VITELLIN. See GLOBULINS.
(A.D. 15-69). A Roman emperor (January-December A.D. 69). He was a son of Lucius Vitellius; was born in A.D. 15, and through his father's influence at court became consul A.D. 48 and afterwards pro consul of Africa, where his administration gave great satisfaction. He had been a companion of Tiberius at ICapne, and was equally a favorite with Caligula, Claudius, Nero, and Galba, the last of whom appointed him commander of the legions in Lower Germany. Vitellius had not been a month in his new post before he com pletely gained the affections of his soldiers by extreme familiarity and liberality, and on Janu ary 2, 69, they proclaimed him Emperor. This decision was adopted by the rest of the troops in Gant; and two armies. under Valens and immediately set out to secure Rome, Vitellius following leisurely. The adherents of his predecessor, Otho, who had supplanted Galba, were leniently treated. with the exception of the centurions of Otho's army, who were put to death. His government was marked by great modera tion, but his personal depravity and the gluttony for which he was notorious soon disgusted the Romans, and the legions of Pannonia and Illyricum, having proclaimed Vespasian Emperor, advanced into Italy under Antonius Primus.
They were opposed by the Vitellian troops, com manded by CaTina. but gained a decisive victory Redriacum, and another. on the following evening. over another Vitellian army which had marched to the support of the first. In the south, however. Vitellius's brother, Lucius, defeated Vespasian's partisans in several battles. Rome, however, which in the meanwhile had been the scene of violence and bloodshed, was soon in the possession of Antonius Primus. Vitellius was found wandering about his palace in terror, and after being ignominiously exposed in the streets, was killed by repeated blows, his head carried about Rome. and his body thrown into the Tiber in December, A.D. 69.