# data[].attributes.body
Vespasian was a roman emperor between 69AD and 79AD.

He was the fourth and last emperor who reigned in the Year of the Four Emperors.

He founded the Flavian dynasty.

He was born in 9AD and died in 79AD.

Summary: Vespasian was the fourth and last emperor who reigned during the year of the four emperors. He was born in 9AD, his reign started his reign in 69AD and ended in 79AD when he died. His reign marked the start of the Flavian dynasty.

# data[].attributes.body
Vespasian was born into a relatively undistinguished family.

His father Titus Flavius Sabinus was a debt and tax collector and his mother belonged to the equestrian order of Roman society.

His older brother had entered politics and was awarded with military command.

Vespasian wished to follow in the footsteps of his older brother and was appointed to a military tribune in Thrace.

Summary: Vespasian was born into a relatively undistinguished family, his father Titus Flavius Sabinus was a debt and tax collector and his mother belonged to the equestrian order of Roman society.

His older brother had entered politics and was awarded with military command in the Danube region and Vespasian, wishing to follow in the footsteps of his older brother, was appointed to a military tribune in Thrace (now north of Greece).

# data[].attributes.body
Spouse - Flavia Domitilla (m. 39AD, d. 69AD)

Two boys - Titus Flavius Vespasianus and Titus Flavius Domitianus.

One girl – Domitilla (d. 69AD).

Summary: He married Flavia Domitilla in 39AD and had three children – two boys, named Titus Flavius Vespasianus (Titus), and Titus Flavius Domitianus (Domitian), and one girl named Domitilla. Domitilla and Flavia both died before 69AD.

# data[].attributes.body
Dynasty created by Vespasian when he became emperor.

Continued by his two sons.

After the Year of the Four Emperors.

Before the Nerva-Antonine dynasty.

Summary: The Flavian dynasty was created by Vespasian after the Year of the Four Emperors and was continued by his two sons. The Flavian dynasty was succeeded by the Nerva–Antonine dynasty.

# data[].attributes.headline
How did Vespasian rise in military power?

# data[].attributes.subject
How did Vespasian rise in military power?

# data[].attributes.body
In 41AD, Claudius became emperor after the former emperor, Caligula, was assassinated.

Vespasian was assigned as the commander of the Roman legion in Germania.

Vespasian was called to participate in the next major invasion of Britannia two years later.

His hard work was soon rewarded with the power to lead Roman forces into Britannia’s south-west.

Vespasian fought in thirty separate battles and captured almost twenty towns before his retirement from warfare in 50AD.

Summary: In 41AD, Claudius became emperor after the former emperor, Caligula, was assassinated and Vespasian was assigned as the commander of the Roman legion in Germania was called to participate in the next major invasion of Brittania two years later. His hard work was soon rewarded with the power to lead Roman forces into Brittania’s south-west. Vespasian fought in thirty separate battles and captured almost twenty towns before his retirement from warfare in 50AD.

# data[].attributes.headline
How did Vespasian’s political ranking increase?

# data[].attributes.subject
How did Vespasian’s political ranking increase?

# data[].attributes.body
Vespasian went back to Rome for a political career.

His positive reputation allowed him to serve as consul in Britannia until the role expired.

Then he went into temporary retirement because the current emperor Claudius’ wife (mother of to-be-emperor Nero), Agrippina, was gaining power and Vespasian was a friend of her enemies which made it unlikely for him to climb the political ladder any further.

When Claudius died in 54AD, his son Nero became emperor, and Vespasian didn’t try to return another political position for over a decade.

Summary: Vespasian went back to Rome in hope of a successful political career. His positive reputation allowed him to serve as consul in Britannia until the role expired, after which he went into temporary retirement as emperor Claudius’ wife (mother of to-be-emperor Nero), Agrippina, was gaining power and Vespasian was a friend of her enemies which made it unlikely for him to climb the political ladder any further. When Claudius died in 54AD, his son Nero became emperor, and Vespasian didn’t try to return another political position for over a decade.

