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For other uses, see Otho (disambiguation). Otho (or its variant form Otto) can be the name of several people including Marcus Salvius Otho, an emperor of the Roman Empire

Otho
Emperor of the Roman Empire
Image:OthoDen.jpg
Denarius of Otho
Reign 15 January 69 – 16 April 69
Full name Marcus Salvius Otho
Born 25 April 32(32-04-25)
Birthplace Ferentium
Died 16 April 69 (aged 36)
Place of death Rome
Predecessor Galba
Successor Vitellius
Wife Poppea Sabina (forced to divorce her by Nero)
Dynasty None
Father Lucius Otho
Mother Terentia Albia

Marcus Salvius Otho (April 25, 32 – April 16, 69), also called Marcus Otho Caesar Augustus,[1] was Roman Emperor from January 15 to April 16, in 69, the second emperor of the Year of the four emperors. The Roman Emperor was the ruler of the Roman State during the imperial period (starting at about 27 BC The Roman Empire was the post-Republican phase of the ancient Roman civilization, characterised by an autocratic form of government and large territorial The Roman Currency system included the denarius (plural denarii) after 211 BC a small Silver coin, Events 588 BC - Nebuchadrezzar II of Babylon lays siege to Jerusalem under Zedekiah 's reign 69 (sex position & book by Ryu Murakami are -- already linked by "" with other meanings Events 1178 BC - A Solar eclipse may have marked the return of Odysseus, legendary King of Ithaca, to his kingdom 69 (sex position & book by Ryu Murakami are -- already linked by "" with other meanings Events 1607 - Eighty Years' War: The Dutch fleet destroys the anchored Spanish fleet at Gibraltar. Year 32 was a Leap year starting on Tuesday (link will display the full calendar of the Julian calendar. Events 1178 BC - A Solar eclipse may have marked the return of Odysseus, legendary King of Ithaca, to his kingdom 69 (sex position & book by Ryu Murakami are -- already linked by "" with other meanings Servius Sulpicius Galba ( December 24, 3 BC &ndash January 15, 69) also called Servius Sulpicius Galba Caesar Aulus Vitellius Germanicus, born Aulus Vitellius and commonly known as Vitellius ( 24 September, 15 &ndash 22 December, 69 Poppaea Sabina (30-65 was a Roman Empress and second wife of the Roman Emperor Nero. Nero Claudius Caesar Augustus Germanicus ( December 15, 37 – June 9, 68) born Lucius Domitius Ahenobarbus, also called Lucius Salvius Otho was father of the Roman emperor Otho, he was born of a distinguished and well-connected family on his mother's side Events 1607 - Eighty Years' War: The Dutch fleet destroys the anchored Spanish fleet at Gibraltar. Year 32 was a Leap year starting on Tuesday (link will display the full calendar of the Julian calendar. Events 1178 BC - A Solar eclipse may have marked the return of Odysseus, legendary King of Ithaca, to his kingdom 69 (sex position & book by Ryu Murakami are -- already linked by "" with other meanings The Roman Emperor was the ruler of the Roman State during the imperial period (starting at about 27 BC Events 588 BC - Nebuchadrezzar II of Babylon lays siege to Jerusalem under Zedekiah 's reign Events 1178 BC - A Solar eclipse may have marked the return of Odysseus, legendary King of Ithaca, to his kingdom 69 (sex position & book by Ryu Murakami are -- already linked by "" with other meanings The Year of the Four Emperors was a year in the history of the Roman Empire, AD 69 in which four emperors ruled in a remarkable succession

Contents

Birth and lineage

Otho belonged to an ancient and noble Etruscan family, descended from the princes of Etruria and settled at Ferentinum (modern Ferento, near Viterbo) in Etruria. Etruscan civilization is the modern English name given to the culture and way of life of a people of ancient Italy Viterbo is an ancient city and Comune in the Lazio region of central Italy, the capital of the Province of Viterbo. His paternal grandfather Marcus Salvius Otho, whose father was a Roman knight but whose mother was of lowly origin and perhaps not even free-born, was raised in Livia's household and rose to senatorial rank through her influence, although he did not advance beyond the rank of praetor. Livia Drusilla, after 14 AD called Julia Augusta ( Classical Latin: LIVIA•DRVSILLA IVLIA•AVGVSTA (58 BC-29 AD was the wife of His father was Lucius Otho. Lucius Salvius Otho was father of the Roman emperor Otho, he was born of a distinguished and well-connected family on his mother's side

