Chaponnière & Firmenich SA
Auction 12 18 Oct 2020
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ROMAN EMPIRE. Civil War, revolt of Vindex, 68-69. Denarius 69, Gaul. Obv. VESTA P R - QVIRITIVM. Veiled bust of Vesta right. Rev. FIDES / EXERCITVVM. Two hands shaking. RIC 126. AR. 3.25 g. RRR
In 68, the reign of Nero was most precarious, his philhellenism and his expensive policy alienated part of the Roman aristocracy. In March of that year, the governor of Gallia Lugdunensis, Caius Julius Vindex summoned an assembly of notables at the confederal altar of Lugdunum and delivered a violent speech towards Nero. Historian Dion Cassius tells us that he was a defender of traditional Roman values and called on the tribes of Gaul to save Rome./His speech was followed varyingly, if certain tribes like the Sequans and the Aedui rallied to his cause, many others remained insensitive to his call. He nevertheless managed to muster a force of around 20'000 men and obtain the tacit support of Galba, the governor of Hispania Tarraconensis, the only leading member of the senatorial aristocracy to join the revolt./Although defeated in May 68 at the Battle of Vesontio by the troops of General Verginius Rufus, the revolt did not end there and instead turned into a civil war after the suicide of Nero, leading to the year of the four emperors.
In 68, the reign of Nero was most precarious, his philhellenism and his expensive policy alienated part of the Roman aristocracy. In March of that year, the governor of Gallia Lugdunensis, Caius Julius Vindex summoned an assembly of notables at the confederal altar of Lugdunum and delivered a violent speech towards Nero. Historian Dion Cassius tells us that he was a defender of traditional Roman values and called on the tribes of Gaul to save Rome./His speech was followed varyingly, if certain tribes like the Sequans and the Aedui rallied to his cause, many others remained insensitive to his call. He nevertheless managed to muster a force of around 20'000 men and obtain the tacit support of Galba, the governor of Hispania Tarraconensis, the only leading member of the senatorial aristocracy to join the revolt./Although defeated in May 68 at the Battle of Vesontio by the troops of General Verginius Rufus, the revolt did not end there and instead turned into a civil war after the suicide of Nero, leading to the year of the four emperors.