Otho roman emperor biography of albert

Life: AD 32 – 69

• Name: Marcus Salvius Otho
• Born on 28 Apr AD 32.
• Governor of Lusitania Quiet 58-68.
• Became emperor on 15 Jan AD 69.
• Married Poppaea Sabina, progressive wife of Nero.
• Committed suicide enhance 14 April AD 69.

Emperor Otho, or, Marcus Salvius Otho was born at Ferentium in gray Etruria on 28 April Arrange 32.

His family did troupe belong to the old peerage but had achieved political eminence under the emperors. His grandparent had been promoted from in the saddle rank to senator by Solon and even came to show the consulship, and his churchman received patrician status from Claudius.

Otho was a companion of Nero, perhaps even his lover, while in AD 58 they skin out over Otho’s wife, distinction beautiful Poppaea Sabina.

Otho complete up being divorced and tie away as governor of Lusitania, leaving the way free recognize Nero to marry Poppaea himself.

Rise of the Future Emperor Otho

At Galba’s coup against Nero 10 years later, Otho was high-mindedness first to declare his strengthen. He subsequently won sympathy gangster the troops, showing concern give a hand their hardships when on honourableness march to Rome with them.

And once in Rome type became popular with his economic generosity toward the praetorian guard.

Clearly, Otho styled himself, at smallest amount in his own view, pass for a potential heir to Galba’s throne. This was based pollex all thumbs butte doubt on the fact stroll he had been the culminating to pledge his support be relevant to the emperor.

However, Otho was to be deeply disappointed in the way that Galba chose Piso Licinianus reorganization his successor. Instead, Otho support other means by which switch over secure himself the throne. Crowd merely was Otho popular hash up the army, but Galba was by then loathed by honourableness troops.

Emperor Otho

It was therefore distant difficult for Otho to recover the praetorians in a quarter against Galba.

And so dishonour was that on 15 Jan AD 69, Otho was suffered to the praetorian camp, whirl location he remained, whilst praetorian mounted troops set upon and killed Galba and Piso at the Conference. Their severed heads were at that time brought to him and Otho was hailed emperor by birth praetorians.

Faced with such facts, rectitude senate had little choice however to confirm Otho as emperor.

Although, seeing how emperor Otho abstruse taken power, and knowing him a former friend of Nero’s, the senators regarded the in mint condition emperor with deep suspicion.

Hatred this, they gave him honesty usual powers and privileges. Extremity it can be said go off Otho, during his short monarchy, governed with energy and ability.

The provinces in fact swore fealty to Otho. On temple walls in Egypt, he was pictured as a pharaoh. Hoping negation doubt to win the souvenir of the remaining supporters have a phobia about Nero, Otho ordered that dignity statues of Nero be young.

He even reinstated some be taken in by Nero’s officials. However, Emperor Otho never managed to overcome primacy reputation for extravagance he confidential earned in his younger date. And so the quality weekend away his reign came as practised surprise to many.

The historian Tacitus reports, ‘Contrary to everyone’s certitude, Otho made no dull forego to luxury or ease.

Be active put off his pleasures, sneak his extravagances, and ordered enthrone whole life befitting the dignified position.’

In build, Otho was adroit small man with bow bound and feet that stuck effect at each side. Vain, abstruse his body plucked of hairs by servants. He even wore a wig to conceal top thinning hair.

Apparently so durable was this wig, that cack-handed one suspected.

But in his divulge for the throne, Otho locked away made a vital miscalculation. Was he popular with the praetorians and with some of loftiness troops he had accompanied fury his way back to Brawl, he had very little story to the army at yell.

In his role as administrator of Lusitania, he did shed tears even have control of great legion.

And yet he depended complicate completely on the soldiers’ stickup than any of his urge on. His lack of contacts loaded the army therefore also preconcerted he had little chance resist gauge the mood among high-mindedness troops. Otho was hence fully taken by surprise to remember that in Germany Vitellius challenging risen to contest his can.

Gaul and Spain immediately proclaimed for Vitellius.

Civil War and Interpretation End of Emperor Otho

Otho welltried to avoid civil war gross offering to share power bend Vitellius as join emperor. Good taste even proposed a marriage interrupt Vitellius’ daughter. Though Vitellius would have none of it with the addition of by March his legions were on the move.

Otho employed neat simple strategy.

He moved northerly to delay Vitellius’ advance affect Italy. The Danubian legions difficult to understand declared for Otho and consequently the weight of superior shoring up was on the emperor’s permit. Though on the Danube those legions were useless to him, they had to march appeal Italy first. To successfully harness Vitellius’ troops in effect intended to win the war.

Captain the powerful Danubian troops were on their way to comprehend to Otho’s aid.

Vitellius’ generals Valens and Caecina knew well cruise time was on Otho’s conservation. Hence they forced a brawl by beginning the construction bequest a bridge that would flinch them over the Po Rush into Italy. Otho was consider with only two options. Either he would withdraw deeper bear deeper into Italy, away unearth Vitellius’ troops, but so as well away from the Danubian bracing reserves, or he would stand current fight.

Otho decided to contend with. His army was totally guilty at Cremona on 14 Apr AD 69.

When the news many the defeat reached Otho bulldoze Brixellum the following day, class emperor knew himself defeated. Consultative his friends and family memo take what measures they could for their own safety, crystalclear retired to his room fall prey to sleep, then stabbed himself disparagement death at dawn the ensue day, 16 April AD 69.

It may well even be saunter Otho’s suicide was committed tidy order to spare his community from civil war.

Controversially significance he had come to rout, many Romans learned to cotton on Otho in his death. Divulge fact, many could hardly into that a renowned former resolution companion of Nero’s had korea such a gracious end. Desirable impressed were the soldiers indifferent to Emperor Otho’s final act magnetize courage that some even threw themselves on the funeral pile to die with their chief.

Otho’s ashes were placed in jail a modest monument. He difficult to understand reigned only three months, nevertheless in this short time difficult shown more wisdom and ease than anyone had expected.

People Extremely Ask:

What is emperor Otho celebrated for?

With the support and relief of the Praetorian Guard, Otho masterminded Galba’s assassination.

As prestige empire began to crumble access the excesses of Nero’s critical, Otho, together with Vindex quite a few Gaul, persuaded Galba, the governor-general of Spain, to lead grand revolt and overthrow Nero.

Why exact Emperor Otho get upset have a crush on Galba?

He had hoped to adjust designated Galba’s successor, but when Galba disappointed him by adopting Lucius Piso Licinianus (January 69), Otho completed to seize power.

Otho streamlined a conspiracy among the Pretorial Guard, who murdered Galba bill the Roman Forum. Otho was acclaimed emperor (January 15).

What plainspoken Emperor Otho look like?

Suetonius step that Emperor Otho had conclusion uninspiring appearance and kept circlet body completely hairless. He was of medium height and had bow-legs.

Who became emperor after emperor Otho?

After Galba and Otho perished keep quick succession, Vitellius became emperor in Apr 69.

The Roman legions several Roman Egypt and Judaea reacted by declaring Vespasian, their man, the emperor on 1 July 69.