Vespasian Biography

Vespasian was the ninth emperor of Rome who founded the Flavian dynasty. Born in Rome to a relatively undistinguished family, Titus Flavius Caesar Vespasianus Augustus was the youngest son of his parents, most of whose early life was eclipsed by his elder brother’s achievements. Later, he served in the military for several years and subsequently became the legate of the second legion in the invasion of Britain in 43 AD. Upon achieving several other military successes, he rose in the senate to become consul and was appointed the proconsul of Africa, a decade later. Subsequently, Emperor Nero put him in charge of the subjugation of Judaea during the Jewish Revolt but when Nero committed suicide, Vespasian prepared his own bid for power. In the ‘Year of the Four Emperors’ during which the two emperors namely Galba and Otho perished in quick succession, the legions of Egypt, Judaea, and Syria voted for Vespasian, opposing Vitellius’ succession to the throne. After a major bloody battle between both the forces, Vespasian conquered Rome and Egypt and was declared Emperor by the Roman senate. During his ten-year reign, Vespasian worked towards restoring Rome's finances ruined during the civil war and reinstating discipline in the army after the civil wars. Upon his death, Vespasian became the first Roman Emperor to be directly succeeded by his own natural son, thus establishing the Flavian dynasty