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Titus: the story on HearLore | HearLore
Titus
Titus Flavius Vespasianus entered the world on the 30th of December 39 AD in Rome. His family name was Flavia, a gens that rose from obscurity to imperial power within four generations. Titus's great-grandfather served as a centurion under Pompey during Caesar's Civil War. That military career ended in disgrace when he fled the battlefield at the Battle of Pharsalus in 48 BC. Petro managed to improve his status by marrying the extremely wealthy Tertulla. Her fortune guaranteed the upward mobility of Petro's son Titus Flavius Sabinus I, who became Titus's grandfather. Sabinus 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. This ensured the elevation of his sons Titus Flavius Sabinus II and Vespasian to the senatorial rank. The political career of Vespasian included the offices of quaestor, aedile and praetor. It culminated with a consulship in 51, the year Domitian was born. As a military commander, Vespasian gained early renown by participating in the Roman invasion of Britain in 43.
Military Campaigns In Judaea
In 66 AD, the Jews of the Judaea Province revolted against the Roman Empire. Cestius Gallus, the legate of Syria, was defeated at the battle of Beth-Horon and forced to retreat from Jerusalem. Nero appointed Vespasian to put down the rebellion. He was dispatched to the region at once with the Fifth Legion and Tenth Legion. Later, Vespasian joined forces with Titus at Ptolemais with the Fifteenth Legion. A strong force of 60,000 professional soldiers prepared to sweep across Galilee and march on Jerusalem. Josephus served as a commander in the city of Yodfat when the Roman army invaded Galilee in 67. An exhausting siege lasted 47 days before the city fell. Estimates suggest around 40,000 people were killed during that conflict. By 68, the entire coast and the north of Judaea were subjugated by the Roman Army. Decisive victories won at Taricheae and Gamala allowed Titus to distinguish himself as a skilled general. Surviving one of several group suicides, Josephus surrendered to Vespasian and became a prisoner. He later wrote that he had provided the Romans with intelligence on the ongoing revolt.
When was Titus born and where did he enter the world?
Titus Flavius Vespasianus entered the world on the 30th of December 39 AD in Rome. His family name was Flavia, a gens that rose from obscurity to imperial power within four generations.
What role did Titus play during the Jewish revolt against the Roman Empire?
Titus served as a military commander who surrounded Jerusalem with three legions on the western side and one legion on the Mount of Olives to the east. He breached the city walls and ordered the destruction of the Second Temple after the Romans captured the Antonia Fortress.
How long did Titus reign as Roman emperor before his death?
Titus succeeded his father Vespasian immediately upon his death on the 23rd of June 79 AD and reigned until he died of a fever on the 13th of September 81 AD. He became the first Roman emperor ever to succeed his biological father.
Which cities were destroyed by the eruption of Mount Vesuvius under Titus's rule?
Mount Vesuvius erupted a few months after Titus accession and almost completely destroyed Pompeii and Herculaneum which were buried under metres of stone and ash. Estimates suggest between 10,000 and 25,000 people lived in Pompeii at the time of the disaster.
Why is Titus considered an exemplary figure among ancient historians compared to Domitian?
Titus ended treason trials that had plagued the principate since Augustus revived the law of majestas and no senators were put to death during his reign. His character has especially prospered in comparison with that of his brother Domitian despite Jewish memory remembering him as Titus the Wicked.
The last fortified city held by the Jewish resistance was Jerusalem. The campaign came to a sudden halt when news arrived of Nero's death. When the armies in Judaea and Egypt took matters into their own hands, they declared Vespasian emperor on the 1st of July 69 AD. Vespasian accepted and left Titus in charge to end the Jewish rebellion. Titus surrounded the city with three legions on the western side and one legion on the Mount of Olives to the east. He put pressure on the food and water supplies of the inhabitants by allowing pilgrims to enter the city to celebrate Passover and then refusing them egress. After attempts by Josephus to negotiate a surrender had failed, the Romans resumed hostilities. They quickly breached the first and second walls of the city. To intimidate the resistance, Titus ordered deserters from the Jewish side to be crucified around the city wall. By that time, the Jews had been exhausted by famine. When the weak third wall was breached, bitter street fighting ensued. The Romans finally captured the Antonia Fortress and began a frontal assault on the gates of the Second Temple. As they breached the gate, the Romans set the upper and lower city aflame. This culminated with the destruction of the Temple. When the fires subsided, Titus gave the order to destroy the remainder of the city. Josephus claims that 1,100,000 people were killed during the siege. However, modern scholarship rejects these death toll assumptions as impossible.
Imperial Succession And Reforms
Vespasian died of an infection on the 23rd of June 79 AD. His son Titus immediately succeeded him as emperor. He became the first Roman emperor ever to succeed his biological father. One of his first acts as emperor was to order a halt to trials based on treason charges. These trials had long plagued the principate since Augustus revived the law of majestas. Under Tiberius, Caligula, and Nero, this led to numerous executions and the formation of networks of informers. Titus put an end to that practice against himself or anyone else. He declared: It is impossible for me to be insulted or abused in any way. For I do naught that deserves censure, and I care not for what is reported falsely. Consequently, no senators were put to death during his reign. Informants were publicly punished and banished from the city. Titus further prevented abuses by making it unlawful for a person to be tried under different laws for the same offense. As emperor, he became known for his generosity. Suetonius states that upon realising he had brought no benefit to anyone during a whole day, he remarked: Friends, I have lost a day.
Catastrophes And Public Works
A few months after his accession, Mount Vesuvius erupted. The eruption almost completely destroyed the cities and resort communities around the Bay of Naples. Pompeii and Herculaneum were buried under metres of stone and ash. Estimates of the population of Pompeii range between 10,000 and 25,000 people. At least 1000 bodies are currently recovered in and around the city ruins. Titus appointed two ex-consuls to organise and coordinate the relief effort. He personally donated large amounts of money from the imperial treasury to aid the victims of the volcano. Additionally, he visited Pompeii once after the eruption and again the following year. During the second visit to Pompeii, in spring of 80 AD, a fire broke out in Rome. It burned large parts of the city for three days and three nights. Cassius Dio records a long list of important public buildings that were destroyed. These included Agrippa's Pantheon, the Temple of Jupiter, the Diribitorium, parts of the Theatre of Pompey, and the Saepta Julia among others. Once again, Titus personally compensated for the damaged regions. Construction of the Flavian Amphitheatre was begun in 70 under Vespasian. It was finally completed in 80 under Titus. The inaugural games lasted for a hundred days and were said to be extremely elaborate.
Death And Historical Legacy
At the closing of the games, Titus officially dedicated the amphitheatre and the baths. He set out for the Sabine territories but fell ill at the first posting station. There he died of a fever on the 13th of September 81 AD. Allegedly, the last words he uttered before dying were: I have made but one mistake. Historians have speculated on the exact nature of his death. Philostratus wrote that he was poisoned by Domitian with a sea hare. Suetonius and Cassius Dio maintain that he died of natural causes. They both accuse Domitian of having left the ailing Titus for dead. In the Talmud, Rabbinic literature attributes Titus's death to an insect that flew into his nose. This picked at his brain for seven years in a repetition of another legend referring to King Nimrod. According to Rabbinic scholars like Azariah de Rossi, this story is viewed as an allegory about divine retribution. Titus's record among ancient historians stands as one of the most exemplary of any emperor. His character has especially prospered in comparison with that of his brother Domitian. In contrast to the ideal portrayal of Titus in Roman histories, Jewish memory remembers him as Titus the Wicked.