Select Observations of Roman Emperors 2, Part 1 · Emperor 7
Choyce Observations OF SULPITIUS GALBA.
SOme think his name Galba came by occasion of a Town in Spain, which after it had been a long time in vain assaulted, he at length set on fire with burning brands besmeared all over with Galbanum: others, because in a long sicknesse which he had, he used continually Galbeum, i. e. remedies lapped in wooll: some again because he seemed very fat, and such a one the French doth name Galba: Sueton.or contrariwise because he was slender, as certain little wormes are called Galbae.
He succeeded Nero, and his age being much despised,Ipsa aet…s Galbae & irrisui & fastidio erat assuetis juventae Neronis, & Imperatores formâ ac decore corporis (ut est mos vulgi) comparantibus. Tacit. l. 1. Hist. Statura fuit justa, capite praecalvo, oculis caeruleis, adunco naso, manibus pedibus que articulari morbo distortissimis: ut ne que calceum perpeti, neque libellos evolvere aut tenere omnin… ▪ valeret. Suetonius. Ingenium Galbae malè habitat. there was great licentiousnesse and confusion; whereupon a Senatour said in full Senate, It were better to live where nothing is lawfull, then where all things are lawfull.
He was of full stature, his head bald, his eyes gray, and his nose hooked; his hands and feet by reason of the Gout exceeding crooked, in so much as he was not able to abide shooes on the one, or to hold his Bookes with the other.
There was an excrescence, or bunch of flesh in the right side of his body, and it hung downward so much, as it could hardly be tyed up with a truss or swathing band; yet hee had a good wit, though a deformed body, like a good instrument in a bad case.
Being with generall applause, and great good liking placed in state, he behaved himself under expectation, and though in most points he shewed himself a vertuous Prince,Suetonius. Sir Henry Savill on Tacit. yet his good Acts were not so memorable, as those were odious and displeasant wherein he did amisse.
He obtained the Empire with greater favour and authority then he mannaged it when he was therein; so that he overcame Nero by his good name,Plutarch. and the good opinion men had of him, and not through his own force and power.
Major privato visus dum privatus fuit, Tacitus, l. 1. Hist.& omnium consensu capax Imperii nisi imperâsset▪ He seemed more then a private man whilest he was private, and by all mens opinions capable of the Empire, had he never been Emperour.
Spem frustrate senex,Auson. Epigr. privatus sceptra mereri
Visus es, Imperio proditus inferior:
Fama tibi melior juveni, sed justior ordo est,
Complacuisse dehinc, displicuisse prius.
He lived in honourable fame and estimation in the reigne of five Emperours, Alieno Imperio faelicior quàm suo. Tacitus, l. 1. Hist.He was in greater prosperity, and lived more happily under the Empire of others then in his own. His house was of ancient Nobility, and great wealth.Famae nec incuriosus, nec venditator: Pecuniae alienae non appetens, suae parcus, publicae avarus. He neither neglected his fame, nor yet was ambitiously carefull of it: of other mens money he was not greedy, sparing of his own, of the common a Niggard.
As he sacrificed within a publick Temple,Tacitus. l. 1. Hist. a Boy among other Ministers holding the Censer,Suetonius. suddenly had all the haire of his head turned gray.Plutarch. Some made this Interpretation of it,Aurel. Vict. E…tropius. that thereby was signified a change in the State, and that an old man should succeed a young, even himselfe in Nero's stead.
He was of a middle temperature, neither to be admired nor contemned;Tacitus l. 1. Hist. Magis extra vitia, quàm cum virtutibus, The same saith Hayward of our Henry the fourth.rather void of ill parts, then furnished with good.
In the Palace, Julius Atticus, one of the Billmen met him, holding out a bloody sword in his hand, with which, he cryed aloud, he had slain Otho; Hujus breve Imperium fuit, & quod bona haberet exordia, nisi ad severitatem promptior videretur. Eutropius.My friend, quoth Galba, who bad thee? A man of rare vertue (saith Tacitus) to keep in awe a licentious Souldier; whom neither threats could terrifie, nor flattering speech corrupt and abuse: thence it was a usuall speech through the Camp;
Disce Miles militare,
Galba est, non Getulicus.
Learne Souldiers service valorous,
Galba is here, and not Getulicus.
For eight yeares space (before hee was Emperour) hee governed a Province of Spain variably, and with an uneven hand, at first sharp, severe, violent, afterward he grew to be slothfull, carelesse, idle.
Being intreated for a Gentleman condemned,The Delinquent pleaded that he was a Roman Citizen, and therefore not to be crucified. that he might not dye the death of ordinary Malefactors, he commanded that the Gallowes should be dealbata, whited, or coloured for him; Quasi solatio & honore poenam levaturus, as if the painted Gibbet might adde solace and honour to his Death.
When there was question made of an heifer before him, whose it should be, arguments and witnesses being brought on both sides; he so decreed it, that she should be led with her head covered to the place where she was wont to be watered, and there being uncovered, he judged her his, to whom she went of her own accord.
Among the liberall Sciences he gave himself to the study of the Civil Law.
He cryed to his Souldiers,Laudata olim, & militari fama celebrata severitos ejus angeba… coaspernantes v…terem disciplinam, atque ita 14. annis à Nerone assu…factos, ut haud minus vitia Principum amarent, quàm …lim virtutes verebantur. Ego vester, & vos mei; I am wholly devoted unto you, and you are wholly devoted unto me.
His severity which was wont to be highly commended by the voice of the Souldiers, was now displeasant to them who were generally weary of the ancient Discipline, and so trained up by Nero 14. yeares, that now they loved their Emperours no lesse for their vices, then once they reverenced them for their vertue….
His hardnesse toward his Souldiers caused him to fall;Tacit. l. 1. Hist. for a large Donative being promised to them in Galba's name, and they requiring if not so much, yet so much at least as they were wont to receive, he wholly refused the suit,Cornel. Tacitus. l. 1. Hist. adding withall, Legi à se militem, non emi, That his manner had ever been to choose, and not to buy his souldiers.
Vox pro Republica honesia, Tacit. l. 1. Hist.ipsi anceps; A saying no doubt fit for a great Prince in a more vertuous age, not so in those seasons for him, who suffered himself to be sold every houre, and abused to all purposes.
He was killed by the wiles of Otho, Eutropius.in the Market-place; the Souldiers flying upon him,Plutarch. and giving him many wounds, he held out his Neck unto them, and bade them strike hardily, if it were to do their Country good.
He dyed in the 73. year of his age,Suetonius. Eutropius. and seventh monethmonth of his Empire.7. Months, …. dayes, Tertul.
He reigned seven moneths, and so many dayes.7. Months 2. dayes, Eu…us. Aurel. Vict.