Spoils of War
This relief from the Arch of Titus in Rome was erected in the Forum in 81 by the emperor Domitian to commemorate Titus’s sack of Jerusalem following a rebellion there. Roman soldiers carry off treasures from the Jewish Temple.
Nero’s death began a chaotic year in Roman politics, as four different men briefly took control of the government. In the first book of his Histories, Tacitus (c. 56-c. 107) wrote that the era was “rich in disasters, frightful in its wars, torn by civil strife, and even in peace full of horrors.” Finally, Vespasian (9-79) won the backing of the Senate and restored order to the empire. He also founded the Flavian Dynasty, named for his gens, Flavius.
A member of the equites and a successful general, Vespasian ended revolts across the empire. He also reformed the army, taking in new recruits from Gaul and the Iberian peninsula and having more legions serve far from the lands where they lived. This reduced the risk of local politicians winning support from the legions and trying to undercut Rome’s authority.
In general, Vespasian tried to tie the western provinces more closely to Rome, so the people in those regions would identify with the empire and not with local concerns. He focused on strengthening the Roman Empire, rather than maintaining its existing borders. His sons Titus (39-81) and Domitian (51-96) largely continued this policy.
Although Vespasian and Titus were mostly well liked, Domitian made many enemies in the Senate, because he gave the equites and more non-Italians greater influence in the government. The emperor also exiled or killed some senators who opposed him. In addition, Domitian faced a revolt from a general commanding troops in Germany. Despite all these problems, though, on the whole Domitian and the other Flavian emperors did a good job of restoring order in Rome and preserving the empire’s strength.
World History
