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Vitellius (Latin: Aulus Vitellius Germanicus Augustus; 24 September AD 15 – 22 December AD 69) was Roman Emperor for eight months, from 16 April to 22 December AD 69. Vitellius was proclaimed emperor following during the civil war known as the Year of the Four Emperors, in which four emperors rapidly overthrew each other. Vitellius overthrew Galba and Otho, and was overthrown by the final emperor, Vespasian.

Birth and family

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Aulus Vitellius was born on 24 September 15 AD, the son of Lucius Vitellius and Sextilia. His father, Lucius, had served as both Consul and governor of Syria under Tiberius.[1] His paternal grandfather was Publius Vitellius the Elder,[1] who served as Quaestor and Procurator under Augustus,[citation needed] and his paternal grandmother is unknown.[1] His maternal grandfather was Marcus Sextilius,[1] who served as Triumvir Monetalis in 15 AD.[citation needed] His maternal grandmother was Fabia.[1]

Early career

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Vitellius was made governor of Germania Inferior in November 68 AD.[2]

Emperorship

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Seizing the Emperorship

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Vitellius was declared emperor on 3 January 69 AD by his legions, in Germania Inferior.[3] Two weeks after Vitellius declared himself emperor, another claimant, Galba, was killed by order of Otho, who then declared himself emperor.[4] Shortly after Otho claimed the throne, he contacted Vitellius and asked him to surrender, offering Vitellius the option of using the face-saving excuse that Vitellius' dispute had been with Galba alone. Vitellius refused, even when offered money, influence and property, and sent back a letter offering the same to Otho.[5][6] Otho sent an envoy to Vitellius' Rhine legions, along with the Legio I Italica. The envoys defected, leaving the praetorian guardsmen who had come with them, to return home, bearing a letter from Fabius Valens instructing the praetorian and urban cohorts to surrender, offering mercy if they did so, an offer that was not taken. Later, both Otho and Vitellius would attempt to assassinate each other, without success. The assassins sent by Otho were quickly identified as outsiders by the legionary camps, and executed on the spot, whereas those sent by Vitellius were able to infiltrate Rome easily, due to the mass of people, but were unable to get close to Otho.[7]

Otho chose to remain in Rome rather than travelling to muster an army. He likely did this because he expected to have at least two months of preparation time, given that Romans traditionally began wars in March or April, and it was only mid-January. It may also be because he was confident of his position, because, although he lacked an organized army, he had the explicit support of a number of provinces, including a number of distant provinces, such as Dalmatia, Pannonia, Moesia, Syria, Judaea, Egypt, and Africa. Otho even held the support of several provinces nearby to Germania Inferior for a time, among them Aquitaine, Gallia Narbonensis, and Hispania Tarraconensis.[8] In Rome, Otho had limited troops available to him: the newly formed Legio I Adiutrix, the 12 cohorts of the Praetorian Guard, 4 or 5 Urban Cohorts, and various parade and paramilitary groups. He then summoned the seven legions of the Balkan provinces, Dalmatia, Pannonia, and Moesia. It is believed his plan was to march the troops immediately available to him up to Northern Italy, where they would await the arrival of at least the four legions of Dalmatia and Pannonia, Legio VII Claudia, Legio XI Claudia, Legio XIII Gemina, and Legio XIV Gemina, then marched north into Gaul.[9]

Otho had to abandon all plans when the news that Vitellius was marching south to Italy, with his army in two columns, arrived in mid-February. At this point, it is apparent that Otho intended to make a defence using the mountain passes of the Alps, however this plan also had to be abandoned before March, as by this time the ala Siliana had seized control of all the major four Italian cities north of the Po River. Otho thus planned to make his defence on the northern bank of the Po, in order to ensure that the legions marching from the Balkans could successfully link up with his army by travelling through Aquileia, which would be lost if Otho attempted to hold only the south bank. At this point, Otho sent an advance force of about 10,000 men, made up of five praetorian cohorts, the Legio I Adiutrix, a large amount of cavalry, and 2,000 gladiators, led by Annius Gallus, to ensure his ability to hold the north Po, at least until the legions from the Balkans arrived. He may also have sent instructions to the seven legions marching to meet him from the Balkans to send 2,000 men, per legion, ahead of the army, so that they could bolster his forces.[10]

