DOMITIAN was born upon the ninth of the calends of November [24th October], when his father was consul elect (being to enter upon his office the month following), in the sixth region of the city, at the Pomegranate, in the house which he afterwards converted into a temple of the Flavian family. He is said to have spent the time of his youth in so much want and infamy, that he had not one piece of plate belonging to him;
Domitianus natus est VIIII. Kal. Nouemb. patre consule designato inituroque mense insequenti honorem, regione urbis sexta ad Malum Punicum, domo quam postea in templum gentis Flauiae conuertit. pubertatis ac primae adulescentiae tempus tanta inopia tantaque infamia gessisse fertur, ut nullum argenteum uas in usu haberet. satisque constat Clodium Pollionem praetorium uirum, in quem est poema Neronis quod inscribitur 'Luscio,' chirographum eius conseruasse et nonnumquam protulisse noctem sibi pollicentis; nec defuerunt qui affirmarent, corruptum Domitianum et a Nerua successore mox suo.
and it is well known, that Clodius Pollio, a man of pretorian rank, against whom there is a poem of Nero's extant, entitled Luscio, kept a note in his hand-writing, which he sometimes produced, in which Domitian made an assignment with him for bad purposes. In the war with Vitellius, he fled into the capital with his uncle Sabinus, and a part of the troops they had in the city. But the enemy breaking in, and the temple being set on fire, he hid himself all night with the sacristan;
bello Vitelliano confugit in Capitolium cum patruo Sabino ac parte praesentium copiarum, sed irrumpentibus aduersariis et ardente templo apud aedituum clam pernoctauit, ac mane Isiaci celatus habitu interque sacrificulos uariae superstitionis cum se trans Tiberim ad condiscipuli sui matrem comite uno contulisset, ita latuit, ut scrutantibus qui uestigia subsecuti erant, deprehendi non potuerit.
and next morning, assuming the disguise of a worshipper of Isis, and mixing with the priests of that idle superstition, he got over the Tiber, with only one attendant, to the house of a woman who was the mother of one of his school-fellows, and lurked there so close, that, though the enemy, who were at his heels, searched very strictly after him, they could not discover him. At last, after the success of his party, appearing in public, and being unanimously saluted by the title of Caesar, he assumed the office of praetor of the City, with consular authority, but in fact had nothing but the name;
post uictoriam demum progressus et Caesar consalutatus honorem praeturae urbanae consulari potestate suscepit titulo tenus, nam iuris dictionem ad collegam proximum transtulit, ceterum omnem uim dominationis tam licenter exercuit, ut iam tum qualis futurus esset ostenderet. ne exequar singula, contractatis multorum uxoribus Domitiam Longinam Aelio Lamiae nuptam etiam in matrimonium abduxit, atque uno die super XX officia urbana aut peregrina distribuit, mirari se Vespasiano dictitante, quod successorem non et sibi mitteret.
for the jurisdiction he transferred to his next colleague.
expeditionem quoque in Galliam Germaniasque neque necessariam et dissuadentibus paternis amicis incohauit, tantum ut fratri se et opibus et dignatione adaequaret.
He used, however his absolute power so licentiously, that even then he plainly discovered what sort of prince he was likely to prove. Not to go into details, after he had made free with the wives of many men of distinction, he took Domitia Longina from her husband, AElias Lamia, and married her;
Ob haec correptus, quo magis et aetatis et condicionis admoneretur, habitabat cum patre una sellamque eius ac fratris, quotiens prodirent, lectica sequebatur ac triumphum utriusque Iudaicum equo albo comitatus est. quin et e sex consulatibus non nisi unum ordinarium gessit eumque cedente ac suffragante fratre.
and in one day disposed of above twenty offices in the city and provinces; upon which Vespasian said several times, "he wondered he did not send him a successor too." He likewise designed an expedition into Gaul and Germany, without the least necessity for it, and contrary to the advice of all his father's friends; and this he did only with the view of equalling his brother in military achievements and glory.
simulauit et ipse mire modestiam in primisque poeticae studium, tam insuetum antea sibi quam postea spretum et abiectum, recitauitque etiam publice. nec tamen eo setius, cum Vologaesus Parthorum rex auxilia aduersus Alanos ducemque alterum ex Vespasiani liberis depoposcisset, omni ope contendit ut ipse potissimum mitteretur; et quia discussa res est, alios Orientis reges ut idem postularent donis ac pollicitationibus sollicitare temptauit.
