Otho

• 1. Noble Birth And Early Vanity

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  Marcus Salvius Otho entered the world on the 28th of April AD 32. His grandfather Marcus had served as a senator before him. Claudius granted patrician status to Otho's father Lucius Salvius Otho. Suetonius described his appearance and personal hygiene in The Lives of the Caesars. Juvenal wrote about Otho in Satire II, calling him vain and effeminate. He looked at himself in the mirror before going into battle. He plastered his face with dough to look good for war. An aged freedwoman brought him into the company of emperor Nero. Otho married the emperor's mistress Poppaea Sabina. Nero forced Otho to divorce her so he could marry her instead.

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• 2. Exile To Lusitania

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  Nero exiled Otho to the province of Lusitania in 58 or 59. He appointed Otho governor of that remote region. Otho proved capable as governor of Lusitania yet never forgave Nero. He allied himself with Galba during the rebellion against Nero in 68. Galba was governor of neighboring Hispania Tarraconensis. Nero committed suicide later that year. Galba was proclaimed emperor by the Senate. Otho accompanied the new emperor to Rome in October 68. Before they entered the city, Galba's army fought against a legion Nero had organized. The conflict began when Vitellius's forces crossed the Alps into northern Italy.

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• 3. Murder Of Galba

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  On the 1st of January 69, Galba took office alongside Titus Vinius. The fourth and first Germanica legions refused loyalty to the emperor. They toppled statues of Galba and demanded a new choice. Soldiers of Germania inferior also refused to swear their loyalty. They proclaimed Aulus Vitellius as emperor on the following day. Galba tried to ensure his authority by adopting Piso Licinianus as successor. This action gained resentment from Otho. Galba was killed by praetorians on the 15th of January. Vinius and Piso died shortly after them. Their heads were placed on poles. Otho was proclaimed emperor immediately after. Nero's statues were set up again. His freedmen and household officers reinstalled including Sporus. Otho lived intimately with Sporus though he disliked the title Nero Otho.

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• 4. Battle Of Bedriacum

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  The decisive engagement occurred at the Battle of Bedriacum on the 14th of April 69 AD. It lay approximately 35 kilometers from Cremona. Otho dispatched forces from Pannonia and Dalmatia. These included veteran legions such as Legio XIV Gemina. That legion had distinguished itself in suppressing Boudica's revolt in Britain. Initial successes came for some Othonian units. They captured a Vitellian eagle standard. The battle resulted in a decisive defeat for Otho's forces. Praetorian Guard performed poorly in the engagement. They fled before engaging in close combat. Following the defeat, Otho's remaining forces retreated to their camp at Bedriacum. Soldiers urged him to continue fighting. Reinforcements approached from the Balkans. Otho chose to end the civil war instead.

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• 5. Suicide And Short Reign

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  On the 16th of April 69 AD, one day after the battle, Otho committed suicide by stabbing himself with a dagger. He stated that he could die more honourably than reign. His death ended the war and cleared the path for Vitellius. Otho was still in command of formidable force when Dalmatian legions reached Aquileia. In a speech he bade farewell to those about him. He declared it far more just to perish one for all than many for one. Early morning found him stabbing his heart with a dagger concealed under his pillow. He died as attendants entered the tent. Otho reigned three months total. His ashes were placed within a modest monument. A plain tomb rose at Brixellum with inscription Diis Manibus Marci Othonis. His 91-day reign was shortest until Pertinax ruled 87 days in 193.

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• 6. Operatic Portrayals

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  Otho appears as Ottone in L'incoronazione di Poppea from 1643 by Claudio Monteverdi. Otho is in love with Poppaea but she spurns him. Empress Ottavia orders Otho to kill Poppaea after learning Nero plans to marry her. He attempts this but cannot carry out the act. He ends the opera in exile with Drusilla, a lady who loves him. Handel's opera Agrippina of 1709 features Otho as principal character too. Agrippina, Nero's mother, promotes her son's claim to throne. Poppaea becomes object of desire for Claudius, Nero, and Otho. Her rivalries serve Agrippina's advantage once she sees through deceit. She responds in kind only to be united with Otho portrayed as true love. Vivaldi wrote Ottone in villa of 1713 with title character Ottone loving Cleonilla.

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• 7. Modern Cultural Appearances

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  Kate Quinn wrote Daughters of Rome featuring Otho as secondary character. The book depicts Year of Four Emperors. Otho portrayed as scheming yet charming there. His suicide at end of portion dedicated to his reign appears noble sacrifice. Multiple recorded versions exist of L'incoronazione di Poppea. First was 1979 version with Zurich Opera where Paul Esswood played Otho. Iestyn Davies portrayed Otho in 2008 Glyndebourne production. Max Emanuel Cencic plays Otho in 2010 Teatro Real Madrid release on DVD 2012. Robert Wrzosek portrays Otho in 2013 Polish film Imperator done entirely in Latin. Roman poet Martial expressed admiration during Domitian's reign AD 81, 96 for choice to spare empire from civil war through sacrificing himself.

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