VII. Otho
Emperor: 69 AD
Born: April 28th 32 AD Died: April 16th 69 AD
Otho was Roman Emperor for only three months, from January to April 69, and was the second emperor of the Year of the Four Emperors. Otho belonged to an ancient Etruscan family, descended from the princes of Etruria. Otho was one of the most reckless and extravagant of the young nobles who surrounded Nero. This friendship was brought to an end in 58 because his wife, Poppaea, began an affair with Nero. She divorced Otho and had the Emperor send him away as governor to the remote province of Lusitania (Portugal).
Otho remained in Lusitania for the next ten years. When in 68 AD his neighbor, Governor Galba of Hispania Tarraconensis, rose in revolt against Nero, Otho accompanied him to Rome. Galba was childless and far advanced in years, and Otho aspired to succeed him. However, his hopes were dashed by Galba's adoption of a rival, Calpurnius Piso. After this, Otho decided to strike a bold blow and purchased the services of the Praetorian Guard. On the morning of January 15th, only five days after Galba adopted Piso, Otho was escorted to the Praetorian camp, where he was saluted as Imperator. With an imposing force he returned to the Roman Forum, where he encountered Galba. Galba and his newly adopted son Piso were brutally murdered by the Praetorians. Otho owed his success to the resentment felt by the Praetorian guards at Galba's refusal to pay the ones who supported his accession to the throne.
Any further development of Otho's policy was checked once Otho had read through Galba's private correspondence and realized the extent of a revolt in Germany, where several legions had declared for Vitellius, the governor of the province, and were already advancing upon Italy. After an attempt to conciliate Vitellius by the offer of a share in the Empire, Otho prepared for war. At the Battle of Bedriacum, Vitellius’ forces defeated those of Otho. Otho was still in command of a formidable force, but he was resolved to accept the verdict of the battle that his own impatience had hastened. In a dignified speech he bade farewell to those about him, declaring: "It is far more just to perish one for all, than many for one", before going to sleep. Early in the morning he stabbed himself in the heart with a dagger, which he had concealed under his pillow, and died as his attendants entered the tent. It has been thought that Otho's suicide was committed in order to steer his country from the path to civil war, and many Romans learned to respect Otho in his death. The soldiers were so moved and impressed that some even threw themselves on the funeral pyre to die with their Emperor.