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In June of 68, after the Senate declared Nero a public enemy, he committed suicide, and Galba was made emperor. The following year, 69 A.D. would be The Year of the Four Emperors, when Rome was ruled in rapid succession by Galba, Otho, Vitellius, and Vespasian. Galba's popularity was short-lived. He executed senators and equites without trial, reversed Nero's reforms, and refused to pay promised rewards to soldiers who had supported him. Meanwhile, legions in Germania Inferior acclaimed Vitellius as emperor. When Galba designated his successor, Otho, who had expected the honor, bribed the Praetorians. They killed Galba on 15 January. That day the Senate made Otho emperor. Vitellius was, however, on the march with an army to take power. Otho attempted to negotiate to no avail. After he was defeated in battle, he killed himself on 16 April. Vitellius celebrated his acclamation with feasts and parades which nearly bankrupted the treasury. Money-lenders who demanded payment were tortured and executed. He lured rivals to his palace where they were assassinated. As Vitellius murdered his rivals, the legions in Egypt, Judaea, and Syria acclaimed Vespasian as emperor on July 1. The Danube legions acclaimed him emperor in August and then invaded Italy. In October, Vitellius was defeated. He attempted to negotiate peace by bribery and force but he was captured and executed. The Senate recognized Vespasian as emperor on 21 December 69.