Vespasian: And The Year of The Four Emperors

Vespasian, was a man of low birth (his father had been a debt collector) who had had to work hard all his life just to gain a modicum of respectability. Like many men of his background his preferred choice of career was the army. He rose quickly through its ranks and made a reputation for himself in AD 41 as the Commander of a Legion during the Emperor Claudius’s campaign in Britain. He also acquired a foothold on the political ladder when he was made a Quaestor, in charge of street cleaning.

His military success finally earned him a Consulship in AD 51 but not long after he fell out with Claudius’s new wife, Agrippina, and was effectively retired. An attempted return to prominence faltered when he fell asleep during one of the new Emperor Nero’s interminable recitals. He’d had a distinguished career for a man of his background but it had hardly been glorious.

In AD 66, the Roman Province of Judea rose in revolt. The Emperor Nero appointed Vespasian to suppress it, and he relished the opportunity. Accompanied by his son Titus he was thorough and ruthless. On 21 June, AD 68, he destroyed the town of Jericho and advanced on Jerusalem.

Vespasian was a humane man who always treated his troops well and ensured that they were well rewarded for their endeavours, they in their turn were devoted to him. He was thoughtful and cautious and rarely acted without giving due consideration to the possible consequences of his actions. When the news of events in Rome reached him he was uncertain what to do. Once his Legions declared him Emperor on 3 July, however, he grasped the opportunity that he knew might never come again.  He departed to Egypt to secure the grain supply that would guarantee the support of the Roman populace whilst his General Marcus Antonius Primus advanced with his Legions on Rome.  

Vitellius was at first unperturbed by the threat posed by Vespasian. His reputation was not such as to send shivers down the spine. He would deal with him when he had to. On 24 October, the two armies met at the Second Battle of Bedriacum and Vitellius went down to defeat. He retreated back to Rome where he opened negotiations to abdicate the Imperial Purple in favour of Vespasian.

Vespasian was at this time still in the Eastern Provinces. Jerusalem had not yet been taken and he handed the task of doing so to his son, Titus. He now set off for Rome. Vitellius, in the meantime, had agreed to abdicate. He was on his way to deposit his insignia as Emperor in the Temple of Concorde when he was intercepted by soldiers of the Praetorian Guard and forced to return to the Palace. Later that day they returned to murder him. He was dragged from his hiding place in a cupboard and taken to the Germonian Steps where he was stabbed to death and beheaded. His corpse was tossed into the River Tiber.

The Year of the Four Emperor’s had been a brief but remarkable period in Roman history. It had seen the end of one dynasty and the establishment of another, and under its new 59 year old Emperor Vespasian it began to settle down. Though he was never entirely accepted and conspiracies would continue throughout his 10 year reign. As such, he embarked upon a massive and continuous campaign of propaganda. He also established a programme of public works intended to guarantee full-employment, including the beggining of the construction of the Colosseum. He was also an able administrator, re-established the pre-eminence of the law, and bought under control the public finances. He died on 23 June, AD 79. It was said that he had insisted on being raised up at the moment of death, because an Emperor should always die on his feet. He was succeeded as Emperor by his son, Titus.