is the 1931st deathday of the Emperor Vespasian, who was arguably one of the best emperors to ever rule the Roman Empire.
Vespasian ascended to the throne from relatively unimpressive roots; his was a family only promoted to the senatorial class after the fall of the Republic. Although he had been consul prior to becoming emperor, he is more known for his military exploits, having been involved in major campaigns in both Britannia and Judea (as the areas were called in those days). He came to power during the period of unrest known as the Year of the Four Emperors, of which he was the last surviving contender for the throne.
As an emperor, and as a man, Vespasian was known for his forceful personality, his generosity, and his support for arts and letters. He rebuilt Rome after the civil war, adding many new buildings and public spaces, including the Colosseum and the new Roman forum. He favored leniency in dealing with political opponents and took criticism well. All in all, he was a man I should have liked to know, and a fine father to his people, rather like Caesar Augustus.
4 comments:
Sarah...you can tell me about great Roman emperors any day.
I didn't know you were especially interested in Ancient Rome; your historical interests seem to tend towards early modern Europe. Have you read Suetonius's De Vita Caesarum (The Lives of the Caesars, colloquially known as The Twelve Caesars)?
Could you read it to me as a bedtime story before tucking me in? :-)
It's not particularly bedtimey, you know. Unless you enjoy falling asleep to political intrigue and imperial family drama.
Post a Comment