When the people in Rome heard of the fate of Otho, they naturally
transferred their allegiance forthwith. And so Otho, whom they had
previously been lauding and for whose victory they had been praying,
was now abused as an enemy, whereas Vitellius, upon whom they had been
invoking curses, was lauded and proclaimed emperor. So true is it that
there is nothing constant in human affairs; but alike those who are
most prosperous and those who are in the humblest station make an
unstable choice and receive praise or blame, honour or dishonour,
according as their fortunes shift.
News of Otho's death was brought to him [Vitellius] while he was in
Gaul. There he was joined by his wife and son; and he placed the boy on
a tribunal and grave him the titles of Germanicus and imperator, though
he was only six years old.
Vitellius witnessed gladiatorial combats at Lugdunum and again at
Cremona, as if the crowds of men who had perished in the battles and
were even then lying unburied where they had been cast did not suffice.
He beheld the slain with his own eyes, for he traversed all the ground
where they lay and gloated over the spectacle as if it were still the
moment of his victory; and not even then did he order them to be buried.
Vitellius, upon reaching Rome and arranging affairs to suit him, issued
an edict banishing the astrologers and commanding them to leave the
whole of Italy by a certain specified day. They answered him by putting
up at night another notice, in which they commanded him in turn to
depart this life before the end of the very day on which he actually
died. So accurate was their foreknowledge of what should come to pass.
Vitellius, addicted as he was to luxury and licentiousness, no longer
cared for anything else either human or divine. He had indeed always
been inclined to idle about in taverns and gaming-houses, and devote
himself to dancers and charioteers; and he used to spend incalculable
sums on such pursuits, with the result that he had many creditors. Now,
when he was in a position of so great authority, his wantonness only
increased, and he was squandering money most of the day and night
alike. He was insatiate in gorging himself, and was constantly vomiting
up what he ate, being nourished by the mere passage of the food. Yet
this practice was all that enabled him to hold out; for his
fellow-banqueters fared very badly. For he was always inviting many of
the foremost men to his table and he was frequently entertained at
their houses. It was in this connexion that one of them, Vibius
Crispus, uttered a very witty remark. Having been compelled for some
days by sickness to absent himself from the convivial board, he said:
"If I had not fallen ill, I surely should have perished." The entire
period of his reign was nothing but a series of carousals and revels.
All the most costly viands were brought from as far as the Ocean (not
to say farther) and drawn from both land and sea, and were prepared I
so costly a fashion that even now certain cakes and other dishes are
named Vitellian, after him. And yet why should one name over all the
details, when it is admitted by all alike that during the period of his
reign he expended 900,000,000 sesterces on dinners? There soon was a
famine in all costly articles of food, yet it was absolutely imperative
that they should be provided. For example, he once caused a dish to be
made that cost a million sesterces, into which he put a mixture of
tongues and brains and livers of certain fishes and birds. As it was
impossible to make so large a vessel of pottery, it was made of silver
and remained in except for some time, being regard somewhat in the
light of a votive offering, until Hadrian finally set eyes on it and
melted it down.
Now that I have once touched on this subject, I will also add that not
even Nero's Golden House could satisfy Vitellius. For though he admired
and lauded the name and the life and all the practices of Nero, yet he
found fault with him for living in such a wretched house, so scantily
and meanly equipped. At any rate, when he fell ill one time, he looked
about for a room to live in; so little did anything even of Nero's
satisfy him. And his wife Galeria ridiculed the small amount of
decoration found in the royal apartments. This pair, then, as they were
spending other people's money, never stopped to count the cost of
anything; but those who invited them to meals found themselves in great
embarrassment, excepting a few to whom he gave something in return. Yet
the same persons would not entertain him for the entire day, but one
set of men furnished breakfast, another luncheon, another dinner, and
still another certain kinds of dessert, "consolations for a jaded
appetite." For all who were able to do so were eager to entertain him,
so that in the course of a few days they spent four million sesterces
for dinner. His birthday celebrations lasted over two days and many
wild beasts and men, too, were slain.
Though he lived this kind of life, he was not entirely without good
deeds. For example, he retained the coinage minted under Nero, Galba
and Otho, evincing no displeasure at their likenesses; and any gifts
that they had bestowed upon any persons he held to be valid and
deprived no one of any such possession. He did not collect any sums
still owing of former levies, and he confiscated nones' property. He
put to death but very few of those who had sided with Otho, and did not
withhold the property of these even from their relatives. Upon the
kinsmen of those previously executed he bestowed all their funds that
were still to be found in the public treasury. He did not even find
fault with the wills of such as had fought against him and had fallen
in the battles. Furthermore he forbade the senators and the knights to
fight as gladiators or to perform in any spectacle in the orchestra.
