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Vespasian

Type Figure Region Italy Time 9–79 Also known as Vespasian、Titus Flavius Vespasianus、维斯帕先、弗拉维王朝开国皇帝

Vespasian (9–79 CE) founded the Flavian dynasty, suppressing the Jewish revolt in Judaea and winning the civil war of 69 CE to restore imperial order.

Timeline

  1. 9–67Falacrina · Sabine regionBorn into the Flavian family at Falacrina in the Sabine region, not of senatorial rank. He served as quaestor, aedile, and praetor, commanded legions in Britain, North Africa, and on the Rhine frontier, and won a reputation for diligence and pragmatism. Favoured under Claudius, he was sent by Nero to Judaea in 67 CE to suppress the Jewish revolt.
  2. 67–69Jerusalem · JudaeaHe led the legions in the siege of Jerusalem, with his son Titus assisting. After Nero's death the empire fell into civil war; Vespasian paused the offensive, was proclaimed a contender for the throne by the armies of the eastern provinces, and left Titus to complete the siege.
  3. 69–70Rome · LazioIn 69 CE, after Galba, Otho, and Vitellius, he defeated his rivals with the support of the Egyptian, Syrian, and Danube legions. Entering Rome that July, he ended the civil war and founded the Flavian dynasty, making the restoration of order and financial stability his first priority.
  4. 70–79Rome · LazioHe carried out financial reform, added new taxes, and undertook major public works, beginning construction of the Flavian Amphitheatre (Colosseum) on the site of Nero's Golden House. He reorganized the Senate and provincial administration, governing with a humorous, pragmatic style. He died at the spa of Cutiliae in 79 CE, saying on his deathbed, 'Dear me, I think I am becoming a god.'

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