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Portrait bust of Titus  © Titus was the 10th emperor of Rome. His short reign was notable for the eruption of Vesuvius in 79 AD and the opening of the Colosseum in 80 AD.

Titus Flavius Vespasianus was born in Rome on 30 December 39 AD, the elder son of the future Emperor Vespasian. He was brought up in the court of Emperor Claudius as a companion to the emperor's son, Britannicus. Titus enjoyed a successful military career and in 67 AD went with his father to suppress the Jewish Revolt. In 69 AD, Vespasian returned to Rome to assert his claim for the imperial throne, leaving Titus to continue the campaign. In 70 AD, Jerusalem was sacked, the Jewish temple was destroyed and much of the population killed or dispersed.

When Titus returned to Rome, Vespasian groomed him for the succession, sharing his powers with him to an unprecedented degree. Titus succeeded his father in 79 AD, and continued his policies. He enjoyed excellent relations with the Senate and was popular with the people for the lavish games he put on. The Colosseum was opened in 80 AD.

He responded generously with disaster relief after the eruption of Vesuvius, which occurred two months into his reign, and after a serious fire and a plague at Rome in 80 AD. Titus died on 13 September 81 AD, probably from natural causes, although Domitian, who succeeded him, was suspected of having poisoned him.