VITE'LLII
4. P.
Vitellius served under Germanicus in Germany (
Tac. Ann. 1.70), and he conducted the second and fourteenth legions in their return from the expedition against the Catti and other German tribes A. D. 15.
He was afterwards sent with C. Antius to make the census of the Gauls. (
Tac. Ann. 2.6.) Vitellius was one of the prosecutors of Cn. Piso, who was charged with the death of Germanicus, and Vitellius was eloquent in his accusation. (
Tac. Ann. 3.10,
13.)
He subsequently obtained the dignity of the praetorship.
After the death of Sejanus, among whose friends he was, he was accused on some vague charges; while he was in custody, he asked for a penknife, with which he inflicted a slight wound on himself.
The wound was not mortal, but Vitellius died shortly after from grief and vexation. (
Tac. Ann. 5.8; Suet.
Vitell. 100.2.) His wife Acutia was tried on the charge of Majestas, and convicted. (
Tac. Ann. 6.47.)
