Galba, Servius Sulpicius (5 BC–AD 69)

Roman emperor for a few months in AD 68–69. This became known as ‘the year of the four emperors’, of whom he was the first.

Galba became praetor AD 20 and consul AD 33. He had a distinguished military and administrative career, including commands in Gaul, Germany, Africa, and Spain. In AD 61 he was living in retirement when the emperor Nero, judging him a ‘safe man’, appointed him governor of Hispania Tarraconensis, northeastern Spain. Galba was 73 years old when Julius Vindex raised the standard of rebellion against Nero in Gaul 68 AD, and Vindex called on him to lead the fight against Nero. Despite Vindex's defeat by the Rhine legions at Besançon (Vesontio), Galba continued his march on Rome. Nero panicked and committed suicide after the Praetorian Guard had proclaimed Galba emperor; and Galba was formally declared emperor by the Senate. He reached Rome in October 68, but his austerity and conservatism alienated the Praetorians and the populace, and he was murdered by Marcus Salvius Otho, who succeeded him as emperor January 69.

Galba's character was summed up by Tacitus as omnium consensu capax imperii nisi imperasset (by common consent worthy of empire, had he never been emperor). He was the last representative of the republican nobility to become emperor.