The Reigns of Roman Emperors 

    Josephus states the length of Vitellius' reign as only 8 months and 5 days. Suetonius is not clear as to when 

the death of Vitellius occurred, but he places the revolt of several of his legions sometime during the 8th month 

of his reign.

1004

 Since Otho died in April, the 8th month of Vitellius' reign would occur about 

November/December. He then goes on to describe a series of efforts by Vitellius to hold on to power despite 

this revolt.

1005

    Dio seems to give an even longer reign to Vitellius (whose reign began in April), for he states the length of 

his reign as  a year lacking ten days. 

1006

 On the other hand, Dio also tells us that Vitellius (along with other 

emperors) antedated his reign,

1007

 so this period of nearly a year may overlap with a portion of the previous 

emperor's reign. 

    Tacitus places the attempted abdication of Vitellius on Dec. 18, and his death a few days thereafter, making 

the length of his reign also about 8 months.

1008

 Tacitus' description of the events leading up to Vitellius' death 

has more chronological detail than that of other ancient historians. The death of Vitellius should be placed in 

late December, in agreement with Tacitus and Josephus. 

    Dio states that a comet was seen, followed by a lunar eclipse on the 4th or 7th of the month, during the 

summer of Vitellius' reign.

1009

 The summer of 

A.D.

 54 included the sighting of a conspicuous comet.

1010

 This 

sighting was followed by a lunar eclipse on the seventh of the month, visible from Rome. This unusual pairing 

of events is not found in any other year that could possibly be the year of Vitellius' reign. The usual 

chronology has Vitellius' reign in 

A.D.

 69, but no comet was seen that year and no lunar eclipse occurred in 

summer nor on the 4th or 7th of the month (see section 17 above). This combination of comet and eclipse 

constitutes yet another significant point of evidence in support of this revised chronology and against the 

generally accepted chronology. 

    This revised chronology places Otho's death in April of 

A.D.

 54. The summer of 

A.D.

 54 contained the 

comet and eclipse associated with Vitellius' reign. Consequently, the death of Vitellius must be placed in late 

December of 

A.D.

 54. The exact date of Vitellius' death is not clear. The usual year given for the death of 

Vitellius is late 

A.D.

 69. 

Vespasian (July 

A.D.

 54 to June 

A.D.

 66) 

    Contrary to the statements of Josephus and Tacitus, Dio gives the length of Vitellius' reign as  a year 

lacking ten days. 

1011

 However, he later states that the emperors between Nero and Vespasian (Galba, Otho, 

Vitellius) counted their reigns as overlapping with the reigns of the previous emperor.

1012

 This statement also 

explains why Dio counts Galba's reign as two months longer than other ancient historians. Thus, in Dio's 

chronology, the beginning of Vespasian's reign cannot be calculated by adding the lengths of the reigns of 

Galba, Otho, and Vitellius. 

    Dio states,  from the death of  Nero to the beginning of Vespasian's rule a year and twenty two days 

elapsed. 

1013

 If Nero's death is placed on June 9, then Vespasian's reign began on July 1, just over a year later. 

However, Vitellius did not die until December of that same year (

A.D.

 54), about 8 months after the death of 

Otho (April of 

A.D.

 54). Clearly, Dio antedates the start of Vespasian's reign to July 1, months before the 

death of Vitellius. 

    Several comments by Dio illustrate this point. Not long after relating the death of Otho, Dio tells us that 

Vespasian was considering seeking to become emperor, in place of Vitellius.  The soldiers, on perceiving all 

this, surrounded Vespasian's tent and hailed him as emperor. 

1014

 A little later, some soldiers were persuaded 

to switch their allegiance from Vitellius to Vespasian.  So at the time they removed the images of Vitellius 

from their standards and took the oath that they would be ruled by Vespasian. 

1015

 These events occurred at 

the beginning of the conflict between Vespasian and Vitellius, months before the death of Vitellius. 

    According to Dio, then, Galba, Otho, Vitellius, and Vespasian all antedated their reigns to a time before the 

previous emperor died. These are examples of antedating in the Roman emperors of the first century 

A.D.

Each of these emperors counted his reign as beginning before the death of the previous emperor, at whatever 

point in time he first gained the power that led him to the throne. Dio describes the antedating used by the 

emperors from Galba to Vespasian with disdain.  For they did not succeed one another legitimately, but each 

of them, even while his rival was alive and still ruling, believed himself to be emperor from the moment that he 

even got a glimpse of the throne. 

1016

211