GALBA, SERVIUS SuLmcius, Roman emperor from June, 63 A.D., to Jan., 69, was b. Dec. 21, 3 B.C., of a respectable family. He was raised to the consulship in 33 A.D.; and in the administration of the province of Aquitania under Tiberius, of Germany under Caligula, of Africa under Claudius, and of Hispania Tarraconenis, under Nero, he distinguished himself for, bravery, strictness, and justice. His friends had urged him, on the death of Caligula, to take possession of the throne, but he continued faith ful to Claudius, and therefore stood high in his favor. In 68, Julius.Vindex rose with the Gallic legions against Nero, and called on G. to assume the imperial dignity, and thus rid the earth of its oppressor. G., who had been informed that Nero was con triving his death, came forward again him at first as the legate of the Roman people, and it was only when he heard of Nero's death that he proceeded to Rome to take pos session of the throne offered him by the Praetorians. G. was now upwards years
old, and it soon appeared that his character had deteriorated, as, indeed, had already been manifested in his later administrations. Indulgence to greedy favorites, ill-timed severity, above all, avarice, which led him to withhold the usual donatives to the troops, made him unpopular. The legions in upper Germany called on the Praetorians to choose another emperor; G. thought to soothe them by adopting Piso as his coadjutor and suc cessor; but he thus offended Otho, who, as administrator of Lusitania, had supported G., and looked to be rewarded. Time Praetorians, who had received no donative on occasion of Piso's adoption, were easily excited to insurrection by Otlio, and the emperor. having gone out to quell the..rebellion, was cut down by the soldiers as he crossed the forum.