De Vita Caesarum--Otho, c. 110 C.E.
Translated by J. C. Rolfe.
[Arkenberg Introduction]. Rolfe's annotations appear in brackets with no
attribution; mine are noted. I have also replaced modern place names, as used by Rolfe,
with those in use by the Romans and Hellenes; thus, for example, Rolfe's "Italy"
is now "Italia".
I. THE ancestors of Otho came from an old and illustrious family in
the town of Ferentium and were descended from the princes of Etruria. His grandfather
Marcus Salvius Otho, whose father was a Roman eques but whose mother was of lowly origin
and perhaps not even free-born, became a senator through the influence of Livia Augusta,
in whose house he was reared; but did not advance beyond the grade of praetor. His father
Lucius Otho was of a distinguished family on his mother's side, with many powerful
connections, and was so beloved by Tiberius and so like him in appearance, that he was
believed by many to be the emperor's son. In the regular offices at Rome, the proconsulate
of Africa, and several special military commands, he conducted himself with extreme
severity. In Illyricum he even had the courage to punish some soldiers with death, because
in the rebellion of Camillus [See Claud. xiii and xxxv.2], repenting of their
defection, they had killed their officers on the ground that they were the ringleaders in
the revolt against Claudius; and they were executed in his presence before his
headquarters, although he knew that they had been promoted to higher positions by Claudius
because of that very act. By this deed, while he increased his reputation, he lost favor
at court; but he speedily regained it by detecting the treachery of a Roman eques, whose
slaves betrayed their master's design of killing the emperor. For in consequence of this,
the Senate conferred a very unusual honor on him by setting up his statue in the Palace;
and Claudius also enrolled him among the patricians, and after praising him in the highest
terms, added these words: "a man of greater loyalty than I can even pray for in my
own children." By Albia Terentia, a woman of an illustrious line, he had two sons,
Lucius Titianus, and a younger called Marcus, who had the same surname as himself; also a
daughter, whom he betrothed to Drusus, son of Germanicus, almost before she was of
marriageable age.
II. The emperor Otho was born on the fourth day before the Kalends of
May in the consulate of Camillus Arruntius and Domitius Ahenobarbus [April 28, 32 C.E.].
From earliest youth he was so extravagant and wild that his father often flogged him; and
they say that he used to rove about at night and lay hands on anyone whom he met who was
feeble or drunk and toss him in a blanket [Instead of the modern blanket, a
"sagum", or military cloak, was used, whence the operation was called
"sagatio"]. After his father's death he pretended love for an influential
freedwoman of the court, although she was an old woman and almost decrepit, that he might
more effectually win her favor. Having through her wormed his way into Nero's good graces,
he easily held the first place among the emperor's friends because of the similarity of
their characters; but according to some, also through immoral relations. At any rate his
influence was such, that when he had bargained for a huge sum of money to procure the
pardon of an ex-consul who had been condemned for extortion, he had no hesitation in
bringing him into the Senate to give thanks, before he had fully secured his restoration [The
penalty for extortion was expulsion from the Senate; see Jul. xliii.1].
III. He was privy to all the emperor's plans and secrets and on the
day which Nero had chosen for the murder of his mother he gave both of them a most
elaborate banquet, in order to avert suspicion.
Also when Poppaea Sabina, who up to that time had been Nero's mistress, was separated
from her husband and turned over for the time being to Otho, he pretended marriage with
her [According to Tac., Ann. 13.45, the marriage was a real one, as is also implied
below]; but not content with seducing her, he became so devoted that he could not
endure the thought of having Nero even as a rival. At all events it is believed that he
not only would not admit those whom Nero sent to fetch her, but that on one occasion he
even shut out the emperor himself, who stood before his door, vainly mingling threats and
entreaties and demanding the return of his trust. Therefore, Nero annulled the marriage
and under color of an appointment as governor banished Otho to Lusitania, contenting
himself with this through fear that by inflicting a severer punishment he would make the
whole farce public; but even as it was, it was published abroad in this couplet:
"Why, do you ask, in feigned honor does Otho in banishment languish? With his own
wedded wife he had begun an intrigue."
With the rank of quaestor Otho governed the province for ten years with remarkable
moderation and integrity.
IV. When at last an opportunity for revenge was given him, Otho was
the first to espouse Galba's causes, at the same time conceiving on his own account high
hopes of imperial power, because of the state of the times, but still more because of a
declaration of the astrologer Seleukos [Tacitus and Plutarch give
"Ptolemaios" as the name of the astrologer]. For he had not only promised
Otho some time before that he would survive Nero, but had at this time unexpectedly
appeared unsought and made the further promise, that he would soon become emperor as well.
Accordingly, Otho let slip no opportunity for flattery or attention to anyone. Whenever he
entertained the princeps at dinner, he gave a gold piece to each man of the
cohort on guard, and put all the soldiers under obligation in one form or another. Chosen
arbiter by a man who was at law with his neighbor about a part of his estate, he bought
the whole property and presented it to him. As a result there was hardly anyone who did
not both think and openly declare that he alone was worthy to succeed to the empire.
