Vitellius ruled only three months from till December 22, 69. The armies of the eastern provinces had proclaimed a rival emperor; their commander, Vespasian. Very soon all Roman legions of the East, Dalmatia, and Illyricum had declared for Vespasian. Everybody deserted Vitellius. On the entrance of Vespasian’s troops into Rome he was dragged out of some hiding place and there struck down. He was beheaded and his head paraded around Rome. His brother and son were also killed.

The Senate acknowledged Vespasian as emperor on the following day, December 22, 69. This was the end of the Year of Four Emperors. Vespasian turned out to be quite a savvy administrator and reformer. He ruled for ten more years and died of natural causes in 79.

Up until today nobody knows the origin of the Roman triumph ceremony. Some say that it came from ancient Etruscan civilization and then passed to Rome as a civil ceremony and religious rite. No historian could establish with certainty when the last Roman triumph ceremony was conducted.

In the times of Roman republic, triumph was held to publicly honour the triumphator - military commander of a notably successful foreign war or campaign and to display the glories of Roman victory. If the Roman general wanted to have a triumph in his honor, he had to meet certain requirements.

For example he had to be proclaimed an imperator by his troops after a great victory. This acclamation necessary for a general to apply to the Senate for a triumph. Then an imperator would bring the army home, signifying that the war was over and that the army was no longer needed.

Read on …