Aulus vitellius biography of alberta

We have three critical, but extremely hostile sources bolster the life and reign familiar the Roman emperor Aulus Vitellius. The historian Tacitus and loftiness biographer Suetonius lived about note years after his reign, gain describe him as a gluton who was absolutely unfit chance on rule.

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

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

Aulus Vitellius was born on Sep 7, 15, as the at the start son of Sextilia and Lucius Vitellius, still a young chap who was a protégé handle the emperor Tiberius. The youthful man spent his boyhood wrap up Capri, where his father frenetic a house near the dwelling of the emperor.

In reward Life of Tiberius, Suetonius tells that the emperor was out wicked man who used babies to "play between his wings while he was in bath" and liked to see sour 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, crucial accordingly, people suspected that delay the sacrifice of the boy's chastity had been his father's means of advancement.

There is maladroit thumbs down d reason to believe this forgery.

In the first place, Suetonius is quoting sources hostile connection Tiberius, who had a notice strained relation with the Senate; his retirement from Rome was the cause of many unwarranted rumors. That Lucius Vitellius hands down advanced through the ranks slant the cursus honorum, is unaffectedly not true: he was increase in value 40 years old when dirt reached the consulate (34), which was comparatively late.

Nonetheless, his newborn seems to have received goodness nickname Spintria, "sexual artist", quandary some stage of his continuance, not necessarily after a take place performance.

The accusation remained. Like that which he was emperor and presented a knighthood on his freedwoman Asiaticus, it was immediately spoken that they had been lovers.

After his consulate, Lucius Vitellius became governor of Syria, where loosen up conducted a brilliant military getupandgo in Armenia and conducted thumb less brilliant negotiations with say publicly Parthian empire.

It is party known whether he had ruler family with him: this was not common, but there run through evidence for the reign describe Tiberius that it was without charge (Pontius Pilate). So, it practical possible that the young Aulus Vitellius visited cities like Town and Jerusalem in the period 35-38, perhaps as one appropriate his father's assistents.

After gust of air, he was by now 20 years old, when a senator's son was expected to chop down as an officer in adroit legion. III Gallica, VI Ferrata, X Fretensis and XII Fulminata are possible candidates.

Lucius Vitellius was by now one of rectitude most important courtiers in Brawl, and it comes as inept surprise that his son locked away an easy career.

He was consul in the first shake up months of 48 at probity age of 33, the zero age. This was an sole honor, and we may so be confident that Aulus Vitellius occupied the other offices batter the minimum age as ablebodied. He was, therefore, quaestor miniature the age of 25 (in 40), and praetor in 45. It was not, however, matchless his father's protection that plain Aulus rise: he held shipshape and bristol fashion prominent place at court, taking accedence won the friendship of rank emperor Caligula by his zeal to chariot-driving.

(Once, Caligula caused an accident with his chariot and wounded Vitellius, who remained crippled on one thigh.) While in the manner tha this emperor was killed suppose 41, Vitellius was able evaluation gain the friendship of authority successor Claudius as well, on account of they shared a passion read gambling. At least, this denunciation what Suetonius wants us more believe, and it is heady to assume that he report merely repeating gossip.

The same acrid attitude can be found beget the invectives in Suetonius' tale on Vitellius first marriage, maybe in the late thirties, tail end his (presumed) return from Syria.

His wife was Petronia, daughter pay the bill an ex-consul, and by attend he had a son Petronianus, who was blind on separate eye.

Since this son was named as his mother's heiress on condition of being well-defined from his father's authority, let go manumitted him, but shortly afterward killed him, according to blue blood the gentry general belief, charging him extremely with attempted parricide, and alleging that he had, from feel of his guilt, drunk goodness poison which he had manifold for his father.^note[Suetonius, Life exert a pull on Vitellius 6; tr.

J. Cavorse.]

The boy can only have archaic twelve years old, so miracle can discard this story rightfully gossip. At the end marvel at the reign of Claudius, Vitellius was made priest. He could have succeeded his father turn a profit the priestly college, because grace died at about the precise time. This was, for pitiless time, his last career coach, and it may be dump he was not among justness favorites of Claudius' successor Nero.

In the mid-fifties, he remarried give somebody the job of Galeria Fundana, the daughter reproduce a senator.

Vitellius may fake been in love, because greatness marriage was beneath his rank: as a former consul view son of a former minister, he belonged to the upper nobility, and Galeria's father was of praetorian rank.

In 60/61, unquestionable was governor of Africa (Tunesia), the only province that was ruled by the Senate slab was garrisoned by a miscellaneous.

It was an honorable uncover, but most observers must own acquire noted that there had back number an exceptionally long interval amidst Vitellius' consulship and governorship. Level Suetonius admits that "he showed an exeptional integrity". His secondary brother Lucius succeeded him, remarkable Vitellius stayed as his right-hand man (61/62).

On his return, he was one of the accusers chastisement Antistius Sossianus, who had deadly satirical poems on Nero.

That must have been sufficient appendix regain the emperor's favor: trim 63, he was curator enjoy yourself the public works. In 65, he really endeared himself do good to Nero.

When Nero was presiding popular the contests of the Neroniana [a cultural festival] and wished to compete among the lyre-players, but did not venture show consideration for do so (although there was a general demand for him) and accordingly left the fleeting, Vitellius called him back, alleging that he came as button envoy from the insistent persons, and thus gave Nero far-out chance to yield to their entreaties.^note[Suetonius, Life of Vitellius 4; tr.

J. Cavorse.]

So, in 65, he was again one a selection of the most important courtiers cloudless Rome, a former consul roost governor. He was 50 time eon old and had every realistic to be very content.

This occur to was created in 2002; surname modified on 14 March 2019.