Sunday, August 17, 2014

Vespasian was the Roman general who would become an Emperor.

But to prove how much turmoil there was in Rome, there were approximately seven Emperors during the time of Jesus.

Augustus January 16, 27 BC – August 19, 14 AD

Tiberius September 18, 14 AD – March 16, 37 AD

Caligula March 18, 37 AD – January 24, 41 AD

First Christian Church established in 50 AD

Claudius January 25/26, 41 AD – October 13, 54 AD

Nero October 13, 54 AD – June 9, 68 AD

Galba June 8, 68 AD – January 15, 69 AD

Otho January 15, 69 AD – April 16, 69 AD

Vitellius April 17, 69 AD – December 20, 69 AD

Second Temple was destroyed 70 AD

Vespasian December 21, 69 AD – June 24, 79 AD

Actually nine emperors from the time of Jesus birth until his apostles were either dead or finished their work and simply old.

...February 67, (click here) to the command against the Jewish rebellion in Judaea, the scene of two disastrous Roman defeats in the previous year. The appointment was exceptional because Judaea had never before been garrisoned by a legionary army, and Vespasian was given three legions with a large force of auxiliary troops. For such an appointment Vespasian was regarded as a safe man—a highly competent general but one whose humble origins made it almost inconceivable that he would challenge Nero’s government should he win victories. As long as Nero was alive, this diagnosis was surely right. Vespasian conducted two successful campaigns in 67 and 68, winning almost all Judaea except Jerusalem. But on Nero’s death in June 68 he stopped fighting....

The currency of Rome looked a great deal like the one above with the bust of the Emperor. The currency is really the reason Rome commanded a ruling presence for so long. The Roman Legions were on the Dole. As long as they were paid, they were loyal. In order to keep the interest of the legions and to attract new members the pay was chronically an issue. Eventually, the Roman ruling class in Italy would run out of money and the Germanic tribes began to plunder them. Then the invasions were becoming more and more common and even the citizens of Rome began to destroy the city for their own wealth. This was the time Eastern Rome became the fortress to the Empire. But, it was also the time of the spread of monotheism.