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