7.23

Domitian Emperor, 81–96 CE

Cassius Dio, Histories 67.1 ff. Suetonius, Domitian.

(1) Domitiānus: Titus Flavius Domitian. Vespasian was aware of his son’s disposition and put no confidence in him. When Vespasian died, Domitian tried to arouse the soldiers against his brother Titus. After his brother became emperor, Domitian was treated with great kindness, and several offices were shared with him. At first mild and just, he soon became suspicious and cruel. In Britain alone were the Roman arms successful during his reign. In all other places defeat and disgraceful compromises with the enemy marked his campaigns. Finally his cruelty became unbearable, and a conspiracy was formed by the officers of the guard, several of his intimate friends, and even his wife Domatilla, and he was slain after a desperate struggle (Hazzard).

frāter ipsīus iūnior: refers to Titus, see Brev. 7.22.

Nerōnī aut Caligulae aut Tiberiō similior: "more like Nero or Caligula or Tiberius." According to Bird, "These three emperors had become archetypal villains by the fourth century."

prōgressus: perfect participle of deponent verb prōgredior (AG 190)

tantum in sē odiī concitāvit: "he prompted such hatred that," followed by a result clause (AG 537). odiī is partitive genitive.

(2) primus ... iussit: "he was the first to order." See Suetonius, Domitian 13.

in Capitōliō: on the Capitoline Hill, Rome’s civic heart and soul

(3) Cōnsōbrīnōs: the two sons of Vespasian's brother, Flavius Sabinus and Titus Flavius Clemens.

(4) Expedītiōnēs quattuor: Domitian defeated the Chatti in 83 CE and annexed Mt. Taunus and the triangle of land between the upper Rhine and Danube.

lauream: laurel leaves and crowns were Roman symbols of victory (s.v. Smith, triumphus passim)

praefectus praetōriō: praetorian prefect, commander of the praetorian guard (the only significant military force in the the city of Rome) and a key advisor to the emperors.

(5) multa opera fēcit: Domitian was responsible for an ambitious building program at Rome and elsewhere. He erected new temples to Jupiter Capitolinus on the Capitol, to Jupiter Custos on the Quirinal, and rebuilt temples to Janus, Castor and Apollo. He also completed the Flavian Amphitheater, which Vespasian had initiated and Titus had dedicated, and in the Campus Martius he built an Odeum, a Stadium and a Circus. He further constructed a temple of Isis and Serapis, the Arch of Titus, a mansion on the Palatine, a villa on the Alban Lake, a shopping center in the Saepta, granaries and water works and refurbished the portico of Octavia and the Pantheon (Suet. Domit. 5; Victor Epit. 11.3) (Bird).

Capitōlium: it had burned in the recent succession struggle that brought Domitian's family to power. See Brev. 7.18.4.

Forum Transitorium: also known as the Forum of Nerva.

Dīvōrum Porticūs: "the Portico of the Gods," a large (220 x 55m) garden flanked by shaded walks and containing two small temples built in honor of Titus and Vespasian. See Gardens of the Roman Empire, Divorum.

(6) suōrum coniūrātiōne: Domitian was assassinated in 96 CE, notably by his own servants, rather than a conspiracy of senators. He did not receive divine honors (See Smith, s.v. Apotheosis).

in Palātiō: in the Flavian Palace on the Palatine Hill. Extensive remains of this structure still exist. At first the word Palātium was applied only to the hill, but from the time of Augustus it meant a "palace," especially the imperial palace of the Caesars (Hazzard).

Fūnus eius: According to Suetonius, "his corpse was carried out on a common bier by those who bury the poor, and his nurse Phyllis cremated it at her suburban estate on the Via Latina; but his ashes she secretly carried to the temple of the Flavian family and mingled them with those of Julia, daughter of Titus, whom she had also reared" (Vit. Domit. 17.3, Translated by J. C. Rolfe).