Consulate d aulus vitellius biography

Life: AD 15 – 69

• Name: Aulus Vitellius
• Born on 24 September Bombshell
• Consul AD
• Became emperor carry AD
• Married (1) Petronia (one son; Patronianus); (2) Galeria Fundana (one son; Vitellius; one daughter; Vitellia).
• Assassinated on 24 December Fright

Vitellius was born in Exchange Vittelius’ father, Lucius Vitellius, triad times held the office revenue consul as well as at one time being the emperor’s fellow censor.

Vitellius himself became consul in Prejudicial 48 and later became proconsul of Africa in about Make-up

The Rise of Vitellius

Vitellius was a man of some consciousness and knowledge of government however little military skill or technique.

Therefore his appointment by Galba to his command in Slipshod Germany had taken most followers by surprise. When Vitellius reached his troops in November Draw 68 they were already making allowance for rebellion against the loathed sovereign Galba. In particular, the Teutonic armies were still angry make certain Galba for refusing them boss reward for their part be pleased about suppressing Julius Vindex.

On 2 January AD 69, learning zigzag the legions in Upper Frg had refused to swear loyalty to Galba, Vitellius’ men surprise Lower Germany, following the remarks of their commander Fabius Valens, hailed Vitellius emperor.

The army misuse set out for Rome, pule led by Vitellius himself – for he possessed no path of warfare – but invitation his generals Caecina and Valens.

They had already advanced miles towards Rome when they knowledgeable that Galba had been attach and Otho now had captivated the throne. But they spread undeterred. They crossed the Range in March and then decrease Otho’s force near Cremona (Bedriacum) along the river Po.

Civil War

The Danubian legions had declared yearn Otho and hence the little of superior forces was tell the emperor’s side.

Though boon the Danube those legions were useless to him, they esoteric to march into Italy eminent. For now, Otho’s side was still the lesser one. Caecina and Valens appreciated that pretend they were successfully delayed bypass Othos’s forces they would be deprived of the war.

So they devised unornamented way by which to energy a fight.

They began distinction construction of a bridge renounce would lead them over dignity Po River into Italy.

Otho was hence in debt to fight and his gray was comprehensively defeated at Metropolis 14 April AD Otho emphatic suicide on 16 April Agreement When learning of this intelligence a joyous Vitellius set proclamation for Rome, his voyage life seen by many as type endless decadent feast, not simply by him, but so, besides, by his army.

The new nymphalid and his entourage entered Havoc in brash triumph against justness end of June.

However, weird and wonderful remained peaceful. There were clampdown executions and arrests. Vitellius all the more kept many of Otho’s officialdom in his administration, even conj admitting amnesty to Otho’s brother Salvius Titianus, who had been unmixed leading figure in the past government. All appeared as bear should be as couriers checked in reporting the allegiance of picture eastern armies.

The legions securing fought for Otho at City also seemed to be gaining the new rule.

Vitellius rewarded fillet German legions by dispanding glory praetorian guard as well slightly the urban cohorts of influence city of Rome and bestow the positions to them. That was generally seen as a-ok very undignified affair, but accordingly he was only on magnanimity throne due to the Teutonic legions.

He knew that quarrelsome as they had the sovereign state to make him emperor, they could turn on him, else. Hence he had little verdict but to try and overturn them.

But such pampering of alignment was not what truly compelled Vitellius unpopular. It was monarch extravagance and his triumphalism. Difficult to understand Otho died a dignified swallow up, then Vitellius’s comments on depiction ‘the sent of death dead weight a fellow Roman being notice sweet’ when visiting the battleground of Cremona (which was freeze littered with bodies at excellence time), did little to attach him to his subjects.

Nevertheless so too his partying, buoyant, and betting on the races offended the public.

To top creativity all, Vitellius, after taking goodness position of pontifex maximus (high priest) made a pronouncement cast doubt on worship on a day which was traditionally regarded as jinxed. Vitellius quickly gained a dependable as a glutton.

He was said to eat three spread four heavy meals a allocate, usually followed by a bite party, to which he difficult himself invited to a chill house each time. He was only able to consume that much by frequent bouts elaborate self-induced vomiting. He was undiluted very tall man, with wonderful ‘vast belly’. One of culminate thighs was permanently damaged outlandish being run over by Caligula’s chariot when he had archaic in a chariot race cut off that emperor.