The forces of Otho and Vitellius first met at the Battle of Forum Julii, on a small coastal plain near Menton, with Otho facing west and Vitellius east. Otho stationed marines and local militia on his right flank, on foothills, his praetorians in the middle, on flat plains, and defended his left flank by usage of ships, crewed by the urban cohorts. Vitellius stationed a cohort of Ligurian militia on his left flank, in the foothills, and filled the rest of the line with two cohorts of Tungrian militia, but made a front of his Treveran cavalry, which was the strength of his army. Vitellius' cavalry attacked rashly, and suffered severely because of it. They faced well trained soldiers in front of them, a rain of lances weapons from their left flank, and Otho's fleet on their right flank. Faced with such opposition, the Treveran cavalry fled.[11] Vitellius' forces sent for reinforcements from Forum Julii, and launched a surprise attack against Otho's forces a few days later, at their camps. Otho's forces had not expected another attack so soon, and were quickly overrun. Otho's praetorians managed to rally upon a hill and prepare a counterattack, but his militia fled. Vitellius' Treveran cavalry managed to encircle and destroy some of Otho's remaining troops which launched a counterattack. At this point, both considered the battle a stalemate and withdrew, the Vitellian legions to Antipolis, and the Othonian forces to Albingaunum.[12]

On 14 March 69, Otho marched north, taking with him his remaining seven praetorian cohorts, a large number of praetorian veterans who had been called upon, a large number of marines, and his personal bodyguard, this force was estimated to number 9,000 men.[13] Vitellius' forces, led by Caecina, crossed the Alps by the end of March, and quickly occupied much of Western Cisalpine Gaul, seizing the important cities of Eporedia, Vercellae, Novaria, and Mediolanum. Caecina then leads his troops to Cremona, where they took prisoner a cohort of Pannonians. Due to their strategic positions, Cremona and Placentia were considered the "keys to North Italy", which must be captured before one could advance south.[14] Caecina led his forces to Placentia, likely because occupying it would force Otho's legions to pull back, to avoid being flanked and encircled.[15] Placentia was defended by a force of about 4,000 men.[16] Caesina launched an assault on the city, sending troops with only siege ladders, however his men were overconfident and careless, and were beaten back with heavy losses. Another assault was launched the next day, which was likewise beaten back, leading to Caseina withdrawing to Cremona. At this point, Annius Gallus, one of Otho's commanders, who had with him a force of about 5,000 men, and had been marching south to reinforce Placentia, halted and made camp at Bedriacum, about 22 Roman miles from Cremona.[17]

Otho, for unknown reasons, decided to send a large amount of his troops to Brixellum, lowering his troops count from around 70,000 to 10,000, to Vitellius' 70,0000.[18] On 14 April 69, their forces met at the Battle of Bedriacum. Soon after the battle began, the Vitellians managed to encircle the right wing of Otho's forces, Legio XIII Gemina and Legio XIV Gemina Martia Victrix, and destroy much of them. At this point, many of Otho's generals fled the battle.[19] Otho's left flank was made up of the newly recruited Legio I Adiutrix, which faced Vitellius' veteran Legio XXI Rapax. Legio XXI Rapax was able to rapidly push Legio I Adiutrix back. Now, the centre of Otho's force, although experienced and determined, was exposed on both flanks, and quickly routed, giving Vitellius' forces a decisive victory.[20] Otho on 16 April 69, upon learning of the crushing defeat his army had suffered, took his own life, leaving Vitellius as the sole claimant to Roman Emperor.[21][22]

Emperor

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Now sole ruler, Vitellius, who had remained in Germania Inferior for the duration of the conflict between himself and Otho, was slow to travel to Rome, arriving on 18 June 69, even though he had become the unchallenged emperor in mid-April.[23] Once he had arrived, he immediately began to cement his control of Rome, rewarding his allies, placating any enemies he could, and neutralizing those who could not. Vitellius showed restraint in punishing Otho's generals and soldiers, but disarmed and dispersed them, so as to reduce the chance of an uprising.[24] He also took steps to secure dynastic succession, declaring his six year old son, Aulus Vitellius Germanicus, his heir, and marrying his daughter, Vitellia, to Decimus Valerius Asiaticus, who was governor of Gallia Belgica.[25] Vitellius was able to pacify many of the men of Otho's praetorian guard for a time, by giving 20,000 sesterces to each of them, although many still joined Vespasian as soon as news of his revolt spread.[26] In order to lower expenses, Vitellius returned the Batavian and Gallic auxiliary cohorts to their homes, and allowed the legions to fall below their nominal strengths, halting the recruiting of fresh soldiers, and even allowing any legionaries who desired it to be honorably discharged. Although this lowered the legions' upkeep, it wrecked Rome's finances, as each legionary being discharged was given a sum of money, and weakened the legions enormously.[27] Almost nothing is recorded of events between Vitellius' entering of Rome on 18 June 69 and his departure in mid or late September 69.[28]

