The Jewish War provided Vespasian with an opportunity which he was not slow to seize. Judfea had always been a hot-bed of dissension, more particularly since the commencement of Roman rule. There were disputes between the Jews and the Syrians, risings, Messianic expecta- tions, and dissatisfaction with the procuratorial administration. All these causes contributed to the colossal rebellion against Rome. Gessius Floras, who became procurator of Judiea in 64, outraged Jewish feeling in every possible way, particularly by robbery and massacre. Cestius Gallus, governor of Syria, after a short success against Jerusalem, was forced to retire. War could not then be avoided. Nero felt compelled to recall Vespasian to Court as the only suitable man to inflict the deserved punishment on the Jews. The precise status conferred upon Vespasian is uncertain ; he was to co-operate with Licinius Mucianus, the competent but ambitious governor of Syria. Sending his sou Titus very early in 67 to bring a legion from Ale.xandria, he himself went from Nero's quarters in Acliaia over the Hellespont by land to Syria, and collected the Roman forces there. From Antioch he inarched to Ptolemais, where Titus joined him. Their combined forces amounted to three legions, twenty-three cohorts, six squadrons, and a large number of Asiatic au.xil- iary troops, or a total of 60,000 men. His first aim was to subdue Galilee, and in this campaign the most important phase was the stubborn siege of Jotapata. Jaffa was taken about 26th June, and Jotapata, after about 40 days' resistance, was captured about 2nd July. Among the captives taken was Josephus, the commander of the Jewish forces in Galilee, and the future historian of the war, who was kindly treated by Vespasian. On 5tli Jiil.y Vespasian left for Ptolemais, and thence he went to Coesarea on the coast. There he put two legions into winter quarters, and sent the third to Scythopolis. Certain of the troops were sent to be- siege Joppa, the headquarters of the Jewish pirates. Vespasian himself joined Herod Agrippa at Caisa- rea Philippi, and after twenty days marched against the cities Tarichea and Tiberias, which had revolted from him. Titus brought the army from Cfesarea and met his father at Scythopolis. The Roman party in the city surrendered Tiberias
VESPASIAN
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to Vespasian. Vespasian came to Tariuhea after Titus had besiej;ed it. A small naval vittoiy was won by tlie liomans. After the capture of Tari- cliea, Gamala anil Gischala were also taken, anil the rebellion, so far as Galilee was concerneil, was crusheil.
One le;;ion being sent to Scythopolis, with the oilier two he marched again to Ca'.sarea on the const. Jamnia and Azolus were besieged, and thus in the end of ()7 .lerusalcm was cut oil' from the sea. In the winter of ()7-US Vespasian made ar- rangements for the government of the besieged district, and began to employ his army against the capital. His ]ilan was to destroy ,all opposition elsewhere before proceeding to the siege of the capital, a plan necessitated by due regard for his coiinnunications. So he took (iadara, '27th February (is, and left the rest of Penea to be coniiuered by a subordinate, Placidus. Having heard re])orts of the rising of Vindex in G,-uil, he returned hurriedly from C^sarea by Antipatris, 'I'haniMa, l.vilda, and Jamnia to Animaus, where be established one of his legions. Proceeding to Iduma^a, he left troops there, and marched by Amniaus through Samaria to Jericho, where he arrived about '24th June OS. The city fell into his hands. After a visit to the Dead Sea, he established various camps in Judsea, in order to surround Jerusalem on all sides.
On returning to Ca^sarea he learned. of Nero's murder. The news delayed his advance on Jerusa- lem. When the further news of Galba's accession came, it was necessary for him to await Galba's orders, because Nero's arrangements had by his death become null and void. He sent Herod and Titus to Rome to obtain these orders. Titus' departure followed in the hr.st half of 69. In Corinth he learned of the murder of Galba, of the arming of Vitellius, and of the accession of Otiio. Leaving Herod to go on his way, Titus returned to Vespasian at Csesarea. The armies of M\ician and Vespasian had already taken the oath of allegiance to Otho. Meanwhile tlie war languished. On returning to Ciesarea from a short journey to the neighbourhood of Jerusalem, Vespasian learned that Vitellius had become Emperor, having been recognized as such by the senate on 19th April. Vespasian and Vitellius were personal enemies, and the former was not ready to submit to the eleva- tion of the latter without a, struggle, in spite of his distance from the centre of the Empire and the conseiiuent dilKculty of ojierations. Vespasian's hesitation was removed by the attitude of his troops, who were jealous that the German legions had been able to create an Emperor. They received with absolute silence A'^espasi.an's proposal that they should take the oath to Vitellius. The sup- port of Mucian removed the last trace of Ves]iasian's hesitation. The charm of Titus had brought the two erstwhile jealous governors into friendly re- lations ; so that it may be said that Titus got the Empire for his father. Vespasian had made sure of thesupport of the jircfectof Egypt, Tiberius Julius Alexander, and now wrote to tell him that he was making a bid for the Empire, and counted on his support. It was this Alexander who in Alexandria on 1st July G9 proclaimed Ves])asian Emperor, and ni;ide the two legions in Egypt take the oath to him. It was not till '2'2nd December that the senate conferred all the titles and jirivileges of Emperor upon him, such as the t fibunicia }n)fcstaSy the title 'pater patriit!,' the supreme ])ontificate, etc. As Em])eror, Vespasian held the ordinary consulship eight times. The censorship was held by Vespasian and Titus together in 7.S.