Titus Flavius Vespasianus (December 30, 39–September 13, 81), also known as Titus, was a Roman Emperor (79-81) of the Flavian dynasty.

Titus was a successful general, who crushed the Jewish Rebellion in 70, and a good emperor, whose most remarkable actions are the public building program in Rome and the relief of the suffering caused by two accidents, the Mount Vesuvius eruption of 79 and the fire of Rome of 80.


Early life and military successes

Titus was born in Rome as the elder son of the later Emperor Vespasian and Domitilla the Elder.

In 61 to 63 he was military tribune in Britannia and Germania. In 64 he returned to Rome and married Arrecina Tertulla, daughter of a former commander of the Praetorian guard who died after a year of marriage. Titus then took a new wife of a much more distinguished family, one Marcia Furnilla (one daughter, Julia Flavia). Marcia's family was too closely linked to the opposition to Nero. Titus took fright at the failed Pisonian conspiracy of 65 and severed the connection by divorcing his wife. He never re-married.

Titus' triumph after the First Jewish-Roman War was celebrated with an arch, the Arch of Titus in Rome, which shows the treasures taken from the Temple, including the Menorah.

Titus accompanied Vespasian to the east in 67 to put down the Jewish Rebellion, in which he served as commander of Legio XV Apollinaris. When Galba was murdered Titus won over Mucianus, governor of Syria, to the Flavian cause, and worked with him and others to launch Vespasian's bid for power. In 69, the Year of the Four Emperors, Vespasian returned to Rome to claim the throne, and left Titus behind to put down the rebellion, which he did in 70 with four legions. Jerusalem was sacked; the Temple was destroyed and much of the population was killed or dispersed. While in Jerusalem he also began a love affair with Berenice of Cilicia, daughter of Herod Agrippa. He was awarded a triumph upon his return to Rome in 71. The triumphal Arch of Titus, which stands at one entrance to the Roman Forum, memorializes this triumph. He held various consulships under his father and also served as prefect of the Praetorian Guard, ensuring their loyalty to the emperor. These events were recorded in dramatic detail by the historian Josephus in his work The Jewish War.


Emperor

Titus succeeded his father as Emperor in 79, although some Senators were opposed to his relationship with Berenice, whom they compared to a new Cleopatra. However, he was an effective emperor and was well-loved by the population. He stopped the treason trials and punished the delatores (public informants), and held expensive gladiatorial games. In addition to his arch (not to be confused with the Arch of Titus constructed under Domitian shortly after his death), he also essentially completed the Colosseum, and built his namesake baths on the former site of Nero's Domus Aurea. Titus was emperor during the eruption of Mount Vesuvius in 79 and the consequent destruction of life and property in the cities and resort communities around the Bay of Naples, such as Pompeii and Herculaneum. In 80 there was a fire in Rome; Titus spent large amounts of money relieving victims of both the volcano and the fire. He visited Pompeii just after the eruption, and again the following year. His reign also saw the rebellion led by Terentius Maximus, the False Nero who resembled Nero in voice and appearance, and sang like him to the lyre. Terentius was soon forced to flee beyond the Euphrates, and took refuge with the Parthians .

After just two years, Titus died of a fever, possibly poisoned by his physician Valens on behalf of Domitian, or due to malaria. He was deified by the Senate and was succeeded by his brother, Domitian. Titus's reputation has prospered in contrast to the character of Domitian, whose persecutions were detailed by the contemporary historian Tacitus, and he was used as a model by later emperors, especially those known as the Five Good Emperors.

According to the Babylonian Talmud (Gittin 56b), a mosquito flew in Titus' nose and picked at his brain. When he died, they opened his skull and found a mosquito the size of a bird. This was interpreted as divine retribution for his wicked actions, and had caused his death. Some Jewish commentators, however, do not take this literally.

                       

Courtesy of: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Titus