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Titus Flavius Vespasianus Study Archive

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God co-operates with us. — Their miseries, by your valor and God’s assistance, are multiplied. Their factions, famine, siege, and the falling of their walls without a battery, do they not manifest that God is angry with them, and assists us? – Titus

Titus Flavius Vespasianus Augustus
AD 39-81

ROMAN EMPEROR
Reign: 23 June 79 – 13 September 81
Born: 30 December 39, Rome
Died: 13 September 81 (aged 41), Rome
Spouse: Arrecina Tertulla (c.62 AD; her death); Marcia Furnilla (c.63–65 AD; divorced)
Issue: Julia Flavia
Regnal name: Imperator Caesar Titus Flavius Vespasianus Augustus
Father: Vespasian
Mother: Domitilla

Wiki – “As emperor, he is best known for completing the Colosseum and for his generosity in relieving the suffering caused by two disasters, the eruption of Mount Vesuvius in AD 79 and a fire in Rome in 80. After barely two years in office, Titus died of a fever on 13 September 81. He was deified by the Roman Senate and succeeded by his younger brother Domitian.”

Henry Alford – “According to Wetstein, the “man of sin” is Titus, whose army, “while the temple was burning and all around it, taking their standards into the sacred enclosure, and placing them before the eastern gate, sacrificed to them there, and saluted Titus imperator with great cheering.” (Josephus.) His “hinderer” is Nero, whose death was necessary for the reign of Titus.” (The New Testament for English Readers, First Thessalonians, Introduction, p 86)

RELEVANT WORKS:

Comment by Crown Prince Titus on the Capture of Jerusalem

Emperor Titus Vespasianus– Flavius Philostratus II (c.170-244/249): The Life of Apollonius – Chapters 29-34 (Commissioned prior to 217) focus on Apollonius’ contacts with Vespasian’s son and crown prince Titus. Apollonius writes a letter of eulogy of Titus for having refused to be crowned after the fall of Jerusalem (6.29) : ” After Titus had taken Jerusalem, and when the country all round was filled with corpses, the neighboring races offered him a crown; but he disclaimed any such honor to himself, saying that it was not himself that had accomplished this exploit, but that he had merely lent his arms to God, who had so manifested his wrath; and Apollonius praised his action, for therein he displayed a great deal of judgment and understanding of things human and divine, and it showed great moderation on his part that he refused to be crowned because he had shed blood. Accordingly Apollonius indited to him a letter which he sent by the hands of Damis and of which the text was as follows…”

Apollonius sends greetings to Titus the Roman general.

Whereas you have refused to be proclaimed for success in war and for shedding the blood of your enemies, I myself assign to you the crown of temperance and moderation, because you thoroughly understand what deeds really merit a crown.

Now Titus was overjoyed with this epistle, and replied:

In my own behalf I thank you, no less then in behalf of my father, and I will not forget your kindness; for although I have captured Jerusalem, you have captured me.

THE PRESENTATION OF TITUS IN JOSEPHUS

(3:483-484): “God co-operates with us. — Their miseries, by your valor and God’s assistance, are multiplied. Their factions, famine, siege, and the falling of their walls without a battery, do they not manifest that God is angry with them, and assists us?”

(5.409-411): “while as for Titus, the very springs flow more copiously for him which had erstwhile dried up for you. For before his coming (parousia), as you know, Siloam and all the springs outside the town were failing, insomuch that water was sold by the amphora; whereas now they flow so freely for your enemies as to suffice not only for themselves and their beasts but even for gardens. This miracle (teras), moreover, has been experienced ere now on the fall of the city when the Babylonian whom I mentioned (5.391) marched against it …. My belief, therefore, is that the Deity has fled from the holy places and taken His stand on the side of those with whom you are now at war.”

