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Message:: [QUOTE="IdesOfMarch01, post: 2858048, member: 39084"]Vitellius [ATTACH=full]679892[/ATTACH] Aulus Vitellius would be the third emperor in the year of four emperors (69 AD), and would reign for eight months from April to December – longer than his two immediate predecessors (Galba and Otho). [ATTACH=full]679893[/ATTACH] Vitellius was born in 14 AD to Lucius Vitellius and his wife Sextilia, to a family of either low origins or descendants of the past rulers of Latium, depending on whose ancient account you choose to believe.  As a youth, he spent time on the isle of Capri with Tiberius during the latter’s self-imposed exile.  While in Capri, he apparently earned the reputation as a spintria – a male prostitute – supposedly in return for his father’s political advancement, although this story is not supported by other ancient writers; it was promulgated by Suetonius who was openly hostile to Vitellius. He was a favorite of the next three emperors following Tiberius: Caligula, who admired Vitellius’ skill at chariot racing; Claudius, for Vitellius’ skill at dice (Claudius is said to have written a book on dicing); and Nero, whom Vitellius flattered incessantly, often persuading Nero to sing and play the lute at public events.  This latter skill of sycophantic obsequiousness would serve Vitellius well in his later career. In addition to gambling, Vitellius distinguished himself early on as a glutton.  Despite his lack of military experience, when Galba became emperor, he appointed Vitellius the governor of Lower Germany, partly because Galba was convinced that “… since Galba openly declared that no men were less to be feared than those who thought of nothing but eating, and that Vitellius's bottomless gullet might be filled from the resources of the province, it is clear to anyone that he was chosen rather through contempt than favor.” Vitellius’ skill at flattery would endear him to the troops under his charge.  Again, Suetonius writes: “On his arrival the army, which was disaffected towards the emperor and inclined to mutiny, received him gladly with open arms, as if he had come to them as a gift from the gods; since he was the son of a man who had thrice been consul, in the prime of life, and of an easy-going and lavish disposition.This earlier good opinion Vitellius had also strengthened by recent acts, for throughout the march he kissed even the common soldiers whom he met, and at the posthouses and inns he was unusually affable to the mule drivers and travellers, asking each of them in the morning whether they had breakfasted and even showing by belching that he had done so. “As soon as he had entered the camp, he granted every request that anyone made and even of his own accord freed those in disgrace from their penalties, defendants of suits from their mourning, and the convicted from punishment.  Therefore hardly a month had passed, when the soldiers, regardless of the hour, for it was already evening, hastily took him from his bedroom, just as he was, in his common house-clothes, and hailed him as emperor.” Vitellius had been hailed emperor by his troops about the same time as Otho.  Initially this didn’t worry Otho, since Vitellius and his troops had revolted against Galba, not him.  But with Vitellius’ troops already on the march toward Rome to unseat Galba, they wouldn’t be stopped just because Otho was now emperor.  Otho’s attempts to both assassinate and negotiate with Vitellius failed, so a military conflict was inevitable. Marching on Rome to claim his title, Vitellius’ troops engaged Otho's armies at Bedriacum. Otho's armies were soundly defeated in April of 69 AD, and Vitellius continued on to Rome and was recognized as emperor by the Senate. Upon reaching Rome in July 69 AD, Vitellius short-sightedly replaced the Praetorian Guard with his troops from Germany and made no attempt to win over the defeated armies of Otho nor troops from other parts of the Empire. This turned out to be a fatal mistake, as rivalry among the many legions would continue the civil war. In July, Vespasian (who was fighting the Judaean war) was hailed emperor by the legions in Judaea, Alexandria, and Syria.  They were joined by the Moesian legions under the command of Marcus Primus, and the end was in sight for Vitellius even before he entered Rome. At a second battle of Bedriacum, Vitellius' troops were defeated and Vitellius wisely decided to abdicate, influenced by Vespasian's brother Flavius Sabinus who was the city prefect of Rome.  A deal was struck through Sabinus: Vitellius would abdicate to Vespasian in exchange for 1,000,000 aurei.  Though the deal was acceptable to Sabinus, the Praetorian guard was enraged and demanded that the deal be retracted.  Sabinus was captured and killed, and Vespasian’s son Domitian barely escaped with his life (Vespasian’s other son Titus had been left to finish the war in Judaea). Primus’ legions entered Rome on December 20th 69 AD, captured and assassinated Vitellius who was attempting to hide by pretending not to be Vitellius, and the Senate hailed Vespasian as emperor, the fourth and last emperor of the year 69 AD. About the Coins Vitellius struck coins in Spain (probably Tarraco), Gaul (probably Lugdunum), and Rome.  The Rome mint struck coins for Vitellius only after Otho had been overthrown, although the other two mints were striking coins after Vitellius was declared Imperator.  While Otho struck no imperial bronzes, Vitellius struck bronzes at the Rome mint, likely using some of Galba’s reverse dies. [ATTACH=full]679894[/ATTACH] My Vitellius as is among my favorite 12 Caesars small bronzes; the relief in this coin’s obverse is amazing, and the picture doesn’t do it justice.  Vitellius’ portrait on the sestertius is quite artistic, although the reverse suffers from a weak strike, making Mars look as if he’s holding nothing rather than Victory in his extended right hand. Let’s see those Vitelliuses! Next: Vespasian[/QUOTE]

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