detail how those fierce warriors, many thousand in number, who had but a short time before threatened Italy with slavery, now brought the arms they had used in rebellion and laid them down, at a river called the Bathinus, prostrating themselves one and all before the knees of the commander; and how of their two supreme commanders, Bato and Pinnes, the one was made a prisoner and the other gave himself up."

 

What do you think about it?

[Ingsoc]

It's should be noted that Paterculus was the close friend of Tiberius and hence he put an highly favourable portray of his friend, you could see that some parts ("who had but a short time before threatened Italy with slavery") was an obivious propoganda.

 

However I do agree that Tiberius was a good general but cautious one who rather use diplomacy rather than charge straight against his enemy thought he got the job done. It also should be noted that when be became an emperor he try to improve the administration in the provinces in orfer to prevent further revolts.

[ASCLEPIADES]

Salve, I!

 

Gratiam habeo for your commentary.

 

Paterculus is hyperbolic flattery; Cassius Dio, a poisonous critic.

 

The truth must be somewhere at the middle.

 

Happy Bathinus day to all!