Vespasian was declared emperor by the Senate while he was in Egypt on 21 December 69; the Egyptians had declared him emperor in June. Unlike Galba, Otho and Vitellius, Vespasian would die of natural causes in 79 CE. Although he was raised by his paternal gr… Vespasian’s envoy, the orator and historian Mucianus, then took over and held the city awaiting Vespasian’s arrival, which happened in 70 AD. Web. Our latest articles delivered to your inbox, once a week: Numerous educational institutions recommend us, including Oxford University and Michigan State University and University of Missouri. He was 69 years old when he passed away. See Privacy and Cookies for details. Campus maps | More contact information | Jobs. To demonstrate his lack of hostility to Galba, Vespasian sent Titus to Rome in late 68 CE; however, when Galba was murdered and the throne was up for grabs between Otho (governor of Lusitania) and Vitellius (governor of Lower Germany), Titus returned to Judea. Vespasian died of natural causes at his villa in the Sabine hills. Get the best of Sporcle when you Go Orange.This ad-free experience offers more features, more stats, and more fun while also helping to support Sporcle. Wasson, Donald L. Written by Donald L. Wasson, published on 27 October 2012 under the following license: Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike. It was not a reformation in the sense of massive change, but in restoring its sense of imperial loyalty. Retrieved from https://www.ancient.eu/Vespasian/. Born 1852 and died 1936. 31 Dec 2020. Nero. Domitian (/ d ə ˈ m ɪ ʃ ən,-i ən /; Latin: Domitianus; 24 October 51 – 18 September 96) was Roman emperor from 81 to 96. Suetonius and Tacitus both commented on his one failing – avarice. Vespasian ruled for almost ten years, when he fell ill and died.Unlike many other emperors, he died because of natural causes. The future emperor married Flavia Domitilla who bore him three children: Titus, Domitian, and Domitilla (she died in infancy). Vespasian had achieved the position of emperor by virtue of being the last man standing in the short civil war that erupted following Nero’s suicide in June of 68 (the so-called Year of the Four Emperors). He struggled early in his career, including losing his first election to the aedileship, and later, when he governed Africa under Claudius, his honourable decision not to enrich himself at the expense of the province forced him to mortgage his property to his brother and fund himself by going into business as a muleteer, a decidedly lowly occupation for a man who would one day rule the Roman Empire. He and his sons, Titus and Domitian, formed what would become known as the Flavian Dynasty. Titus Flavius Vespasianus was born into “a family of little distinction” in the small town of Falacrina just north of Rome on November 17, 9 CE. Born: 15-Dec-37 AD Birthplace: Antium, Latium Died: 24-Jun-79 AD Location of death: Rome, Italy Cause of death: Natural It was hard that he should be called ‘miser’ for his pains.” To bring more money into the troubled Roman treasury, he doubled tributes from the provinces, charged fees from candidates for public offices, and sold pardons. Some Rights Reserved (2009-2020) under Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike license unless otherwise noted. But, on Claudius’s death in 54, Narcissus, whose power had been waning, was driven to suicide; and for a time Vespasian received no further appointment. Memorialize Vespasian's life with photos and stories about him and the Clark family history and genealogy. Traveling to Rome, Vespasian was finally enthroned December 26, 69 CE. Vespasian Clark's bio. After ruling the empire for a decade, Vespasian contracted an illness whilst traveling through Campania. Some rumours claim the emperor's death was not at all natural, but that he was killed by his younger brother Domitian with poisoned fish. Wasson, Donald L. That the relationship between Titus and Domitian was far from one of brotherly love cannot be disputed, but there is the age-old problem of biased sources, in this case very much to the detriment of Domitian. SUETONIUS Vol.II The Lives of the Caesars, II: Claudius. He fought in over thirty battles and captured at least twenty cities. Vespasian ruled for almost ten years, when he fell ill and died. Death. "Vespasian". Born: November 17, 9 Birthplace:, Italy Star Sign: Scorpio. Vespasian’s remedy was to increase existing taxes, revive old ones which had been abandoned by his predecessors, and impose new ones. Vespasian. Although part of Emperor Nero’s “inner circle,” he disappeared temporarily from public service after he supposedly fell asleep during one of Nero’s long and boring concerts. Unfortunately