Vespasian - Roman Emperor 69-79
A.D. Biography & Dealer to Buy Old Authentic Ancient Silver Roman Coins
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Vespasian - Roman Emperor: 69-79 A.D. -
Silver Denarius 20mm (3.27 grams) Struck circa 69-79 A.D.
Reference: RIC 124b, C 223
IMPCAESARVESPASIANVSAVG - Laureate head left.
IOVISCVSTOS - Jupiter standing left, sacrificing over altar and holding
scepter. Titus Flavius Vespasianus, known in English as
Vespasian (November
17
9AD
June 23
79AD), was a
Roman Emperor who reigned from 69 AD
until his death in 79 AD. Vespasian was the founder of the short-lived
Flavian dynasty, which ruled the
Roman Empire between 69 AD and 96 AD He
was succeeded by his sons
Titus (7981) and
Domitian (8196).
Vespasian descended from a family of
equestrians which rose into the
senatorial rank under the emperors of
the
Julio-Claudian dynasty. Although he
attained the
standard succession of public offices,
holding the
consulship in 51, Vespasian became more
reputed as a successful military commander, partaking in the
Roman invasion of Britain in 43, and
subjugating the
Judaea province during the
Jewish rebellion of 66. While Vespasian
was preparing to besiege the city of
Jerusalem during the latter campaign,
emperor
Nero committed suicide, plunging the
Roman Empire into a year of
civil war known as the
Year of the Four Emperors. After
Galba and
Otho perished in quick succession,
Vitellius became emperor in mid 69. In
response, the armies in
Egypt and Judaea themselves declared
Vespasian emperor on
July 1. In his bid for imperial power,
Vespasian joined forces with
Gaius Licinius Mucianus, the governor
of
Syria, who led the Flavian forces
against Vitellius, while Vespasian himself gained control over Egypt. On
December 20, Vitellius was
defeated, and the following day, Vespasian was declared emperor by the
Roman Senate.
Little factual information survives about Vespasian's
government during the ten years he was emperor. His reign is best known
for financial reforms following the demise of the Julio-Claudian
dynasty, the successful campaign against Judaea, and several ambitious
construction projects such as the
Colosseum. Upon his death on
June 23,
79, he was succeeded by his
eldest son Titus.
Family
and early career
Vespasian was born in
Falacrina, in the
Sabine country near Reate. His father,
Titus Flavius Sabinus, was an
equestrian who worked as a
customs official in the province of
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.
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. The following year he was
elected
quaestor and served in
Crete and
Cyrene. He rose through the ranks of
Roman public office, being elected
aedile on his second attempt in 39 and
praetor on his first attempt in 40,
taking the opportunity to ingratiate himself with the Emperor
Caligula.
In the meantime, he married
Domitilla the Elder, the daughter of an
equestrian from Ferentium. They had two sons,
Titus Flavius Vespasianus (b. 41) and
Titus Flavius Domitianus (b. 51), and a
daughter,
Domitilla (b. 39). Domitilla died
before Vespasian became emperor. Thereafter his mistress,
Caenis, was his wife in all but name
until she died in 74.
Upon the accession of
Claudius as emperor in 41, Vespasian
was appointed
legate of
Legio II Augusta,
stationed in
Germania, thanks to the influence of
the Imperial
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 south
west, penetrating through the modern counties of
Hampshire,
Wiltshire,
Dorset,
Somerset,
Devon and
Cornwall with the probable objectives
of securing the south coast ports and harbours along with the tin mines
of Cornwall and the silver and lead mines of Somerset.
Vespasian marched from
Noviomagus Reginorum (Chichester)
to subdue the hostile
Durotriges and
Dumnonii tribes
[1], captured twenty oppida
(towns, or more probably
hill forts, including
Hod Hill and
Maiden Castle in
Dorset). He also invaded
Vectis (the
Isle of Wight), finally setting up a
fortress and legionary headquarters at
Isca Dumnoniorum (Exeter).
