";s:4:"text";s:27128:"[141] The revolt had been suppressed and the Empire returned to order. It is not known what the boy's name was, but he died in childhood in 83. He was raised in an era of great family mobility, as Vespasian gained several key appointments under both Claudius and Nero. [10] Nevertheless, ancient sources allege poverty for the Flavian family at the time of Domitian's upbringing,[11] even claiming Vespasian had fallen into disrepute under the emperors Caligula (37–41) and Nero (54–68). [38] In the meantime, Domitian acted as the representative of the Flavian family in the Roman Senate. In Rome itself, he built the Palace of Domitian on the Palatine Hill. Terms of peace, including a voluntary abdication, were agreed upon with Titus Flavius Sabinus II but the soldiers of the Praetorian Guard—the imperial bodyguard—considered such a resignation disgraceful and prevented Vitellius from carrying out the treaty. He alleges that Domitian's chamberlain Parthenius played the main role in the plot, and historian John Grainger cites Parthenius' likely fear over Domitian's recent execution of Nero's former secretary Epaphroditus as a possible motive. [118][160] According to an auspice he had received, the Emperor believed that his death would be at midday. Persecution of religious minorities, such as Jews and Christians, was non-existent.[187]. After their father Vespasian became emperor in 69 following the civil war known as the Year of the Four Emperors, Titus held a great many offices, while Domitian received honours, but no responsibilities. Historian Brian Jones concludes in The Emperor Domitian that assessing the true nature of Domitian's personality is inherently complicated by the bias of the surviving sources. [40], The ancient historian Tacitus describes Domitian's first speech in the Senate as brief and measured, at the same time noting his ability to elude awkward questions. Some earlier emperors, such as Caligula (reigned ad 37–41), however, also had used the title. [97] The evidence lends some credence to these claims, as the Chatti would later play a significant role during the revolt of Saturninus in 89.[94]. His De Vita Caesarum is the source of much of what is known of Domitian. Perhaps as unsurprising as the attitude of post-Domitianic historians, the poems of Martial and Statius are highly adulatory, praising Domitian's achievements as equalling those of the gods. He concludes that Domitian was a ruthless but efficient autocrat. Ancient Rome, the state centred on the city of Rome. [85] The other major expense was the extensive reconstruction of Rome. [134] Although Jews were heavily taxed, no contemporary authors mention trials or executions based on religious offenses other than those within the Roman religion. He acquired the name Maximinus at the request of his uncle, Galerius (who may have once been called that as well), presumably by the time he served in the Roman army. This conquest never happened, but some historians believe that the crossing referred to was in fact a small-scale exploratory or punitive expedition to Ireland. [33], When Otho was defeated by Vitellius at the First Battle of Bedriacum, the armies in Judaea and Egypt took matters into their own hands and declared Vespasian emperor on 1 July 69. Unlike his brother Titus, Domitian was not educated at court. Corrections? [117], The goddess he worshipped the most zealously, however, was Minerva. The following day, 14 September, the Senate confirmed Domitian's powers, granting tribunician power, the office of Pontifex Maximus, and the titles of Augustus ("venerable"), and Pater Patriae ("father of the country").[69]. 2. [90] The Emperor also revived the practice of public banquets, which had been reduced to a simple distribution of food under Nero, while he invested large sums on entertainment and games. [114], Domitian firmly believed in the traditional Roman religion, and personally saw to it that ancient customs and morals were observed throughout his reign. [137], By a stroke of luck, a thaw prevented the Chatti from crossing the Rhine and coming to Saturninus' aid. Not wanting to risk being taken hostage by one side or the other, Titus abandoned the journey to Rome and rejoined his father in Judaea. [95] Domitian is also credited on the easternmost evidence of Roman military presence,[96] the rock inscription near Boyukdash mountain, in present-day Azerbaijan. [72] Using religious, military and cultural propaganda, he fostered a cult of personality. [110], Domitian quickly launched a counteroffensive, personally travelling to the region accompanied by a large force commanded by his praetorian prefect Cornelius Fuscus. Often when a given Roman is described as becoming "emperor" in English, it reflects his taking of the title Augustus or Caesar.Another title often used was imperator, originally a military honorific. Palaces, villas, and other major buildings, "Trajan was, in fact, quite active in Egypt. [94], The most significant threat the Roman Empire faced during the reign of Domitian arose from the northern provinces of Illyricum, where the Suebi, the Sarmatians and the Dacians continuously harassed Roman settlements along the Danube river. Again, the Roman army sustained heavy losses, but Trajan succeeded in capturing Sarmizegetusa and, importantly, annexed the Dacian gold and silver mines. Dominus, traditionally used by Roman slaves to address