Vitellius

Vitellius, AULUS, Roman emperor for nearly the whole of the year 69 A.D., was born in 15 A.D., and through flattery and his congenial vices was successively a favourite of Tiberius, Caligula, Claudius, and Nero. Appointed by Galba to the command of the legions on the Lower Rhine, he allowed himself to be by them proclaimed emperor at Colonia Agrippinensis (Cologne) in the beginning of 69. He sent beforehand into Italy his generals, Fabius Valens and Cæcina, who closed the reign of Otho by the victory of Bedriacum. During his reign Vitellius gave himself up without restraint to beastly gluttony, spending, it is said, no less than nine hundred millions of sesterces (£7,000,000). Meantime Vespasian was proclaimed in Alexandria, and the legions of Illyricum under Antonius Primus declared for him. Cæcina betrayed his master, and Primus defeated the armies of Vitellius in two battles, then marched on the city. Vitellius was dragged through the streets and murdered, 21st or 22d December 69.