Vespasian

Family: Roman · Role: commander · First appears: Book III, Chapter 1

In Book III, Chapter 1, Nero appointed Vespasian to command the Roman armies in Syria: “Upon the whole, he sent this man to take upon him the command of the armies that were in Syria.” Vespasian gathered Roman forces and regional auxiliaries, while sending his son Titus from Achaia to Alexandria for the fifth and tenth legions. At Ptolemais, he found Agrippa with his forces, received Sepphoris’s support, and supplied the city with cavalry and infantry.

In Galilee, Vespasian prepared to besiege the opposing strongholds, and the army at Josephus’s camp at Garis dispersed before battle. He sent Placidus, Ebutius, Trajan, and Sextus Cerealis against different positions, then had Nicanor bring Josephus to him under strict guard. When Josephus declared, “Thou, O Vespasian, art Caesar and emperor, thou, and this thy son,” Vespasian investigated the prediction, came to believe it, and—after Titus urged him to preserve Josephus—treated him with honor, clothing, and precious gifts. He later accepted the submission of Tiberias, pursued its rebels with Agrippa, and at Taricheae ordered prisoners killed, sent six thousand young men to Nero for forced labor, and sold or gave the remainder into slavery.

Through Book IV, Vespasian continued the campaign across Gamala, Gischala, Gadara, Idumea, and Judea, sending commanders including Titus and Trajan, garrisoning Gadara, and accepting cities that came over to him. When the soldiers declared him emperor, he resisted for a long time before accepting; Tiberius Alexander then secured Egypt’s oath of fidelity, and Vespasian sent Mucianus to Italy. He released Josephus after recognizing the fulfilled prophecy, approved Titus’s advice to cut apart his iron chain, and sent Titus with a select army against Jerusalem.

Around 70, Vespasian was publicly acclaimed at Rome and shared a triumph with Titus. He appointed Petilius Cerealis to govern Britain, sent Rubrius Gallus against the Sarmatians devastating Mysia, and built the temple to Peace, placing the Jewish temple vessels there while ordering the Law and holy veils kept in the royal palace. Around 72, he released Antiochus to live at Lacedemon with royal revenues and allowed Epiphanes to come to Rome; later, with Titus’s concern, he cleared falsely accused Jews and punished Jonathan.