Cornelius Fuscus Cornelius Fuscus ( died 86 ) was a Roman general who fought campaigns under the Emperors of the Flavian dynasty . During the reign of Domitian , he served as prefect of the imperial bodyguard , known as the Praetorian Guard , from 81 until his death in 86 . Prior to this appointment , Fuscus had distinguished himself as one of Vespasian ' s most ardent supporters during the civil war of 69 , known as the Year of the Four Emperors . In 85 the Dacians , led by King Decebalus , invaded the Roman Empire at Moesia , a province located south of the Danube . In response , Domitian dispatched Cornelius Fuscus to the region with five legions . Although Fuscus was initially successful in driving the invaders back across the border , the prefect suffered defeat when he was ambushed along with Legio V Alaudae during an expedition into Dacia , at the First Battle of Tapae . The entire legion was annihilated , and Fuscus killed . Year of the Four Emperors . Reign of Galba . Little is known of the life of Cornelius Fuscus prior to his appearance in the civil war of 69 . The Roman historian Tacitus informs us that he was born into an aristocratic family , but renounced a senatorial career in favour of a life of " quiet repose " as an equestrian . He enters history upon the accession of Galba on June 9 , 68 . About six months earlier , Gaius Julius Vindex , the governor of Gallia Lugdunensis , had rebelled against tax policies instituted by Emperor Nero . To gain support , Vindex had called upon Galba , the governor of Hispania Tarraconensis , to declare himself Emperor . Galba was one of Rome ' s oldest generals , enjoying considerable prestige and widespread political support . Nero ' s own popularity was already on the decline , but nonetheless , he managed to crush the revolt by quickly sending the governor of Germania Superior , Virginius Rufus to Gaul , who defeated Vindex in a battle near Vesontio . Galba was declared a public enemy , and his legion confined to the city of Clunia . The victory proved insufficient to restore Nero ' s damaged reputation however . Rumours quickly spread across the Empire that multiple legions were defecting to Galba ' s side . By June 68 , the Senate had voted Galba the Emperor and declared Nero a public enemy . Nero ' s fate was ultimately sealed when Nymphidius Sabinus , the prefect of the Praetorian Guard , bribed his soldiers to desert their Emperor . On June 9 68 , Nero committed suicide , and with him the Julio - Claudian dynasty came to an end . Despite Nero ' s unpopularity , many provinces were reluctant to accept Galba as his successor . Cornelius Fuscus was among those who declared their support for the new Emperor early . According to Tacitus , Fuscus was vital in acquiring the support of an unspecified Roman colony in Spain , Northern Italy , or Gaul , a service for which he was rewarded with the procuratorship of Illyricum . Galba ' s troubles were far from over , however , and soon legions posted in Germania , as well as the Praetorian Guard in Rome , revolted . On January 15 , 68 , Galba was murdered and replaced by Otho , governor of Lusitania , who himself quickly perished against the armies of Vitellius , governor of Germania . Shortly thereafter , Titus Flavius Vespasianus , a general stationed in Judaea , declared war on Vitellius . War of Vespasian . Vespasian joined forces with the governor of Syria , Gaius Licinius Mucianus , who was to conduct the war against Vitellius , while Vespasian himself travelled to Egypt to secure the grain supply to Rome . Not long after , the provinces of Illyricum , Pannonia and Dalmatia , defected to the side of the Flavians , at the instigation of Marcus Antonius Primus and Cornelius Fuscus . According to Tacitus , Fuscus was eager for battle : The defection of the Antonius Primus and Fuscus was a major blow for Vitellius . Fuscus and Primus lead Vespasian ' s Danube legions in the invasion of Italy . Fuscus led the Legio V Alaudae in the war , and was appointed commander of the fleet of Ravenna when it turned to Vespasian . Fuscus lead the Alaudae in the second battle of Bedriacum and helped the legions on the left wing , and commanded the legion during the conquest of Rome . Dacian wars . Nothing is recorded of Fuscus ' activities in the eleven years Vespasian ( 69 – 79 ) and then his son Titus ( 79 – 81 ) were in power . He re - emerges as a prefect of the Praetorian Guard under Emperor Domitian ( 81 – 96 ) , a post he held from at least 81 until his death in 86 . Sometime around 84 or 85 the Dacians , led by King Decebalus , crossed the Danube into the province of Moesia , wreaking considerable havoc and killing the Moesian governor Oppius Sabinus . Domitian immediately launched a counteroffensive , personally travelling to the region accompanied by a large force commanded by Cornelius Fuscus . Fuscus successfully drove the Dacians back across the border in mid - 85 , prompting Domitian to return to Rome and celebrate an elaborate triumph . The victory proved to be short - lived however , as early in 86 , Fuscus embarked on an ill - fated expedition into Dacia , which resulted in the complete destruction of the fifth legion , Legio V Alaudae , near Tapae . As Fuscus ' s men marched into Dacia , the forces of Decebalus attacked from all sides , and Fuscus attempted to rally his men , but was unsuccessful . Fuscus was killed , and the battle standard of the Praetorian Guard lost . The Praetorian cohorts would be restored , but the 5th Alaudae was never reformed .