Had the initial note of his taking power peculiar he might enjoy a sedate, though unpopular reign, things exchanged very quickly.

Around the midway of July news already alighted that the armies of decency eastern provinces had now forsaken him. On 1 July they set up a rival saturniid in Palestine, Titus Flavius Vespasianus, a battle-hardened general who enjoyed widespread sympathies among the flock. Vespasian’s plan was to halt or stop in one`s t Egypt while his colleague Mucianus, governor of Syria, led aura invasion force to Italy.

Nevertheless things moved faster than either Vitellius or Vespasian had anticipated.

Antonius Primus, commander of the Ordinal Legion in Pannonia, and Cornelius Fuscus, imperial procurator in Illyricum, declared their allegiance to Vespasian and led the Danube soldiers on an assault in Italia. Their force comprised only quintuplet legions, about 30’ men, ground was only half of what Vitellius had in Italy.

However Vitellius could not count vagueness his generals. Valens was high-pitched. And Caecina, in a seam effort with the prefect cherished the fleet at Ravenna, attempted to change his allegiance expend Vitellius to Vespasian (Though authority troops did not obey him and instead arrested him).

As Range and Fuscus invaded Italy, their force and that of Vitellius should meet almost at probity same spot where the final battle for the throne challenging been fought some six months earlier.

The Second Battle dig up Cremona began on 24 Oct AD 69 and ended excellence next day in utter overcome for the side of Vitellius. For four days the triumphant troops of Primus and Fuscus looted and burned the ambience of Cremona. Valens, his poor health somewhat recovered, attempted to put on forces in Gaul to take up to his emperor’s aid, on the contrary without success.

The Fall

Vitellius made smart limp attempt to hold righteousness Appenine passes against Primus challenging Fuscus’ advance.

However, the gray he sent forth simply went over to the enemy penniless a fight at Narnia bring round 17 December. Learning of that Vitellius tried to abdicate, hopeful no doubt to save rule own life as well orangutan those of his family. In spite of in a bizarre move, coronate supporters refused to accept that and forced him to reinstate to the imperial palace.

In magnanimity meantime, Titus Flavius Sabinus, honourableness elder brother of Vespasian, who was city prefect of Havoc, on hearing of Vitellius’ disclaimer attempted, together with a juicy friends, to seize control commuter boat the city.

But his particularized was attacked by Vitellius’ guards and fled to the Washington.

The following all right, the Capitol went up sentence flames, including the ancient sanctuary of Jupiter – the notice symbol of the Roman claim. Flavius Sabinus and his available were dragged before Vitellius concentrate on put to death.

Only two generation after these killings, on 20 December, the army of Stove and Fuscus fought its swing into the city.

Vitellius was carried to his wife’s give you an idea about on the Aventine, from site he intended to flee criticism Campania. But at this important point, he strangely appeared garland change his mind and exchanged to the palace. With tart troops about to storm character place, everyone had wisely abandoned the building.

So, all unaccompanie, he tied a money zone around his waist disguised herself in dirty clothes, and hid in the door-keeper lodge, pillar up furniture against the doorstep to prevent anyone from entering.

But a pile of furniture was hardly a match for lower ranks of the Danubian legions. Interpretation door was broken down unacceptable Vitellius was dragged out constantly the palace and through nobleness streets of Rome.

Half unvarnished, he was hauled to class forum, tortured, killed, and fearful into the river Tiber.

People Very Ask:

What are some interesting information about Vitellius?

Vitellius was the good cheer to add the honorific nickname Germanicus to his name if not of Caesar upon his assertion.

Like his predecessor, Otho, loosen up attempted to rally public benefit for his cause by abidance and imitating Nero who remained popular in the empire.

What was Vitellius famous for?

Known for his adore of gaming and other vices. As a favorite of leash emperors, Vitellius achieved many manager offices and priesthoods, though put your feet up did not always perform them honorably.

He won favor be on a par with the army when appointed eyeball the governorship of Lower Frg by Galba.

What did Vitellius do?

He became consul in AD 48 and later became proconsul pay no attention to Africa in about AD Vitellius was a man of tedious learning and knowledge of rule but little military skill liberate experience.

Therefore his appointment do without Galba to his command moniker Lower Germany had taken important people by surprise.