Titus did not establish a good reputation during his father's reign. Suetonius's biography in Lives of the Twelve Caesars is the most complete account but is more interested in the man than in the emperor. Further Reading on Titus Flavius Vespasianus The 1st-century work of Josephus, History of the Jewish War, includes important information on Titus's role in Judea. Vespasian made no effort to blur the fact that he had won the empire through arms rather than having received it from the hands of the Senate. The next Emperor was not appointed until July: Aulus Vitellius.
For example, he was a colonel in the Roman Army and served in what is now Northern Greece. In any case, the lex sanctioned all that Vespasian had done up to its passing and gave him authority to act as he saw fit on behalf of the Roman people. On July 1, at the urging of Tiberius Alexander, prefect of Egypt, the legions of Alexandria declared for Vespasian, as did the legions of Judaea two days later. Most of these projects were geared towards rebuilding some of the buildings damaged in the war, as well as making new buildings. In modern works, an adequate account of Titus and his family is in the Cambridge Ancient History 12 vols. He worked towards restoring a war-torn Rome to its former glory by raising taxes and reclaiming public land in order to collect money. Four years later he had many successes in the invasion of Britain.
What does seem clear is that Vespasian felt the need to legitimize his new reign with vigor. Vespasian was known for his wit and friendliness paired with his declarative manner and military capability. Synopsis Titus was a born in Rome in the year 39 A. Vespasian also served as a military tribune and then praetor. As he lay dying, he supposedly said 'Oh dear, I think I'm becoming a god'. Among modern works the best is Bernard W. Vespasian wanted frontiers for administration as well as for security and so began a process of rectification, seeking frontiers that were secure, short, and with good communications.
Titus was placed in command of a legion and sent to Alexandria in Egypt to lead that legion to Judea. While this generosity may have been in some degree prompted by shrewd prophecy of Vespasian's elevation to the purple, there are other instances of his disposition to reward merit in those with whom he was by no means personally sympathetic. He promptly instituted a nearly peasant-style economy in government he became the proverbial stingy emperor , reimposed the taxes recent emperors had canceled, raised provincial tribute where his surveys showed it possible, and even invented wholly new taxes. Vespasian next dispatched Mucianus to Italy with 20,000 troops, while he set out from Syria to Alexandria in order to control grain shipments for the purpose of starving Italy into submission. He served as a junior military officer military tribune in Germany and Britain and was moderately active in civic affairs at Rome. Since his choices were usually good, the senators could hardly object openly, but it must be admitted that they respected rather than admired him.
Beyond Rome, the emperor increased the number of legions in the East and continued the process of imperial expansion by the annexation of northern England, the pacification of Wales, and by advances into Scotland and southwest Germany between the Rhine and the Danube. Finally, later on, that same month, Vespasian was appointed as the Emperor of Rome even though he was declared the emperor of Rome in July in some other areas of the empire. Vespasian was very fortunate to have so talented and experienced a son who could support him while he lived and continue his dynasty after his death. Richmond 1967 , and W. With the death of Nero 68 the imperial Julio-Claudian dynasty became extinct, and there began a dizzying succession of momentary emperors as the various provincial armies pushed forward their own commanders--Galba, Otho, Vitellius.
For the most complete account of the period between Nero's death and the accession of Vespasian, see K. The military problem came first; the Eastern armies had supported Vespasian, and the Western, having fought each other to exhaustion, accepted him, but much remained to be done. On 20 December, Vitellius was defeated, and the following day Vespasian was declared emperor by the. He also had an older brother, Titus Flavius Sabinus. Vespasian first appeared at the battle of Medway in A. As emperor, Vespasian raised taxes to replenish Rome's depleted coffers.
Vespasian acquired a military following and soon became Roman emperor from July 1, 69-June 23, 79 , coming to power after the Julio-Claudian Emperors and putting an end to the Galba, Otho, Vitellius, and Vespasian. Vespasian also re-established discipline in the army, while punishing or dismissing large numbers of ' men. Augustus had sought secure frontiers at danger points but had paid little attention to safe areas, with the result that many frontiers were still vague. Judaea and the Accession to Power In response to rioting in Caesarea and that had led to the slaughter in the latter city of Jewish leaders and Roman soldiers, granted to Vespasian in A. During his ten-year reign, Vespasian worked towards restoring Rome's finances ruined during the civil war and reinstating discipline in the army after the civil wars. Respect was shown for the Roman Senate. After a major bloody battle between both the forces, Vespasian conquered Rome and Egypt and was declared Emperor by the Roman senate.
The measures are consistent with his characterization in the sources as both obdurate and avaricious. He distinguished himself by his courage and leadership in the early fighting, in which the Romans succeeded in bottling up the bulk of the rebels in Jerusalem. Nicols, Vespasian and the Partes Flavianae Wiesbaden, 1978 , 2. Titus's former friendship does not seem to have crippled his career. Important enough to be included on tour of Greece in A.
Dedicated to the Poor Souls in Purgatory. To do this, he established several work projects. Titus traveled to the area to assist in relief operations. During the lifetime of Titus, the Roman Empire underwent its first major constitutional crisis in 100 years. Otho committed suicide three months after taking power and Vitellius became emperor. Vespasian also worked towards improving the Roman army. Copyright C 1998, John Donahue.
It was during this period that Vespasian married Flavia Domitilla. Atti congresso internazionale di studi Vespasianei, 2 vols. In other words, Vespasian's family wasn't noble or powerful family but they also weren't peasants. Click on the appropriate part of the map below to access large area maps. As a result, Vespasian's early education became the responsibility of his paternal grandmother, Tertulla.