TITUS, FLAVIUS SABINUS VESPASIANUS (A.D. 40 or 41-81), Roman Emperor 79-81, son of the emperor Vespasian, was born on Dec. 3o, A.D. 4o (or 41). As a young man he served with credit in Germany and Britain, and had command of a legion under his father in the Jewish War. In 68 he was sent by his father to congratulate the newly proclaimed emperor Galba, but hearing of Galba's death he returned to Palestine. The next year Vespasian, having been proclaimed emperor, went to Italy, leaving Titus to carry on the siege of Jerusalem, which was cap tured on Sept. 8, 7o. On his return to Rome he and his father celebrated a triumph, recorded by the "Arch of Titus." For the rest of Vespasian's reign he was associated with him in the gov ernment with the title of Caesar. During this time he was not popular, and he outraged public opinion by his connection with Berenice, sister of Herod Agrippa; both of them came and lived in the palace for a while, but Titus had to send her back. He suc
ceeded his father in 79, and falsified the pessimistic prophecies of his detractors. He put an end to prosecutions for treason, ban ished the informers, and became pontifex maximus to avoid shed ding blood. He was notably lenient to Domitian, who plotted against him. The Flavian amphitheatre (Colosseum) was finished in his reign, and he built new baths in Rome. He visited Pompeii when it was destroyed in 79, and contributed to its relief ; during his absence there was a three days' fire in Rome, and he again gave his assistance. The empire was peaceful during his reign. The only fighting was in Britain, where Agricola conquered as far as the Tay. Titus died on Sept. 13, 82.
See Suetonius, Titus; Dio Cassius lxvi. 18-26; C. Beule, Titus et sa dynastie (187o) ; L. Double, L'Empereur Titus (1877) ; Merivale, Hist. of the Romans under the Empire (ch. 6o) ; H. Schiller, Geschichte der romischen, Kaiserzeit, i. vol. 2.