Titus ( 39 AD to 81 AD)

The future Roman emperor Titus was born on December 30 in the year 39 AD to the future Roman emperor Vespasian and Domitilla He was the eldest of three children.During his younger years his family's life was quite modest because of their standing but drastically improved during the reign of Claudius due to the emperors favour to the Flavian family.As a result of this favour, Titus was educated in the court of Claudius and he studied with the emperors son ,Britannicus.It is because of this privilaged court education that Titus was put on the path that would lead him on the path of a senator and eventual emperor.

Vespasian was in Judea when he was proclaimed emperor and Titus stayed in Judea to clear up the Jewish revolt for his father and ,upon his return to Rome, he celebrated a magnificant triumph for his victories in Palistine.During his fathers reign,Titus shared in all honours and powers of his father because of Vespasian's wish for a new Flavian dynasty.During Vespasians reign,Titus shared the tribunician power as well as seven consolships with his father and he shared the office of Censor also.Vespasian also made Titus Praetorian Prefect which was responsible for the army in Rome.

When Vespasian died in 79 AD, Titus became the next emperor of Rome which made the people of of Rome a bit aprehensive.Titus had the reputation of being harsh during his term as praetorian prefect as well as a known love affair with a Judean woman and rumours of sexual debauchery which surrounded him.It is because of these qualities that the people "feared Titus was another Nero."

Upon his ascention to power,however,Titus completly changed and became kind and gentile to everyone and immediately became loved by the people.It is said that ,because of his peace loving nature,if Titus did not do anything to help someone on one day he would say "my friends,I have lost a day."

Upon his ascention to the throne,Titus had a series of commemorative coins of previous emperors struck,most notably Augstus and Claudius, probably to show that the Flavians were the true sucessors to the Julio Claudians.He also set up a cult that would worship the divius Vespasian and built a temple to his dead father.Titus also finished construction on the Flavian ampitheatre and ,for it's opening,he held a huge series of games.Titus also constructed The Baths of Titus to the south east of the Collosseum and an arch commemorating his Judean victories.Also,Titus spent large amounts of money on civil improvements ,like road building,both in Italy and the provinces.

Anumber of disasters occoured during the reign of Titus ,most notably a great fire in Rome,a plague and the famous eruption of Mount Vesuvius which buried the nearby cities of Pompeii and Hercullanium.Titus spent large sums of money to rebuild the burnt parts of Rome and for relief for the victoms of the plague and of Vesuvius.It is because of these disasters and his response to them that Titus's reputation for genorosity became known.

Titus ,however,did not live long enough to see the results of his actions because he died in his Sabine villa in September in 81 AD after a reign of only 26 months.He was mourned by the people and immediately diefied by the senate.There were suspicions that Titus's sucessor and brother,Domitan ,had something to do with his death but these accusations could never be proven and Domitan became the next emperor in 81 AD.