The year of the Four Emperors Nero Galba Otho Vitellius

Nero’s Later reign After the deaths of Agrippina (59AD) Burrus (62AD) and the retirement of Seneca (62AD), Nero began to “consolidate” his Imperial power. Populist policies : games and theatre performances, devaluing currency and extravagant spending and taxation Execution of rivals: Pallas, Plautius and Faustius Sulla Unfulfilled promise of restoring power to the Senate

The Piso Conspiracy In 62AD, a conspiracy against Nero formed within the Senate. Gaius Calpurnius Piso was the central figure. After executing Nero, the Pretorian Prefect Rufus would proclaim Piso as Emperor and he would return power to the Senate ( although we are not sure to what extent). Most conspirators were senators with some involvement from the Pretorian Guard. The Senate became displeased with Nero for the following reasons: Increasing despotism His public performances Personal life (treatment of Agrippina, Octavia and Poppea) Fire of Rome and the persecution of the Christians The conspiracy became widely known in 65AD and failed. Many conspirators were exiled, killed or forced to commit suicide.

Revolt of Galba and Vindex In the interim, there were many attempted conspiracies against Nero. Yet the one that succeeded was carried out by men who weren’t even in Rome. In 68AD, Gaius Julius Vindex, the Govenor of Gallia Lugdunesis, rebelled against Nero’s taxation reform. Lucius Rufus, the Govenor of Germania Superior (the neighbouring province) was ordered by Nero to put down Galba’s rebellion. Vindex encouraged Survius Suspicus Galba, the Govenor of Hispania Tarraconsesis, to join his revolt. And he did After defeating Vindex, Rufus’s legions pushed to proclaim him Emperor, despite Rufus’s objections. Galba continued disobeying Nero in Spain. Galba is declared an enemy of the State, but Nero gradually loses control over institutions. Sabinus, the Pretorian prefect of the time, openly declared his allegience to Galba In late 68AD, Nero’s Imperial guard abandoned him and he tried to flee Rome, but encountered resistance and indifference.

Nero’s Death After Sabinus declares his support for Galba and his approaching Army, Nero flees Rome for Ostia, recognising that the rebellion is beyond his control. Nero toyed with fleeing to East and trying to gain support from Eastern provinces or perhaps begging to be allowed to live in Egypt. After failing to find anyone to help him leave Italy he returned to Rome to fin himself completely friendless. He leaves Rome once again for the villa of a loyal freedmen Phaeon, just outside Rome in the company of several other freedmen. It’s here that he learns of a fake decree from the Senate declaring him an enemy of the state. This is the final straw and Nero decides to take his own life, as Cassius Dio explains: “perceiving that they were drawing near, [Nero] commanded his companions to kill him. And when they refused, he uttered a groan and said: ‘I alone have neither friend nor foe.’ By this time the horsemen were close at hand, and so he killed himself, after uttering that oft-quoted remark: ‘Jupiter, what an artist dies in me!’ And as he lingered in his agony, Epaphroditus dealt him the finishing stroke.” Cassius Dio, Roman History, Vol. 8,

Who were the four Emperors? 3 Vitellius Leader of Germanic legions. Refused to accept Otho as Princeps. Defeats Otho in April 69 and becomes Princeps, but faces rebellion from Eastern Armies. Executed by Vespasian’s men in Dec 69 1. Galba Becomes Emperor in June 68 after Nero’s suicide. Governor of Hispania Tarraconesis (Eastern Spain) 2. Otho Governor of Lusitania. Snubbed as Galba’s heir, borrows money to secure PG loyalty and is proclaimed Emperor in their barracks in mid Jan 69. 4. Vespasian Leader of Egyptian legions who defeated Vitellius and became Princeps on 22nd Jan 69. Had the support of most of the Army, the Senate and the PG. Ruled for 10 years.

