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Vespasian

Reece Period attributed: Period 4

Member of the The Flavians dynasty.

Coins for this issuer were issued from 69 until 79.

Titus Flavius Vespasianus was born in AD 9 and grew up on his grandmother's estate. He entered politics rather late and at the urging of his mother; he survived the reign of Gaius by flattering the emperor and commanded a legion in Germany for Claudius. He lost Nero's favour by failing to appreciate the emperor's musical recitals but was appointed to deal with the province of Judaea, where civil discontent was turning into open rebellion.

Vespasian got news of the succession struggles in Rome as Galba, Otho, and Vitellius made their bids for power. He sent troops to Italy and himself went to Alexandria to take control of Italy's grain supply. As soon as he had word of Vitellius' demise, Vespasian went to Rome himself and set about restoring the city that had suffered at the hands of the warring would-be emperors.

A popular emperor who was later deified, Vespasian treated all classes well and reformed the Senatorial order. He was remembered as just and fair, a welcome change after Nero and his successors. He died after catching fever on a visit to Campania.

Suetonius reports that Vespasian had a strong and well-proportioned body but always wore a strained expression on his face.

View all coins recorded by the scheme attributed to Vespasian.

Wikipedia derived information

Vespasian, was Roman Emperor from 69 AD to 79 AD.

Vespasian was the founder of the Flavian dynasty, which ruled the empire for a quarter century. Vespasian was descended from a family of equestrians, who rose into the senatorial rank under the emperors of the Julio-Claudian dynasty. Although he attained the standard succession of public offices, holding the consulship in 51 AD, Vespasian became more reputed as a successful military commander, participating in the Roman invasion of Britain in 43, and subjugating Judaea during the Jewish rebellion of 66 AD.

While Vespasian was preparing to besiege the city of Jerusalem during the latter campaign, emperor Nero committed suicide, plunging the empire into a year of civil war known as the Year of the Four Emperors. After the emperors Galba and Otho perished in quick succession, Vitellius became emperor in April 69 AD. In response, the armies in Egypt and Judaea declared Vespasian emperor on July 1.

In his bid for imperial power, Vespasian joined forces with Mucianus, the governor of Syria, and Primus, a general in Pannonia. Primus and Mucianus led the Flavian forces against Vitellius, while Vespasian gained control of Egypt. On 20 December, Vitellius was defeated, and the following day Vespasian was declared emperor by the Roman Senate.

Little information survives about the government during the ten years Vespasian was emperor. His reign is best known for financial reforms following the demise of the Julio-Claudian dynasty, the successful campaign against Judaea, and several ambitious construction projects, such as the Colosseum. Upon his death in 79, he was succeeded by his eldest son Titus..

Wikipedia page: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vespasian
This data is sourced from dbpedia, and as such should be treated with caution

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