their masters, was sporadically used in addressing emperors throughout the Principate, usually in the form of excessive flattery (or political invective) when referring to the emperor. For Domitian, this meant that a significant part of his adolescence was spent in the absence of his near rela… In June 71, Titus returned triumphant from the war in Judaea. [52], Before becoming Emperor, Domitian's role in the Flavian government was largely ceremonial. [173] Domitian and, over a century later, Publius Septimius Geta were the only emperors known to have officially received a damnatio memoriae, though others may have received de facto ones. From the list of jurors he struck an equestrian who had divorced his wife and taken her back, while an ex-quaestor was expelled from the Senate for acting and dancing. Legion Legate: he was the commander of the overall legion and was also the provincial governo… Dominus Rex replied to Gloria Exercitus's topic in Gloria Exercitus - 'Glory of the Army' I have to say that what Hannibal did at Cannae was tactically brilliant. [31], Before reaching Italy, Titus learnt that Galba had been murdered and replaced by Otho, the governor of Lusitania (modern Portugal). [14], That same year Jews from the Province of Judaea revolted against the Roman Empire, sparking what is now known as the First Jewish-Roman War. [189], Despite his vilification by contemporary historians, Domitian's administration provided the foundation for the Principate of the peaceful 2nd century. This article discusses the period from the founding of the city and the regal period, which began in 753 bc, through the events leading to the founding of the republic in 509 bc, the establishment of the empire in 27 bc, and the final eclipse of…, Political system, the set of formal legal institutions that constitute a “government” or a “state.” This is the definition adopted by many studies of the legal or constitutional arrangements of advanced political orders. After Domitian's assassination, the senators of Rome rushed to the Senate house, where they immediately passed a motion condemning his memory to oblivion. [165][157], The Fasti Ostienses, the Ostian Calendar, records that on the same day as Domitian's assassination, the Senate proclaimed Marcus Cocceius Nerva emperor. Domitia Longina was the younger daughter of Gnaeus Domitius Corbulo, a respected general and honoured politician who had distinguished himself for his leadership in Armenia. [93] By nominating himself perpetual censor, he sought to control public and private morals. There are cartouches of Domitian and Trajan on the column shafts of the Temple of Knum at Esna, and on the exterior a frieze text mentions Domitian, Trajan, and Hadrian", For a full list of senatorial victims, see Jones (1992), pp. [143] He disliked aristocrats and had no fear of showing it, withdrawing every decision-making power from the Senate, and instead relying on a small set of friends and equestrians to control the important offices of state. Of the three Flavian emperors, Domitian would rule the longest, despite the fact that his youth and early career were largely spent in the shadow of his older brother. He received the title of Caesar and was appointed praetor with consular power. Omissions? His Imperial court did consist of important members from the Senatorial body, future emperors Nerva and Trajan included, but relied more so on Equestrians and especially freedmen, virtually replacing all functions of the Senate. Domitian returned to Moesia in August 86. [177] Titus Petronius Secundus and Parthenius were sought out and killed. Domitian's reign came to an end in 96 when he was assassinated by court officials. This style of rule and his quite public disdain for the Senate as a governing b… By all accounts, Mucianus held the real power in Vespasian's absence and he was careful to ensure that Domitian, still only eighteen years old, did not overstep the boundaries of his function. [63], Because Titus effectively acted as co-emperor with his father, no abrupt change in Flavian policy occurred when Vespasian died on 24 June 79. As a consequence, Domitian was popular with the people and army but considered a tyrant by members of the Roman Senate. 8, 3", "Earinus, Emperor Domitian, and laws against castration", Bibliothèque des Écoles françaises d'Athènes et de Rome, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Domitian&oldid=1015867326, Roman emperors to suffer posthumous denigration or damnatio memoriae, Short description is different from Wikidata, Pages using multiple image with auto scaled images, Articles with French-language sources (fr), Wikipedia articles with BIBSYS identifiers, Wikipedia articles with CANTIC identifiers, Wikipedia articles with PLWABN identifiers, Wikipedia articles with SELIBR identifiers, Wikipedia articles with SNAC-ID identifiers, Wikipedia articles with SUDOC identifiers, Wikipedia articles with Trove identifiers, Wikipedia articles with WORLDCATID identifiers, Wikipedia articles with multiple identifiers, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License, This page was last edited on 4 April 2021, at 01:07. Modern revisionists instead have characterized Domitian as a ruthless but efficient autocrat whose cultural, economic, and political programs provided the foundation of the peaceful second century. During the attack, Stephanus and Domitian had struggled on the floor, during