Vespasian was brn in the Sabine country. He was born in a small village... on the evening of the November 14, five years before the death of Augustus. He was brought up under the care of his paternal grandmother.... After assuming the toga of manhood, he, for a long time, made no attempt to become a senator, even though his brother was. His mother finally nagged him into joining the senate. She drove him to it by poking fun at him, rather than by pleading or instructions. She constantly taunted him as being his brother's 'footman'! (An assistant to a senator). 

Source: Suetonius. Second century CE. Life of Vespasian. 2. (trans. J. C. Rolfe. 1914. Harvard University Press: Cambridge and New York, pp. 281-321.) [Accessed via Fordham University Internet Sourcebook. URL: https://sourcebooks.fordham.edu/ancient/suetonius-vespasian.asp.] (Adapted for a Year 7 audience.) 

During the reign of Claudius, he was sent to command a legion in Germany... from there, he was transferred to Britain, where he fought 30 battles with the enemy. He reduced to subjection two powerful nations, more than 20 towns, and the Isle of Wight, near Britain. ... For this, he received a triumphal uniform, and shortly after, two priesthoods and the consulship, which he held for the last two months of the year. 

Source: Suetonius. Second century CE. Life of Vespasian. 4. (trans. J. C. Rolfe. 1914. Harvard University Press: Cambridge and New York, pp. 281-321.) [Accessed via Fordham University Internet Sourcebook. URL: https://sourcebooks.fordham.edu/ancient/suetonius-vespasian.asp.] (Adapted for a Year 7 audience.) 

On the tour through Greece, among the companions of Nero, he bitterly offended Emperor Nero by either walking out while Nero was singing or falling asleep if he stayed. He was banished from Nero's close group of friends and even from his public banquets. Vespasian withdrew to a little out-of-the-way town, where he hid in fear of his life, until he was offered the position of general of an army. 

Source: Suetonius. Second century CE. Life of Vespasian. 4. (trans. J. C. Rolfe. 1914. Harvard University Press: Cambridge and New York, pp. 281-321.) [Accessed via Fordham University Internet Sourcebook. URL: https://sourcebooks.fordham.edu/ancient/suetonius-vespasian.asp.] (Adapted for a Year 7 audience.) 

There had spread all over the East an old and established belief that it was fated at that time for the Jews in Judaea to rule the world. ... Accordingly, they revolted and, after killing their governor, they routed the consular rule of Syria as well. ... Since they needed someone to put down this rebellion who had a considerable army, and a leader who wasn't too ambitious, yet one who had enough power to be entrusted with such a risk, Vespasian was chosen for the task. He was a man of tested energy and no one wise was afraid of him, because of his obscure family and name. ... Vespasian took his elder son, Titus, as one of his lieutenants... At once, he reformed the discipline of the army and fought one or two battles with such daring that, when storming a fortress, he was wounded in the knee with a stone and received several arrows in his shield. 

Source: Suetonius. Second century CE. Life of Vespasian. 4. (trans. J. C. Rolfe. 1914. Harvard University Press: Cambridge and New York, pp. 281-321.) [Accessed via Fordham University Internet Sourcebook. URL: https://sourcebooks.fordham.edu/ancient/suetonius-vespasian.asp.] (Adapted for a Year 7 audience.) 

Vespasian made no moves, although his followers were quite ready and even urgent — until he was roused to it by the accidental support of men unknown to him and at a distance. ... Accordingly, the names of all the consular governors who were serving anywhere were taken up, and since objection was made to the rest for one reason ro another, some members of the third legion.... highly commended Vespasian. They unanimously agreed on him and forthwith inscribed his name on all their banners. .... Then, the army in Judaea swore allegiance ot him personally.

Source: Suetonius. Second century CE. Life of Vespasian. 5-6. (trans. J. C. Rolfe. 1914. Harvard University Press: Cambridge and New York, pp. 281-321.) [Accessed via Fordham University Internet Sourcebook. URL: https://sourcebooks.fordham.edu/ancient/suetonius-vespasian.asp.] (Adapted for a Year 7 audience.) 

