Flavians

Flavian dynasty (69-96)

• Name derived from Vespasian's nomen
  • T. Flavius Vespasianus
• Not as secure as Julio-Claudians
  • Not based on Augustus' overwhelming prestige
• Emperors hold repeated consulships, get hailed repeatedly as "imperator"
  • Sign of insecurity
• Not very prolific

Vespasian (69-79)

• Has putation for cheapness
  • Had to restore imperial finances after Nero's proligacy
• Refuses to allow prosecution of those implicated in Nero's misdeeds
  • As in E. Europe, hard to distinguish wicked people under old regime from those who unwillingly did what the had to
  • Has trouble with so-called "Stoic opposition"
    • A group of related senators objected openly to supposed imperial misdeeds
    • Had no alternative to imperial government
• Son Titus acts as praetorian praefect
  • Titus said to act severely against possible threats
  • Sign of insecurity
• Vespasian not particularly liked, but a "regular guy"
  • Member of the "municipal" aristocracy of Italy
  • Death words: "Uh oh, I'm turning into a god"

Titus (79-81)

• Vespasian's elder son
• Favored as heir under Vespasian
• Turns out to be affable emperor
  • Unlike his harshness as praetorian praefect under Vespasian
  • Has personal prestige as conqueror of Jerusalem
• Dies before anything goes wrong
  • Has good reputation in sources
    • Constrasts with very bad reputation of his brother
• Has no son, so younger brother heir

Domitian

• Younger brother of Titus
• Kept in background under Vespasian
• Inferiority complex?
• Not an easy-going individual
  • Secretive
  • Makes decisions in private
• Demands overt acts of submission
  • Dominus et deus
    • "Lord and Master
    • Romans like giving divine honors, resent being told to
• Paranoia
  • "Not even a fly"
• Major wars along Danube, Rhine
  • Sign of increased pressure from Germans and others to north
  • Several major defeats
  • Domitian has to campaign in person
  • Celebrates triumphs in Rome for minor victories
    • Meant to gain prestige
    • Have opposite effect
• Revolt of L. Antonius Saturninus in 89
  • Governor of Upper Germany
  • Man of unimpressive background
  • Easily suppressed
  • Contributes to Domitian's insecurity, paranoia
• Early 90s sees many treason trials
  • Persecution of "Stoic opposition"
  • Domitian manipulated by his advisors
• Domitian assassinated in 96
  • Murdered by conspiracy from within household
    • Wife, bedchamberlain implicated
    • Sign of deep satisfaction among those who know him best and have most to gain from contact
  • Dynasty at end
• Hated in sources
  • Modern reassessments
  • What are criteria for judging emperors?