Later in 69, the Danubian legions joined Vespasian and, under Marcus Antonius Primus, crossed the Alps toward northern Italy. The river forts along the Danube emptied into columns headed for Cremona. Their arrival would decide the Po plain and, with it, Rome [6].
What Happened
With the East aligned in July, Vespasian needed steel in Italy. It came from the Danube. Legions from Pannonia and Moesia declared for him, and Marcus Antonius Primus—an aggressive commander with a keen sense of timing—led them across Noricum and the Alpine passes toward the Po valley [6].
The march rattled the mountain roads. Wheels creaked, ice hissed under hobnails at dawn, and standards bobbed against gray cliffs. Towns along the route—Emona, then Aquileia—counted cohorts and tallied requisitions. Each day closed the distance to Bedriacum and Cremona, the same crossroads that had ended Otho.
Primus aimed for speed and surprise. His columns reached northern Italy as harvests colored the fields gold. Vitellian forces, spread to hold Milan, Verona, and Cremona, had to pivot against a fresh army with fierce morale and a clear purpose: break the regime’s field strength in one blow [6].
Behind the Danubians came legitimacy in waiting: once the Po plain yielded, Rome would face the choice it had faced in April—endorse the victor. The Alps, now behind them, no longer shielded Vitellius from the consequences of urban militarization.
In the last weeks before October, patrols skirmished along the Po and scouting parties traded javelins in the vineyards near Bedriacum. The Danubian legions were in position to write their verdict.
Why This Matters
Danubian allegiance gave the Flavian cause the field army it needed to contest Italy. With Primus driving hard, Vespasian’s bid no longer depended on eastern distance or grain alone; it had a spearpoint at Cremona [6].
This event is the core of “Danubian Steel Decides Italy.” Victory would not come from decrees or coins, but from soldiers who had trained on the frontier and now applied that discipline to a civil war.
The movement also set up the Second Battle of Bedriacum. By concentrating fresh legions against Vitellius’s dispersed forces, Primus created the conditions for a decisive October clash that would open Rome to a final assault.
Event in Context
See what happened before and after this event in the timeline
People Involved
Key figures who played a role in Danubian Legions Declare for Vespasian
Vespasian
Vespasian (born 9 CE), a battle-tested general from Sabine stock, won the purple in 69 not by racing to Rome but by mastering logistics and law. Acclaimed in Judaea on 1 July, he secured Egypt’s grain via Alexandria, coordinated with Gaius Licinius Mucianus, and drew the Danubian legions to his side. While his commanders took Rome, the Senate recognized him (21 December), and the lex de imperio Vespasiani codified his powers. He then stabilized the empire’s finances, finished the Jewish War through Titus, and began the Flavian building program that would culminate in the Colosseum.
Marcus Antonius Primus
Marcus Antonius Primus, a talented but controversial general from Gaul, became the Danubian spear-point of Vespasian’s bid in 69. Restored to favor under Galba after a forgery conviction under Nero, he commanded Legio VII (Galbiana/Gemina) in Pannonia. He pushed the Danubian legions to declare for Vespasian, defeated Vitellian forces at the Second Battle of Bedriacum, then drove on Rome. His troops’ street fighting helped topple Vitellius—but also saw the Capitol burn. Primus won the war that crowned Vespasian, then receded from center stage when Mucianus arrived to manage the peace.
Ask About This Event
Have questions about Danubian Legions Declare for Vespasian? Get AI-powered insights based on the event details.