For these measures he was commended.
The character of Vitellius being such as I have described, the soldiers
did not show any restraint either, but numerous instances of their
wantonness and licentiousness were occurring everywhere alike.
Vitellius ascended the Capitol and embraced his mother. She was a good,
honest soul, and when she first heard that her son had been given the
name Germanicus, she said: "The child I bore was Vitellius, not
Germanicus."
Vitellius, however, furnished many with material for amusement. They
could not restrain their laughter when they beheld wearing a solemn
face in the official religious processions a man whom they knew to have
played the strumpet, or saw mounted on a royal steed and clad in a
purple mantle him who used, as they knew full well, to wear the Blue
costume and curry the race-horses, or when they beheld ascending the
Capitol with so great a crowd of soldiers him whom previously no one
could catch a glimpse of even in the Forum because of the throng of his
creditors, or was receiving the adoration of all a man whom, a while
before, nobody would readily have consented even to greet with a kiss.
Indeed, those who had lent him anything had laid hold of him when he
was setting out for Germany and would scarcely release him after he had
given security. Now, however, so far from laughing at him, they were
mourning and hiding themselves; but he sought them out, telling them he
spared their lives in payment of the debt he owed, and he demanded back
his notes.
He was a constant attendant at the theatres, and by this won the
attachment of the populace. He ate with the most influential men on
free and easy terms, and this gained their favour to an even greater
degree. His old companions he never failed to remember and honoured
them greatly, not disdaining to appear to recognize any of them. In
this he was unlike some others; for many who have unexpectedly attained
to great power feel hatred for those who are acquainted with their
former humble state.
Vitellius, when Priscus opposed him in the senate and also denounced
the soldiers, called the tribunes to his side as if he needed their
assistance. Yet he neither did Priscus any harm himself nor did he
allow the tribunes to molest him, but merely said: "Be not disturbed,
Fathers, nor indignant, that we two out of our number have had a little
dispute with each other." This act seemed to have been due a kindly
disposition. The fact, however, that he wished to imitate Nero and
offered sacrifices to that emperor's Manes, and that he spent so great
sums on dinners, though it caused joy to some, made sensible people
grieve, since they were fully aware that not all the money in the whole
world would be sufficient for him.
While he was behaving in this way, evil omens occurred. A comet was
seen, and the moon, contrary to precedent, appeared to suffer two
eclipses, being obscured on the fourth and on the seventh day. Also
people saw two suns at once, one in the west weak and pale, and one in
the east brilliant and powerful. On the Capitol many huge footprints
were seen, presumably of some spirits that had descended from it. The
soldiers who had slept there on the night in question said that the
temple of Jupiter had opened of itself with great clangour and that
some of the guards had been so terrified that they fainted.
At the same time that this happened Vespasian, who was engaged in
warfare with the Jews, learned of the rebellion of Vitellius and of
Otho and was deliberating what he should do.
Vespasian was never inclined to be rash, and he hesitated very much about involving himself in such troublous affairs.
For not only was the popular feeling strong in his favour — since his
reputation won in Britain, his fame derived from the war then in hand,
his good nature, and his prudence, all led men to desire to have him at
their head — but Mucianus was also urging him strongly to this course,
hoping that while Vespasian should have the name of emperor, he himself
as a result of the other's good nature might enjoy an equal share of
power. The soldiers, on perceiving all this, surrounded Vespasian's
tent and hailed him as emperor. Portents and dreams had also come to
him, pointing to his sovereignty long beforehand; these will be related
in the story of his life. For the time being he sent Mucianus to Italy
against Vitellius, while he himself, after looking at affairs in Syria
and entrusting to others the conduct of the war against the Jews,
proceeded to Egypt, where he collected money, of which naturally he was
greatly in need, and grain, which he desired to send in as large
quantities as possible to Rome. The soldiers in Moesia, hearing how
matters stood with him, would not wait for Mucianus,— they had learned
that he was on the way,— but chose as their general Antonius Primus,
who had been sentenced to exile in Nero's reign but had been restored
by Galba and was commander of the legion in Pannonia. Thus this man
held supreme authority, although he had not been chosen either by the
emperor or by the senate. So great was the soldiers' anger at Vitellius
and their eagerness for plunder; for they were doing this for no other
purpose than to pillage Italy. And their intention was realized.