G.M. Paul, “Titus’ arrival is described by the word parousia, a word which generally means “presence,” “arrival,” but which as a technical term is specifically used to apply to the arrival of a king or official or to the epiphany of a god, categories which may overlap.  Lastly, provision of water in the form of springs, rivers, and rain, etc., is regularly regarded by biblical writers as a divine gift, both in its actual form and as a symbol. In Josephus, at AJ 3.203, God’s parousia in the tabernacle is accompanied by a distillation of “delicious dew,” a detail absent from the corresponding biblical account. So the effect of Josephus’ claim that the springs miraculously flowed more freely at Titus’ parousia would be to suggest that Titus was at least accompanied by divine favour, and this effect is made explicit by the statement that “the Deity has fled from the holy places and taken His stand on the side of those with whom you are now at war” (a leitmotiv of Josephus’ narrative). ” (The Presentation of Titus in the Jewish War of Josephus)

Lives of the Caesars
De Vita Caesarum

I. TITUS, of the same surname as his father, was the delight and darling of the human race; such ability had he, by nature, art, or good fortune, to win the affections of all men, and that, too, which is no easy task, while he was emperor; for as a private citizen, and even during his father’s rule, he did not escape hatred, much less public criticism. He was born on the third day before the Kalends of January [December 30, 41 C.E.], in the year memorable for the death of Gaius [Arkenberg: Caligula], in a mean house near the Septizonium [Some building of seven stories; the famous Septizonium on the Palatine was the work of Septimius Severus] and in a very small dark room besides; for it still remains and is on exhibition.

II. He was brought up at court in company with Britannicus and taught the same subjects by the same masters. At that time, so they say, a physiognomist was brought in by Narcissus, the freedman of Claudius, to examine Britannicus, and declared most positively that he would never become emperor; but that Titus, who was standing near by at the time, would surely rule. The boys were so intimate too, that it is believed that when Britannicus drained the fatal draught, Titus, who was reclining at his side, also tasted of the potion and for a long time suffered from an obstinate disorder. Titus did not forget all this, but later set up a golden statue of his friend in the Palace, and dedicated another equestrian statue of ivory and attended it in the processions in the Circus, where it is still carried to this day.

III. Even in boyhood his bodily and mental gifts were conspicuous and they became more and more so as he advanced in years. He had a handsome person, in which there was no less dignity than grace, and was uncommonly strong, although he was not tall of stature and had a rather protruding belly. His memory was extraordinary, and he had an aptitude for almost all the arts, both of war and of peace. Skillful in arms and horsemanship, he made speeches and wrote verses in Latin and Greek with ease and readiness, and even off-hand. He was besides not unacquainted with music, but sang and played the harp agreeably and skillfully. I have heard from many sources that he used also to write shorthand with great speed and would amuse himself by playful contests with his secretaries; also that he could imitate any handwriting that he had ever seen and often declared that he might have been the prince of forgers.

IV. He served as military tribune both in Germania and in Britannia, winning a high reputation for energy and no less for integrity, as is evident from the great number of his statues and busts in both those provinces and from the inscriptions they bear. After his military service he pleaded in the Forum, rather for glory than as a profession, and at the same time took to wife Arrecina Tertulla, whose father, though only a Roman eques, had once been prefect of the Praetorian cohorts; on her death he replaced her by Marcia Furnilla, a lady of a very distinguished family, but divorced her after he had acknowledged a daughter which she bore him. Then, after holding the office of quaestor [67 C.E.], as commander of a legion he subjugated the two strong cities of Tarichaeae and Gamala in Judaea, having his horse killed under him in one battle and mounting another, whose rider had fallen fighting by his side.

