Publius Vitellius

Also known as: Vitellius · Family: Roman · Role: commander · First appears: Annals I (19)

In Annals I, Germanicus assigned Publius Vitellius the second and fourteenth legions to lead overland, lightening the ships for the difficult waters. Vitellius brought the flood-stricken troops to an eminence, where they spent a cold night without supplies, then reached Germanicus at the river Vidrus; the legions were re-embarked after being falsely reported drowned. “Vitellius, at length struggling on to an eminence, drew the legions thither, where they passed the cold night without fire, and destitute of every convenience”

In Annals II, Vitellius and Publius Cantius collected tribute from the Gauls while Silius, Anteius, and Caecina directed the fleet’s construction. At Rome, Vitellius joined Veranius and others in preparing criminal charges against Cneius Piso and Plancina, while Cneius Sentius sent Martina there.

In Annals III, Vitellius was among those who had accompanied Germanicus and opposed Fulcinius Trio when Trio arraigned Piso before the Consuls. Soon afterward, Tiberius moved that Vitellius, Veranius, and Servaeus receive the honours of the Priesthood. By Annals VI, Acutia is identified as the former wife of Publius Vitellius.

Relationship record

Life events

• Germanicus assigned the second and fourteenth legions to Publius Vitellius for their overland march.(Annals I (19))
  • With: Germanicus
  • “Germanicus, in order to lighten the ships in which he had embarked his men, and fit their burden to the ebbs and shallows, delivered the second and fourteenth legions to Publius Vitellius, to lead them by land.”
• Publius Vitellius brought the flood-stricken legions to an eminence, where they endured a cold, unsupplied night.(Annals I (19))
  • “Vitellius, at length struggling on to an eminence, drew the legions thither, where they passed the cold night without fire, and destitute of every convenience”
• The two legions reached Germanicus at the river Vidrus and were re-embarked after being falsely reported drowned.(Annals I (19) · 📍 river Vidrus)
  • With: Germanicus
  • “There the two legions were again embarked, when fame had given them for drowned; nor was their escape believed till Germanicus and the army were seen to return.”
• Publius Vitellius and Publius Cantius collected Gallic tribute while Silius, Anteius, and Caecina directed fleet construction.(Annals II (1))
  • With: Publius Cantius Silius Anteius Caecina
  • “On that method therefore he fixed: whilst Publius Vitellius and Publius Cantius were sent to collect the tribute of the Gauls; Silius, Anteius, and Caecina had the direction of building the fleet.”
• Cneius Sentius sent Martina to Rome while prosecutors prepared charges against Piso and Plancina.(Annals II (12) · 📍 Rome)
  • With: Cneius Sentius Martina Veranius Cneius Piso Plancina
  • “By him one Martina, infamous in that province for practices in poisoning, and a close confidant of Plancina, was sent to Rome, at the suit of Vitellius, Veranius, and others, who were preparing criminal articles against Piso and Plancina, as against persons evidently guilty.”

Annals I (19)

• employer: Germanicus “Germanicus, in order to lighten the ships in which he had embarked his men, and fit their burden to the ebbs and shallows, delivered the second and fourteenth legions to Publius Vitellius, to lead them by land.”

Annals II (1)

• employer: Germanicus “On that method therefore he fixed: whilst Publius Vitellius and Publius Cantius were sent to collect the tribute of the Gauls; Silius, Anteius, and Caecina had the direction of building the fleet.”

Annals II (12)

• enemies with Cneius Piso “at the suit of Vitellius, Veranius, and others, who were preparing criminal articles against Piso and Plancina, as against persons evidently guilty.”
• enemies with Plancina “at the suit of Vitellius, Veranius, and others, who were preparing criminal articles against Piso and Plancina, as against persons evidently guilty.”

Annals III (2)

• friends with Germanicus “Vitellius, Veranius, and others, who had accompanied Germanicus”
• enemies with Cneius Piso “The next day Fulcinius Trio arraigned Piso before the Consuls, but was opposed by Vitellius, Veranius, and others, who had accompanied Germanicus: they said, ”
• with Fulcinius Trio (Vitellius opposed Trio in the prosecution.) “The next day Fulcinius Trio arraigned Piso before the Consuls, but was opposed by Vitellius, Veranius, and others, who had accompanied Germanicus:”

Annals III (3)

• enemies with Cneius Piso “After him Servaeus, Veranius, and Vitellius, all with equal zeal, but Vitellius with great eloquence urged ”

Annals III (4)

• friends with Germanicus “By Vitellius and Veranius, the cause of that prince was mourned and pleaded;”

Annals III (5)

• employer: Tiberius “A few days after, Vitellius, Veranius and Servaeus, were by the Senate preferred to the honours of the Priesthood, at the motion of Tiberius.”

Annals VI (6)

• married with Acutia “Acutia, some time the wife of Publius Vitellius”

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Extracted from the original text of Tacitus — The Histories & The Annals (Books I-VI) & Agricola. Made with Rho MD.