These successes earned him triumphal regalia (ornamenta triumphalia)
on his return to Rome.
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 Province. According to
Tacitus (ii.97), his rule was "infamous
and odious" but according to
Suetonius (Vesp. 4), he was
"upright and, highly honourable". On one occasion he was pelted with
turnips. Vespasian used his time in
North Africa wisely. Usually governorships were seen by ex-consuls as
opportunities to extort huge amounts of money to regain their wealth
that they had spent on their previous political campaigns. Corruption
was so rife, that it was almost expected that a governor would come back
from these appointments with his pockets full. However, Vespasian used
his time in North Africa making friends instead of money; something that
would be far more valuable in the years to come. During his time in
North Africa, 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).
Returning from Africa, Vespasian toured
Greece in
Nero's retinue, but lost Imperial
favour after paying insufficient attention (some sources suggest he fell
asleep) during one of the Emperor's recitals on the
lyre, and found himself in the
political wilderness.
Great
Jewish Revolt
However, in 66, Vespasian was appointed to conduct
the
war in
Judea. A revolt there had killed the
previous governor and routed
Licinius Mucianus, the governor of
Syria, when he tried to restore order.
Two legions, with eight cavalry squadrons and 10 auxiliary cohorts, were
therefore dispatched under the command of Vespasian to add to the one
already there. His elder son, Titus, served on his staff. 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. In the end, thousands of Jews
were killed and many towns destroyed by the Romans, who successfully
re-established control over Judea. They took Jerusalem in
70. He is remembered by Jews as a fair
and humane official, in contrast to the notorious
Herod the Great.
Josephus wrote that after the Roman
Legio X Fretensis accompanied by
Vespasian destroyed Jericho on
June 21,
68, he took a group of Jews who
could not swim (possibly
Essenes from
Qumran), fettered them, and threw them
into the
Dead Sea to test its legendary
buoyancy. Sure enough, the Jews shot
back up after being thrown in from boats and floated calmly on top of
the sea.
Year
of Four Emperors
After the death of Nero in 68, Rome saw a succession
of short-lived emperors and a year of
civil wars.
Galba was murdered by
Otho, who was defeated by
Vitellius. Otho's supporters, looking
for another candidate to support, settled on Vespasian.
According to Suetonius, a prophecy ubiquitous in the
Eastern provinces claimed that from Judaea would come the future rulers
of the world. Vespasian eventually believed that this prophecy applied
to him, and found a number of
omens,
oracles, and
portents that reinforced this belief .
He also found encouragement in Mucianus, the governor
of Syria; and, although Vespasian was a strict disciplinarian and
reformer of abuses, Vespasian's soldiers were thoroughly devoted to him.
All eyes in the East were now upon him. Mucianus and the Syrian legions
were eager to support him. While he was at
Caesarea, he was proclaimed emperor (July
1,
69), first by the army in
Egypt under
Tiberius Julius Alexander, and then by
his troops in Judaea (July 11 according to Suetonius, July 3 according
to Tacitus).
Nevertheless,
Vitellius, the occupant of the throne,
had Rome's best troops on his side the veteran legions of
Gaul and the
Rhineland. But the feeling in
Vespasian's favour quickly gathered strength, and the armies of
Moesia,
Pannonia, and
Illyricum soon declared for him, and
made him the de facto master of half of the Roman world.
While Vespasian himself was in Egypt securing its
grain supply, his troops entered Italy
from the northeast under the leadership of
M. Antonius Primus. They defeated
Vitellius's army (which had awaited him in
Mevania) at
Bedriacum (or Betriacum), sacked
Cremona and advanced on Rome. They
entered Rome after furious fighting. In the resulting confusion, the
Capitol was destroyed by fire and Vespasian's brother Sabinus was killed
by a mob.
