Latest / The Story of Italy: Rome, Renaissance, and the Birth of Modern Europe — Fexingo History / The Roman Shepherd Who Became Emperor
Transcript
- Lucas: So last time we talked about the Colosseum as a piece of engineering, but the man who built it, Vespasian, is a pretty remarkable story in his own right. He's the one who rose from a shepherd to emperor, which sounds like a legend, but it's actually well documented. Luna: A shepherd? Really? How does a shepherd end up on the throne of Rome? Lucas: Well, he wasn't born in a hut, but his family were from the Sabine hills, not far from Rome. His grandmother was a nut, and his father was a tax collector, which was not a glamorous job. But Vespasian was ambitious, and he climbed the ladder through the military and the Senate. Lucas: He served in the army in Germany and then in Britain under Claudius, where he actually made a name for himself. By the time Nero was emperor, Vespasian was a respected general, but he hadn't really distinguished himself in politics. He was known for being blunt and practical, not flashy. Luna: So how did he become emperor then? Was it just because he was a good general? Lucas: Well, Nero's death in 68 CE left a power vacuum, and the empire went through what we call the Year of the Four Emperors. Galba, Otho, and Vitellius each seized the throne in quick succession, but none of them lasted long. The legions in the east, especially in Judaea where Vespasian was commanding the campaign against the rebellion, they had a different idea. Lucas: In July 69, the legions in Alexandria and then in Judaea proclaimed Vespasian emperor. He wasn't even in Rome, but he had the backing of the eastern armies, and crucially, he had the support of the governor of Syria, Mucianus. They marched on Rome, and by the end of the year, Vitellius was dead, and Vespasian was the undisputed emperor. Luna: Wow, so he basically won by military force, not by any political maneuvering in the Senate. Lucas: Exactly. The Senate had tried to assert their authority, but they really didn't have the power to back it up. The army was the real kingmaker. Vespasian was smart, though. He knew he needed to legitimize his rule, so he went back to the Senate and made a deal that gave him the legal authority he needed, while they got some of their prestige back. Lucas: He also did something very Roman: he rebuilt the state's finances. The treasury was nearly empty after Nero's extravagance and the civil wars. Vespasian famously started a tax on urine, which was used in tanning and laundering, and when his son Titus complained about it, Vespasian held a coin under his nose and said, 'Does it smell?' That line became a famous bit of imperial wit. Luna: That's a great story. So he was a practical guy, not above getting his hands dirty. Lucas: Absolutely. He was known for his frugality and his humor. He used public funds to build the Colosseum, which he located on the site of Nero's artificial lake, a kind of symbol that he was giving the land back to the people. He also reformed the army, the census, and the city administration. He really stabilized the empire after the chaos. Lucas: One of his most important moves was to deal with the rebellion in Judaea, which was still ongoing. He left his son Titus in charge of the campaign, and in 70 CE, Titus captured Jerusalem and destroyed the Temple. That was a decisive victory that brought a lot of prestige to the Flavians. Luna: The Temple in Jerusalem being destroyed is such a big event. How did that resonate in Rome? Lucas: For Rome, it was a triumph, a major military victory. They celebrated it with a triumph in 71, and the Arch of Titus in the Forum still shows the spoils taken from the Temple, including the menorah. For the Jewish people, it was a catastrophe, the beginning of a long exile. That's a painful legacy that continues to shape history. Lucas: Vespasian also made sure his sons would succeed him. He had Titus and Domitian share power with him, and he promoted them heavily. He was the first emperor since Augustus to clearly establish a dynasty, the Flavian dynasty, even though he wasn't from an aristocratic family. That was a break from tradition. Luna: It sounds like he was a stabilizing force, but what about the war itself? I mean, the rebellion in Judaea was a pretty brutal conflict. Lucas: It was. The First Jewish-Roman War, as it's sometimes called, lasted from 66 to 73, and involved lengthy sieges, famine, and mass casualties. The fall of Jerusalem in 70 was the climax, but the last stronghold, Masada, held out until 73. It's one of the most tragic episodes in Roman history. Lucas: Vespasian's role in that war, before he became emperor, was crucial. He was the general who pacified the region, and that military reputation is what gave him the credibility to claim the throne. His success in Judaea literally made him emperor. Luna: So it's like the war was his ticket to power. Lucas: Exactly. And he knew it. He celebrated the conquest with the Temple of Peace, which was a new building in the imperial forums, dedicated in 75. It was a symbolic gesture, saying that the empire was at peace after the turmoil of Nero and the civil wars. Lucas: Vespasian died in 79 of natural causes, which was a rarity for emperors. His last words were reportedly 'An emperor should die standing up,' and he tried to get up, but collapsed. It's a very Vespasian sort of end, practical, dignified, and a bit ironic. Luna: That's a perfect detail. So he reigned for about ten years, and set the stage for his son Titus, who would be remembered as a good emperor, even if his reign was short. Lucas: Right. Titus was beloved, especially for his generosity during the eruption of Vesuvius in 79, but he only ruled for two years. Then his brother Domitian took over, and he was a much more autocratic ruler, which eventually led to his assassination and the end of the Flavians. But