Legio V Alaudae

This stunning victory galvanized the Jewish rebels and pushed aside moderates, hardening their desire for complete Judean independence from Rome.

With Judea spiraling out of control and Romans determined to take vengeance for Gallus' defeat, Vespasian was appointed to put down the rebellion in late 66 or early 67 AD, and he set off immediately with Legio V and Legio X. Vespasian made Titus, now 27 years old, legate of his third legion, Legio XV Apollinaris, then stationed in Egypt.

Whilst Vespasian made his way to Judea by land from Greece going through modern-day Turkey, Titus travelled across the Mediterranean and took command of his legion in Egypt before moving north.

The Romans had around 60,000 soldiers in total, and Vespasian and Titus began the campaign in Galilee, in the north of Judea, and one of the most radicalized regions in the area.

I am not asking about those points, says he.

I am going to add as judges common soldiers of the legion of Alaudae, as our friends say that that is the only measure by which they can be saved.

Oh, what an insulting compliment it is to those men whom you summon to act as judges though they never expected it! For the effect of the law is to make those men judges in the third decury who do not dare to judge with freedom.

And in that how great, O ye immortal gods, is the error of those men who have desired that law! For the meaner the condition of each judge is, the greater will be the severity of judgment with which he will seek to efface the idea of his meanness; and he will strive rather to appear worthy of being classed in the honorable decuries than to have deservedly ranked in a disreputable one.

I am not asking about those points, says he.

I am going to add as judges common soldiers of the legion of Alaudae, as our friends say, that that is the only measure by which they can be saved.

Oh, what an insulting compliment it is to those men whom you summon to act as judges though they never expected it.

For the effect of the law is to make those men judges in the third decury who do not dare to judge with freedom.

Add besides the wrecks of Caesar's party, the Barbai Cassii, the Barbatii, and the Polios, and the companions and fellow-gamblers of Antonius, Eriutropolis, and Mella, and Coelius, and Pontius, and Crassiceus, and Tiro, and Mustela, and Pesticius.

I say nothing of the main body, I am only naming the leaders.

To these are added the legionaries of the Alaudae and the rest of the veterans, the seminary of the judges of the third decury, who, having exhausted their own estates and squandered all the fruits of Caesar's kindness, have now set their hearts on our fortunes.

Oh, that trustworthy right hand of Antonius, with whom he has murdered many citizens! Oh, that regularly ratified and solemn treaty which we made with the Antonii! Surely, if Marcus shall attempt to violate it, the conscientious piety of Lucius will call him back from such wickedness.

I am not asking about those points, says he.

I am going to add as judges common soldiers of the legion of Alaudae, as our friends say that that is the only measure by which they can be saved.

Oh, what an insulting compliment it is to those men whom you summon to act as judges though they never expected it! For the effect of the law is to make those men judges in the third decury who do not dare to judge with freedom.

And in that how great, O ye immortal gods, is the error of those men who have desired that law! For the meaner the condition of each judge is, the greater will be the severity of judgment with which he will seek to efface the idea of his meanness, and he will strive rather to appear worthy of being classed in the honorable decuries than to have deservedly ranked in a disreputable one.

I say nothing of the main body.

I am only naming the leaders.

To these are added the legionaries of the Alaudae and the rest of the veterans, the seminary of the judges of the third decury, who, having exhausted their own estates and squandered all the fruits of Caesar's kindness, have now set their hearts on our fortunes.

Oh, that trustworthy right hand of Antonius, with whom he has murdered many citizens.

I am not asking about those points, says he.

I am going to add as judges common soldiers of the legion of Alaudae, as our friends say, that that is the only measure by which they can be saved.

Oh, what an insulting compliment it is to those men whom you summon to act as judges though they never expected it.

For the effect of the law is to make those men judges in the third decury who do not dare to judge with freedom.

Moreover, he passed a law to regulate judicial proceedings, this chaste and upright man, this upholder of the tribunals and the law.

And in this he deceived us.

He used to say that he appointed men from the front ranks of the army, common soldiers, men of the Alaudae, as judges.

But he has in reality selected gamesters, he has selected exiles, he has selected Greeks.