Vitellius
Sign in to saveAulus Vitellius ( ; 24 September 1520 December 69) was Roman emperor, ruling for eight months from 19 April to 20 December AD 69. Vitellius became 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. Vitellius added the honorific title Germanicus to his name instead of Caesar upon his accession. Like his predecessor, Otho, Vitellius attempted to rally public support to his cause by honoring and imitating Nero who remained popular in the empire.
AI overview
Vitellius was a Roman emperor who ruled for only eight months in AD 69, a chaotic year when four different men claimed the throne and civil war erupted across the empire. He is historically significant because his brief reign exemplifies the political instability of this period and shows how emperors competed for popularity by appealing to the memory of the popular emperor Nero.
AI-generated from the Wikipedia summary — may contain errors.
Person · Open Library
- Born
- 0015-09-07
- Died
- 0069-12-22
- Works
- 1
via Open Library + Wikidata
Listeners · Last.fm
- Listeners
- 3
- Total plays
- 3
<a href="https://www.last.fm/music/Vitellius">Read more on Last.fm</a>
Recent publications · Crossref
5 total works indexed
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· 2020 · cited 142x
- Common genetic variation in alcohol-related hepatocellular carcinoma: a case-control genome-wide association study
· 2022 · cited 85x
Article
19 sectionsContents
- Early life
- Public service
- Political and military career
- Bid for power
- Emperor
- Administration
- Reputation
- Challenges
- Abdication and death
- Personal life
- Portrayals
- In coinage
- In art
- In literature
- Bust portraits
- References
- Bibliography
- Primary sources
- Secondary sources
Aulus Vitellius ( ; 24 September 1520 December 69) was Roman emperor, ruling for eight months from 19 April to 20 December AD 69. Vitellius became 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. Vitellius added the honorific title Germanicus to his name instead of Caesar upon his accession. Like his predecessor, Otho, Vitellius attempted to rally public support to his cause by honoring and imitating Nero who remained popular in the empire.
Originally from Campania, likely from Nuceria Alfaterna, he was born to the Vitellia gens, a relatively obscure family in ancient Rome. He was a noble companion of Tiberius' retirement on Capri and there befriended Caligula. He was elected consul in 48, and served as proconsular governor of Africa in either 60 or 61. In 68, he was chosen to command the army of Germania Inferior by emperor Galba. He was later proclaimed emperor in January by the armies of Germania Inferior and Superior, beginning a revolt against Galba. Galba was assassinated by Otho, and Vitellius then faced Otho in battle. He defeated Otho at the Battle of Bedriacum, and was recognized emperor by the Roman Senate.