for Vespasian, while his fiscal policies made economic sense, they led to a reputation as something of a money-grubber, and to accusations that he would employ somewhat underhanded tactics to raise money, such as allowing people to buy their way out of trouble in court or to purchase magisterial and other offices. Last modified October 27, 2012. He had an older brother, also named Sabinus, who became a consul and governor. "Vespasian." Indeed, Suetonius tells us that Vespasian declared to the senate that either his sons would succeed him or no one would. Returning at once to Rome, he promptly set out for his usual summer retreat at the thermal springs at Aquae Cutiliae. After his wife’s death, he “married” his ex-mistress Caenis. Connect with The University of Nottingham through social media. When Otho committed suicide in order to prevent future loss of life at the First Battle of Bedriacum, Vitellius was named the new emperor. Vespasian died on June 23, 79, in Rieti, Italy.The cause of his death was illness and general poor health. You can change your cookie settings if you wish. After Vitellius’s loss to the army of the West at the Second Battle of Bedriacum, the soon-to-be-deposed emperor fled back to Rome planning to escape certain death;  compromise and peace were out of the question.  He now feared for his wife and children. AKA Caesar Vespasianus Augustus. Titus (/ ˈ t aɪ t ə s / TY-təs; Titus Caesar Vespasianus; 30 December 39 – 13 September 81 AD) was Roman emperor from 79 to 81. About 63 he obtained the proconsulate of Africa, where his extreme financial rigour made him so unpopular that on … Vespasian had occupied the imperial throne for almost ten years, and at his death it passed to his eldest son Titus, thus establishing the Flavian dynasty. Our site makes use of cookies. In addition to being a sensible ruler, Vespasian is also credited with being a humble and straightforward person. Alternatively, and in keeping with his tendency towards jocularity and self-deprecation, his final utterance was ‘oh dear, I think I’m becoming a god’, a wry reference to the ritual of deifying emperors after their deaths. Moreover, before the death, Vespasian declared to the senate that either his sons would succeed him or no one would. Wasson, D. L. (2012, October 27). Vespasian. Each event is accompanied by a photograph of an authentic ancient coin taken by the blogging team using equipment from the University's Digital Humanities Centre. Ancient History Encyclopedia. We are told that he was generally tolerant of criticism and jokes at his expense, choosing to respond in kind rather than attack the offender. In terms of his rule, the impression given of Vespasian by our sources is of a competent and level-headed administrator who identified the various problems with which the Roman state was struggling and implemented effective solutions. He was well liked (even demonstrating a sense of humour), and his reign was considered a time of peace and calm. OK This apparently was the first time that such a law was passed; a fragmentary copy of it is preserved on the Capitol in Rome. Ancient History Encyclopedia. In military and foreign affairs, Vespasian restored discipline in the army and standardized the structure of the empire by taking over the client kingdoms which still existed on the borders and converting them into full Roman provinces. After Vespasian arrived in Rome in mid-70, Mucianus continued to press Vespasian to collect as many taxes as possible. Upon the news of Otho’s death it was legions from Moesia whom had been reinforcing Otho that ultimately chose Vespasian as the next Emperor to be. His appeal was followed by Vespasian's official proclamation as Emperor in early July. One of his first acts was to restore  the morale of the army, discharging some and punishing others for what was termed ”indulging in excesses.” Next, he rebuilt many of the homes and buildings burned during the final days of Viterllius’s reign. Nevertheless, Vespasian managed to survive the death of Claudius and remained in favor with the new Emperor Nero. For example, a combination of Nero’s lavish expenditures and the effects of the civil war had left the empire’s finances in dire straits. Neither the younger nor the elder Pliny mention the names. Perhaps the most famous example from the latter category is his imposition of a tax on the use of public toilets. Mucianus started off Vespasian's rule with tax reform that was to restore the empire's finances. During the Great War, many of the white workers at Sloss Steel Foundry were sent to the front. In the process he established the Flavian dynasty as the legitimate successor to the Imperial throne. A member of the Flavian dynasty, Titus