As his father Vespasian was being invested as emperor, Titus was subduing a rebellious Judea. His role in the campaigns in Judea is recorded by the historian Josephus (who favored the Romans and may have embellished Titus's actions). Within four weeks Titus was within the city of Jerusalem, with just the inner city gates and the Temple remaining to be conquered. He built a siege wall, starved out the people within the inner walls, burned the Temple, and massacred the captives. He spent the following winter touring the east with both his legionaries and prisoners to demonstrate the power of Rome. He 'entertained' by throwing the captives to beasts at games or by forcing them to fight one another as though they were trained gladiators.
When Titus finally returned to Rome, a massive triumph was celebrated. A triumphal arch, still to be seen in the Forum today, recorded the shame of his deeds, deeds of which he was so proud.
Titus had been educated alongside the imperial family because of his father's lofty positions during the reigns of Claudius and Nero. Once he returned to Rome, he was given positions of power and, upon his father's natural death, Titus assumed the full role of emperor. He continued his father's building programs; initiated road rebuilding and expansion in the empire; sent large sums to southern Italy after the disastrous eruption of Vesuvius; rebuilt much of Rome after another devastating fire; and managed finances so well that he left Rome with a surplus in the treasury. He died a natural death after just a few short years of rule.
Meet the emperors face-to-face here in A Portrait Gallery
Sources:
The Oxford Classical Dictionary
http://www.roman-emperors.org
-- J.Jahnige, November 2003 (revised 2006)
| Copyright © 2012, KET |