Question 1

Who was Otho and why was his reign so short?

Accepted Answer

Otho was the seventh Roman emperor, in power for only three months in 69 AD, the “Year of the Four Emperors.” What is striking here is that he came to the throne by having Galba assassinated by the Praetorian Guard, but was quickly defeated by Vitellius at the Battle of Bedriacum. To understand this, one must remember that the Roman Empire was emerging from the tyranny of Nero and that the provincial legions were proclaiming their own leaders, plunging Rome into civil war. The key point to remember is that Otho chose suicide rather than prolong the slaughter, a gesture deemed noble by ancient historians such as Tacitus and Plutarch.

Question 2

What was Otho's main achievement as emperor?

Accepted Answer

Unlike builder-emperors such as Augustus, Otho had no time to leave behind any great monuments. What sets his actions apart is that he tried to stabilize the Empire through conciliatory measures: he won over the Senate and the people, struck coinage bearing his likeness to legitimize his power, and organized the defense of northern Italy against Vitellius. The key to his brief reign is that he sought to erase the violent image of his coup through a moderate administration, but the civil war was already too far gone.

Question 3

What is Otho's historical importance in the Roman Empire?

Accepted Answer

Less for his deeds than for what he represents: Otho is one link in the crisis of 69, which showed that the empire could be handed to the highest bidder by the soldiers. What must be remembered is that his voluntary suicide, recounted by Suetonius and Tacitus, became an example of unexpected nobility in a man reputed to be frivolous. He allowed Vitellius to seize power without a fight, but also opened the way for Vespasian, founder of the Flavian dynasty. In short, Otho illustrates the fragility of the principate when the army makes the emperors.

Question 4

Was Otho really one of Nero's companions in debauchery?

Accepted Answer

Picture a young Roman aristocrat living in Nero's circle, taking part in his parties and excesses. What is striking is that, according to legend, Otho married the beautiful Poppaea Sabina, whom Nero coveted. To get him out of the way, the emperor appointed him governor of distant Lusitania (present-day Portugal) around 58. What is often forgotten is that Otho administered the province wisely there for ten years, in total contrast with his reputation as a libertine. Tacitus highlights this paradox: the same man capable of frivolity in Rome proved to be a competent governor.

Question 5

What was Otho's daily life like at the imperial court?

Accepted Answer

In Rome, Otho followed the imperial ritual: in the morning, he received the salutatio, where clients and senators came to pay their respects. Very vain, he devoted time to grooming and wore a wig to hide his baldness, according to Suetonius. The afternoon was given over to affairs, audiences and, during the war, to military councils. In the evening, he enjoyed banquets in the triclinium, served refined dishes and wine from Campania. What must be remembered is that, even as emperor, he remained attached to luxury and the pleasures of the table, yet never neglected his duties.

Question 6

Which objects best symbolize Otho's reign?

Accepted Answer

Several objects tell his story: the imperial purple toga, which he donned after being acclaimed by the Praetorians; the gold aureus struck with his likeness, an instrument of propaganda to establish his legitimacy; and above all the dagger (pugio) with which he killed himself at Brixellum. What is striking is that these objects show the contrast between the trappings of power and its fragility: in three months, Otho went from the purple toga to the dagger. The legionary eagle (aquila) also symbolizes the military stakes, for the allegiance of the legions decided the fate of the emperors.

Question 7

What does the word “Princeps” mean and why is it important for understanding Otho?

Accepted Answer

The term Princeps means “first citizen”: it was the official title that the emperors bore to mask their monarchical power behind republican appearances. To understand Otho, one must remember that this title was not enough: real power rested on the army, especially the Praetorian Guard and the legions. Otho was acclaimed Princeps by the Praetorians after promising a donativum (bonus), but the legions of Germania preferred Vitellius. The lesson is that the title was worth nothing unless the soldiers supported it.

Question 8

Why did Otho kill himself after the Battle of Bedriacum?

Accepted Answer

After his defeat at Bedriacum (near Cremona) in April 69, Otho still had reserves at Brixellum. But he chose to take his own life rather than sacrifice more Roman soldiers. What makes this gesture remarkable is that it is reported by Tacitus, Plutarch and Cassius Dio as an act of courage and responsibility: “he would not allow so much Roman youth to be shed again for his sake.” What must be remembered is that this emperor, who came to power through a murder, left it through a suicide that the Ancients judged noble, in contrast with the violence of his accession.

Question 9

Where are the key places of Otho's life located?

Accepted Answer

Otho was born at Ferentium in Etruria, but it was in Rome that he was proclaimed emperor after Galba's assassination in the Forum. He had spent ten years in Lusitania (present-day Portugal), governing from Emerita Augusta (Mérida). His fate turned in the Po Valley: at Bedriacum, his troops were defeated, and he killed himself at Brixellum (Brescello). What is striking is that these places trace a geographical journey running from provincial exile to the heart of power, then to death far from Rome.

Otho(32 — 69)

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