Early life

The future emperor appears first as one of the most reckless and extravagant of the young nobles who surrounded Nero. Nero Claudius Caesar Augustus Germanicus ( December 15, 37 – June 9, 68) born Lucius Domitius Ahenobarbus, also called This friendship was brought to an end in 58 because of a woman, Poppea Sabina. Year 58 was a Common year starting on Sunday (link will display the full calendar of the Julian calendar. Poppaea Sabina (30-65 was a Roman Empress and second wife of the Roman Emperor Nero. Otho introduced his beautiful wife to the Emperor upon the insistence of his wife, who then began an affair that would eventually be the death of her. After securely establishing this position as his mistress, she divorced Otho and had the emperor send him away to the remote province of Lusitania (modern Portugal and Extremadura). This article concerns the Roman province For the ship see RMS Lusitania. Portugal, officially the Portuguese Republic (República Portuguesa is a country on the Iberian Peninsula. Extremadura is an autonomous community of western Spain whose capital city is Mérida.

Otho remained in Lusitania for the next ten years, administering the province with a moderation unusual at the time. When in 68 his neighbor Galba, the governor of Hispania Tarraconensis, rose in revolt against Nero, Otho accompanied him to Rome. Year 68 was a Leap year starting on Friday (link will display the full calendar of the Julian calendar. Servius Sulpicius Galba ( December 24, 3 BC &ndash January 15, 69) also called Servius Sulpicius Galba Caesar Hispania Tarraconensis was one of three Roman provinces in Hispania. Rome ( Roma ˈroma Roma is the capital city of Italy and Lazio, and is Italy's largest and most populous city with more than 2 Resentment at the treatment he had received from Nero may have impelled him to this course, but to this motive was added before long that of personal ambition. Galba was childless and far advanced in years, and Otho, encouraged by the predictions of astrologers, aspired to succeed him. An astrologer practices one or more forms of Astrology. Typically an astrologer draws a Horoscope for the time of an event such as a person's birth and interprets He came to a secret agreement with Galba's favourite, Titus Vinius, agreeing to marry Vinius' daughter in exchange for his support. In historical writings when used in reference to a person favourite ( British English and the English of Commonwealth Countries or favorite ( American Titus Vinius (12 - 69 was a Roman general who was one of the most powerful men in Rome during the reign of the Emperor Galba. However in January 69 his hopes were dissipated by Galba's formal adoption of Lucius Calpurnius Piso Licinianus, whom Galba had previously named a recipient in his will. 69 (sex position & book by Ryu Murakami are -- already linked by "" with other meanings Lucius Calpurnius Piso Frugi Licinianus ( 38 - January 15, 69) was a Roman nobleman who lived in the 1st century

After this, Otho decided to strike a bold blow. Desperate as was the state of his finances, thanks to his previous extravagance, he found money to purchase the services of some twenty-three soldiers of the Praetorian Guard. The Praetorian Guard ( Latin: PRÆTORIANI was a special force of Guards used by Roman Emperors Before being appropriated On the morning of January 15, only five days after the adoption of Piso, Otho attended as usual to pay his respects to the emperor, and then hastily excusing himself on the score of private business hurried from the Palatine to meet his accomplices. Events 588 BC - Nebuchadrezzar II of Babylon lays siege to Jerusalem under Zedekiah 's reign The Palatine Hill ( Latin: Collis Palatium or Mons Palatinus) is the centermost of the Seven Hills of Rome He was then escorted to the Praetorian camp, where, after a few moments of surprise and indecision, he was saluted imperator.

