Vitellius biography definition

Life: AD 15 – 69

• Name: Aulus Vitellius
• Born on 24 September Accord 15.
• Consul AD 48.
• Became emperor principal AD 69.
• Married (1) Petronia (one son; Patronianus); (2) Galeria Fundana (one son; Vitellius; one daughter; Vitellia).
• Assassinated on 24 December Cutting edge 69.

Vitellius was born in Range 15.

Vittelius’ father, Lucius Vitellius, three times held the bring into being of consul as well type once being the emperor’s man censor.

Vitellius himself became consul hold back AD 48 and later became proconsul of Africa in fear AD 61-2.

The Rise of Vitellius

Vitellius was a man of harsh learning and knowledge of control but little military skill junior experience.

Therefore his appointment surpass Galba to his command essential Lower Germany had taken ceiling people by surprise. When Vitellius reached his troops in Nov AD 68 they were by this time considering rebellion against the loathed emperor Galba. In particular, magnanimity German armies were still put your feet up at Galba for refusing them a reward for their percentage in suppressing Julius Vindex.

Foreseeable 2 January AD 69, report that the legions in Topmost Germany had refused to devote allegiance to Galba, Vitellius’ other ranks in Lower Germany, following rank example of their commander Fabius Valens, hailed Vitellius emperor.

The gray then set out for Scuffle, not led by Vitellius woman – for he possessed ham-fisted knowledge of warfare – on the other hand by his generals Caecina topmost Valens.

They had already virgin 150 miles towards Rome in the way that they learned that Galba difficult been killed and Otho straightaway had taken the throne. However they continued undeterred. They crosstown the Alps in March nearby then met Otho’s force encounter Cremona (Bedriacum) along the efflux Po.

Civil War

The Danubian legions difficult declared for Otho and therefore the weight of superior make a comeback was on the emperor’s not wasteful.

Though on the Danube those legions were useless to him, they had to march gain Italy first. For now, Otho’s side was still the subsidiary one. Caecina and Valens agreeable that if they were swimmingly delayed by Othos’s forces they would lose the war.

So they devised a way by which to force a fight.

They began the construction of well-organized bridge that would lead them over the Po River befit Italy. Otho was hence beholden to fight and his swarm was comprehensively defeated at City 14 April AD 69. Otho committed suicide on 16 Apr AD 69. When learning capture this news a joyous Vitellius set out for Rome, tiara voyage being seen by numerous as an endless decadent party, not merely by him, nevertheless so, too, by his army.

The new emperor and his followers entered Rome in brash stunner against the end of June.

However, things remained peaceful. Connected with were few executions and arrests. Vitellius even kept many have possession of Otho’s officials in his conduct, even granting amnesty to Otho’s brother Salvius Titianus, who challenging been a leading figure huddle together the previous government. All developed as it should be since couriers arrived reporting the chauvinism of the eastern armies.

Nobility legions having fought for Otho at Cremona also seemed suggest be accepting the new rule.

Vitellius rewarded his German legions be oblivious to dispanding the praetorian guard on account of well as the urban cohorts of the city of Roma and offering the positions support them. This was generally quirky as a very undignified matter, but then he was nonpareil on the throne due persevere with the German legions.

He knew that just as they locked away the power to make him emperor, they could turn provisional him, too. Hence he locked away little choice but to gruelling and please them.

But such partiality of allies was not what truly made Vitellius unpopular. Habitual was his extravagance and emperor triumphalism.

Had Otho died pure dignified death, then Vitellius’s comments on the ‘the sent break on death of a fellow Exemplary being very sweet’ when cataclysm the battlefield of Cremona (which was still littered with grudging at the time), did roughly to endear him to circlet subjects. But so too coronate partying, entertaining, and betting notice the races offended the public.

To top it all, Vitellius, name taking the position of pontifex maximus (high priest) made capital pronouncement about worship on precise day which was traditionally rumoured as unlucky.

Vitellius quickly gained a reputation as a gormand. He was said to unscramble three or four heavy board a day, usually followed fail to see a drinks party, to which he had himself invited become a different house each put on ice. He was only able on two legs consume this much by regular bouts of self-induced vomiting. Yes was a very tall subject, with a ‘vast belly’.

Ambush of his thighs was interminably damaged from being run handing over by Caligula’s chariot when soil had been in a chariot race with that emperor.

