Titus

Titus, Roman emperor

Titus (Titus Flavius Sabinus Vespasianus) (tī`təs), A.D. 39–A.D. 81, Roman emperor (A.D. 79–A.D. 81). Son of Emperor Vespasian, Titus was closely associated with his father in military campaigns, and after A.D. 71 he acted as coruler with the emperor. He served in Britain and in Germany and captured and destroyed Jerusalem in A.D. 70. On succeeding his father he pursued a policy of conciliation and sought popular favor. A benevolent ruler, he stopped prosecutions for treason and was lavish with gifts to his subjects, a practice that caused financial difficulties for his successor. He completed the Colosseum and built a luxurious bath. During his reign there occurred two disasters—a great fire in Rome and the eruption of Vesuvius, which buried Pompeii and Herculaneum. On both occasions Titus was active in lending aid to the distressed. Although Titus was not friendly with his brother and successor, Domitian, there is no reason to believe the rumor that it was Domitian who arranged his death. The

Arch of Titus, now restored and standing outside the ancient entrance to the Palatine, was erected by Domitian to commemorate Titus' conquest of Jerusalem.

Bibliography

See biography by B. W. Jones (1984).

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Titus, in the Bible

Titus, in the Bible, early Christian, a missionary and friend of St. Paul. According to later tradition he was a bishop in Crete.

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Titus, epistle of the New Testament

Titus, letter of the New Testament. With First and Second Timothy, it comprises the Pastoral Epistles, purportedly written by St. Paul. Titus resembles First Timothy in detail; it consists of points regarding the regulation of church government, while stressing the need for the continuation of Pauline teaching.

Bibliography

See J. D. Quinn, The Letter to Titus (1990).

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Titus

 in full Titus Vespasianus Augustus orig. Titus Flavius Vespasianus

(born Dec. 30, AD 39—died Sept. 13, 81) Roman emperor (79–81). He commanded a Roman legion in Judaea under his father, Vespasian. After Vespasian became emperor (69), he gave Titus full command in Judaea, whereupon Titus captured and destroyed Jerusalem (70). He later took charge of the empire's general military operations. As emperor he developed goodwill in Rome for his extravagant spending; his projects included the completion of the Colosseum. He died suddenly, probably from natural causes, though there were rumours that he was poisoned by Domitian.

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Titus¹

1. New Testament

a. Saint. a Greek disciple and helper of Saint Paul. Feast day: Jan. 26 or Aug. 25

b. the book written to him (in full The Epistle of Paul the Apostle to Titus), containing advice on pastoral matters

2. full name Titus Flavius Sabinus Vespasianus. ?40--81 ad, Roman emperor (78--81 ad)

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Titus²

New Testament the epistle written by Saint Paul to Titus, his Greek disciple and helper (in full The Epistle of Paul the Apostle to Titus), containing advice on pastoral matters

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Titus 

(Titus Flavius Vespasianus). Born A.D. 39; died A.D. 81. Roman emperor who reigned from 79 to 81. A member of the Flavian dynasty; son and successor of Vespasian.

As coruler with Vespasian, Titus conducted a campaign against the opposition of the aristocratic Senate in the period A.D 73–79. Yet after he became emperor, he ruled with the Senate’s consent. Titus spent lavish sums for relief and reconstruction after the plague and fire in Rome in 80 and after the eruption of Vesuvius on Aug. 24, 79, which destroyed the cities of Pompeii, Herculaneum, and Stabiae. He was also generous with gifts and in sponsoring popular entertainments and public construction projects, among which were the Coliseum and several thermae. Titus is said by classical authors to have been a splendid emperor; Suetonius (Titus, 1) called him “the darling of mankind.”