CiceroD Posted January 28, 2009 Report Share Posted January 28, 2009 Again and again, in the history of the Roman Empire, legions have declared their favorites as emperors. This, of course, sparked the Civil Wars and regime changes typical in this period. But the sources that I have do not illuminate the mechanics of the process. For example, 1. Were these usurpers usually legionary legates? provincial governers? 2. Did the process begin from the top down? (an officer sensing the general discontent calls on the army and encites their rebellion) 3. Did the process begin from the bottom up? (the soldiers demonstrate their discontent and their pick for the purple goes along for the ride) 4. If the claimant was a legate how does he win over the other local legionary legates? (who I assume are his professional rivals) I would think that there had to be some measures taken to assure their loyalty. Are there any good sources on this? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
caldrail Posted January 29, 2009 Report Share Posted January 29, 2009 Suetonius (Lives of the Caesars) mentions a few usurpers (however unlikely some of them were) Tacitus (Annals, Histories) discusses a legionary rebellion in Germania and also covers the events of AD69 - Year of Four Emperors Ammianus Marcellinus (Res Gestae discusses intrigue behind the events of the late empire Those are just the ones I can think of, I'm sure there are others. Cassius Dio probably has something to say but I'm not well acquainted with his work. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CiceroD Posted January 29, 2009 Author Report Share Posted January 29, 2009 Thank you Caldrail, And skimming through Book one of Tacitus' Histories It seems that both Otho and Vitellius actively canvassed for the soldiers' support, but Verginius Rufus was offered the post of Emperor (which he refused). I read from another source that Galba was hesitant and reluctant and the purple was offered to him. Was this usual then? How about later wars of successon? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
caldrail Posted January 30, 2009 Report Share Posted January 30, 2009 http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Roman_usurpers Plus a link to a list of them at the bottom. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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