Vitellius (gens)
Encyclopedia
The Gens Vitellia or Vitelii were a gens
in ancient Rome
. It is also spelled Vitullius in inscriptions.
In the time of Suetonius
it was controversial between Aulus Vitellius (supporter of the princeps) and his enemies whether it was old and noble or recent and obscure, even plebeian. It would have originated as a diminutive of the cognomen
Vitulus. The name of the Vitellii at least is old and their ancestry was said to date back to Faunus
, king of the aboriginals, and Vitellia (Suetonius, Vitellius 1). Then, according to tradition, the family came from Sabini territory to Rome and were included among the patricians. As evidence for the existence of these early kings is the Via Vitellia from the Janiculum
to the sea and a colonia Vitellia in Aequi
territory.
Two brothers of Vitellii were among the chief supporters of Tarquinius Superbus's attempt to regain the throne; their sister was the wife of the consul Lucius Junius Brutus
. On the other hand, Cassius Severus
and others considered that the Vitellii were of low birth: the founder of the gens was, they argued, a freedman who had a son with a prostitute, and that son only joined the equites because of his accumulated wealth (Suet., Vitell.. 1-2). Suetonius leaves the question of the gens's origins unanswered. See also Vitelli
-a 16th Century prominent family of Umbria
who claimed relationship to the Vitellius {gens}
Gens
In ancient Rome, a gens , plural gentes, referred to a family, consisting of all those individuals who shared the same nomen and claimed descent from a common ancestor. A branch of a gens was called a stirps . The gens was an important social structure at Rome and throughout Italy during the...
in ancient Rome
Ancient Rome
Ancient Rome was a thriving civilization that grew on the Italian Peninsula as early as the 8th century BC. Located along the Mediterranean Sea and centered on the city of Rome, it expanded to one of the largest empires in the ancient world....
. It is also spelled Vitullius in inscriptions.
In the time of Suetonius
Suetonius
Gaius Suetonius Tranquillus, commonly known as Suetonius , was a Roman historian belonging to the equestrian order in the early Imperial era....
it was controversial between Aulus Vitellius (supporter of the princeps) and his enemies whether it was old and noble or recent and obscure, even plebeian. It would have originated as a diminutive of the cognomen
Cognomen
The cognomen nōmen "name") was the third name of a citizen of Ancient Rome, under Roman naming conventions. The cognomen started as a nickname, but lost that purpose when it became hereditary. Hereditary cognomina were used to augment the second name in order to identify a particular branch within...
Vitulus. The name of the Vitellii at least is old and their ancestry was said to date back to Faunus
Faunus
In ancient Roman religion and myth, Faunus was the horned god of the forest, plains and fields; when he made cattle fertile he was called Inuus. He came to be equated in literature with the Greek god Pan....
, king of the aboriginals, and Vitellia (Suetonius, Vitellius 1). Then, according to tradition, the family came from Sabini territory to Rome and were included among the patricians. As evidence for the existence of these early kings is the Via Vitellia from the Janiculum
Janiculum
The Janiculum is a hill in western Rome, Italy. Although the second-tallest hill in the contemporary city of Rome, the Janiculum does not figure among the proverbial Seven Hills of Rome, being west of the Tiber and outside the boundaries of the ancient city.-Sights:The Janiculum is one of the...
to the sea and a colonia Vitellia in Aequi
Aequi
thumb|300px|Location of the Aequi in central Italy.The Aequi were an ancient people of northeast Latium and the central Appennines of Italy who appear in the early history of ancient Rome. After a long struggle for independence from Rome they were defeated and substantial Roman colonies were...
territory.
Two brothers of Vitellii were among the chief supporters of Tarquinius Superbus's attempt to regain the throne; their sister was the wife of the consul Lucius Junius Brutus
Lucius Junius Brutus
Lucius Junius Brutus was the founder of the Roman Republic and traditionally one of the first consuls in 509 BC. He was claimed as an ancestor of the Roman gens Junia, including Marcus Junius Brutus, the most famous of Caesar's assassins.- Background :...
