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Why was Vespasian deified after his death in 79 CE?

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Vespasian Bust of Vespasian, found at Ostia; in the Museo Nazionale Romano, Rome.

Vespasian was deified after his death in 79 CE in accordance with the Roman custom of elevating emperors to divinity if they were viewed as having provided gifts worthy of a god or having successfully served the state.1

Following the civil wars that followed the death of Nero, Vespasian was widely credited by his contemporaries with preventing the dissolution of the empire and restoring stability to a "tottering state". By ending the civil conflict, he brought peace—a principle motif on his coinage—and initiated a significant building program that included the Colosseum and the Temple of Peace.23

In the context of the imperial cult, the deification of emperors served as a symbol of legitimacy and continuity for the Flavian dynasty. Upon his death, Vespasian was immediately accorded this status, famously remarking during his final illness, "Vae, puto deus fio" ("Oh dear, I think I’m becoming a god").43