The First Weeks of Antonio's Reign

The first few weeks of Vespasian's reign did nothing to presage the modern administration that he would be remembered for. Antonio's army had taken Rome by force and unchecked by any higher power, the troops continued to run amuck in the streets. Career criminals and citizens with old scores to settle, masqueraded as Flavian soldiers and joined in the anarchic pillaging. Things began to settle down when mucianus arrived in the first week of January 70 AD.