Vespasianus

Imperator Vespasianus – Caesar Augustus (69-79)

Born: 17/11/9AD Titus Flavius Vespasianus. In hamlet of Falacrina, just beyond Reate, in Sabine hill-country NE of Rome Father: Flavius Sabinus. Mother: Vespasia Polla. Emperor: 01/07/69AD Imp. Titus Flavius Vespasianus Caesar (proclaimed emperor by eastern legions at Alexandria). Died: 23/06/79AD of diarrhoea, at his summer retreat at Aquae Cutiliae near Reate.

History of Vespasianus:

  • 9/11/17AD born in hamlet of Falacrina, just beyond Reate, in Sabine hill-country NE of Rome. His parents, Flavius Sabinus and Vespasia Polla.
  • 10-20AD (ish) his childhood was spent under the care of his paternal grandmother, Tertulla, on her estates at Cosa. [Suet. Ves. II.1]
  • 29AD (ish) served as tribune of the soldiers (Tribunus Laticlavius) in Thrace. [Suet. Ves. II.3]
  • 34AD? as Quaestor assigned by lot to the province of Crete & Cyrene. [Suet. Ves. II.3]
  • 37AD defeated in his first attempt at the Aedileship. [Suet. Ves. II.3]
  • 38AD? married 1st wife, Flavia Domitilla I, former mistress of Statilius Capella, a Roman knight from Sabrata in Africa. Originally only of Latin rights, but later declared a freeborn citizen of Rome in a case before arbiters, brought by her father Flavius Liberalis, a quaestor’s clerk from Ferentum. [Suet. Ves. III.1]
  • 38AD scraped in sixth place in his second attempt for the Aedileship. [Suet. Ves. II.3] While walking in the city in the company of Caligula, was taken to task by the young emperor, disappointed with the state of the roads, who ordered that Vespasian, whose job it was as Aedile to keep the steets of Rome clean, be covered in mud by the soldiers accompanying the imperial party. [Suet. Ves. V.3]
  • 39AD canvassed for Praetor and polled among the foremost. Asked that special games be held to celebrate the uncovering of the conspiracy of Lepidus and Gaetulicus in Germany, also recommending that their bodies be cast out unburied. He later thanked Caligula before the House for deigning to invite him to the palace for dinner. [Suet. Ves. V.3]
  • 39AD (early?) daughter, Flavia Domitilla II born; she died within the year. [Suet. Ves. V.2]
  • 39/12/30AD son Titus Flavius born
  • 42AD appointed Legatus Legionis of Legio II Augusta in Germany, through the influence of Narcissus. [Suet. Ves. IV.1]
  • 43AD (to 47) legatus legionis of Legio II Augusta in conquest of Britain; “where he fought thirty battles with the enemy. He reduced to subjection two powerful nations, more than twenty towns, and the island of Vectis…” [Suet. Ves. IV.1]
  • 43AD received the triumphal regalia and appeared in the Triumph of Claudius. [Suet. Clau. XVII.3; Ves. IV.2]
  • 47ADc received two priesthoods. [Suet. Ves. IV.2]
  • 51/10/24AD son Titus Flavius Domitianus born.
  • 51AD consul I for the last two months of the year. [Suet. Ves. IV.2]
  • 51AD (to 63) spends his time in retirement, through fear of Agrippina who was persecuting the friends of Narcissus through her son Nero. [Suet. Ves. IV.2]
  • 61AD his son Titus serves as military tribune.
  • 63AD sent as proconsular governor to Africa by lot, where he governed “with great justice and high honour”. [Suet. Ves. IV.3]
  • 63AD? In a riot at Hadrumetum he was pelted with turnips.
  • 65AD Titus divorces Marcia Furnilla after Pisonian conspiracy
  • c.66AD as a companion of Nero during his tour of Greece, Vespasian incurred the emperor’s dipleasure by consistently either leaving the auditorium or falling asleep during the emperor’s recitals. For this he was banished not only from Nero’s immediate company, but also from any of his public appearances. Following this, he once more withdrew from public life “to a little out-of-the-way town.” [Suet. Ves. IV.4]
  • 67AD following the revolt in Judaea during which the governor was killed and the consular governor of Syria was routed and one of his eagles lost when he tried to lend assistance, it became necessary to send a considerable force to regain control of the province. Vespasian was chosen for two main reasons, firstly his considerable military experience and secondly his obscure family background, which Nero believed would keep him from seeking the purple himself; ‘for no-one would presume to be emperor who was born of such lowly circumstances?’. [Suet. Ves. IV.5]
  • 69/07/01AD proclaimed emperor by eastern legions at Alexandria, becomes: Imp. Titus Flavius Vespasianus Caesar
  • 01/07/69AD Vespasian imperator I; Titus takes name, Titus Caesar Vespasianus
  • 69AD (Aug.) Imp. Caesar Vespasianus Augustus
  • 20/12/69AD Vespasian recognised by senate
  • 69AD Vespasian winters at Alexandria
  • 70AD Vespasian consul II imperator II-V; takes titles ‘Pontifex Maximus’ and ‘Pater Patriae’; Titus Consul I
  • 26/09/70AD Titus takes Jerusalem; Hailed imperator I
  • 70AD (Oct.) Vespasian arrives at Rome
  • 71AD Vespasian consul III; imperator VI-VIII
  • 71AD Vespasian begins Forum of Peace at Rome
  • 72AD Vespasian consul IV imperator IX-X; Titus consul II
  • 72AD kingdom of Commagene annexed
  • 73AD Vespasian imperator XI
  • 74AD Vespasian consul V imperator XII-XIV; Titus consul III
  • 74AD (spring) fall of Masada ends Jewish War
  • 75AD Vespasian consul VI, Titus consul IV
  • 75AD Forum of Peace dedicated; Colosseum begun
  • 75AD (Jun.) Vespasian and Titus share Jewish triumph.
  • 76AD Vespasian consul VII imperator XV-XVIII; Titus consul V
  • 77AD Vespasian consul VIII imperator XIX; Titus consul VI
  • 78AD Vespasian imperator XX
  • 79AD Vespasian consul IX; Titus consul VII
  • 79/06/23AD Vespasian dies of diarrhoea at his summer retreat at Aquae Cutiliae near Reate, uttering the immortal words ‘Oh dear! I think I’m becoming a god.’