Life of Emperor Domitian #11 - The Last Flavian, Roman History Documentary Series

Emperor Domitian is remembered as a tyrant and his later years on the throne as a 'reign of terror'. And that his death brought about the restoration of liberty and the glorious rule of the 'five good emperors'.
What is often less talked about is that he was an able administrator, a reformer of the economy, and the empire prospered during his reign.

On this channel we focus on Roman History and right now we're doing a video on every Roman Emperor, if you're interested in that subscribe or watch the playlist here:

Eastern Roman History:

Annals and Histories - (Tacitus)

The Twelve Caesars - (Suetonius)

Dio's Roman history - (Cassius Dio)

69 AD: The Year of Four Emperors - (Gwyn Morgan)

The Emperor Domitian (Brian W. Jones)

The Penguin Historical Atlas of Ancient Rome - (Chris Scarre):

#Emperorsofrome #Romanemperors #SPQR #Romanhistory

[justinian-the-great]

Although Domitian was unquestionably a cruel man, he was still a very competent emperor. One thing that also should be said that is overlooked in the video, is that in his times Romans actually expand into Germania, conquering Agri Decumates, that is South-western Germany.

[spectator]

Very underrated figure. Domitian took serious steps to curb corruption throughout the empire.

[soapmaker]

Domitian was right to disdain the senate. They had proven themselves to be a treacherous lot time and time again. From what I've read about Domitian, he doesn't sound like a guy who was interested in playing politics with them; afterall, he was emperor. He probably thought that he could and should set everything right, all the scheming senators be damned. He ended up making lots of wealthy enemies by going that route, and it cost him his life. Was he pretentious with his titles, and cruel and sadistic towards his political enemies? Sure. However, his administrative policies and building projects made him popular with the common folk, and the involved manner in which he governed, especially his economic reforms, shows that he genuinely cared about improving the lives of his people. But the senatorial class writes the histories... Overall, I'd say he ranks among the top ten emperors. Aurelian and Augustus are at the top of the list, in terms of sheer talent.

[redjirachi]

Dovahhatty was right to make Domitian a chad

[AngryHistorian]

I would say Domitian was a pretty okay emperor. For one, he was an amazing administrator who gave the empire sound governance. Heck, he may not have even persecuted Christians personally (there may have been some persecutions, but Domitian himself may have had very little, if anything, to do with them...at least according to Brian W. Jones' book, titled the Emperor Domitian). As for the Agricola thing, Domitian may have told Agricola to withdraw on the grounds that Caledonia may not have been easy to control, not because of jealousy as Tacitus says. That being said, Domitian's mistake was to antagonize the senate, who gave us an unflattering portrait of the man. Also, according to Brian W. Jones' book, Domitian did not like being called Lord and God as Domitian did NOT seem to see himself as a god, but he just let the flatterers at court call him that.

Also, I would say the Flavians, and Domitian in no small part, paved the way for the Five Good Emperors. Feel free to disagree.

[TheWeavdaddy]

Domitian and Hadrain are extremely similar IMO. Only Hadrain had the ability to see the downfall of Domitian and was smart enough to have learned how/why people wanted his downfall.

[MatteoAdler]

As always great in depth presentation!! Domitian was so eager to be regarded and placed on the same level as Titus and Vespasian (who he secretly envied) that he became a maniac of bureaucracy and administration studying Augustus and Tiberius administrative edicts (compensating in my opinion his lack of military campaign competence). Surely one of my favorite figure during his period has to be the glorious Agricola! I must add Cornelius Fuscus too (he was really bold and a daring commander). Domitian fell victim of a plot masterminded by courtiers, secretaries, few senators and his wife. He ended up being killed by some of the obscure liberti and equestrian figures he had brought in the imperial court throughout his years of solitude, suspicion and paranoia. A sad end to the the great Flavian dynasty!

[colbystearns]

If Domitian had lived a couple hundred years later, him being "dominus et deus" would've fit perfectly within the Dominate period that Diocletian helped usher in. So in a way he's quite the pioneer who foreshadowed how emperors would rule later in the empire's history.

[kingspore]

Domitian and this channel are underrated

[timcusack]

The man responsible in setting the foundation for Pax Roma

[philRminiatures]

A once again high quality presentation, a fascinating and bloody life and a source of inspiration for us, wargamers, with the wars against the Dacians in particular...Great vid!

[BlackBrisingr]

From what I've gathered from numerous sources, it appears the consensus now on Domitian and Agricola, is that Domitian pulled him back Caledonia not out of jealousy, but out of necessity. The Danube frontier had legitimately become under threat from Decebalus, king of Dacia and protecting Moesia was far more important than trying to conquer the unprofitable northern section of Britannia. This is further backed by evidence indicating that Domitian did ask Agricola to take up offices again, including against Dacia, but Agricola refused due to health issues, using his friends to plead his case to the emperor. Given that he died at a relatively young age, even back then, this seems at least somewhat plausible. One article I read suggested that Agricola had burned himself out with all his campaigning and had to retire for his health and that, despite Domitian's recorded paranoia, the two retained a solid friendship even after the campaigns in Scotland.

Assuming that Domitian did recall Agricola, not due to Dacia and the concerns in Moesia, but due to the general's success, that doesn't mean his decision was necessarily a bad one regardless. A successful general was the biggest risk to an emperor's position as was displayed throughout Rome's history. Domitian's own father had become emperor for this very reason, so recalling Agricola and compelling him to retire would have still be a wise political move and exceedingly more merciful than how other general's managed their generals, which also goes against his supposed merciless image.

[michaelfisher]

Domitian is called "tyrant" and underrated because unlike his successors he didn't suck up to the patricians in the Senate. He was IN Rome and watched during the chaos after Nero's death and the succession of usurpers who came after them. What did he see? A senate who was willing to grovel at a new emperors feet and was, the next day, willing to damn that same man's memory. I understand his contempt for the Roman Senate. They did what governments today do. They protected the titled and wealthy at the expense of everyone else. Two of my favorite episodes in Roman history...1) Diocletian sidelines and completely ignores the Senate in his reorganization of the administration...2) Constantine calls the Praetorian Guard to assemble and fires the lot of them.

[Nero_CASM]

A glorious and wise ruler is what he was. Respect ✊🏻

[jorgenunes]

The nature and life of an emperor has always been made by historians. Domitius ends up in the same web as Commodus or Nero, as despot and maniac. I see through this beautiful video that there were problems with the Dacians, something that Emperor Trajan was going to solve. However, he is an emperor that we try to read and understand who he was.

[jaqhass]

A tyrant or a good emperor? Simply put, yes. Domitian was the one and only emperor to ever end inflation. Marcus inherited an economical stability that straight up enabled him most of his successes.

[jtadros]

I just found this video. It got lost in my recommendations when it came out.

[lallimj]

Some lists have him as a top-ten emperor. You couldn't tell that from this video. Would be good to have pros and cons for this statement. Thanks.

[EasternRomanHistory]

Jolly good video. I think he was certainly a good emperor and was probably a bit paranoid as well. Because the sources combine the emperor's personnality into being part and parcel of their reign and the senatorial sources view the fortunes of the empire, not as we see it but as how the emperor got along with the senate rather than as a whole Domitian is always the tyrant. The question is was he an enlightened despot or a wicked tyrant, I am inclined toward the former.

Thank you very much for the call out, I appreciate it. Have you seen my set of videos about Augustus?

[dimitribagatelas]

Great video, love your content. I´m so hyped for the five good emperors. In my opinion Domitian was an average emperor. The seeds for glory in rome were already in place since Augustus, and the Flavians simply restructured the financial system of the Empire. Keep up the great work!