V. Presently he was sent [68 C.E.] to congratulate Galba on becoming ruler of the state, and attracted attention wherever he went, through the belief that he had been sent for to be adopted. But observing that everything was once more in a state of turmoil, he turned back, and visiting the oracle of the Paphian Venus, to consult it about his voyage, he was also encouraged to hope for imperial power. Soon realizing his hope [By the accession of his father Vespasian] and left behind to complete the conquest of Judaea, in the final attack on Jerusalem he slew twelve of the defenders with as many arrows; and he took the city on his daughter’s birthday, so delighting the soldiers and winning their devotion that they hailed him as Imperator and detained him from time to time, when he would leave the province, urging him with prayers and even with threats either to stay or to take them all with him. This aroused the suspicion that he had tried to revolt from his father and make himself King of the East; and he strengthened this suspicion on his way to Alexandria by wearing a diadem at the consecration of the bull Apis in Memphis, an act quite in accord with the usual ceremonial of that ancient religion, but unfavorably interpreted by some. Because of this he hastened to Italia, and putting in at Rhegium and then at Puteoli in a transport ship, he went with all speed from there to Rome, where as if to show that the reports about him were groundless, he surprised his father with the greeting, “I am here, father; I am here.”

VI. From that time on he never ceased to act as the emperor’s partner and even as his protector. He took part in his father’s triumph and was censor [73 C.E.] with him. He was also his colleague in the tribunician power and in seven consulships [70, 72, 74-77, 79 C.E.]. He took upon himself the discharge of almost all duties, personally dictated letters and wrote edicts in his father’s name, and even read his speeches in the Senate in lieu of a quaestor. He also assumed the command of the Praetorian Guard, which before that time had never been held except by a Roman eques, and in this office conducted himself in a somewhat arrogant and tyrannical fashion. For whenever he himself regarded anyone with suspicion, he would secretly send some of the Guard to the various theaters and camps, to demand their punishment as if by consent of all who were present; and then he would put them out of the way without delay. Among these was Aulus Caecina, an ex-consul, whom he invited to dinner and then ordered to be stabbed almost before he left the dining-room; but in this case he was led by a pressing danger, having got possession of an autograph copy of an harangue which Caecina had prepared to deliver to the soldiers. Although by such conduct he provided for his safety in the future, he incurred such odium at the time that hardly anyone ever came to the throne with so evil a reputation or so much against the desires of all.

VII. Besides cruelty, he was also suspected of riotous living, since he protracted his revels until the middle of the night with the most prodigal of his friends; likewise of unchastity because of his troops of catamites and eunuchs, and his notorious passion for Queen Berenice [Arkenberg: Of Judaea], to whom it was even said that he promised marriage. He was suspected of greed as well; for it was well known that in cases which came before his father he put a price on his influence and accepted bribes. In short, people not only thought, but openly declared, that he would be a second Nero. But this reputation turned out to his advantage and gave place to the highest praise, when no fault was discovered in him, but on the contrary the highest virtues. His banquets were pleasant rather than extravagant. He chose as his friends men whom succeeding emperors also retained as indispensable alike to themselves and to the State, and of whose services they made special use. Berenice he sent from Rome at once, against her will and against his own. Some of his most beloved paramours, although they were such skillful dancers that they later became stage favorites, he not only ceased to cherish any longer, but even to witness their public performances. He took away nothing from any citizen. He respected others’ property, if anyone ever did; in fact, he would not accept even proper and customary presents. And yet, he was second to none of his predecessors in munificence. At the dedication [80 C.E.] of the amphitheatre [Arkenberg: The Colosseum] and of the baths which were hastily built near it, he gave a most magnificent and costly gladiatorial show. He presented a sham sea-fight too in the old naumachia [See Aug. xliii.1], and in the same place a combat of gladiators exhibiting five thousand wild beasts of every kind in a single day.

