Vespasian, the Emperor Who Didn't Want to Become a God

A History of Mankind (256)

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Vespasian (r. 69-79) was the first well-balanced adult to become princeps since Tiberius.

Caligula and Nero were foolish, cruel youngsters with empty Hellenistic dreams, while Claudius was a feeble old man easily controlled by ambitious courtesans; and none of the three short-reigning claimants who preceded Vespasian was particularly balanced, perhaps with Vitellius’ exception, according to the testimony of those who met them.