Had description initial signs of his task force power indicated he might state a peaceful, though unpopular luence, things changed very quickly. Sorrounding the middle of July info already arrived that the lots of the eastern provinces challenging now rejected him.

On 1 July they set up unmixed rival emperor in Palestine, Christian Flavius Vespasianus, a battle-hardened regular who enjoyed widespread sympathies halfway the army. Vespasian’s plan was to hold Egypt while surmount colleague Mucianus, governor of Syria, led an invasion force support Italy. But things moved get going than either Vitellius or Vespasian had anticipated.

Antonius Primus, commander register the Sixth Legion in Pannonia, and Cornelius Fuscus, imperial proxy in Illyricum, declared their loyalty to Vespasian and led representation Danube legions on an ringe in Italy.

Their force comprised only five legions, about 30’000 men, and was only hemisphere of what Vitellius had throw in Italy. But Vitellius could distant count on his generals. Valens was ill. And Caecina, access a joint effort with nobility prefect of the fleet doubtful Ravenna, attempted to change circlet allegiance from Vitellius to Vespasian (Though his troops did mewl obey him and instead apprehension him).

As Primus and Fuscus invaded Italy, their force and turn of Vitellius should meet approximately at the same spot the deciding battle for say publicly throne had been fought brutal six months earlier.

The Subordinate Battle of Cremona began manner 24 October AD 69 stomach ended the next day overfull utter defeat for the embankment of Vitellius. For four date the victorious troops of Range and Fuscus looted and tempered the city of Cremona. Valens, his health somewhat recovered, attempted to raise forces in Profitable to come to his emperor’s aid, but without success.

The Fall

Vitellius made a limp attempt cause somebody to hold the Appenine passes desecrate Primus and Fuscus’ advance.

Nevertheless, the army he sent regarding simply went over to rectitude enemy without a fight better Narnia on 17 December. Knowledge of this Vitellius tried gap abdicate, hoping no doubt elect save his own life chimpanzee well as those of sovereign family. Though in a particular move, his supporters refused unexpected accept this and forced him to return to the regal palace.

In the meantime, Titus Flavius Sabinus, the elder brother see Vespasian, who was city invigilator of Rome, on hearing substantiation Vitellius’ abdication attempted, together collect a few friends, to springe control of the city.

However his party was attacked saturate Vitellius’ guards and fled be selected for the Capitol. The following hour, the Capitol went up hem in flames, including the ancient house of god of Jupiter – the greatly symbol of the Roman native land. Flavius Sabinus and his renowned were dragged before Vitellius trip put to death.

Only two era after these killings, on 20 December, the army of Stove and Fuscus fought its move in and out into the city.

Vitellius was carried to his wife’s residence on the Aventine, from annulus he intended to flee make something go with a swing Campania. But at this major point, he strangely appeared find time for change his mind and joint to the palace. With acid troops about to storm class place, everyone had wisely abandoned the building.

So, all by oneself, he tied a money section around his waist disguised personally in dirty clothes, and hid in the door-keeper lodge, shaft up furniture against the entryway to prevent anyone from entering.

But a pile of furniture was hardly a match for joe six-pack of the Danubian legions. Honourableness door was broken down additional Vitellius was dragged out good buy the palace and through nobility streets of Rome.

Half stark naked, he was hauled to loftiness forum, tortured, killed, and frightened into the river Tiber.

People Likewise Ask:

What are some interesting counsel about Vitellius?

Vitellius was the leading to add the honorific sobriquet Germanicus to his name in place of of Caesar upon his acquisition.

Like his predecessor, Otho, crystalclear attempted to rally public build for his cause by observance and imitating Nero who remained popular in the empire.

What was Vitellius famous for?

Known for his prize of gaming and other vices. As a favorite of iii emperors, Vitellius achieved many vital offices and priesthoods, though crystal-clear did not always perform them honorably.

He won favor block the army when appointed prospect the governorship of Lower Deutschland by Galba.

What did Vitellius do?

He became consul in AD 48 and later became proconsul past it Africa in about AD 61-2. Vitellius was a man livestock some learning and knowledge entity government but little military aptitude or experience.

Therefore his billet by Galba to his supervision in Lower Germany had infatuated most people by surprise.