Editing Gaius Julius Civilis (section)

==Revolt==
{{main article|Revolt of the Batavi}}
[[File:The Conspiracy of Claudius Civilis by Rembrandt van Rijn.jpg|thumb|''[[The Conspiracy of Claudius Civilis]]'', completed in 1661 by [[Rembrandt Harmenszoon van Rijn|Rembrandt]]. It depicts a [[Batavians|Batavian]] oath to Gaius Julius Civilis, the head of the [[Batavian rebellion]] against the [[ancient Rome|Romans]] in 69 AD.]]
The Roman garrisons near the Rhine were driven out, and twenty-four ships captured. Two legions under [[Mummius Lupercus]] were defeated at Castra Vetera (near the modern [[Xanten]]) and surrounded. Eight cohorts of Batavian veterans joined their countrymen, and the troops sent by Vespasian to the relief of Vetera threw in their lot with them.{{sfn|Chisholm|1911|p=403}}

<blockquote>"Let Syria, Asia Minor, and the East, habituated as it is to despotism, submit to slavery... Freedom is a gift bestowed by nature even on the dumb animals. Courage is the peculiar excellence of man, and the Gods help the braver side."

- Gaius Julius Civilis<ref>Tacitus ''Historiae'' IV.17</ref></blockquote>

The result of these accessions to the forces of Civilis was a rising in [[Gaul]]. [[Hordeonius Flaccus]] was murdered by his troops (70 AD), and the whole of the Roman forces were induced by two commanders of the Gallic auxiliaries —[[Julius Classicus]] and [[Julius Tutor]]— to revolt from Rome and join Civilis. The whole of Gaul thus practically declared itself independent, and the foundation of a new kingdom of Gaul was contemplated. The prophetess [[Veleda]] predicted the complete success of Civilis and the fall of the [[Roman Empire]]. But disputes broke out among the different tribes and rendered co-operation impossible; Vespasian, having successfully ended the civil war, called upon Civilis to lay down his arms, and on his refusal resolved to take strong measures for the suppression of the revolt.{{sfn|Chisholm|1911|p=403}}