Domitian
Emperor of the Roman Empire
Bust of Domitian
Reign	14 September 81 – 18 September 96
Full name	Titus Flavius Domitianus
Born	24 October 51(51-10-24)
	Rome
Died	18 September 96 (aged 44)
	Rome
Buried	Rome
Predecessor	Titus
Successor	Nerva
Wife/wives	Domitia Longina (70-85)
	Julia Flavia (85-91)
Issue	one son and one daughter with Domitia
Dynasty	Flavian
Father	Vespasian
Mother	Domitilla

Titus Flavius Domitianus (24 October 51 Р18 September 96), commonly known as Domitian, was a Roman Emperor of the gens Flavia. Domitianus was a member of the Flavian Dynasty, being the son of Vespasian, by his wife Domitilla, and brother of Titus, whom he succeeded on 14 October, 81. Ordinary Magistrates Extraordinary Magistrates Titles and Honors Emperor Politics and Law This article discusses the nature of the imperial dignity, and its dynastic development throughout the history of the Empire. ... For other uses, see Roman Empire (disambiguation). ... Image File history File linksMetadata Download high resolution version (480x640, 79 KB) Description: Buste de Domitien, mus̩e du Louvre/ Photographie personnelle prise par Urban, d̩cembre 2004 Source: French Wikipedia, original upload 28 d̩cembre 2004 by Urban File links The following pages link to this file: Domitian Metadata... is the 257th day of the year (258th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Centuries: 1st century BC - 1st century - 2nd century Decades: 0s BC - 0s - 10s - 20s - 30s - 40s - 50s - 60s - 70s - 80s - 90s - 100s Years: 76 77 78 79 80 81 82 83 84 85 86 Events Domitian succeeds his brother Titus Flavius as emperor of the Roman Empire. ... is the 261st day of the year (262nd in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... For other uses, see number 96. ... is the 297th day of the year (298th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... This article is about the year 51. ... is the 261st day of the year (262nd in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... For other uses, see number 96. ... For other uses, see Titus (disambiguation). ... For other uses, see Nerva (disambiguation). ... Domitia Longina was a Roman matrona that lived in the 1st century. ... Julia Flavia (17 September 64 - 91) was the only child to the Emperor Titus from his second marriage to the well-connected Marcia Furnilla. ... The Flavian dynasty was a series of three Roman Emperors who ruled from 69, the Year of the Four Emperors, to 96, when the last member was assassinated. ... Imperator Caesar Vespasianus Augustus (born November 17, 9, died June 23, 79), known originally as Titus Flavius Vespasianus and usually referred to in English as Vespasian, was emperor of Rome from 69 to 79. ... Flavia Domitilla Major (Major, Latin for the elder) Flavia Domitilla the Elder or Domitilla the Elder (died before 69) was the wife of the Roman Emperor Vespasian. ... The Flavian dynasty was a series of three Roman Emperors who ruled from 69, the Year of the Four Emperors, to 96, when the last member was assassinated. ... Imperator Caesar Vespasianus Augustus (born November 17, 9, died June 23, 79), known originally as Titus Flavius Vespasianus and usually referred to in English as Vespasian, was emperor of Rome from 69 to 79. ... For other uses, see Titus (disambiguation). ... Denarius depicting Flavia Domitilla the Younger Another denarius depicting Flavia Domitilla the Younger Flavia Domitilla the Younger or Flavia Domitilla Minor (Minor, Latin for the younger) was the only daughter to future Roman Emperor Vespasian by his wife Domitilla the Elder. ... For other uses, see Titus (disambiguation). ... Julia Flavia (17 September 64 - 91) was the only child to the Emperor Titus from his second marriage to the well-connected Marcia Furnilla. ... is the 297th day of the year (298th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... This article is about the year 51. ... is the 261st day of the year (262nd in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... For other uses, see number 96. ... Ordinary Magistrates Extraordinary Magistrates Titles and Honors Emperor Politics and Law This article discusses the nature of the imperial dignity, and its dynastic development throughout the history of the Empire. ... GENS is an open source emulator for the Sega Genesis (Sega Megadrive). ... Flavius was the name of a gens in ancient Rome, meaning blonde. The feminine form was Flavia. ... The Flavian dynasty was a series of three Roman Emperors who ruled from 69, the Year of the Four Emperors, to 96, when the last member was assassinated. ... Imperator Caesar Vespasianus Augustus (born November 17, 9, died June 23, 79), known originally as Titus Flavius Vespasianus and usually referred to in English as Vespasian, was emperor of Rome from 69 to 79. ... For other uses, see Titus (disambiguation). ... Centuries: 1st century BC - 1st century - 2nd century Decades: 0s BC - 0s - 10s - 20s - 30s - 40s - 50s - 60s - 70s - 80s - 90s - 100s Years: 76 77 78 79 80 81 82 83 84 85 86 Events Domitian succeeds his brother Titus Flavius as emperor of the Roman Empire. ...

