When Nero died, the Julio-Claudian dynasty came to a close and a civil war broke out from 69 to 70 AD to determine who would control Rome. The two most powerful families in Rome were the Flavians and the Vitellians, and they met in battle on the Capitoline Hill where the Flavians emerged victorious. During the battle Rome's oldest and most sacred shrine, the Temple of Jupiter Capitolinus, was destroyed. The Flavian victory instituted the Flavian dynasty (Vespasian, Titus and Domitian).

Vespasian was the son of a tax collector and became a successful general. Once he became emperor, he proved to be an able administrator and a tolerant leader. He proudly stated that he was able to transition from sleep to work in only 30 seconds. He began to rebuild Rome after the year of civil war which followed Nero's death. He dismantled Nero's Domus Aurae and filled it in with dirt. While emperor, his son, Titus continued Vespasian's attempts to put down rebellion in Judea, and Titus in fact captured Jerusalem and sacked the Jewish temple there. Vespasian used the spoils from this war to fund the construction of the Colosseum, built where a lake from Domus Aurae once was. The Roman people loved it; not only was Nero palace dismantled, but the land was used for a huge entertainment palace for the people. Vespasian also built the Temple of Peace as he ushered in a new era of peace on par with the achievements of Augustus

    

Vespasian, in the National Museum of Rome - Palazzo Massimo
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Vespasian, in the Capitoline Museum's Hall of the Emperors
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Vespasian, in the National Museum of Rome - Palazzo Massimo
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Vespasian, in the Palazzo Altemps
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Portrait of Vespasian, possibly a late reworking or 17th century fake, in the National Museum of Rome, Palazzo Altemps
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Vespasian, in the Hall of the Emperors of the Palazzo Nuovo of the Capitoline Museum
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Bust of Vespasian, in the National Museum of Rome, Terme di Diocleziano (Baths of Diocletian)
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• Started building the Colosseum
• Is honored by the Temple of Vespasian and Titus in the Roman Forum
• Constructed the Temple of Peace in 71 AD after the capture of Jerusalem.
• Repaired the Aqua Claudia and Aqua Anio Novus, which had been built under Caligula and Claudius.
• An army loyal to Vespasian burned down the Temple of Jupiter in 69 AD, but he had it rebuilt in 75 AD.

• My Vespasian photos