Vespasian

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ingratiated himself with the ruling emperor, Caligula (Gaius
Caesar); and in the next reign, that of Claudius, he won the favour of the
powerful freedman Narcissus. He became commander of the Legio II Augusta,
which took part in the invasion of Britain in 43. After distinguished
conduct at the crossing of the Medway River, he was given charge of the
left wing of the advance; he proceeded to occupy the Isle of Wight and to
conquer tribes as far west as Devon, capturing more than 20 "towns." For
these achievements he was awarded triumphal honours and appointed to two
priesthoods, and in 51 he became consul. But, on Claudius' death in 54,
Narcissus, whose power had been waning, was driven to suicide; and for a
time Vespasian received no further appointment. About 63 he obtained the
proconsulate of Africa, where his extreme financial rigour made him so
unpopular that on one occasion the people pelted him with turnips. There
was no ground for suspecting personal enrichment, but the ...

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are
unknown, but the circumstances cannot but raise the question whether they
were already considering a bid for power. Vespasian seems to have claimed
that further operations against the Jews required a directive from the new
emperor, Galba. Such a claim may have been formally valid, but there may
have also been underlying political considerations. Vespasian did
eventually decide to accept Galba, whose noble descent, given the
standards of the day, would have been daunting to a man of Vespasian's
position in society. He therefore remained quiet and in the following
winter sent Titus to congratulate Galba.

The news of Galba's murder (Jan. 15, 69) reached Titus on his way ...

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