[Born on the Island of Capreæ, A.D. 15. Died at Rome, A.D. 69. Aged
54.]
A royal glutton. He commanded in Lower Germany, where his popularity
with the troops led to his being proclaimed Emperor by the soldiers at
Cologne. Vitellius succeeded Otho, and reigned eight months after the
death of the latter, when he was murdered. Avaricious of money for the
sake of what it would purchase for the stomach. The life of Vitellius is
told when we state that it was devoted to eating, drinking, and acts of
cruelty. It was his boast that the infamous Nero was his chosen model.
[From the Louvre. Full of the character of the man--bloated and
debased. He is said to have spent nine millions of sesterces in
suppers.]