V. Now he had hoped to be adopted by Galba, and looked forward to it
from day to day. But when Piso was preferred and he at last lost that hope, he resorted to
force, spurred on not merely by feelings of resentment, but also by the greatness of his
debts. For he flatly declared that he could not keep on his feet unless he became emperor,
and that it made no difference whether he fell at the hands of the enemy in battle or at
those of his creditors in the Forum. He had extorted a million sesterces from one of the
emperor's slaves a few days before for getting him a stewardship. This was the entire
capital for his great undertaking. At first the enterprise was entrusted to five of his
body-guard, then to ten others, two being chosen by each of the first five; to all of them
ten thousand sesterces were paid at once and they were promised fifty thousand more.
Through these others were won over, but not so very many, since he had full confidence
that more would join him when the business was afoot.
VI. He had been inclined to seize the Camp immediately after the
adoption, and set upon Galba as he was dining in the Palace, but had been prevented by
consideration for the cohort which was on guard at the time, and a reluctance to increase
its ill repute; for it was while that same cohort was at its post that both Galba had been
slain and Nero had been forsaken. The intervening time [Between the adoption and the
death of Galba, a space of five days] was lost owing to bad omens and the warnings of
Seleukos. Accordingly, when the day was set, after admonishing his confederates to await
him in the Forum at the golden milepost [A pillar covered with gilded bronze, erected
by Augustus, in 20 B.C.E., on which were engraved the names of the principal cities of the
empire and their distance from Rome. The Roman roads were supposed to converge at that
point, but the distances on them were reckoned from the gates] hard by the Temple of
Saturn, he called upon Galba in the morning and was welcomed as usual with a kiss. He also
attended the emperor as he was offering sacrifice, and heard the predictions of the
soothsayer. Then a freedman announced that the architects had come, which was the signal
agreed on, and going off as if to inspect a house which was for sale, he rushed from the
Palace by a back door and hastened to the appointed place. Others say that he feigned an
attack of fever and asked those who stood near him to give that excuse, in case he should
be missed. Then hurriedly entering a closed litter, such as women use, he hurried to the
camp, but got out when the bearers' strength flagged, and started to run. His shoe came
untied and he stopped, whereupon without delay he was at once taken up on the shoulders of
his companions and hailed as emperor. In this way he arrived at headquarters, amid
acclamations and drawn swords, while everyone whom he met fell in, just as though he were
an accomplice and a participator in the plot. He then sent emissaries to kill Galba and
Piso, and made no further promises in the assembly to win the loyalty of the soldiers than
to declare that he would have that--and only that--which they should leave to him.
VII. Next, as the day was drawing to its close, he entered the Senate
and after giving a brief account of himself, alleging that he had been carried off in the
streets and forced to undertake the rule, which he would exercise in accordance with the
general will, he went to the Palace. When in the midst of the other adulations of those
who congratulated and flattered him, he was hailed by the common herd as Nero, he made no
sign of dissent; on the contrary, according to some writers, he even made use of that
surname in his commissions and his first letters to some of the governors of the
provinces. Certain it is that he suffered Nero's busts and statues to be set up again, and
reinstated his procurators and freedmen in their former posts, while the first grant that
he signed as emperor was one of fifty million sesterces for finishing the Golden House. It
is said that he had a fearful dream that night, uttered loud groans, and was found by
those who ran to his aid lying on the ground beside his couch; that he tried by every kind
of expiatory rite to propitiate the shade of Galba, by whom he dreamt that he was ousted
and thrown out; and that next day, as he was taking the auspices, a great storm arose and
he had a bad fall, whereat he muttered from time to time: "With long pipes what
concern have I? [Proverbial of undertaking something beyond one's powers; cf., Cic. Ad
Att. ii.16].
VIII. Now at about this same time the armies in Germania swore
allegiance to Vitellius. When Otho learned of this, he persuaded the Senate to send a
deputation, to say that an emperor had already been chosen and to counsel peace and
harmony; but in spite of this he offered Vitellius by messengers and letters a share in
the imperial dignity and proposed to become his son-in-law. But when it became clear that
war was inevitable, and the generals and troops which Vitellius had sent in advance were
already drawing near, he was given a proof of the affection and loyalty of the Praetorians
towards himself which almost resulted in the destruction of the Senate. It had been
resolved that some arms should be removed and carried back on shipboard by the marines;
but as these were being taken out in the Camp towards nightfall, some suspected treachery
and started a riot; then on a sudden all the soldiers hastened to the Palace without any
particular leader, demanding the death of the Senators. After putting to flight some of
the tribunes who attempted to stop them, and killing others, just as they were, all
blood-stained, they burst right into the dining-room, demanding to know where the emperor
was; and they could not be quieted until they had seen him. He began his expedition with
energy and in fact too hastily, without any regard even for the omens, and in spite of the
fact that the sacred shields had been taken out [From the Temple of Mars, to be
carried through the streets in the sacred procession. To begin any enterprise during that
time was considered unlucky, and weddings were avoided; see Ovid, Fasti, iii.393],
but not yet put back, which for ages has been considered unlucky; on the very day, too,
when the worshippers of the Mother of the Gods [Kybele, whose festival was from March
24 to 30] begin their wailing and lamentation, and also with most unfavorable
auspices. For having offered up a victim to Dis Pater, he had good omens, whereas in such
a sacrifice adverse indications are more favorable; and when he first left the city, he
was delayed by floods of the Tiber, while at the twentieth milestone he found the road
blocked by fallen buildings.
