Roman Emperor: Life and Reign of Galba Quiz

Answer: Terracina

Galba was born Servius Sulpicius Galba on 24 December 3 BC. Born into a wealthy and well-connected family, his father was Gaius Sulpicius Galba, a consul, and his mother was Mummia Achaica, the granddaughter of Quintus Lutatius Catulus (a Roman politician) and the great-great granddaughter of Lucius Mummius Achaicus, who was a Roman statesman and general.

He had an elder brother who committed suicide when he was young, because he had spent all of his fortune frivolously, and had angered Roman emperor Tiberius.

Answer: Livia Ocellina

Livia Ocellina was the second wife of Gabla's father, Gaius Sulpicius Galba. Because Galba's biological mother had died young, Livia Ocellina brought Galba up along with his father. Suetonius described her as a "rich and beautiful" woman, although suggested that she was secretly repusled by Galba's father, and was more interested in his status. Galba took the name "Lucius Livius Galba Ocella" after his father had married Livia Ocellina, all which would change again once he became Roman emperor.

Answer: Augustus

Augustus, also known as Octavian, was the first Roman emperor. At a young age, Galba (with perhaps help from his well-connected family) had earned the favour of both Augustus and Tiberius, both of which would become Roman emperor in their lifetime. Considering that Galba only reigned as Roman emperor for 8 months, Augustus' proclamation that he would taste "a little" of his glory proved to be both prophetic and chilling.

Answer: Claudius

Galba had started his political career at a young age even by Roman standards. By 20 AD he was established in the rank of praetor, which eventually led to him becoming a consul in 33 AD. He was known to be competent, strict but fair during his time serving in Germania as the commander of the Upper German army between 40-42 AD. This reputation followed him when he was in control of the Roman military in Africa between 44-45 AD, where he served as proconsul.

Claudius was found hiding behind a curtain after the murder of Caligula. He was quickly put on the throne, and some sources suggest that he even knew that his nephew Caligula was about to be murdered, hence why he was found away from the crime scene. Perhaps it was loyalty that made Galba continue to back Claudius and his claim to the throne. However, it could also be self-preservation. Claudius was part of the Judeo-Claudian dynasty, and had the full support of the Praetorian Guard. To challenge Claudius' claim could have cost Galba his life.

Answer: Aemilia Lepida

Aemilia Lepida was also born into a rich and well-connected family. She was the daughter of Manius Aemilius Lepidus, whom Tacitus stated was mentioned on the deathbed of Augustus, who considered him a worthy opponent of Tiberius for becoming Roman emperor, but described him as "disdainful." She gave birth to two sons of Galba before she died, Gaius and Servius, both of whom died before Galba did, as did his wife. Galba never remarried, remaining a widower for the rest of his life.

Answer: Agrippina the younger

Before Galba was emperor, Agrippina the younger had made romantic advances on him, of which he was not interested because of his devotion to his wife, which can be backed up by the fact that he never remarried after her death. Galba's mother-in-law even slapped Agrippina in front of witnesses, when she learned of her advancement on Galba. Agrippina the younger married emperor Claudius in 49 AD. Galba retired from political life, fearing repercussions for how he had rejected her advances.

Answer: Julius Vindex

Gaius Julius Vindex (25-68 AD) was a Roman governor, governing the Roman province of Lugdunensis (north and east-cental Gaul). He was made a senator under the reign of Claudius, but before this had been instrumental to the plot to murder Nero. Cassius Dio described him as being both physically powerful and as having "shrewd intelligence."

Galba had briefly retired in 60 AD, but was then given the job of governor of Hispania. He was made aware of the plot to assassinate Nero in 68 AD, and decided to join Julius Vindex in his insurrection against the emperor. Vindex ended up meeting the same fate as Nero, committing suicide after suffering defeat at the hands of Lucius Verginius Rufus, a military commander of Germania who was still loyal to Nero. Galba then thought twice about rebelling against Nero, but managed to gather enough support from the army to continue with the plan.

Answer: Gaius Nymphidius Sabinus

Gaius Nymphidius Sabinus was the son of a court freedwoman, who claimed that he was the illegitimate child of Caligula (claims which have been since deemed as likely false). By instruction of Galba or by his own initiative, he promised the Praetorian Guard financial reward for supporting Galba in favour of Nero.

After the suicide of Nero, Gaius Nymphidius Sabinus was not given the office he expected, and the murders of others in similar positions to have made him uncomfortable. Nevertheless, he could not resist attempting to claim the throne of Rome himself, asserting that he was the son of Caligula.

The Praetorian Guard killed him.

