Ancient Rome - 68-69 CE Galba AE Sestertius NGC AU★

Galba (Servius Sulpicius Galba Caesar Augustus), 24 December 3 BC--15 January 69, was Roman Emperor for seven months during 68-69. The first emperor of the Year of the Four Emperors, Galba was the last emperor born in the First Century BC. The emperors Augustus, Tiberius, Caligula, and Claudius all had great respect for him. A strict disciplinarian, his methods were quite cruel and he was notoriously mean. He was so disabled by arthritis that he could not hold a book or even wear shoes. It was in 68 that Gaius Julius Vindex, the governor of Gallia Lugdunensis, revolted against emperor Nero. He did not want the throne and offered it to Galba. After different alliances were formed, news reached Galba that Nero was dead. Then Galba was pronounced emperor by the senate. He also enjoyed the support of the praetorian guard.

Galba was in Spain when declared emperor. The praetorian guard commander, Nymphidius Sabinus, had promised his men a large sum (bribe) to abandon their allegiance to Nero. Galba found the amount too high. Therefore he ignored Nymphidius' promise to his men, and replaced him with a friend. Nymphidius revolted and was promptly killed. Then all of the officers of the praetorian guard were replaced by Galba's personal friends. Additionally, it was announced that the promised bribe would not be paid at all. In fact, no soldiers at all received a bonus to celebrate Galba's taking the throne. Galba said, "I choose my soldiers, I do not buy them." Corruption was rife during Galba's reign, not by Galba, but by the officials he appointed. Many of those greedy people destroyed any goodwill that existed in the army and senate towards Galba. The most corrupt official was the freedman Icelus. Rumored to be Galba's lover, it was believed that he stole more in seven months in office than all of Nero's freemen had stolen in 13 years. Thus it was not surprising that the army revolted against Galba. Then Galba adopted the 30-year-old Piso as his successor. This angered Otho, one of Galba's earliest supporters, who then conspired with the praetorian guard to eliminate Galba. It was on January 15, 69, that a group of praetorians attacked Galba and Piso in the Roman Forum. They later presented the severed heads of the two men to Otho, who became the next emperor.