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[491]
Now as Vespasian was returned to Cesarea, and was getting ready with
all his army to march directly to Jerusalem, he was informed that Nero
was dead, after he had reigned thirteen years and eight days. Bnt as to
any narration after what manner he abused his power in the government,
and committed the management of affairs to those vile wretches, Nymphidius
and Tigellinus, his unworthy freed-men; and how he had a plot laid against
him by them, and was deserted by all his guards, and ran away with four
of his most trusty freed-men, and slew himself in the suburbs of Rome;
and how those that occasioned his death were in no long time brought themselves
to punishment; how also the war in Gall ended; and how Galba was made emperor
1 and
returned out of Spain to Rome; and how he was accused by the soldiers as
a pusillanimous person, and slain by treachery in the middle of the market-place
at Rome, and Otho was made emperor; with his expedition against the commanders
of Vitellius, and his destruction thereupon; and besides what troubles
there were under Vitellius, and the fight that was about the capitol; as
also how Antonius Primus and Mucianus slew Vitellius, and his German legions,
and thereby put an end to that civil war; - I have omitted to give an exact
account of them, because they are well known by all, and they are described
by a great number of Greek and Roman authors; yet for the sake of the connexion
of matters, and that my history may not be incoherent, I have just touched
upon every thing briefly. Wherefore Vespasian put off at first his expedition
against Jerusalem, and stood waiting whither the empire would be transferred
after the death of Nero. Moreover, when he heard that Galba was made emperor,
he attempted nothing till he also should send him some directions about
the war: however, he sent his son Titus to him, to salute him, and to receive
his commands about the Jews. Upon the very same errand did king Agrippa
sail along with Titus to Galba; but as they were sailing in their long
ships by the coasts of Achaia, for it was winter time, they heard that
Galba was slain, before they could get to him, after he had reigned seven
months and as many days. After whom Otho took the government, and undertook
the management of public affairs. So Agrippa resolved to go on to Rome
without any terror; on account of the change in the government; but Titus,
by a Divine impulse, sailed back from Greece to Syria, and came in great
haste to Cesarea, to his father. And now they were both in suspense about
the public affairs, the Roman empire being then in a fluctuating condition,
and did not go on with their expedition against the Jews, but thought that
to make any attack upon foreigners was now unseasonable, on account of
the solicitude they were in for their own country.
1 Of these Roman affairs and tumults under Galba, Otho, and Vitellius, here only touched upon by Josephus, see Tacitus, Suelonius, and Dio, more largely. However, we may observe with Ottius, that Josephus writes the name of the second of them not Otto, with many others, but Otho, with the coins. See also the note on ch. 11. sect. 4.
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