Annals I.20, I.21

Meanwhile the companies which previous to the mutiny had been sent to Nauportus to make roads and bridges and for other purposes, when they heard of the tumult in the camp, tore up the standards, and having plundered the neighbouring villages and Nauportus itself, which was like a town, assailed the centurions who restrained them with jeers and insults, last of all, with blows. Their chief rage was against Aufidienus Rufus, the camp-prefect, whom they dragged from a waggon, loaded with baggage, and drove on at the head of the column, asking him in ridicule whether he liked to bear such huge burdens and such long marches. Rufus, who had long been a common soldier, then a centurion, and subsequently camp-prefect, tried to revive the old severe discipline, inured as he was to work and toil, and all the sterner because he had endured.

On the arrival of these troops the mutiny broke out afresh, and straggling from the camp they plundered the neighbourhood. Blaesus ordered a few who had conspicuously loaded themselves with spoil to be scourged and imprisoned as a terror to the rest; for, even as it then was, the commander was still obeyed by the centurions and by all the best men among the soldiers. As the men were dragged off, they struggled violently, clasped the knees of the bystanders, called to their comrades by name, or to the company, cohort, or legion to which they respectively belonged, exclaiming that all were threatened with the same fate. At the same time they heaped abuse on the commander; they appealed to heaven and to the gods, and left nothing undone by which they might excite resentment and pity, alarm and rage. They all rushed to the spot, broke open the guardhouse, unbound the prisoners, and were in a moment fraternising with deserters and men convicted on capital charges.

A company who had been sent to build bridges joins the mutany and plunders a city. They also abused their camp-prefect. When the company returns, disorder intensifies and Blaesus must punish some soliders. The soldiers decide to liberate the punished.

In the first passage, Tacitus takes the time to mention a poor leader, Aufidienus Rufus. Despite being experienced, he was too strict and, thus, the company rebelled and tortured him. Here Rufus is the opposite of Blaesus, a man who was too lenient. What makes a great leader then? Well, in Tacitus' Agricola IV, he states that Agricola "was soon mellowed by reason and experience, and he retained from his learning that most difficult of lessons - moderation." Rufus may have been experienced, but he only learned extremism from it.

Amazingly, when the mutany again intensifies, Blaesus still has some controlover it. This dissolves quickly as they free prisoners . Still, Blaesus remains unharmed by the mutany. There is still a chain of command, though weakening rapidly. Perhaps the soldiers know they need Blaesus. He does maintain some sort of order and he is their channel of communication to the emperor.