OTHO (M. Salvius), a Roman emperor, born A. D. 32, of a family descended from the ancient kings of Etruria. He was among the number of Nero's favourites, and accordingly was raised to the highest offices of the state, and made governor of Pannonia by the interest of Seneca, who wished to remove him from Rome, lest Nero's love for Poppea should prove his ruin. After Nero's death Otho conciliated the favour of Galba the new emperor; but when he did not gain his point, and when Galba refused to adopt him as his successor, he resolved to make himself absolute, without any regard to the age or dignity of his friend. The great debts which he had contracted encouraged his avarice; and he procured the assassination of Galba, and made himself emperor. He was acknowledged by the senate and the Roman people; but the sudden revolt of Vitellius in Germany rendered his situation very precarious, and it was mutually resolved that their respective right to the empire should be decided by arms. Otho obtained three victories, but in a general engagement near Brixellum his forces were defeated, and he stabbed himself when all hopes of success had vanished. This happened about the 37th year of his age, after a reign of about three months. It has been justly observed, that the last moments of Otho's life were those of a philosopher. He comforted his soldiers who lamented his fortune, and he expressed his concern for their safety when they earnestly solicited to pay him the last friendly offices before he stabbed himself; and he observed, that it was better that one man should die than that all should be involved in ruin on account of his obstinacy. His nephew was much affected, and feared exceedingly the anger and haughtiness of the conqueror; but Otho comforted him, and observed, that Vitellius would be kind and affectionate to the friends and relations of Otho, since Otho was not ashamed to say, that in the time of their greatest enmity the mother of Vitellius had received every friendly treatment from his hands. He also burnt the letters which, by falling into the hands of Vitellius, might provoke his resentment against those who had favoured the cause of an unfortunate general. These noble and humane sentiments in a man who was the associate of Nero's shameless pleasures, and who had stained his hand in the blood of his master, have appeared to some wonderful, and have passed for the features of policy, and not of a naturally virtuous and benevolent heart. His father was a favourite of Claudius.