succeeded his father Vespasian upon his death.. Before becoming emperor, Titus gained renown as a military commander, serving under his father in Judea during the First Jewish–Roman War. In A.D. 66 Emperor Nero gave Vespasian military command to settle the revolt in Judaea. Vespasian worked alongside Jefferson Pinkard. Later, he served in Africa in the early 60’s CE where he suffered the disdain of the local population, often being pelted with turnips. Ancient History Encyclopedia Limited is a non-profit company registered in the United Kingdom. Cassius Dio wrote in his Roman History that “Vespasian was never inclined to be rash, and he hesitated very much about involving himself in such troublesome affairs.”. Vespasian’s position as emperor was predestined to be by the extreme motivation of the soldiers to pull together and support their preferred choice. Roman Emperor Vespasian, Ny Carlsberg Glyptotek. He was born on 17 November, AD 9 in the Sabine village of Falacrina, to a family of only local note, and it is said that his mother had to prod him into pursuing a senatorial career through sarcastic insults. 18mm, 2.79g, 6 o’clock. One night, after a short swim, he caught a chill and died on June 23, 79 CE; he was 69 years old.  His son Titus was named his successor but he would only serve two years and be followed by the ill-prepared Domitian. Cite This Work Related Content The wedding was never official because of her social standing as a slave. In the short-term, administration of the empire was given to Mucianus who was aided by Vespasian's son, Domitian. 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 chaotic year of the four emperors (Galba, Otho, Vitellius, and Vespasian). Titus Flavius Vespasianus was born into a family of little distinction in the small town of Falacrina just north of Rome on November 17, 9 CE. Much of the city, however, had already been pillaged and fires set throughout. On this day in AD 31 the Praetorian Prefect Sejanus was executed. Vespasian Introduction Titus Flavius Vespasianus (b. A.D. 9, d. A.D. 79, emperor A.D. 69-79) restored peace and stability to an empire in disarray following the death of Nero in A.D. 68. The Ancient History Encyclopedia logo is a registered EU trademark. Cassius Dio wrote, “One moment he was inclined to cling to the sovereignty and was making every preparation for war; the next moment he was ready to abdicate voluntarily and was making every preparation for returning to private life.” Vespasian’s army dragged Vitellius from his hiding place, tortured and killed him, and threw his body in the Tiber. Vespasian was born on 17 November 9 A.D., in the hamlet of Falacrina, just beyond Reiti; during the consulship of Quintus Sulpicius Camerinus and Gaius Poppaeus Sabinus, and five years before the death of Augustus. According to some sources his last words were ‘it is fitting that an emperor should die on his feet!’ pronounced after he felt sure his final moment had come and had struggled from his bed to die with dignity. Donald has taught Ancient, Medieval and U.S. History at Lincoln College (Normal, Illinois)and has always been and will always be a student of history, ever since learning about Alexander the Great. Although his later career was somewhat more successful – consul in 51, and tasked under Nero with putting down the Jewish rebellion – his unremarkable career and background seems to have encouraged Vespasian not to take himself too seriously or let his ego get the better of him, even as emperor. Vespasian was Roman emperor from 69 to 79 CE. Ancient History Encyclopedia, 27 Oct 2012. Vespasian received a Consulship at Rome in 51 AD during the reign of Claudius. Unfortunately, Vespasian to the post in Africa proved to be less than profitable. For only $5 per month you can become a member and support our mission to engage people with cultural heritage and to improve history education worldwide. Vespasian's reign began in December 69 CE and lasted until June of 79 CE. (After Vespasian, the legions would remain relatively loyal to the reigning emperor until the death of Commodus some 120 years later). It wasn’t long, however, before rumblings against Vitellius began to appear in the West. This blog, led by Will Leveritt, commemorates historical anniversaries from the Greek and Roman world through posts written by postgraduate and undergraduate students from the University of Nottingham. Pliny's dates are pinned to the eruption of Mount Vesuvius in AD 79 and a statement by his nephew that he died in his 56th year, which would put his birth in AD 23 or 24.. Pliny was the son of an equestrian Gaius Plinius Celer and his wife Marcella. The previous three had died either by murder or suicide. According