Who was Roman Emperor Vitellius and what did he do?
Aulus Vitellius was proclaimed emperor by his troops in January 69 AD, and the governors of Spain, Britain and Gaul threw their support behind him. However by this time Otho had already been proclaimed as emperor in Rome, possibly because of his role in the assassination of Galba.
When Vitellius heard of Galba’s death and Otho’s succession, he took an army to meet Otho. The two opposing sides met at the Battle of Bedriacum, close to the modern-day town of Cremona in northern Italy, in April 69 AD. Vitellius’ forces were victorious and Otho committed suicide soon after.
The new emperor was known as Aulus Vitellius Germanicus Imperator Augustus, and history has not remembered his reign with a great degree of fondness. He may have intended to rule justly, but his reputation for greed, avarice, gluttony and gambling made him deeply unpopular. Indeed one story which may or may not be apocryphal is that he starved his mother to death on the advice of a type of astrologer who said if he did, he would rule for longer.
He did very little in the way of governing, and was described by Suetonius as an extreme glutton. One famous report
Aulus Vitellius
(AD 15 &#; AD 69)
Vitellius was born in AD Vittelius&#; father, Lucius Vitellius, three times held the office of consul as well as once being the emperor&#;s fellow censor.
Vitellius himself became consul in AD 48 and later became proconsul of Africa in about AD
Vitellius was a man of some learning and knowledge of government but little military skill or experience. Therefore his appointment by Galba to his command in Lower Germany had taken most people by surprise. When Vitellius reached his troops in November AD 68 they were already considering rebellion against the loathed emperor Galba.
In particular the German armies were still angry at Galba for refusing them a reward for their part in suppressing Julius Vindex. On 2 January AD 69, learning that the legions in Upper Germany had refused to swear allegiance to Galba, Vitellius&#; men in Lower Germany, following the example of their commander Fabius Valens, hailed Vitellius emperor.
The army then set out for Rome, not led by Vitellius himself &#; for he possessed no knowledge of warfare &#; but by his generals Caecina and Valens.
They had already advanced miles towards Rome when they learnt that Galba h
69 A.D.
Aulus Vitellius Germanicus Augustus
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A Short Reign, Long Shadow: The Tumultuous Life and Legacy of Vitellius
Aulus Vitellius, who reigned as Roman emperor for a mere eight months in 69 AD, stands as a stark symbol of the chaos and intrigue that marked the Year of the Four Emperors. His story, while brief, is a fascinating one, filled with ambition, indulgence, and a brutal end.
From Senatorial Son to Governor
Born in 15 AD, Vitellius came from a family with some political clout. His father, Lucius Vitellius, held the prestigious position of consul and even enjoyed a close relationship with Emperor Tiberius. However, the Vitellii were not considered amongst the highest nobility. Despite this, young Aulus secured a comfortable life, befriending the likes of the infamous Caligula.
Vitellius' political career progressed steadily. He obtained the consulship in 48 AD and later served as governor of the African province. Historians paint a mixed picture of his governorship. While some accounts praise his administrative skills, others portray him as indulging in excessive extravagance and gluttony, a charact
Nachdem er Kaiser Otho in der Schlacht von Bedriacum besiegt hatte, besteigt Vitellius als dritter Herrscher im Jahr der Vier Kaiser den Thron. Sein Vater Lucius Vitellius wurde im Jahr 15 n. Chr. in die prominente vitellianische Familie hineingeboren und diente als Konsul und Gouverneur von Syrien. Vitellius wuchs in einem von politischem Einfluss geprägten Umfeld auf und entwickelte schon früh ein Interesse am öffentlichen Dienst.
Ziel dieses Artikels ist es, sich mit dem Leben, der politischen Karriere und dem Vermächtnis von Vitellius zu befassen und Licht auf ein faszinierendes, aber oft überschattetes Kapitel in der Geschichte des antiken Roms zu werfen.
Politische Karriere
Vitellius&#x; Aufstieg in der politischen Hierarchie verlief stetig und war von bedeutenden Erfolgen geprägt. Er bekleidete Schlüsselpositionen wie den Konsul und Prokonsul von Afrika, stellte seine Verwaltungskompetenz unter Beweis und gewann das Vertrauen einflussreicher Persönlichkeiten im politischen Bereich Roms. Die Loyalität gegenüber Kaisern wie Galba und Otho (zumindest anfangs) festigte sein Ansehen weiter und bereitete den Grundstein fü
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