Editing Vespasian (section)

=== Later political career ===
[[File:The Emperor sends Vespasian with an army to destroy the Jews (f. 177v) Cropped.jpg|thumb|upright|Roman Emperor [[Nero]] sends Vespasian with an army to put down the Jewish revolt, AD 66 (depiction of 1503)]]

His success as the legate of a legion earned him a [[Roman consul|consulship]] in 51, after which he retired from public life, having incurred the enmity of [[Emperor Claudius|Claudius]]' wife, [[Agrippina the Younger|Agrippina]], who was the most powerful and influential figure in her husband's reign.<ref name=gm/> He came out of retirement in 63 when he was sent as governor to [[Africa Province]]. According to [[Tacitus]] (ii.97), his rule was "infamous and odious" but according to [[Lives of the Twelve Caesars|Suetonius]] (''Vesp.'' 4), he was "upright and, highly honourable". On one occasion, Suetonius writes, Vespasian was pelted with [[turnip]]s.

Vespasian used his time in North Africa wisely. Usually, governorships were seen by ex-consuls as opportunities to extort huge amounts of money to regain the wealth they had spent on their previous political campaigns. Corruption was so rife that it was almost expected that a governor would come back from these appointments with his pockets full. However, Vespasian used his time in North Africa making friends instead of money, something that would be far more valuable in the years to come. During his time in North Africa, he found himself in financial difficulties and was forced to mortgage his estates to his brother. To revive his fortunes he turned to the [[mule]] trade and gained the nickname ''mulio'' (muleteer).<ref name="Suetonius, Vesp. 4–5">Suetonius, ''Vesp''. 4–5</ref>

Returning from Africa, Vespasian toured Greece in [[Nero]]'s retinue, but lost Imperial favor after paying insufficient attention (some sources suggest he fell asleep) during one of the Emperor's recitals on the [[lyre]], and found himself in the political wilderness.