Vitellius, when he heard about it, remained where he was and even then
went on with his luxurious living, among other things arranging
gladiatorial combats. In the course of these it was proposed that
Sporus should be brought on to the stage in the rôle of a maiden
being ravished, but he would not endure the shame and committed suicide
beforehand. The conduct of the war was entrusted to Alienus and others.
Alienus reached Cremona and occupied the town, but seeing that his own
soldiers were out of training as a result of their luxurious life in
Rome and impaired by a lack of drilling, whereas the others were well
exercised in body and stout of heart, he felt afraid. Later, when
friendly proposals came to him from Primus, he called the soldiers
together, and by pointing out the weakness of Vitellius and the
strength of Vespasian, as well as the character of the two men, he
persuaded them to change sides. So at the time they removed the images
of Vitellius from their standards and took oath that they would be
ruled by Vespasian. But after the meeting had broken up and they had
retired to their tents, they changed their minds and suddenly, rushing
together in great haste and excitement, they again saluted Vitellius as
emperor and imprisoned Alienus for having betrayed them, showing no
reverence even for his consular office. Such things are, in fact,
characteristic of civil wars.
The great confusion which under these conditions prevailed in the camp
of Vitellius was increased that night by an eclipse of the moon. It was
not so much its being obscured (though even such phenomena cause fear
to men who are excited) as the fact that it appeared both
blood-coloured and black and gave out still other terrifying colours.
Not even for this, however, would the men change their mind or yield;
but when they came to blows with each other, they fought most eagerly,
although, as I said, the Vitellians were leaderless; for Alienus had
been imprisoned at Cremona.
On the following day, when Primus through messengers tried to induce
them to come to terms, the soldiers of Vitellius sent back a message to
him urging him in turn to espouse the cause of Vitellius; but when they
came to blows with his soldiers they fought most eagerly. The battle
was not the result of any definite plan. Some few horsemen, as often
happens when two forces are encamped opposite each other, suddenly
attacked some of the enemy's foragers, and then reinforcements came to
both parties from their respective armies, just as these happened to
become aware of the situation,— first to one side, then to the other,
now of one kind of fighting force, now of another, both infantry and
cavalry; and the conflict was marked by the usual vicissitudes until
all had hastened to the front. Then they got into some kind of regular
formation, as if a signal had been given, and carried on the struggle
with some order, even though leaderless; for Alienus had been
imprisoned at Cremona.
From this point on the battle between them was a well-matched and
evenly-balanced struggle, not only during the day but at night as well.
For the coming of night did not separate them, so thoroughly angry and
determined were they, albeit they recognized one another and talked
back and forth. Hence neither hunger nor fatigue nor darkness nor
wounds nor deaths, nor the remains of the men that had died on this
field before, nor the memory of the disaster, nor the number of those
that had perished to no purpose, mitigated their fierceness. Such was
the madness that possessed both sides alike, and so eager were they,
incited by the very memories of the spot, which made the one party
resolved to conquer this time, too, and the other not to be conquered
again. So they fought as if against foreigners and not kinsmen, and as
if all on both sides alike were bound either to perish at once or
thereafter be slaves. Therefore, not even when night came on, as I
stated, would they yield; but, though tired out and for that reason
often resting and engaging in conversation together, they nevertheless
continued to struggle. As often as the moon shone out (it was
constantly being concealed by numerous clouds of all shapes that kept
passing in front of it), one might have seen them sometimes fighting,
sometimes standing and leaning on their spears or even sitting down.
Now they would all shout together on one side the name of Vespasian and
on the other side that of Vitellius, and they would challenge each
other in turn, indulging in abuse or in praise of the one leader or the
other. Again one soldier would have a private conversation with an
opponent: "Comrade, fellow-citizen, what are we doing? Why are we
fighting? Come over to my side." "No, indeed! You come to my side." But
what is there surprising about this, considering that when the women of
the city in the course of the night brought food and drink to give to
the soldiers of Vitellius, the latter, after eating and drinking
themselves, passed the supplies on to their antagonists? One of them
would call out the name of his adversary (for they practically all knew
one another and were well acquainted) and would say: "Comrade, take and
eat this; I give you, not a sword, but bread. Take and drink this; I
hold out to you, not a shield, but a cup. Thus, whether you kill me or
I you, we shall quit life more comfortably, and the hand that slays
will not be feeble and nerveless, whether it be yours that smites me or
mine that smites you. For these are the meats of consecration that
Vitellius and Vespasian give us while we are yet alive, in order that
they may offer us as a sacrifice to the dead slain long since." That
would be the style of their conversation, after which they would rest a
while, eat a bit, and then renew the battle. Soon they would stop
again, and then once more join in conflict. It went on this way the
while night through till dawn broke.
