Titus

Titus Flavius Vespasianus was the Roman emperor from 79 to 81 AD. He was the first emperor to succeed his biological father, Vespasian, who was also an emperor. Titus was a member of the Flavian dynasty.

Before becoming emperor, Titus was known as a skilled military leader. He helped his father during the First Jewish–Roman War in Judea. In 70 AD, Titus besieged and captured Jerusalem and destroyed the Second Temple. This great victory was honored with a triumph, and the Arch of Titus still stands today as a reminder of this event.

When Titus became emperor after his father's death in 79 AD, he was remembered for his kindness and good leadership. He finished building the Colosseum and helped people during two big disasters: the eruption of Mount Vesuvius in AD 79 and a fire in Rome in 80 AD. Titus ruled for only two years before he died of a fever in 81 AD. After his death, the Roman Senate deified him, and he was succeeded by his younger brother Domitian.

Early life

Titus was born in Rome on 30 December 39 AD. He was the eldest son of Titus Flavius Vespasianus, known as Vespasian, and Domitilla the Elder. Titus had a younger sister named Domitilla the Younger and a younger brother named Titus Flavius Domitianus, known as Domitian.

The Flavian family rose to prominence during a time when Rome's old aristocracy was fading. Titus's grandfather, Titus Flavius Sabinus I, gained wealth and status through his work as a tax collector and banker. Vespasian, Titus's father, had a successful political career and was known for his role in the Roman invasion of Britain in 43. Titus grew up at the imperial court and showed talent in military arts, as well as skills in speaking and writing both Greek and Latin.

Adult life

Titus began his career as a military officer in places like Germania and Britannia. He later returned to Rome, where he got married and started a family. His life took a turn when he became involved in the war against the Jews in Judaea Province.

During this time, Titus fought bravely and helped his father, Vespasian, lead the Roman forces. They faced many challenges, including the death of the Roman emperor Nero, which led to a change in leadership. Eventually, Titus and his father became the new leaders of Rome. Titus played an important role in these events and later returned to Rome, where he was honored for his successes.

Emperor

Vespasian died of an infection in 79 AD and was succeeded by his son Titus, making him the first Roman emperor to follow his father. Titus was well-liked and known for his fairness. He stopped unfair trials that had troubled Rome for years, ensuring that no one was punished for speaking out against past emperors.

During Titus's short rule, natural disasters struck. Mount Vesuvius erupted, covering the cities of Pompeii and Herculaneum in ash. Titus helped the affected families and visited the ruins. He also completed the Flavian Amphitheatre, known today as the Colosseum, as a monument to his family’s achievements and to entertain the people of Rome.

Flavian family tree

The Flavian dynasty was a group of Roman emperors who ruled from 69 to 96 AD. The most famous members were Vespasian, his son Titus, and Titus’s brother Domitian. Titus became emperor after his father Vespasian died in 79 AD. He was the first emperor in Roman history to take over from his own father. Before becoming emperor, Titus was known for his skill as a military leader, especially during the war in Judea.

Legacy

Historiography

Titus was remembered by ancient historians as one of Rome's best emperors. Writers from his time, including those who knew him, spoke very well of him. One writer, Josephus, wrote about the war in Judea and Titus's role in it. Another writer, Suetonius, described Titus as a kind and generous ruler loved by everyone.

Later writers, like Cassius Dio, also spoke highly of Titus, noting that his short rule might have been a good thing because he didn’t have time to make mistakes.

In later arts

The life of Titus and the war in Judea inspired many artists and writers over the years. The Arch of Titus, for example, has been an important symbol in art showing the destruction of Jerusalem. This event has been a popular subject in paintings, plays, and books.

Literature

• The early mediaeval Christian text Vindicta Salvatoris, anachronistically portrays Titus as Roman client-king of Libya, north of Judah.
• Bérénice, a play by Jean Racine (1670), which focuses on the love affair between Titus and Berenice.
• Tite et Bérénice, a play by Pierre Corneille, which was in competition with Racine the same year and concerns the same subject matter.
• Titus and Berenice, a 1676 play by Thomas Otway
• La clemenza di Tito, an opera by Mozart, which centres around a plot to kill Emperor Titus instigated by Vitellia, the daughter of Vitellius, to gain what she believes to be her rightful place as Queen.
• The Josephus Trilogy, novels by Lion Feuchtwanger, about the life of Flavius Josephus and his relation with the Flavian dynasty.
  • Der jüdische Krieg (Josephus), 1932
  • Die Söhne (The Jews of Rome), 1935
  • Der Tag wird kommen (The day will come, Josephus and the Emperor), 1942
• The Marcus Didius Falco novels, which take place during the reign of Vespasian.
• Titus figures prominently in The Pearl-Maiden, a novel by H. Rider Haggard, first published in 1901.

Paintings and visual arts

• The Destruction of Jerusalem by Titus by Wilhelm von Kaulbach (1846). Oil on canvas, 585 x 705 cm. Neue Pinakothek, Munich. An allegorical depiction of the destruction of Jerusalem, dramatically centered around the figure of Titus.
• The Destruction and Sack of the Temple of Jerusalem by Nicolas Poussin (1626). Oil on canvas, 145.8 x 194 cm. Israel Museum, Jerusalem. Depicts the destruction and looting of the Second Temple by the Roman army led by Titus.
• The Destruction of the Temple of Jerusalem_La_distruzione_del_tempio_di_Gerusalemme-Francesco_Hayez_-gallerie_Accademia_Venice.jpg) by Francesco Hayez (1867). Oil on canvas, 183 x 252 cm. Galleria d'Arte Moderna, Venice. Depicts the destruction and looting of the Second Temple by the Roman army.
• The Siege and Destruction of Jerusalem by the Romans Under the Command of Titus, A.D. 70 by David Roberts (1850). Oil on canvas, 136 x 197 cm. Private collection. Depicts the burning and looting of Jerusalem by the Roman army under Titus.
• The Triumph of Titus and Vespasian by Giulio Romano (1540). Oil on wood, 170 x 120 cm. Louvre, Paris. Depicts Titus and Vespasian as they ride into Rome on a triumphal chariot, preceded by a parade carrying spoils from the war in Judaea. The painting anachronistically features the Arch of Titus, which was not completed until the reign of Domitian.
• The Triumph of Titus by Lawrence Alma-Tadema (1885). Oil on canvas. Private collection. This painting depicts the triumphal procession of Titus and his family. Alma-Tadema was known for his meticulous historical research on the ancient world. Vespasian, dressed as Pontifex Maximus, walks at the head of his family, followed by Domitian and his first wife Domitia Longina, who he had only recently married. Behind Domitian follows Titus, dressed in religious regalia. An exchange of glances between Titus and Domitia suggests an affair which historians have speculated upon.
• Rear Panel of the Franks Casket. Northumbrian, early 8th century. Whale's bone carving with Anglo-Saxon runic inscription, 22.9 x 19 cm. British Museum, London. Titus leads Roman army into Jerusalem and captures Temple. Inhabitants flee into exile, judgement is passed on offenders, and captives are led away.