Batavian Revolt

The Batavian Revolt (69-70 CE) was Rebellion by the Batavi Tribe who inhabited the area of the Rhine delta, in modern Netherlands.
It was led by the Batavian Prince, Gaius Julius Civlis, an Auxiliary Officer in the Roman Army. He united the Batavi, Germanic and Celtic Tribes in the Revolt, and destroyed two Roman Legions.

The Batavi Tribe were exempt from ‘Tributum’.
Instead, they provided one Ala and eight Cohortes of Auxilia, plus the Germani Corpore Custodes, the Personal Bodyguard of the Roman Emperor.
The Batavi developed a technique of swimming across rivers wearing full body armour and carrying their weapons.
Between 43-66 CE, they assisted with the invasion of Britannia and its subsequent occupation. They were withdrawn in 66 CE.

A series of insults to the Batavians and Prince Civilis then led to open Revolt.
In c. 67 CE, The Governor of Germania Inferior arrested Prince Civilis and his brother and laid a false charge of treason. His brother was executed, but Civilis was a Roman Citizen and was sent to Rome for his Trial, for the Emperor, Nero, to personally hear his case.
The Year of the Four Emperors (69 CE) caused upheaval as Legions were dragged into Civil Wars.
In 68 CE, Nero was overthrown by Galba who released Civilis from prison and sent him home.
In 69 CE, Vitellius Governor of Germania Inferior rearrested Civilis.
In 69 CE, Galba disbanded the ‘Germani Corpore Custodes’ – Augustus’ Bodyguard Unit – whom he suspected of remaining loyal to Nero, which was a deep insult to this elite Regiment.
In 69 CE, The 8 Cohorts of the Batavian Auxilia, who were attached to the Legio XIV Gemina fell out with them, and serious fighting occurred between them.
In 69 CE, Vitellius had himself declared Emperor and released Civilis, so that he could take the Batavian Cohorts willingly to Italy where they fought at Cremona.
Vitellius’ Governor, further upset the Batavians by over-recruiting them for the conflict in Italy.
Finally, Civilis, who was the Roman Commander of the Batavian Auxiliary Cohorts left behind decided to rebel. He was fully trained in Roman strategy and tactics.

In 69 CE, using the dismissed eight Batavian Cohorts, Civilis besieged Castra Vetera (Xanten). This was a well stocked legionary Fortress of the Legio V Alaudae and the Legio XV Primigenia. Civilis knew the siege would be long.
This prevented these two Legions from going to Italy to defend Vitellius against Vespasian.

The Governor of Germania Inferior was Marcus Hordeonis Flaccus, who was described by Tacitus as weak and incapable. Flaccus hesitated to respond, because the Rhine Legions had already helped Galba, and then been punished by the victorious Vitellius.
But when Vitellius was defeated, Flaccus acted to end the siege. Civilis changed tactics and leaving part of his army to continue the siege, he moved towards Mainz (Moguntiacum), intending to besiege that fortress as well.
Flaccus arrived at Mainz just as Vespasian defeated Vitellius. But because the Legion was loyal to Vitellius and considered Flaccus to have failed to support him, they killed him.

Civilis promptly returned to the siege of Castra Vetera where the soldiers were starving. With no Legions being sent to relieve them, the two Legions were forced to surrender. But as they walked out under an armistice, they were massacred by a Germanic Tribe who had joined Civilis.
In Gaul, Legio I Germanica and Legio XVI Gallica rebelled and joined Civilis, who now moved his base to Cologne and announced the independent State of Batavia.

Vespasian had consolidated his power in Rome but now having lost two Legions to a massacre and two more who had changed sides, he needed to eliminate the risk of the Empire disintegrating. The First Jewish-Roman War had committed four Legions to the conflict, and depleted the resources of the East.
Vespasian appointed the Roman General Quintus Petilius Cerialis to head a large Roman Army to defeat the Rebels.
He was given eight legions:
Five who were deployed along the Rhine, the Legio VIII Augusta, Legio II Adiutrix, Legio XI Claudia, Legio XIII Gemina and the Legio XXI Rapax.
Two from Spain, the Legio I Adiutrix and Legio VI Victrix.
And one from Britannia, the Legio XIV Gemina
Immediately, the two Legions who had changed sides, surrendered, with one disbanded and the other reconstituted.
Cerialis forced Civilis to withdraw towards the Rhine Delta, but he still controlled a powerful fleet. However, news of the collapse of the Rebellion in Judaea, meant more Legions would be free to move to the Rhine.

Civilis finally agreed to a Peace Treaty.
The Batavians agreed to again send eight Auxiliary Regiments to serve in the Roman Army.
The Batavian capital at Nijmegen was pulled down and rebuilt in a location that could not be defended. The Legio X Gemina was permanently installed in the area to prevent any further rebellion.

Castra Vetera, Xanten