McHugh, John S. Revolts against Rome

Rebellions and Mutinies in the First Century AD

Throughout the first century AD, Roman emperors faced various threats to their rule from ambitious or embittered nobles. However, events show that the Roman legionaries remained steadfastly loyal to the Julio-Claudian dynasty. The assassination of Nero, the last representative of his dynasty, sparked chaos in which loyalty was bought by the madness of the leading men. The troops, increasingly recruited from men who had never seen Italy, were often willing to draw their swords to support a provincial governor against an emperor who was himself a victorious usurper. If they succeeded in placing their own candidate on the throne, they could count on tangible and enforceable gratitude. Mutinies were rare and often caused by changes in conditions of service or harsh discipline that degraded the status and honour of the soldiers. This is the story of the ordinary soldiers and their often ruthless and brutal commanders. John McHugh examines each of the major cases of armed insurrection or military mutiny in the first century. Skillfully interwoven with the narrative of these dramatic and mostly bloody events is his analysis of the underlying causes and varying degrees of success in the face of the empire's response to these threats.