But for this he was severely reprimanded, and that he might the more effectually be reminded of his age and position, was made to live with his father, and his litter had to follow his father's and brother's carriage, as often as they went abroad; but he attended them in their triumph for the conquest of Judaea, mounted on a white horse. Of the six consulships which he held, only one was ordinary;
Patre defuncto diu cunctatus an duplum donatiuum militi offerret, numquam iactare dubitauit relictum se participem imperii, sed fraudem testamento adhibitam; neque cessauit ex eo insidias struere fratri clam palamque, quoad correptum graui ualitudine, prius quam plane efflaret animam, pro mortuo deseri iussit; defunctumque nullo praeterquam consecrationis honore dignatus, saepe etiam carpsit obliquis orationibus et edictis.
and that he obtained by the cession and interest of his brother. He greatly affected a modest behaviour, and, above all, a taste for poetry; insomuch, that he rehearsed his performances in public, though it was an art he had formerly little cultivated, and which he afterwards despised and abandoned. Devoted, however, as he was at this time to poetical pursuits, yet when Vologesus, king of the Parthians, desired succours against the Alani, with one of Vespasian's sons to command them, he laboured hard to procure for himself that appointment.
Inter initia principatus cotidie secretum sibi horarum sumere solebat nec quicquam amplius quam muscas captare ac stilo praeacuto configere, ut cuidam interroganti, essetne quis intus cum Caesare, non absurde responsum sit a Vibio Crispo, ne muscam quidem. deinde uxorem Domitiam, ex qua in secundo suo consulatu filium tulerat alteroque anno ⟨… ⟩, consalutauit Augustam; eandem Paridis histrionis amore deperditam repudiauit intraque breue tempus inpatiens discidii quasi efflagitante populo reduxit.
But the scheme proving abortive, he endeavoured by presents and promises to engage other kings of the East to make a similar request.
Circa administrationem autem imperii aliquamdiu se uarium praestitit, mixtura quoque aequabili uitiorum atque uirtutum, donec uirtutes quoque in uitia deflexit: quantum coniectare licet, super ingenii naturam inopia rapax, metu saeuus.
After his father's death, he was for some time in doubt, whether he should not offer the soldiers a donative double to that of his brother, and made no scruple of saying frequently, "that he had been left his partner in the empire, but that his father's will had been fraudulently set aside." From that time forward, he was constantly engaged in plots against his brother, both publicly and privately: until, falling dangerously ill, he ordered all his attendants to leave him, under pretence of his being dead, before he really was so;
Spectacula assidue magnifica et sumptuosa edidit non in amphitheatro modo, uerum et in circo, ubi praeter sollemnes bigarum quadrigarumque cursus proelium etiam duplex, equestre ac pedestre, commisit; at in amphitheatro nauale quoque. nam uenationes gladiatoresque et noctibus ad lychnuchos, nec uirorum modo pugnas, sed et feminarum. praeterea quaestoriis muneribus, quae olim omissa reuocauerat, ita semper interfuit, ut populo potestatem faceret bina paria e suo ludo postulandi eaque nouissima aulico apparatu induceret.
and, at his decease, paid him no other honour than that of enrolling him amongst the gods; and he often, both in speeches and edicts, carped at his memory by sneers and insinuations. In the beginning of his reign, he used to spend daily an hour by himself in private, during which time he did nothing else but catch flies, and stick them through the body with a sharp pin.
ac per omne gladiatorum spectaculum ante pedes ei stabat puerulus coccinatus paruo portentosoque capite, cum quo plurimum fabulabatur, nonnumquam serio. auditus est certe, dum ex eo quaerit, ecquid sciret, cur sibi uisum esset ordinatione proxima Aegypto praeficere Mettium Rufum. edidit naualis pugnas paene iustarum classium, effosso et circumstructo iuxta Tiberim lacu, atque inter maximos imbres perspectauit.