VIII. He was most kindly by nature, and whereas in accordance with a custom established by Tiberius, all the Caesars who followed him refused to regard favors granted by previous emperors as valid, unless they had themselves conferred the same ones on the same individuals, Titus was the first to ratify them all in a single edict, without allowing himself to be asked. Moreover, in the case of other requests made of him, it was his fixed rule not to let anyone go away without hope. Even when his household officials warned him that he was promising more than he could perform, he said that it was not right for anyone to go away sorrowful from an interview with his emperor. On another occasion, remembering at dinner that he had done nothing for anybody all that day, he gave utterance to that memorable and praiseworthy remark: “Friends, I have lost a day.” The whole body of the people in particular he treated with such indulgence on all occasions, that once, at a gladiatorial show, he declared that he would give it, “not after his own inclinations, but ;hose of the spectators”; and what is more, he kept his word. For he refused nothing which anyone asked, and even urged them to ask for what they wished. Furthermore, he openly displayed his partiality for Thracian gladiators and bantered the people about it by words and gestures [By humorously pretending to wrangle with those who favored other gladiators than the Thracians], always, however, preserving his dignity, as well as observing justice. Not to omit any act of condescension, he sometimes bathed in the baths which he had built, in company with the common people. There were some dreadful disasters during his reign, such as the eruption of Mount Vesuvius in Campania [79 C.E.], a fire at Rome which continued three days and as many nights [79 C.E.], and a plague the like of which had hardly ever been known before [80 C.E.]. In these many great calamities he showed not merely the concern of an emperor, but even a father’s surpassing love, now offering consolation in edicts, and now lending aid so far as his means allowed. He chose commissioners by lot from among the ex-consuls for the relief of Campania; and the property of those who lost their lives by Vesuvius and had no heirs left alive he applied to the rebuilding of the buried cities. During the fire in Rome he made no remark except “I am ruined” [Implying that it was his personal loss, which he would make good], and he set aside all the ornaments of his villas for the public buildings and temples, and put several men of the equestrian order in charge of the work, that everything might be done with the greater dispatch. For curing the plague and diminishing the force of the epidemic there was no aid, human or divine, which he did not employ, searching for every kind of sacrifice, and all kinds of medicines. Among the evils of the times were the informers and their instigators, who had enjoyed a long standing licence. After these had been soundly beaten in the Forum with scourges and cudgels, and finally led in procession across the arena of the amphitheatre, he had some of them put up and sold, and others deported to the wildest of the islands. To further discourage for all time any who might think of venturing on similar practices, among other precautions he made it unlawful for anyone to be tried under several laws for the same offence, or for any inquiry to be made as to the legal status of any deceased person after a stated number of years.

IX. Having declared that he would accept the office of pontifex maximus for the purpose of keeping his hands unstained, he was true to his promise; for after that he neither caused nor connived at the death of any man, although he sometimes had no lack of reasons for taking vengeance; but he swore that he would rather be killed than kill. When two men of patrician family were found guilty of aspiring to the throne, he satisfied himself with warning them to abandon their attempt, saying that imperial power was the gift of fate, and promising that if there was anything else they desired, he himself would bestow it. Then he sent his couriers with all speed to the mother of one of them, for she was some distance off, to relieve her anxiety by reporting that her son was safe; and he not only invited the men themselves to dinner among his friends, but on the following day at a gladiatorial show he purposely placed them near him, and when the swords of the contestants were offered him [The weapons of gladiators were regularly examined by the “editor”, or giver of the games, to see if they were sharp enough; cf., Dio, 68.3, who tells a similar story of the Emperor Nerva], handed them over for their inspection. It is even said that inquiring into the horoscope of each of them, he declared that danger threatened them both, but at some future time and from another, as turned out to be the case. Although his brother never ceased plotting against him, but almost openly stirred up the armies to revolt and meditated flight to them, he had not the heart to put him to death or banish him from the court, or even to hold him in less honor than before. On the contrary, as he had done from the very first day of his rule, he continued to declare that he was his partner and successor, and sometimes he privately begged him with tears and prayers to be willing at least to return his affection.

X. In the meantime he was cut off by death, to the loss of mankind rather than to his own. After finishing the public games, at the close of which he wept bitterly in the presence of the people, he went to the Sabine territory somewhat cast down because a victim had escaped as he was sacrificing and because it had thundered from a clear sky. Then at the very first stopping place he was seized with a fever, and as he was being carried on from there in a litter, it is said that he pushed back the curtains, looked up to heaven, and lamented bitterly that his life was being taken from him contrary to his deserts; for he said that there was no act of his life of which he had cause to repent, save one only. What this was he did not himself disclose at the time, nor could anyone easily divine. Some think that he recalled the intimacy which he had with his brother’s wife; but Domitia swore most solemnly that this did not exist, although she would not have denied it if it had been in the least true, but on the contrary would have boasted of it, as she was most ready to do of all her scandalous actions.

