peace, but the Treviri and Lingones hold out under Classicus,
Tutor, and Valentinus.
The Roman mutineers return to their allegiance.
_Summer_
Sextilius Felix routs Tutor near Bingen. Cerialis defeats
Valentinus and occupies Trier.
The Germans surprise the Romans in Trier, but Cerialis drives
them out and storms their camp.
Massacre of Germans at Cologne. Cohort of Chauci and Frisii
entrapped and burnt.
Leg. XIV Gemina arrives from Britain and receives submission of
Nervii and Tungri.
Legs. I Adjutrix and VI Victrix arrive from Spain.
_Autumn_
Civilis defeats Cerialis near Vetera, but is routed on the next
day and retires into The Island.
Hard fighting on the Waal.
Germans capture Roman flotilla.
Civilis retires northwards over the Rhine.
Cerialis occupies The Island.
Civilis makes overtures of peace.
NOTE
The text followed is that of C.D. Fisher _(Oxford Classical Texts)_.
Departures from it are mentioned in the notes.
BOOK III
ANTONIUS' ADVANCE
On the Flavian side the generals concerted their plans for the war 1
with greater loyalty and greater success. They had met at Poetovio[1]
at the head-quarters of the Third legion, where they debated whether
they should block the passage of the Pannonian Alps and wait until
their whole strength came up to reinforce them, or whether they should
take a bolder line, assume the offensive, and strike for Italy. Those
who were in favour of waiting for reinforcements and prolonging the
war dwelt on the strength and reputation of the German legions, and
pointed out that the flower of the British army had lately arrived in
Rome with Vitellius;[2] their own forces were numerically inferior and
had recently suffered defeat; moreover, conquered troops, however bold
their language, never show the same courage. On the other hand, if
they occupied the Alps, Mucianus would soon arrive with the forces
from the East. Besides, Vespasian still[3] commanded the sea, and
could count on the support of the fleets[4] and of the provinces,
where he could still raise material for a sort of second war. A
salutary delay would bring them fresh forces without in any way
prejudicing their present position.
In answer to these arguments Antonius Primus,[5] who had done more 2
than any one
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