On the death of Titus through fever, Domitian became Emperor (13 September 81). Henceforth his title was Imperator Csesar Domitianus (Domi- tianus Ca?sar) Augustus. The title Germanicus was conferred upon him in 84, and he became censor perpetuus {after 5 Sept.) in 85. Certain of the important events of his reign may be enumer- ated. It was probably very soon after the death of Titus that the decree for the construction of the arch in his honour, still standing at the Summa Sacra Via, was passed. On it are the famous representations of the Golden Candlestick, etc. (see art. Rome). His first year was also signalized by the victories of Cn. lulius Agricola in Scotland and the establishment of fortitied posts as far as the line of the Forth and Clyde. In 82 the rebuild- ing of the Temple of Jupiter on the Capitoline Hill, which had been destroyed by fire in 80, was com- pleted. In the same year the roads in the Imperial provinces of Asia JNIinor were repaired, and Agricola carried out his fifth campaign, planning also an invasion of Ireland which never took place. In 83 au expedition to Germany took place as the result of which victories were gained over the Chatti. Territory was added to the Empire in the region of Taunus and Wetterau on the right bank of the Rhine, and secured by a fortitied rampart {limes). This success brought the title Germanicus to Domitian on 3 September 84 (cf. Statins, Sihice [passim] for the use of the name ; passages in Klotz's index, p. 187). About this time Domitian also allowed himself to be appointed consul for ten years, and received the censona potestas for life, and other honours. The pay of the soldiers was increased by a third. In 83, on his sixth campaign, Agricola had been able, Avith the co-operation of his fleet, to extend his hold over our island. He marciied as far north as Inchtuthill near Dunkeld, and made a lasting camp there. In 84 occurred the battle of Mons Graupius (locality uncertain), by which the Caledonians received a crushing blow. Agricola left Britain in a pacifled state, when Domitian's jealousy recalled him soon after this victory. In the period 85-87 Domitian led in person two expeditions against the Dacians, who had provoked war. They crossed the Danube and invaded the province of Mcesia. The governor of Moesia, Oppius Sabinus, was defeated and killed. The Dacians thereupon ravaged the territory on the right bank of the Danube and destroyed towns and forts. About the end of January 86 Domitian himself took the held. Of the details of the war almost nothing is known. It appears that Domitian issued his commands for the most 2>art from the Imperial camp in the province of Moesia. The Decebalus was conquered, and Domitian took the credit of the victory to himself. He was back in Rome in the summer of 86, but the war was con-
tinued by Cornelius Fuscus, who appears to have sutt'ered a heavy defeat.
About the same period the Romans Mere engaged in warfare against the Nasamones on the African coast, and against the Germans. It was in Domitian's reign that the custom of buying off" the opposition of Rome's enemies began. During tliis period the Emperor became more and more a tj'rant and less and less a constitutional prince. It is significant that he allowed himself to be called dominus ac dcus (A.D. 85-86). Tyranny aroused the more republican of the senators, and many were condemned ; a conspiracy against the Emperor was discovered and crushed. Probably about the end of 89 Domitian triumphed over the Dacians and the Germans, whose governor, L. Antonius Satur- ninus, sought to dethrone him. Domitian had taken part in both these wars himself. We learn also of an expedition against the Quadi, the Marcomani, and the Sarmatians, all of whom were allies of the Dacians. Domitian was recognized as victor, peace was made between the combatants, and large sums of money were sent by Domitian to the Decebalus. The year 89 was marked by further condemnations of distinguished persons and the confiscation of their property. Twenty years after Nero's death (9 June 68) a false Nero appeared, and caused an uprising among the Parthians which it was extremely difficult to quell. It is not im- possible that some reference to this occurrence is latent in Rev 13^. In the year 91 a Vestal virgin, charged with having broken her vow of chastity, was by the orders of the ' censor ' Domitian sub- jected to the ancient penalty of being buried alive. In this year also was unveiled the great equestrian statue of Domitian in the Forum (celebrated by Statius in his Siluce, i. 1), the base of which is still in position. In 92 (or, strictly, in the period Oct. 91 to Sept. 92) there was a good vine crop but a bad cereal ci"op. Domitian in consequence ordered that no new vineyards should be laid out in Italy and that the vines of the provinces should be reduced to one half their former number. This measure, intended to improve agriculture, was not carried out strictly. The provinces complained, among them Asia Minor. M. Salomon Reinach pointed out in 1901 (in BA, reprinted in Cultes, Mythes et Religions, ii. [1906] 356-380) that there is a reference to this edict latent in the difficult passage Rev 6® (see Sanday in JThSt viii. [1906- 07] 488 f. ). In tlie same year Domitian conducted war against the Sarmatians with success. Next year (93) was marked by more condemnation of the nobility, and among others tiie great Agricola fell a victim. Now began the reign of terror which ended only with the death of Domitian. Among those who sutt'ered were some of the noblest Romans, men and women, that ever lived.