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Vespasian: Emperor Vespasian
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By mid-68, Vespasian had brought the province back under Roman control, except for Jerusalem and some minor fortifications. After he received word of Nero’s suicide (the emperor died June 9), Vespasian put his preparations to take Jerusalem on hold and recognised Galba, who had himself proclaimed "Legate of the Senate and the Roman people" in Carthago Nova on April 2, as legitimate successor of Nero. Slowly, but decisively, Vespasian began to develop his own ambitious plans. Gaius Licinius Mucianus, the Governor of syria, played a very important role in this. Although they quite disliked each other, which was mainly due to Vespasian’s higher rank as legate compared to that of the governor, both avidly followed the political events and put their differences aside. Galba’s death in January and Otho’s suicide in April encouraged them in their tendency to organize a rebellion.
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Perhaps Vespasian's greatest contribution was the reformation of the army. It was not a reformation in the sense of massive change, but in restoring its sense of imperial loyalty. (After Vespasian, the legions would remain relatively loyal to the reigning emperor until the death of Commodus some 120 years later). He did punish Vitellius' men by dismissing many from service, but for the most part left the legions intact from their previous positions. In Britain, more northern territory was brought under Roman rule and there were considerable pacification efforts in the Rhine and Danube regions. He increased the number of legions in the east, in part to help Titus finish the capitulation of Judaea, and to stop 'barbaric' invasions into Cappadocia.
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Vespasian ingratiated himself with the ruling emperor, Caligula (Gaius Caesar); and in the next reign, that of Claudius, he won the favour of the powerful freedman Narcissus. He became commander of the Legio II Augusta, which took part in the invasion of Britain in 43. After distinguished conduct at the crossing of the Medway River, he was given charge of the left wing of the advance; he proceeded to occupy the Isle of Wight and to conquer tribes as far west as Devon, capturing more than 20 "towns." For these achievements he was awarded triumphal honors and appointed to two priesthoods, and in 51 he became consul. But, on Claudius' death in 54, Narcissus, whose power had been waning, was driven to suicide; and for a time Vespasian received no further appointment. About 63 he obtained the proconsulate of Africa, where his extreme financial rigour made him so unpopular that on one occasion the people pelted him with turnips. There was no ground for suspecting personal enrichment, but the reputation for avarice remained with him the rest of his life.
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Although the Temple of Vespasian was never completed before the destruction of the city, it is clear that it was in use. Its central figure was a bull being led to sacrifice, a suitable sacrifice for an emperor, and its back altar was decorated with an oak wreath and laurel branches, the symbol of Emperor Vespasian. The Emperor, who was kind to the citizens of Pompeii and did much for them, died the same year as the city’s destruction. This Temple is ... known as the Sanctuary of the Genius of Augustus, accordingly, some scholarly dispute exists as to who the Temple was initially dedicated to - various iconographic and architectural markers point to an Augustinian or Tiberian-period origin.
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The Prefect of Rome, Sabinus, brother of Vespasian, had almost made Vitellius abdicate, which no emperor had ever done before. Sabinus fled to the Capitol where he was captured and consequently killed by forces still loyal to Vitellius. On december 20th, Vitellius was arrested by soldiers and killed in the Forum. The next day, Primus arrived in Rome and the Senate confirmed Vespasian’s claim for the throne. Despite his services that led to the fall of Rome and that made Vespasian emperor, Primus was reprimanded by Mucianus for his arbitrary way of acting and accused of atrocities of war. Then Primus travelled east to Vespasian, was commended by him and discharged honorably to return home to Tolosa.
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In Africa, Vespasian ruled with justice and dignity (some say with severity and parsimony), except when, on one occasion, the populace of a town pelted him with turnips. He returned from Africa no richer than he left and had to mortgage his estates to his brother to pay off his creditors, and ... traded in mules (which not not the done thing for a Senator!). Back in Rome, he became an influential senior senator and was included in Nero's retinue on the tour of Greece in A.D. 66-67. It was in Greece that Vespasian offended the Emperor by falling asleep during one of Nero's recitals. Luckily, Vespasian only incurred banishment from the court. In fear for his life Vespasian fled to a small out-of-the-way township.
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Emperor Vespasian