Caesar

Vespasian
Augustus
JACOB SWIDORSKY
Background

 Originally named “Titus Flavius Vespasianus”

 Born on November 17, 9 AD
 Titus Flavius Sabinus : Father
 Vespasia Polla : Mother
 Roman Emperor from 69 AD to 79 AD
 Sole founder of the Flavian dynasty
 He was able to generate political stability and a vast Roman
building program
Early Life

 He grew up in political environment

 He lived in the shadow of his older brother
 He was hesitant to follow in his brother’s footsteps
Political Life

 Roman government granted him to be a praetor as

early as he could become one due to his military service
 His son Titus was eventually born
 Vespasian’s goal was to reach emperorship
 He was able to gain support from Narcissus
 He became the commander of an army involved in an
attack on Britain eventually gaining larger roles in the
military Titus
 Conquered many European tribes
 Eventually promoted to consul
Political Life

 Narcissus commits suicide

 Appointed to suppress a Jewish Rebellion by Nero
 This had already been attempted twice before
 Succeeded in taking most of Judaea
 Many saw Vespasian as loyal to the emperor
 Vespasian was loyal to Nero, but when he died Vespasian
did not attack further
Nero
Struggle to become Emperor

 Vespasian struggled to maintain power

 Governor of Syria found conflict with Vespasian
 The new emperor, Galba, did not last long
 A few months into his emperorship, he was murdered
 A civil war in Italy was now brewing as Galba and his successor
Otho were despised by Vitellius and his men
 Otho committed suicide after he had been defeated by Vitellius
Struggle to become Emperor

 He began to gain support

 Antonius Primus was a commander that played a key role in getting
Vespasian to his emperorship, but was left in the dust as the
governor of Syria took his position and his power
 Vespasian officially became emperor on December 21, 69 AD
Later in life

 Vespasian had two sons, Titus and Domitian, who were

appointed to be consuls by their father
 He shared his title of commander with his eldest son,
Titus
 He had trouble with his sons, however, as Domitian was
reckless and Titus gained too much power
 Titus had gained much of the abilities of his father
 Nearing the end of his rule, he was seen as good-
natured and tolerant of offensiveness
 He eventually passed away in 79 AD Domitian
Works Cited

 Badian, E. “Narcissus.” Encyclopædia Britannica, Encyclopædia

Britannica, Inc., 22 Sept. 2010,
www.britannica.com/biography/Narcissus-Roman-official.
 Chilver, Guy Edward Farquhar. “Vespasian.” Encyclopædia
Britannica, Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc., 16 July 2014,
www.britannica.com/biography/Vespasian.
 “History - Historic Figures: Vespasian (9 AD - 79 AD).” BBC, BBC, 2014,
www.bbc.co.uk/history/historic_figures/vespasian.shtml.
 “Vespasian.” Encyclopedia of World Biography, Encyclopedia.com,
2016, www.encyclopedia.com/people/history/ancient-history-rome-
biographies/vespasian.