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Why did Vespasian raise taxes after becoming emperor?
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Vespasian
Bust of Vespasian, found at Ostia; in the Museo Nazionale Romano, Rome.
Vespasian raised taxes after becoming emperor primarily to address the severe financial deficit left by his predecessor, Nero, and the widespread economic devastation caused by the civil wars of 68–69 CE.12
Upon his accession, Vespasian determined that the state required approximately three times the existing revenue to restore stability. To achieve this, he implemented a rigorous financial program that included:1
- Increasing Taxation: He raised and occasionally doubled provincial taxes and revoked various immunities previously granted to Greek-speaking provinces and cities.1
- New Revenue Streams: He instituted new taxes, such as diverting the tax paid by Jews of the Diaspora to the Temple at Jerusalem into the Roman treasury.1
- Asset Management: He reclaimed public land in Italy from squatters and sold imperial estates.1
While these measures led contemporaries to accuse him of avarice, they were essential for his policy of first restoring the "tottering state" and subsequently funding vast building programs, including the Colosseum and the Temple of Peace.31