Vespasian Flashcards
Funny
Accession
Support of Governors and Generals:
Tiberius Alexander, governor of Egypt:
Tacitus: ‘threat of famine … Egypt of consequence’
Josephus: Egypt … greatest of consequence … supply of corn
Tacitus: Governor of Syria, Gaius Lucinius Mucianus : ‘found it more congenial to make an emperor than to be one’
Also had support of the Syrian legions (Under Lucianus who gives the threat of Vitellius swapping their places with the German Legions), Balkan legions, and Dalmatian legions
Josephus, 67: ‘you, Caesar, are emperor, you and your son here’
Administration
Tacitus: ‘Vespasian … waiting at Alexandria’ (Waited to leave governance to Mucianus and Domitian)
Dio: Mucianus headed acquisition of funds ‘inevitable unpopularity … diverting it to himself’
Law on the power of Vespasian (Inscription): ‘whatever … decreed … Caesar Vespasian Augustus before … treated … introduced … commons … Just as it was for [X] emperor’ (Gaius and Nero excluded)
Opposition
Helvidius Priscus:
Stoic Senator, voice of opposition (According to both Suetonius and Dio):
- Dio: Idea is harder to kill than a man … execution did nothing to stop the encroachment of Imperial autocracy (Helvidius … hated Vespasian … not leave him alone in public)
Suet: even after constant conspiracies - does not really list, just says, only real one to mention
Dio: subject of a conspiracy … Alianus … Marcellus
little detail on these modes of opposition
Relations with the Plebs
Plebs:
Suet: I must always ensure … working classes … money … food
Suet: stage scenery of the theatre … repaired
Chronicle of 354: ‘gave largesse of 18 Denarii’
Josephus: city like a temple
Character of Vespasian
Suet: Nothing could stop his flow of humour … deathbed joke … must be turning into a God!
Suet: Only fault … love of money
Dio: Spent little time in his palace … most … Gardens … Happy to receive anyone
Dio: ‘Titus complained on the tax imposed on urinals’ ‘does it smell bad … that’s strange … from urinals!’
Military Challenges
Judean revolts - became catatonic in 66, Vespasian sent, in 69 could no longer: Titus sent in his place after:
Suet: Added temple tax of 2 Drachma annually to [ay towards Paletine temple
Dio: began with ‘diplomacy’, then ‘reverted to military action’
Josephus Jewish war (Early book): States temple guards set fire to temple, in Jewish antiquities, states that Titus was responsible
Propaganda
Omens:
Tacitus: ‘though there was nothing to be gained by lying’ (On eyewitnesses after accession)
Dio: ‘healed two persons … stepped on his arm … spat in his eye’ - Tacitus: ‘only after the rise of the dynasty … people start believing them’
Denarius of 69 AD: Displayed Vespasian, Titus and Domitian collectively, support idea of collective dynasty: Many coins use Princeps Iuventutis
Pomerium Inscription of 75: ‘Augustus … Vespasian … extended the Pomerium’
Sillius Italicus: Vespasian ‘will restrain the Rhine’
Building Programmes
Flavian Amphitheatre:
Began by Vespasian, completed by Titus
Restoration of the Claudian Aqueduct: 71 (Name inscribed on the Aqueduct)
Temple of Peace:
Dio: Central to the city (Reflects the dynastical centrality)
Josephus: ‘beyond all greatest expectations’
Josephus: ‘decorated with statues … things … men … wander all over the world to see’
Pliny: ‘one of the loveliest buildings the world has ever seen’
Religion and Imp and foreign cults
Suetonius: Vespasian ‘visited the temple of Serapis’ Tacitus: ‘to consult the god on matters of …’ state / governance
Suet: his deathbed words on the Imp cult should be ‘exploited but not believed’
Suet: ‘restored the temple of Claudius’ that ‘Nero had pledged to do’ in 64 AD
Denarius of Vespasian, 71: displays priesthoods at 4 colleges and commemorates on the Reverse of the coin
Sestertius of Domitian, 71: Displays temple of Isis
Succession
Tacitus: either his sons follow … or no-one
Gave sons power in positions:
Dio: attempted diplomacy ‘reverted to military action’ (Titus being turned to deal with Syrian revolts)
Coinage mainly, in addition to important joint positions:
Denarius of Vespasian, AD 71: Displays Vespasian on a coin with both of his sons, est dynasty
Relations with equites and senate
Equites:
Tiberius Julius Alexander: Governor of Egypt, important position (Josephus: Egypt … greatest of consequence … supply of corn)
Senate:
Tacitus: Promoted men to senate for efficiency, suggests ‘in a bid for popularity’
Statius: suggests use of freedmen for imperial administration
Helvidius Priscus:
Dio: hated Vespasian …not leave him alone in public
