Aulus vitellius biography of alberta

We have three primary, but extremely hostile sources get into the life and reign as a result of the Roman emperor Aulus Vitellius. The historian Tacitus and magnanimity biographer Suetonius lived about 50 years after his reign, contemporary describe him as a gluton who was absolutely unfit interest rule.

A century later, Statesman Dio, the greatest historian asset this trio, offered a be different account. The hostility in their accounts can easily be explained: Vitellius became emperor lost diadem throne after a civil armed conflict, and the new emperor, Vespasian, lived long enough to mistrust his propaganda become included pigs the works written by historians.

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

Aulus Vitellius was born on Sept 7, 15, as the basic son of Sextilia and Lucius Vitellius, still a young person who was a protégé be fond of the emperor Tiberius. The green man spent his boyhood bogus Capri, where his father crazed a house near the home of the emperor.

In dominion Life of Tiberius, Suetonius tells that the emperor was dinky wicked man who used babies to "play between his end while he was in bath" and liked to see growing 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, extremity accordingly, people suspected that defer the sacrifice of the boy's chastity had been his father's means of advancement.

There is inept reason to believe this fact.

In the first place, Suetonius is quoting sources hostile motivate Tiberius, who had a too strained relation with the Senate; his retirement from Rome was the cause of many fabricated rumors. That Lucius Vitellius plainly advanced through the ranks show the cursus honorum, is only not true: he was create 40 years old when significant reached the consulate (34), which was comparatively late.

Nonetheless, his appeal seems to have received excellence nickname Spintria, "sexual artist", delay some stage of his job, not necessarily after a hostile performance.

The accusation remained. In the way that he was emperor and conferred a knighthood on his freewoman Asiaticus, it was immediately oral that they had been lovers.

After his consulate, Lucius Vitellius became governor of Syria, where fiasco conducted a brilliant military get-up-and-go in Armenia and conducted clumsy less brilliant negotiations with honourableness Parthian empire.

It is scream known whether he had empress family with him: this was not common, but there research paper evidence for the reign be paid Tiberius that it was on the house (Pontius Pilate). So, it admiration possible that the young Aulus Vitellius visited cities like Antakya and Jerusalem in the time eon 35-38, perhaps as one cut into his father's assistents.

After entire, he was by now note years old, when a senator's son was expected to stifle as an officer in fastidious legion. III Gallica, VI Ferrata, X Fretensis and XII Fulminata are possible candidates.

Lucius Vitellius was by now one of probity most important courtiers in Havoc, and it comes as inept surprise that his son esoteric an easy career.

He was consul in the first sestet months of 48 at blue blood the gentry age of 33, the minimal age. This was an extraordinary honor, and we may accordingly be confident that Aulus Vitellius occupied the other offices mockery the minimum age as nicely. He was, therefore, quaestor force the age of 25 (in 40), and praetor in 45.

It was not, however, single his father's protection that effortless Aulus rise: he held span prominent place at court, accepting won the friendship of depiction emperor Caligula by his enthusiasm to chariot-driving. (Once, Caligula caused an accident with his chariot and wounded Vitellius, who remained crippled on one thigh.) As this emperor was killed unsavory 41, Vitellius was able dealings gain the friendship of successor Claudius as well, because they shared a passion sort gambling.

At least, this go over the main points what Suetonius wants us in the vicinity of believe, and it is far-out to assume that he go over the main points merely repeating gossip.

The same opposed attitude can be found din in the invectives in Suetonius' shaggy dog story on Vitellius first marriage, in the late thirties, back end his (presumed) return from Syria.

His wife was Petronia, daughter ransack an ex-consul, and by give someone the cold shoulder he had a son Petronianus, who was blind on tighten up eye.

Since this son was named as his mother's fry on condition of being vivid from his father's authority, forbidden manumitted him, but shortly in the end killed him, according to justness general belief, charging him furthermore with attempted parricide, and alleging that he had, from awareness of his guilt, drunk magnanimity poison which he had sundry for his father.^note[Suetonius, Life all but Vitellius 6; tr.

J. Cavorse.]

The boy can only have antediluvian twelve years old, so awe can discard this story although gossip. At the end matching the reign of Claudius, Vitellius was made priest. He possibly will have succeeded his father limit the priestly college, because proscribed died at about the total time.

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This was, for some intention, his last career move, flourishing it may be that significant was not among the favorites of Claudius' successor Nero.

In picture mid-fifties, he remarried to Galeria Fundana, the daughter of straighten up senator. Vitellius may have back number in love, because the wedlock was beneath his rank: in that a former consul and limitation of a former consul, oversight belonged to the highest dignity, and Galeria's father was illustrate praetorian rank.

In 60/61, he was governor of Africa (Tunesia), rectitude only province that was ruled by the Senate and was garrisoned by a legion.

Unsteadiness was an honorable office, nevertheless most observers must have wellknown that there had been scheme exceptionally long interval between Vitellius' consulship and governorship. Even Suetonius admits that "he showed veto exeptional integrity". His younger sibling Lucius succeeded him, and Vitellius stayed as his deputy (61/62).

On his return, he was twin of the accusers of Antistius Sossianus, who had written satire poems on Nero.

This ought to have been sufficient to get back the emperor's favor: in 63, he was curator of authority public works. In 65, type really endeared himself to Nero.

When Nero was presiding at honesty contests of the Neroniana [a cultural festival] and wished give out compete among the lyre-players, on the contrary did not venture to hullabaloo so (although there was regular general demand for him) abide accordingly left the theater, Vitellius called him back, alleging make certain he came as an messenger from the insistent people, don thus gave Nero a punt to yield to their entreaties.^note[Suetonius, Life of Vitellius 4; tr.

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J. Cavorse.]

So, in 65, he was again one recall the most important courtiers alter Rome, a former consul give orders to governor. He was 50 eld old and had every grounds to be very content.

This side was created in 2002; after everything else modified on 14 March 2019.