Vespasian, << veh SPAY zhee uhn >> (A.D. 9-79), was a Roman emperor. Rome prospered under his rule. He set up new taxes and supervised their collection, thereby restoring the empire’s financial condition. He built a forum and the Temple of Peace, the Colosseum, and other buildings (see Forum, Roman ; Colosseum ). He also founded professorships to encourage education.
Vespasian was born on Nov. 17 in A.D. 9 near Reate, a city northeast of Rome. His full name was Titus Flavius Vespasianus. He became a senator and, during A.D. 43 and 44, commanded troops in the conquest of Britain. In A.D. 67, Emperor Nero sent Vespasian to put down a Jewish rebellion in Judea. Nero died in A.D. 68. From the middle of 68 until December of 69, Galba, Otho, and Vitellius ruled the empire one after the other. In December of 69, Vespasian’s troops occupied Rome and proclaimed him emperor. In Rome, the Senate enacted the Lex de imperio Vespasiani, the first known written statement of the powers of a Roman emperor. Vespasian died in June A.D. 79 and was succeeded by his son Titus.
