50 pages • 1 hour read
SuetoniusThe Twelve Caesars
Nonfiction | Book | Adult | Published in 121A modern alternative to SparkNotes and CliffsNotes, SuperSummary offers high-quality Study Guides with detailed chapter summaries and analysis of major themes, characters, and more.
The Deified VespasianChapter Summaries & Analyses
Sections 1-4 Summary
After a civil war in which three emperors quickly rose to and fell from power, Vespasian and his Flavian dynasty provided the empire with stability. Vespasian was the first emperor who did not come from an aristocratic background. Instead, his family included lower-rank military officials and tax collector, although Suetonius suggests Vespasian’s family may have had some pedigree. He rose through the ranks of the army until he was made governor of Africa and was later sent to put down a Jewish revolt.
Sections 5-7 Summary
According to Suetonius, Vespasian was aware of omens suggesting he was going to be emperor one day. Still, he was reluctant to try his hand until he received a message from Otho begging him to seek revenge against Vitellius. So Vespasian marched on Italy, took Rome, and became emperor.
Sections 8-24 Summary
Vespasian enacted several reforms designed to repair the damage to the empire by civil war. He was an “unassuming and tolerant” (Section 12) emperor who endured his critics and was not vengeful. Suetonius states that the only criticism against him was greed, which caused Vespasian to raise taxes and sell political offices. However, Suetonius adds that Vespasian was motivated to restore the imperial treasury after Nero’s extravagance and the civil war. In terms of personality, Vespasian was known for his sense of humor. He died after a short illness.
“The Deified Vespasian” Analysis
In contrast to the losers in the Year of the Four Emperors, Vespasian (9 CE-79 CE) was not burdened by allegations of decadence or violence. In contrast, Suetonius discusses Vespasian’s commitment to clemency and not seeking revenge against his critics. While Suetonius does find it necessary to mention that Vespasian used unpopular methods to raise revenue for the government, he takes pains to explain that Vespasian did so to restore the wealth of a government that had been impoverished by war. Even though Vespasian knew through omens that he was destined to become emperor, he only acted to seize the imperial office once he received a letter from Otho pleading for vengeance against Vitellius. This makes Vespasian the only one of the four emperors who sought the imperial office for any honorable motive.
Suetonius also admits that Vespasian may have come from a common background, although he cites the existence of some monuments that suggest Vespasian’s family had a more distinguished ancestry. In any case, Suetonius carefully details Vespasian’s military career, proving his suitability for imperial office.
