Domitian
Last of the Flavians: Ruthless autocrat who expanded Rome's borders and rebuilt the city, but was assassinated and condemned by the Senate.
Domitian was Roman emperor from 81 to 96, the last member of the Flavian dynasty.[1] He was the youngest son of Vespasian and younger brother of Titus.[1] Historian Brian W. Jones described him as "a ruthless but efficient autocrat".[1]
Quick Facts
- Reign
- 14 September 81 – 18 September 96
- Predecessor
- Titus
- Successor
- Nerva
- Birth name
- Titus Flavius Domitianus
- Born
- 24 October 51
- Birthplace
- Rome, Italy, Roman Empire
- Place of death
- Rome, Italy
- Burial place
- Rome
Facts from the source article.
Life and work
Domitian was born in Rome on 24 October 51.[2] Domitian's father Vespasian held a consulship in the year of Domitian's birth.[3] He escaped by disguising himself as a worshipper of Isis.[4] As emperor, he moved the centre of government to the imperial court.[5]
A quadrennial competition featuring athletic events, chariot racing, oratory, music, and acting was established by Domitian in 86 at his stadium, called the Capitoline Games.[6] Domitian was killed on the fourteenth day before the Kalends of October in the fifteenth year of his reign, at age forty-five.[7][8]
What the cited sources add
Suetonius records that Domitian was tall with a modest expression and high colour.[7] Suetonius states that Domitian displayed considerable marksmanship with the bow and arrow.[9] Suetonius notes that the people received news of Domitian's death with indifference, but the soldiers grieved.[7][8] Suetonius records that Domitian's wife was privy to the conspiracy that overthrew him.[7][8]
According to Suetonius, Domitian was very self-conscious about his lack of hair and authored a work on hair care.[10]
References
- Wikipedia, "Domitian" (CC BY-SA 4.0), which cites: Jones 1992, p. i (original not read by us) en.wikipedia.org
- Wikipedia, "Domitian" (CC BY-SA 4.0), which cites: Suetonius, Life of Domitian 1; Jones (1992), p. 1; Townend (1961), p. 62; Jones (1992), p. 3; Jones (1992), p. 1 (we also read that source) en.wikipedia.org
- Wikipedia, "Domitian" (CC BY-SA 4.0), which cites: Jones (1992), p. 8; Suetonius, Life of Domitian 1; Suetonius, Life of Domitian 4; Jones (1992), p. 7 (we also read that source) en.wikipedia.org
- Wikipedia, "Domitian" (CC BY-SA 4.0), which cites: Jones (1992), p. 14 (original not read by us) en.wikipedia.org
- Wikipedia, "Domitian" (CC BY-SA 4.0), which cites: Jones (1992), p. 22; Jones, "Pallas", Presses Universitaires du Midi, 1994, p. 331; Brunt, "The Journal of Roman Studies", Society for the Promotion of Roman Studies, Cambridge University Press, 1979, p. 173; Jones (1992), p. 99; Jones (1992), p. 72 (original not read by us) en.wikipedia.org
- Wikipedia, "Domitian" (CC BY-SA 4.0), which cites: Jones (1992), p. 103 (original not read by us) en.wikipedia.org
- Suetonius, Life of Domitian 1. facts only, no text reused. penelope.uchicago.edu
- Suetonius, Life of Domitian 21. facts only, no text reused. penelope.uchicago.edu
- Wikipedia, "Domitian" (CC BY-SA 4.0), which cites: Jones (1992), p. 16; Suetonius, Life of Domitian 19 (original not read by us) en.wikipedia.org
- Wikipedia, "Domitian" (CC BY-SA 4.0), which cites: Morgan (1997), p. 214; Suetonius, Life of Domitian 18; Jones (1992), p. 198; Jones (1992), p. 198 (original not read by us) en.wikipedia.org
Each numbered sentence above was checked against the source it cites before publication. Sentences citing Wikipedia adapt text from the English Wikipedia article Domitian (contributors), used under CC BY-SA 4.0; this entry is available under the same licence. Other sources were used for facts only; no text or images are copied from them.
More in Notable Figures
Elsewhere in Historical Figures
Spotted an error? Know more?
Reader corrections go straight into our review queue. Suggest an edit · How this site is sourced