tidings were sent to Rome, and Vespasian was immediately appointed to the command of the formidable force destined to subjugate the rebellious country. He entered Judæa in the year 67 A.D. The Jews defended themselves with heroic resolution-with a sublime courage and fortitude of which the Roman general had hitherto had no experience. They perished by their own swords rather than submit to the enemy they hated, and every inch of ground was contested with all the energy of despair. Vespasian's first success was the capture of Jotapata, the principal fortress of Galilee. It was stoutly defended by Josephus, but after a siege of forty-seven days carried by assault. Most of its defenders perished at their posts. Josephus, however, saved his life by surrendering to Vespasian; and, we may add, he contrived to win the favour of the future Roman Emperor by the exercise of a singular astuteness. He was attached to Vespasian's person, adopted the name of Titus Flavius, was afterwards rewarded with JOSEPHUS. lands and a pension, and lived to write the history of the subjugation of his country. Galilee was soon reduced after the fall of Jotapata, and Vespasian next attacked Joppa, which was taken and destroyed. Tiberias surrendered to his victorious arms in August, and Tarichea was stormed in September; the whole of its population being VESPASIAN. either slaughtered or sold into slavery. In the following year Peræa was captured, and the district beyond Jordan harassed by fire and sword. Thus all the outposts of Jewish independence were gradually swept away, and those of their inhabitants who escaped fled for refuge towards Jerusalem; in this fulfilling the Roman general's wishes, for it was his policy to concentrate the rebellion in the Jewish capital, and then, by one decisive blow, to crush it for ever. The year 69 was a year of peace. Vespasian was occupied in intriguing for the imperial crown; to which, as every school-boy knows, he eventually made good his claim after the murder of the Emperor Vitellius. As soon as he was secure in his splendid seat, he resumed his schemes for the subjugation of Judæa; but, unwilling to quit his capital, he intrusted their execution to his son, the illustrious Titus. We have thus arrived, in our hasty retrospect, at the year 71, the year of the Fall of Jerusalem; a memorable |