Throughout the first century AD, the emperors of Rome faced various threats to their rule from ambitious or embittered nobles. However, events show the Roman legionaries to be tenaciously loyal to the Julio-Claudian dynasty. The murder of Nero, the last of his dynasty, unleashed chaos where allegiance was bought by 'the madness of the leading men.' The troops, increasingly recruited from men who had never seen Italy, were often happy to draw their swords in support of a provincial governor against an emperor who was himself a victorious usurper. If successful in raising their own candidate to 'the purple' they could expect the gratitude to be tangible and spendable. Mutinies were rare and often caused by changes to conditions of service or harsh discipline which demeaned the soldier's status and honour. This is the story of the common soldier and their often ruthless and brutal commanders. John McHugh examines each of the major cases of armed rebellion or military mutiny during the first century. Skilfully intertwined with the narrative of these dramatic and usually bloody events is his analysis of the underlying causes and the varying degrees of success in the face of the Imperial response to these threats. AUTHOR: John S McHugh has a BA and MA in Ancient History. His love of the ancient world has led him to travel to many classical sites. Before his recent (early) retirement he was Assistant Headmaster at a secondary school in Bolton. He is the co-author of a text book on Bolton's connections with the slave trade and assisted Bolton Museum with a project to record the oral history of the local populace with the aim of promoting understanding between people of different generations or ethnic and social backgrounds. He is the author of The Emperor Commodus: God and Gladiator; Emperor Alexander Severus: Rome's Age of Insurrection, AD 222-235; and Sejanus, Regent of Rome, which were also published by Pen & Sword Books. 16 b/w illustrations