XI. He died in the same farmhouse as his father [The old homestead at Cutilae, near Rheate; see Vesp. xxiv. That this continued to be a villa rustica is implied in Vesp. ii.1], on the Ides of September, two years, two months and twenty days after succeeding Vespasian, in the forty-second year of his age [September 13, 81 C.E.]. When his death was made known, the whole populace mourned as they would for a loss in their own families, the Senate hastened to the Curia before it was summoned by proclamation, and with the doors still shut, and then with them open, rendered such thanks to him and heaped such praise on him after death as they had never done even when he was alive and present.

Source:

From: J. C. Rolfe, ed., Suetonius, 2 Vols., The Loeb Classical Library (London: William Heinemann, and New York: The MacMillan Co., 1914), II.321-339.

THE JOINT TRIUMPH OF TITUS AND VESPASIAN (71)

  • 1537: Guilio Pippi, The Triumph of Titus and Vesapsian – The scene of the work, inspired of the Life of Caésars by Suétonius, represents Titus and Vespasian in laurels and crowned by the Victory over Judaea


Of the ancient Triumphs among the Romanes.
From Peacham’s Valley of Varietie (1638)

The first who is reported, ever to have rode in Triumph, was Bachus, after him in Rome, Romulus, who sending his Captives before him, followed himselfe after on foot, after him his whole Armie. Tullus Hostilus rode on Horse-backe; L: Tarquinius Priscus rode in a Charret of foure wheeles; M. Curius Camillus was drawne with foure white Horses, whom all after him imitated: The day appointed for the solemnitie of a Triumph, was kept Festivall through the whole Citie, all the Temples being set wide open, and all the Nobilitie providing in their houses the greatest Cheere they could make, insomuch as the whole Armie was abundantly feasted. The whole Senate went unto the gate Capena, in their Robes, to meet, and entertaine the Triumpher, by which Port or Gate, he was to enter in: afterwards they went together into the Capitoll, then followed all the Trumpeters, sounding to the Charge, as if they were presently to fall on upon the Enemie: after came Chariots laden with the Spoiles of the conquered Enemies; there followed then goodly Statues, and curious Tables of Brasse, or Ivorie. Also Towers, and formes of such Cities as they had taken; also, a representation of the forme, and manner of their fight with their Enemie. Afterwards followed, all the Silver, Brasse and Gold, together with Statues, Tables, Candlesticks, Platters, Dishes, Trenchers, Basons of Gold and Silver taken from the Enemie. Likewise, Jewels, Purple, costly Garments of cloth of Gold, with Crowns of Silver and Gold, which were given to the Victor: then all sorts of Armes taken from the Enemie, as Swords, Speares, Pollaxes, Bucklers, Brest-plates, Helmets, Tasses, and the like. After were brought the Gifts bestowed upon the Triumpher, as Gold and Silver brought by some thousands of people: then came other Trumpeters, whom followed fifty, or about an hundred Oxen to be sacrificed, with their hornes gilded, and Garlands upon their heads; these Oxen were accompanied by Boyes, who carried vessels of Gold and Silver to be used in the Sacrifice, all the Attendants were clad in Garments of Gold and Purple, interwoven; then came along the Charriots, laden with the Diademes, and Armes of those Kings and Princes which were taken Captives. After followed the Kings and Princes themselves, with their Wives, Children, Brethren, and other of their kindred and friends. Moreover, others of the Enemies, with their hands bound behind them, and these being of the Nobler, or better sort, were many thousands. Then followed the Triumpher himselfe, sitting in a golden Charriot, made in the forme of a Tower, who was drawne with foure white Horses, and clad in a Robe of Gold and Purple; in his right hand hee carried a Laurell bough, in his left, an Ivorie Scepter; next before him, the Lictors or Marshals, with bundles of Rods and Axes; on every side of him the Trumpets sounded, and Musicians sang sweetly to their Harpes, clad in Purple, and wearing Coronets of Gold upon their heads; amongst whom, one clad in a Garment of Gold reaching to his feet, breaking scurrilous and bitter jests upon the distressed Prisoners, made sport to the people.