At that time two men of the Vespasian party wrought a notable
achievement. Their side was being severely damaged by an engine, and
these two, seizing shields from among the spoils of the Vitellian
faction, mingled with the opposing ranks, and made their way to the
engine just as if they belonged to that side. Thus they managed to cut
the ropes of the engine, so that not another missile could be
discharged from it. As the sun was rising the soldiers of the third
legion, called the Gallic, that wintered in Syria and was now by chance
on the side of Vespasian, suddenly greeted it according to their
custom; but the followers of Vitellius, suspecting that Mucianus had
arrived, underwent a revulsion of feeling, and becoming panic-stricken
at the shout, took to flight. Thus it is that the smallest things can
produce great alarm in men who are already exhausted. They retired
within the wall, from which they stretched forth their hands and made
supplications. As no one listened to them, they released the consul,
and, having arrayed him in his robe of office with the fasces, they
sent him as an intercessor. Thus they obtained a truce, for Alienus,
because of his rank and his sad plight, easily persuaded Primus to
accept their proffer of capitulation.
When, however, the gates were opened and all the soldiers were granted
leave, they suddenly came rushing in from all directions and began
plundering and setting fire to everything. This catastrophe proved to
be one of the greatest on record; for the city was distinguished for
the size and beauty of its buildings, and vast sums of money belonging
not only to the citizens but also to strangers had been accumulated
there. Most of the damage was done by the Vitellians, since they knew
exactly which were the houses of the richest men and where the passages
were which gave upon the side-streets. They showed no scruples about
destroying the persons in whose behalf they had fought, but dealt blows
and committed murder just as if it were they who had been wronged and
now had conquered. Thus, counting those that fell in the battle, fifty
thousand perished altogether.
Vitellius on learning of his defeat was alarmed for a time. Omens, for
one thing, had contributed to make him uneasy; for, on the occasion of
his offering a certain sacrifice and afterwards addressing the
soldiers, a lot of vulture had swooped down, scattered the offerings,
and nearly knocked him from the platform. Yet it was chiefly the news
of the defeat that troubled him. He promptly sent his brother to
Tarracina, a strong city, and occupied it; but when the generals of
Vespasian moved against Rome, he became alarmed and lost his head. He
was unable to keep at any one activity or keep his mind on any one
subject, but in his bewilderment was driven this way and that like a
ship in a storm. One moment he was inclined to cling to the sovereignty
and was making every preparation for war; the next moment he was ready
to abdicate voluntarily and was making all his preparations for
retiring to private life. At times he would wear the purple military
cloak and carry a sword at his belt; and a he would put on dark
clothing. His public addressed both in the palace and in the Forum were
now of one tenor, now of another, as he urged the people to offer
battle or conclude peace. At times he was ready even to surrender
himself for the public welfare, as he put it, and again he would clasp
his child in his arms, kiss him and hold him out to the people as if to
arouse their pity. Similarly he would dismiss the Praetorians only to
send for them again, and would leave the palace and retire to his
brother's house and then return. The result of this procedure was that
he chilled the enthusiasm of almost everybody else; for when they saw
him rushing hither and thither in such a frenzy, they ceased to carry
out their orders with their usual diligence and began to consider their
own interests as well as his. They sneered at him a great deal,
especially when in the assemblies he would proffer his sword to the
consuls and to the other senators, as if by this act he had divested
himself of the imperial office. Naturally none of the persons mentioned
dared to take it and the bystanders jeered.
In view of all this, added to the fact the Primus was now drawing near,
the consuls, Gaius Quintus Atticus and Gnaeus Caecilius Simplex,
together with Sabinus (a relative of Vespasian) and the other foremost
men, consulted together and then set out for the palace, accompanied by
the soldiers who were of the same mind, with the purpose of either
persuading or compelling Vitellius to abdicate the throne. But
encountering his German guards and getting the worst of it, they fled
up to the Capitol. Arrived there, they sent for Domitian, the son of
Vespasian, and his relatives, and put themselves in a state of defence.
