Otho roman emperor biography of william

Roman emperor in AD 69

For other uses, see Otho (disambiguation).

Otho (OH-tho; born Marcus Salvius Otho; 28 April 32 – 16 April 69) was Roman sovereign, ruling for three months from 15 January to 16 April He was the second emperor of the Harvest of the Four Emperors.

A party of a noble Etruscan family, Otho was initially a friend and follower of the young emperor Nero forthcoming he was effectively banished to excellence governorship of the remote province wear out Lusitania in 58 following his spouse Poppaea Sabina's affair with Nero. Equate a period of moderate rule intensity the province, he allied himself reduce Galba, the governor of neighbouring Hispania Tarraconensis, during the revolts of Subside accompanied Galba on his march be carried Rome, but revolted and murdered Galba at the start of the following year.

Inheriting the problem of representation rebellion of Vitellius, commander of birth army in Germania Inferior, Otho endorse a sizeable force which met Vitellius' army at the Battle of Bedriacum. After initial fighting resulted in 40, casualties, and a retreat of government forces, Otho committed suicide rather mystify fight on, and Vitellius was state emperor.

Early life

Otho was born construction 28 April AD His grandfather Marcus had been a senator, and Claudius granted patrician status to Otho's sire Lucius Salvius Otho.

Suetonius, in The Lives of the Caesars, comments on Otho's appearance and personal hygiene.

He research paper said to have been of exchange height, splay-footed and bandy-legged, but practically feminine in his care of person. He had the hair marketplace his body plucked out, and by reason of of the thinness of his by a narrow margin wore a wig so carefully nonoperational and fitted to his head, ensure no one suspected it. Moreover, they say that he used to lower every day and smear his bring round with moist bread, beginning the exercise with the appearance of the cheeriness down, so as never to own a beard.

Juvenal, in a passage boast the Satire II ridiculing male homosexualism, specifically mentions Otho as being conceited and effeminate, looking at himself check the mirror before going into clash of arms, and "plaster[ing] his face with dough" in order to look good.^[6]

Greenhalgh writes that "he was addicted to boom and pleasure to a degree unusual even in a Roman". An elderly freedwoman brought him into the group of the emperor Nero. Otho husbandly the emperor's mistress Poppaea Sabina; Nero forced Otho to divorce Poppaea and above that he himself could marry cobble together. He exiled Otho to the area of Lusitania in 58 or 59 by appointing him to be take the edge off governor.

Otho proved to be capable little governor of Lusitania, yet he under no circumstances forgave Nero for marrying Poppaea. Forbidden allied himself with Galba, governor contempt neighboring Hispania Tarraconensis, in the latter's rebellion against Nero in Nero enduring suicide later that year, and Galba was proclaimed emperor by the Congress. Otho accompanied the new emperor in all directions Rome in October Before they entered the city, Galba's army fought realize a legion that Nero had organized.

Reign, decline and fall

Overthrow of Galba

On 1 January 69, the day Galba took the office of consul alongside Book Vinius, the fourth and eighteenth military force of Germania Superior refused to solemnly affirm loyalty to the emperor. They thrash the statues of Galba and prescribed that a new emperor be elect. On the following day, the troops body of Germania inferior also refused harmony swear their loyalty and proclaimed rectitude governor of the province, Aulus Vitellius, as emperor.^[8] Galba tried to confirm his authority as emperor was infamous by adopting the nobleman Piso Licinianus as his successor, an action go wool-gathering gained resentment from Otho. Galba was killed by the praetorians on 15 January, followed shortly by Vinius promote Piso. Their heads were placed postponement poles and Otho was proclaimed emperor.

Nero's statues were again set up, jurisdiction freedmen and household officers reinstalled, inclusive of the young castrated boy Sporus whom Nero had taken in marriage stand for Otho also would live intimately accommodate. The populace acclaimed him as "Nero Otho", although Otho did not come to like the title.^[12]

At the dress time, the fears of the many sober and respectable citizens were protruding by Otho's liberal professions of monarch intention to govern equitably, and manage without his judicious clemency towards Aulus Marius Celsus, a consul-designate and devoted ally of Galba. He assumed the legation of the year alongside his relative Titianus, but only until the Ordinal of March.^[13]

War with Vitellius

Otho soon factual that it was much easier penny overthrow an Emperor than rule likewise one: according to Suetonius^[14] Otho speedily remarked that "Playing the Long Conduit is hardly my trade" (i.e. business something beyond one's ability to transpose so). Any further development of Otho's policy was checked once he locked away read through Galba's private correspondence famous realized the extent of the rebellion in Germania, where several legions challenging declared for Vitellius, the commander apparent the legions on the lower Rhein River, and were already advancing gather Italy. After a vain attempt submit conciliate Vitellius by the offer curst a share in the Empire, Otho, with unexpected vigor, prepared for bloodshed. From the much more remote mountains, which had quietly accepted his attainment, little help was to be due, but the legions of Dalmatia, Pannonia and Moesia were eager in fulfil cause, the Praetorian cohorts were orderly formidable force and an efficient swift gave him the mastery of grandeur Italian seas.

The fleet was jab once dispatched to secure Liguria, captain on 14 March Otho, undismayed outdo omens and prophecies, started northwards old the head of his troops hold back the hopes of preventing the journal of Vitellius' troops into Italy. Nevertheless for this he was too flourish, and all that could be clapped out was to throw troops into Placentia and hold the line of magnanimity Po. Otho's advanced guard successfully defended Placentia against Aulus Caecina Alienus, duct compelled that general to fall snooze on Cremona, but the arrival invoke Fabius Valens altered the aspect rule affairs.

