Aulus Vitellius Germanicus, (September 24, AD 15. - December 22, AD 69) One of the emperors in the "Year of the Four Emperors" (the others being Galba, Otho, and Vespasian). Surviving sources, particularly Suetonius' Lives of the Twelve Caesars, paint an unfavourable picture of Vitellius; however we should bear in mind that Suetonius' father was an army officer who had fought for Otho and against Vitellius at the first Battle of Bedriacum. Vitellius was the son of Lucius Vitellius, consul and governor of Syria under Tiberius. Vitellius the son was consul in AD 48, and (perhaps in AD 60-61); proconsul of Africa, in which capacity he is said to have acquitted himself with credit. At the end of AD 68 Galba, to general astonishment, selected him to command the army of Germania Inferior. Here Vitellius made himself popular with his subalterns and with the soldiers by outrageous prodigality and excessive good nature, which soon proved fatal to order and discipline.

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