When some one therefore inquired, "whether any one was with the emperor," it was significantly answered by Vibius Crispus, "Not so much as a fly."
Fecit et ludos saeculares, computata ratione temporum ad annum non quo Claudius proxime, sed quo olim Augustus ediderat; in iis circensium die, quo facilius centum missus peragerentur, singulos e septenis spatiis ad quina corripuit.
Soon after his advancement, his wife Domitia, by whom he had a son in his second consulship, and whom the year following he complimented with the title of Augusta, being desperately in love with Paris, the actor, he put her away; but within a short time afterwards, being unable to bear the separation, he took her again, under pretence of complying with the people's importunity. During some time, there was in his administration a strange mixture of virtue and vice, until at last his virtues themselves degenerated into vices; being, as we may reasonably conjecture concerning his character, inclined to avarice through want, and to cruelty through fear. He frequently entertained the people with most magnificent and costly shows, not only in the amphitheatre, but the circus;
Instituit et quinquennale certamen Capitolino Ioui triplex, musicum equestre gymnicum, et aliquanto plurium quam nunc est coronatorum. certabant enim et prosa oratione Graece Latineque ac praeter citharoedos chorocitharistae quoque et psilocitharistae, in stadio uero cursu etiam uirgines. certamini praesedit crepidatus purpureaque amictus toga Graecanica, capite gestans coronam auream cum effigie Iouis ac Iunonis Mineruaeque, adsidentibus Diali sacerdote et collegio Flauialium pari habitu, nisi quod illorum coronis inerat et ipsius imago. celebrabat et in Albano quotannis Quinquatria Mineruae, cui collegium instituerat, ex quo sorte ducti magisterio fungerentur ederentque eximias uenationes et scaenicos ludos superque oratorum ac poetarum certamina.
where, besides the usual races with chariots drawn by two or four horses a-breast, he exhibited the representation of an engagement between both horse and foot, and a sea-fight in the amphitheatre. The people were also entertained with the chase of wild beasts and the combat of gladiators, even in the night-time, by torch-light.
Congiarium populo nummorum trecenorum ter dedit atque inter spectacula muneris largissimum epulum Septimontiali †sacrorum quidem senatui equitique panariis, plebei sportellis cum obsonio distributis initium uescendi primus fecit; dieque proximo omne genus rerum missilia sparsit, et quia pars maior intra popularia deciderat, quinquagenas tesseras in singulos cuneos equestris ac senatorii ordinis pronuntiauit.
Nor did men only fight in these spectacles, but women also. He constantly attended at the games given by the quaestors, which had been disused for some time, but were revived by him; and upon those occasions, always gave the people the liberty of demanding two pair of gladiators out of his own school, who appeared last in court uniforms.
Plurima et amplissima opera incendio absumpta restituit, in quis et Capitolium, quod rursus arserat; sed omnia sub titulo tantum suo ac sine ulla pristini auctoris memoria. nouam autem excitauit aedem in Capitolio Custodi Ioui et forum quod nunc Neruae uocatur, item Flauiae templum gentis et stadium et odium et naumachiam, e cuius postea lapide maximus circus deustis utrimque lateribus extructus est.
Whenever he attended the shows of gladiators, there stood at his feet a little boy dressed in scarlet, with a prodigiously small head, with whom he used to talk very much, and sometimes seriously. We are assured, that he was overheard asking him, "if he knew for what reason he had in the late appointment, made Metius Rufus governor of Egypt?"
Expeditiones partim sponte suscepit, partim necessario: sponte in Chattos, necessario unam in Sarmatas legione cum legato simul caesa; in Dacos duas, primam Oppio Sabino consulari oppresso, secundam Cornelio Fusco praefecto cohortium praetorianarum, cui belli summam commiserat. de Chattis Dacisque post uaria proelia duplicem triumphum egit, de Sarmatis lauream modo Capitolino Ioui rettulit.
He presented the people with naval fights, performed by fleets almost as numerous as those usually employed in real engagements; making a vast lake near the Tiber, and building seats round it. And he witnessed them himself during a very heavy rain. He likewise celebrated the Secular games, reckoning not from the year in which they had been exhibited by Claudius, but from the time of Augustus's celebration of them. In these, upon the day of the Circensian sports, in order to have a hundred races performed, he reduced each course from seven rounds to five.
