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Sixty-nine AD was a rough year for Rome. It began with a bang on New Year’s Day when legions in Germania Superior refused to swear loyalty to Emperor Galba. The next day, soldiers in nearby Germania Inferior put forth as imperial candidate their own governor, namely Aulus Vitellius (15 AD – 69 AD). In response, Vitellius sent an advanced force to Italy while he gathered additional reinforcements. Long before Vitellius would make his way to Rome, another would claim her throne; on the ides of January, disgruntled Praetorians murdered Galba and declared Otho as the new Emperor. While there was some brief talk of power sharing, in the end there could be only one, and the forces of Otho and Vitellius would wage war in northern Italy. By spring, it was clear that Vitellius’ forces had the advantage, and Otho committed suicide. It was the first time that three Emperors had ruled within the same calendar year – and Rome had not seen the worst of it yet.
On July 17th, the victorious Vitellius entered the Eternal City to take up residence in the still unfinished
Domus Aurea (the “Golden House”), a luxurious imperial complex built by Nero atop Oppian Hill. Keeping with the traditions of Nero, who was popular with Rome’s masses, Vitellius purportedly indulged in excesses ranging from lavish feasts to elaborate parades. Like Nero, Vitellius strove to maintain favor among commoners, even if the effort might drain the imperial treasury.
In yet another parallel to Nero, Vitellius’ coinage over time reflects an increasingly aggressive imperial marketing campaign. Prior to his arrival in Rome, Vitellius’ coinage comprised provincial issues, for example denarii struck in Tarraco and Lyon. Such coins depicted Vitellius as Imperator but did not yet go so far as to declare him Augustus. After Vitellius arrived in Rome, it was time for an imperial unveiling. This rare coin, struck in 69 AD Rome, provides an interesting and highly sought-after example. The obverse bears the laureate head of Vitellius encircled by an updated epithet that now conspicuously includes the letters AVG. The reverse features bareheaded and draped busts of Vitellius’ children: son Vitellius Germanicus (on the right facing left) and daughter Vitellia (on the left facing right). Completing the verso is the legend LIBERI IMP GERM AVG, further advertising the imperial ascension and leaving no doubt that Vitellius, unlike Nero, had a direct male heir. This messaging was particularly important since Vitellius was the very first Roman Emperor not to be born in a senatorial family (he was born into the equestrian class and achieved senatorial rank only later in life).
Despite the publicity effort, Vitellius’ position remained precarious. Vitellius hadn’t even settled in to his new residence when news arrived that the eastern provinces had declared their own general, namely Titus Flavius Vespasianus, as the rightful Augustus. Now it was Vitellius’ turn to send imperial troops to intercept a usurper on the rise. As it turned out, Vitellius' unenthusiastic troops were no match for Vespasian’s battle-hardened soldiers. Fearful of the oncoming storm, Vitellius tried to abdicate, but the offer was rejected.
At this point, Vitellius and his remaining supporters - mostly civilians - had no other option but to make a desperate last stand. Vespasian's troops entered the Eternal City expecting a swift victory, but instead met up with surprisingly strong resistance. The brutal urban battling claimed perhaps 50,000 lives. Large sections of the city took heavy damage, including partial burning of the Temple of Jupiter Capitolinus. In the end, Vespasian’s soldiers broke through, and proceeded to hunt down and kill Vitellius’ male relatives, including Vitellius Germanicus; reportedly, Vitellia was mercifully spared the pogrom. It was only a matter of time before Vitellius himself was exposed from his hiding-place, dragged unto the Gemonian stairs, and slain by the angry mob.
Shell-shocked Rome hosted yet another new ruler as the Year of the Four Emperors drew to a close.
Coin Details: ROMAN EMPIRE, Vitellius, AD 69, Rome, AR denarius (18mm, 3.36 gm, 5h), NGC Grade=VF, Strike=4/5, Surface=3/5, Obverse: Laureate head of Vitellius right, A VITELLIVS GERM IMP AVG TR P, Reverse: Bareheaded and draped busts of the children of Vitellius (Aulus Vitellius Germanicus Junior and Vitellia), facing one another, LIBERI IMP GERM AVG, Reference: RIC I 101.