This Week In History From Vcoins

07/18 69 AD Vitellius formally awarded title of Augustus. He was acclaimed Emperor following the quick succession of the previous emperors Galba and Otho, in a year of civil war known as the Year of the Four Emperors. He was the first to add the honorific cognomen Germanicus to his name instead of Caesar upon his accession.
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07/21 287 AD Diocletian and Maximian declare their divine birthday of the gods Jove and Hercules, respectively. Religious legitimization elevated them above potential rivals in a way military power and dynastic claims could not. After his acclamation, Maximian was dispatched to fight the rebel Bagaudae in Gaul. Diocletian returned to the East.