Titus Flavius Sabinus

Titus Flavius Sabinus was the name of three notable Ancient Romans, father, son and grandson.

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• The eldest Titus Flavius Sabinus, son of Titus Flavius Petro, was an Equestrian from Reate in the Sabine region of Italy. He served as a customs official in the province of Asia, where he was honoured with statues dedicated "To an Honest Tax-gatherer", and later as a banker among the Helvetii in Gaul, where he died. With his wife, Vespasia Pollio, he had two sons, Titus Flavius Sabinus (see below) and the future emperor Titus Flavius Vespasianus (aka Vespasian), and a daughter who died in infancy.
• The younger Titus Flavius Sabinus was the elder son of the above. Along with his younger brother Vespasian, he served in the Roman conquest of Britain in 43, during the reign of the emperor Claudius. He was consul in 45, governor of Moesia from 50 to 56, and from 57-69 was Prefect of the city of Rome. He was an important supporter of his brother: when Vespasian found himself in financial difficulties while governor of Africa, Sabinus lent him the money to continue, and while Vespasian was governor of Judaea Sabinus was a vital source of information on events in Rome. However in 69 (see Year of four emperors), as Vespasian advanced to Rome, Sabinus was besieged in the Capitol before being put to death by the then emperor Vitellius, and did not live to see his brother take the Empire.
• A third Titus Flavius Sabinus, the son of the preceding, was suffect consul in May and June 69, and one of the generals who fought for Otho against Vitellius during the Year of Four Emperors, although he submitted to Vitellius once Otho had been defeated. He was besieged alongside his father in the Capitol, but escaped when it was burnt down. He married Julia, daughter of his cousin Titus. He was consul in 82 alongside his cousin, the emperor Domitian, who later had him put to death after a herald saluted him as imperator ("commander", a title only the emperor was entitled to) instead of consul.
 
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