The Roman Series: Who was Aulus Vitellius?

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On 24 September 15, Aulus Vitellius was born in Rome, then a part of the Roman Empire.

Family


Aulus Vitellius was the son of Lucius Vitellius and his wife Sextila. He had one brother who also was named Lucius Vitellius. When Vitellius was born his horoscope was so horrified that his father tried to prevent Aulus from becoming a consul.

Early Youth


Vitellius was one of the noble companions of Tiberius' retirement on Capri and there befriended Caligula, whose favour he won, by sharing in his passion for chariot racing and games of dice. 


Love and Marriage



Before the year 40 - he married a woman named Petronia with whom he had a son Aulus Vitellius Petronianus.

Around the year 50, Aulus Vitellius married secondly a woman named  Galeria Fundana. They had two children, a son called Aulus Vitellius Germanicus and a daughter Vitellia, who married Decimus Valerius Asiaticus. 






Career


In 48, Aulus Vitellius became a Consul. In either 60 or 61, he became a proconsular governor of Africa. At the end of 68, Gaba selected him to command the army of Germania Inferior and here Vitellius made himself popular with the soldiers. 


Aulus Vitellius owed his elevation to the throne to Caecina and Fabius Valens, commanders of two legions of the Rhine. Early in 69, Vitellius was proclaimed Emperor in Cologne. He was proclaimed Emperor of the armies of Germania Inferior and Superior. The armies of Gaul, Britannia and Raetia sided with him. 

By the time that they marched on Rome, it was Otho and not Galba, whom they they had to fight against.

Otho stabbed himself in the heart on 16 April 69. More of Emperor Otho on this link. 

At Rome, the Senate accepted him as Emperor and decreed to him the usual Imperial honours. In Rome Vitellius expanded the existing Praetorian Guard and he installed his own men from his Rhine army. 






Emperor


Despite his short reign Aulus Vitellius made two important contributions to the Roman government.

He ended the practice of centurions selling furloughs and exemptions of duty to their men.

He also expanded the offices of the Imperial administration beyond the imperial pool of freedmen, allowing those of the equites to take up positions in the  Imperial Civil Service. 

Vitellius also banned astrologers from Rome and Italy on 1 October 69.

Furthermore Vitellius continued Otho's policies in regard to Nero's memory, in that he honored the dead emperor and sacrificed to his spirit. He also had  Nero's songs performed in public, and attempted to imitate Nero who remained extremely popular among the lower classes of the Roman Empire.


Troubles


In July 69, Vitellius learned that the armies of the eastern provinces had proclaimed a rival Emperor, their commander: Titus Flavius Vespasianus. Vitellius sent  several legions to prevent the Eastern armies from entering Italy. A defeat followed at the Second Battle of Bedriacum. 






Abdication and death


Vitellius was struck down by Vespasian's supporters. "Yet I was once your emperor." would have been his last words. This took place on 22 December 69.  The body of Vitellius was thrown into the Tiber. His brother and son were also  killed. He was succeeded by Emperor Vespasian. 


Aulus Vitellius was the third Emperor of the Year of the Four Emperors . More about 69 AD in this fiction book: 
 






Source pictures: Wikipedia
The Sword and the Throne: Book coveer
Location: Rome, Italië

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