same Aquae that was the scene of his father’s
demise. The common report had it that he was
done to death by his brother, for he had previously
been the object of that person’s plot: but
some writers state that a disease carried him off.
The tradition is that, while he was still breathing
and had a possible chance of recovery, Domitian, to
hasten his end, put him in a box packed with a quantity
of snow, pretending that the disease required a chill
to be administered; and, before his victim was dead,
he rode off to Rome, entered the camp, and received
the title and authority of emperor, having given the
soldiers all that his brother had been wont to give
them. Titus, as he expired, said: “I
have made but one error.” What this was
he did not reveal, and no one else feels quite sure
about it. Some have conjectured one thing and
some another. The prevailing impression, according
to one set of historians, is that he referred to keeping
his brother’s wife, Domitia. Others (whom
I am for following) say what he meant was that, after
finding Domitian openly plotting against him, he had
not killed him, but had chosen rather himself to suffer
that fate at his rival’s hands and to surrender
the government of Rome to a man whose nature will
be portrayed in the continuation of my narrative.
Titus had ruled for two years, two months, and twenty
days, as has been previously stated.
Domitian’s cruel character: his hatred
of his father and brother (chapters 1, 2).
He puts aside Domitia: falls in love with Julia:
slays the Vestals (chapter 3).
The German war (chapters 4, 5).
Dacian war with Decebalus (chapters 6, 7).
Domitian’s nocturnal spectacles and entertainments
(chapters 8, 9).
Events of the Dacian war (chapter 10).
Antonius, governor of Germany, rebels: many are
slain (chapters 11-14).
How Domitian was killed through snares laid by certain
men (chapters 15-18).
DURATION OF TIME.
L. Fl. Silva Nonius Bassus, Asinius Pollio Verrucosus
Cosa. (A.D. 81 = a.u. 834 = First of Domitian, from
Sept. 13th).
Domitianus Aug. (VIII), T. Flavius Sabinus. (A.D.
82 = a.u. 835 = Second of Domitian).
Domitianus Aug. (IX), Q. Petilius Rufus (II). (A.D.
83 = a.u. 836 = Third of Domitian).
Domitianus Aug. (X), T. Aurelius Sabinus. (A.D. 84
= a.u. 837 = Fourth of Domitian).
Domitianus Aug. (XI), T. Aurelius Fulvus. (A.D. 85
= a.u. 838 = Fifth of Domitian).
Domitianus Aug. (XII), Ser. Cornelius Dolabella.
(A.D. 88 = a.u. 839 = Sixth of Domitian).
Domitianus Aug. (XIII), A. Volusius Saturninus. (A.D.
87 = a.u. 840 = Seventh of Domitian).
Domitianus Aug. (XIV), L. Minucius Rufus. (A.D. 88
= a.u. 841 = Eighth of Domitian).
T. Aurelius Fulvus (II), A. Sempronius Atratinus.
(A.D. 89 = a.u. 842 = Ninth of Domitian).
Print
Word
PDF