to several historians, his last words were: “It is fitting that an emperor should die on his feet!” – he pronounced after he felt sure that his last moment came. Head of a statue of Vespasian, 70-80 AD, British Museum. Vespasian inscriptions from Mtskheta..jpg 1,161 × 1,010; 269 KB Great Jewish Revolt.png 800 × 994; 139 KB Herrenchiemsee Kloster - Kaisersaal 5 Kaiser.jpg 4,000 × 3,000; 6.7 MB Vespasian also expedited the reconstruction of Rome – which seems still to have been suffering from the lingering effects of both the Great Fire of 64 and of general neglect – by allowing anyone with the money and the inclination to buy land and build on it, if the current owners were found to be unwilling. Vespasian was the preferred choice among many in the army. Vespasian ruled for almost ten years, when he fell ill and died. (He) enjoyed perfect health and took no medical precautions for preserving it.” Although he was raised by his paternal grandmother, Tertulla, he was actually the son of Sabinus, a customs supervisor in Asia (who later died while a banker in Switzerland) and Vespasia Polla. Despite not coming from a noble family, Vespasian served as a colonel in Thrace (north of Greece) and a quaestor (financial official) on the island of Crete and in Cyrenaica (eastern Libya). On this day in AD362 Julian banned Christians from teaching using pagan literature, On this day in AD221 the emperor Elagabalus adopted Severus Alexander, This day in AD 357 marked Constantius II’s entry into Rome, On this day in 1775, in a packed meeting house in Boston, Massachusetts, Doctor Joseph Warren wore a toga, On this day in AD503 a group of monks got drunk. Vespasian was born in the Sabine country, in a small village beyond Reate, called Falacrina, on the evening of the fifteenth day before the Kalends of December, in the consulate of Quintus Sulpicius Camerinus and Gaius Poppaeus Sabinus, five years before the death of Augustus. This license lets others remix, tweak, and build upon this content non-commercially, as long as they credit the author and license their new creations under the identical terms. Before he did anything he would regret, Vespasian decided to wait until a winner was declared. Humility and Humour: Death of an Emperor and Vespasian’s Legacy. Cookies help us to give you the best experience on our website. Vespasian (d. 1943) was a Confederate Negro. License. The conflict came to an end in late December of 69, when Vespasian’s immediate predecessor, Vitellius, was murdered. He restored Roman prestige and recovered her shattered finances. The exception to this rule was Helvidius Priscus, a high profile member of the so-called Stoic opposition, a group of nobles who followed the Stoic philosophy, held republican views and set their faces against the imperial system. Ancient History Encyclopedia Foundation is a non-profit organization. Ancient Rome - Ancient Rome - The Flavian emperors: On Dec. 22, 69, the Senate conferred all the imperial powers upon Vespasian en bloc with the famous Lex de Imperio Vespasiani (“Law Regulating Vespasian’s authority”), and the Assembly ratified the Senate’s action. He is eager to pass knowledge on to his students. Vespasian impressed Pinkard with his skill and hard work. While visiting outside Rome, he contracted “undulant fever.” Upon returning home, he avoided proper care and travelled to his summer home in Reiti. Reign & Achievements. Thank you for becoming a member. After his death in 79, he was succeeded by his eldest son Titus, thus becoming the first Roman emperor to be succeeded by his own natural son and establishing the Flavian dynasty. Died: June 23, 79 (aged 69) Because Vespasian’s reign can be dated from the death of Vitellius on 22ndDecember 69 AD, Vespasian counts as the fourth emperor during the “Year of the Four Emperors”. With this growing animosity for Vitellius spreading to Rome, Vespasian acted quickly and sent troops to Italy to engage the new emperor, while he crossed Egypt and captured Alexandria, cutting off the grain supply to Rome. When his son Titus rebuked him for raising revenue from such an unseemly source, Vespasian is said by Suetonius to have held a coin from the first intake of the tax to Titus’ nose and asked him if its smell revolted him. He added the temple of Peace and the temple to the Deified Claudius. Although some felt him to be “crafty,” Vespasian proved to be an effective emperor. (He) enjoyed perfect health and took no medical precautions for preserving it. The historian Suetonius in his The Twelve Caesars would later describe him as square-shouldered, with strong, well-formed limbs, but always wore a strained expression on his face. 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