HISTORY OF THE DAY
According to Oleg Loginov
September 18
THE ASSASSINATION OF EMPEROR DOMITIAN
Titus Flavius Domitianus, better known in Roman historiography as Domitian, was the last Roman emperor of the Flavian dynasty, who ruled in 81-96. Emperor Domitian is remembered for the most part as a tyrant. He even executed for harmless jokes.
Gaius Suetonius Tranquille wrote about him: «At the same time, he discovered cruelty earlier than greed. He killed a student of pantomime Paris, still beardless and seriously ill, because he resembled his teacher in face and art. He also killed Hermogenes of Tarsus for some hints in his «History», and ordered the scribes who copied it to be crucified. The father of the family, who said that the Thracian gladiator would not yield to the opponent, but would yield to the master of the games, he ordered to be dragged into the arena and thrown to the dogs, putting up the inscription: «Shield-bearer — for a bold tongue.»
Drawing by Clive Upton. «Domitian, the emperor who loved to play games.»
In 89, Domitian made peace with the Dacian king Decebalus and turned from external wars to the internal affairs of the Empire. This was reflected in the fact that many senators were put to death. Domitian did not spare even his cousins and his Christian nephew Gaius Fulvius Clemens for refusing to make sacrifices in front of his image and worship for God.
Adrian Collaert (Adriaen Collaert). «Equestrian statue of Domitian»
In 96, Domitian ordered the murder of his secretary Epaphridius only because he had contributed to Nero’s suicide 27 years ago. The other servants, feeling death creeping up on them, decided to kill the emperor. The conspiracy included senators, household members, and even Domitian’s wife.
Lazzaro Baldis. «The Murder of Domitian»
Domitian fanatically believed in the astrological forecast made to him, which predicted that he would die at the fifth hour. And every day at this time he showed increased alertness. On September 18, 96, in his forty-fifth year of life and fifteenth year of power, he asked the servant what time it was. The servant, who apparently participated in the plot, replied that the sixth. The emperor calmed down and decided to go to the bath, but at that moment he was informed that Stefan, the steward of the Empress Domitilla, wanted to tell him something important. The steward was admitted to the emperor and handed him a scroll with information about the conspiracy. Domitian was deep in reading. Stefan pretended to hurt his arm, deftly carried a dagger in a bandage.
He drew his weapon and stabbed the emperor in the groin. He rushed at the killer, and they grappled, rolled on the floor. Domitian managed to take the dagger from Stefan and mortally wound him, but then the rest of the plot participants: Cornicularius Clodian, freedman Parthenius Maximus, decurion of sleeping bags Satur and one of the gladiators broke into the chambers and finished off the emperor with seven blows.
The people remained indifferent to his death, the Senate met it with glee, and the soldiers with indignation. According to Suetonius, a number of omens predicted the death of Domitian. A few days before the murder, his patroness Minerva appeared to him in a dream, declaring that she had been disarmed by Jupiter and would no longer be able to protect him.
Photo rating on the topic «Dramas of the Roman Emperors» part 1
*Texts from Wikipedia and other Internet resources were used.
*Translated using an electronic dictionary. The original text in Russian and much more on the criminal topic can be selected on the main page of the site — http://crimerecords.info/
