Page:Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire (1827) Vol 1.djvu/111

CHAP. III.
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Designation of a successor:In elective monarchies, the vacancy of the throne is a moment big with danger and mischief. The Roman emperors, desirous to spare the legions that interval of suspense, and the temptation of an irregular choice, invested their designed successor with so large a share of present power, as should enable him, after their decease, to assume the remainder without suffering the empire to perceive the change of masters. Thus Augustus, after all his fairer prospects had been of Tiberius:snatched from him by untimely deaths, rested his last hopes on Tiberius, obtained for his adopted son the censorial and tribunitian powers, and dictated a law, by which the future prince was invested with an authority equal to his own, over the provinces and the armies^[1]. Thus Vespasian subdued the generous mind of Titus.of his eldest son. Titus was adored by the eastern legions, which, under his command, had recently achieved the conquest of Judaea. His power was dreaded ; and, as his virtues were clouded by the intemperance of youth, his designs were suspected. Instead of listening to such unworthy suspicions, the prudent monarch associated Titus to the full powers of the imperial dignity ; and the grateful son ever approved himself the humble and faithful minister of so indulgent a father^[2].

The race of and the Caesars and the Flavian family.The good sense of Vespasian engaged him, indeed, to embrace every measure that might confirm his recent and precarious elevation. The military oath, and the fidelity of the troops, had been consecrated, by the habits of an hundred years, to the name and family of the Caesars: and although that family had been continued only by the fictitious rite of adoption, the Romans still revered, in the person of Nero, the grandson of Germanicus, and the lineal successor of

1. Velleius Paterculus, I. ii. c. 121. Sueton. in Tiber, c. 20.
2. Sueton. in Tit. c. 6. Plin. in Pratffat. Hist. Natur.