The next day, when their adversaries assailed them, they managed for a
time to repulse them; but when the environs of the Capitol were set on
fire, they were driven back by the flames. And thus the soldiers of
Vitellius made their way up, slaughtered many of them, and after
plundering all the votive offerings burned down the great temple and
other buildings. Sabinus and Atticus were arrested by them and sent to
Vitellius. Domitian and the younger Sabinus, however, had made their
escape from the Capitol in the first confusion and by concealing
themselves in some houses had remained undiscovered.
The troops of Vespasian that were led by Quintus Petilius Cerialis (one
of the foremost senators and a relative of Vespasian by marriage) and
by Antonius Primus (for Mucianus had not yet overtaken them) were by
this time close at hand, and Vitellius had fallen into the greatest
terror. The oncoming leaders learned, by means of messengers, all that
was being done in the City and formed their plans accordingly. (These
messengers placed the letters which had been given them in coffins
along with the corpses, or in baskets of fruit, or in the reed traps of
bird catchers.) Accordingly, when they now saw the blaze rising from
the Capitol like a beacon, they made haste. The first of the two to
approach the City was Cerialis with his cavalry, and he was defeated at
the very gates, where he and his horsemen were cut off, since the place
was narrow. Yet he contrived to prevent his opponents from doing him
any injury. For Vitellius, hoping that he could make terms on the
strength of his victory, restrained his troops; and having convened the
senate, he sent to Cerialis envoys chosen from that body along with the
Vestal Virgins.
But when no one listened to them and they came very near losing their
lives besides, the envoys came to Primus, who was also approaching at
last; from him they secured an audience, but accomplished nothing. For
his soldiers advanced angrily against him and they also overcame easily
the guard at the bridge over the Tiber; for when the guards took their
stand on the bridge and disputed their passage, the horsemen forded the
stream and fell upon them from the rear. After this various bodies of
men made assault at various points and committed every conceivable
cruelty. In fact, they indulged in all the deeds for which they were
censuring Vitellius and his followers and which they pretended had
caused the war between them; and they slew great numbers. Many of the
attacking force also were pelted with tiles from the roofs or in the
narrow passages were crowded back by the multitude of their adversaries
and cut down. Thus as many as fifty thousand persons perished during
those days.
The city was accordingly being pillaged, and the inhabitants were
fighting or fleeing or even themselves plundering and murdering, in
order that they might be taken for the invaders and thus preserve their
lives. Then Vitellius in his fear put on a ragged and filthy tunic and
concealed himself in a dark room where dogs were kept, intending to
escape during the night to Tarracina and there join his brother. But
the soldiers sought and found him; for naturally he could not go
entirely unrecognized very long after having been emperor. They seized
him, covered as he was with rubbish and blood (for he had been bitten
by the dogs), and tearing off his tunic they bound his hands behind his
back and put a rope round his neck. And thus they led down from the
palace the Caesar who had revelled there; along the Sacred Way they
dragged the emperor who had often paraded past in his chair of state,
and they conducted the Augustus to the Forum, where he had often
addressed the people. Some buffeted him, some plucked at his beard; all
mocked him, all insulted him, making comments especially upon his
riotous living, since he had a protuberant belly. When, in shame at
this treatment, he lowered his gaze, the soldiers would prick him under
the chin with their daggers, in order to make him look up even against
his will. A German who witnessed this could not endure it, but taking
pity on him cried: "I will help you in the only way that I can."
Thereupon he wounded Vitellius and slew himself. How, Vitellius did not
die of the wound, but was dragged to the prison, as were also his
statues, while many jests and many opprobrious remarks were made about
them. Finally, grieved to the heart at what he had suffered and what he
had been hearing, he cried: "And yet I was once our emperor." At that
the soldiers became enraged and led him to the Stairway, where they
struck him down. Then they cut off his head and carried it about all
over the city.
His wife later saw to his burial. He had lived fifty-four years and
eighty-nine days, and had reigned for a year lacking ten days. His
brother had set out from Tarracina to come to his assistance, but
learning on the way of his death and also encountering the men who had
been sent against him, he he made terms with them on the condition that
his life should be spared; however, he was slain not long afterward.
The son of Vitellius, too, perished soon after his father, in spite of
the fact that Vitellius had put to death no relative either of Otho or
of Vespasian. After all these various events had taken place Mucianus
at length arrived and administered affairs in conjunction with
Domitian. Among other things, he presented Domitian to the soldiers and
made him deliver a speech, boy as he was. And each of the soldiers
received a hundred sesterces.
End of Etext Cassius Dio Roman History Epitome of Book LXIV
Return to www.BrainFly.Net