Military and political career Vespasian

1 military , political career

1.1 career
1.2 invasion of britannia (43)
1.3 later political career (51–66)
1.4 great jewish revolt (66–69)

military , political career


vespasian leading forces against jewish revolt, miniature in 1470 illuminated manuscript version of history of josephus


early career

in preparation praetorship, vespasian needed 2 periods of service in minor magistracies, 1 military , other public. vespasian served in military in thrace 3 years. on return rome in ad 30, obtained post in vigintivirate, minor magistracies, in 1 of posts in charge of street cleaning. performance unsuccessful emperor caligula reportedly stuffed handfuls of muck down toga correct uncleaned roman streets, formally responsibility.

during period of ascendancy of sejanus, there no record of vespasian s significant activity in political events. after completion of term in vigintivirate, vespasian entitled stand election quaestor; senatorial office. lack of political or family influence meant vespasian served quaestor in 1 of provincial posts in crete, rather assistant important men in rome.

next needed gain praetorship, carrying imperium, non-patricians , less well-connected had serve in @ least 1 intermediary post aedile or tribune. vespasian failed @ first attempt gain aedileship successful in second attempt, becoming aedile in 38. despite lack of significant family connections or success in office, achieved praetorship in either 39 or 40, @ youngest age permitted (30), during period of political upheaval in organisation of elections. longstanding relationship freedwoman antonia caenis, confidential secretary emperor s grandmother , part of circle of courtiers , servants around emperor, may have contributed success.

invasion of britannia (43)

upon accession of claudius emperor in 41, vespasian appointed legate of legio ii augusta, stationed in germania, influence of imperial freedman narcissus. in 43, vespasian , ii augusta participated in roman invasion of britain, , distinguished himself under overall command of aulus plautius. after participating in crucial battles on rivers medway , thames, sent reduce south west, penetrating through modern counties of hampshire, wiltshire, dorset, somerset, devon , cornwall probable objectives of securing south coast ports , harbours along tin mines of cornwall , silver , lead mines of somerset.

vespasian marched noviomagus reginorum (chichester) subdue hostile durotriges , dumnonii tribes, captured twenty oppida (towns, or more hill forts, including hod hill , maiden castle in dorset). invaded vectis (now isle of wight), setting fortress , legionary headquarters @ isca dumnoniorum (exeter). during time injured himself , had not recovered until went egypt. these successes earned him triumphal regalia (ornamenta triumphalia) on return rome.

later political career (51–66)

roman emperor nero sends vespasian army put down jewish revolt, 66 ad

his success legate of legion earned him consulship in 51, after retired public life, having incurred enmity of claudius wife, agrippina. came out of retirement in 63 when sent governor africa province. according tacitus (ii.97), rule infamous , odious according suetonius (vesp. 4), upright and, highly honorable . on 1 occasion, suetonius writes, vespasian pelted turnips.

vespasian used time in north africa wisely. usually, governorships seen ex-consuls opportunities extort huge amounts of money regain wealth had spent on previous political campaigns. corruption rife expected governor come these appointments pockets full. however, vespasian used time in north africa making friends instead of money, far more valuable in years come. during time in north africa, found himself in financial difficulties , forced mortgage estates brother. revive fortunes turned mule trade , gained nickname mulio (muleteer).

returning africa, vespasian toured greece in nero s retinue, lost imperial favor after paying insufficient attention (some sources suggest fell asleep) during 1 of emperor s recitals on lyre, , found himself in political wilderness.

great jewish revolt (66–69)


vespasian sestertius, struck in 71 celebrate victory in first jewish-roman war. legend on reverse says: ivdea capta, judaea conquered .

in 66 ad, vespasian appointed suppress jewish revolt underway in judea. fighting there had killed previous governor , routed cestius gallus, governor of syria, when tried restore order. 2 legions, 8 cavalry squadrons , ten auxiliary cohorts, therefore dispatched under command of vespasian while elder son, titus, arrived alexandria another.

during time became patron of flavius josephus, jewish resistance leader captured @ siege of yodfat, later write people s history in greek. ultimately, thousands of jews killed , romans destroyed many towns in re-establishing control on judea; took jerusalem in 70. vespasian remembered josephus, in antiquities of jews, fair , humane official, in contrast notorious herod agrippa ii whom josephus goes great lengths demonize.

while under emperor s patronage, josephus wrote after roman legio x fretensis, accompanied vespasian, destroyed jericho on 21 june 68, vespasian took group of jews not swim (possibly essenes qumran), fettered them, , threw them dead sea test sea s legendary buoyancy. indeed, captives bobbed surface after being thrown in water boats.

josephus (as tacitus), reporting on conclusion of jewish war, reported prophecy around time when jerusalem , temple taken, man own nation, viz. messiah, become governor of habitable earth. josephus, dismissing these things, said governor of habitable earth vespasian conquered it.