Vespasian

Caesar Vespasianus Augustus (November 18, 9 – June 23, 79), originally known as Titus Flavius Vespasianus and best known as Vespasian, was the emperor of Rome from 69 to 79. He was founder of the Flavian dynasty and ascended the throne in the end of the Year of the four emperors.

Family and early career

He was born in the Sabine country near Reate. His father, Titus Flavius Sabinus, was an equestrian who worked as a customs official in Asia and a money-lender on a small scale in Aventicum, where Vespasian lived for some time; his mother, Vespasia Polla, was the sister of a Senator.

Related Topics:
Sabine - Reate - Titus Flavius Sabinus - Equestrian - Customs - Asia - Aventicum - Vespasia Polla - Senator

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

After prompting from his mother, Vespasian followed his older brother, also called Titus Flavius Sabinus, into public life. He served in the army as a military tribune in Thrace in 36, and the following year was elected quaestor, serving in Crete and Cyrene. He rose through the ranks of Roman public office, being elected aedile at the second attempt in 39 and praetor at the first attempt in 40, taking the opportunity to ingratiate himself with the Emperor Caligula.

Related Topics:
Titus Flavius Sabinus - Tribune - Thrace - 36 - Quaestor - Crete - Cyrene - Aedile - 39 - Praetor - 40 - Caligula

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

In the meantime he had married Flavia Domitilla, the daughter of an equestrian from Ferentium, and they had two sons, Titus Flavius Vespasianus (b. 39) and Titus Flavius Domitianus (b. 51), and a daughter, Domitilla, who died in infancy. Flavia died before Vespasian became emperor; therafter his mistress, Caenis, was his wife in all but name until she died in 74.

Related Topics:
Flavia Domitilla - Ferentium - Titus Flavius Vespasianus - 39 - Titus Flavius Domitianus - 51 - Caenis - 74

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Upon the accession of Claudius as emperor in 41, Vespasian was appointed legate of the Legio II Augusta, stationed in Germania, thanks to the influence of the Imperial freedman Narcissus.

Related Topics:
Claudius - 41 - Legate - Legio II Augusta - Germania - Freedman - Narcissus

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Invasion of Britannia

In 43, Vespasian and the II Augusta participated in the Roman invasion of Britain, and he distinguished himself under the overall command of Aulus Plautius. After participating in crucial early battles on the rivers Medway and Thames, he was sent to reduce the southwest, penetrating to the borders of modern Somerset. He fought thirty battles, captured twenty oppida (towns, or more probably hillforts, one of them being Maiden Castle in Dorset), subdued two powerful nations and reduced Vectis (the Isle of Wight), earning a triumph on his return to Rome.

Related Topics:
43 - Roman invasion of Britain - Aulus Plautius - Medway - Thames - Somerset - Hillforts - Maiden Castle - Dorset - Isle of Wight - Triumph

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Continued political career

Vespasian was elected consul for the last two months of 51, after which he withdrew from public life. He came out of retirement in 63 when he was sent as governor to Africa, where, according to Tacitus (ii.97), his rule was "infamous and odious"; according to Suetonius (Vesp. 4), "upright and, highly honourable". On one occasion he was pelted with turnips. At this time he found himself in financial difficulties and was forced to mortgage his estates to his brother. To revive his fortunes he turned to the mule trade and gained the nickname mulio (mule-driver).

Related Topics:
Consul - 51 - 63 - Africa - Tacitus - Suetonius - Turnip - Mule

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Returning from Africa, Vespasian toured Greece in Nero's retinue, but lost Imperial favour after paying insufficient attention to the Emperor's recitals on the lyre, and found himself in the political wilderness.

Related Topics:
Greece - Nero - Lyre

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Great Jewish Revolt

However, in 66, Vespasian was appointed to conduct the war in Iudaea, which was threatening unrest throughout the East. A revolt there had killed the previous governor and routed Licinius Mucianus, the governor of Syria, when he tried to restore order. Vespasian was dispatched with two legions to add to the one already there. His elder son, Titus, served under him. During this time he became the patron of Flavius Josephus, a Jewish resistance leader turned Roman agent who would go on to write his people's history in Greek.

Related Topics:
66 - War - Iudaea - Licinius Mucianus - Syria - Titus - Flavius Josephus - Greek

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~