Year of Four Emperors 68-69 ADMarina 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 ADEarly 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 onhim• 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/

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

Battle of Bedriacum map

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

Bibliography1. "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.roman-empire.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).