Life

Early life

Domitian was born in Rome while his father was still a politician and military commander. He received the education of a young man of the privileged senatorial class. He studied rhetoric and literature, publishing some of his writings on law and administration. In his biography Suetonius describes him as a learned and educated adolescent, with elegant conversation. Unlike his brother, Titus, who was much older, Domitian did not join his father's campaigns in the African provinces and Judea. The Roman Senate (Latin: Senatus) was the main governing council of both the Roman Republic, which started in 509 BC, and the Roman Empire. ... The Twelve Caesars is a set of twelve biographies of Julius Caesar and the first 11 emperors of the Roman Empire. ... Map of the Roman Empire, with the provinces, after 120 AD. In Ancient Rome, a province (Latin, provincia, pl. ...

During the Year of the Four Emperors (69), Domitian assumed a cautious, discreet position, but moved immediately to the imperial palace once his father was proclaimed emperor. He was the representative of the Flavius family in the senate prior to Vespasian and Titus' arrival in Rome. With the rise to power of his father, Domitian grew bolder. The Year of the Four Emperors was a year in the history of the Roman Empire, 69, in which four emperors ruled in a remarkable succession. ... For other uses, see 69 (disambiguation). ...

In 70 he managed to force the divorce of Domitia Longina in order to marry her. Lucius Aelius Lamia, her husband, could not prevent the prince's will, and so Domitia became daughter in law of the emperor. Despite its initial recklessness, the alliance was very prestigious for both sides. Domitia Longina was the younger daughter of general Gnaeus Domitius Corbulo, one of the victims of Nero's terror, remembered as a worthy commander and a honoured politician. They had a son in 71 and a daughter in 74, but both died young. The marriage was far from being traditional: Domitian was a notorious womaniser and his wife was not jealous. Some sources refer that she would join Domitian in his escapades with his mistresses. This article is about the year 70. ... Domitia Longina was a Roman matrona that lived in the 1st century. ... Gnaeus Domitius Corbulo (around AD 7 - AD 67) was a Roman general. ... For other uses, see Nero (disambiguation). ...

As a second son, Domitian was spared from responsibilities. He held several honorary consulships and several priesthoods but no office with imperium. During the reign of his brother Titus, his situation remained essentially the same, since nobody saw him as future emperor. But Domitian certainly had his ambitions. When Titus was dying, he managed to be hailed as his successor by securing the Praetorian Guard's support. Consul (abbrev. ... Imperium can, in a broad sense, be translated as power. ... The Praetorian Guard of Augustus - 1st century. ...

As emperor

The classic view of Domitian as Emperor is usually negative since most of the antique sources are related to the Senatorial aristocratic class, and, as emperor, Domitian tended to have an strong independent action, often against the Senate.

