#13 – Titus, Roman Emperor (79-81)

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The conquest of Jerusalem would see Jews forced out of their holy city. It would take almost 1900 years for Jews to regain long term control of the city once again. 10/10

But the most memorable event of his reign was the eruption of Mount Vesuvius, obliterating the Roman cities of Pompeii and Herculaneum. 9/10

One of the most iconic monuments of Ancient Rome, the Colosseum, was completed during the reign of Titus. Its construction had started a decade earlier during his father's reign. 8/10

After Vespasian died in 79, Titus succeeded him. A promising reign was cut short by the new emperor's death in 81, at the age of 41. His brother, Domitian, would succeed him. Though Domitian would be killed by the Romans in 96, the Roman imperial culture was now set it stone. 7/10

Vespasian would regain Roman rule in Europe. When Nero had died, the empire reached a precipice. But it was clear now that the empire was here to stay. It would take another 400 years for imperial rule in Rome to collapse. 6/10

Crisis at Rome averted, Titus returned to Judea and besieged Jerusalem, destroying the Jewish Temple. The Jewish defector, Josephus, one of the many historians of the Flavian period whose writings have survived, provided a detailed account of the Jewish war. 5/10

Before Vitellius could lay a proper hand on the throne, Vespasian's troops proclaimed him as the new emperor. With two adult sons, the continuity of the new dynasty was assured as well, unlike his predecessors. The fledgling empire got a new leader. 4/10

The first to the throne was a politician named Galba. Aged 72, he and his adopted heir was quickly disposed of by Otho, who then took the throne. But by then Vitellius and his troops were approaching Rome very fast. Vespasian and Titus watched cautiously from Judea. 3/10

The death of Nero without an heir meant Rome had no ruler. Since Augustus became Imperator in 26 BC, he and his successors (by blood and by adoption) had ruled the vast Roman Empire. Titus had to go back to Rome to pay homage to the new emperor, on Vespasian's behalf. 2/10

Titus Flavius Vespasianus was born in 39 AD in Rome. A career soldier, he accompanied his father, Vespasian, to the Roman province of Judea in 66 to suppress a rebellion. The death of Emperor Nero would set Titus on a path back to Rome. 1/10