Domitian, 13 September 81 - 18 September 96 A.D.
Flavius Domitianus was an effective emperor who spent much of his time in the provinces preserving order. Despite his effectiveness, he was extremely unpopular with the senatorial class at Rome. He appointed persons from the lower classes to positions of authority. When asked to prohibit execution of senators without a trial by peers he declined, thus dispelling the old illusions of republican government and exposing the true autocracy of his rule. Domitian's reign was marred by paranoia and cruelty in his latter years and he executed many Senators. In 96 A.D. he was stabbed to death in a plot, allegedly involving his own wife Domitia.
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|Dictionary of Roman Coins|
   | Please |help| us convert the |Dictionary of Roman Coins| from scans to text by typing the original text here. Please add updates or make corrections to the NumisWiki text version as appropriate. DOMITIANUS (Flavius), the younger of the two sons of Vespasian, by Flavia Domitilla, was born at Rome, the 24th of October, in the year U. C. 804 (A.D. 51), when his father was consul designatus, and about entering upon office in the following month. This was the first consulate of Vespasian, still a private citizen; and it was a consulatus suffectus, held during the two last months of the above named year. Vespasian, having been proclaimed imperator by the legions of the east, Domitian, who was left at Rome, finding himself exposed to the vengeance of the partizans of Vitellius, took refuge in the capitol, with his uncle Sabinus, at the end of December. And, after that building had been besieged and set fire to, eventually made his escape, disguised as a priest of Isis, his hiding-place being sought for in every other direction. (Suctonius, chap. i. Tacitus Hist. iv.)—Vitellius having been put to death, about the 20th of December, 822 (A.D. 69), Domitian issued from his retreat, and was hailed as Caesar by the army. The choice of the soldiers wsa confirmed by the Senate, who, in addition, decreed to Domitian the pretorship of the city, and the consular dignity. In January, 823 (A.D. 70), he entered upon the government of the city, and discharged its functions in an unprincipled manner, distributing capriciously the public offices; insomuch as to cause the absent Vespasian to express his surprise, that his son did not send out some one to supersede himself. He set out with Muchianus against the Galli, Batavi, and Germani, who were in revolt; but, hearing by the way that success had attended the operations of Petilius Cerealis, he stopped at Lugdunum (Lyon). Same year, he married Domitia Longina, whom he took away by force from her husband AEmilianus. |
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Domitian, 13 September 81 - 18 September 96 A.D.
Flavius Domitianus was an effective emperor who spent much of his time in the provinces preserving order. Despite his effectiveness, he was extremely unpopular with the senatorial class at Rome. He appointed persons from the lower classes to positions of authority. When asked to prohibit execution of senators without a trial by peers he declined, thus dispelling the old illusions of republican government and exposing the true autocracy of his rule. Domitian's reign was marred by paranoia and cruelty in his latter years and he executed many Senators. In 96 A.D. he was stabbed to death in a plot, allegedly involving his own wife Domitia.
Insert detailed biography here
Obverse legends:
Dates
Rarity of Denominations, Average Weights of Well Preserved Coins, Mints, and Other Information
Mints
Rome
Links
FORVM's Catalog
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DomitianCoins.info
De Imperatoribus Romanis
Google
Discussion Board Search
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Wild Winds
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References
|Dictionary of Roman Coins|
| Please |help| us convert the |Dictionary of Roman Coins| from scans to text by typing the original text here. Please add updates or make corrections to the NumisWiki text version as appropriate. DOMITIANUS (Flavius), the younger of the two sons of Vespasian, by Flavia Domitilla, was born at Rome, the 24th of October, in the year U. C. 804 (A.D. 51), when his father was consul designatus, and about entering upon office in the following month. This was the first consulate of Vespasian, still a private citizen; and it was a consulatus suffectus, held during the two last months of the above named year. Vespasian, having been proclaimed imperator by the legions of the east, Domitian, who was left at Rome, finding himself exposed to the vengeance of the partizans of Vitellius, took refuge in the capitol, with his uncle Sabinus, at the end of December. And, after that building had been besieged and set fire to, eventually made his escape, disguised as a priest of Isis, his hiding-place being sought for in every other direction. (Suctonius, chap. i. Tacitus Hist. iv.)