Many people know the phrase that money does not smell. Titus (emperor) heard it for the first time from his father. It was this phrase that Vespasian said to the fact that his son was surprised that the ruler decided to make the public toilets of Rome paid.
Titus was the son and successor of Vespasian. In history, it is customary to call them that way, although their full names are completely identical (Titus Flavius Vespasian). To avoid confusion, one is called Vespasianus Flavius (father) and the other Titus Flavius (son).
Who was Titus and what else did he have in common with his father, besides the name and imperial title?
Young years
Born in 39 Titus Flavius. Vespasian was his father and his mother was Domitilla. Titus became the first emperor of Rome, who inherited power from his own father. But it will happen much later. He spent his younger years at the court of Claudius and Nero. This was due to the dangerous situation in Rome with the strengthening of powerAgrippins.
After the death of Agrippina, Flavius was able to return to Rome. His military career began on the lands of Britain and Germany. Titus (future emperor) received the post of military tribune, and later took over the questura. His father also started his career in the same way.
During the disturbances in Judea, Nero sent Vespasian to settle the situation. Titus went with his father, he began to command the legion. In Judea, a young man established himself as a military leader.
Being a man of power, Titus wanted more. When another struggle for power began in Rome, Titus decided to promote his father Vespasian to the emperor. First, he waited for time, then he attracted the influential Syrian ruler to his side. His plan succeeded, his father became emperor in 69.
Role in the Jewish War
Vespasian left Judea, entrusting the main command to his son. While in Judea, Titus started a relationship with the daughter of Herod Agrippa the First, the beautiful Berenice. He later took her with him to Rome. However, this did not stop him from destroying Jerusalem. And he did it with great cruelty.
Titus returned to Rome in triumph, he became co-ruler with his father. Officially, he took the post of prefect of the guard, but could interfere in government affairs, use tribune power.
Under the reign of Vespasian, Titus was suspicious and merciless. He killed those who seemed to him dangerous for the power of his father. Once he invited the consul Aulus Tsetsina to his meal and ordered him to be killed. The Romans did not like the excessive cruelty of Titus. Besides, theythey feared that his companion (Jew from Judea) would later become Augusta.
Reign
Vespasian died in 79 (1st century), and Titus took his place. The public was negative about his rule. To remedy the situation, the emperor took the following measures:
- severely punished informers;
- held luxurious games for the people;
- pardoned those who were accused of insulting the emperor.
Titus (Emperor of Rome) reformed the justice system. Under his reign, it became exactly what it is studied today as Roman law. Under him, not a single Roman senator was arrested. Although before that there was a practice not only to arrest them, but also to execute them. He also supported special programs whose task was to provide assistance to victims of disasters.
Titus (emperor) ended his reign in 81. Death came upon him suddenly. He died of a fever in the same villa as Vespasian. At that time he was forty-two years old.
Tit was married twice, from his second marriage he had a daughter. Therefore, his younger brother Domitian became his successor.
Good memory of Titus
The reign of Titus lasted only two years. During this time (1st century) there were three most famous events in the history of Ancient Rome:
- The world's largest stadium was built and opened - the Flavian Amphitheater, which everyone knows by the unofficial name of the Colosseum.
- Happenedthe eruption of Vesuvius that killed Pompeii.
- Rome was almost completely destroyed by fire and rebuilt.
For all his merits after the death of Titus (emperor) was deified by the Senate. The decision was taken at a special hearing, which was held every time after the death of the ruler. The Senate decided how the descendants would treat the deceased historical person. Some they cursed (Nero, Caligula), while others deified. After that, the Romans did not change the decision made by the Senate.
