[231] They were commanded by Martius Macer (see chaps. 23, 35. &c.). [232] The defender of Placentia. He earned further laurels under Trajan in Germany. He was a friend of Tacitus and the younger Pliny, and is suspected of writing some bad verse. [233] Early in March (cp. i. 70). [234] Not regularly formed into a legion: those to whom 'he held out hopes of honourable service' (cp. i. 87). [235] Cp. i. 87. [236] The mountainous district north of the Italian frontier on the Var. [237] Ventimiglia, the modern frontier town between France and Italy on the Riviera. [238] A Gallic tribe living round Tongres and Spa. [239] Living round Trier. [240] Afterwards one of the leaders in the rebellion on the Rhine (cp. iv. 55). [241] Frejus. [242] i.e. either the VII Galbian or XIII Gemina, both of which were on Otho's side. [243] i.e. the Ligurian cohort, mentioned above. [244] Antibes. [245] Albenga. [246] Sardinia and Corsica were an imperial province A.D. 6-67. Then Nero gave it back to the senate to compensate for his declaration of the independence of Achaia. Vespasian once more transferred it to imperial government. If _procurator_ is correct here, Pacarius must have been a subordinate imperial functionary in a senatorial province. As the province changed hands so often and was so soon after this placed under imperial control, it is possible that Tacitus made a mistake and that Pacarius was an ex-praetor. Those who feel that Tacitus is unlikely to have made this error, and that Pacarius can hardly have been anything but governor, adopt the suggestion that Corsica did not share the fate of Sardinia in A.D. 67, but remained under the control of an imperial procurator. There is no clear evidence of this, but under Diocletian Corsica was certainly separate. [247] These cruisers were of a peculiarly light build, called after the Liburni, an Illyrian tribe, who fought for Octavian in the battle of Actium. He introduced similar craft into the Roman navy. They were very fast, and worked with a triangular, instead of the usual square sail. [248] i.e. his Corsican and Roman clients. [249] i. 70. [250] Piacenza and Pavia. [251] i.e. one of the two detachments sent forward by the armies of Dalmatia and Pannonia (cp. chap. 11). [252] Otho's Praetorian Guards were the weakest point in his army. [253] Cp. i. 36 note 61. [254] i.e. that Spurinna was in league with Caecina, and meant to hand them over to him.