Bellum ciuile motum a L. Antonio, superioris Germaniae praeside, confecit absens felicitate mira, cum ipsa dimicationis hora resolutus repente Rhenus transituras ad Antonium copias barbarorum inhibuisset. de qua uictoria praesagiis prius quam nuntiis comperit, siquidem ipso quo dimicatum erat die statuam eius Romae insignis aquila circumplexa pinnis clangores laetissimos edidit; pauloque post occisum Antonium adeo uulgatum est, ut caput quoque adportatum eius uidisse se plerique contenderent.
He likewise instituted, in honour of Jupiter Capitolinus, a solemn contest in music to be performed every five years; besides horse-racing and gymnastic exercises, with more prizes than are at present allowed. There was also a public performance in elocution, both Greek and Latin;
Multa etiam in communi rerum usu nouauit: sportulas publicas sustulit reuocata rectarum cenarum consuetudine; duas circensibus gregum factiones aurati purpureique panni ad quattuor pristinas addidit; interdixit histrionibus scaenam, intra domum quidem exercendi artem iure concesso; castrari mares uetuit; spadonum, qui residui apud mangones erant, pretia moderatus est.
and besides the musicians who sung to the harp, there were others who played concerted pieces or solos, without vocal accompaniment. Young girls also ran races in the Stadium, at which he presided in his sandals, dressed in a purple robe made after the Grecian fashion, and wearing upon his head a golden crown bearing the effigies of Jupiter, Juno, and Minerva;
ad summam quondam ubertatem uini, frumenti uero inopiam existimans nimio uinearum studio neglegi arua, edixit, ne quis in Italia nouellaret utque in prouinciis uineta succiderentur, relicta ubi plurimum dimidia parte; nec exequi rem perseuerauit. quaedam ex maximis officiis inter libertinos equitesque R. communicauit.
with the flamen of Jupiter, and the college of priests sitting by his side in the same dress; excepting only that their crowns had also his own image on them.
geminari legionum castra prohibuit nec plus quam mille nummos a quoquam ad signa deponi, quod L. Antonius apud duarum legionum hiberna res nouas moliens fiduciam cepisse etiam ex depositorum summa uidebatur. addidit et quartum stipendium militi aureos ternos.
He celebrated also upon the Alban mount every year the festival of Minerva, for whom he had appointed a college of priests, out of which were chosen by lot persons to preside as governors over the college;
Ius diligenter et industrie dixit, plerumque et in foro pro tribunali extra ordinem; ambitiosas centumuirorum sententias rescidit; reciperatores, ne se perfusoriis assertionibus accommodarent, identidem admonuit; nummarios iudices cum suo quemque consilio notauit.
who were obliged to entertain the people with extraordinary chases of wild beasts, and stage-plays, besides contests for prizes in oratory and poetry. He thrice bestowed upon the people largess of three hundred sesterces each man; and, at a public show of gladiators, a very plentiful feast.
auctor et tr.tribunis pl.plebis fuit aedilem sordidum repetundarum accusandi iudicesque in eum a senatu petendi. magistratibus quoque urbicis prouinciarumque praesidibus coercendis tantum curae adhibuit, ut neque modestiores umquam neque iustiores extiterint; e quibus plerosque post illum reos omnium criminum uidimus.
At the festival of the Seven Hills, he distributed large hampers of provisions to the senatorian and equestrian orders, and small baskets to the common people, and encouraged them to eat by setting them the example. The day after, he scattered among the people a variety of cakes and other delicacies to be scrambled for; and on the greater part of them falling amidst the seats of the crowd, he ordered five hundred tickets to be thrown into each range of benches belonging to the senatorian and equestrian orders. He rebuilt many noble edifices which had been destroyed by fire, and amongst them the Capitol, which had been burnt down a second time;
suscepta correctione morum licentiam theatralem promiscue in equite spectandi inhibuit; scripta famosa uulgoque edita, quibus primores uiri ac feminae notabantur, aboleuit non sine auctorum ignominia; quaestorium uirum, quod gesticulandi saltandique studio teneretur, mouit senatu; probrosis feminis lecticae usum ademit iusque capiendi legata hereditatesque; equitem R. ob reductam in matrimonium uxorem, cui dimissae adulterii crimen intenderat, erasit iudicum albo; quosdam ex utroque ordine lege Scantinia condemnauit; incesta Vestalium uirginum, a patre quoque suo et fratre neglecta, uarie ac seuere coercuit, priora capitali supplicio, posteriora more ueteri.
