Tacitus (III, 67, 70, 82) writes that Vitellius learned of the defection of his troops on 18 December, and then died two days later. Dio (64.22) states that he died after having "reigned for a year lacking ten days", which places his death on the 22nd. The date of 20 December is confirmed by Josephus, who states that he was killed on the 3rd day of Apellaios (JW IV, 11.4).[2][3]
Tacitus, Histories1.56–57. "In the course of the night of the 1st of January [...] the 4th and 18th legions had thrown down the images of Galba... [Fabius Valens] in the course of the following day entered the Colonia Agrippinensis with the cavalry of the legion and of the auxiliaries, and together with them saluted Vitellius as emperor. All the legions belonging to the same province followed his example with prodigious zeal, and the army of Upper Germany abandoned the specious names of the Senate and people of Rome, and on the 3rd of January declared for Vitellius."
SuetoniusVitellius 3: "was born on the eighth day before the Kalends of October [24 September], or according to some, on the seventh day before the Ides of September [7 September]". 24 September is generally the most accepted date, as it fits with Cassius Dio's statement that Vitellius "lived fifty-four years and eighty-nine days" (64.22)
Tacitus (III, 67, 70, 82) writes that Vitellius learned of the defection of his troops on 18 December, and then died two days later. Dio (64.22) states that he died after having "reigned for a year lacking ten days", which places his death on the 22nd. The date of 20 December is confirmed by Josephus, who states that he was killed on the 3rd day of Apellaios (JW IV, 11.4).[2][3]
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