1Before the Ides of July all Syria was bound by the same oath. 1There joined him, together with their kingdoms, Sohaemus, with forces not to be despised, and Antiochus, mighty in ancient wealth and the richest of the subject kings. 1Soon Agrippa, summoned from Rome by secret messages from his own people, had hurried there by a swift voyage, while Vitellius was still unaware. 1With no less spirit Queen Berenice was helping the cause, in the flower of her youth and beauty, and pleasing even to the old Vespasian by the magnificence of her gifts. 1All the provinces washed by the sea as far as Asia and Achaia, and all that extends inland towards Pontus and the Armenians, swore allegiance; 1but they were governed by unarmed legates, since legions had not yet been assigned to Cappadocia.
1A council on the conduct of the whole enterprise was held at Berytus. 1Mucianus came there with legates and tribunes and all the most distinguished of the centurions and soldiers, and the pick of the Judaean army was there too: so much infantry and cavalry together, and the pomp of kings vying with one another, had produced the appearance of an emperor's fortune.