Galba After Nero’s suicide, Galba was recognised by most of the Army and the Senate as Emperor (his wife was distantly related to the Julii) His immediate actions were: Replacing Rufus’s command with Vitellius. This ‘snubbed’ the Germanic legions, as they felt their loyalty to Rome was being questioned Reforming taxation Securing his own power. During his short reign he executed a great number of senators and equites without trial Didn’t give the Pretorian Guard and Army the customary bonus that had become required on the accession of a new Emperor. Adopted Lucius Lincinianus as his heir.

Galba to Otho Galba’s reign was almost over before it began. His administration was highly reactive and paranoid. Before he was even recognised as Princeps, his return to Rome was marred by catastrophe as he let his troops decimate or extort villages they passed through. On return to Rome he refused to pay the Pretorian Guard their customary bonus. He swiftly replaced Rufus, the commander of the German Legions who had remained loyal to Nero, this angered the legions as they felt their loyalty to Rome had been questioned. He cancelled many reforms and annunities instituted by Nero such as pensions to poorer noble families and war veterans. Fearful of conspiracies, he executed many senators and equites without trial. His adoption of Lincianus was the last straw. Otho managed to bribe the Pretorian Guard and had Galba executed. Otho was recognised by the Senate as Princeps on New Years Day 69AD.

Otho as Princeps Otho was a welcome change from Galba’s short reign which was marked by cruelty and abuse of power. Otho was highly ambitious, but he had a looming problem, in the form of Vitellius, who, supported by the Germanic legions was quickly marching towards Rome. Most of Otho’s 3 month reign is marred by minor battles between the troops still loyal to the recognised Emperor in Rome and the growing number of legions loyal to Vitellius, the leader of the Germanic Armies. Shortly after successive military defeats, Otho tried to sue for peace and suggested marriage to Vitellius’s daughter, but Vitellius refused. Hesitant to meet his end in the same way as Galba, Otho committed suicide after 3 months as Princeps.

Vitellius Vitellius was proclaimed Princeps while returning to Rome by the Senate in April or May of 69. His reign is remembered for it’s extreme extravagance. Apparently three public banquets took place within the city of Rome every day and most weekdays saw huge processions and festivals along the Via Appia. Due to his extravagance, Vitellius resorted to the form of cruelty that quickly diminished the power of Gaius, Nero and Galba. He had wealthy men executed, along with their heirs to fulfil the public treasury. Vitellius’s reign began badly, as he chose a day of ill omen in the Roman calendar to assume the role of Pontifex Maximus . Mutterings of dissent began shortly after his accession, and it wasn’t long before the legions in Egypt and Syria recognised their commander, Vespasian, as Princeps.

The Rise of Vespasian Having the support of the Egyptian legions was a boon for an aspiring Emperor. This meant that: Vespasian was already a highly regarded figure in Roman politics and likely to be supported by the Senate. - Able to manipulate the grain supply to Rome, meaning that Vitellius wasn’t able muster enough support in Rome. Given his reputation, Vespasian’s rebellion was supported by many military leaders and senators. Primus, the commander of the German legions, joined him and swiftly gained control of Rome. Vitellius tried to broker peace, using Vestal Virgins as emmissaries, but Vespasian’s supporters refused. Vitellius tried bribing the Praetorian Guard, who refused to take his money. Vitellius was executed in the Imperial palace in mid december 69AD and Vespasian was recognised as Princeps on 21st December 69AD.

The good Emperor Vespasian encountered very little resistance to his rule and established the Flavian dynasty. His success was due to the loyalty of his troops and his carefully nurtured relationships with influential groups within Rome, for example: He paid the customary bonuses to the Army and Pretorian Guard. He began his career with tax reform intended to replenish public treasuries He encouraged a return to “traditional roman values’ He restructured senatorial and equite classes, meaning a return to aristocratic prestige This laid the foundation for the beginning of a stable Rome, thought by many to be a second golden age. This made defeating opposition a breeze, meaning he swiftly overcame an uprising by the Germanic legions in AD70. His legacy is that of a peaceful, beautified Rome (he began construction on the Colosseum) ruled over by a moderate, witty Emperor.