Otho 68-69 A.D.
Background Information on Otho

Otho, Marcus Salvius, &AD; 32-&AD; 69, Roman emperor (Jan.-April, &AD; 69). He was a friend of Nero, and his wife, Poppaea Sabina, became Nero's mistress; Otho was repaid (&AD; 58) with the province of Lusitania. In AD; 68 he joined the revolt of Galba against Nero, but on Galba's accession Otho formed a conspiracy. Galba was killed, and Otho made himself emperor. Meanwhile Vitellius had been proclaimed emperor at Cologne and was on his way to Rome. Otho was defeated in Italy and killed himself. A hard emperor for the modest collector. He's still one of the gaps in my collection as none of his issues were ever in bronze.

In build Otho was a small man with bow legs and feet that stuck out at each side. It is said that, he had his body plucked of hairs by servants. He even wore a wig to conceal his thinning hair. But in his claim for the throne. Was he popular with the praetorians and with some of the troops he had accompanied on his way back to Rome, he had very little links to the army at all. In his role as governor of Lusitania he had not even had control of a legion. And yet he depended more completely on the soldiers' support than any of his predecessors.

His lack of contacts in the army therefore also meant he had little chance to gauge the mood among the troops. Otho was hence completely taken by surprise to learn that in Germany, Vitellius had risen to contest him. Gaul and Spain immediately declared for Vitellius. Otho tried to avoid civil war by offering to share power with Vitellius as join emperor. He even proposed a marriage to Vitellius' daughter. Though Vitellius would have none of it and by March his legions were on the move. Otho employed a simple strategy. He moved north to delay Vitellius' advance into Italy. The Danubian legions had declared for Otho and hence the weight of superior forces was on the emperor's side. Though on the Danube those legions were useless to him, they had to march into Italy first.

To successfully delay Vitellius' troops in effect meant to win the war. And the powerful Danubian troops were on their way to come to Otho's aid. Vitellius' generals Valens and Caecina knew well that time was on Otho's side. Hence they forced a fight by beginning the construction of a bridge which would lead them over the Po river into Italy. Otho was left with only two options. Either he would withdraw deeper into Italy, away from Vitellius' troops, but so too away from the Danubian forces, or he would stand and fight. Otho decided to fight. His army was totally defeated at Cremona 14 April AD 69. When the news of defeat reached Otho at Brixellum the following day, the emperor knew he was defeated. Advising his friends and family to take what measures they could for their own safety, he retired to his room to sleep, then stabbed himself to death at dawn the next day, 16 April AD 69. It may well even be that Otho's suicide was committed in order to spare his country from civil war. Controversially as he had come to power, many Romans learned to respect Otho in his death. In fact, many could hardly believe that a renowned former party companion of Nero's had chosen such a gracious end. So impressed were the soldiers by Otho's final act of courage that some even threw themselves on the funeral pyre die with their emperor. Otho's ashes were placed within a modest monument. He had reigned only three months,

ROMAN IMPERIAL DYNASTIES:
None

 

The words above have been edited from various sources and have a few of my own interpretations!

 

The period of my collection

• The Twelve Caesars That's the main men to you and I

The Julio Claudian Dynasty Augustus I Claudius I Nero I Agrippa

The Flavian Dynasty Vespasian I Titus I Domitian

• The Adoptive Emperors or so we're told!
• The Civil War some serious falling out between 193-197 A.D.
• The Severan Period Only five emperors in this family including the nasty Caracalla
• The Collapse of Order almost 50 years of trouble up ahead
• The Secessionist Empire it was that Postumus who set things going
• The British Secessionist Empire Carausius goes it alone
• The Tetrarchy time for the great reform
• The Constantinian Dynasty a military dictatorship and the tale of three sons
• The Waning of the Empire the last century and the end of an era
• The Western Puppet Emperors oh dear! more trouble
• The Eastern Emperors slightly more peace

I might include othe pages as I progress. Plus if you would like to share a reciprical link, please email me at info@dadscoins.co.uk

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 
 
In build Otho was a small man with bow legs and feet that stuck out at each side. It is said that, he had his body plucked of hairs by servants. He even wore a wig to conceal his thinning hair. But in his claim for the throne. Was he popular with the praetorians and with some of the troops he had accompanied on his way back to Rome, he had very little links to the army at all. In his role as governor of Lusitania he had not even had control of a legion. And yet he depended more completely on the soldiers' support than any of his predecessors. His lack of contacts in the army therefore also meant he had little chance to gauge the mood among the troops. Otho was hence completely taken by surprise to learn that in Germany, Vitellius had risen to contest him. Gaul and Spain immediately declared for Vitellius. Otho tried to avoid civil war by offering to share power with Vitellius as join emperor. He even proposed a marriage to Vitellius' daughter. Though Vitellius would have none of it and by March his legions were on the move. Otho employed a simple strategy. He moved north to delay Vitellius' advance into Italy. The Danubian legions had declared for Otho and hence the weight of superior forces was on the emperor's side. Though on the Danube those legions were useless to him, they had to march into Italy first. To successfully delay Vitellius' troops in effect meant to win the war. And the powerful Danubian troops were on their way to come to Otho's aid. Vitellius' generals Valens and Caecina knew well that time was on Otho's side. Hence they forced a fight by beginning the construction of a bridge which would lead them over the Po river into Italy. Otho was left with only two options. Either he would withdraw deeper into Italy, away from Vitellius' troops, but so too away from the Danubian forces, or he would stand and fight. Otho decided to fight. His army was totally defeated at Cremona 14 April AD 69. When the news of defeat reached Otho at Brixellum the following day, the emperor knew he was defeated. Advising his friends and family to take what measures they could for their own safety, he retired to his room to sleep, then stabbed himself to death at dawn the next day, 16 April AD 69. It may well even be that Otho's suicide was committed in order to spare his country from civil war. Controversially as he had come to power, many Romans learned to respect Otho in his death. In fact, many could hardly believe that a renowned former party companion of Nero's had chosen such a gracious end. So impressed were the soldiers by Otho's final act of courage that some even threw themselves on the funeral pyre die with their emperor. Otho's ashes were placed within a modest monument. He had reigned only three months,