The Roman Series : Emperor Galba

68-69 The year of the Four Emperors

Birth & family

Serverius Sulpicius Galba (sounds as a name in Harry Potter) was born near Terracina on 24 December 3 BC.  He was not related to any of the emperors of the Julio-Claudian dynasty but he was a member of a distinguished noble family. 

Love and marriage

Galba had a sexual preference for men above women. Nevertheless he married a woman named Azmilia Lepida and he had two sons. Aemilia and their sons died during the early years of the reign of Claudius (41-54) and Galba would remain a widower for the rest of his life.

Public life

Galba became praetor in about 30, then he became governor of Aquitania for  about a year, then consul in 33.  In 39, Emperor Caligula learned of a plot against himself in which Gnaeus Cornelius Lentulus Gaetulicus, the general of the Upper German legions was a key figure.

Caligula installed Galba in the post held by Gaetulicus. As commander, Galba gained a reputation as a disciplinarian.  Galba was appointed as governor of Africa in 44 or 45. He retired at an uncertain time during the reign of Claudius, possibly in 49. Galba was recalled in 59 or 60 by Emperor Nero to govern Hispania. 

Emperor 

On 8 June 68 Nymphidius Sabinus, falsely announced to the Praetorian Guard that Nero had fled to Egypt and the Senate proclaimed Galba emperor. Nero then died. Nymphidius Sabinus was killed by the Praetorians before he could take the  throne. 

When Galba was arriving to Rome, his army was attacked by a legion that had been organized by Nero. Galba seized the property of Roman citizens, disbanded  the German legions and did not pay the Praetorians and soldiers who fought against Vindex. These actions caused him to become unpopular.

Rebellion and death

On 1 January 69, the fourth and the twenty-second legions of Upper Germany  refused to swear loyalty to Galba. They toppled his statues and demanded that a new emperor could be chosen. 

On 15 January 69, Galba was lured out to the scene of his assassination in the  Forum by a false report of the conspirators. Galba was killed near the  Lacus Curtius. After the death of Galba, Otho became the new Emperor but not for long.  

The look of the emperor

Galba was of average of height, very bald, with blue eyes and a hooked nose. He could not endure a shoe for long, unroll a book or even hold one because his hands and feet were so distorted by gout. 

It is said that he was a heavy eater and in winter time he was in the habit of taking food even before daylight, while at the dinner he helped himself so  lavishly that he would have the leavings which remained in a heap before him passed along and distributed among the attendants who waited on him....

Source pictures: Wikipedia