Titus Flavius Vespasianus

Titus Flavius Vespasianus was born on December 30, 39 CE, in Rome, to Vespasian and Domitilla the Elder. He had two younger siblings, Domitilla the Younger and Titus Flavius Domitianus (Domitian). He served in the Roman legions in Britannia and Germania, before leading a legion under his father’s command in Judaea. Vespasian left him to finish taking Judaea while he went to Rome to take the imperial seat, and Titus destroyed the Second Temple completely, leaving only one wall standing. Taking all the treasure of the Temple, including the great golden menorah, with him to Rome, he left, as an insult, the Legio X Fretensis, who had a boar (pig) as one of their mascots, to guard Jerusalem and keep people from the remains of the dismantled Second Temple. He succeeded his father as Emperor and ruled for two years until his death on September 13, 81 CE, though it was believed that he was killed by his brother, Domitian. He was married twice, first to Arrecina Tertulla, who died giving birth to his only living child, Julia Flavia, and second to Marcia Furnilla.