From an equestrian family that rose to senatorial rank under the Julio-Claudian dyansty; Vespasianus - as he was then called - earned much renown through his military record. He first served during the Roman invasion of Britain in 43 CE; and was later sent by Emperor Nero to conquer Judea in 66 CE; during the Jewish rebellion.

During his siege of Jerusalem; news came to him of Nero's suicide and the tumultuous civil war that happened afterwards; later known as the Year of the Four Emperors. When Vitellius became the third emperor in April 69; the Roman legions of Egypt and Judea declared Vespasian the new emperor. Marching to Rome; he defeated and executed Vitellius; becoming emperor and ending the Year of the Four Emperors.

He ruled the Roman empire for 10 years; building the Flavian Amphitheatre; known nowadays as the Roman Colosseum; as well as enacting various reforms to the empire. He died in 79 CE; and his son Titus became the next Roman emperor; starting the Flavian dynasty and making Vespasian the first emperor to be directly succeeded by his own natural son.