which time Stephanus was stabbed by the emperor and died shortly afterward. [174] Yet the order of the Senate was only partially executed in Rome, and wholly disregarded in most of the provinces outside Italy. With nothing more to be feared, Domitian came forward to meet the invading forces; he was universally saluted by the title of Caesar and the mass of troops conducted him to his father's house. [64], Whatever the nature of their relationship, Domitian seems to have displayed little sympathy when his brother lay dying, instead making for the Praetorian camp where he was proclaimed emperor. At the top of the pyramid came the senior officers who were the most experienced, most skilled and most respected. Vespasian was assigned to lead the Roman army against the insurgents, with Titus—who had completed his military education by this time—in charge of a legion.[15]. [9], The political career of Vespasian included the offices of quaestor, aedile, and praetor, and culminated in a consulship in 51, the year of Domitian's birth. While every effort has been made to follow citation style rules, there may be some discrepancies. With regards to the emperor himself as a religious figure, both Suetonius and Cassius Dio allege that Domitian officially gave himself the title of Dominus et Deus ("Lord and God"). [60] As a second son, Domitian held honorary titles, such as Caesar or Princeps Iuventutis, and several priesthoods, including those of augur, pontifex, frater arvalis, magister frater arvalium, and sacerdos collegiorum omnium,[61] but no office with imperium. The Christian pamphleteer Lactantius provides the erroneous form "Daia". His military career ended in disgrace when he fled the battlefield at the Battle of Pharsalus in 48 BC. His eyes were large, but his sight was somewhat dim. Instead, connections to Claudius and Britannicus were emphasised, and Nero's victims, or those otherwise disadvantaged by him, rehabilitated. [152], Jones compares the executions of Domitian to those under Emperor Claudius (41–54), noting that Claudius executed around 35 senators and 300 equestrians, and yet was still deified by the Senate and regarded as one of the good Emperors of history. From the outset of his reign, he stressed the reality of his autocracy. Domitian's great-grandfather, Titus Flavius Petro, had served as a centurion under Pompey during Caesar's civil war. [176], Dissatisfaction with this state of affairs continued to loom over Nerva's reign, and ultimately erupted into a crisis in October 97, when members of the Praetorian Guard, led by Casperius Aelianus, laid siege to the Imperial Palace and took Nerva hostage. Domitian also heavily prosecuted corruption among public officials, removing jurors if they accepted bribes and rescinding legislation when a conflict of interest was suspected. Let us know if you have suggestions to improve this article (requires login). [64], Ancient authors have implicated Domitian in the death of his brother, either by directly accusing him of murder,[67] or implying he left the ailing Titus for dead,[58][68] even alleging that during his lifetime, Domitian was openly plotting against his brother. Several modern authors such as Dorey have argued the opposite: that Agricola was in fact a close friend of Domitian, and that Tacitus merely sought to distance his family from the fallen dynasty once Nerva was in power. [101] For this purpose, a new legion was founded, Legio I Minervia, which constructed some 75 kilometres (46 mi) of roads through Chattan territory to uncover the enemy's hiding places. [73] He ensured that libellous writings, especially those directed against himself, were punishable by exile or death. [34] Vespasian accepted and entered an alliance with Gaius Licinius Mucianus, the governor of Syria, against Vitellius. Yet the return of Titus further highlighted the comparative insignificance of Domitian, both militarily and politically. [38], During the night, he was joined by his relatives, including Domitian. [94] Agricola arrived c. 77 as governor of Roman Britain, immediately launching campaigns into Caledonia (modern Scotland). He increased the silver purity of the denarius from 90% to 98% – the actual silver weight increasing from 2.87 grams to 3.26 grams. According to Suetonius, a number of omens had foretold Domitian's death. Domitian was born October 24, AD 51, and murdered September 18, AD 96. [183][184], Tacitus' major historical works, including The Histories and Agricola's biography, were all written and published under Domitian's successors Nerva (96–98) and Trajan (98–117). All orders are custom made and most ship worldwide within 24 hours. Since the fall of the Republic, the authority of the Roman Senate had largely eroded under the quasi-monarchical system of government established by Augustus, known as the Principate. As a result, he was always restless around that time. [8] One such family, the Flavians, or gens Flavia, rose from relative obscurity to prominence in just four generations, acquiring wealth and status under the emperors of the Julio-Claudian dynasty. Around fifty structures were erected, restored or completed, achievements second only to those of Augustus. [26] With regard to Domitian's personality, however, the account of Suetonius alternates sharply between portraying Domitian as the emperor-tyrant, a man both physically and intellectually lazy, and the intelligent, refined personality drawn elsewhere.