During its administration, the economy first came to a halt and then went into recession, forcing him to heavily devalue the denarius (silver currency). To further compensate for the economic situation, taxes were raised and discontent soon followed. Due to his love of the arts and to woo the population, Domitian invested large sums in the reconstruction and embellishment of the city, still suffering the effects of the great fire of Rome of 64, the civil war of 69, and the fires that plagued Rome the year following the eruption of Mt. Vesuvius during Titus' reign. Around fifty new buildings were erected and restored, including the Temple of Jupiter on the Capitoline Hill and a palace in the Palatine Hill. First row : c. ... According to Tacitus, the Great Fire of Rome started on the night of 18 July in the year 64, among the shops clustered around the greenhills shoping centre. ... Temple of Jupiter on Capitoline Hill, 6th–1st century BC See Temple of Jupiter for temples to him in other places. ... The Capitoline Hill (Capitolinus Mons), between the Forum and the Campus Martius, is one of the most famous and smallest of the seven hills of Rome. ... 17th century aviaries on the hill, built by Rainaldi for Odoardo Cardinal Farnese: once wirework cages surmounted them. ...

Denarius of Domitian.

In 85, Domitian nominated himself perpetual censor, the office which held the task of supervising Roman morals and conduct, a task in odds with its private life. By 83, his own marriage was in rupture with continuous infidelities and scandals on both sides. In this year, Domitia Longina was caught with her lover, the actor Paris. The man was executed and the empress was exiled after a hasty divorce. In the next year he developed a passion for his niece Julia Flavia (daughter of Titus) and, as in his first marriage, he kidnapped the girl by dismissing her husband. Julia Flavia died in 91 during an abortion, being deified afterwards. After this, Domitia Longina was recalled to the palace as Roman empress, despite the fact that Domitian never remarried her. Image File history File links 024_Domitian. ... Image File history File links 024_Domitian. ... Events Roman Empire Dacians under Decebalus engaged in two wars against the Romans from this year to AD 88 or 89. ... Censor was the title of two magistrates of high rank in the Roman Republic. ... For other uses, see number 83. ... Paris was an actor in Rome in the 1st century AD. Born in Egypt, he came to Rome in the reign of Domitian, where his skills as a pantomimus won him popular favour, noblewomen as lovers, influence within the imperial court and the power to promote his favourites within the... Julia Flavia (17 September 64 - 91) was the only child to the Emperor Titus from his second marriage to the well-connected Marcia Furnilla. ... Pliny the Younger was named a tribunus plebis. ...

Domitian's greatest passions were the arts and the games. He implemented the Capitoline Games in 86. Like the Olympic Games, they were to be held every four years and included athletic displays, chariot races, but also oratory, music and acting competitions. The Emperor himself supported the travels of competitors from the whole empire and attributed the prizes. He was also very fond of gladiator shows and added important innovations like female and dwarf gladiator fights. Temple of Jupiter Capitolinus on Capitoline Hill, 6th-1st century BC. In Ancient Rome, the Capitoline Games (Latin: Ludi Capitolini) were annual games, or combats instituted by Camillus, 387 BC, in honor of Jupiter Capitolinus, and in commemoration of the Capitols not being taken by the Gauls that same... Events Roman Empire Domitian introduces the Capitoline Games. ... The five Olympic rings were designed in 1913, adopted in 1914 and debuted at the Games at Antwerp, 1920. ... For other uses, see Gladiator (disambiguation). ...

