Transcript Year of Four Emperors 68

Year of Four Emperors
68-69 AD
Marina Henke
http://www.crystalinks.com/YearoftheFourEmperors.html
What is it?
• Prompted by death of
Nero
• Period of civil war
• Four different
emperors in 1 year
• Showed danger of no
law
Nero
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nero
Galba – 68-69 AD
Early Life
• Born 4 BC
• Adopted by mother of emperor
• Held consulship in 33 AD
Rise to Power
• Had emperor’s favor
• 68 - military representative
• Got help from governor of Lusitania
(Portugal), Otho
Galba
http://www.nndb.com/people/927/000087666/
Galba continued…
Downfall
• Wouldn’t pay soldiers bonus
• Corruption
• Soldiers and Otho turned on
him
• Killed in streets January 19 69 AD
• Reign: 7 Months
Coin of Galba
http://wildwinds.com/coins/ric/galba/i.html
Otho – 69 AD
Early Life
• Born 32 AD
• Good friends w/ Nero but issues
with wife
• Governor of Lusitania
(Portugal)
Rise to Power
• Had Praetorian guard kill
friends + supporters of Galba
http://www.nndb.com/people/929/000087668/
Battle of Bedriacum map
Otho continued…
Downfall
• Roman legions supported
Vitellius (in France)
• Uneasiness in Rome
• Battle of Bedriacum
(northern Italy)
– Otho lost
• Killed himself 16 April 69
AD
• Reign: 95 Days http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Roman_Empire_
69AD.PNG
Vitellius – 69 AD
Early Life
• Born 15 AD
• Won attention of emperors
Rise to Power
• Galba made him governor
• Won Battle of Bedriacum
Vitellius
http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Pseudo-Vitellius_Louvre_MR684.jpg
Vitellius continued…
Downfall
• Made peace w/ Otho troops
• Replaced praetorian guard
• Flavian Revolt
– People wanted Vespasian (in Egypt)
• Second Battle of Bedriacum
• Flung into Tiber on 22 December 69 AD
• Reign: 7 Months
http://www.wildwinds.com/coins/ric/vitellius/i.html
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Roman_Empire_69AD.PNG
Bibliography
1. "69 AD: Year of the 4 emperors." ThinkQuest : Library.
http://library.thinkquest.org/26907/emperors/4emp.htm (accessed February
12, 2013).
2. Morey, William . "25." In Outlines of Roman History. New York, Cincinnati,
Chicago: American Book Company, 1901. n/a.
3. "The Early Emperors." The Roman Empire. http://www.romanempire.net/emperors/emp-index.html (accessed February 18, 2013).
4. "The Imperial Index: The Rulers of the Roman Empire." Roman Emperors.
http://www.roman-emperors.org/impindex.htm (accessed March 1, 2013).
5. "The Batavian revolt 1: The year of the four emperors." Ancient Warfare
Magazine. http://www.livius.org/ba-bd/batavians/revolt01.html (accessed
March 14, 2013).