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The '''Battle of Bedriacum''' refers to two battles fought during the [[Year of the four Emperors]] A.D. 69 near the village of Bedriacum, now Calvatone, Italy, about 22 miles from the town of Cremona in northern Italy. After the death of [[Nero]] 8 June A.D. 68, four influential generals successively vied for the imperial throne. The location of the fighting in 69 was the rural countryside between Bedriacum and Cremona. These battles are sometimes called "First Cremona" and "Second Cremona".  

The '''Battle of Bedriacum''' refers to two battles fought during the [[Year of the four Emperors]] A.D. 69 near the village of Bedriacum, now Calvatone, Italy, about 22 miles from the town of Cremona in northern Italy. After the death of [[Nero]] 8 June A.D. 68, four influential generals successively vied for the imperial throne. The location of the fighting in 69 was the rural countryside between Bedriacum and Cremona. These battles are sometimes called "First Cremona" and "Second Cremona".  

Otho left Rome on 14 March, and marched north to meet the challenge, leaving his brother Titianus in charge of Rome. He made his base at Brixellum. His forces included legions I Adiutrix, XIII Gemina, a forward detachment of XIIII Gemina, the Praetorian Guard and a force of gladiators. His general staff included generals such as Gaius Suetonius Paulinus, who, as governor of Britain, had defeated [[Boudica]] eight years before, but Otho decided to call his brother Titianus from Rome to act as his commander in chief.  

Otho left Rome on 14 March, and marched north to meet the challenge, leaving his brother Titianus in charge of Rome. He made his base at Brixellum. His forces included legions I Adiutrix, XIII Gemina, a forward detachment of XIIII Gemina, the Praetorian Guard and a force of gladiators. His general staff included generals such as Gaius Suetonius Paulinus, who, as governor of Britain, had defeated [[Boudica]] eight years before, but Otho decided to call his brother Titianus from Rome to act as his commander in chief.  

Before Titianus arrived, one engagement had already been fought. Caecina tried to set up an ambush at a village called Locus Castorum, about half way between Bedriacum and Cremona on the Via Postumia. However the Othonians were informed of this, and their army marched for Locus Castorum, led by Suetonius Paulinus. The Othonians had the better of the fighting which followed, and Caecina's troops retreated to Cremona. Here they were joined by Valens' army, which had followed a longer route through Gaul.  

Before Titianus arrived, one engagement had already been fought. Caecina tried to set up an ambush at a village called Locus Castorum, about halfway between Bedriacum and Cremona on the Via Postumia. However the Othonians were informed of this, and their army marched for Locus Castorum, led by Suetonius Paulinus. The Othonians had the better of the fighting which followed, and Caecina's troops retreated to Cremona. Here they were joined by Valens' army, which had followed a longer route through Gaul.  

Titanius had now joined the Othonian armies and took command. A decision was made to march on Cremona to give battle, against the advice of Paulinus and other generals, who wished to wait until other legions, known to be on the way, had arrived. Otho himself remained at Brixellum to await the outcome. On 14 April the two armies met on the Via Postumia, nearer Cremona than Bedriacum, with the Othonian troops already tired after a long march. Some of the heaviest fighting was where Otho's 1st Adiutrix legion, recently raised from the marines at Ravenna, clashed with Vitellius' veteran Rapax. The Adiutrix acquitted itself well, capturing the eagle of the 21st, though its commanding officer was killed as the 21st strove to recover it. Elsewhere on the battlefield, however, Otho's 13th legion was defeated by Vitellius' Alaudae, and the Adiutrix eventually gave way when a force of Batavian auxiliaries took them in the flank. According to [[Dio Cassius]] about 40,000 men were killed in the fighting. The Othonian troops fled back to their camp in Bedriacum, and the next day surrendered to the Vitellian forces and took the oath of allegiance to Vitellius.  

Titanius had now joined the Othonian armies and took command. A decision was made to march on Cremona to give battle, against the advice of Paulinus and other generals, who wished to wait until other legions, known to be on the way, had arrived. Otho himself remained at Brixellum to await the outcome. On 14 April the two armies met on the Via Postumia, nearer Cremona than Bedriacum, with the Othonian troops already tired after a long march. Some of the heaviest fighting was where Otho's 1st Adiutrix legion, recently raised from the marines at Ravenna, clashed with Vitellius' veteran Rapax. The Adiutrix acquitted itself well, capturing the eagle of the 21st, though its commanding officer was killed as the 21st strove to recover it. Elsewhere on the battlefield, however, Otho's 13th legion was defeated by Vitellius' Alaudae, and the Adiutrix eventually gave way when a force of Batavian auxiliaries took them in the flank. According to [[Dio Cassius]] about 40,000 men were killed in the fighting. The Othonian troops fled back to their camp in Bedriacum, and the next day surrendered to the Vitellian forces and took the oath of allegiance to Vitellius.