Lucius Otho
Encyclopedia
Lucius Salvias Otho was father of the Roman emperor Otho
, he was born of a distinguished and well-connected family on his mother's side. His close friendship with Tiberius
, and physical similarity to him, led to rumours that he was that emperor's son.
Otho was renowned for the severity of his command in the regular offices at Rome, the proconsul
ate of Africa, and several special military commands. He was made Consul
Suffect in July 34
. In Illyricum
, in 42
, some soldiers supported a rebellion against Claudius
by Illyricum's governor, Lucius Arruntius Camillus Scribonianus
. Afterwards, they tried to cover the revolt up by killing their officers, who were the revolt's ringleaders. Claudius promoted them for doing so, but Otho had them executed in his presence in the principia
for killing their officers.
He rebuilt his reputation at court by forcing the slaves of an unnamed knight to betray their master's plot to kill the emperor. As a result, the Senate set up his statue in the palace, and Claudius enrolled him among the patricians, praising him in the highest terms and calling him "a man of greater loyalty than I can even pray for in my own children."
Otho
Otho , was Roman Emperor for three months, from 15 January to 16 April 69. He was the second emperor of the Year of the four emperors.- Birth and lineage :...
, he was born of a distinguished and well-connected family on his mother's side. His close friendship with Tiberius
Tiberius
Tiberius , was Roman Emperor from 14 AD to 37 AD. Tiberius was by birth a Claudian, son of Tiberius Claudius Nero and Livia Drusilla. His mother divorced Nero and married Augustus in 39 BC, making him a step-son of Octavian...
, and physical similarity to him, led to rumours that he was that emperor's son.
Otho was renowned for the severity of his command in the regular offices at Rome, the proconsul
Proconsul
A proconsul was a governor of a province in the Roman Republic appointed for one year by the senate. In modern usage, the title has been used for a person from one country ruling another country or bluntly interfering in another country's internal affairs.-Ancient Rome:In the Roman Republic, a...
ate of Africa, and several special military commands. He was made Consul
Roman consul
A consul served in the highest elected political office of the Roman Republic.Each year, two consuls were elected together, to serve for a one-year term. Each consul was given veto power over his colleague and the officials would alternate each month...
Suffect in July 34
34
Year 34 was a common year starting on Friday of the Julian calendar. At the time, it was known as the Year of the Consulship of Persicus and Vitellius...
. In Illyricum
Illyricum (Roman province)
The Roman province of Illyricum or Illyris Romana or Illyris Barbara or Illyria Barbara replaced most of the region of Illyria. It stretched from the Drilon river in modern north Albania to Istria in the west and to the Sava river in the north. Salona functioned as its capital...
, in 42
42
Year 42 was a common year starting on Monday of the Julian calendar. At the time, it was known as the Year of the Consulship of Caesar and Piso...
, some soldiers supported a rebellion against Claudius
Claudius
Claudius , was Roman Emperor from 41 to 54. A member of the Julio-Claudian dynasty, he was the son of Drusus and Antonia Minor. He was born at Lugdunum in Gaul and was the first Roman Emperor to be born outside Italy...
by Illyricum's governor, Lucius Arruntius Camillus Scribonianus
Lucius Arruntius Camillus Scribonianus
Lucius Arruntius Camillus Scribonianus was a Roman usurper who attempted to overthrow the newly installed Emperor Claudius in 41 CE.- Career :...
. Afterwards, they tried to cover the revolt up by killing their officers, who were the revolt's ringleaders. Claudius promoted them for doing so, but Otho had them executed in his presence in the principia
Principia
Principia could refer to:*Philosophiae Naturalis Principia Mathematica, Isaac Newton's three-volume work containing explanations of his laws of motion and his law of universal gravitation*Principia , a stem-group coralline alga...
for killing their officers.
He rebuilt his reputation at court by forcing the slaves of an unnamed knight to betray their master's plot to kill the emperor. As a result, the Senate set up his statue in the palace, and Claudius enrolled him among the patricians, praising him in the highest terms and calling him "a man of greater loyalty than I can even pray for in my own children."
Marriage and issue
He married Albia Terentia (her name suggests descent from the Terentian gens) and had:- TitianusTitianusLucius Salvius Otho Titianus was the elder brother of the Roman Emperor Otho , and consul of Rome in 52 AD. He was married to Cocceia, the sister of the future Roman Emperor Marcus Cocceius Nerva , with whom he had a son, Lucius Salvius Otho Cocceianus...
, consul in 52 - Emperor OthoOthoOtho , was Roman Emperor for three months, from 15 January to 16 April 69. He was the second emperor of the Year of the four emperors.- Birth and lineage :...
- a daughter, whom he betrothed to Tiberius' adoptive son and nephew Drusus Caesar at a very young age