Eldest son of Vespasian, and emperor of the Roman empire from 79-81 AD.
Titus was already a seasoned general when he was charged with putting down the First Jewish Revolt that ended in the destruction of Jerusalem and its Temple in 70 AD. Made coregent with his father, Titus succeeded to the purple when his father died in June 79. His reign was too short for him to make any significant contribution to the empire, but he was well-liked as an emperor for his generosity. Just two months into his reign, Mount Vesuvius on the Bay of Naples erupted violently on 24 August, destroying the city of Pompeii, burying it under tons of volcanic ash, and innundating the settlement of Herculaneum with a mudslide. Titus visited the site twice and used a considerable amount of his own money to care for the victims. A major fire in Rome the following year. This was following by similarly generous relief efforts which endeared him greater to his subjects. He died of a fever in 81 and was succeeded by his brother Domitian.
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