103 events the sources record for this year, grouped by region.
What happened
China (3)
The Ailao king and others beyond the frontier of Yizhou submitted, and the commandery of Yongchang was established. (Book of the Later Han (Hou Hanshu), Annals 後漢書卷2 顯宗孝明帝紀 永平12年)
On his way to congratulate Galba he consulted the oracle of Paphian Aphrodite about his voyage and received a firm assurance that he would obtain the throne. (Suetonius, Lives of the Caesars Titus 5)
He plunged into civil war, sent his generals and army to Italy, and crossed himself to Alexandria, the key to Egypt. (Suetonius, Lives of the Caesars Vespasian 7)
Vespasian in Alexandria hears of Vitellius' fall through several channels (Tacitus, Annals and Histories Hist. 4.51)
Southern Europe (66)
Galba, going out to calm the army, is killed beside the Lacus Curtius at Otho's instigation (reign of seven months and seven days). (Aurelius Victor, De Caesaribus Aur. Vict. Caes. 6.3)
Otho, defeated by Vitellius at the battle of Verona, kills himself after a reign of 85 days. (Aurelius Victor, De Caesaribus Aur. Vict. Caes. 7.2)
Vitellius, defeated at Cremona, believes he has been deceived and in his rage burns the Capitol. (Aurelius Victor, De Caesaribus Aur. Vict. Caes. 8.5)
Believing that his lack of children made him despised, he adopted the young nobleman Piso as a son in the camp, but did not mention a gift of money, which gave Otho an opportunity. (Suetonius, Lives of the Caesars Galba 17)
On the morning before he was killed, during a sacrifice, the soothsayer repeatedly warned that the assassins were near; he stayed in the palace and posted only legionary soldiers as guards. (Suetonius, Lives of the Caesars Galba 19)
Killed at seventy-three, in the seventh month of his reign; the Senate ordered a statue set up on the naval column in the Forum where he was killed, but Vespasian cancelled it. (Suetonius, Lives of the Caesars Galba 23)
As soon as Piso left, he seized the camp and tried to attack Galba, who was dining in the palace; the same battalion that had stood guard at Gaius's killing and at Nero's desertion was on guard again this time. (Suetonius, Lives of the Caesars Otho 6)
Toward evening he entered the Senate and, having been seized in the street and forced to accept the throne, made a short speech. (Suetonius, Lives of the Caesars Otho 7)
The army of Upper Germany, enraged at not being rewarded for suppressing Vindex's revolt, sent envoys to the Praetorian guard. (Suetonius, Lives of the Caesars Galba 16)
The garrison in Germany swore allegiance to Vitellius as emperor; war became unavoidable, and the Praetorians nearly killed the senators. (Suetonius, Lives of the Caesars Otho 8)
On reaching the camp he granted all requests and pardoned those who had been punished, winning favor, and accepted the acclamation of the army of Upper Germany. (Suetonius, Lives of the Caesars Vitellius 8)
Hearing in Gaul of the victory at Bedriacum and of Otho's death, he disbanded the entire Praetorian guard with a single proclamation. (Suetonius, Lives of the Caesars Vitellius 10)
The army of Upper Germany despises the governor Hordeonius, who is old and lame (Tacitus, Annals and Histories Hist. 1.9)
In early January, the procurator of Belgica sends a report on the defection of the Upper German legions (Tacitus, Annals and Histories Hist. 1.12)