Titus

Titus Flavius Vespasianus was the Roman emperor from 79 to 81 AD. He was part of the Flavian dynasty and became emperor after his father, Vespasian, passed away. Titus was the first emperor in Roman history to succeed his biological father.

Before becoming emperor, Titus was known as a skilled military leader. He helped his father during the First Jewish–Roman War in Judaea. One of his most famous achievements was capturing Jerusalem and destroying the Second Temple in 70 AD. For this success, he was honored with a triumph, and the Arch of Titus still stands today as a reminder of his victory.

When Titus became emperor, he earned praise for finishing the Colosseum and for his kindness during tough times. He helped people affected by the eruption of Mount Vesuvius in AD 79 and a fire in Rome in 80 AD. Sadly, Titus ruled for only two years before passing away from a fever in 81 AD. After his death, the Roman Senate honored him as a god, and he was succeeded by his younger brother, Domitian.

Early life

Titus was born in Rome on 30 December 39 AD. He was the eldest son of Titus Flavius Vespasianus, known as Vespasian, and Domitilla the Elder. Titus had a younger sister named Domitilla the Younger and a younger brother named Titus Flavius Domitianus, known as Domitian.

Titus came from a family that grew in importance during a time of change in Rome. His family, the gens Flavia, became well-known and respected. Titus's grandfather, Titus Flavius Sabinus I, gained wealth and status through his work, and married into a more respected family. His father, Vespasian, had a successful career and served in important positions. Titus grew up in the company of other young boys of noble families and showed promise in skills like speaking and writing in both Greek and Latin.

Adult life

Titus started his career as a military officer in places like Germania and Britannia. He married twice, first to Arrecina Tertulla and then to Marcia Furnilla. Unfortunately, both marriages ended, and Titus had at least one daughter.

In 66, the people of Judaea Province rebelled against Roman rule. Titus helped his father, the emperor Vespasian, lead the Roman army to stop the rebellion. They fought many battles and eventually surrounded the city of Jerusalem. After many hard fights, the Romans captured Jerusalem and destroyed its famous Temple. This victory made Titus very famous. When his father became emperor, Titus returned to Rome and became an important leader, helping to keep the peace and support his father’s rule.

Emperor

Vespasian died from an illness in 79 AD and was succeeded by his son Titus. Titus was the first Roman emperor to take the throne after his own father. He was known for his fairness and good behavior, which relieved many Romans who had heard bad rumors about him.

One of Titus's first actions as emperor was to stop unfair trials for treason. He declared that he could not be insulted because he did nothing wrong, and he protected even past emperors from false accusations. During his time as emperor, no senators were killed for political reasons. Titus also punished those who reported others unfairly and made sure people were not tried multiple times for the same crime. He became known for his kindness, and it was said that if he went a whole day without helping someone, he felt he had wasted the day.

Titus faced several big challenges during his short time as emperor. Not long after he became emperor, Mount Vesuvius erupted, destroying the cities of Pompeii and Herculaneum. Titus helped organize relief efforts and gave money from the treasury to those affected. There was also a big fire in Rome that burned parts of the city for three days. Titus again helped with recovery efforts. His reign also included a rebellion by someone who looked and acted like the former emperor Nero, causing some trouble in the eastern parts of the empire.

Titus began building the Flavian Amphitheatre, known today as the Colosseum, which was finished during his time as emperor. The Colosseum hosted grand games with gladiators, wild animal fights, and other entertainments. Titus also started building a new public bath house and honored his family by beginning work on a temple for his and his father’s legacy.

Titus ruled for just over two years before he fell ill and died. He was succeeded by his brother Domitian, who honored Titus after his death.

Flavian family tree

The Flavian dynasty was a group of Roman emperors that included Titus, his father Vespasian, and his brother Domitian. Titus became the first Roman emperor to succeed his biological father when Vespasian passed away in 81 AD. Before becoming emperor, Titus was known for his skill as a military leader, especially during the time he served with his father in a conflict in a place called Judaea. This period was also marked by big changes in Rome, including the end of another emperor's rule and the start of Vespasian's rise to power.

Legacy

Titus is remembered as one of Rome’s most respected emperors. Ancient writers, including Suetonius Tranquilius and Cassius Dio, praised his kindness and good leadership. He was loved by many people during his time as emperor.

The stories of Titus’s life, especially his time in Judaea, have inspired many artists and writers over the years. Paintings and plays often show scenes from the war in Judaea and Titus’s rule, keeping his memory alive in art and literature. Works like La clemenza di Tito by Mozart and books such as the Josephus Trilogy by Lion Feuchtwanger continue to explore his life and times.