At the end of AD 69, things were going well for Civilis. He remained undefeated and the revolt had spread; the Treveri and Lingones had joined his rebellion. In Italy, however, Vespasian had defeated Vitellius and his principal supporter, Gaius Licinius Mucianus, was making arrangements for the defeat of the revolt. He appointed Appius Annius Gallus and Quintus Petillius Cerialis as commanders, and a large army of five legions was assembled to deal with the crisis. These included XIII Gemina, VIII Augusta, XI Claudia, and II Adiutrix. With XXI Rapax, they started on three paths towards the crisis over the Cottian, Pennine, and Graian Alps. Reading between Tacitus’ lines, it seems that Gallus took XIII Gemina, VIII Augusta, and XI Claudia via the east-most Cottian Alps into Germania Superior, whist…
