Vitellius 69 A.D.
Background Information on Vitellius

Vitellius was Roman emperor for only a short period from the 2nd of January to the 22nd of December AD 69,and was born on the 24th of September AD 15. The son of Lucius Vitellius, who had been governor of Syria under Tiberius. Aulus was consul in 48, and (perhaps in 60-61) proconsul of Africa, in which capacity he is said to have acquitted himself with much credit.

Under Galba, to the general astonishment, at the end of 68 he was chosen to command the army of Lower Germany, and here he made himself popular with his subalterns and with the soldiers by outrageous prodigality and excessive good nature, which soon proved fatal to order and discipline. Far from being ambitious or scheming, he was said to be lazy and self-indulgent, fond of eating and drinking, and owed his elevation to the throne to Caecina and Valens, commanders of two legions on the Rhine.

Through these two men a military revolution was speedily accomplished, and early in 69 Vitellius was proclaimed emperor at Colonia Agrippinensis (Cologne), or, more accurately, emperor of the armies of Upper and Lower Germany. In fact, he was never aknowledged as emperor by the entire Roman world, though at Rome the senate accepted him and decreed to him the usual imperial honors. He advanced into Italy at the head of a licentious and ruffian soldiery, and Rome became the scene of riot and massacre, gladiatorial shows and extravagant feasting. 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.

It was said that the terms of resignation had actually been agreed upon with Primus, one of Vespasian's chief supporters, but the practorians refused to allow him to carry out the agreement, and forced him to return to the palace, when he was on his way to deposit the insignia of empire in the temple of Concord. On the entrance of Vespasian's troops into Rome he was dragged out onto the street and killed. "Yet I was once your emperor", were the last and, as far as we know, the noblest words of Vitellius. During his brief administration Vitellius showed indications of a desire to govern wisely, but he was completely under the control of Valens and Caecina, who for their own ends encouraged him in a course of vicious excesses which threw his better qualities into the background.

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

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 
 
Vitellius was Roman emperor for only a short period from the 2nd of January to the 22nd of December AD 69,and was born on the 24th of September AD 15. The son of Lucius Vitellius, who had been governor of Syria under Tiberius. Aulus was consul in 48, and (perhaps in 60-61) proconsul of Africa, in which capacity he is said to have acquitted himself with much credit. Under Galba, to the general astonishment, at the end of 68 he was chosen to command the army of Lower Germany, and here he made himself popular with his subalterns and with the soldiers by outrageous prodigality and excessive good nature, which soon proved fatal to order and discipline. Far from being ambitious or scheming, he was said to be lazy and self-indulgent, fond of eating and drinking, and owed his elevation to the throne to Caecina and Valens, commanders of two legions on the Rhine. Through these two men a military revolution was speedily accomplished, and early in 69 Vitellius was proclaimed emperor at Colonia Agrippinensis (Cologne), or, more accurately, emperor of the armies of Upper and Lower Germany. In fact, he was never acknowledged as emperor by the entire Roman world, though at Rome the senate accepted him and decreed to him the usual imperial honors. He advanced into Italy at the head of a licentious and ruffian soldiery, and Rome became the scene of riot and massacre, gladiatorial shows and extravagant feasting. 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. It was said that the terms of resignation had actually been agreed upon with Primus, one of Vespasian's chief supporters, but the practorians refused to allow him to carry out the agreement, and forced him to return to the palace, when he was on his way to deposit the insignia of empire in the temple of Concord. On the entrance of Vespasian's troops into Rome he was dragged out onto the street and killed. "Yet I was once your emperor", were the last and, as far as we know, the noblest words of Vitellius. During his brief administration Vitellius showed indications of a desire to govern wisely, but he was completely under the control of Valens and Caecina, who for their own ends encouraged him in a course of vicious excesses which threw his better qualities into the background.