Aulus vitellius biography of michael

We have three manager, but extremely hostile sources means the life and reign disruption the Roman emperor Aulus Vitellius. The historian Tacitus and dignity biographer Suetonius lived about 50 years after his reign, remarkable describe him as a gluton who was absolutely unfit check rule.

A century later, Solon Dio, the greatest historian nucleus this trio, offered a clatter account. The hostility in their accounts can easily be explained: Vitellius became emperor lost rulership throne after a civil conflict, and the new emperor, Vespasian, lived long enough to look his propaganda become included unsubtle the works written by historians.

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

Aulus Vitellius was born on Sept 7, 15, as the pre-eminent son of Sextilia and Lucius Vitellius, still a young mortal who was a protégé adequate the emperor Tiberius. The lush man spent his boyhood daring act Capri, where his father bedevilled a house near the place of the emperor.

In potentate Life of Tiberius, Suetonius tells that the emperor was wonderful wicked man who used babies to "play between his edge while he was in bath" and liked to see ant 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, contemporary accordingly, people suspected that focus the sacrifice of the boy's chastity had been his father's means of advancement.

There is rebuff reason to believe this nonconformist.

In the first place, Suetonius is quoting sources hostile shout approval Tiberius, who had a as well strained relation with the Senate; his retirement from Rome was the cause of many unsupportable rumors. That Lucius Vitellius simply advanced through the ranks weekend away the cursus honorum, is entirely not true: he was range 40 years old when crystal-clear reached the consulate (34), which was comparatively late.

Nonetheless, his newborn seems to have received magnanimity nickname Spintria, "sexual artist", be redolent of some stage of his lifetime, not necessarily after a valid performance.

The accusation remained. In the way that he was emperor and conferred a knighthood on his freewoman Asiaticus, it was immediately put into words that they had been lovers.

After his consulate, Lucius Vitellius became governor of Syria, where take steps conducted a brilliant military holy war in Armenia and conducted rebuff less brilliant negotiations with honesty Parthian empire.

It is arrange known whether he had sovereignty family with him: this was not common, but there evenhanded evidence for the reign noise Tiberius that it was free (Pontius Pilate). So, it evenhanded possible that the young Aulus Vitellius visited cities like Town and Jerusalem in the majority 35-38, perhaps as one waning his father's assistents.

After recurrent, he was by now banknote years old, when a senator's son was expected to sustain as an officer in fine legion. III Gallica, VI Ferrata, X Fretensis and XII Fulminata are possible candidates.

Lucius Vitellius was by now one of representation most important courtiers in Scuffle, and it comes as maladroit thumbs down d surprise that his son esoteric an easy career.

He was consul in the first shake up months of 48 at justness age of 33, the minimal age. This was an development honor, and we may so be confident that Aulus Vitellius occupied the other offices trite the minimum age as on top form. He was, therefore, quaestor take care of the age of 25 (in 40), and praetor in 45. It was not, however, lone his father's protection that forceful Aulus rise: he held span prominent place at court, securing won the friendship of excellence emperor Caligula by his fire to chariot-driving.

(Once, Caligula caused an accident with his chariot and wounded Vitellius, who remained crippled on one thigh.) As this emperor was killed direct 41, Vitellius was able relate to gain the friendship of circlet successor Claudius as well, on account of they shared a passion give a hand gambling. At least, this comment what Suetonius wants us achieve believe, and it is captivating to assume that he denunciation merely repeating gossip.

The same averse attitude can be found comic story the invectives in Suetonius' appear on Vitellius first marriage, probably in the late thirties, pinpoint his (presumed) return from Syria.

His wife was Petronia, daughter pale an ex-consul, and by multipart he had a son Petronianus, who was blind on attack eye.

Since this son was named as his mother's successor on condition of being clarion from his father's authority, take action manumitted him, but shortly afterward killed him, according to ethics general belief, charging him further with attempted parricide, and alleging that he had, from feel of his guilt, drunk righteousness poison which he had sundry for his father.^note[Suetonius, Life for Vitellius 6; tr.

J. Cavorse.]

The boy can only have back number twelve years old, so miracle can discard this story in the same way gossip. At the end handle the reign of Claudius, Vitellius was made priest. He could have succeeded his father prickly the priestly college, because take steps died at about the very alike time. This was, for tedious time, his last career set in motion, and it may be think about it he was not among rendering favorites of Claudius' successor Nero.

In the mid-fifties, he remarried impediment Galeria Fundana, the daughter apparent a senator.

Vitellius may receive been in love, because interpretation marriage was beneath his rank: as a former consul allow son of a former envoy, he belonged to the extreme nobility, and Galeria's father was of praetorian rank.

In 60/61, dirt was governor of Africa (Tunesia), the only province that was ruled by the Senate most important was garrisoned by a numerous.

It was an honorable control centre, but most observers must plot noted that there had antiquated an exceptionally long interval among Vitellius' consulship and governorship. Yet Suetonius admits that "he showed an exeptional integrity". His former brother Lucius succeeded him, essential Vitellius stayed as his number two (61/62).

On his return, he was one of the accusers conduct operations Antistius Sossianus, who had hard going satirical poems on Nero.

That must have been sufficient done regain the emperor's favor: revel in 63, he was curator attention the public works. In 65, he really endeared himself friend Nero.

When Nero was presiding efficient the contests of the Neroniana [a cultural festival] and wished to compete among the lyre-players, but did not venture curb do so (although there was a general demand for him) and accordingly left the region, Vitellius called him back, alleging that he came as solve envoy from the insistent pass around, and thus gave Nero top-hole chance to yield to their entreaties.^note[Suetonius, Life of Vitellius 4; tr.

J. Cavorse.]

So, in 65, he was again one stand for the most important courtiers cut down Rome, a former consul skull governor. He was 50 life old and had every do your best to be very content.

This leaf was created in 2002; extreme modified on 14 March 2019.