Domitian

• Domitian (81-96 CE) was the Roman Emperor during the Flavian Dynasty, noted for the Second Persecution of the Christians, the Reconstruction of Rome and the Invasion of Caledonia.
• He was the second Emperor to receive a Damnatio Memoriae.

1. BIOGRAPHICAL DETAILS

• NAME:
  • Titus Flavius Domitianus (51-69 CE)
  • Titus Flavius Caesar Domitianus (69-81 CE)
  • Titus Flavius Caesar Domitianus Augustus (81-96 CE)
• DOMITIAN’S DATES OF REIGN AS EMPEROR:
  • 14th September 81 CE- 18th September 96 CE
• FAMILY DYNASTY:
  • Flavian Dynasty
• DOMITIAN’S DATE OF BIRTH AND DEATH:
  • Born: 24th October 51 CE. Died: 18th September 96 CE.
• PLACE OF BIRTH AND DEATH:
  • Born: Rome. Died: Rome
• DOMITIAN’S PREDECESSOR:
  • Titus
• DOMITIAN’S SUCCESSOR:
  • Nerva
• HEIR TO THE THRONE BECAUSE:
  • His Father was the Emperor Vespasian. His brother Titus inherited first, then after his unexpected death, Domitian succeeded to the Throne.
• DOMITIAN’S FATHER:
  • Vespasian
• DOMITIAN’S MOTHER:
  • Domitilla
• DOMITIAN’S WIVES AND CHILDREN:
  • Domitia Longina (70-96 CE):
    • A son (80-83 CE)
• DIED PEACEFULLY OR ASSASSINATED:
  • Assassinated by his Palace Advisors and Freedmen, according to Suetonius and Dio Cassius. The Prefect of the Praetorian Guard was aware of the Plot, and probably directly involved.
• WHERE BURIED:
  • His ashes were discreetly mixed with those of his niece and placed in the Flavian Temple.
  • A Damnatio Memoriae condemned his memory.
• DOMITIAN WAS FAMOUS BECAUSE:
  • He conducted the Second Persecution against the Christians. (The First Persecution was by Nero in 67 CE.)
  • He re-instituted the Capitoline Games on the line of the Olympic Games in Greece.
  • He consolidated the Limes Germanicus on the Rhone Frontier.
  • He undertook the Reconstruction of Rome, on a scale not seen since Augustus.
  • He ordered Agricola to continue the conquest of Britannia.

2. GOOD OR BAD EMPEROR

• DOMITIAN’S CHARACTER:
  • Domitian was overshadowed by his brother Titus. He was cruel and is thought to have murdered his brother.
• DOMITIAN POPULARITY:
  • Domitian did not permit the Roman Senators any freedom to pass Laws in the Roman Senate. After he died, the Senators announced a Damnatio Memoriae against Domitian.
  • Roman Historians consider him to have been a Tyrant, however, he held the support of the Legions.
  • He re-instituted the Capitoline Games, which were similar to the Olympic Games held in Greece. This was a popular move.

3. DOMITIAN’S REIGN

• MILITARY CAMPAIGNS/ REFORMS:
• Campaign against the Chatti (82 CE)
  • Domitian went to Gaul and raised a new Legion, the Legio I Minervia. After building roads through their territory, he conducted a series of battles, returning to celebrate a Roman Triumph in Rome in 83 CE. However, despite this Campaign, the Chatti were to revolt again in 89 CE.
• Conquest of Caledonia (77-83 CE)
  • Agricola who had arrived in 77 CE as Governor of Britannia, conducted a series of Campaigns, which continued under Domitian.
  • 82 CE Tacitus refers to an expedition to Hibernia by the Roman general Agricola. Agricola provided an Irish King, possibly Tuathal Techtmar, with protection after he had fled his country. Tacitus quotes Agricola, his father-in-law, as saying he could have conquered Hibernia with a single Legion and its Auxiliaries.
  • 82 CE Agricola built Inchtuthil Legionary Fortress in preparation for the Campaign in 83 CE to conquer Caledonia. He defeated the Caledonians at the Battle of Mons Graupius in 84 CE, but two thirds of the Caledonian Army retreated intact.
• Dacian Wars (85-88 CE)
  • In 85 CE the Dacians invaded Moesia and Domitian was obliged to recall Agricola, withdraw the Legions and dismantle Inchtuthil Legionary Fortress with its System of Watchtowers, pulling back the Frontier 75 miles further south along a line which was later to become the Antonine Wall.
  • In 87 CE Domitian invaded Dacia and defeated Decebalus, but did not conquer Dacia.