Major military contribution of Domitian was the development of the Limes (in particular the Limes Germanicus) to defend the empire. During his Empire wars had usually a defensive nature. Domitian was accused not to be a gifted military commander, due to his education in Rome away from the legions and to limit the Roman military enterprises for this reason. He claimed several Roman triumphs, namely over the Chatti and in Britain, but they were only propaganda manoeuvres, since these wars were still being fought. Nevertheless, several campaigns were fought during his reign, especially in the Danube frontier against Decebalus, king of Dacians. Domitian also founded Legio I Minervia in 82, to fight against Chatti. The limes Germanicus, 2nd century. ... Map of Upper Germanic Limes The Limes Germanicus (Latin for Germanic frontier) was a remarkable line of frontier (limes) forts that bounded the ancient Roman provinces of Germania Superior and Raetia, and divided the Roman Empire and the unsubdued Germanic tribes, from the years 83 to 260. ... The Roman Legion (from Latin , from lego, legere, legi, lectus — to collect) is a term that can apply both as a transliteration of legio (conscription or army) to the entire Roman army and also, more narrowly (and more commonly), to the heavy infantry that was the basic military unit of... A Roman Triumph was a civil ceremony and religious rite of ancient Rome, held to publicly honour the military commander (dux) of a notably successful foreign war or campaign and to display the glories of Roman victory. ... The Chatti (also Catti) were an ancient Germanic tribe settled in central and northern Hesse and southern Lower Saxony, along the upper reaches of the Weser river and in the valleys and mountains of the Eder, Fulda and Werra river regions, a district approximately corresponding to Hesse-Cassel, though probably... This article is about the Danube River. ... Decebalus, from Trajans Column Decebalus (ruled 87 – 106) (Decebal in Romanian) was a Dacian king. ... Dacian kingdom during the reign of Burebista, 82 BC The Dacians (Lat. ... Legio I Minervia was a Roman legion levied by emperor Domitian in 82 AD, for the campaign against the Germanic tribe of the Chatti. ...

According to many historians, Jews and Christians were heavily persecuted toward the end of Domitian's reign.^[1] The Book of Revelation is thought by many scholars to have been written during Domitian's reign as a reaction to persecution.^[2][3] Other historians, however, have maintained that there was little or no persecution of Christians during Domitian's time.^[4][5][6] There is no historical consensus on the matter.^[2] The emperor is known, however, to have developed a paranoid fear of persecution that led him to kill or execute several members of the senatorial and equestrian orders. At least twenty political and ideological opponents were executed, including his cousin, the Consul Flavius Clemens.^[2] Domitian disliked aristocrats and had no fear of showing it, withdrawing every decision-making power from the Senate. He signed documents dominus et deus ("Lord and God") ^[7], and required people to address him similarly. Coins of the period represent him enthroned as "father of the gods". Topics in Christianity Movements · Denominations · Other religions Ecumenism · Preaching · Prayer Music · Liturgy · Calendar Symbols · Art · Criticism Important figures Apostle Paul · Church Fathers Constantine · Athanasius · Augustine Anselm · Aquinas · Palamas · Luther Calvin · Wesley Arius · Marcion of Sinope Archbishop of Canterbury · Catholic Pope Coptic Pope · Ecumenical Patriarch Christianity Portal This box:      Christianity is... Visions of John of Patmos, as depicted in the Très Riches Heures du Duc de Berry. ... For other senses of this word, see paranoia (disambiguation). ... An equestrian (Latin eques, plural equites - also known as a vir egregius, lit. ... Titus Flavius Clemens was a great-nephew of the Roman Emperor Vespasian, brother to Titus Flavius Sabinus IV and a second cousin to Roman Emperors to Titus and Domitian. ... The Roman Senate (Latin: Senatus) was the main governing council of both the Roman Republic, which started in 509 BC, and the Roman Empire. ...

Domitian was murdered in September 96, in a plot organized by his enemies in the Senate, Stephanus (the steward of the deceased Julia Flavia), members of the Praetorian Guard and empress Domitia Longina. The emperor believed that, according to an astrological prediction, he would die around noon. Therefore, he was always restless during this time of the day. On his last day, Domitian was feeling disturbed and asked a servant boy several times what time it was. The boy, included in the plot, lied, saying that it was much later. More at ease, the emperor went to his desk to sign some decrees, where he was stabbed eight times by Stephanus.^{[citation needed]}

Domitian was succeeded by Nerva (by appointment of the senate). The custom of damnatio memoriae was issued on Domitian, ordering his obliteration from all public records.^[8] Domitian is the only known emperor to have officially received a damnatio memoriae, though others may have received de facto ones. Many of the images that survive of Domitian's successor, Nerva, were actually once Domitian but converted to Nerva after the damnatio was issued. Nearly all surviving images of Domitian were found in the provinces. For other uses, see Nerva (disambiguation). ... Tondo of the Severan family, with portraits of Septimius Severus, Julia Domna, Caracalla, and Geta. ...

