In his Life of Tiberius, Suetonius tells that the emperor was a wicked man who used babies to "play between his legs while he was in bath" and liked to see young children in his gardens "dressed like Pans and Nymphs" (i.e., almost undressed). Valens, his health somewhat recovered, attempted to raise forces in Gaul to come to his emperor’s aid, but without success. Aulus Vitellius Germanicus {September 24, 15-December 22, AD 69} was later known as Vitellius was an Roman Emperor and general for eight months from 16 April to 22 December 69. Aulus Vitellius, who was to become the ninth Emperor of Rome, was born in September of 15 CE to Lucius Vitellius and his wife, Sextilia. Aulus Vitellius Germanicus Augustus (15-69 CE), known briefly as Vitellius, was Emperor of Rome for just eight months. J. Vitellius was proclaimed emperor following the quick succession of the previous emperors Galba and Otho, in a year of civil war known as the Year of the Four Emperors. It was not, however, only his father's protection that made Aulus rise: he held a prominent place at court, having won the friendship of the emperor Caligula by his devotion to chariot-driving. Vitellius (Latin: Aulus Vitellius Germanicus Augustus; 24 September 15 – 22 December 69), was Roman Emperor for eight months, from 16 April to 22 December 69. But they continued on undeterred. But such pampering of allies was not what truly made Vitellius unpopular. young male prostitutes. He held the throne for 10 months after defeating Otho at the battle of Bedriacum, before being deposed and murdered by the forces of Vespasian. But Vitellius could not count on his generals. To top it all, Vitellius, after taking the position of pontifex maximus (high priest) made a pronouncement about worship on a day which was traditionally regarded as unlucky. Aulus Vitellius (15-69): Roman senator and general, emperor in the year 69. Vitellius was a member of the Roman Legion when it was first created. There were few executions and arrests. 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 61-2. Hence he had little choice but to try and please them. 1. He was, therefore, quaestor at the age of 25 (in 40), and praetor in 45. This was, for some time, his last career move, and it may be that he was not among the favorites of Claudius' successor Nero. He may have succeeded his father in the priestly college, because he died at about the same time. Vespasian’s plan was to hold Egypt while his colleague Mucianus, governor of Syria, led an invasion force to Italy. They were born on a Thursday. Vitellius was proclaimed emperor following the quick succession of the previous emperors Galba and Otho, in a year of civil war known as the Year of the Four Emperors. He acted as a member of the Fifth Cohortas a medic during the time of Julius Caesar, but claimed to be part of the Punic Wars as well. This page was created in 2002; last modified on 14 March 2019. His wife was Petronia, daughter of an ex-consul, and by her he had a son Petronianus, who was blind on one eye. public figures of the Julio-Claudian period, Lucius Vitellius was a three-time consul and a fellow censor with the emperor Claudius. He became a fixture in the courts of Gaius, Claudius, and Nero (qqq.vvv. Aulus Vitellius Germanicus Augustus (15-69 CE), known briefly as Vitellius, was Emperor of Rome for just eight months, during a year of civil war known as the Year of the Four Emperors. Aulus Plautius was a Roman politician and general of the mid-1st century. The door was broken down and Vitellius was dragged out of the palace and through the streets of Rome. Vitellius was proclaimed emperor following the quick succession of the previous emperors Galba and Otho, in a year of civil war known as the Year of the Four Emperors. So, it is possible that the young Aulus Vitellius visited cities like Antioch and Jerusalem in the years 35-38, perhaps as one of his father's assistents. Aulus Vitellius Germanicus, born Aulus Vitellius and commonly known as Vitellius (24 September 15 - 22 December 69), was a Roman Emperor who reigned from 2 January 69 to 22 December of the same year. The Danube forces fought on behalf of Vespasian and defeated Vitellius' forces at the Second Battle of Cremona in September 69 AD. Vitellius now took control of Rome but not for long. His rise to power was sudden and surprised many, his fall was no less dramatic and savage. Entry for 'Aulus Vitellius' - 1911 Encyclopedia Britannica - One of 8 Bible encyclopedias freely available, this resource contained over 40 million words in nearly 40,000 articles written by 1,500 respected authors (Once, Caligula caused an accident with his chariot and wounded Vitellius, who remained crippled on one thigh.) This was an exceptional honor, and we may therefore be confident that Aulus Vitellius occupied the other offices at the minimum age as well. Only two days after these killings, on 20 December, the army of Primus and Fuscus fought its way into the city. A century later, Cassius Dio, the greatest historian of this trio, offered a similar account. On 1 July they set up a rival emperor in Palestine, Titus Flavius Vespasianus, a battle-hardened general who enjoyed widespread sympathies among the army. Aulus Vitellius January – October 69 AD Born 14 – died 69 AD, age 55 Aulus Vitellius was born in 14 AD. search Aulus Vitellius Germanicus {September 24, 15-December 22, AD 69} was later known as Vitellius was an Roman Emperor and general for eight months from 16 April to 22 December 69. His addiction to chariot-racing made him a friend of Gaius (Caligula), and his fondness for dice-playing brought him the favour of Claudius; … Vitellius himself became consul in AD 48 and later became proconsul