DOMITIAN !

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“Domitian used to say that the lot of Emperors was most unfortunate, since when they discovered a conspiracy, no one believed them unless they had been murdered.”

In 96 AD, the Roman Empire’s second dynasty came crashing down when the final Flavian was assassinated. The 15-year reign of Domitian was largely met with disdain by contemporaries, especially compared to the favourable reigns of his father, Vespasian, and older brother, Titus. Although Rome had been an empire for over a century, most of the rulers followed Augustus’ example of portraying themselves as “Princeps”, the first among equals, and maintaining the façade of the importance of the Senate. Domitian’s refusal to disguise his autocracy, coupled with his contempt for the aristocracy, saw him accumulate powerful enemies.

Domitian was never expected to rule – and thus never prepared for it. His father Vespasian had earned his military experience serving in the invasion of Britannia under Emperor Claudius, and was later sent east by Nero to quell an uprising in Judea. After Nero’s assassination, Vespasian’s legions declared him imperator in opposition to the Rhine legions of Vitellius. Vespasian made for Egypt to prepare his advance on Rome, leaving his son Titus to finish off Jewish resistance, which culminated in the famed Siege of Masada and sacking of the Second Temple. With the support of the Danube legions, Vespasian’s advocates secured Italia for him, and he emerged triumphant from the chaotic Year of the Four Emperors to return stability to Rome.

The decade-long reign of Vespasian saw the start of several ambitious construction projects, including the Flavian Amphitheatre – the Coliseum. His general Agricola expanded Roman possessions northwards in Britania, while Vespasian continued to prepare his son Titus to rule, paying little attention to his younger son, Domitian. Titus would serve as Prefect of the Praetorian Guard, while courting controversy by having an affair with a Jewish queen. When Titus rose to the Principate in 79 AD – the first son to succeed his father as emperor – his ascension was met with much acclaim. Titus completed the Coliseum, and organised much needed relief efforts following the eruption of Mt Vesuvius which destroyed Pompeii in 79, and a fire in Rome in 80.

Titus’ sudden death two years into his reign thrust an unprepared Domitian into the purple. Domitian would reign for 15 years, taking no measures to appease the Senate, and instead working to antagonise them. Despite this he remained popular with the military, leading Roman counteroffensives along the Danube against the resurgent Dacian kingdom, driving them back and defending Moesia. In Britania, Agricola continued to march north, crushing a Celtic army at the Battle of Mons Graupius deep in Caledonia (Scotland). It was Domitian’s recalling of many of the British legions to confront the Dacian threat that likely prevented Rome from completely annexing Britannia. There was also a likely punitive, or expeditionary, force sent west to Hibernia (Ireland), though the sources remain unclear.

Domitian first faced revolt in 89, when the Upper German legions joined the Chatti to oppose him. A fortunate thaw prevented a Rhine crossing, and soon troops were assembling against the threat – the lower German legions, Spanish legions under Trajan, and the Praetorians under Domitian himself, swiftly crushing the rebellion. Among those who had helped to unveil the plot was Nerva, who served a consulship with Domitian in the following year. The emperor continued to live in uncertainty though, with the Senate conspiring against him, and a prophecy foretelling that he would die at midday – the soothsayer predicting it being killed at his behest.

Domitian would repeatedly asking his clerk what the time was, and as his paranoia increased he would shelter himself at midday. Having a dream of Minnerva withdrawing her protection from him, he further retreated into the Imperial Palace to avoid any threats. When the day of the assassination came, his clerk told him that it was mid-afternoon, when in fact it was midday. He agreed to see one of his stewards, whose arm was in a cast having broken it several days earlier. The broken arm proved to be a ruse, and the steward pulled out a dagger, stabbing Domitian in the groin. Although a struggle ensued, further stabs killed the emperor and ended the Flavian dynasty.

When news of Domitian’s death hit the streets, the people were indifferent. The Senate was jubilant, issuing a damnato memoriae condemning the memory of the emperor. His coins were melted, his arches torn down, and his name erased from public records, his busts recurved to resemble others. They made the strange announcement that Nerva was to succeed him as imperator – the 66-year-old had no children, and was barely known outside of Rome. Trouble immediately began boiling as the legions demanded justice for Domitian, and the execution of his assassins. Despite such a troublesome and uncertain backdrop to the beginning of his reign, Nerva was about to usher in the Golden Age of the Roman Empire.