On receiving the tidings of his rival's defeat and
death at
Alexandria, the new emperor at once
forwarded supplies of urgently needed grain to Rome, along with an edict
or a declaration of policy, in which he gave assurance of an entire
reversal of the laws of Nero, especially those relating to
treason. While in Egypt he visited the
Temple of
Serapis, where reportedly he
experienced a
vision. Later he was confronted by two
labourers who were convinced that he possessed a divine power that could
work
miracles.
Vespasian
as emperor
Aftermath
of the civil war
Vespasian was declared emperor by the Senate while he
was in Egypt in December of 69 (the Egyptians had declared him emperor
in June of 69). In the short-term, administration of the empire was
given to
Mucianus who was aided by Vespasian's
son,
Domitian. Mucianus started off
Vespasian's rule with tax reform that was to restore the empire's
finances. After Vespasian arrived in Rome in mid-70, Mucianus continued
to press Vespasian to collect as many taxes as possible.
Vespasian and Mucianus renewed old taxes and
instituted new ones, increased the tribute of the provinces, and kept a
watchful eye upon the treasury officials. The Latin
proverb "Pecunia
non olet" ("Money does not smell") may have been created when
he had introduced a
urine tax on public toilets. By his own
example of simplicity of life he caused something of a scandal when it
was made known he took his own boots off he initiated a marked
improvement in the general tone of society in many respects.
In early 70, Vespasian was still in Egypt, the source
of Rome's grain supply, and had not yet left for Rome. According to
Tacitus, his trip was delayed due to
bad weather. Modern historians theorize that Vespasian had been and was
continuing to consolidate support from the Egyptians before departing.
Stories of a divine Vespasian healing people circulated in Egypt. During
this period, protests erupted in Alexandria over his new tax policies
and grain shipments were held up. Vespasian eventually restored order
and grain shipments to Rome resumed.
In addition to the uprising in Egypt, unrest and
civil war continued in the rest of the empire in 70. In Judea, rebellion
had continued from 66. Vespasian's son,
Titus, finally subdued the rebellion
with the capture of Jerusalem and destruction of the
Jewish Temple in 70. According to
Eusebius, Vespasian then ordered all
descendants of the royal line of
David to be hunted down, causing the
Jews to be persecuted from province to province. Several modern
historians have suggested that Vespasian, already having been told by
Josephus that he was prophesied to become emperor whilst in Judaea, was
probably reacting to other widely-known Messianic prophecies circulating
at the time, to suppress any rival claimants arising from that dynasty.
In January of the same year, an uprising occurred in
Gaul and Germany, known as the second
Batavian Rebellion. This rebellion was
headed by
Gaius Julius Civilis and
Julius Sabinus. Sabinus, claiming he
was descended from
Julius Caesar, declared himself emperor
of Gaul. The rebellion defeated and absorbed two Roman legions before it
was suppressed by Vespasian's brother-in-law,
Quintus Petillius Cerialis, by the end
of 70.
Arrival
in Rome and gathering support
In mid-70, Vespasian first came to Rome. Vespasian
immediately embarked on a series of efforts to stay in power and prevent
future revolts. He offered gifts to many in the military and much of the
public. Soldiers loyal to Vitellius were dismissed or punished. He also
restructured the Senatorial and Equestrian orders, removing his enemies
and adding his allies. Regional autonomy of Greek provinces was
repealed. Additionally, he made significant attempts to control public
perception of his rule.
Propaganda
campaign
Many modern historians note the increased amount of
propaganda that appeared during Vespasian's reign. Stories of a
supernatural emperor who was destined to rule circulated in the empire.
Nearly one-third of all coins minted in Rome under Vespasian celebrated
military victory or peace. The word vindex was removed from coins
so as not to remind the public of rebellious
Vindex. Construction projects bore
inscriptions praising Vespasian and condemning previous emperors. A
temple of peace was constructed in the forum as well. Vespasian approved
histories written under his reign, ensuring biases against him were
removed.
