Titus

Titus (Titus Flavius Sabinus Vespasianus) , AD 39-AD 81, Roman emperor (AD 79-AD 81). Son of Emperor Vespasian, Titus was closely associated with his father in military campaigns, and after AD 71 he acted as coruler with the emperor. He served in Britain and in Germany and captured and destroyed Jerusalem in AD 70. On succeeding his father he pursued a policy of conciliation and sought popular favor. A benevolent ruler, he stopped prosecutions for treason and was lavish with gifts to his subjects, a practice that caused financial difficulties for his successor. He completed the Colosseum and built a luxurious bath. During his reign there occurred two disasters—a great fire in Rome and the eruption of Vesuvius, which buried Pompeii and Herculaneum. On both occasions Titus was active in lending aid to the distressed. Although Titus was not friendly with his brother and successor, Domitian , there is no reason to believe the rumor that it was Domitian who arranged his death. The Arch of Titus, now restored and standing outside the ancient entrance to the Palatine, was erected by Domitian to commemorate Titus' conquest of Jerusalem.

Bibliography: See biography by B. W. Jones (1984).

Titus1 (ad 39–81), Roman emperor, son of Vespasian. In 70 he ended a revolt in Judaea with the conquest of Jerusalem; he fell in love with the Jewish Queen Berenice, daughter of Herod Agrippa, who accompanied him back to Rome, although he was forced by the disapproval of his own people to send her away.
Arch of Titus a triumphal arch, commemorating the capture of Jerusalem by Titus, erected in the Forum at Rome by Titus's brother and successor Domitian.

Titus (ad 39–81) Roman Emperor (r.79–81), eldest son of Vespasian. In ad 70, he captured and destroyed Jerusalem after a Jewish revolt. As Emperor, Titus stopped persecutions for treason, completed the Colosseum in Rome, and provided aid for the survivors after the eruption of Vesuvius (79). He was succeeded by Domitian.