Select Observations of Roman Emperors, Life 7
Sulpitius Galba.
SOme think his name Galba came by occasion of a Town in Spain, Progenies Caesarum in Nerone defecit, saith Sueton. Est certum & omnes Historici notant, saith Casaubon upon him. In Nero the majestical tree of the Caesars withered. Bolton's Nero Caesar c. l. 5. See more there.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 sickness which he had, he used continually Galbeum, i. e. remedies wrapped in wooll: some again because he seemed very fat, and such a one the French doth name Galba: or contrariwise because he was slender, as certain little worms are called Galbae.Sueton.
He succeeded Nero, Ipsa aetas Galbae & irrisui & fastido erat assuetis juventae Neronis, & Imperatores forma ac decore corporis (ut est mos vulgi) comparantibus. Tacit. l. 1. Hist. Statura fuit justa, capite praecalvo, oculis caeruleis, adunco naso, manibus pedibusque articulari morbo distortissimis: ut neque calceum perpeti, neque libellos evolvere aut tenere omnino valeret. Suetonius. Ingenium Galbae malè habitat.Both Suetonius and Tacitus accurately describe him, and his age being much despised, there was great licentiousness and confusion; whereupon a Senator said in full Senate, It were better to live where nothing is lawful, than where all things are lawful.
He was of full stature, his head bald, his eies gray, and his nose hooked; his hands and feet by reason of the Gout exceeding crooked, insomuch as he was not able to abide shooes on the one, or to hold his books 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 he had a great wit, though a deformed body, like a good instrument in a bad case.
Being with general 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 Savil on Tacit.yet his good Acts were not so memorable, as those were odious and displeasant wherein he did amiss.
He obtained the Empire with greater favour and authority than he managed 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, & omnium consensu capax Imperii nisi imperasset. Tacitus, l. 1. Hist.He seemed more than a private man whilest he was private, and by all mens opinions capable of the Empire, had he never been Emperor.
His verbis claudit Tacitus descriptionem Galbae, qua more Historicis usitato; suprema ejus pro sequitur. Boecleri. Dissertatio. Historica.
Auson. Epigr.Spem frustrate senex, 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 reign of five Emperors,Tacitus, l. 1. Hist. Alieno Imperio faelicior quam suo. He was in greater prosperity,Vetus in familia Nobilitas, magnae opes. Tacitus. and lived more happily under the Empire of others than in his own. His house was of ancient Nobility and great wealth, He neither neglected his fame,Famae nec incuriosus, nec venditator: Pecuniae alienae non appetens, suae parcus, publicae avarus. nor yet was ambitiously careful 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, a Boy among other Ministers holding the Censer,Tacitus. l. 1. Hist. suddenly had all the hair of his head turned gray. Some made this interpretation of it,Suetonius. that thereby was signified a change in the State,Plutarch. Aurel. Vict.Eutropius.and that an old man should succeed a young, even himself in Nero's stead.
He was of a middle temperature, neither to be admired nor contemned; Ipsi medium ingenium, magis extr… vitia, Tacitus l. 1. Hist.quàm cum virtutibus, rather void of ill parts,The same saith Hayward of our Henry the fourth. than furnished with good.
In the Palace, Iulius Atticus, one of the bill-men met him, holding out a bloody sword in his hand, with which he cryed aloud, he had slain Otho; My friend, Hujus breve Imperium fuit, & quod bona haberet exordia, nisi ad severitatem promptior videretur. Eutropius.quoth Galba, who bad thee? A man of rare vertue (saith Tacitus) to keep in awe a licentious Soldier; whom neither threats could terrifie, nor flattering speech corrupt and abuse: thence it was a usual speech through the Camp.
Disce Miles militare,
Galba est, non Getulicus.
Learn Soldiers service valorous,
Galba is here, and not Getulicus.
For eight years space (before he was Emperor) he governed a Province of Spain variably, and with an uneven hand; at first sharp, severe, violent, afterward he grew to be slochful, careless, idle.
Being entreated for a Gentleman condemned,The Delinquent pleaded that he was a Roman Citizen, and therefore not to be crucified. that he might not die the death of ordinary Malefactors, he commanded that the Gallows should be dealbata, whited, or coloured for him; Quasi solatio & honore poenam levaturus, as if the painted Gibbet might add solace and honour to his death.
When there was a 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 liberal Sciences he gave himself to the study of the Civil Law.
Laudata olim, & militari fama celebrata severitas ejus angebat coaspernantes veterem disciplinam, atque ita 14. annis à Nerone assuefactos, ut haud minus vitia Principum amarent, quàm olim virtutes verebantur.He cryed to his Soldiers, 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 Soldiers, was now displeasant to them who were generally weary of the ancient Discipline, and so trained up by Nero 14 years, that now they loved their Emperors no less for their vices, than once they reverenced them for their vertues.
His hardness towards his Soldiers caused him to fall; for a large Donative being promised to them in Galba's name, and they requiring if not so much,Tacit. l. 1. Hist. yet so much at least as they were wont to receive, he wholly refused the suit, adding withall,Cornel. Tacitus. l. 1. Hist. Legi à se militem, non emi, That his manner had ever been to choose, and not to buy his Soldiers.
Vox pro republica honesta, ipsi anceps; A saying no doubt fit for a great Prince in a more vertuous age,Tacit. lib. 1. Hist. not so in those seasons for him, who suffered himself to be sold every hour, and abused to all purposes.
He was killed by the wiles of Otho, Eutropius.in the Market-place; the Soldiers flying upon him, and giving him many wounds,Plutarch. he held out his neck unto them, and bad them strike hardly, if it were to do their Country good.
He dyed in the 73. year of his age,Suetonius. Eutropius. 7 Months, 6 daies, Tertul. 7 Months 2 daies, Eusebius. and seventh month of his Empire.
He reigned seven months, and so many daies. Aurel. Vict.