[Sidenote:—­9—­] But people favored him greatly:  his reputation won in Britain, his fame derived from the war under way, his kindheartedness and prudence, all led them to desire to have him at their head.  Likewise Mucianus urged him strongly, hoping that Vespasian should get the name of emperor and that he as a result of the other’s good nature should enjoy an equal share of power.  Vespasian’s soldiers on ascertaining all these facts surrounded his tent and hailed him as emperor.  Portents and dreams pointing him out as sovereign long before had also fallen to the lot of Vespasian, and these will be recited in the story of his life.  For the time being he sent Mucianus to Italy against Vitellius, while he himself, after taking a look at affairs in Syria and entrusting to others the conduct of the war against the Jews, proceeded to Egypt.  There he collected money, of which of course he needed a great deal, and grin, which he desired to send in as large quantities as possible to Rome.  The soldiers in Moesia, hearing how matters stood with him, would not wait for Mucianus,—­they had learned that he was en route,—­and chose as their general Antonius Primus, [Footnote:  M.  Antonius Primus.] who had suffered sentence of exile in Nero’s reign but had been restored by Galba and was commander of the legion in Pannonia.  This man held supreme authority, although not chosen by the emperor nor by the senate.  So great was the soldiers’ anger at Vitellius and their zest for plunder.  They were doing this for no other purpose except to pillage Italy.  And their intention was realized.

[Sidenote:—­10—­] Vitellius when he heard about it remained where he was and went on with his luxurious living even to the extent of arranging gladiatorial combats.  In the course of these it was proposed that Sporus portray the role of a maiden being ravished, but he would not endure the shame and committed suicide.  Vitellius gave the charge of the war to Alienus [Footnote:  A.  Caevina Alienus.] and certain others.  Alienus reached Cremona and occupied the town, but seeing that his own soldiers were out of training as a result of their luxurious life in Rome and impaired by lack of practice, whereas the others were physically well exercised and stout of heart, he was afraid.  Subsequently, when friendly proposals came to him from Primus, he called the soldiers together and by indicating the weakness of Vitellius and the strength of Vespasian together with the character of the two men he persuaded them to revolt.  Then they removed the images of Vitellius from their standards and took an oath that they would be governed by Vespasian.  But, after the meeting had broken up and they had retired to their tents, they changed their minds and suddenly gathering excitedly in force with great outcry they again saluted Vitellius as emperor and imprisoned Alienus for having betrayed them, and they paid no heed to his consular office.  Such are the regular practices of civil wars.