Titus: Conqueror of Jerusalem

Titus led the brutal Roman siege and capture of Jerusalem in AD 70 and as emperor had to respond to one of history’s greatest natural disasters – the eruption of Vesuvius in 79 that buried Pompeii. Fighting on behalf of his father the Emperor Vespasian, Titus led the Roman forces in the dreadful half-year siege of Jerusalem that devastated the city and killed or enslaved many thousands of its population. His support was vital to Vespasian over the next decade, when the new dynasty’s achievements included the construction of the Colosseum – paid for with loot from Jerusalem. During his own short reign (79–81), he dealt with the Pompeii tragedy and also a dreadful plague and fire in Rome. His swift and effective handling of these challenges and the completion of the Colosseum in 80 earned him much public favour. He died unexpectedly in 81, but the legacy he left behind was enduring. But who was the Emperor Titus? Was he a true ruler or merely his father Vespasian’s shadow? This illuminating biography unravels his remarkable life and reign, from the bloodied streets of Jerusalem to the grandeur of Rome’s imperial court. This is a must-read that will appeal to enthusiasts of Roman history and curious readers looking to learn more about one of Rome’s most influential emperors.