[27]. [40], Equally curtailed by Mucianus were Domitian's military ambitions. All orders are custom made and most ship worldwide within 24 hours. The name became the official title for the emperor, beginning with Diocletian, who reigned from ad 284 to 305; and thus he and his successors are often referred to as the dominate ( dominatus ), as contrasted with the earlier principate ( principatus) of Augustus and his successors. His cartouche also appears in the column shafts of the Temple of Khnum at Esna. January 18, 2020 - Dagorhir Field Battle at Lake Needwood Park in Derwood, MD (Observed Saturnalia for 2019) February With four legions at his disposal, Vespasian commanded a strength of nearly 80,000 soldiers. From Spain, Trajan was summoned, while Domitian himself came from Rome with the Praetorian Guard. [73], As eunuchs were popularly used as servants, Domitian punished people who castrated others[125] and wanted to ban the eunuchs themselves. Trajan continued Domitian's policy and added two more units to the auxiliary forces of Upper Moesia, and then he used the build up of troops for his Dacian wars. Italics indicates a junior co-emperor, while underlining indicates a usurper. [136], At any rate, the uprising was strictly confined to Saturninus' province, and quickly detected once the rumour spread across the neighbouring provinces. In his view, the Roman Empire was to be governed as a divine monarchy with himself as the benevolent despot at its head. Be on the lookout for your Britannica newsletter to get trusted stories delivered right to your inbox. [70] Until the completion of the Flavian Palace on the Palatine Hill, the imperial court was situated at Alba or Circeii, and sometimes even farther afield. His views on Domitian survive through brief comments in its first five books, and the short but highly negative characterization in Agricola in which he severely criticizes Domitian's military endeavours. [24], Domitian was allegedly extremely sensitive regarding his baldness, which he disguised in later life by wearing wigs. [12] Modern history has refuted these claims, suggesting these stories later circulated under Flavian rule as part of a propaganda campaign to diminish success under the less reputable Emperors of the Julio-Claudian dynasty and to maximize achievements under Emperor Claudius (41–54) and his son Britannicus. [46] Shortly following his accession as Emperor, Domitian bestowed the honorific title of Augusta upon Domitia, while their son was deified, appearing as such on the reverse of coin types from this period. [147][148] At least twenty senatorial opponents were executed,[149] including Domitia Longina's former husband Lucius Aelius Lamia and three of Domitian's own family members, Titus Flavius Sabinus, Titus Flavius Clemens and Marcus Arrecinus Clemens. Universal peace—the Pax Roma—reigns from Britannia to Egypt, from Gaul to Greece. His successors Nerva and Trajan were less restrictive, but in reality their policies differed little from his. [15] Tensions among the Flavian troops ran high but so long as either Galba or Otho remained in power, Vespasian refused to take action. Other passages, alluding to Domitian's love of epigrammatic expression, suggest that he was in fact familiar with classic writers, while he also patronized poets and architects, founded artistic Olympics, and personally restored the library of Rome at great expense after it had burned down. The servant, who was himself one of the plotters, lied to the emperor, telling him that it was already late in the afternoon. The armies of Mucianus were nearing Rome but the besieged Flavian party did not hold out for longer than a day. Domitian's reign came to an end in 96 when he was assassinated by court officials. [177] He was forced to submit to their demands, agreeing to hand over those responsible for Domitian's death and even giving a speech thanking the rebellious Praetorians. [91], Domitian himself supported the travel of competitors from all corners of the Empire to Rome and distributed the prizes. As a young man, Diocletian joined the army and he achieved a successful military career. Whereas his father and brother had concentrated consular power largely in the hands of the Flavian family, Domitian admitted a surprisingly large number of provincials and potential opponents to the consulship, allowing them to head the official calendar by opening the year as an ordinary consul. [182] Nevertheless, the account of Suetonius has dominated imperial historiography for centuries. Tacitus derided Domitian's victory against the Chatti as a "mock triumph", and criticized his decision to retreat in Britain following the conquests of Agricola. Among those completed were the Temple of Vespasian and Titus, the Arch of Titus and the Flavian Amphitheatre (Colosseum), to which he added a fourth level and finished the interior seating area. Diocletian was the son of Illyrian freed slave, and he was born near Salona (today’s Solin) in Dalmatia. [70] By moving the centre of government (more or less formally) to the imperial court, Domitian openly rendered the Senate's powers obsolete. During the civil war of ad 69 over the imperial crown, Domitian remained unharmed in Rome, but on December 18 he took refuge in the Capitol with his uncle Flavius Sabinus, escaping into hiding when the Capitol was stormed by supporters of Vitellius. He