Ancient sources on Domitian

Concern has been expressed that this article or section is missing information about: Ancient sources on Domitian. This concern has been noted on the talk page where it may be discussed whether or not to include such information.

Image File history File links Emblem-important. ...

By poets:

• Statius wrote four poems that contained information about Domitian's life.
• Martial's work contains references and epigrams to Domitian.

Publius Papinius Statius, (c. ... Marcus Valerius Martialis, known in English as Martial, was a Latin poet from Hispania (the Iberian Peninsula) best known for his twelve books of Epigrams, published in Rome between AD 86 and 103, during the reigns of the emperors Domitian, Nerva and Trajan. ...

From primary sources:

Juvenal, Tacitus and Suetonius authored information about the reign of Domitian after it ended. This would have been impolitic.

• Tacitus, a historian, spoke from personal knowledge when he wrote his Histories on the arc of the Flavian dynasty. Unfortunately, this work is lost.

• Juvenal, an author of Roman satire, depicted Domitian and his court as corrupt, violent, and unjust.

• Suetonius wrote Lives of the Twelve Caesars. This is the most extensive ancient discussion of the life of the emperor that is preserved.

For other uses, see Tacitus (disambiguation). ... The Histories (Latin: Historiae) is a book by Tacitus, written c. ... Woodcut of Juvenal from the Nuremberg Chronicle Decimus Iunius Iuvenalis, Anglicized as Juvenal, was a Roman satiric poet of the late 1st century and early 2nd century. ... Gaius Suetonius Tranquillus ( 69/75 - after 130), also known as Suetonius, was a prominent Roman historian and biographer. ... The Twelve Caesars is a set of twelve biographies of Julius Caesar and the first 11 emperors of the Roman Empire. ...

In later literature

• Chief character in The Roman Actor by Philip Massinger
• In Oscar Wilde's dialogue "The Decay of Lying" a character describes his club: "The Tired Hedonists, of course. It is a club to which I belong. We are supposed to wear faded roses in our button holes when we meet, and to have a sort of cult for Domitian."
• An important character in Donna Gillespie's novel The Light Bearer

The Roman Actor is a Caroline era stage play, a tragedy written by Philip Massinger; it was first performed in 1626, and first published in 1629. ... Philip Massinger (1583 - 1640) was an English dramatist. ... Oscar Fingal OFlahertie Wills Wilde (October 16, 1854 – November 30, 1900) was an Irish playwright, novelist, poet, and author of short stories. ... This article needs to be cleaned up to conform to a higher standard of quality. ...

Notes

Raymond Edward Brown (May 22, 1928 - August 8, 1998), was an American Roman Catholic priest and Biblical scholar. ... Irenaeus (Greek: Εἰρηναῖος), (b. ... On the Detection and Overthrow of the So-Called Gnosis, commonly called Against Heresies (Latin: Adversus haereses), is a five volume work written by St. ... Gaius Suetonius Tranquillus ( 69/75 - after 130), also known as Suetonius, was a prominent Roman historian and biographer. ... The Twelve Caesars is a set of twelve biographies of Julius Caesar and the first 11 emperors of the Roman Empire. ...

Bibliography

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Domitian

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Primary sources

• Suetonius, The lives of Twelve Caesars, Life of Domitian, Latin text with English translation
• Cassius Dio, Roman History Book 67, English translation
• Tacitus, Agricola, English translation

Secondary material

• Donahue, John (1997-10-10). Titus Flavius Domitianus (A.D. 81-96). De Imperatoribus Romanis: An Online Encyclopedia of Roman Rulers and their Families. Retrieved on 2007-02-10.
• Gsell, Stéphane (1894). Essai sur le règne de l'empereur Domitien (HTML, PDF), Bibliothèque des Écoles françaises d'Athènes et de Rome (in French), Paris: E. Thorin. 
• Jones, Brian W. (1992). The Emperor Domitian. London: Routledge. ISBN 0-415-04229-1. 
• Southern, Pat (1997). Domitian: Tragic Tyrant. London: Routledge. ISBN 0-415-16525-3.