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During the ensuing conflict between forces loyal to Vitellius and Vespasian, the loyalty of the fleets was even more crucial. It can be clearly shown that Vespasian knew and fully understood how important the fleets had been in helping him to obtain power. The co-operation between the Black Sea and Syrian fleets enabled the Vespasian forces led by Antonius Primus to move unhindered and with full logistical support into Italy and down to Rome. The fleet at Alexandria handed over control of grain supplies to Vespasian who could thus exert powerful economic and political as well as military pressure on Vitellius.

The defection from Vitellius of the Ravenna fleet (which caused a furore in his army) and its insistence on marching against him as a legio classica, taken together with the revolt of the Misenum fleet (commanded by Apollinaris) and its spontaneous march on Rome, which diverted Vitellian troops south from Rome to Terracina to deal with the problem, made it impossible for Vitellius to launch any surprise counter attacks. To make matters worse, the capture of Valens, the top Vitellian commander, by a naval squadron acting on its own initiative destroyed any chance of reinforcements coming from Spain and Germany. Finally, the ex-sailors of Legio I Adiutrix (by now in Spain) declared for Vespasian leading the way for the other legions in Spain to do the same, with Legio Secunda Augusta (Vespasian’s old command) doing the same in Britain.

To quote C.G. Starr: “(Vespasian) chose to stress sea power as the most significant factor in his success. In the commemorative coinage of ’71 and succeeding years, the only type which specifically refers to the civil war bears the legend Victoria Navalis – ‘ (Lady) Victory of the Fleet’. The I Adiutrix continued as part of the permanent legionary forces in Spain while the sailors of the Ravenna fleet, who forced Antonius Primus to enrol them as legionaries after the second battle of Cremona, were formally organised by order of Vespasian in March ’70 into Legio II Adiutrix Pia Fidelis (Dutiful and Steadfast). The II Adiutrix went on to serve in Britain – at Lincoln in ’71 and at Chester in ’75.

Vespasian honoured the provincial fleets as well. The Alexandria and possibly Syria squadrons received the title Augusta for their aid and the fleet in Germany was honoured for standing firm against a revolt by the German tribes during the civil war. The two Danube fleets – in Pannonia and Moesia – were awarded the title Flavia for withstanding the Dacian revolt. Finally there was further recognition of the role of the two home fleets at Ravenna and Misenum: the prefects in command were raised from the rank or status of sexagenarius to that of ducenarius – an income of 60,000 sestertia raised to 200,000.

Bibliography:
(The above essay is based largely on Tacitus’ “Histories” as primary source and upon C.G. Starr’s “The Roman Imperial Navy 31BC-AD324”, Barnes & Noble New York, 2nd edition 1960 – S.K.)