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Information about Galba

This article is about the Roman emperor. For other uses, see Galba (disambiguation).
Galba
Emperor of the Roman Empire
Coin featuring Galba
Reign8 June, 68 – 15 January, 69
Full nameServius Sulpicius Galba
Born24 December, 3 BC
Near Terracina
Died15 January 69 (age 72)
Rome
Buried
PredecessorNero
SuccessorOtho
DynastyNone
FatherServius Sulpicius Galba
MotherMummia Achaica


Servius Sulpicius Galba (December 24, 3 BC – January 15, 69), also called Servius Sulpicius Galba Caesar Augustus, was Roman Emperor from June 8, 68 until his death. He was the first emperor of the Year of the Four Emperors.

Origins and rise to power

He was born as Servius Sulpicius Galba near Terracina, "on the left as you go towards Fundi" in the words of Suetonius.

Through his paternal grandfather ("more eminent for his learning than for his rank — for he did not advance beyond the grade of praetor" and who "published a voluminous and painstaking history", according to Suetonius), who predicted his rise to power (Suetonius, 4), he was descended from Servius Sulpicius Galba. Galba's father attained the consulship, and although he was short, hunchbacked and only an indifferent speaker, was an industrious pleader at the bar. His mother was Mummia Achaica, the granddaughter of Catulus and great-granddaughter of Lucius Mummius Achaicus. They only had one other child, an elder son called Gaius who left Rome after squandering the greater part of his estate, and committed suicide because Tiberius would not allow him to take part in the allotment of the provinces in his year. On his father's remarriage to Livia Ocellina, Galba was adopted by her and took her names, remaining Lucius Livius Ocella until becoming emperor.

He came from a noble family and was a man of great wealth, but was unconnected either by birth or by adoption with the first six Caesars. In his early years he was regarded as a youth of remarkable abilities, and it is said that both Augustus and Tiberius prophesied his future eminence (Tacitus, Annals, vi. 20; Suet. Galba, 4).

He became Praetor in 20, and consul in 33; he earned a reputation in the provinces of Gaul, Germania, Africa and Hispania (Iberia, comprising modern Spain and Portugal) for his military capability, strictness and impartiality. On the death of Caligula, he refused the invitation of his friends to make a bid for the empire, and loyally served Claudius. For the first half of Nero's reign he lived in retirement, till, in 61, the emperor bestowed on him the province of Hispania Tarraconensis.

In the spring of 68, Galba was informed of Nero's intention to put him to death, and of the insurrection of Julius Vindex in Gaul. He was at first inclined to follow the example of Vindex, but the defeat and death of the latter renewed his hesitation. The news that Nymphidius Sabinus, the Praetorian Prefect, had given him his favour revived Galba's spirits. Until now, he had only dared to call himself the legate of the senate and Roman people; after Nero's suicide, he assumed the title of Caesar, and marched straight for Rome.

Following Nero's death, Nymphidius Sabinus sought to seize power prior to the arrival of Galba, but he could not win the loyalty of the Praetorian guard and was killed. Upon Galba's approach to the city in October, he was met by soldiers presenting demands; Galba replied by killing many of them.

Rule and fall

Galba's primary concern during his brief reign was in restoring state finances, and to this end he undertook a number of unpopular measures, the most dangerous of which was his refusal to pay the praetorians the reward promised in his name. Galba scorned the notion that soldiers should be "bribed" for their loyalty. He further disgusted the mob by his meanness and dislike of pomp and display. His advanced age had destroyed his energy, and he was entirely in the hands of favourites. Three of these — Titus Vinius, who became Galba's colleague as consul, Cornelius Laco, the commander of the Praetorian Guard and Galba's freedman Icelus Marcianus — were said to virtually control the emperor. The three were called "the three pedagogues" because of their influence on Galba. All this made the new emperor gravely unpopular.

On January 1, 69, two legions in Germania Superior refused to swear loyalty to Galba and toppled his statues, demanding that a new emperor be chosen; on the next day, the soldiers of Germania Inferior also rebelled and took the decision of who should be the next emperor into their own hands, proclaiming the governor of the province, Vitellius, as emperor. This outbreak of revolt made Galba aware of his own unpopularity and of the general discontent. In order to check the rising storm, he adopted as his coadjutor and successor L. Calpurnius Piso. The populace regarded the choice of successor as a sign of fear, and the Praetorians were indignant, because the usual donative was not forthcoming.

M. Salvius Otho, formerly governor of Lusitania, and one of Galba's earliest supporters, disappointed at not being chosen instead of Piso, entered into communication with the discontented Praetorians, and was adopted by them as their emperor. Galba, who at once set out to meet the rebels — he was so feeble that he had to be carried in a litter — was met by a troop of cavalry and was butchered near the Lacus Curtius. Piso was killed shortly afterwards. According to Plutarch, during Galba's last moments he offered his neck, and said, "Strike, if it be for the good of the Romans!"

Altogether around 120 people claimed the credit for killing Galba, being anxious to win Otho's favour and hoping to be rewarded. A list of their names was drawn up, which fell into the hands of Vitellius when he succeeded Otho as emperor. Every one of them was executed.