# data[].attributes.body
Roman emperors were rulers of the entire Roman Empire.

# data[].attributes.body
Most Roman Emperors lacked common sense and spent more money than they had.

This often led to an increase in tax and unhappy citizens.

# data[].attributes.body
You had to either be the son of the current Emperor or have enough military power to overthrow the current emperor.

# data[].attributes.body
Augustus Caesar

Trajan

Hadrian

Marcus Aurelius

Constantine the Great

Vespasian

Nerva

These are some of the more effective emperors - they positively impacted the empire.

# data[].attributes.headline
If Vespasian couldn't increase his political ranking, how did he become emperor?

# data[].attributes.subject
If Vespasian couldn't increase his political ranking, how did he become emperor?

# data[].attributes.body
In 63AD, Vespasian was appointed the governor of Africa Proconsularis.

Instead of using his power to corrupt his own wealth, he chose to focus on limiting expenses whilst improving the tax system and infrastructure, which earned him the reputation of an effective administrator.

Vespasian had to mortgage his estates to his brother, in order to cover costs. People joked that Vespasian left, he was leaving poorer than when he arrived!

When Vespasian returned from Africa, he toured Greece with emperor Nero.

However during one of his performances, Vespasian accidently offended Nero and was forced into a state of hiding.

In 67AD, a revolt in Judaea had begun and Nero called upon his military experience. Vespasian greatly succeeded previous attempts to stop the revolt and had just the capital of Jerusalem left to capture.

Unfortunately, emperor Nero’s suicide and the end of the Julio-Claudian dynasty in 68AD forced planning of the siege to stop.

Summary: In 63AD, Vespasian was appointed the governor of Africa Proconsularis. Instead of his power to corrupt his own wealth, he chose to focus on limiting expenses whilst improving the tax system and infrastructure. He earned the reputation of an effective administrator. Even though it made him in debt.

When Vespasian returned from Africa, he toured Greece with emperor Nero, and was forced into a state of hiding when he accidently offended Nero. Later, in 67AD, a revolt in Judaea had begun and Nero called upon Vespasian's military experience. He succeeded previous attempts to stop the revolt only had just the capital of Jerusalem left to capture. Emperor Nero’s suicide and the end of the Julio-Claudian dynasty in 68AD forced the siege to stop.

# data[].attributes.headline
What did Vespasian do after hearing about Nero's death?

# data[].attributes.subject
What did Vespasian do after hearing about Nero's death?

# data[].attributes.body
First, Vespasian declared himself loyal to Galba, Nero's first replacement then stayed quiet.

To his loyalty to Galba, Vespasian sent his son Titus to Rome, whilst Titus was still on his way there, Galba had already been murdered (69AD) and a new general named Otho was now emperor.

Just before Titus left to go report back to Vespasian in Judaea, about the changing politics in Rome, Otho was overthrown by Vitellius, the governor of Germany, just six months after the start of Otho’s reign. (the Year of the Four Emperors).

When Titus did return back, Vespasian heard the news and decided to advance to Rome himself with his army and take power. He left the siege of Jerusalem in Titus’s capable hands.

Summary: When Vespasian heard of the news, he declared himself loyal to Nero’s first replacement, Galba, then stayed quiet. To show his loyalty to Galba, he sent his son Titus to Rome, however, whilst Titus was still on his way there, Galba had already been murdered (69AD) and a new general named Otho was now emperor. Just before Titus left to go report back to Vespasian in Judaea of the changing politics in the capital, Otho was overthrown by Vitellius, the governor of Germany, just six months after the start of Otho’s reign. (This time period is called the Year of the Four Emperors). When Titus did return back to Vespasian, Vespasian heard the news and decided to advance to Rome himself with his army and take power. He left the siege of Jerusalem in my son Titus’s capable hands.