IX. With like rashness, although no one doubted that the proper course
was to protract the war, since the enemy were hard pressed by hunger and by the narrowness
of their quarters, he decided to fight a decisive battle as soon as possible, either
because he could not endure the continued worry and hoped that the war could be ended
before the arrival of Vitellius, or from inability to resist the impetuosity of his
soldiers, who clamored for the fight. He himself did not take part in any of the battles,
but remained behind at Brixellum. He was victorious in three contests, but they were of
little moment: in the Alps, near Placentia, and "at Castor's," as the place is
called. In the final and decisive struggle at Betriacum he was defeated, but through
treachery. For hope of a conference was offered, and when his soldiers were led out in the
belief that they were to discuss terms of peace, a battle was forced upon them
unexpectedly, just as they were exchanging greetings with the foe. After the defeat, Otho
at once resolved to take his own life, rather from a feeling of shame, as many have
thought with good reason, and an unwillingness to persist in a struggle for imperial power
at the expense of such danger to life and property, than from any despair of success or
distrust of his troops; for even then he had a fresh and strong force which he had held in
reserve for a second attempt, while others were on their way from Dalmatia, Pannonia, and
Moesia. Even the defeated troops were not so crushed as not to undergo any danger, and
even without support undertake to avenge their disgrace.
X. My father Suetonius Laetus took part in that war, as a tribune of
the equestrian order in the Thirteenth legion. He used often to declare afterwards that
Otho, even when he was a private citizen, so loathed civil strife, that at the mere
mention of the fate of Brutus and Cassius at a banquet he shuddered; that he would not
have engaged with Galba, if he had not felt confident that the affair could be settled
peacefully; further, that he was led to hold his life cheap at that time by the example of
a common soldier. This man, on bringing news of the defeat of the army, was believed by no
one, but was charged by the soldiers now with falsehood and now with cowardice, and
accused of running away; whereupon he fell on his sword at the emperor's feet. My father
used to say that at this sight Otho cried out that he would no longer endanger the lives
of such brave men, who had deserved so well. Having therefore advised his brother, his
nephew, and his friends one by one to look out each for his own safety as best they could,
he embraced and kissed them all and sent them off. Then, going to a retired place he wrote
two notes, one of consolation to his sister, and one to Nero's widow Messalina, whom he
had intended to marry, commending to her his corpse and his memory. Then he burned all his
letters, to prevent them from bringing danger or harm to anyone at the hands of the
victor. He also distributed what money he had with him among his servants
XI. When he had thus made his preparations and was now resolved upon
death, learning from a disturbance which meantime arose that those who were beginning to
depart and leave the camp were being seized and detained as deserters, he said "Let
us add this one more night to our life" (these were his very words), and he forbade
the offering of violence to anyone. Leaving the door of his bedroom open until a late
hour, he gave the privilege of speaking with him to all who wished to come in. After that,
quenching his thirst with a draught of cold water, he caught up two daggers, and having
tried the point of both of them, put one under his pillow. Then closing the doors, he
slept very soundly. When he at last woke up at about daylight, he stabbed himself with a
single stroke under the left breast; and now concealing the wound, and now showing it to
those who rushed in at his first groan, he breathed his last and was hastily buried (for
such were his orders) in the thirty-eighth year of his age and on the ninety-fifth day of
his reign.
XII. Neither Otho's person nor his bearing suggested such great
courage. He is said to have been of moderate height, splay-footed and bandy-legged, but
almost feminine in his care of his person. He had the hair of his body plucked out, and
because of the thinness of his locks wore a wig so carefully fashioned and fitted to his
head, that no one suspected it. Moreover, they say that he used to shave every day and
smear his face with moist bread, beginning the practice with the appearance of the first
down, so as never to have a beard; also that he used to celebrate the rites of Isis
publicly in the linen garment prescribed by the cult. I am inclined to think that it was
because of these habits that a death so little in harmony with his life excited the
greater marvel. Many of the soldiers who were present kissed his hands and feet as he lay
dead, weeping bitterly and calling him the bravest of men and an incomparable emperor, and
then at once slew themselves beside his bier. Many of those who were absent too, on
receiving the news, attacked and killed one another from sheer grief. In short, the
greater part of those who had hated him most bitterly while he lived lauded him to the
skies when he was dead; and it was even commonly declared that he had put an end to Galba,
not so much for the sake of ruling as of restoring the republic and liberty.
Source:
From: J. C. Rolfe, ed., Suetonius, 2 Vols., The Loeb Classical Library
(London: William Heinemann, and New York: The MacMillan Co., 1914), II.227-247.
Scanned by: J. S. Arkenberg, Dept. of History, Cal. State Fullerton. Prof. Arkenberg
may have modernized the text.
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