CAESAREA MARITIMA, JUDEA
“To an excellent year,” said Titus, raising his cup of wine.
“Hear hear.” Vespasian quaffed his drink and smiled. “I confess it now, I thought my career had ended. Thank Jupiter for the Jews!”
From his point of view, the campaign had ended splendidly. After a good, sustained siege, Jotapata had fallen on the forty-ninth day, one day short of the prophetic fifty days. Vespasian"s forces had won thanks to Roman boldness and Judean treachery. The Judean army was broken, with most of them dead or in chains, on their way to the slave markets. Better, Judea itself was losing heart.
Titus was not quite as satisfied as his father. Yes, there had been plenty of honour gained, with skirmishes and brave acts done before the walls. But never that great and glorious battle