During the later period of his provincial administration Galba was indolent and apathetic, but this was due either to a desire not to attract Nero's favor or to the growing infirmities of age. Tacitus says all would have pronounced him worthy of the empire if he had never been emperor ("omnium consensu capax imperii nisi imperasset").

External links

Primary sources

Secondary material

Preceded by
Gnaeus Domitius Ahenobarbus and Lucius Arruntius Camillus Scribonianus		Consul of the Roman Empire together with Lucius Cornelius Sulla Felix
33		Succeeded by
Paullus Fabius Persicus and Lucius Vitellius
Preceded by
Nero		Roman Emperor
68–69		Succeeded by
Otho
Preceded by
Titus Catius Asconius Silius Italicus and Publius Galerius Trachalus		Consul of the Roman Empire together with Titus Vinius
69		Succeeded by
Fabius Valens and Arrius Antoninus
 •  • [ e]
The Works of Plutarch
The WorksParallel Lives The Moralia Pseudo-Plutarch
The Lives
The TranslatorsJohn Dryden Thomas North Jacques Amyot Philemon Holland Arthur Hugh Clough
1 Comparison extant 2 Four unpaired Lives


 •  • [ e]
Roman Emperors
Principate
27 BC - 235 AD		Augustus Tiberius Caligula Claudius I Nero Galba Otho Vitellius Vespasian Titus Domitian Nerva Trajan Hadrian Antoninus Pius Marcus Aurelius Lucius Verus Commodus Pertinax Didius Julianus Septimius Severus Caracalla Geta Macrinus Elagabalus Alexander Severus
Crisis
235 AD - 284 AD
Dominate
284 AD - 1453 AD
284 AD - 395 AD
Diocletian Maximian Constantius I Galerius Severus II Maxentius Maximinus II Daia Licinius Valerius Valens Martinianus Constantine I Constantine II Constans I Constantius II Magnentius Vetranio Julian the Apostate Jovian Valentinian I Valens Gratian Valentinian II Magnus Maximus Eugenius Theodosius I
Western Empire (395 AD - 480 AD)
Honorius Constantius III Joannes Valentinian III Petronius Maximus Avitus Majorian Libius Severus Anthemius Olybrius Glycerius Julius Nepos Romulus Augustus
Eastern Empire (395 AD - 480 AD)
Arcadius Theodosius II Pulcheria Marcian Leo I Leo II Zeno
Byzantine Empire (480 AD - 1453 AD)
Zeno Basiliscus Anastasius I Justin I Justinian I Justin II Tiberius II Constantine Maurice Phocas Heraclius Constantine III Heraklonas Constans II Mezezius Constantine IV and Justinian II Leontios Tiberios III Philippikos Anastasios II Theodosios III Leo III the Isaurian Constantine V Artabasdos Leo IV the Khazar Constantine VI Irene Nikephoros I Staurakios Michael I Rangabe Leo V the Armenian Michael II Theophilos Theodora I Michael III Basil I Leo VI the Wise Alexander Constantine VII Romanos I Romanos II Nikephoros II John I Tzimiskes Basil II Constantine VIII Zoe Romanos III Michael IV Michael V Constantine IX Theodora II Michael VI Isaac I Constantine X Michael VII Romanos IV Nikephoros III Alexios I John II Manuel I Alexios II Andronikos I Isaac II Alexios III Angelos Alexios IV Nikolaos Kanabos Alexios V Constantine Laskaris Theodore I John III Theodore II John IV Michael VIII Andronikos II Andronikos III John V John VI Matthew Andronikos IV John VII Andronikos V Manuel II John VIII Constantine XI
Galba is an ancient Roman cognomen borne by a branch of the patrician gens Sulpicia. Suetonius gives a list of its possible derivations here . Members of the family include:
  • Servius Sulpicius Galba, Roman emperor AD 68-69

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Roman Emperor was the ruler of the Roman State during the imperial period (from about 27 BC onwards). The Romans had no single term for the office: Latin titles such as imperator (from which English Emperor derives), augustus, caesar and
..... Click the link for more information.
The Roman Empire is the name given to both the imperial domain developed by the city-state of Rome and also the corresponding phase of that civilization, characterized by an autocratic form of government. This article however is about the latter.
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June 8 is the 1st day of the year (2nd in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. There are 0 days remaining.

Events

  • 68 - The Roman Senate accepts emperor Galba.
  • 536 - St.

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1st century BC - 1st century - 2nd century
30s  40s  50s  - 60s -  70s  80s  90s
65  66  67  - 68 -  69  70  71
This article is about the year 68. For other uses, see 68 (number).

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January 15 is the 1st day of the year (2nd in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. There are 0 days remaining.

Events

  • 588 BC - Nebuchadrezzar II of Babylon lays siege to Jerusalem under Zedekiah's reign.

..... Click the link for more information.
1st century BC - 1st century - 2nd century
30s  40s  50s  - 60s -  70s  80s  90s
66  67  68  - 69 -  70  71  72
..... Click the link for more information.
December 24 is the 1st day of the year (2nd in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. There are 0 days remaining.