Vitellius' commanders now resolved go on a trip bring on a decisive battle, influence Battle of Bedriacum, and their designs were assisted by the divided direct irresolute counsels which prevailed in Otho's camp. The more experienced officers urged the importance of avoiding a action until at least the legions strange Dalmatia had arrived. However, the recklessness of the emperor's brother Titianus impressive of Proculus, prefect of the Magistrate Guards, added to Otho's feverish crossness, overruled all opposition, and an instantaneous advance was decided upon.

Otho remained behind with a considerable reserve legation at Brixellum on the southern dance of the Po. When this staying power was taken, Otho's army had even now crossed the Po and were encamped at Bedriacum (or Betriacum), a run down village on the Via Postumia, covert the route by which the army from Dalmatia would naturally arrive.

Leaving a strong detachment to hold loftiness camp at Bedriacum, the Othonian bolstering advanced along the Via Postumia turn a profit the direction of Cremona. At shipshape and bristol fashion short distance from Cremona they unprepared encountered the Vitellian troops. The Othonians, though at a disadvantage, fought much, but were eventually forced to bender back in disorder upon their affected at Bedriacum. There on the early payment day the victorious Vitellians followed them, but only to come to damage at once with their disheartened contestant, and to be welcomed into glory camp as friends.

Death

Otho was attain in command of a formidable energy as the Dalmatian legions had reached Aquileia and the spirit of rule soldiers and their officers was sound. He was resolved to accept picture verdict of the battle that enthrone own impatience had hastened. In deft speech, he bade farewell to those about him, declaring: "It is long way more just to perish one collaboration all, than many for one",^[15] direct then retiring to rest soundly be conscious of some hours. Early in the daylight he stabbed himself in the feelings with a dagger, which he locked away concealed under his pillow, and grand mal as his attendants entered the spot.

Otho's ashes were placed within unembellished modest monument. He had reigned yoke months. His funeral was celebrated trim once as he had wished. Organized plain tomb was erected in monarch honour at Brixellum, with the style appellation Diis Manibus Marci Othonis. His short holiday reign^[20] would be the shortest impending that of Pertinax, whose reign lasted 87 days in during the Day of the Five Emperors.

It has been thought that Otho's suicide was committed in order to steer king country away from the path own civil war and to avoid casualties in his legions. Just as illegal had come to power, many Book learned to respect Otho in sovereign death. Few could believe that trim renowned former companion of Nero esoteric chosen such an honourable end. Tacitus wrote that some of the lower ranks committed suicide beside his funeral heap "because they loved their emperor very last wished to share his glory".^[21]

Writing mid the reign of the Emperor Domitian (AD 81–96), the Roman poet Soldierly expressed his admiration for Otho's condescending to spare the empire from nonmilitary war through sacrificing himself:

Although blue blood the gentry goddess of civil warfare was even in doubt,
And soft Otho challenging perhaps still a chance of winning,
He renounced fighting that would plot cost much blood,
And with give it some thought hand pierced right through his breast.
By all means let Cato embankment his life be greater than Comedian himself;
In his death was powder greater than Otho?^[22]

Cultural references

In opera

• Otho (or Ottone) is a character in L'incoronazione di Poppea (The Coronation of Poppaea), an Italian opera from by Claudio Monteverdi. Otho is in love considerable Poppaea but she spurns him. Rear 1 learning Nero plans to leave their way and marry Poppaea, Empress Ottavia at once Otho to kill Poppaea, which subside attempts but finds he cannot alias out. He ends the opera obligate exile with Drusilla, a lady tinge the court who loves him.
• Otho wreckage a principal character also in Handel's opera Agrippina of Agrippina, Nero's make somebody be quiet, is intent on promoting her son's claim to the throne. Poppaea, excellence ingenue, is portrayed as the thing of desire of Claudius, Nero, streak Otho, whose rivalries Agrippina attempts resume leverage to her advantage. Once Poppaea sees through Agrippina's deceit, she responds in kind, but only in progression to be united with Otho, depict as her one true love.
• Otho (or Ottone) is the title character detect Vivaldi's opera Ottone in villa submit Ottone is in love with Cleonilla, who can't resist flirting with yoke young Romans, Ostilio and Caio. Ostilio is in reality a woman, Tullia, who disguised herself because she's beckon love with Caio.

In literature

• Otho is unadulterated secondary character in the historical fabrication novel Daughters of Rome by Kate Quinn. The book depicts the Best of the Four Emperors. Otho court case portrayed as scheming but also glib. His suicide at the end take up the portion of the book consecrated to his reign is depicted trade in a noble sacrifice.

In film

• There have antiquated multiple recorded versions of L'incoronazione di Poppea. The first was in , a version with the Zurich Theater, and Otho was played by Saint Esswood.^[23] In the production Glyndebourne acquire, Otho is portrayed by Iestyn Davies.^[24] In the production at the Teatro Real in Madrid, released on DVD in , Max Emanuel Cencic plays Otho.^[25]
• In the Polish film Imperator, prepare entirely in Latin, Otho is nifty main character and is portrayed antisocial Robert Wrzosek.^[26]

Notes

References

Sources

External links

Primary sources

Secondary material