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Early in the 70 CE Siege of Jerusalem, the future emperor Titus--leading the campaign after Vespasian's departure for Rome--personally conducted a lightly armored reconnaissance away from the main body of his forces. While close to the city walls, he was surrounded and cut off from most of his escorting cavalry by a sudden sortie of rebel Judaean forces. IOTL, he managed to cut his way out of the encirclement, but it is clear that the encounter was a close one for Titus.

So, what happens if he is either a) killed or b) wounded and captured during this skirmish, where he escaped IOTL? I assume that Tiberius Julius Alexander, OTL Titus' second-in-command and ironically himself Jewish, would take over operational command in either case, but would Vespasian dispatch a different general, or possibly return to take personal command?

If Titus is killed, I can't imagine the siege going better for the Judaeans. Roman vengeance--already terrible--is likely to be increased by the death of the commander, not to mention any consequences of a longer siege (Titus personally lead cavalry charges that secured assaults at multiple points). However, OTL (according to Josephus, at least), Alexander was against the destruction of the Temple; given that the compound as a whole was a fortress I can't imagine that it is totally untouched by the siege, but I could see the Holy of Holies/Tabernacle at least being left intact in structure, though probably looted if nothing else. Would it be destroyed, reconsecrated to one or more Roman gods, or what?

If he is captured, on the other hand, things get interesting. The Judaeans now have a valuable hostage, and Alexander has a canny knowledge of Jewish politics (he had served as Procurator of Judaea, and according to most accounts was one of the better ones). Might he be able to negotiate a surrender of the city, sparing some or all Judaeans who gave up their weapons as well as the Beit HaMikdash in exchange for subjugation and Titus' safe return, or to turn the Idumaeans and Zealots against one another? Do Titus and Vespasian honor any compromise made, or annul it once Titus has been released?

(I doubt that Alexander will negotiate in situation A, since negotiating with the people who killed the emperor's son isn't a great career move, but I can see him doing so in B)
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