Emperor Nero died, and the regime called Julio-Claudian dynasty collapsed.
The political turmoil during Nero's life was considerable, but the turmoil in Rome after Nero's death far outweighed it.
In just one year, the three Roman emperors changed into an unprecedented crisis, and Rome entered the civil war again.
Typical aristocratic class
In Rome, there is a career called "Cursus Honorum", which is said to be a prestigious course.
Experienced Edjeris and Quaestor at a young age, and after experiencing important positions such as Praetor and Consul, became the governor of the province as Proconsul and Proconsul.
Galva was exactly the person who embodied this Cursus Honorum, and was the Governor of Hispania in the direction of Spain when Emperor Nero died.
When Emperor Nero was still alive, a person named Vintex showed his intention to revolt against Nero, proclaiming that Galva was suitable for the emperor. Galva itself had that intention, and the Senate supported it.
It is said that Emperor Nero realized his destiny when he saw it and died himself. He was only 31 years old.
The Roman emperor claimed to be Princeps, the first citizen of Rome at this time, so he was only able to take up that position after the Senate recognized him.
Galva was 70 at this time and was originally too old to become an emperor.
Emperor Galva's inaction
Galva was supposed to be an old general who had gained experience with the permission of many emperors. ..
At the beginning of his career was the time of Emperor Tiberius, and Galva himself was one of the people found in Tiberius.
Tiberius's affairs were perfect and pay-for-performance, according to later historian and Nobel Prize-winning Theodor Mommsen. Galva is experiencing his first consul at this time.
It was useful as it was during the time of Emperor Claudius after the death of Tiberius, and even Claudius accompanied him to conquer Britannia in the most important district at that time, and since then he has been active as a powerful Senate in various places. He will also serve as the governor.
Both Roman citizens and the Senate expected those who had experienced this prestigious course.
But that was disappointing.
Galva's first misstep was not to give Roman citizens a lump sum when he took office.
In Rome, it was customary to give a lump sum to Roman citizens when the emperor took office. Galva himself must have seen it many times, but I don't know why he didn't. Unfortunately he was simply incompetent as an emperor.
By the way, it can be said that Marcus Aurelius had the largest amount of this lump sum, which is one of the reasons why his evaluation was high.
Galva also made a mistake in terms of personnel.
Consul is originally a person who should be selected in the election, but at this time it is customary to be a person nominated by the emperor, and at that time it is customary to choose the governor of each region's governor-general, who is an influential person, with his own confidant. I set up a person named Vinius.
The corps in each province was dissatisfied with this appointment because they thought their governor was the right arm of the emperor.
From around this time, the power of the Governor-General in each region became stronger, and the support of the soldiers came to hold the fate of the emperor rather than the Senate.
It is said that this personnel affair lost the support of the Senate and the generals at once, and at this point Galva lost the support of all three major Roman powers.
Further deciding the fate of Galva would have been the demand for the return of the money Nero had given. Nero is often referred to as a tyrant, but he was also a supporter of the so-called lower class, and frequently gave gifts to actors and gladiators. He has Roman citizenship, even though he is a lower class.
Galva's fate has already been decided.
The Governor-General of Germany, one of the strongest armies in Rome, refused to be loyal to Galva and even rebelled in Germania. And they have espoused their governor, Vitellius, as an emperor.
Galva here announced that he would adopt a person named Piso, who has a high approval rating, to make him his successor in an attempt to further calm himself down.
This is the antipathy of Oto, who is an influential person. Oto thought that the next emperor was himself.
Oto killed Piso and Galva as they were, and decided to call himself an emperor.
Personal evaluation of Galva
Looking at Galva makes me think about the word proper.
For example, even in a company, the moment a good employee becomes a boss, he often becomes an incompetent crusher boss, and sometimes a good employee becomes the president at all.
As there is a saying that a great player is not necessarily a great manager, people are appropriate.
Galva would have been an excellent person basically. He was the emperor's forgiveness. He fulfilled his duties and finally became an emperor.
However, it was not suitable for the emperor by a micron.
That's it.
Historian Tacitus evaluates Galva in this way.
If Galva did not become an emperor, everyone would have said that Galva deserves an emperor.
There would be no more words to describe the person Galva.