What Roman commander was responsible for preparing the seige of Jerusalem, and why didn't he carry it out? +++++++++++ 09-17-02, 05:48 PM mozart56 Vespasian?He was proclaimed Emperor by it's troops?
09-17-02, 10:39 PM mahal Yes and yes, but not a complete answer.
There was one particular event that demanded Vespasian's attention, perhaps one of very few things that could keep a loyal commander from pressing for his victory, especially after having come so far.
09-18-02, 09:10 AM mozart56 The year of the 4 Emperors.I don't if that's the answer you were expecting.
Vespasian crushed the Jewish rebellion in Palestine. He then returned to Rome and left his son to destroy both the city of Jerusalem and in AD 73 to conquer Masada, the hilltop fortress near the Dead Sea where the Jews made their last stand. Vespasian's thriftiness restored the economy after the lavish expenditures of Nero. He recruited senators from among western provinces and also carefully ensured the loyalty of the military to the new dynasty he created, called the Flavians. Other important events of Vespasian's reign include the suppression of a formidable revolt (69-70) by the Germanic Batavians under their leader Julius Civilis; conquests in Britain by the Roman general Gnaeus Julius Agricola;
09-18-02, 01:14 PM mahal The only part missing from your answer:
"In response to rioting in Caesarea and Jerusalem that had led to the slaughter in the latter city of Jewish leaders and Roman soldiers, Nero granted to Vespasian in A.D. 66 a special command in the East with the objective of settling the revolt in Judaea. By spring A.D. 67, with 60,000 legionaries, auxiliaries, and allies under his control, Vespasian set out to subdue Galilee and then to cut off Jerusalem. Success was quick and decisive. By October all of Galilee had been pacified and plans for the strategic encirclement of Jerusalem were soon formed. [[9]] Meanwhile, at the other end of the empire, the revolts of Gaius Iulius Vindex, governor of Gallia Lugdunensis, and Servius Sulpicius Galba , governor of Hispania Tarraconensis, had brought Nero's reign to the brink of collapse. The emperor committed suicide in June, A.D. 68, thereby ensuring chaos for the next eighteen months, as first Galba and then Marcus Salvius Otho and Aulus Vitellius acceded to power."
While he was still in Caesarea, he received the news of Nero's death and the revolt in Rome. He returned to Rome to restore the empire.
09-19-02, 10:44 PM mahal Here's my original source from Josephus "Wars of the Jews", Book 4, chapter 9 (Whiston):
"Wherefore Vespasian put off at first his expedition against Jerusalem, and stood waiting whither the empire would be transferrred after the death of Nero. Moreover, when he heard that Galba was made emperor, he attempted nothing till he also should send him some directions about the war: however, he sent Titus to him, to salute him, and to receive his commands about the Jews. Upon the very same errand did king Agrippa sail along with Titus to Galba; but as they were sailing in their long ships by the coasts of Achaia, for it was winter time, they heard that Galba was slain, before they could get to him, after he had reigned seven months and as many days. After whom Otho took the government, and undertook the management of public affairs. So Agrippa resolved to go on to Rome without any terror on account of the change in the government; but Titus, by a divine impulse, sailed back from Greece to Syria, and came in great haste to Cesarea, to his father. And now they were both in suspense about the public affairs, the Roman empire being then in a fluctuating condition, and did not go on with their expedition against the Jews, but thought that to make any attack upon foreigners was now unseasonable, on account of the solicitude they were in for their own country." (from section 2)
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