Year of the four emperors

The forced suicide of emperor Nero, in 68 AD, was followed by a brief period of civil war (the first Roman civil war since Antony's death in 31 BC) known as the Year of the four emperors. Between June of 68 and December of 69 AD, Rome witnessed the successive rise and fall of Galba, Otho and Vitellius until the final accession of Vespasian, first ruler of the Flavian dynasty. This period of civil war has become emblematic of the cyclic political disturbances in the history of the Roman Empire. The military and political anarchy created by this civil war had serious implications, such as the outbreak of the Batavian rebellion.

Chronology

68 AD

• April – Galba, governor of Hispania Tarraconensis, and Vindex, governor of Gallia Lugdunensis rebel against Nero
• May – The Rhine legions defeat and kill Vindex in Gaul
• June – Nero is declared public enemy by the senate and commits suicide; in the same day, Galba is recognized emperor.
• November – Vitellius nominated governor of Germania Inferior

69 AD

• January 1 – The Rhine legions refuse to oath loyalty to Galba
• January 2 – Vitellius acclaimed emperor by the Rhine
• January 15 – Galba killed by the Praetorian Guard; in the same day, the senate recognizes Otho as emperor
• April 14 – Vitellius defeats Otho
• April 16 – Otho commits suicide; Vitellius recognized emperor
• July 1 – Vespasian, commander of the Roman army in Judaea, proclaimed emperor
• August – The Danubian legions announce support to Vespasian (in Syria) and invade Italy in September on his behalf
• October – The Danube army defeats Vitellius and Vespasian occupies Egypt
• December 20 –Vitellius killed by soldiers in the Imperial Palace
• December 21 – Vespasian recognized emperor