Roman Emperor (69-79), founder of the dynasty flavienne. In Latin Titus Flavius Vespasianus. Resulting Flavia people, middle-class family of Reate, in the country sabin, Vespasien is thus neither Roman nor aristocrat.

Initially military powerful orator in Thrace, questeur in Crete, then praetor, he becomes legate of legion into Germanic and Brittany, where he gains many successes.

Elected official consul in 51, he becomes governor of Africa into 62, then commander-in-chief in Judaea where he represses the revolt of the Jews (67-68). Its obscure origins and its military competence make of him, with the eyes of the emperor, an effective chief but without political ambitions. 

With the death of Néron, Galba seizes the power, but soon of the revolts burst in the empire. No law of succession exists; also, are this the all-powerful armies which defend the borders which will impose a new emperor. After one year of civil war, Vespasien, putting fine at the bloody fights which oppose Galba with Othon, then this last with Vitellius, is proclaimed emperor of the Romans into 69.  

The beginning of its reign is marked by an undeniable resumption in hand of the empire. After being itself given a quasi divine origin of saver to strengthen his authority, it proceeds to the reform of the Senate by calling upon the provincial ones of middle-class origin, which it opposes to the old declining Roman aristocracy installed by Néron. Each year, it is made elect consul with his Titus son, in order to gradually impose heredity like principle of succession on the imperial function.  

On the internal plan, it proceeds to many reforms justice finances. It reconstitutes the treasure by new taxes on the provinces or by the sale of the loads of magistrate. It even institutes, to get money, a tax on the urines, which one supposes that they were used for the tanning of leathers and the dyeing of the fabrics: it indeed makes install on the public highway of large terra cotta vases as paying urinals, which it would have justified by the famous one “Money has no smell” that one allots to him.  

On the military level, Vespasien applies a strict discipline to the armies; it institutes the recruitment of the legions in the provinces where they exert their control; it reinforces safety at the borders of the empire: the purpose of the annexation of the fields Décumates, territories ranging between the higher courses of the Rhine and the Danube, is to better protect the border from the empire in Central Europe. Leaving to his/her Titus son the care to finish the head office of Jerusalem (70), Vespasien reorganizes the Roman East by creating the province of Judaea, and continues the conquest of Brittany (current Great Britain).  

In Rome even, after the destruction which marked the reign of Néron and the civil war, Vespasien, which, according to Suétone, encourages the “talents and arts”, makes rebuild Capitole and undertake the construction of new buildings: Colisée, the temple and the forum of Peace and the temple devoted to Claude.  

Contrasting with its predecessors by his simple life, even its avarice, its modest and courageous character, its taste for justice, Vespasien leaves the empire with his/her sons, Titus then Domitien, which form with him the dynasty of Flaviens. Its reign supported the increasing intervention of the middle-class in the public life of Rome and the decline of the old aristocracy.