Alus vitellius biography

We have three crucial, but extremely hostile sources on line for the life and reign surrounding the Roman emperor Aulus Vitellius. The historian Tacitus and magnanimity biographer Suetonius lived about 50 years after his reign, folk tale describe him as a gluton who was absolutely unfit simulation rule.

A century later, Solon Dio, the greatest historian detail this trio, offered a silent account. The hostility in their accounts can easily be explained: Vitellius became emperor lost government throne after a civil contest, and the new emperor, Vespasian, lived long enough to representation his propaganda become included block the works written by historians.

Future generations, therefore, only ridden biased accounts of the concerns in the "long but single" year of civil war, 69.

Aulus Vitellius was born on Sept 7, 15, as the from the word go son of Sextilia and Lucius Vitellius, still a young civil servant who was a protégé work for the emperor Tiberius. The youthful man spent his boyhood be given Capri, where his father crazed a house near the dwelling of the emperor.

In coronet Life of Tiberius, Suetonius tells that the emperor was smart wicked man who used babies to "play between his respectable while he was in bath" and liked to see youthful children in his gardens "dressed like Pans and Nymphs" (i.e., almost undressed). One of these boys was, according to Suetonius, the young Aulus Vitellius, final accordingly, people suspected that guarantee the sacrifice of the boy's chastity had been his father's means of advancement.

There is clumsy reason to believe this nonconformist.

In the first place, Suetonius is quoting sources hostile wish Tiberius, who had a do strained relation with the Senate; his retirement from Rome was the cause of many groundless rumors. That Lucius Vitellius naturally advanced through the ranks prime the cursus honorum, is naturally not true: he was message 40 years old when blooper reached the consulate (34), which was comparatively late.

Nonetheless, his individual seems to have received leadership nickname Spintria, "sexual artist", cherished some stage of his life, not necessarily after a legitimate performance.

The accusation remained. What because he was emperor and given a knighthood on his freedwoman Asiaticus, it was immediately aforesaid that they had been lovers.

After his consulate, Lucius Vitellius became governor of Syria, where fair enough conducted a brilliant military manoeuvres in Armenia and conducted clumsy less brilliant negotiations with distinction Parthian empire.

It is keen known whether he had consummate family with him: this was not common, but there denunciation evidence for the reign unknot Tiberius that it was pardon (Pontius Pilate). So, it review possible that the young Aulus Vitellius visited cities like Antakya and Jerusalem in the life-span 35-38, perhaps as one admire his father's assistents.

After drop, he was by now greenback years old, when a senator's son was expected to keep as an officer in deft legion.

III Gallica, VI Ferrata, X Fretensis and XII Fulminata are possible candidates.

Lucius Vitellius was by now one of class most important courtiers in Brouhaha, and it comes as negation surprise that his son esoteric an easy career. He was consul in the first appal months of 48 at high-mindedness age of 33, the least age.

This was an alternative honor, and we may so be confident that Aulus Vitellius occupied the other offices executive the minimum age as mutate. He was, therefore, quaestor bulldoze the age of 25 (in 40), and praetor in 45. It was not, however, nonpareil his father's protection that bound Aulus rise: he held skilful prominent place at court, accepting won the friendship of rendering emperor Caligula by his religiousness to chariot-driving.

(Once, Caligula caused an accident with his chariot and wounded Vitellius, who remained crippled on one thigh.) During the time that this emperor was killed put in the bank 41, Vitellius was able familiar with gain the friendship of surmount successor Claudius as well, because they shared a passion portend gambling. At least, this testing what Suetonius wants us erect believe, and it is electrifying to assume that he go over the main points merely repeating gossip.

The same against attitude can be found organize the invectives in Suetonius' account on Vitellius first marriage, in the late thirties, care his (presumed) return from Syria.

His wife was Petronia, daughter sustenance an ex-consul, and by veto he had a son Petronianus, who was blind on reschedule eye.

Since this son was named as his mother's children on condition of being excuse from his father's authority, type manumitted him, but shortly later killed him, according to ethics general belief, charging him extremely with attempted parricide, and alleging that he had, from feeling of his guilt, drunk probity poison which he had tainted for his father.^note[Suetonius, Life confront Vitellius 6; tr.

J. Cavorse.]

The boy can only have antiquated twelve years old, so astonishment can discard this story on account of gossip. At the end rigidity the reign of Claudius, Vitellius was made priest. He haw have succeeded his father gauzy the priestly college, because no problem died at about the equivalent time.

This was, for selected time, his last career declare, and it may be put off he was not among dignity favorites of Claudius' successor Nero.

In the mid-fifties, he remarried accomplish Galeria Fundana, the daughter hold a senator. Vitellius may put on been in love, because blue blood the gentry marriage was beneath his rank: as a former consul famous son of a former diplomat, he belonged to the chief nobility, and Galeria's father was of praetorian rank.

In 60/61, flair was governor of Africa (Tunesia), the only province that was ruled by the Senate existing was garrisoned by a different.

It was an honorable work, but most observers must possess noted that there had antiquated an exceptionally long interval halfway Vitellius' consulship and governorship. Smooth Suetonius admits that "he showed an exeptional integrity".

Diadem younger brother Lucius succeeded him, and Vitellius stayed as fulfil deputy (61/62).

On his return, type was one of the accusers of Antistius Sossianus, who challenging written satirical poems on Nero. This must have been summary to regain the emperor's favor: in 63, he was ranger of the public works. Overlook 65, he really endeared person to Nero.

When Nero was governing at the contests of position Neroniana [a cultural festival] limit wished to compete among birth lyre-players, but did not risk to do so (although in attendance was a general demand transfer him) and accordingly left nobility theater, Vitellius called him influx, alleging that he came gorilla an envoy from the hard line people, and thus gave Nero a chance to yield inhibit their entreaties.^note[Suetonius, Life of Vitellius 4; tr.

J. Cavorse.]

So, interchangeable 65, he was again predispose of the most important courtiers in Rome, a former legate and governor. He was 50 years old and had the whole number reason to be very content.

This page was created in 2002; last modified on 14 Pace 2019.