Answer: Gaul

Galba's goal upon becoming Roman emperor was to fill the Roman treasury, which had been exhausted by Nero. The heavy taxes made him immediately unpopular with the people of Rome. He also imposed particularly heavy taxes on provinces which had not immediately declared him as emperor.

The Praetorian Guard were also not paid for their services in getting him to the throne, and disposing of Nero. Galba even executed the soldiers who had demanded to be paid. Galba did, however, see fit to financially reward parts of Gaul, which had risen up Vindex at the height of the rebellion.

This baffled and infuriated Upper Germany who had defeated Vindex, and caused considerable tension between the provinces.

Answer: Icelus Marcianus

Galba became more and ore distant and disinteresting in ruling Rome, the more his short reign progressed. He became increasingly reliant on his three trusted advisors to make decisions for him. Titus Vinius was Galba's co-consul, Cornelius Laco was the commander of the Praetorian Guard and Icelus Marcianus was a freedman whom Galba was rumoured to be in a homosexual relationship with.

There was also rumours that within 7 months of being in office, Icelus Marcianus had stolen more in 13 years than all of Nero's freedmen combined. Icelus would later be executed under the Roman emperor who took Galba's place, Otho.

The corruption of the officials ruling in his name destroyed any little remaining goodwill towards Galba and his reign.

Answer: Lucius Calpurnius Piso Licinianus

Lucius Calpurnius Piso Licinianus was born into a rich and noble family, the son of consul Marcus Licinius Crassus Frugi, and Scribonia Crassi, a Roman noblewoman. Galba was in his 70s when he ascended the Roman throne, and therefore needed to adopt. He was also pushed into this by the rebellion taking place in Upper Germany, when the commander of the forces, Hordeonius Flaccus, commanded his troops to pledge support to Galba. The army refused, instead pledging support to the people of Rome and a new emperor. The next day the army in Upper Germany had made it very clear that they considered Aulus Vitellius a better fit to be Roman emperor.

Galba's choice of succession enraged Otho, who as governor of Lusitania has been one of Galba's earliest supporters. He had originally supported Galba in hatred of Nero, who had taken his wife, Poppaea, for himself. Now he found himself conspiring against the Roman emperor again, talking with the Praetorian Guard about how to get rid of Galba. Lucius Calpurnius Piso Licinianus was heir to the throne of Rome for 5 days, before he was killed on the same day as Galba. Otho later orchestrated the murder of Cornelius Laco.

Answer: Have the Praetorian Guard stab him to death

Otho was so enraged by Galba not chosing him as his heir, that he both bribed and talked the Praetorian Guard into murdering him and Galba's chosen heir, Lucius Calpurnius Piso Licinianus. The Praetorian Guard stabbed both Galba and his successor to death in the Roman Forum. Only one centurion tried to stop the onslaught, and Lucius Calpurnius Piso Licinianus used this as an opportunity to flee. Once this centurion was killed, the rest of the Praetorian Guard hacked Galba to death. Legend has it that the severed head of Galba and his successor (who was caught taking refuge at the Temple of Vesta) were brought to Otho as proof of their demise. Otho was said to have studied the heads with hatred and fascination, as if trying to drink in every moment of his observation.

Answer: Sempronius Densus

Sempronius Densus was the only guard who dared to stop the onslaught of the Roman army murdering Galba. He brought Galba's newly adopted heir enough time to flee, before being stabbed to death over Galba's body.

Cassius Dio asserts that "Sempronius Densus, a centurion, defended him as long as he could, and finally, when he could accomplish nothing, let himself be slain over Galba's body" and Greek historian, Plutarch, asserts that he was cut under the knees after defending Galba and Piso for as long as he could. Galba's disebondied head was paraded around on a lance afterwards by the Praetorian Guard, to the delight of Otho. Over 100 people claimed to have been the person who killed Galba afterwards, in order to have Otho reward them once he was emperor.

Answer: Strike, if it be for the good of the Romans!

Galba's last words are debated, some saying he grovelled, some (like Plutarch) saying he accepted his fate honorably, expressing concern for the Roman people right until the end. Galba's previous behaviour towards everyone in Rome, noble or common, understandably casts doubt upon Plutarch's claims.

However, most historians agree that he likely bared his own throat to the assassins, knowing the end was near, and there was nothing he could do to stop it.

Answer: Via Aurelia

Galba's head was bought by a freedman, so that he could discard it in the place where Galba had had his former master executed. Galba's head and body were buried in a tomb on the Via Aurelia, that is, the Aurelian Road, an ancient road constructed around 241 BC. Galba had private gardens there.

Historian Tacitus famously remarked about Galba "It was everyone's opinion that he was capable of ruling the empire, had he never ruled."