Otho, Roman emperor (d. 69 AD)

Marcus Salvius Otho, born on April 28, 32 AD, emerged briefly yet dramatically onto the Roman imperial stage. His reign, spanning just three tumultuous months from January 15 to April 16, 69 AD, saw him as the second emperor in what historians famously dubbed the "Year of the Four Emperors." This period was a brutal testament to the political instability that followed the Julio-Claudian dynasty, where military might, rather than dynastic succession, became the primary determinant of imperial power, plunging Rome into unprecedented civil strife.

Early Life and the Shadow of Nero

Hailing from an ancient and noble Etruscan family, the Salvii, Otho benefited from a privileged upbringing that placed him within Rome's aristocratic circles. His early career saw him gravitate towards the inner circle of the young Emperor Nero, becoming a prominent friend and courtier. This was a world of lavish extravagance, ambition, and often moral decay, where Otho reportedly matched Nero in his excesses and daring adventures through the streets of Rome. However, their friendship was fatally undermined by the captivating figure of Poppaea Sabina, Otho’s beautiful, intelligent, and fiercely ambitious wife. Nero, smitten by Poppaea, initiated an affair with her, leading to a perilous love triangle. This dangerous entanglement ultimately led to Otho's political exile in 58 AD. To remove him from Rome and secure Poppaea for himself—she would later become his empress—Nero appointed Otho as the governor of the remote province of Lusitania (modern-day Portugal). While ostensibly an honor and a significant provincial command, it was, in essence, a clever banishment, effectively removing a rival for Poppaea’s affections and a potential political complication from the capital.

Governorship in Lusitania and the Road to Power

Despite this forced removal from the heart of Roman power, Otho's decade-long tenure in Lusitania proved surprisingly competent and moderate. He governed the province with an even hand, a stark contrast to the decadence he had left behind in Rome. This period allowed him to develop administrative skills and a reputation for fair rule, quietly building a power base away from the imperial spotlight. When the empire began to fracture in 68 AD, amidst widespread discontent against Nero's increasingly tyrannical rule, Otho saw an opportunity. He shrewdly allied himself with Servius Sulpicius Galba, the elderly and respected governor of the neighboring province of Hispania Tarraconensis (modern-day Spain), who had declared his revolt against Nero. This alliance was a calculated risk, betting on Galba’s success to restore Otho’s own fortunes and propel him back into the center of Roman politics.

The Coup Against Galba and Imperial Accession

Following Nero's forced suicide in June 68 AD, Galba was proclaimed emperor and marched triumphantly into Rome, with Otho by his side, having offered significant financial and political support. Otho, who had supported Galba generously, harbored strong ambitions of being adopted as Galba’s successor. However, Galba, known for his parsimonious nature and his reluctance to reward his supporters, made a profound political miscalculation. Instead of Otho, he chose Lucius Calpurnius Piso Licinianus, a relatively unknown senator, as his heir. This decision was a direct insult to Otho, who felt betrayed and saw his imperial aspirations dashed. Leveraging his existing connections, particularly with the powerful Praetorian Guard, who were also disgruntled by Galba’s refusal to pay their promised donative upon his accession, Otho instigated a daring coup. On January 15, 69 AD, barely a week after Piso's adoption, Otho led a revolt. Galba, along with Piso, was brutally murdered in the Roman Forum by the Praetorians, and Marcus Otho was swiftly proclaimed emperor by the jubilant soldiers.

The Challenge of Vitellius and the Battle of Bedriacum

Otho's reign began with the daunting task of addressing a pre-existing rebellion. Aulus Vitellius, commander of the powerful legions in Germania Inferior, had already been proclaimed emperor by his troops even before Galba's death, fueled by their own grievances and ambitions, particularly the unpaid bonuses promised by Galba. This meant Otho inherited not a pacified empire, but an immediate and full-blown civil war. Otho, demonstrating unexpected military acumen and energy, quickly assembled a formidable force, including loyal elements of the Praetorian Guard, gladiators, and legions from the Danube. He marched north to confront Vitellius's legions, whose vanguard had already crossed the Alps into Italy, aiming to prevent their consolidation. The two armies clashed in a series of engagements near Cremona, culminating in the First Battle of Bedriacum in mid-April 69 AD.

Otho's Suicide and End of Reign

Despite initial successes by Otho's forces, particularly his elite praetorian cohorts, the main engagement at Bedriacum proved disastrous for him. Misinformation, tactical errors by his generals, and the overwhelming strength and experience of Vitellius's veteran legions from the Rhine frontier led to a decisive defeat. With an estimated 40,000 casualties on both sides and his forces in disarray and retreat, Otho was presented with the option to continue the fight, potentially prolonging a devastating civil war and sacrificing countless more Roman lives. However, in a move that earned him considerable respect from ancient historians like Tacitus, Otho chose a different path. Rather than plunge Rome further into fratricidal conflict, he committed suicide on April 16, 69 AD, at Brixellum, just a short distance from the battlefield. His last act was a selfless decision to spare the lives of his remaining loyal soldiers and prevent further bloodshed, an act of unexpected dignity that stood in stark contrast to his earlier life of excess and political maneuvering. Following his death, Vitellius was proclaimed emperor, though his own reign would be equally short-lived, marking another bloody chapter in the Year of the Four Emperors.

Legacy of a Fleeting Emperor

Otho's brief tenure, though stained by his betrayal of Galba, highlights the volatile nature of Roman politics in 69 AD, a year where personal ambition and military loyalty often superseded traditional legal succession. He remains a complex figure: a playboy turned competent provincial governor, a shrewd conspirator who seized the imperial throne, and ultimately, an emperor who chose peace through self-sacrifice. His final act of dignified suicide left a lasting impression, transforming him from a figure of scandal into one of tragic nobility in Roman historical accounts.

FAQs About Marcus Otho

Who was Marcus Otho?
Marcus Salvius Otho was a Roman emperor who reigned for a brief but pivotal period of three months in 69 AD, a year famously known as the "Year of the Four Emperors" due to the rapid succession of multiple rulers.
How did Otho become emperor?
Otho initially allied with Emperor Galba in the revolt against Nero. However, after Galba passed him over for adoption as his successor, Otho orchestrated a coup with the support of the Praetorian Guard, leading to Galba's assassination and Otho's swift proclamation as emperor.
What was the "Year of the Four Emperors"?
This was a tumultuous period of civil war in 69 AD, immediately following the death of Nero. Within this single year, four different individuals—Galba, Otho, Vitellius, and Vespasian—each claimed and briefly held the imperial throne, highlighting severe political instability and the growing influence of the Roman legions in imperial succession.
Why was Otho banished to Lusitania?
Otho was appointed governor of the remote province of Lusitania in 58 AD. This was effectively a political banishment by Emperor Nero, who desired Otho's beautiful and ambitious wife, Poppaea Sabina, for himself and sought to remove Otho from the capital.
How did Otho die?
After suffering a decisive defeat at the First Battle of Bedriacum against the forces of Aulus Vitellius, Otho chose to commit suicide on April 16, 69 AD. His decision was motivated by a desire to prevent further bloodshed and spare Rome from prolonged civil conflict, a choice that earned him posthumous respect.
What was Otho's legacy?
Despite his controversial path to power marked by treachery, Otho is often remembered for his dignified and selfless act of suicide, which ultimately spared Rome from a potentially more protracted and devastating civil war. This final act solidified his image as a more complex and even honorable figure than his earlier reputation as a decadent courtier suggested.