Vespasianus, Titus Flavius

Japanese: ウェスパシアヌス（英語表記）Vespasianus， Titus Flavius

[Raw] 9. Reate
[Died] June 24, 79. Rome. Roman Emperor (reigned 69-79). A self-made soldier of knightly rank (equites), he rose to the throne and established the Flavian dynasty by putting an end to the civil wars following the death of Emperor Nero. His father was a tax collector (publicani). His brother served as prefect of Rome. In 39, he became a praetor. During the reign of Emperor Claudius, he gained the support of the influential Narcissus and successfully led the expeditionary force to Britain, becoming consul in 51. In 63, he became governor of Africa, where he engaged in heavy plundering, and thereafter he was always described as a greedy man. He gained the favor of Emperor Nero, and made the blunder of falling asleep while Nero was reciting his poems, but he was not punished. In 67, he went to suppress the Jewish revolt. In 68, a civil war broke out and Nero committed suicide. Galba and Otho were elected, but when they were killed, he set out to seize the throne, gaining the support of Egypt, Syria, and then the Danube Legions. In December of the same year, he defeated Vitellius in Rome, entered the city, and was recognized as emperor. He immediately began to establish his rule. He placed great importance on his son Titus, solidified the loyalty of the military, and rebuilt the economy. He demonstrated his greed by doubling taxes from the provinces and taking away privileges from Greek cities. He promoted the construction of public buildings and worked to enforce discipline. In 70, Titus put down a Jewish revolt. He also succeeded in stabilizing the frontier by eliminating unrest on the Rhine and in Britain. To make up for the weakness of being from an unknown family, he used oracles to publicize his own and his sons' authority, and worked hard to ensure the continuation of the dynasty. However, he had a good relationship with the Senate, and generously granted Latin rights and Roman citizenship to the people of the provinces, although it was for financial reasons, and he also worked to supply the Senate with human resources. He was a hard-working and frugal man, worthy of being considered a model Roman aristocrat, and was praised by the historian Tacitus. He liked the word "pax (peace)" to be inscribed on coins. He wished to become a god when he died, and was deified immediately after his death.

Source: Encyclopaedia Britannica Concise Encyclopedia About Encyclopaedia Britannica Concise Encyclopedia Information

Japanese:

[生]9. レアテ
[没]79.6.24. ローマ
ローマ皇帝 (在位 69～79) 。騎士身分 (エクイテス ) 出身のたたき上げの軍人から登位，ネロ帝没後の内乱を収拾してフラウィウス朝を開始した。父は取税人 (プブリカニ ) 。兄はローマ市長官をつとめた。 39年に法務官 (プラエトル ) 。クラウディウス帝時代，有力者ナルキッススの支持を得てブリタニア遠征軍の司令官となり成功を収め，51年には執政官 (コンスル ) に就任。 63年アフリカ総督として激しい収奪を行い，以後，常に貪欲な人物と評されるにいたった。ネロ帝の寵を得て，彼の詩の朗読中居眠りするという失態を犯したが，罰されることもなかった。 67年ユダヤの反乱鎮圧におもむく。 68年内乱が生じてネロが自殺し，ガルバ，オトーが立つとこれを承認しようとしたが，彼らも殺されるに及んで帝位獲得に乗出し，エジプト，シリア，次いでドナウ軍団の支持を得た。同年 12月ローマのウィテリウスを滅ぼして入城，皇帝と認められた。ただちに統治確立に着手。息子のチツスを重用して，軍隊の忠誠心を固め，経済再建を行う。属州からの徴税を倍加させ，ギリシア諸市の特権を奪うなどその貪欲さを発揮した。公共建築の建設を進め，綱紀粛正に努めた。 70年にはチツスがユダヤの反乱を制圧。さらにライン国境，ブリタニアの不安も一掃して辺境の安定に成功した。無名の家系出身の弱点を補うために，神託を利用して自身と息子たちの権威を喧伝し，王朝の継続実現に腐心した。しかし元老院との関係は良好で，属州民に対しても財政的見地からではあるが，ラテン権やローマ市民権を惜しみなく与え，元老院への人材補給にも努めた。勤勉，質実でローマ貴族の範とされるにふさわしく，史家タキツスにも評価されている。「パクス (平和) 」の語を好んで貨幣に打たせた。死にのぞんで神となることを望み，死後ただちに神格化された。

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