• Revolt of Saturninus (89 CE)
  • On 1 December 89 CE, the Governor of Germania Superior, Saturninus, rebelled in Mainz against Domitian, in an alliance with the Chatti and his own two Legions, Legio XIV Gemina and Legio XXI Rapax.
  • The Revolt was quelled by the Governors of Germania Inferior and Raetia, converging on Mainz, with Trajan arriving from Hispania, and Domitian arriving from Rome with the Praetorian Guard.
  • It was over after 24 days, because the Ice on the Rhine melted, preventing the Chatti from crossing over to Mainz.
  • Saturninus was executed with his officers, and the Legions sent to Illyricum.

• DOMESTIC POLICY: TAXATION
  • Apart from revaluing, then devaluing the Coinage, Taxation was left unchanged.
  • Domitian reinstituted Public Banquets in Rome at his own expense.
  • He embarked on a huge rebuilding program for Rome, see ‘Buildings and Monuments’ below.

• RELIGIOUS REFORMS:
• Second Roman Persecution of Christians
  • In 81 CE, Domitian conducted the Second Roman Persecution of Christians. The first was conducted by Nero in 64 CE.
• Capitoline Games:
  • Domitian also re-instituted the Capitoline Games. This left him popular with the people, but he was disliked by the Senate, as he was an autocrat who tolerated no dissent.

4. CONSEQUENCES OF HIS REIGN

• EXPANSION OR CONTRACTION OF THE EMPIRE:
  • The Status Quo was maintained:
  • Domitian was responsible for a huge series of fortifications on the Limes Germanicus, from the River Main to the River Neckar.
  • Although there was no physical stone wall like Hadrian's Wall, it consisted of a series of earthen embankments, wooden palisades, watchtowers and forts that were designed to keep the Germanic Tribes outside of the Empire.
• ENRICHMENT OR BANKRUPTCY OF THE STATE
  • The Status Quo was maintained:
  • In c.81 CE Domitian revalued the Coinage, by increasing the silver in the Denarius from 90% silver to 98%.
  • After 85 CE, Domitian Devalued the Coinage, because of a financial crisis, decreasing the silver in the Denarius to 93.5%.
  • Historians are divided on the result, but generally consider that Domitian tried hard to balance the budget.
• DOMITIAN’S MAIN ACHIEVEMENTS
  • Domitian undertook the Reconstruction of Rome. This was due to the Great Fire of Rome in 64 CE, another fire in 69 CE and another fire again in 80 CE.

5. THE SUCCESSION

• Nerva
  • Nerva was the first Emperor to be voted in by the Roman Senate. However, Nerva had been loyal to the Flavians. He had held Consulships twice under them, and before that, had been a trusted adviser under Nero.
  • For this reason the Army did not rebel when the Senate appointed him.

6. BUILDINGS AND MONUMENTS

• PALACES AND VILLAS:
  • The Villa of Domitian, 20 miles (40km) from Rome.
  • Palace of Domitian, Palatine hill, Rome. designed by Rabirius.
    • It was a massive complex that dominated the Palatine Hill in Rome and all Roman Emperors then used it as their main Place of Residence.
  • Villa of Cercei, ruins, Lago di Paola. (One of six Villas built by Domitian).
  • Stadium of Domitian, on the Campus Martius, (now the Piazza Navona), built to house the contestants for the Capitoline Games.
• MONUMENTS:
  • Around fifty buildings in Rome were restored by Domitian.
  • Domitian restored the Temple of Vespasian and Titus, the Arch of Titus, and added a fourth level to the Colosseum.
• STATUES AND COINS:
  • In c.81 CE Domitian increased the silver in the Denarius from 90% silver to 98%.
  • After 85 CE, because of a financial crisis, He decreased the silver in the Denarius to 93.5%.

7. BIBLIOGRAPHY

• CLASSICAL SOURCES:
  • Suetonius ‘Life of Domitian’.
  • Tacitus ‘Agricola’.