Vespasian

Common-born general who emerged victorious from the Year of the Four Emperors that followed Nero's death. His ten-year reign restored fiscal discipline to a state nearly bankrupted by Nero, completed the Roman conquest of Judaea begun under his predecessor (his son Titus sacked Jerusalem and destroyed the Second Temple in 70), and began construction of the Colosseum. Famous for his deathbed quip on being deified: "I think I am becoming a god."