Born to a noble and ancient Etruscan lineage; Otho was one of the young nobles of Nero's court; said to be overly extravagant and reckless. His close friendship with Nero crumbled when his wife began an affair with the emperor and eventually divorced Otho; having Nero send Otho away to govern the distant province of Lusitania; where he would remain for ten years.

Otho followed Galba in his revolt against Nero; but his own personal ambitions led him to betray and overthrow Emperor Galba; purchasing the services of the Praetorian Guard and killing Galba. Otho was declared emperor; but his reign would be even briefer than Galba's.

Inheriting a revolution from Galba; Otho was forced to war against rival claimant to the throne Vitellius. After some of his army was defeated by the Vitellians; Otho decided to commit suicide rather than cause more deaths; even though he still had a substantial force willing to fight for him. He was only emperor for three months; and was the second emperor during the tumultuous Year of the Four Emperors.