1Otho, having purified the city and weighed his plans for the war, since the Pennine and Cottian Alps and the other approaches to the Gauls were closed by the Vitellian armies, decided to attack Narbonese Gaul with the fleet, which was strong and loyal to his party, because he had enrolled in the ranks of a legion the survivors of those cut down at the Mulvian bridge and kept in custody by Galba's cruelty, and had given the rest also hope of honourable service in the future. 1He added to the fleet the city cohorts and many of the praetorians, the army's strength in men and vigour, and counsel and guards for the generals themselves.
1The supreme command of the expedition was entrusted to Antonius Novellus and Suedius Clemens, former chief centurions, and to Aemilius Pacensis, to whom he had restored the tribunate taken from him by Galba. 1The charge of the ships remained with the freedman Moschus, kept on unchanged to watch the loyalty of his betters. 1Suetonius Paulinus, Marius Celsus and Annius Gallus were appointed commanders of the infantry and cavalry forces, but the greatest trust was placed in Licinius Proculus, the praetorian prefect. 1He, energetic in service in the city but inexperienced in wars, by slandering the authority of Paulinus, the vigour of Celsus, the ripe judgement of Gallus, whichever each possessed (the easiest thing to do), outstripped, crooked and cunning as he was, these good and modest men.