. On the other hand, Cassius Severus
Cassius Severus
Titus Cassius Severus was an ancient Roman rhetor from the gens Cassia. He belonged to the reign of Augustus, Tiberius and Caligula. Cassius Severus, a fearless fighter of freedom of speech,was sharply eloquent against the new governmental order, which finally led him to the path of...
and others considered that the Vitellii were of low birth: the founder of the gens was, they argued, a freedman who had a son with a prostitute, and that son only joined the equites because of his accumulated wealth (Suet., Vitell.. 1-2). Suetonius leaves the question of the gens's origins unanswered. See also Vitelli
Vitelli
The Vitelli, among other families so named, were a prominent family of Umbria, rulers of Città di Castello and lesser rocche. In spite of ambitious genealogies, there is no demonstrable connection with the ancient Roman Vitellius...
-a 16th Century prominent family of Umbria
Umbria
Umbria is a region of modern central Italy. It is one of the smallest Italian regions and the only peninsular region that is landlocked.Its capital is Perugia.Assisi and Norcia are historical towns associated with St. Francis of Assisi, and St...
who claimed relationship to the Vitellius {gens}
Notable members
- Publius Vitellius, procuratorPromagistrateA promagistrate is a person who acts in and with the authority and capacity of a magistrate, but without holding a magisterial office. A legal innovation of the Roman Republic, the promagistracy was invented in order to provide Rome with governors of overseas territories instead of having to elect...
AugustiAugustusAugustus ;23 September 63 BC – 19 August AD 14) is considered the first emperor of the Roman Empire, which he ruled alone from 27 BC until his death in 14 AD.The dates of his rule are contemporary dates; Augustus lived under two calendars, the Roman Republican until 45 BC, and the Julian...
; - Aulus Vitellius, consul suffectus in 3232Year 32 was a leap year starting on Tuesday of the Julian calendar. At the time, it was known as the Year of the Consulship of Ahenobarbus and Camillus...
; - Quintus Vitellius, ex-senator;
- Publius VitelliusPublius Vitellius the YoungerPublius Vitellius was a 1st century Roman commander under Germanicus, with whom he was friends. He was the son of the eques Publius Vitellius the Elder and belonged to the gens Vitellia - the future emperor Vitellius was Publius the Younger's nephew...
, officer under Germanicus Iulius Caesar; - Lucius VitelliusLucius VitelliusLucius Vitellius the Elder was the youngest of four sons of quaestor Publius Vitellius and the only one that did not die through politics. Under Emperor Tiberius, he was Consul in 34 and Governor of Syria in 35. He deposed Pontius Pilate in 36 after complaints from the people in Samaria...
, three times consul and censor, also governor of SyriaSyriaSyria , officially the Syrian Arab Republic , is a country in Western Asia, bordering Lebanon and the Mediterranean Sea to the West, Turkey to the north, Iraq to the east, Jordan to the south, and Israel to the southwest....
; - Lucius VitelliusLucius Vitellius the youngerLucius Vitellius was a Roman who lived in the 1st century. He was the second son of Lucius Vitellius the elder and Sextilia and younger brother of emperor Aulus Vitellius....
, consul in 4848Year 48 was a leap year starting on Monday of the Julian calendar. At the time, it was known as the Year of the Consulship of Vitellius and Poplicola...
and son of the former; - Aulus VitelliusVitelliusVitellius , was Roman Emperor for eight months, from 16 April to 22 December 69. Vitellius was acclaimed Emperor following the quick succession of the previous emperors Galba and Otho, in a year of civil war known as the Year of the Four Emperors...
, emperor in 69; - Vitellius Germanicus, son of the emperor;
- Vitellius Petronianus, another son of the emperor;
- Vitellia, daughter of the emperor;
- Publius Vitellius Saturninus;
- Marcus Flavius Vitellius Seleucus.