Bent

Origins and accession with the capacity

It was born close from Terracine in Campania. It comes from a noble family and very rich person, but it has any bond, neither by filiation nor by adoption, with the first five Roman Emperors. In its youth, it was respected for its remarkable capacities, and it is known as that Auguste and Tibère professed its future eminence.

Praetor in 20, then Consul in 33, it acquired a deserved reputation, in the provinces of Gaulle, Germanie, Africa and Spain by its military competences, its severity and its impartiality. With died of Caligula, he refused the proposal of his friends to offer the Empire, and served Claude honestly. In the first part of the reign of Néron it was put at the retirement, before in 61, the emperor grants to him the province of Hispanie Tarraconaise.

During the summer 68, Galba learned the intention from Néron to kill it, and the insurrection of Julius Vindex as a Gaulle. It was initially tempted to follow the example of Vindex, but the defeat and the death of this last made it hesitate. Then with the news that the prefect of the Praetorian Guard, Nymphidius Sabinus, had joined in his favor, its aspirations were revived. Up to now, he had only dared to present under the name of Légat senate and of the Roman people, but after the murder of Néron, he assumed the title of César, and went directly on Rome.

After the death of Néron, Nymphidius Sabinus sought to seize the capacity before the arrival Bent, but it could not gain the confidence of the Praetorian guards and was killed. During the approach of Bent on the city of Rome in October, from the soldiers came to his meeting to formulate requests to him; Bent retorted with violence, by killing number of them.

Reign and falls

The first concern of Bent during its short reign, was to restore the financial statement, and for this purpose it took many unpopular measurements, most dangerous being its refusal to pay the reward promised with the Praetorian guards on its behalf. Bent scorned the concept of subordination by honesty of the soldiers. Later it disgusted the people by his aversion for splendor. Its advanced age had destroyed its energy, and it was entirely with the hands of its faithful. All this made Bent a very unpopular emperor.

January 1st 69, two legions of Germanie higher refused to swear fidelity with Galba and reversed its statues, demanding that a new emperor was selected. The next day, the soldiers of Germanie lower rebelled in their turn and made the decision to choose which would be the new emperor, by proclaiming emperor the governor of the province, Vitellius. This demonstration of revolt put Galba at the current of its unpopularity and general dissatisfaction. With an aim of containing the propagation of the revolt, it adopted a successor, Lucius Calpurnius Piso Frugi Licinianus , the grandson of Pison , conspirator against Néron. The rabble observed the choice of a successor like a sign of weakness, and the Praetorian ones were made indignant, because of the absence of donation of their usual reward.

Othon, formerly governor of Lusitanie, and one of the first defenders of Bent, disappointed not to have been selected in the place of Rammer, gained the Praetorian dissatisfied ones, which adopted it and proclaimed it emperor. Bent went immediately to the meeting of the rebels; it was so weak that it had to be transferred onto a stretcher; but it was a trap, and arrived at the Lacus Curtius, a troop of cavalry rua on him and put it at death, bringing back its head to Othon.

During the last period of its provincial administration, it appeared nonchalant and apathetic, not to point out Néron as much that to occult the increasing infirmities of its age. Tacit said, rightly, that all would have regarded it as worthy of the Empire, if it had never been appointed emperor (“ omnium consensu capax imperii nisi imperasset ”).

Names and titles

Successive names

-3, is born LVCIVS•LIVIVS•OCELLA•SVLPICIVS•GALBA
68, reaches crimson: SERVIVS•SVLPICIVS•BENT•IMPERATOR•CAESAR•AVGVSTVS

Titles and magistratures

Consul in 33 and 69

Titulature with its death

With its death in January 69 its titulature is the following one:

SERVIVS•SVLPICIVS•BENT•IMPERATOR•CAESAR•AVGVSTVS, PONTIFEX•MAXIMVS, TRIBVNICIAE•POTESTATIS•I, IMPERATOR•I, CONSVUL•II

Random links: