Vespasian Accession Flashcards
Which source suggests this was most important ally and gives three details
Tacitus- Mucianus ‘kingmaker’, provided Syrian legion, importance cannot be overstated
Which source tells us a second ally was important and how is this backed up by another source
Tacitus- Tiberius Alexander provided Egyptian troops allegiance. Josephus- gave control of Rome’s grain supply
Which source and which civil war made Vespasian’s timing to take over perfect
Tacitus- fighting in Judaea meant ability to spectate from a distance others ‘scrapped’
Which source tell us a leader enraged Mucianus by doing what
Suetonius- Vitellius swapped the Germans legions with the Syrians to do the harsher duties
Which source discredits the leadership of Vitellius
Tacitus- prioritised spending purse on shows and extravagance
What source tells us about the nature of the troops
Tacitus- Roman troops were changing and political interests did not align with leaders. Independence in accessions of Otho and Vitellius and were not simply manipulated by leaders
Which source suggests Vespasian used propaganda to gain support of the soldiers- which source disagrees with this
Suetonius- a letter of Otho to Vespasian urged him to avenge him against Vitellius
Which source suggests it Vespasian was not opportunistic in gaining the emperorship and failure of Vitellius
Tacitus- Vitellius ‘ignorant of all law, divine and human’ and bent ‘solely upon spending’
What sources describe Vitellius’ relationship with the soldiers
Tacitus and Suetonius describe Vitellius’ relationship with the military harshly due to his ignorance with the Senate