Vitellian — Minor Figures
14 figures from Tacitus — The Histories & The Annals (Books I-VI) & Agricola who appear only briefly. Each keeps their own page; this one gathers them so they can be read together.
Blaesus
nobleman · first appears Histories III.39-43
- Histories III.39-43 · enemies with Vitellius “Vitellius hesitated anxiously between his criminal desires and his fear that, if he deferred Blaesus' death, he might hasten his own ruin, or by giving official orders for it might raise a storm of indignation.”
Julius Agrestis
centurion · first appears Histories III.53-56
- Histories III.53-56 · employer: Vitellius “A centurion named Julius Agrestis, after many interviews, in which he endeavoured in vain to fire Vitellius' courage, at last with heroic persistence induced the emperor to send him to inspect the enemy's forces and discover what had really happened at Cremona.”
- Histories III.53-56 · enemies with Vitellius “Some say he was killed by order of Vitellius, but they give the same account of his heroic devotion.”
Porcius Septiminus
imperial agent · first appears Histories III.5-8
- Histories III.5-8 · friends with Vitellius “Some auxiliaries were stationed on the flank towards Raetia, where hostilities were expected, since the imperial agent Porcius Septiminus, remained incorruptibly loyal to Vitellius.”
- Histories III.5-8 · enemies with Sextilius Felix “Some auxiliaries were stationed on the flank towards Raetia, where hostilities were expected, since the imperial agent Porcius Septiminus, remained incorruptibly loyal to Vitellius. Sextilius Felix was therefore dispatched with Aurius' Horse and eight cohorts of auxiliary infantry, together with the native levies of Noricum, to hold the line of the river Aenus, which forms the frontier of Raetia and Noricum.”
Quintius Atticus
consul · first appears Histories III.73-77
- Histories III.73-77 · patron: Vitellius “When the people further demanded the execution of the consul, Vitellius withstood them. He had forgiven Atticus, and felt that he owed him a favour”
Sextilia
emperor's mother · first appears Histories II.64-68
- Histories II.64-68 · child: Vitellius “It was even on record that when her son's first letters were read to her, she said, 'It was no Germanicus, but a Vitellius that I brought into the world.'”
Varus Alfenus
commander · first appears Histories II.41-44
- Histories II.41-44 · enemies with Otho “There arrived Varus Alfenus with his Batavians. They had routed the gladiators by confronting them and cutting them to pieces in the river before their transports could land, and flushed by their victory came charging in upon the flank of the enemy. Their centre broken, the Othonians fled in disorder, making for Bedriacum.”
Cassius Longus
camp-prefect · first appears Histories III.12-15
- Histories III.12-15 · enemies with Caecina “Led by the Fifth legion, they replaced the portraits of Vitellius and put Caecina in irons. They selected Fabius Fabullus, commanding the Fifth legion, and the camp-prefect, Cassius Longus, to lead them.”
Fabius Fabullus
commander of the Fifth legion · first appears Histories III.12-15
- Histories III.12-15 · enemies with Caecina “Led by the Fifth legion, they replaced the portraits of Vitellius and put Caecina in irons. They selected Fabius Fabullus, commanding the Fifth legion, and the camp-prefect, Cassius Longus, to lead them.”
Salonina
Caecina's wife · first appears Histories II.18-22
- Histories II.18-22 · married with Caecina “Moreover, his wife Salonina rode on a fine horse with purple trappings, and though this did no one any harm, they grumbled and seemed hurt.”
Turullius Cerialis
senior centurion · first appears Histories II.18-22
- Histories II.18-22 · friends with Caecina “As he was retiring, Turullius Cerialis with a large force of marines, and Julius Briganticus with a few cavalry, came over to his side.”
- Histories II.18-22 · employer: Caecina “The latter, a Batavian born, had held a cavalry command: the former was a senior centurion, who was known to Caecina, as he had served in that capacity in Germany.”
Julius Classicus
commander · first appears Histories II.14-17
- Histories II.14-17 · employer: Fabius Valens “He dispatched two cohorts of the Tungri and four troops of horse, together with the entire cavalry regiment of the Treviri. This force was put under the command of Julius Classicus”
Julianus
commander of the gladiators · first appears Histories III.73-77
- Histories III.73-77 · enemies with Lucius Vitellius “Julianus was taken to Lucius Vitellius, who had him flogged till he bled and then killed before his eyes.”
Vibennius Rufinus
commander of auxiliary cavalry · first appears Histories III.12-15
- Histories III.12-15 · enemies with Lucilius Bassus “Bassus was put under honourable arrest and conveyed with an escort of Liburnian cruisers to Atria, where he was imprisoned by Vibennius Rufinus, who commanded a regiment of auxiliary horse in garrison there.”
Julius Gratus
camp-prefect · first appears Histories II.23-26
- Histories II.23-26 · siblings with Julius Fronto “Julius Gratus, the camp-prefect, was put in irons on a charge of plotting with his brother, who was fighting on Otho's side. It was known that the Othonians had arrested the brother, Julius Fronto, on the same charge.”
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Extracted from the original text of Tacitus — The Histories & The Annals (Books I-VI) & Agricola. Made with Rho MD.