Titus Flavius Petro fled the battlefield at Pharsalus in 48 BCE, ending his military career in disgrace. This centurion under Pompey managed to improve his family's status by marrying Tertulla, an extremely wealthy woman whose fortune guaranteed upward mobility for their son Titus Flavius Sabinus I. Sabinus himself amassed further wealth and possible equestrian status through his services as tax collector in Asia and banker in Helvetia. By marrying Vespasia Polla he allied himself to the more prestigious patrician gens Vespasia, ensuring the elevation of his sons Titus Flavius Sabinus II and Vespasian to the senatorial rank. Around 38 CE, Vespasian married Domitilla the Elder, the daughter of an equestrian from Ferentium. They had two sons, Titus Flavius Vespasianus born in 39 and Titus Flavius Domitianus born in 51, and a daughter, Domitilla born in 45. Domitilla the Elder died before Vespasian became emperor. Thereafter his mistress Caenis was his wife in all but name until she died in 74. The political career of Vespasian included the offices of quaestor, aedile and praetor, and culminated with a consulship in 51, the year Domitian was born.
Year Of Four Emperors
On the 9th of June 68, amidst growing opposition of the Senate and army, Nero committed suicide, ending the Julio-Claudian dynasty. Chaos ensued, leading to a year of brutal civil war known as the Year of the Four Emperors. Galba, Otho, Vitellius and Vespasian successively vied for imperial power. News of Nero's death reached Vespasian as he was preparing to besiege Jerusalem. Almost simultaneously the Senate declared Galba governor of Hispania Tarraconensis as Emperor of Rome. Rather than continue his campaign, Vespasian decided to await further orders and sent Titus to greet the new Emperor. Before reaching Italy, however, Titus learnt that Galba had been murdered and replaced by Otho. At the same time, Vitellius and his armies in Germania had risen in revolt. When Otho was defeated by Vitellius at the First Battle of Bedriacum, the armies in Judaea and Egypt took matters into their own hands. They declared Vespasian emperor on the 1st of July 69. Vespasian accepted and entered an alliance with Gaius Licinius Mucianus, governor of Syria, against Vitellius. A strong force drawn from Judaean and Syrian legions marched on Rome under command of Mucianus. On the 24th of October 69 forces of Vitellius and Vespasian clashed at Second Battle of Bedriacum, ending in crushing defeat for Vitellius' armies. On the 18th of December, the emperor appeared to deposit imperial insignia at Temple of Concord but retraced steps to palace. In confusion, leading men gathered at Sabinus house proclaiming Vespasian Emperor. Domitian himself managed to escape by disguising himself as worshipper of Isis. By afternoon of the 20th of December, Vitellius was dead. The following day, the 21st of December, Senate proclaimed Vespasian emperor of Roman Empire.