Vitellius 69 AD

Aelius Vitellius was born in the year 32 AD.Upon his ascention,he abandoned himself to extravagance and all but ignored the troops who had given him the position.He actually did not want to be emperor and even tried to make peace with the troops of Otho which his soldiers would not allow because they wanted their own general on the throne who would pay them a cash bonus.Also,upon hearing that the troops of his rival ,Vespasian, were approaching Rome Vitellius begged the senate to allow him to adbicate the throne and live as a private citizen so he could be spared the miserable death he knew that the Flavian troops would give him.The Roman people were appauled by this act of cowardess and told him to wait for his fate like a man.

Upon the entrance of Vespasians troops into Rome,they found Vitellius cowering in a a palace bedroom with a bed blocking the door.Vitellius was dragged out of his palace and was thrown onto the streets where he was slowly tortured by Vespasian's troops.As he lay dying, he was mocked by the troops of Vespasian.Vitellius had been emperor for only seven months.

Vespasian ascended the throne and with him peace and stability was finally restored to the Roman empire.He also ushered in the new Flavian dynasty,in which Vespasian and his two sons wouldm rule Rome for 29 years.