3Otho

Otho’s reign was short, and not particularly sweet. Declared emperor in January 68, by the middle of April he was dead, aged 38. His death came after he was defeated in battle by the legionary commander of the lower-Rhine and rival claimant to the throne, Aulus Vitellius.

What’s remarkable is that Otho’s defeat was by no means crushing; he still had deep numbers of reserves. But to spare the empire more years of detestable civil war, and further Roman blood being spilt, Otho chose to die. Cassius Dio, a later writer, credits him with saying,“It is far more just to perish one for all than many for one”, And he also tells us that this message went down so well with his soldiers that many killed themselves along with him. There’s bound to be some exaggeration, but all sources agree that upon retiring to his quarters he wrote letters to his loved ones, distributed money among his slaves, and left his door open all night, admitting anyone who wanted to see him. As soon as he woke the next morning, he pulled out a dagger from under his pillow and stabbed himself through the heart.

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