In the words of Roman statesman and historian Cassius Dio (writing in 200–222 AD): '.the inhabitants of Britain and of Gaul, oppressed by the taxes, were becoming more vexed and inflamed than ever'. April – Servius Sulpicius Galba, governor of Hispania Tarraconensis, and Gaius Julius Vindex, governor of Gallia Lugdunensis rebel against Nero.Given the involvement of both Legio II and Legio XX, it is worth reviewing events, which well illustrate the back-stabbing Roman politics of the time: The social, military and political upheavals of the period had Empire-wide repercussions, which included the outbreak of the Revolt of the Batavi. Between June of 68 and December of 69 Galba, Otho, and Vitellius successively rose and fell, the latter overlapping with the July 69 accession of Vespasian, who founded the Flavian dynasty.

The suicide of the emperor Nero in 68 was followed by a brief period of civil war, the first Roman civil war since Mark Antony's death in 30 BC. The Year of the Four Emperors, 69 AD, was a year in the history of the Roman Empire in which four emperors ruled in succession: Galba, Otho, Vitellius, and Vespasian (it is five if you count Nymphidius Sabinus). But why Capricorn if the Legio II Aductrix 'Pia Fidelis' was officially 'born' in March (AD 70) - the story is actually quite interesting. One of the most important festivals for a Roman legion was the 'birthday of the eagle', which celebrated the anniversary of the legion's foundation. The reconstructed hypocaust in the Roman Gardens and the Capricorn Mosaiic by Gary Drostle. As well as being used for the storage of the insignia (there are replica insignia at Chester) it was also used to store the legionary pay-chests, and possibly also acted as a 'bank' for the soldiers to keep their savings (if any) until they retired. The 'sacellum' in Chester can still be seen, in Hamilton Place, near the Town Hall. This close association with the eagle was why it was so important why none were lost in battle and why steps were taken to recover any which had been lost. Thus the army standards were literally both a guiding motif and motive a point of reference as well as a symbol of the troops’ morale. They always had the standards’ protection on their minds when following the standard bearer into battle. The Roman army standards also exerted a strong psychological influence on the soldiers, who would gather around them before a battle and during lulls. Therefore, the army standards were ritually worshipped as representatives of military religion ('religio castrensis'). The army standards were symbols and warrantors for religious commitment to the state as well as for military virtues and successes. One of these holidays was the 'dies natalis aquilae' the 'birthday' of the (legionary) eagle, that is, the day on which the soldiers celebrated the anniversary of the legion’s founding. On special holidays, the army standards were anointed, decorated with laurel and garlands, as well as adorned with bands. The spiritual center of a Roman military camp was the 'Sacellum', a space consecrated to the flags of the legion in which the army standards (insignia) were stored. This was where the Romans kept the standards of the legion and their cash.

Cassius dio on the battle of arausio