Vitellius

Also known as: Aulus Vitellius · Family: Roman Empire · Role: commander of the legions of Lower Germany · First appears: Histories I.9-13

Aulus Vitellius became commander of the legions of Lower Germany after they had long been without a commander. He was the son of Lucius Vitellius, censor and thrice consul, a distinction used to lend him imperial dignity. In the preceding year he restored soldiers to rank, remitted degrading penalties, and relieved those who had suffered disgrace; Fabius Valens, hostile to Galba, then incited him to pursue imperial power. After the Upper Province army revolted, Vitellius urged his troops to make an emperor, and Fabius Valens entered Cologne and saluted him as emperor. The Upper Province army joined him, the title of Germanicus was conferred on him, and he sent Fabius Valens and Caecina to invade Italy by separate routes.

His rise brought rivalry with Otho and Vespasian and enmity with Galba. Vitellius ordered Pompeius Propinquus and four centurions—Nonius, Donatius, Romilius, and Calpurnius—executed, while rescuing Julius Burdo and Julius Civilis and accepting Trebellius Maximus as a refuge. He gained the support of Valerius Asiaticus and Junius Blaesus, and appointed Fabius Valens and Caecina as his generals. After the Vitellians defeated Otho at Bedriacum, Rome’s troops swore allegiance to Vitellius and the Senate conferred all imperial distinctions on him. He left Hordeonius Flaccus to guard the Rhine, granted Asiaticus equestrian rank at a private banquet after refusing it publicly, and at Lugdunum took up his infant son, named him Germanicus, and decorated him with imperial insignia. He was married to Galeria, while his divorced wife Petronia later married Dolabella, whose execution Vitellius ordered.

As emperor, Vitellius rewarded Cluvius Rufus, Marius Celsus, Caecilius Simplex, Fabius Valens, and Caecina, but also executed Coenus, Dolabella, Mariccus, and Geta. He punished his freedman Hilarus after Cluvius Rufus overcame the accusations against him, and gave Vettius Bolanus command in Britain. He admired Nero, followed him to hear him sing, and later held a funeral service in his honour. He depleted the legions and auxiliaries, allowed men to choose the Guards over other service, shortened consuls’ terms for Fabius Valens and Caecina, and ignored or postponed the claims of Martius Macer, Valerius Marinus, and Pedanius Costa. When the East declared for Vespasian, opposition spread: Mucianus, Antonius Primus, Cornelius Fuscus, and Arrius Varus acted against him, while Porcius Septiminus and Marius Maturus remained loyal. Lucilius Bassus and Caecina deserted him, and Vitellius imprisoned Publilius Sabinus and replaced him with Alfenus Varus.