# data[].attributes.headline
Vespasian overthrew Vitellius. What was the plan?

# data[].attributes.subject
Vespasian overthrew Vitellius. What was the plan?

# data[].attributes.body
Vespasian met Tiberius Julius Alexander and Gaius Licinius Mucianus in Rome.

They all wanted to overthrow Vitellius.

They created a plan to start the Flavian dynasty and overthrow Vitellius.

Vespasian would be the leader, since Alexander and Mucianius were not fit fo rule.

When Vespasian got to Rome, Tiberius Julius Alexander and Gaius Licinius Mucianus met him, and they all had to intention to overthrow Vitellius. They formulated a plan to start the Flavian dynasty and overthrow Vitellius. Vespasian would be the leader of the dynasty since he already had two male heirs while Alexander was Jewish and Mucianus had no sons.

# data[].attributes.body
The plan started on 1 July 69AD, when Alexander and Mucianus ordered their troops to swear loyalty to Vespasian. The contingent of legions bordering the Danube River also swore to join my army. Mucianus and his 20,000 soldiers started the march towards Rome while Alexander and Vespasian moved to Egypt to control grain supplies.

Before Mucianus arrived in Rome, the Danubian legions in Pannonia and Illyricum had already started an attack on Vitellius, planned by Antonius Primus and Cornelius Fuscus. They easily defeated Vitellius’ army and dragged Vitellius from the imperial palace, executed him, and threw his body into the Tiber River. They took control of Rome on behalf of me until Mucianus arrived shortly after.

# data[].attributes.body
In December of 69AD, Vespasian became emperor and established the Flavian dynasty. His first task as emperor was to stabilise the empire after the chaos created by the Year of the Four Emperors. Vespasian reformed and raised taxes, reclaimed public land, and raised money.

# data[].attributes.body
The most obvious form of Vespasian's legacy is the Colosseum. Designed by Vespasian and completed by his son Titus, the colosseum is one of many public works projects Vespasian created such as theatres and temples. Then he reformed the army. Vespasian kept most of the positions the same but removed anyone still loyal to Vitellius.

# data[].attributes.body
Overall, even though Vespasian was still a military dictator with a violent past, he legitimized himself and his dynasty by offering Rome a stable, peaceful future. He was one of few emperors to have common sense and an earthy humor.

# data[].attributes.body
Vespasian died in 79AD, of fever from diarrhea at the age of sixty-nine. The Flavian dynasty ended after his last son Domitian was assassinated.

# data[].attributes.body
Dawn ≈ 5am: Wakes up immediately after dawn and dresses for the day. He eats a small serving of bread and water.

Early morning ≈ 5:30am – 7am: The emperor would check on staff of his residence and ensure things were running smoothly.

Morning ≈ 7am – 8am: The emperor will talk to a group of advisors about administration and new issues. The group was usually consisted of:

A high-ranking senator, a current or previous Consul for a prediction of voting in the senate.

Military personnel for information of the empires security.

Diplomats for advice on diplomatic matters.

Morning ≈ 8am – 12am:  The emperor would go to the senate to discuss business and government. An important topic could take a couple hours, a quick check-in might only take 15 minutes. Some emperors didn’t stay for long either way, and disregarded any issues of their responsibility.

Noon ≈ 12am – 2pm: Romans of all social status and age, including the emperor would head to a bath and have lunch (emperors would most likely have a private bath ). The baths were a place to socialise and eat while taking a break from busy work and chaos.

Afternoon ≈ 2pm – 4pm: The emperor would return back to his residence to discuss any missed or new information with his advisors before heading to dinner. There weren't any streetlights and roads weren’t in easy to predict grids. The chance of getting lost and robbed was extremely high so you had to move in the day.

Late Afternoon ≈ 4pm – 8pm: Romans usually ate with new people each night, and powerful people like emperors would be invited to everywhere by everyone. Some emperors chose to accept the invitations, but most just dined with friends and family at their own estate.

Night ≈ 4pm – 8pm: As Romans had to get up early at dawn each day, going to bed early was a necessity.