Vespasian
After Nero had died, the Roman Empire had overthrown in big
troubles. Three rulers, everyone supported by his legion, could
take control in 69 AC. But no one for a longer time until finally
Titus Flavius Vespasianus was chosen as emperor (69-79 AC). He
established so the Flavish-dynasty, after the Julish and Claudish,
which only had able emperors with Caesar and Octavian, had been
replaced.
The new ruler kept strongly the control of the empire.
Finally he had to, because the realm needed a strong leader which
was able to put it back to the sunny side. To improve the financial
situation, Vespasian tried all sorts of measures. The most
important were the repeal of the tax-liberty of the Greek provinces
and cities and the new-conquest of the region of the today's
Israel. A nice anecdote says, that Vespasian's son Titus, an able
commander, gave him the idea of asking for money for the public
toilets. After that, Vespasian hold a coin under Titus' nose and
said: "pecunia non olet", money doesn't smell bad.
Vespasion was also responsible for some changes of the
aristocracy-order. E.g. he raised many able Romans to the nobility
to give them a better chance to get a high duty. Conquests he did
in the whole empire. In Britain, Africa and the region of the
Danube, which extended the Roman Empire.
The old ruler didn't take himself for ingenious and not
for a god at all. Anyhow, for his good sense of humour, his saying
before dead reached him: "Oh, I believe - I become a god.", is
revealing.
Titus
Vespasian's oldest son had been chosen as his successor a long time
ago. Titus made history as a quiet, peaceful and man-liking
emperor. When one day he couldn't make someone happy, it was a lost
day for him: diem perdidi. He tried also hard to keep peace with
his brother.
During Titus' short ruling-period, Rome and Italy were
victims of terrible nature-catastrophes. Three blooming cities,
Pompeii, Herculaneum and Stabiae had been burried by the eruption
of the volcano Vesuv. One year later, a big fire raged in the
capital city of the Empire, which devastated many parts of the
city. So the Mars-field, the Capitol and the Pantheon. Titus proved
himself very well in these situations. He always wanted to stay
close to his people and to feel their pain with them.
When he died on September, 13th, only 42 years old, the
sorrow of his people was big and honest. Delicae generis humani -
the delight of mankind, like many contemporaries called him.
Domitian
Titus Flavius Domitianus had been, before he became emperor, all
the time in the shadow of his father Vespasian and his brother
Titus. Domitian never had been very popular, which depended
probably on his mistrustful, egoistic and unscrupulous nature.
Although Domitian had all these bad manners, we should underline,
that he had done many good things and he understood well to lead
the empire. Domitian showed the way for the rulers in future.
During his ruling-period, he deprived the senate of his
power always more and finally he managed to exercise the whole
censor's duty. What means, that only he could determine who is
member of the senate and who not. So Domitian could carry his plans
through without oppositions. However, the number of enemies outside
the senate had increased.
In the foreign policy, he followed the 'augistinish'
aims. Not absolutely defensive, but in defiance also not offensive.
Domitian made build a limes (military organised defence of the
frontiers) at the Rhine. Also in Britain and all else at the
Danube-frontier he leaded many battles. Neither in Britain nor at
the Danube he could obtain the deciding victory. There would be
others to do that.
To make himself popular with his people, he built a lot
of new buildings and made a lot of games (e.g. it was him who made
build the Amphitheatrum Flavium, the Coliseum).
Such investments had cost a lot of money, which had to
be recollected. So Domatian made collect the taxes as strict and
controlled as never before to improve the financial situation of
the empire. He also didn't scare of killing rich senators and
judges to get their money.
This terror leaded then to his murder. On September
18th a servant stabbed him to death in his bed. Because the sons of
his cousin were still too young, another emperor had to be chosen.
Marcus Cocceius Nerva. With that the Flavish Dynasty had
finished.
But Nerva could only reign for a little while - the
then 70 years old man died two years late and in the year 98 AC
they had to look for a new emperor. They didn't followed the old
tradition any more that the new emperor had to be member of Nerva's
family, but the new emperor would be adopted. So they looked for
the best successor and found Trajan, who stepped up his duty in 98
AC.