With an imposing force he returned to the Forum, and at the foot of the Capitol encountered Galba, who, alarmed by vague rumors of treachery, was making his way through a dense crowd of wondering citizens towards the barracks of the guard. The Capitoline Hill, between the Forum and the Campus Martius, is one of the seven hills of Rome. The cohort on duty at the Palatine, which had accompanied the emperor, instantly deserted him. A cohort (from the Latin cohors, plural cohortes) is a fairly large military unit generally consisting of one type of soldier Galba, his newly adopted son Piso and others were brutally murdered by the Praetorians. The brief struggle over, Otho returned in triumph to the camp, and on the same day was duly invested by the senators with the name of Augustus, the tribunician power and the other dignities belonging to the principate. The Roman Senate was a political institution in Ancient Rome. Augustus ( Latin: IMPERATOR·CAESAR·DIVI·FILIVS·AVGVSTVS September 23 63 BC – August 19 AD 14) born Gaius Octavius Thurinus, was Otho had owed his success to the resentment felt by the Pretorian guards and the rest of the army at Galba's refusal to pay the promised gold to the ones who supported his accession to the throne. The population of the city was also unhappy with Galba and cherished the memory of Nero. Otho's first acts as emperor showed that he was not unmindful of the facts.

Decline and fall

He accepted, or appeared to accept, the cognomen of Nero conferred upon him by the shouts of the populace, whom his comparative youth and the effeminacy of his appearance reminded of their lost favourite. The cognomen (plural cognomina) was originally the third name of an Ancient Roman in the Roman naming convention. Nero's statues were again set up, his freedmen and household officers reinstalled, and the intended completion of the Golden House announced. At the same time the fears of the more sober and respectable citizens were allayed by Otho's liberal professions of his intention to govern equitably, and by his judicious clemency towards Marius Celsus, consul-designate, a devoted adherent of Galba.

But any further development of Otho's policy was checked once Otho read through Galba's private correspondence and realized the extent of the revolution in Germany, where several legions had declared for Vitellius, the commander of the legions on the lower Rhine, and were already advancing upon Italy. Germany, officially the Federal Republic of Germany ( ˈbʊndəsʁepuˌbliːk ˈdɔʏtʃlant is a Country in Central Europe. Aulus Vitellius Germanicus, born Aulus Vitellius and commonly known as Vitellius ( 24 September, 15 &ndash 22 December, 69 The Rhine (Rhein Rijn Rhin Reno Rain Rhenus is one of the longest and most important Rivers in Europe at 1320 kilometres (820 mi with an average discharge After a vain attempt to conciliate Vitellius by the offer of a share in the empire, Otho, with unexpected vigor, prepared for war. From the remoter provinces, which had acquiesced in his accession, little help was to be expected; but the legions of Dalmatia, Pannonia and Moesia were eager in his cause, the pretorian cohorts were in themselves a formidable force and an efficient fleet gave him the mastery of the Italian seas. Dalmatia ( Croatian: Dalmacija, see names in other languages) is a region on the eastern coast of the Adriatic Sea, situated mostly in modern Pannonia is an ancient province of the Roman Empire bounded north and east by the Danube, coterminous westward with Noricum and upper Italy, Moesia (Μοισία Moisía; Мизия Miziya; Moesia Мезија Mezija) was an ancient region and Roman province situated in the The Roman Navy ( Latin: Classis, lit "fleet" comprised the naval forces of the Roman state

The fleet was at once dispatched to secure Liguria, and on the March 14 Otho, undismayed by omens and prophecies, started northwards at the head of his troops in the hopes of preventing the entry of the Vitellius' troops into Italy. Liguria is a coastal region of north-western Italy, the third smallest of the Italian regions Events 1489 - The Queen of Cyprus, Catherine Cornaro, sells her kingdom to Venice. But for this he was too late, and all that could be done was to throw troops into Placentia and hold the line of the Po. The Po ( Latin: Padus, Po Ligurian: Bo, Greek: Eridanus) is a river that flows 652 km(405 miles (682 km by considering Otho's advanced guard successfully defended Placentia against Aulus Caecina Alienus, and compelled that general to fall back on Cremona. Aulus Caecina Alienus, Roman general was Quaestor of Hispania Baetica (southern Iberia) in AD 68. Cremonese redirects here For the football team see US Cremonese Cremona is a City in northern Italy, situated But the arrival of Fabius Valens altered the aspect of affairs. Fabius Valens of Anagnia (d 69 was a Roman commander favoured by Nero.