but all the inscriptions were in his own name, without the least mention of the original founders. He likewise erected a new temple in the Capitol to Jupiter Custos, and a forum, which is now called Nerva's, as also the temple of the Flavian family, a stadium, an odeum, and a naumachia; out of the stone dug from which, the sides of the Circus Maximus, which had been burnt down, were rebuilt.
nam cum Oculatis sororibus, item Varronillae liberum mortis permisisset arbitrium corruptoresque earum relegasset, mox Corneliam maximam uirginem absolutam olim, dein longo interuallo repetitam atque conuictam defodi imperauit stupratoresque uirgis in comitio ad necem caedi, excepto praetorio uiro, cui, dubia etiam tum causa et incertis quaestionibus atque tormentis de semet professo, exilium indulsit.
He undertook several expeditions, some from choice, and some from necessity. That against the Catti was unprovoked, but that against the Sarmatians was necessary; an entire legion, with its commander, having been cut off by them.
ac ne qua religio deum impune contaminaretur, monimentum, quod libertus eius e lapidibus templo Capitolini Iouis destinatis filio extruxerat, diruit per milites ossaque et reliquias quae inerant mari mersit.
He sent two expeditions against the Dacians; the first upon the defeat of Oppius Sabinus. a man of consular rank; and the other, upon that of Cornelius Fuscus, prefect of the pretorian cohorts, to whom he had entrusted the conduct of that war. After several battles with the Catti and Daci, he celebrated a double triumph.
Inter initia usque adeo ab omni caede abhorrebat, ut absente adhuc patre recordatus Vergili[i] uersum: impia quam caesis gens est epulata iuuencisedicere destinarit, ne boues immolarentur. cupiditatis quoque atque auaritiae uix suspicionem ullam aut priuatus umquam aut princeps aliquamdiu dedit, immo e diuerso magna saepe non abstinentiae modo sed etiam liberalitatis experimenta.
But for his successes against the Sarmatians, he only bore in procession the laurel crown to Jupiter Capitolinus. The civil war, begun by Lucius Antonius, governor of Upper Germany, he quelled, without being obliged to be personally present at it, with remarkable good fortune. For, at the very moment of joining battle, the Rhine suddenly thawing the troops of the barbarians which were ready to join L. Antonius, were prevented from crossing the river. Of this victory he had notice by some presages, before the messengers who brought the news of it arrived.
omnis circa se largissime prosecutus nihil prius aut acrius monuit quam ne quid sordide facerent. relictas sibi hereditates ab iis, quibus liberi erant, non recepit. legatum etiam ex testamento Rusti Caepionis, qui cauerat ut quotannis ingredientibus curiam senatoribus certam summam uiritim praestaret heres suus, irritum fecit. reos, qui ante quinquennium proximum apud aerarium pependissent, uniuersos discrimine liberauit nec repeti nisi intra annum eaque condicione permisit, ut accusatori qui causam non teneret exilium poena esset.
For upon the very day the battle was fought, a splendid eagle spread his wings round his statue at Rome, making most joyful cries. And shortly after, a rumour became common, that Antonius was slain; nay, many positively affirmed, that they saw his head brought to the city.
scribas quaestorios negotiantis ex consuetudine sed contra Clodiam legem uenia in praeteritum donauit. subsiciua, quae diuisis per ueteranos agris carptim superfuerunt, ueteribus possessoribus ut usu capta concessit. fiscales calumnias magna calumniantium poena repressit, ferebaturque uox eius: 'princeps qui delatores non castigat, irritat.'
