Flavius Josephus Against Apion

Titus Flavius Josephus (/d?o??si?f?s/;[1] 37 - c. 100) born Joseph ben Matityahu (Hebrew: ???? ?? ?????? Yosef ben Matityahu) was a first-century Romano-Jewish scholar historian and hagiographer who was born in Jerusalem-then part of Roman Judea-to a father of priestly descent and a mother who claimed royal ancestry. He initially fought against the Romans during the First Jewish-Roman War as head of Jewish forces in Galilee until surrendering in 67 to Roman forces led by Vespasian after the six-week siege of Jotapata. Josephus claims the Jewish Messianic prophecies that initiated the First Roman-Jewish War made reference to Vespasian becoming Emperor of Rome. In response Vespasian decided to keep Josephus as a hostage and interpreter. After Vespasian did become Emperor in 69 he granted Josephus his freedom at which time Josephus assumed the emperor's family name of Flavius