Chapters
| Name | Titus Flavius Vespasianus |
|---|---|
| Ruled as | |
| Reign | 1 July 69 – 23 June 79 CE |
| Born | 17 November 9 CE |
| Died | 23 June 79 CE |
Vespasian was born on November 17, 9 CE in Falacrinae (northeast of Rome) as Titus Flavius Vespasianus. He was the son of Titus Flavius Sabinus (I) and Vespasia Polla and the younger brother of Titus Flavius Sabinus (II).
Background and career
Paternal grandfather – Titus Flavius Petro – fought at Pharsalus in 48 BCE in Pompey, as a centurion. Vespasian’s father was a tax collector (the so-called fortieth tax – quadragesima, which was a port tax) in Asia. In those cities, he has been even erected monuments with the signature “Reliable collector”. Later he dealt with interest loans in the Helvetian country (present-day Switzerland), where he died. He also had a daughter who died once she was less than one year old.
Vespasian’s maternal grandfather became camp prefect and her brother became a senator.
Vespasian was from the equine layer; So he had no guaranteed offices or property. He had to work hard for his position and at every step, he had to prove that he was worthy of high positions. Interestingly, Suetonius gives a parable that in the Flavian family there appeared a sign about the destiny of the three children of Flavius Sabinus and Vespasia:
On the suburban estate of the Flavii an old oak tree, which was sacred to Mars, on each of the three occasions when Vespasia was delivered suddenly put forth a branch from its trunk, obvious indications of the destiny of each child. The first was slender and quickly withered, and so too the girl that was born died within the year; the second was very strong and long and portended great success, but the third was the image of a tree. Therefore their father Sabinus, so they say, being further encouraged by an inspection of victims, announced to his mother that a grandson had been born to her would be a Caesar. But she only laughed, marvelling that her son should already be in his dotage, while she was still of strong mind.
– Suetonius, Vespasian, 5
Vespasian began his career as a military tribune and quaestor. He earned his credit in the invasion of Britain for the reign of Claudius (final phase – 1940s I century CE), which was remembered and opened the way for him to the office of consul in CE 51. After his term in office, he became governor of Africa. Neroentrusted him with a very difficult task. He was about to end the the uprising in Judea which had lasted from 66 CE. In 68 CE he re-conquered all of Judea except Jerusalem. Jerusalem was not conquered by his son until his reign in CE 70. From the moment of the conquest of Judea, a Roman legion would always be stationed in the province, and Judea itself became the new Roman province.
Vespasian’s wife was Domitilla the Elder, with whom he had 3 children: Titus, Domitian and Domitilla the Younger. His wife was the daughter of Flavius Liberalis, a quaestor scribe from Ferentium. Originally she was the official mistress of one of the African princes, and then around 38 CE she became the wife of Vespasian.
Year of the Four Emperors
After expiration, with the death of the Nero (June 9, 68),