Gaius Iulius Vindex (born ca. AD 25; died AD 68), of a noble Gaulish family of
Aquitania given senatorial status under
Claudius, was a
Roman governor in the province of
Gallia Lugdunensis. In either late 67 or early 68, he rebelled against
Emperor Nero. Though the aims of his followers may be more complex, Vindex as a senator would have had the aim simply of replacing Nero with a better emperor. According to the historian
Cassius Dio, Vindex "was powerful in body and of shrewd intelligence, was skilled in warfare and full of daring for any great enterprise; and he had a passionate love of freedom and a vast ambition" (Cassius Dio, 63.22.1-2). In order to gain support, he declared his allegiance to the then governor of
Hispania Tarraconensis,
Servius Sulpicius Galba, as the new emperor but the commander of the
Germania Superior army,
Lucius Verginius Rufus advanced against him. The battle between their two forces met near Vesontio (modern
Besançon). What occurred then is unclear but despite a meeting between Verginius and Vindex, the forces under Verginius seemed to have decided on a battle without orders. Desire for plunder and the weakness of Verginius as a commander are possible explanations. In the resulting battle Vindex was defeated and committed suicide.
