The Night at Cremona

Autumn, AD 69: Primus’s legions come down from the Alps and begin a night battle with Vitellius’s army at Cremona.

Transcript

Autumn, AD sixty-nine.

From Aquileia the Danube legions march into the heart of Italy. Antonius Primus leads them.

He takes Padua and Verona.

Facing him, at Hostilia, stands Vitellius’s army. Its general sits in chains, for treason.

Primus gives them no time. In two days he reaches Bedriacum, the field of that year’s first battle.

Before noon his cavalry collides with the enemy on the road to Cremona. At the fourth milestone it routs two legions of Vitellius.

In the evening the rest arrive from Hostilia. Six legions have marched thirty miles today. They do not rest.

At nine in the evening battle begins. Both sides have the same weapons. By now everyone knows the watchword.

Late at night the moon rises behind the Flavians. Their long shadows confuse the enemy, while the Vitellians stand in the light.

Dawn will decide who wins.