Vitellius' commanders now resolved to bring on a decisive battle, the Battle of Bedriacum, and their designs were assisted by the divided and irresolute counsels which prevailed in Otho's camp. The Battle of Bedriacum refers to two battles fought during the Year of the four emperors ( 69) near the village of Bedriacum (now Calvatone The more experienced officers urged the importance of avoiding a battle, until at least the legions from Dalmatia had arrived. Dalmatia ( Croatian: Dalmacija, see names in other languages) is a region on the eastern coast of the Adriatic Sea, situated mostly in modern But the rashness of the emperor's brother Titianus and of Proculus, prefect of the pretorian guards, added to Otho's feverish impatience, overruled all opposition, and an immediate advance was decided upon, Otho himself remaining behind with a considerable reserve force at Brixellum, on the southern bank of the Po. Lucius Salvius Otho Titianus was the elder brother of the Roman Emperor Otho (reigned 69 and consul of Rome in 52 AD Proculus (d c 281 was a Roman usurper, one of the "minor pretenders" according to Historia Augusta; he took the purple against Emperor Brescello is a Comune (municipality in the Province of Reggio Emilia in the Italian region Emilia-Romagna, located about 80 km northwest When this decision was taken, Otho's army had already crossed the Po and were encamped at Bedriacum (or Betriacum), a small village on the Via Postumia, and on the route by which the legions from Dalmatia would naturally arrive. Calvatone is a Comune (municipality in the Province of Cremona in the Italian region Lombardy, located about 110 km southeast of

Leaving a strong detachment to hold the camp at Bedriacum, the Othonian forces advanced along the Via Postumia in the direction of Cremona. At a short distance from that city they unexpectedly encountered the Vitellian troops. The Othonians, though taken at a disadvantage, fought desperately, but were finally forced to fall back in disorder upon their camp at Bedriacum. There on the next day the victorious Vitellians followed them, but only to come to terms at once with their disheartened enemy, and to be welcomed into the camp as friends.

More unexpected still was the effect produced at Brixellum by the news of the battle. Otho was still in command of a formidable force: the Dalmatian legions had already reached Aquileia and the spirit of his soldiers and their officers was unbroken. Aquileia (also called Aquilegia, Friulian Acuilee/Aquilee, Slovene Oglej) is an ancient Roman city in what is But he was resolved to accept the verdict of the battle that his own impatience had hastened. In a dignified speech he bade farewell to those about him, declaring: "It is far more just to perish one for all, than many for one" [2], and then retiring to rest soundly for some hours. Early in the morning he stabbed himself in the heart with a dagger, which he had concealed under his pillow, and died as his attendants entered the tent.

Otho's ashes were placed within a modest monument. He had reigned only three months, but in this short time had shown more wisdom and grace than anyone had expected. His funeral was celebrated at once, as he had wished, and not a few of his soldiers followed their master's example by killing themselves at his pyre. A plain tomb was erected in his honour at Brixellum, with the simple inscription Diis Manibus Marci Othonis.

Reasons for Suicide

It has been thought that Otho's suicide was committed in order to steer his country from the path to civil war. Just as he had come to power, many Romans learned to respect Otho in his death. Few could believe that a renowned former companion of Nero had chosen such an honored end. Nero Claudius Caesar Augustus Germanicus ( December 15, 37 – June 9, 68) born Lucius Domitius Ahenobarbus, also called The soldiers were so moved and impressed that some even threw themselves on the funeral pyre to die with their emperor.

References

  1. ^ Rives, Otho Note 4, The Twelve Caesars translated by Robert Graves, revised and notes by James B. Rives
  2. ^ http://penelope.uchicago.edu/Thayer/E/Roman/Texts/Cassius_Dio/63*.html#64-13.2 Dio, LXIV. 13

External links

Primary sources

Secondary material

Preceded by
Galba		 Roman Emperor
69		 Succeeded by
Vitellius
Servius Sulpicius Galba ( December 24, 3 BC &ndash January 15, 69) also called Servius Sulpicius Galba Caesar For a simplified list see Concise list of Roman Emperors. For more information see History of the Roman Empire. Aulus Vitellius Germanicus, born Aulus Vitellius and commonly known as Vitellius ( 24 September, 15 &ndash 22 December, 69
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