of Africa in about AD 61-2. About Pictures Sources Countries Languages Categories Tags Thanks FAQ Donate Contact Articles Stubs. His father was thrice consul and Vitellius became acquainted with the imperial circle at a very young age. In the first place, Suetonius is quoting sources hostile to Tiberius, who had a very strained relation with the Senate; his retirement from Rome was the cause of many unfounded rumors. He was the son of Lucius Vitellius, who had been consul and governor of Syria under Tiberius. He was a close friend of all the Emperors from Tiberius to Nero. On his sixteenth birthday, he was changing his clothes in the river for his Liberalia (his rite of passage into manhood). If your web page requires an HTML link, please insert this code: Vitellius, Gods of Death How old is the United States of America? But at this crucial point he strangely appeared to change his mind, and returned to the palace.With hostile troops about to storm the place everyone had wisely deserted the building. Only a few days after he had arrived in Rome, a messenger arrived from the east, saying that the commander of the Roman forces in Judaea, Titus Flavius Vespasianus, had revolted. Roman emperor from the 2nd of January to the 22nd of December AD 69, was born on the 24th of September AD 15. In the mid-fifties, he remarried to Galeria Fundana, the daughter of a senator. When he was emperor and bestowed a knighthood on his freedman Asiaticus, it was immediately said that they had been lovers. Future generations, therefore, only possessed biased accounts of the events in the "long but single" year of civil war, 69. VITELLIUS, AULUS, Roman emperor from the 2nd of January to the 22nd of December A.D. 69, ... As soon as it was known that the armies of the East, Dalmatia and Illyricum had declared for Vespasian, Vitellius, deserted by many of his adherents, would have resigned the title of emperor. In particular the German armies were still angry at Galba for refusing them a reward for their part in suppressing Julius Vindex. Vitellius made a limp attempt to hold the Appenine passes against Primus and Fuscus’ advance. After his consulate, Lucius Vitellius became governor of Syria, where he conducted a brilliant military campaign in Armenia and conducted no less brilliant negotiations with the Parthian empire. 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. His story is known only from Tacitus’ vivid account. But his party was attacked by Vitellius’ guards and fled to the capitol. As Primus and Fuscus invaded Italy, their force and that of Vitellius should meet almost at the same spot where the deciding battle for the throne had been fought some six months earlier. When this emperor was killed in 41, Vitellius was able to gain the friendship of his successor Claudius as well, since they shared a passion for gambling. Caecina and Valens appreciated that if they would be successfully delayed by Othos’s forces they would lose the war. Short Biography about the life of Vitellius Short Biography profile and facts about one of the most famous Romans of all, in the life of Vitellius, Emperor of Rome and provinces of the Roman Empire. But a pile of furniture was a harldy a match for soldiers of the Danubian legions. They had already advanced 150 miles towards Rome when they learnt that Galba had been killed and Otho now had taken the throne. We have three important, but extremely hostile sources for the life and reign of the Roman emperor Aulus Vitellius. When learning of this news a joyous Vitellius set out for Rome, his voyage being seen by many as a endless decadent feast, not merely by him, but so, too, by his army. Vitellius was acclaimed emperor following quick succession of previous emperors Galba and Marcus Salvius Otho, in the year of civil war known as Year of the Four Emperors Vitellius was the first add the honorific cognomen … She had also been wife to the future Emperor Otho. So, all alone, Vitellius tied a money-belt around his waist and disguised himself in dirty clothes and hid in the door-keepers lodge, piling up furniture against the door to prevent anyone entering. Otho committed suicide on 16 April AD 69. However, the army he sent forth simply went over to the enemy without a fight at Narnia on 17 December. Nonetheless, his son seems to have received the nickname Spintria, "sexual artist", at some stage of his career, not necessarily after a real performance. He is most famous however, for his reputation of indulgent gluttony. We have three important, but extremely hostile sources for the life and reign of the Roman emperor Aulus Vitellius. There is no reason to believe this story. Aulus Vitellius A. Vitellius Aulus Vitellius Germanicus Vitellian Vitellio Aulis Vitellius Caesar Caesar Vitellius (Aulus Vitellius Germanicus Augustus; 24 September 15 – 22 December 69 AD) was Roman Emperor for eight months, from 16 April to 22 December 69 AD. The suicide of the emperor Nero in AD 68 was followed by a brief period of civil war, the first Roman civil war since Mark Antony's death in 30 BC. Cavorse.]. Therefore his appointment by Galba to his command in Lower Germany had taken most people by surprise. Vitellius was the second of three emperors declared in the year 69 A.D. That Lucius Vitellius easily advanced through the ranks of the cursus honorum, is simply not true: he was about 40 years old when he reached the consulate (34), which was comparatively late. The same hostile attitude can be found in the invectives in Suetonius' story on Vitellius first marriage, perhaps in the late thirties, after his (presumed) return from Syria. For now Otho’s side was still the lesser one. 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