Vespasian also gave financial rewards to ancient
writers. The ancient historians who lived through the period such as
Tacitus,
Suetonius,
Josephus and
Pliny the Elder speak suspiciously well
of Vespasian while condemning the emperors who came before him. Tacitus
admits that his status was elevated by Vespasian, Josephus identifies
Vespasian as a patron and savior, and Pliny dedicated his Natural
Histories to Vespasian, Titus.
Those who spoke against Vespasian were punished. A
number of stoic philosophers were accused of corrupting students with
inappropriate teachings and were expelled from Rome.
Helvidius Priscus, a pro-republic
philosopher, was executed for his teachings.
Construction
and conspiracies
Construction of the Flavian Amphitheatre,
better known as the
Colosseum, was begun by
Vespasian, and ultimately finished by his son Titus.
Between 71 and 79, much of Vespasian's reign is a
mystery. Historians report that Vespasian ordered the construction of
several buildings in Rome. Additionally, he survived several
conspiracies against him.
Vespasian helped rebuild Rome after the civil war. He
added the temple of Peace and the temple to the Deified Claudius. In 75,
he erected a colossal statue of
Apollo, begun under
Nero, and he dedicated a stage of the
theater of Marcellus. He also began construction of the Colosseum.
Suetonius claims that Vespasian was met with
"constant conspiracies" against him. Only one conspiracy is known
specifically, though. In 78 or 79, Eprius Marcellus and
Aulus Caecina Alienus attempted to kill
Vespasian. Why these men turned against Vespasian is not known.
Military
pursuits and death
In 78,
Agricola was sent to
Britain, and both extended and
consolidated the Roman dominion in that province, pushing his way into
what is now
Scotland. On June 23 of the following
year, Vespasian was on his deathbed and expiring rapidly, he demanded
that he be helped to stand as he believed "An emperor should die on his
feet". He died of an intestinal inflammation which led to excessive
diarrhea. His purported great wit can
be glimpsed from his last words; Vζ, puto deus fio, "Damn. I am
already
becoming a god!"
Views
on Vespasian
Vespasian was known for his wit and his amiable
manner alongside his commanding persona and military prowess. He could
be liberal to impoverished Senators and equestrians and to cities and
towns desolated by natural calamity. He was especially generous to men
of letters and
rhetors, several of whom he pensioned
with salaries of as much as 1,000 gold pieces a year.
Quintilian is said to have been the
first public teacher who enjoyed this imperial favor.
Pliny the Elder's work, the
Natural History, was written during
Vespasian's reign, and dedicated to Vespasian's son Titus.
Vespasian distrusted philosophers in general, viewing
them as unmanly complainers who talked too much. It was the idle talk of
philosophers, who liked to glorify the good times of the
Republic, that provoked Vespasian into
reviving the obsolete penal laws against this profession as a
precautionary measure. Only one however,
Helvidius Priscus, was put to death,
and he had repeatedly affronted the Emperor by studied insults which
Vespasian had initially tried to ignore, "I will not kill a dog that
barks at me," were his words on discovering Priscus's public slander.
Vespasian was indeed noted for mildness when dealing
with political opposition. According to Suetonius, he bore the frank
language of his friends, the quips of pleaders, and the impudence of the
philosophers with the greatest patience. Though Licinius Mucianus, a man
of notorious unchastity, presumed upon his services to treat Vespasian
with scant respect, he never had the heart to criticize him except
privately and then only to the extent of adding to a complaint made to a
common friend, the significant words: "I at least, am a man." He was
also noted for his benefactions to the people, much money was spent on
public works and the restoration and beautification of Rome: a new
forum, the Temple of Peace, the public baths and the great show piece,
the
Colosseum.
In the modern
Italian language, the urinals are
called "vespasiano", probably in reference to a tax the emperor placed
on urine collection (useful due to its ammoniac content; see
Pay toilet).
In
later literature
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