The empire, which, for a long time has been unsettled and as it were drifting through the usurpation and violent deaths of three emperors, was at last taken in hand and given stability by the Flavian family. 

Source: Suetonius. Second century CE. Life of Vespasian. (trans. J. C. Rolfe. 1914. Harvard University Press: Cambridge and New York, pp. 281-321.) [Accessed via Fordham University Internet Sourcebook. URL: https://sourcebooks.fordham.edu/ancient/suetonius-vespasian.asp.] (Adapted for a Year 7 audience.) 

He discharged many of the reckless soldiers under Vitellius and punished many.... He made provinces of Achaia, Lykia, Rhodes, Byzantium, and Samos... He sent additional legions to Cappadocia, because of the constant attacks of the barbarians.... As the city was unsightly from fires and fallen buildings, he allowed anyone to take possession of vacant sites and build upon them, in case the owners failed to do so. He began the restoration of the Capitol (Temple) in person, was the first to lend a hand in clearing away the debris, and even carried off some of it on his own head. He undertook to restore 3,000 bronze tablets (which were destroyed with the temple), making a thorough search for copies: priceless and most ancient records of the empire. ... He also undertook new works: the Temple of Peace... also an amphitheatre (the Colosseum) in the heart of the city. 

Source: Suetonius. Second century CE. Life of Vespasian. 8-9. (trans. J. C. Rolfe. 1914. Harvard University Press: Cambridge and New York, pp. 281-321.) [Accessed via Fordham University Internet Sourcebook. URL: https://sourcebooks.fordham.edu/ancient/suetonius-vespasian.asp.] (Adapted for a Year 7 audience.) 

In other matters, he was unassuming and lenient from the very beginning of his reign to the end. He never tried to conceal his country-bumpkin background. He even showed it off! ... He bore the frank language of his friends, the quips of pleaders, and the snobbery of the philosophers with the greatest patience. ... He was not inclined to remember or to avenge offences or his enemies.

Source: Suetonius. Second century CE. Life of Vespasian. 13-14. (trans. J. C. Rolfe. 1914. Harvard University Press: Cambridge and New York, pp. 281-321.) [Accessed via Fordham University Internet Sourcebook. URL: https://sourcebooks.fordham.edu/ancient/suetonius-vespasian.asp.] (Adapted for a Year 7 audience.) 

 ... He was generous to all classes... restoring to a better condition many cities throughout the empire which had suffered from earthquakes or fires, and in particular, encouraging men of talent and the arts. He was the first to establish a regular salary of a hundred thousand sesterces for Latin and Greek teachers of rhetoric... He also presented eminent poets with princely prizes and great rewards, and artists, too... To a mechanical engineer, who promised to transport some heavy columns to the Capitol Hill at a small expense, he gave no mean reward for his invention. ... He gave constant dinner parties, too... He gave gifts to women on the Kalends of March, and to the men on Saturnalia. 

Source: Suetonius. Second century CE. Life of Vespasian. 13-14. (trans. J. C. Rolfe. 1914. Harvard University Press: Cambridge and New York, pp. 281-321.) [Accessed via Fordham University Internet Sourcebook. URL: https://sourcebooks.fordham.edu/ancient/suetonius-vespasian.asp.] (Adapted for a Year 7 audience.) 

 ... In his ninth consulship, he had a slight illness in Campania, at returning at once to the city, he left for the country, where he spent the summer every year. There, in addition to an increase in his illness, he contracted a bowel complaint by too free use of cold water. Nevertheless, he continued to perform his duties as emperor, even receiving embassies while he lay in bed. Taken on a sudden with such an attack of diarrhoea that he nearly fainted, he said, "An emperor ought to die standing," and while he was struggling to get to his feet, he died in the arms of those who tried to help him, on June 23, at the age of 69 years, 1 month, and 7 days. 

Source: Suetonius. Second century CE. Life of Vespasian. 24. (trans. J. C. Rolfe. 1914. Harvard University Press: Cambridge and New York, pp. 281-321.) [Accessed via Fordham University Internet Sourcebook. URL: https://sourcebooks.fordham.edu/ancient/suetonius-vespasian.asp.] (Adapted for a Year 7 audience.)