DOI Seite / Zitierlink:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.70031#0103
GALBA.
Galba, the son of Servius Sulpicius Galba, who
presumed to trace his origin from Jupiter and Pasiphae,
was born on the 9th of January, in the year of Rome,
570, in a small village of Italy, situate upon a moun-
tain near to Terracina. He attached himself at an
early hour to the study of jurisprudence and the sci-
ences ; and Livia, to whom he was related, invested
him successively with several dignities. Caligula
gave him the command of his armies in Ger-
many, at the head of which he was frequently victo-
rious. In this state he gave an extraordinary proof
of his moderation, by refusing the empire which was
offered to him by his soldiers upon the death of Cali-
gula. Claudius rewarded his fidelity by the govern-
ment of Africa, which he quitted two years afterwards,
in order to retire to Rome. He there lived for fifteen
years, estranged from all public affairs, when he was
made choice of by Nero to govern in Spain. Having
reprobated the cruel means that were exercised by
the rulers in the distant provinces, Nero, too im-
perious to admit of a censor, dispatched an order
for him to be put to death. From this punishment
Galba escaped, by causing himself to be proclaimed
emperor, in which quality he was acknowledged by
the whole of Gaul. u Galba,” says Tacitus, 11 un -
folded a secret to the Romans, fatal to himself, by
teaching them that an emperor might be elected out
of Rome.”
Galba, the son of Servius Sulpicius Galba, who
presumed to trace his origin from Jupiter and Pasiphae,
was born on the 9th of January, in the year of Rome,
570, in a small village of Italy, situate upon a moun-
tain near to Terracina. He attached himself at an
early hour to the study of jurisprudence and the sci-
ences ; and Livia, to whom he was related, invested
him successively with several dignities. Caligula
gave him the command of his armies in Ger-
many, at the head of which he was frequently victo-
rious. In this state he gave an extraordinary proof
of his moderation, by refusing the empire which was
offered to him by his soldiers upon the death of Cali-
gula. Claudius rewarded his fidelity by the govern-
ment of Africa, which he quitted two years afterwards,
in order to retire to Rome. He there lived for fifteen
years, estranged from all public affairs, when he was
made choice of by Nero to govern in Spain. Having
reprobated the cruel means that were exercised by
the rulers in the distant provinces, Nero, too im-
perious to admit of a censor, dispatched an order
for him to be put to death. From this punishment
Galba escaped, by causing himself to be proclaimed
emperor, in which quality he was acknowledged by
the whole of Gaul. u Galba,” says Tacitus, 11 un -
folded a secret to the Romans, fatal to himself, by
teaching them that an emperor might be elected out
of Rome.”