Events

  • 640 - John IV becomes Pope.
  • 1294 - Pope Boniface VIII is elected Pope, replacing St.

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1st century BC - 1st century
30s BC  20s BC  10s BC - 0s BC - 0s  10s  20s 
6 BC 5 BC 4 BC - 3 BC - 2 BC 1 BC  1 CE

Politics
State leaders - Sovereign states
Birth and death categories
-

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Country Italy
Region Lazio
Province Latina (LT)
Mayor Stefano Nardi

Area km
Population
 - Total (as of December 31, 2004)
 - Density /km
Time zone CET, UTC+1

..... Click the link for more information.
January 15 is the 1st day of the year (2nd in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. There are 0 days remaining.

Events

  • 588 BC - Nebuchadrezzar II of Babylon lays siege to Jerusalem under Zedekiah's reign.

..... Click the link for more information.
1st century BC - 1st century - 2nd century
30s  40s  50s  - 60s -  70s  80s  90s
66  67  68  - 69 -  70  71  72
..... Click the link for more information.
Nero
Emperor of the Roman Empire

Nero at Glyptothek, Munich
Reign October 13, 54 – June 9, 68
(Proconsul from 51)
Full name Nero Claudius Caesar
Augustus Germanicus
Born November 15 37
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Otho
Emperor of the Roman Empire

Denarius of Otho
Reign 15 January, 69 – 16 April, 69
Full name Marcus Salvius Otho
Born 25 March 32(32--)
Ferentium

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Mummia Achaica was the mother of the Roman Emperor Galba and his elder brother Gaius. She was the granddaughter of the poet Catullus and great-granddaughter of the general Lucius Mummius Achaicus. She died shortly after Galba's birth.
..... Click the link for more information.
December 24 is the 1st day of the year (2nd in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. There are 0 days remaining.

Events

  • 640 - John IV becomes Pope.
  • 1294 - Pope Boniface VIII is elected Pope, replacing St.

..... Click the link for more information.
1st century BC - 1st century
30s BC  20s BC  10s BC - 0s BC - 0s  10s  20s 
6 BC 5 BC 4 BC - 3 BC - 2 BC 1 BC  1 CE

Politics
State leaders - Sovereign states
Birth and death categories
-

..... Click the link for more information.
January 15 is the 1st day of the year (2nd in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. There are 0 days remaining.

Events

  • 588 BC - Nebuchadrezzar II of Babylon lays siege to Jerusalem under Zedekiah's reign.

..... Click the link for more information.
1st century BC - 1st century - 2nd century
30s  40s  50s  - 60s -  70s  80s  90s
66  67  68  - 69 -  70  71  72
..... Click the link for more information.
Roman Emperor was the ruler of the Roman State during the imperial period (from about 27 BC onwards). The Romans had no single term for the office: Latin titles such as imperator (from which English Emperor derives), augustus, caesar and
..... Click the link for more information.
June 8 is the 1st day of the year (2nd in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. There are 0 days remaining.

Events

  • 68 - The Roman Senate accepts emperor Galba.
  • 536 - St.

..... Click the link for more information.
1st century BC - 1st century - 2nd century
30s  40s  50s  - 60s -  70s  80s  90s
65  66  67  - 68 -  69  70  71
This article is about the year 68. For other uses, see 68 (number).

..... Click the link for more information.
Year of the Four Emperors was a year in the history of the Roman Empire, AD 69, in which four emperors ruled in a remarkable succession. These four emperors were Galba, Otho, Vitellius, and Vespasian.
..... Click the link for more information.
Country Italy
Region Lazio
Province Latina (LT)
Mayor Stefano Nardi

Area km
Population
 - Total (as of December 31, 2004)
 - Density /km
Time zone CET, UTC+1

..... Click the link for more information.
Servius Sulpicius Galba, praetor in 54 BC.

As legate of Julius Caesar's 12th Legion during his Gallic Wars, he was defeated by the Nantuates in 57 BC.[1] Later, however, angered due to Caesar's opposition to his campaign for the consulship, he joined the
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Hunchback may refer to one of the following.
  • a hunchback, someone who suffers from severe kyphosis.
  • The Hunchback of Notre Dame, a novel by Victor Hugo.

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''For the episode, see .
A bar association is a professional body of lawyers. Some bar associations are responsible for the regulation of the legal profession in their jurisdiction; others are professional organizations dedicated to serving their members; in many
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Mummia Achaica was the mother of the Roman Emperor Galba and his elder brother Gaius. She was the granddaughter of the poet Catullus and great-granddaughter of the general Lucius Mummius Achaicus. She died shortly after Galba's birth.
..... Click the link for more information.
Lucius Mummius (2nd century BC), was a Roman statesman and general. He later received the agnomen Achaicus.

Consul in 146 BC, Mummius was appointed to take command of the Achaean War, and having obtained an easy victory over the incapable Diaeus, entered Corinth
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Livia Ocellina was the second wife of the Roman Emperor Galba's father. According to Suetonius she was:
a very rich and beautiful woman, who however is thought to have sought marriage with him because of his high rank, and the more eagerly when, in response to her frequent

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