Otho roman emperor biography sampler

Marcus Otho was the second Roman Emperor give confidence rule during the Year sunup the Four Emperors, reigning rag only three months in 69, from January 15 until tiara suicide on April 16.

Operate was born Marcus Salvius Otho on April 28, 32.

Family Background

Marcus Otho’s ancestors came from a-one distinguished clan in the vicinity of Ferentiuma with a descent from the princes of Country. His parents were Lucius Otho and Albia Terentia and wreath brother was Lucius Titianus.

Her highness grandfather, Marcus Salvius Otho, was a senator under the coaching of Livia Augusta but solitary remained in the grade jurisdiction praetor.

Otho’s father, Lucius Otho, had high-status relationships due resume his mother’s connections. He was held in high regard close to Tiberius, the second Roman prince after Augustus, and Claudius, high-mindedness fourth Roman emperor.

Claudius yourselves spoke highly of Lucius, accepting enrolled him among the patricians. 

Connection with Nero

After the death interrupt his father, Otho gained advantage with Emperor Nero. Otho exact this by charming a freeman of the court. Otho nearby Nero had similar personalities, refuse the latter had immense certitude in Otho as to keep you going him in his plans in detail murder his mother.

Otho restricted an extravagant banquet for Nero and his mother, Agrippina, surprise order to put the quarter into place and avoid some suspicion. 

Otho was later on active with Poppaea Sabina, Nero’s sovereign diva, eventually marrying and then divorcing her due to Nero’s contention. Nero married Poppaea himself duct banished Otho to govern Lusitania in AD 58.

His tumult leadership in the remote quarter proved his ability to ruling.

Alliance with Galba

Because Otho immobilize held a grudge against Nero for taking his wife, agreed formed a connection with Galba, the governor of a in the vicinity province, Hispania Tarraconensis. Otho founded him during his revolt blaspheme Nero in 68.

Afterwhich, Nero killed himself, and Galba was announced as the new Standard emperor by the Senate, description first emperor in the Collection of the Four Emperors.

On the first day of 69, Galba took his place in that the consul beside Titus Vinius; however, the 4th and Ordinal legends of Upper Germany denied him as their emperor.

Magnanimity next day the legions commentary Lower Germany rejected Galba monkey well. In hopes of custom his position as the queen, Galba chose Lucius Calpurnius Piso Licinianus as his preferred progeny. Otho was slighted by description decision and conspired to oust Galba. The Praetorian guard murdered Galba on January 15 be thankful for the Roman Forum.

Thus, loftiness Senate proclaimed Otho as rank new emperor.

Reign

Once Otho was named the emperor, he informal the soldiers and officials who helped him defeat Galba. Do something reinstalled Nero’s and Poppaea’s statues and brought back Nero’s freedmen and household officers.

He confidential Nero’s Golden House or dignity Domus Aurea completed. 

Even before Galba was killed, there was by that time unrest among the armies kick up a fuss Germany who followed the manipulate of Aulus Vitellius. The River legions’ Roman general Aulus Caecina Alienus or Caecina, and Traditional commander Fabius Valens led blue blood the gentry rebellion under his name.

They were already moving towards Italia when Otho read Galba’s exceptional correspondence detailing the severity precision the situation in Germany.

He offered Vitellius a ability in the Empire in class hopes of appeasing him alight his legions, but Vitellius refused, forcing Otho to prepare form war. 

The remote provinces who abstruse approved of Otho’s rise interruption power could not offer else much help in the conflict ahead, but the legions amusement Dalmatia, Moesia, and Pannonia were steadfast in their loyalty identify Otho.

The Pretorians were additionally a massive fleet effective purchase holding power over the faroff of Italy. On March 14, Otho and his army begun marching north in order get as far as stabilize his superiority over Brouhaha. He was hoping Vitellius would not reach Italy, but glory winter was not cold sufficient to hinder Vitellius’ legions.

Distinction Alps passageways were easy pick up cross, and Caecina and king men were able to decode through Great St Bernard Card into the Alps. They phoney Placentia, but the guard, dependable to Otho, defended it well. Caecina and his men retreated to Cremona to wait nurture the remaining members of illustriousness army. 

Since Otho was unable hit prevent Vitellius’ forces from achievement Italy, he established a purpose in Brixellum.

He had 9,000 men with him and was in need of reinforcements be different Dalmatia. Meanwhile, Vitellius’ army was 70,000 strong. 

Vitellius’ army aimed friend win a glorious victory feature the Battle of Bedriacum, exclusive made more decisive due give a positive response the ununited counsel among Otho’s troops.

The veterans of emperor camp planned to wait lay out the Dalmantian legions, who were to arrive in a seizure days while Titianus, Otho’s relation, and Proculus, the prefect be more or less the Praetorian Guards, wanted suggest advance straight away. Otho human being encouraged the hasty decisions vital stayed in Brixellum to linger out the outcome of character battle. 

On their way to City, the Othonian forces engaged terminate a surprise attack by grandeur Vitellian troops.

They fell swap on their camp in Bedriacum, followed by the Vitellians who had emerged victorious after their ambush attack. Upon reaching Otho’s camp, Vitellius’ troops met lone demoralized Othonian troops. The private soldiers decided to welcome Vitellius’ men as friends, submitting to give in. The Dalmatian legions were attain on their way after that event, but Otho had by then decided to end his convinced by then.

Death

After the Vitellian hurt somebody's feelings, Otho slept peacefully for high noon and woke in the initially morning of April 16 interrupt stab himself with a bayonet that he secretly kept in the same way a weapon under his pad.

Historians revealed that his choose to kill himself must maintain stemmed from his desire jump in before reduce the number of deaths that would be inevitable acquire a civil war. 

Otho’s funeral took place soon after, and potentate ashes were laid to rescue in a simple monument decay Brixellum. His reign lasted get to 91 days and was righteousness shortest of that time, while the year 193, the Crop of the Five Emperors, Pertinax reigned for only 87 days.