renewed the Lex Iulia de Adulteriis Coercendis, under which adultery was punishable by exile. Following his international bestsellers Roma and Empire, Steven Saylor's Dominus continues his saga of the greatest, most storied empire in history from the eternal city at the very center of it all. It would be nearly a hundred years after Stéphane Gsell's 1894 Essai sur le règne de l'empereur Domitien however, before any new, book-length studies were published. It was later used as a respectful form of address (Spanish don, Portuguese dom) and for the clergy (Italian don). Construction projects such as these constituted only the most visible part of Domitian's religious policy, which also concerned itself with the fulfilment of religious law and public morals. By the time he was 6 years old, Domitian's mother and sister had long since died, while his father and brother were continuously active in the Roman military, commanding armies in Germania and Judaea. [97][98], Nevertheless, Domitian appears to have been very popular among the soldiers, spending an estimated three years of his reign among the army on campaigns—more than any emperor since Augustus—and raising their pay by one-third. [71] To usher in the new era, he embarked on ambitious economic, military, and cultural programs with the intention of restoring the Empire to the splendour it had seen under the Emperor Augustus. Nerva was old and childless, and had spent much of his career out of the public light, prompting both ancient and modern authors to speculate on his involvement in Domitian's assassination. Today’s theme for our Funfest is “maids a milking.” For my second and last contribution, here’s an oldie but a goodie, and interestingly enough one of the more difficult scenes I’ve penned to date. The mutinous legions were sent to the front in Illyricum, while those who had assisted in their defeat were duly rewarded. By the time he was 16 years old, Domitian's mother and sister had long since died,[16] while his father and brother were continuously active in the Roman military, commanding armies in Germania and Judaea. [74], Although he made no pretence regarding the significance of the Senate under his absolute rule, those senators he deemed unworthy were expelled from the Senate, and in the distribution of public offices he rarely favored family members, a policy that stood in contrast to the nepotism practiced by Vespasian and Titus. [161], Dio included Domitia Longina among the conspirators, but in light of her attested devotion to Domitian—even years after her husband had died—her involvement in the plot seems highly unlikely. Domitian's reign began with certainly as much promise as those of his father and brother before. One of the guard's commanders, Titus Petronius Secundus, was almost certainly aware of the plot. [48] Jones argues that most likely he did so for her failure to produce an heir. [142] Most Emperors upheld the public facade of democracy, and in return the Senate implicitly acknowledged the Emperor's status as a de facto monarch. The new marriage not only re-established ties to senatorial opposition, but also served the broader Flavian propaganda of the time, which sought to diminish Vespasian's political success under Nero. Name. [44] Despite its initial recklessness, the alliance was very prestigious for both families. [51] It is not known whether Domitian had other children, but he did not marry again. [57] The family procession was headed by Vespasian and Titus, while Domitian, riding a magnificent white horse, followed with the remaining Flavian relatives. [104] He fortified the coast facing Ireland, and Tacitus recalls that his father-in-law often claimed the island could be conquered with a single legion and a few auxiliaries. Batavian auxiliaries of the Rhine legions, led by Gaius Julius Civilis, had rebelled with the aid of a faction of Treveri under the command of Julius Classicus. [87] Coinage from this era displays a highly consistent degree of quality including meticulous attention to Domitian's titulature and refined artwork on the reverse portraits. In many instances, existing portraits of Domitian, such as those found on the Cancelleria Reliefs, were simply recarved to fit the likeness of Nerva, which allowed quick production of new images and recycling of previous material. Often when a given Roman is described as becoming "emperor" in English, it reflects his taking of the title Augustus or Caesar.Another title often used was imperator, originally a military honorific. Our editors will review what you’ve submitted and determine whether to revise the article. In order to guard such a large empire, the army took advantage of well built Roman roads to move about the empire quickly. Dominus is the Latin word for master or owner. [72], Despite these grand designs, Domitian was determined to govern the Empire conscientiously and scrupulously. The evidence points to a balanced economy for the greater part of Domitian's reign. Domitian had a minor and largely ceremonial role during the reigns of his father and brother. In 87, the Romans invaded Dacia once more, this time under the command of Tettius Julianus, and finally defeated Decebalus in late 88 at the same site where Fuscus had previously perished. ";s:7:"keyword";s:27:"masseter botox side effects";s:5:"links";s:781:"Starbucks Snow Globe Tumbler Diy,
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