that's a story for another time. Luna: It's amazing how a shepherd from the hills could become emperor. Was there any particular character trait that made him successful? Lucas: I think it was his pragmatism. He wasn't brilliant or charismatic, but he was solid, reliable, and he understood how to win loyalty. He also had a sense of humor that endeared him to the Romans. He could be blunt, but he was also fair, and he rebuilt the state's finances without overly burdening the poor if he could help it. Lucas: He also had a knack for surrounding himself with good people, like his son Titus and his general Mucianus. And he knew how to take a calculated risk, like when he accepted the throne despite the risks. That combination of steadiness and ambition is what made him a successful emperor. Luna: It's interesting how the empire, which had been ruled by patrician families, accepted a man from a fairly humble background. It shows that the system was more open than we might think. Lucas: Absolutely. Vespasian was a 'novus homo', a new man, like Cicero and Marius before him. He didn't have the pedigree, but he had the talent and the military backing. In many ways, he embodied the Roman ideal of upward mobility through merit, even if it was often more about connections and luck. Lucas: And that's something we see throughout Roman history - the tension between the old aristocracy and the new men who rose through their own efforts. Vespasian is a prime example of the latter, and his reign showed that you didn't have to be born to rule to be a good ruler. Luna: I was thinking about something you said earlier, about how Vespasian rebuilt the finances. It's like he was a practical accountant emperor, which is not the typical image of a Roman emperor. Lucas: That's a great way to put it. He was a taxman's son, so he knew the importance of money. He restructured the tax system, increased revenues, and even brought back taxes in the provinces that had been let lapse. He was obsessed with the bottom line, which was a good thing after the excesses of Nero. Lucas: He also commissioned the Colosseum, but he didn't use public funds for his own palace like Nero did. Instead, he built public works that benefited the people. He rebuilt the Temple of Jupiter, started the Temple of Peace, and improved the city's infrastructure. He was a builder, but he was pragmatic about it. Luna: And the Colosseum was funded by the spoils of the Jewish War, right? So it was like a symbol of his conquest, but also a gift to the people. Lucas: Exactly. He used the booty from Jerusalem to finance the construction. It was a brilliant piece of propaganda - he was taking the wealth from a foreign war and turning it into entertainment for the Roman citizens. It cemented his popularity and distracted from the more controversial aspects of his rise to power. Lucas: Speaking of that, we've been talking about Vespasian as a practical builder, but he also faced a lot of opposition. There were conspiracies against him, especially from senators who were unhappy with his blunt style and his crackdowns on corruption. He had to deal with multiple plots, and he did so with a combination of clemency and ruthlessness. Luna: Did he have to execute many people? Lucas: He did exile some and execute a few, but he was not as bloodthirsty as his predecessor Nero or his successor Domitian. He preferred to forgive when he could, but he also made examples of the most dangerous. It was a balancing act, and he managed it fairly well for a man who came to power through war. Luna: It's a compelling portrait of a man who was a reluctant emperor at first, but then grew into the role. Lucas: He did seem reluctant at first. According to the historian Suetonius, when the soldiers first proclaimed him emperor, he was hesitant, almost as if he didn't believe it. But once he accepted, he was determined. He even made a joke about his own humble origins, saying something like 'I'm not a great man, but I'll be a good emperor.' Luna: That's a great line. It's like he knew his strengths and weaknesses. Lucas: For sure. And that self-awareness is part of what made him effective. He didn't try to be someone he wasn't. He was a military man, a practical administrator, and a father. He brought a kind of groundedness back to the imperial office after the theatrical extravagance of Nero. Lucas: We've been talking about Vespasian's legacy, and I think it's worth mentioning that he and his sons have a lasting impact on Rome. The Colosseum is still a symbol of the city, and the Flavian Amphitheater, as it was called, was the largest ever built. It's a testament to his vision. Luna: It's amazing how one man's life can shape a city so profoundly. Lucas: And he did it from humble beginnings. It's a reminder that history is full of surprising turns, and that even a shepherd can become an emperor. That's what makes studying history so fascinating. Luna: Absolutely. Lucas: I know we've been talking about Vespasian a lot, and I want to remind our listeners that this kind of deep dive is only possible because of their support. If you enjoy these conversations, you can help us keep going by buying me a coffee at buy me a coffee dot com slash fexingo. It's a simple way to keep this podcast ad-free and independent. Luna: Yeah, we really appreciate the listeners who make this possible. It allows us to explore these stories in depth. Lucas: So back to Vespasian - one last thing. He was a man who used humor to defuse tension, and he had a really practical approach to ruling. His reign set the tone for the next several decades, and his dynasty, even with its ups and downs, brought stability back to Rome. I think that's a pretty remarkable legacy for a shepherd. Luna: It definitely is. Thanks for bringing his story to life, Lucas. Lucas: My pleasure. And we'll continue our journey through Italian history in the next episode. Until then, take care.