After the death of three successive emperors within one year via ancient Rome’s hyper-violence, Vespasian reigned as emperor from 69 AD to 79 AD and returned the empire to a time of relative stability and peace. The Roman historian Suetonius portrays Vespasian as an excellent administrator having a sometimes dry, sometimes ribald sense of humor. To provide a taste of this lively biography, below are quotes from the text along with my brief comments.

“While in attendance upon Nero in Achaia, he frequently withdrew from the theater while Nero was singing, and went to sleep if he remained, which gave so much offense, that he was not only excluded from his society, but debarred the liberty of saluting him in public. Upon this, he retired to a small out-of-the-way town, where he lay skulking in constant fear of his life, until a province, with an army, was offered him.” ---------- Now here is a man who follows his bliss. If he doesn’t like a performance, he either snoozes or leaves the theater. But, alas, he also understood Nero the singer is also Nero the sadistic and viscous emperor, so he hit the road and lived quietly on the outskirts under the radar.

“Returning now to Rome, under these auspices, and with a great reputation, after enjoying a triumph for victories over the Jews.” ---------- But after the death of Nero and the death of three other emperors in quick succession, he returns to Rome as emperor. Curiously, the destruction of the most sacred Jewish temple has enormous consequences for the Jewish people but, as far as Suetonius and the history of the Roman Empire, the defeat of the Jews is but one more blip in Roman domination.

“In other affairs, from the beginning to the end of his government, he conducted himself with great moderation and clemency. . . . And he was so little fond of external and adventitious ornaments, that, on the day of his triumph being quite tired of the length and tediousness of the procession, he could not forbear saying, "he was rightly served, for having in his old age been so silly as to desire a triumph; as if it was either due to his ancestors, or had ever been expected by himself."” ---------- Ha! Finally, an emperor who wasn’t cruel or sadistic. What a switch from what the Roman peoples suffered for many years.

“He bore with great mildness the freedom used by his friends, the satirical allusions of advocates, and the petulance of philosophers. Licinius Mucianus, who had been guilty of notorious acts of lewdness, but, presuming upon his great services, treated him very rudely, he reproved only in private; and when complaining of his conduct to a common friend of theirs, he concluded with these words, "However, I am a man."” ---------- How refreshing. A Roman Emperor who admits he is only human. With Vespasian we have none of that declaring himself a god.

“He bore with great mildness the freedom used by his friends, the satirical allusions of advocates, and the petulance of philosophers. Demetrius, the Cynic philosopher who had been sentenced to banishment, meeting him on the road, and refusing to rise up or salute him, nay, snarling at him in scurrilous language, he only called him a cur.” ----------- Even a humane response to an anti-establishment philosopher. Now that’s temperance and tolerance. The Greco-Roman Stoics would have been proud.

“It will scarcely be found, that so much as one innocent person suffered in his reign, unless in his absence, and without his knowledge, or, at least, contrary to his inclination, and when he was imposed upon. . . . He never rejoiced at the death of any man; nay he would shed tears, and sigh, at the just punishment of the guilty.” ---------- And Vespasian was humane to the point where he displayed compassion.

The only thing deservedly blameable in his character was his love of money. . . . When his son Titus blamed him for even laying a tax upon urine, he applied to his nose a piece of the money he received in the first installment, and asked him, "if it stunk?" And he replying no, "And yet," said he, "it is derived from urine." ----------- Turns out, Vespasian did have a vice – he loved money so much he even put a tax on urine! Oh well, nobody is perfect.

He was a great encourager of learning and the liberal arts. He first granted to the Latin and Greek professors of rhetoric the yearly stipend of a hundred thousand sesterces each out of the exchequer. He also bought the freedom of superior poets and artists, and gave a noble gratuity to the restorer of the Coan of Venus and to another artist who repaired the Colossus. ---------- Now that’s something! A Roman emperor who actually is a generous patron of the arts and learning. All in all, not such a bad time to be alive if you were a Roman citizen.


Suetonius available on-line: http://www.gutenberg.org/files/6400/6...