Domitian
Domitian (Titus Flavius Domitianus),son of the emperor Vespasian, was born on 24 October AD 51, and remained in Rome during his father's campaign against Aulus Vitellius. Surrounded on the Capitol with his uncle, Flavius Sabinus, he managed to escape and on Vitellius' death was saluted as Caesar by the Flavian army, though the real power lay in the hands of Gaius Licinius Mucianus until Vespasian's arrival. In 71 he participated in the triumph of Vespasian and Titus, and between 70 and 80 held seven consulships, being twice ordinary consul (73 and 80; see consul). Although Domitian exercised no formal power, he was clearly part of the dynastic plan, and there is no convincing evidence that he was kept in the background or consumed by jealousy of his brother, whom he succeeded smoothly in 81.
The literary sources, especially Tacitus and Pliny the Younger,...
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