CARS 2/23

Reading: Suetonius, Vespasian:

• his brother was city prefect at Rome, while ves. became emperor

  • history of military ranking in family

• he was born 5 yrs before death of Augustus

  • he liked his gma

  • ran for senate , militsry tribune, he earned quaestorship ni Crete and Cyrenaica

  • tried for aedileship twice, only got 6th, but when tried praetorship, he was popular choice

  • teachers pet w senate

• married flavia domitille, had 3 kids, 1 died along w flavia

• was indebted to narcissus for command of a legion in germany - went to britain, fought 30 battles, subjugated 2 warlike tribes, and captured over 20 towns -earned triumphal decorations

  • priesthoods and consul

  • when Judaea was announced ruler of the world, jews thought it meant them when it didn’t, so they rebelled, ves. commanded the army against them

• after nero and galba died, he remembered his want to be emperor

  • during his aedileship, he didnt keep streets clean, was punished

  • many omens about his emperorship

• he didnt do anything until 2,000 soldiers for otto told him to, they selected him → it didnt do anything but word got out →Egyptian legions took oath for him

  • 3 things helped him: possibly forged letter from otto saying save rome, rumor of transporting legions, and support of Licinius who promised to give him many things

• civil war →defeated Vitellius and he died

  • ves. felt lack of authority as emperor, when men asked him to heal them, he hesitated, but it worked

• triumph over jews, 8 more consulships, and then censor

  • he wanted foundation of common wealth to be good

  • tightened discipline at every turn

  • many buildings burned, so he said anyone can build on them, rebuilt capitol

• worked on many new buildings

  • reformed equestrian and senatorial orders - there were too many murders

• gave old law suits to board of commissioners

• more discipline within living - woman don’t take slaves as lovers if they want freedom

• didn’t like outward show, didnt claim tribunicial power until later in reign

• was patient, didnt hold grudges or need to execute people wanting his power, no one innocent was punished, very empathetic when they were punished

• doubled money he took from provinces tho, he took their money- he was greedy, he was shady w how he got his $$

• he was generous, paid teachers’ annual salary, paid more for consul, made sure classes could buy their food

• revived former musical performances after new theatre opened

• he was mean

• good health, stern face

• ask friends to come over in morning, urgent business, nap, dinner

• liked to joke

• during 9th consulship, had fevers, had irritated stomach but carried on w duties, had diarrhea and then collapsed

• he had confidence in his horoscope, and when rumors of his murder, he said his sons would succeed him