Many sweet Odours and Perfumes were kindled, and carried about, whilest a publike Officer bearing up in his hands, a Crowne of pure Gold, beset with many rare and precious Gemms, ever and anon uttered this before the Victor; Respice futura, & hominem te esse cogita: Consider what will follow, and thinke how you are but a man. Wherfore, in the charriot of the Triumpher, there hung up a little Bell and a Whip, to put him in mind hee might one day fall upon such times, wherein (like a Slave) hee might be whipt, or as an Offender, lose his head; for those who were to be beheaded, had alwaies a little tingling Bell borne before them, lest, as one polluted and cursed, he might be touched of the people. Sometimes the Sonnes and Daughters of the Triumpher rode with their Father in his Charriot, but the next of his kindred went close by his Horses sides, and sometimes gat up (as if also they would ride in Triumph) upon their backes.

When Augustus rode in Triumph, Marcellus rode upon the formost Horse on the right hand, and Tiberius on the left: the Triumphers Followers, and the Shield-bearers followed his Charriot; after all the Captaines, with the whole Army in their order, carried Laurell branches in their hands, and Crownes of Laurell on their heads; and if any of them had purchased any notable rewards, Crownes of Gold, Bracelets, Speares, Shields, and the like, they bare them in their hands, singing Pæans, or Songs of Praise, in honour of the Triumpher, adding hereto, many ridiculous passages.

After that in this pomp they came into the Forum, or the spacious place of the Citie, hee chose out one Captive, especially, whom destinated to death, hee presently sent to prison. After this, hee went up into the Capitoll, the whole Senate, and all the Magistrates accompanying him. Then the execution of the said Captive being publikely proclaimed, they sacrificed their Buls, consecrating certaine Spoiles unto Iupiter. Afterward they feasted without the Galleries, or Walkes of the Capitoll, sitting untill the evening: then with Sagbuts and other Musicall Instruments, they accompanied the Triumpher home to his house, and so they ended this Festivall Solemnity. This Triumph lasted two or three dayes, especially, if they had gotten many and large Spoiles. And thus wee reade Titus Flaminius, L: Paulus, Cn: Pompeius, and Augustus to have triumphed. None were allowed this Triumph, except they had put to flight, or slaine five thousand Enemies, and had besides, inlarged the bounds of the Romane Empire. This Pompe and Solemnitie is collected out of Dyonisius Halicarnasseus, lib. 2 & 5. Valerius Maximus, lib. 2 cap. 8. Iosephus de Bello Iudaico, lib. 7. cap. 24. Plutarch in the life of Paulus Æmilius, Appian, and others. Those also triumphed, who had won any notable victorie by Sea, the Beakes and Anchors of Ships and Gallies being brought to Rome before. Now all this Gold, Silver, and other booty gotten in the Warre, belonging to the Citizens, and was laid up in the Treasurie, onely the charges of the Triumph deducted.

Againe, those who had put their Enemies to flight without effusion of blood, or had overcome Inferiors, as Servants, they had a kind of a boasting Solemnitie; for they rode into the Citie of Rome on Hors-backe, accompanied with the Knights, their friends, and the Armie, being clad in Gownes of cloth of Gold, and Purple, sacrificing Sheepe onely in the Capitoll; and this was called, The lesser Triumph.

Three hundred and fiftie Triumphs are reckoned from Romulus unto Bellisarius, was the last that triumphed under Iustinian, Emperour of Constantinople.

But this custome of riding in Triumph, was allowed but under very few Emperours, although Triumphall Ornaments were kept for them, as the Laurell, their Robe, and Ivorie Scepter, which they used when they went abroad in publike.

Original Busts of Vespasian and Titus