LIBER VIII DIVUS VESPASIANUS DIVUS TITUS DOMITIANUS DIVUS VESPASIANUS I. REBELLIONE trium principum et caede incertum diu et quasi vagum imperium suscepit firmavitque tandem gens Flavia, obscura illa quidem ac sine ullis maiorum imaginibus, sed tamen rei p. nequaquam paenitenda, constet licet Domitianum cupiditatis ac saevitiae merito poenas luisse. 2 T. Flavius Petro, municeps Reatinus, bello civili Pompeianarum partium centurio an evocatus, profugit ex Pharsalica acie domumque se contulit, ubi deinde venia et missione impetrata coactiones argentarias factitavit. Huius filius, cognomine Sabinus, expers militiae etsi quidam eum primipilarem, nonnulli, cum adhuc ordines duceret, sacramento solutum per causam valitudinis traduntpublicum quadragesimae in Asia egit; manebantque a See note on Galba, x. 3. A duty (portorium) of two and a half per cent. on imports and exports; cf. Jul. xliii, 1. BOOK VIII THE DEIFIED VESPASIAN, THE DEIFIED TITUS, DOMITIAN THE DEIFIED VESPASIAN I. The empire, which for a long time had been unsettled and, as it were, drifting, through the usurpation and violent death of three emperors, was at last taken in hand and given stability by the Flavian family. This house was, it is true, obscure and without family portraits, yet it was one of which our country had no reason whatever to be ashamed, even though it is the general opinion that the penalty which Domitian paid for his avarice and cruelty was fully merited. Titus Flavius Petro, a burgher of Reate and during the civil war a centurion or a volunteer veterana on Pompey's side, fled from the field of Pharsalus and went home, where after at last obtaining pardon and an honourable discharge, he carried on the business of a collector of moneys. His son, surnamed Sabinus (although some say that he was an ex-centurion of the first grade; others that while still in command of a cohort he was retired because of ill-health) took no part in military life, but farmed the public tax of a fortieth' in Asia. a imagines a civitatibus el positae sub hoc titulo: 3 KAAWC TEAWNHCANTI. Postea faenus apud Helvetios exercuit ibique diem obiit superstitibus uxore Vespasia Polla et duobus ex ea liberis, quorum maior Sabinus ad praefecturam urbis, minor Vespasianus ad principatum usque processit. Polla Nursiae honesto genere orta patrem habuit Vespasium Pollionem, ter tribunum militum praefectumque castrorum, fratrem senatorem praetoriae dignitatis. Locus etiam ad sextum miliarium Nursia Spoletium euntibus in monte summo appellatur Vespasiae, ubi Vespasiorum complura monumenta exstant, magnum indicium splendoris 4 familiae et vetustatis. Non negaverim iactatum a quibusdam Petronis patrem e regione Transpadana fuisse mancipem operarum, quae ex Umbria in Sabinos ad culturam agrorum quotannis commeare soleant; subsedisse autem in oppido Reatino uxore ibidem ducta. Ipse ne vestigium quidem de hoc, quamvis satis curiose inquirerem, inveni. II. Vespasianus natus est in Sabinis1 ultra Reate vico modico, cui nomen est Falacrinae,2 XV. Kal. Decb. vesperi, Q.3 Sulpicio Camerino C. Poppaeo Sabino cons., quinquennio ante quam Augustus excederet; educatus sub paterna avia Tertulla in praediis Cosanis. Quare princeps quoque et locum 1 Sabinis, ; Samnis, . 2 Falacrinae] Phalacrinae (-ne), . a A position held by tried and skilful officers, especially centurions of the first grade (primipili; C. I. L. iii. 6809, etc.). Cf. Vegetius, Epit. Rei Milit. 2. 10, is post longam probatamque militiam peritissimus omnium legebatur, ut recte doceret alios quod ipse cum laude fecisset. |