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Topic: Year of the Four Emperors, or Roman Civil War of 68-69

Year of the Four Emperors, or Roman Civil War of 68-69

Years: 68 - 69

The Year of the Four Emperors is a year in the history of the Roman Empire, CE 69, in which four emperors rule in a remarkable succession.

These four emperors are Galba, Otho, Vitellius, and Vespasian.The forced suicide of emperor Nero, in 68, is followed by a brief period of civil war, the first Roman civil war since Mark Antony's death in 30 BC.

Between June of 68 and December of 69, Rome witnesses the successive rise and fall of Galba, Otho and Vitellius until the final accession of Vespasian, the 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 are to have serious repercussions, such as the outbreak of the Batavian rebellion.

“Let us study things that are no more. It is necessary to know them, if only to avoid them. The counterfeits of the past assume false names, and gladly call themselves the future. Let us inform ourselves of the trap. Let us be on our guard. The past has a visage, superstition, and a mask, hypocrisy. Let us denounce the visage and let us tear off the mask."

― Victor Hugo, Les Misérables (1862)