Early Roman Empire, Flavian Dynasty, 09 Vespasian: Adjustments in the East, Domestic

The Euphrates, from an agreement probably first made in 96 BC, was the line dividing the east-west interests of the Parthians and Romans. Vespasian strengthened his grip on its west bank by blocking its east-west crossings with legionary bases at Satala (=Sadak, northeast), Melitene (=Battalgazi, central-southeast), Samosata (=Samsat, central-southeast) and Zeugma (=Belkis, southeast), all in modern Turkey. At the same time to improve frontier communications he also built connecting roads and bridges across the western tributaries.

However, this still left unprotected the three hundred miles of frontier between Zeugma and Black Sea. In 72 Vespasian removed the rulers of Lesser Armenia (southeast of Black Sea) and Commagene, and put them both under the administration of the ruler of Galatia, creating a larger unified command to guard against the Caucasian tribes to the northeast.

In 75 Vologases asked Vespasian for help against the Alani, who had burst through the Caucasian passes and invaded Armenia. Vespasian declined to get involved and Vologases, rebuffed, planned to attack Syria. Last minute manoeuvring by Syria’s governor, Marcus ⁰¹Ulpius Traianus (c.70; fl.67-<100), father of the future emperor Trajan, achieved a diplomatic solution and averted an all-out war.

Domestic

Vespasian’s reign was noted for its order and prosperity.  By increasing taxation and public sources of income, he restored financial stability and accumulated funds which he spent on public projects. Thus the building of the Colosseum, a structure that held ninety thousand spectators, was begun by him and finished by Titus in the year after his father’s death.

  From nearly the beginning of his reign, Vespasian had encountered resistance from a philosophic opposition. A principal figure was Helvidius Priscus, who had survived through the reigns of Nero, Galba, Otho and Vitellius; Cynic philosophers had played part in the opposition too. Sometime between 71 and 75 Vespasian, his patience having worn thin, banished and later executed Helvidius and expelled Stoic and Cynic philosophers from Rome. In 75 two expelled Cynics, Diogenes and Heras, slipped back into Rome. The former was flogged, the latter was beheaded.