Defending against Vespasian

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Vespasian, who had not objected to the reign of Galba or Otho, but who refused to recognized Vitellius, declared himself emperor on 1 July 69, in Egypt.[29][30] He was immediately recognized by Legio XII Fulminata and Legio X Fretensis, who attended the ceremony in which he was declared emperor. Two days later, Legio VI Ferrata, stationed in Judaea, recognized Vespasian as emperor. On 15 July 69, the Syrian legions, Legio III Cyrenaica and Legio IV Scythica, recognized him as emperor.[30] Despite his strong position, Vespasian proceeded carefully. He immediately sent envoys to Vologases I of Parthia and Tiridates of Armenia, to ensure neither would invade Rome while he moved the garrisons away.[31] Vespasian himself remained in Egypt, sending Mucianus with one whole legion, Legio VI Ferrata, and 2,600 men from each of the other legions at his disposal, for a total of about 18,000 legionaries. While a small force, Mucianus was intended to gather the forces of the Balkan legions, of Moesia, Pannonia and Dalmatia, as he marched.[32] In the Bakan provinces, In August, Antonius Primus rose up in support of Vespasian, initially with Legio III Gallica, but quickly joined by Legio VII Claudia and Legio VIII Augusta.[33] The Balkan legions then sent letters to the Pannonian legions, asking them to join them. Legio XIII Gemina and Legio VII Galbiana both pledged allegiance to Vespasian.[34] Arrius Verus, one of Vespasian's commanders, invaded Italy with a large force, rapidly seizing Aquilea, Opitergium, Altinum, Patavium, and Ateste, often unopposed.[34] Around this point, Lucilius Bassus, admiral of the Classis Ravennas, defected and joined Vespasian.[35] On 24 October 69, the forces of Vespasian and Vitellius met at the Second Battle of Bedriacum. Vespasian's forces included four full legions, much of four different legions, and detachments of five other legions, whereas




Primus led his legions into Italy, and on 24 October 69 defeated the legions of Vitellius in the .[36] Vitellius was killed on 20 December 69 by supporters of Vespasian.[3]

References

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Primary sources

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Citations

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  1. ^ a b c d e Sayles 2007, p. 81.
  2. ^ Morgan 2005, p. 51.
  3. ^ a b Morgan 2005, p. 1.
  4. ^ Sayles 2007, p. 79.
  5. ^ Morgan 2005, p. 91.
  6. ^ Morgan 2005, pp. 99–100.
  7. ^ Morgan 2005, p. 100.
  8. ^ Morgan 2005, p. 92.
  9. ^ Morgan 2005, pp. 100–102.
  10. ^ Morgan 2005, p. 102.
  11. ^ Morgan 2005, pp. 105–106.
  12. ^ Morgan 2005, p. 106.
  13. ^ Morgan 2005, pp. 111–112.
  14. ^ Morgan 2005, p. 112.
  15. ^ Morgan 2005, pp. 112–113.
  16. ^ Morgan 2005, pp. 113–115.
  17. ^ Morgan 2005, pp. 115–117.
  18. ^ Morgan 2005, pp. 127–128.
  19. ^ Morgan 2005, pp. 135–137.
  20. ^ Morgan 2005, p. 137.
  21. ^ Matyszak 2014, p. 78.
  22. ^ Morgan 2005, p. 139.
  23. ^ Morgan 2005, p. 146.
  24. ^ Morgan 2005, p. 148.
  25. ^ Morgan 2005, p. 149.
  26. ^ Morgan 2005, pp. 155–156.
  27. ^ Morgan 2005, pp. 156–158.
  28. ^ Morgan 2005, pp. 158–159.
  29. ^ Sayles 2007, p. 82.
  30. ^ a b Morgan 2005, p. 185.
  31. ^ Morgan 2005, pp. 185–187.
  32. ^ Morgan 2005, p. 187.
  33. ^ Morgan 2005, pp. 191–192.
  34. ^ a b Morgan 2005, p. 195.
  35. ^ Morgan 2005, p. 199.
  36. ^ Matyszak 2014, p. 79.

Bibliography

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  • Matyszak, Philip (2014). The Roman Empire. Oneworld Publications. ISBN 9781780744254.
  • Sayles, Wayne G. (2007). Ancient Coin Collecting III: The Roman World. Iola: KP. ISBN 9780896894785.
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