—Vitellius having been put to death, about the 20th of December, 822 (A.D. 69), Domitian issued from his retreat, and was hailed as Caesar by the army. The choice of the soldiers wsa confirmed by the Senate, who, in addition, decreed to Domitian the pretorship of the city, and the consular dignity. In January, 823 (A.D. 70), he entered upon the government of the city, and discharged its functions in an unprincipled manner, distributing capriciously the public offices; insomuch as to cause the absent Vespasian to express his surprise, that his son did not send out some one to supersede himself. He set out with Muchianus against the Galli, Batavi, and Germani, who were in revolt; but, hearing by the way that success had attended the operations of Petilius Cerealis, he stopped at Lugdunum (Lyon). Same year, he married Domitia Longina, whom he took away by force from her husband AEmilianus. | |||||
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| 824 (A. D. 71).—This year, consul suffectus, and afterwards consul designatus for the second time, he assisted at the triumph of his father and brother, for the capture of Jerusalem—an object of notice on that occasion from being mounted on a white horse. 825 (A.D. 72).—During this and the six following years, no particulars of Domitian's life are furnished by public records. But coins had begun to be abundant.—"It is very probable (observes Eckhel) that suspicions being entertained of his revolutionary designs, he now assumed a modesty and simplicity of demeanour, and affected especially a passion for literature, in order to conceal the real bent of his mind." Volagases I, King of Parthia, in 828 (A.D. 75), requesting succours from Vespasian against the Alani, and another general from among his sons, Domitian used every effort to procure the appointment for himself. But Vespasian refused the required aid altogether. 832 (A.D. 79).—His father dying on the 9th kalens of July, his elder brother Titus succeeded to the empire. Domitian complained, that tho'left a share in the sovereignty, the will of his father had been tampered with. His brother endeavoured to console him with the assurance, that he should be not only the sharer of the empire, but should also be his successor. 833 (A.D. 80).—He unceasingly, both in secret and openly, engaged in plots against his brother, attempting to seduce the army, and medated flight. Titus, all the while, bearing those annoyances with patience; and sometimes with tears entreating his brother to return to terms of affection. 834 (A.D. 81).—This year Domitian was proclaimed emperor, on the death of Titus his brother. 835 (A.D. 82).—Domitian signalised his accession to the throne by the introduction of salutary laws. He restored the Capitol magnificently. A son was born to him, respecting whom see DOMITIA. 836 (A.D. 83).—Agricola defeated the Caledonians. Under that able, brave, and active commander, it was then for the first time ascertained that Britain is entirely surrounded by water. Domitian undertook this year an expedition against the Catti (people of Hesse). 837 (A.D. 84).—The war with the Catti was put an end to by Domitian without coming to blows with the enemy. The title of Germanicus appeared for the first time on coins of this year. By the valour of Agricola, Britain was for a time reduced to a state of peaceful subjection. 838 (A.D. 85).—Foreign wars, relative to which there is no certain information; and at home atrocious acts of cruelty on the part of Domitian. 839 (A.D. 86).—The first Capitoline games were celebrated this year, intended, like the Olympic, to recur every fifth year. The Dacian war commenced, being set on foot by Decebalus, king of that nation, and was carried on for many years with varied success, but with great discredit to the Roman arms. 841 (A.D. 88).—Celebration of the Secular Games.—To this year (though the matter is in great uncertainty), Tillemont refers the revolt of L. Antonius, governor of Upper Germany, who made an attempt to invade the empire.—Domitian went out to repel his advance, but returned on learning that Antonius had been defeated and slain by L. Maximus. 842-843 (A.D. 89 and 90).—There are no certain records of the events of these two years. 844 (A.D. 91).—Eusebius refers the triumph over the Dacians to this year, as recorded also by Suetonius, but without a date. 846 (A.D. 93).—It is probable that the war with the Sarmatae by Domitian was undertaken this year, when a whole legion, with its general, was destroyed, as Suetonius states. 848 (A.D. 95).—Domitian ordered Flavius Clemens, his cousin-german, and the then consul, to be put to death for his attachment to the Christian religion, or as it ws then termed, the superstition of the Jews, and this occasion is treated of by ecclesiastical writers as the second persecution of the Church. | |||||
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