According to
Suetonius, Lucius was the favorite of three emperors, thus winning "public offices and important priesthoods"; these public offices included
curator of the public works. He was
proconsul of
Africa, where Suetonius writes he behaved with exceptional honesty for two years, acting part of the time in place of his brother. The emperors who favored him are most likely
Claudius,
Nero, and lastly his brother. The best documented portion of his life was his last months, during the
Year of Four Emperors. Suetonius records that he celebrated the entrance of his brother Aulus into Rome with a feast that included 2,000 choice fish and 7,000 game birds.
Tacitus records that he denounced
Junius Blaesus to his brother, who had just returned to Rome from his governorship of
Gallia Lugdunensis:
Caecina Tuscus had thrown a banquet in Blaesus' honor, and when his brother the emperor noticed the mansion lit up, he compelled his brother to have Blaesus killed, claiming he was courting both the army and the urban mob. The emperor Vitellius eliminated Blaesus by poisoning. When troops supporting
Vespasian entered Rome, Lucius was in
Campania with six cohorts and 500 cavalry crushing an insurgency of Vespasian's supporters. He had occupied Feronia and had captured
Tarracina through treachery when his brother surrendered. Lucius himself surrendered at
Bovillae, and was treacherously executed after negotiating with his captors for his safety. == References ==