Sulpicius Galba

Also known as: Galba · Family: Roman · Role: emperor · First appears: Galba

Galba valued his relationship with Catulus, whom he regarded as the most eminent citizen of his time for virtue and renown, and he was also related to Livia, the wife of Augustus. Nero entrusted him with the government of Spain. Later, Junius Vindex urged him to take the government, while Galba wrote to Virginius Rufus to join him in preserving the empire and Roman liberty; Virginius Rufus, Nymphidius Sabinus, and Tigellinus helped persuade the troops to declare him emperor, after which the senate voted Nero an enemy.

As emperor, Galba had Titus Vinius as captain of his praetorian guard and honored his freedman Icelus with the gold ring, making him first among the freedmen under the name Marcianus. Marcus Otho, whom Titus Vinius introduced with a promise that he would marry Vinius’s daughter if Galba adopted him as successor, instead “dreaded Piso, hated Galba, and was full of wrath and indignation against Vinius.” Galba secretly sent for Piso, the son of Crassus and Scribonia, and took responsibility for him as guardian; Umbricius then warned that great troubles and dangerous snares threatened the emperor. When Vitellius was proclaimed emperor in Germany, the news reached Galba, while Titus Vinius was later dispatched after admitting he had been involved in the conspiracy against him.

After Atillius Vergilio knocked down one of Galba’s statues, Sempronius Densus drew his sword and defended himself for a long time before being cut under the knees and brought down. Julius Atticus presented himself before Galba with a bloody weapon, and Galba was killed; Terentius, Lecanius, and Fabius Falulus were variously named in accounts of what followed, with Fabius Falulus reportedly cutting off and carrying away his head. Galba’s freedman Argius buried him during the night, and Priscus Helvidius later conveyed his body away by Marcus Otho’s permission.