The Emperor Domitian

Domitian, Emperor of Rome AD 81-96, has traditionally been portrayed as a tyrant and his later years on the throne as a reign of terror'; his death bringing a restoration of liberty and inaugurating the glorious rule of the five good emperors'. It is less well known that he was an able, meticulous administrator, a reformer of the economy, with a building programme designed to ensure that Rome not only was the capital of the world but looked like it as well. Brian Jones's biography of the emperor, the first ever in English and the first in any language for nearly a century, offers a balanced interpretation of the life of Domitian. In taking into account recent scholarship and new epigraphic and archaeological discoveries, The Emperor Domitian proposes that Domitian was a ruthless but efficient autocrat with a sound foreign policy, and rejects the traditional view that dismisses him as a vicious tyrant. His harshness was felt by a comparatively minute, but highly vocal section of the population, who included those who wrote the history of his reign. Brian Jones argues that his relationship with the court rather than with the senate is central to understanding his policies and in explaining his reputation. The book further challenges many of the assumptions concerning Domitian's connection with the persecution of the early Christians. Domitian remains one of the most important and intriguing of the Roman rulers. Roman historians will have to take account of this new biography which in part represents a rehabilitation of Domitian.

Table of Contents:
Preface 1. EARLY CAREER Family and Social Mobility Patronage Flavians at Court Education Aftermath of Civil War Role Before Accession 2. COURT I Aspects of Domitians's Court Courtiers: Family 3. COURT II Amici Freedmen Other Courtiers 4. ADMINISTRATION I Economy Building Programme 5.ADMINISTRATION II The Individual Provinces Opposition 6. WAR I Chatti Britain Danube First Dacian War, 84/85 Africa Second Dacian War, 86 7. WAR II Saturninus's Revolt Chatti, 89 First Pannonian War, 89 Second Pannonian War, 92 Third Pannonian War, 95 The East 8. ARISTOCRACY I Senators Power Set Equestrians 9. ARISTOCRACY II Relationship with the Senate Consular Victims Exiles Summary 10. CONCLUSION Assasination Character BIBLIOGRAPHY INDEXES

About the Author :
Brian W. Jones is Associate Professor in the Department of Classics and Ancient History, University of Queensland, Australia. He is the author of two monographs on the Flavian emperors: "The Emperor Titus" and "The Emperor Domitian" and editions of "Suetonius: Domitian" (BCP, 1996) and "Vespasian" (BCP, 2000).