.
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by John S. McHugh.
Hardback (6.4×9.5 inches). 237 pages. 2025.
The book covers nine revolts, from Pannonian Mutiny of 14AD to the Saturninus Revolt in 89AD. The bulk concerns the Year of Four Emperors: Galba revolts against Nero, Otho against Galba, Vitellius against Otho, and Vespasian against Vitellius.
Each receives excellent recaps of political plots and maneuverings followed by the step of convincing legions to back the usurper, and finally the battles that decided the matter. Rebellions don’t happen in a vacuum, so external factors such as tribal uneasiness or support receive scrutiny.
You won’t get any detailed descriptions of tactical battles, only an overall gist of what happened when rebel and loyal legions and auxiliaries met. But the politics and who really did bicker about who killed who, or who didn’t deliver on promises, gets full coverage. You will have to deal with a plethora of Roman names, which sometimes made my head spin, but it’s all there.
A couple typos: missing period at the end of a sentence (p36) and “bedridden with goat” (p167) is likely “gout.”
It’s nicely written with the conspirators and loyalists plotting mutinies and ways to dissolve the revolt without killing too many troops or costing too much money.
Enjoyed it.
— Reviewed by Russ Lockwood
