Editing Vitellius (section)

==Early life==
{{multiple image
| align = right
| direction = vertical
| width = 200
| image1 = Vitellius, denarius, 69, RIC I 99.jpg
| image2 = Vitellius, denarius, 69, RIC I 79.jpg
| caption2 = [[Denarius|Denarii]] of Vitellius, with a portrait of his father [[Lucius Vitellius (consul 34)|Lucius Vitellius]] (top) and his son and [[Vitellia (daughter of emperor Vitellius)|daughter]] (bottom).{{sfn|Mattingly|Sydenham|Sutherland|1984|pp=272, 273 (n°79, 99)}}
| total_width =
| alt1 =
| caption1 =
}}

Aulus Vitellius was born on 24 September 15, in [[Nocera Superiore|Nuceria Alfaterna]], [[Campania]]. He was the son of [[Lucius Vitellius (consul 34)|Lucius Vitellius]] and his wife [[Sextilia]], and had one brother, who was also named [[Lucius Vitellius (consul 48)|Lucius Vitellius]]. [[Suetonius]] recorded two different accounts of the origins of the [[Vitellia gens|gens Vitellia]], one making them descendants of past rulers of [[Latium]], the other describing their origins as lowly.

Suetonius makes the sensible remark that both accounts might have been made by either flatterers or enemies of Vitellius—except that both were in circulation before Vitellius became emperor.<ref name="Lives1">{{cite book|last=Suetonius|url=https://penelope.uchicago.edu/Thayer/E/Roman/Texts/Suetonius/12Caesars/Vitellius*.html|title=Life of Vitellius|author-link=Suetonius}} 1.</ref> Since his father was a member of the [[Equites|equestrian]] class and achieved the [[Roman Senate|senatorial rank]] only later in his lifetime, Vitellius became the first emperor not to be born in the senatorial family. Suetonius also recorded that when Vitellius was born his [[horoscope]] so horrified his parents that his father tried to prevent Aulus from becoming a consul.<ref>{{cite book|last=Suetonius|url=https://penelope.uchicago.edu/Thayer/E/Roman/Texts/Suetonius/12Caesars/Vitellius*.html|title=Life of Vitellius}} 3, 2.</ref>

In his youth, he was one of the noble companions of [[Tiberius]]' retirement on [[Capri]].<ref name=":1" /> Shortly thereafter, Vitellius was able to befriend the young [[Caligula]], due to their common passion for [[Chariot racing|chariots]] and [[List of dice games|games of dice]].<ref>Suetonius, Vitellius, 3.2; 4.1.</ref>