Sit in medio: Family and Status in Suetonius’ Vitellius

Abstract

At the beginning of the Vitellius occurs a long and unusually inconclusive discussion \nof the possible origins of the Vitellii. Throughout the long passage introducing \nVitellius’ family (1.1-2.2), the biographer lays out the terms of reference for his \nstudy of a family: are they uetus et nobilis (‘ancient and noble’) or nouus et obscurus \n(‘new and obscure’)? In the end, Suetonius can’t decide. The topic of the Vitellii \nreceives extended treatment even though it proves nothing about Vitellius’ ancient \npedigree. This intriguing opening prompts the reader to wonder what Suetonius \nsees as the role of this ancestry section. That it remains in the Life, despite its \nproblems, shows that the family’s status is a very important part of the format of a \nSuetonian Life. By pausing over Suetonius’ Vitellius we can see the careful attention \nthe biographer pays to the gradations of status, including mythical genealogy, \nnobility, maternal family, origo, patrician or plebeian status, and rank.