He made many innovations in common practices. He abolished the Sportula, and revived the old practice of regular suppers. To the four former parties in the Circensian games, he added two new, who wore gold and scarlet. He prohibited the players from acting in the theatre, but permitted them the practice of their art in private houses. He forbad the castration of males; and reduced the price of the eunuchs who were still left in the hands of the dealers in slaves.
Sed neque in clementiae neque in abstinentiae tenore permansit, et tamen aliquanto celerius ad saeuitiam desciuit quam ad cupiditatem. discipulum Paridis pantomimi impuberem adhuc et cum maxime aegrum, quod arte formaque non absimilis magistro uidebatur, occidit; item Hermogenem Tarsensem propter quasdam in historia figuras, libraris etiam, qui eam descripserant, cruci fixis. patrem familias, quod Thraecem murmilloni parem, munerario imparem dixerat, detractum spectaculis in harenam canibus obiecit cum hoc titulo: 'impie locutus parmularius.'
On the occasion of a great abundance of wine, accompanied by a scarcity of corn, supposing that the tillage of the ground was neglected for the sake of attending too much to the cultivation of vineyards, he published a proclamation forbidding the planting of any new vines in Italy, and ordered the vines in the provinces to be cut down, nowhere permitting more than one half of them to remain. But he did not persist in the execution of this project.
Complures senatores, in iis aliquot consulares, interemit; ex quibus Ciuicam Cerealem in ipso Asiae proconsulatu, Saluidienum Orfitum, Acilium Glabrionem in exilio, quasi molitores rerum nouarum, ceteros leuissima quemque de causa. Aelium Lamiam ob suspiciosos quidem, uerum et ueteres et innoxios iocos, quod post abductam uxorem laudanti uocem suam 'eutacto' dixerat quodque Tito hortanti se ad alterum matrimonium responderat: μὴ καὶ σὺ γαμῆσαι θέλεις;
Some of the greatest offices he conferred upon his freedmen and soldiers. He forbad two legions to be quartered in the same camp, and more than a thousand sesterces to be deposited by any soldier with the standards; because it was thought that Lucius Antonius had been encouraged in his late project by the large sum deposited in the military chest by the two legions which he had in the same winterquarters. He made an addition to the soldiers' pay, of three gold pieces a year. In the administration of justice he was diligent and assiduous;
Saluium Cocceianum, quod Othonis imperatoris patrui sui diem natalem celebrauerat; Mettium Pompusianum, quod habere imperatoriam genesim uulgo ferebatur et quod depictum orbem terrae in membrana[s] contionesque regum ac ducum ex Tito Liuio circumferret quodque seruis nomina Magonis et Hannibalis indidisset; Sallustium Lucullum Britanniae legatum, quod lanceas nouae formae appellari Luculleas passus esset; Iunium Rusticum, quod Paeti Thraseae et Heluidi Prisci laudes edidisset appellassetque eos sanctissimos uiros; cuius criminis occasione philosophos omnis urbe Italiaque summouit.
and frequently sat in the forum out of course, to cancel the judgments of the court of The One Hundred, which had been procured through favour, or interest. He occasionally cautioned the judges of the court of recovery to beware of being too ready to admit claims for freedom brought before them.
occidit et Heluidium filium, quasi scaenico exodio sub persona Paridis et Oenones diuortium suum cum uxore taxasset; Flauium Sabinum alterum e patruelibus, quod eum comitiorum consularium die destinatum perperam praeco non consulem ad populum, sed imperatorem pronuntiasset.
He set a mark of infamy upon judges who were convicted of taking bribes, as well as upon their assessors. He likewise instigated the tribunes of the people to prosecute a corrupt aedile for extortion, and to desire the senate to appoint judges for his trial. He likewise took such effectual care in punishing magistrates of the city, and governors of provinces, guilty of malversation, that they never were at any time more moderate or more just.
Verum aliquanto post ciuilis belli uictoriam saeuior, plerosque partis aduersae, dum etiam latentis conscios inuestigat[o], nouo quaestionis genere distorsit immisso per obscaena igne; nonnullis et manus amputauit. satisque constat duos solos e notioribus uenia donatos, tribunum laticlauium et centurionem, qui se, quo facilius expertes culpae ostenderent, impudicos probauerant et ob id neque apud ducem neque apud milites ullius momenti esse potuisse.