31 Flavians(Combined)[1]

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31. Flavians (combined)

11/30/2007 31. Flavians (combined) 3

Vespasian, A.D. 6979

Ignoble background Flavii came from Reate

Vespasian and his brother Sabinus first in Senate, first to be consuls

Patronized and advanced by the Julio-Claudians

Titus a schoolmate of Nero

Regularized imperial style

Imp. Caesar Vespasianus Augustus

Titulature mimicked that of Augustus

Added only his name to distinguish

lex de imperio Vespasiani(packet, 56)

Inscription preserves much of the text of Vespasians enabling law

Senate resolution and comitial vote conferred all the formal powers ofAugustus

Repeated precedents: Augustus, Tiberius, Claudius Ignores Gaius and Nero, other interim emperors of A.D. 69


Establishing Legitimacy Propaganda

Disseminated signs and prophecies

Libertas Restitutacoin types

Joint Jewish triumph with Titus

incubates in temple of Isis outside the walls

Temple of Peace

Echoed the Ara Pacis

Highlighted the benefits and products of peace

Consulships and nobility

Had only been consul once prior to accession

Holds it every year of his reign except A.D. 73 and 78

Sons also hold consulship repeatedly (see more below)


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Jews under the Flavians

Jerusalem was not rebuilt, but its site became a legionary camp Previously five auxiliary cohorts and a cavalry wing had inadequately

garrisoned the province

The Jewish Tax The annual payments that Jewish males used to make to support the

Temple where collected and diverted to rebuilding and maintaining thetemple of Jupiter Optimus Maximus on the Capitoline Hill in Rome

Jewish religious practice, sans the Temple, were allowed topcontinue unimpeded Privileges granted by Julius Caesasuch as exemption from military

service, rights of assembly (in synagogue), and being excused from publicbusiness on the Sabbathcontinued

Towards Rabbinic Judaism Yohanan ben Zakai, a Jewish sage had been sneaked out of the siege of

Jerusalem in a coffin to negotiate with Vespasian Flavians allowed him to establish a rabbinic academy at Jamnia After the fall of Jerusalem and the disbanding of the old Sanhedrin, this academy

made binding rulings on Jewish lawe.g., prayer and acts of loving kindnessreplaced sacrifice


Siege of Masada The Herodian fortress of Masada

was captured by rebels expelledthe Roman garrison in A.D. 66

When Jerusalem fell in A.D.70, a group of zealots fled tothe fortress and reinforced it,holding it for another threeyears

Flavius Silva, appointed commanderof the legion now garrisoning Judeaand governor of the reconstitutedprovince began a siege of Masada inA.D. 72, building massive earthworksand a ramp up to the fortress

When the fortress was about to betaken in A.D. 73, the zealotscommitted suicide rather than becaptured


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Vespasians Policies Equestrian administration expanded

Army Reforms Rebellions in Gaul and Germany (Civilis Revolt) forced a policy of posting auxiliary

forces away from where they were recruited

Legionary recruitment extended to Gaul and Spain

Large army groupingspotential threatsdivided(see below)

Provincial and Border Policies

New provinces of Upper and Lower Germany (formerly attached to Belgica)

Rhine border rounded off (Agri Decumates)

Military roads and frontier (limes)

Syrian forces decreased, new legionary commands in Cappadocia and Judea

Municipal Policy

Citizenship liberally applied to elites in Gaul and Spain

Censorship allows enrollment of new senators

Careers jumpstarted through adlection (senators added at higher ranks, suchas inter praetoriosor inter consulares)

Stoic opposition

Senators use philosophical reasons as an excuse for opposing Flavians onprinciple


Establishing a Dynasty Renewed emphasis on the imperial house Titus and Domitian receive title princeps iuventitus

foremost of the youth was a title Augustus had given his intended heirsGaius and Lucius Caesar

Consulships Titus holds seven consulships, Domitian six during Vespasians reign

Titus always held the ordinary consulship, usually with Vespasian

Domitian usually held the suffect consulship, marking him as junior

Titus began to receive all necessary powers Received grants of tribunicia potestasand imperium maius

Served as his fathers praetorian prefect, the first senator to do so

Policy of close Flavian endogamy Julio-Claudians, despite appearances, had intermarried with the

aristocracy, providing too many potential rivals

Building Program Temple of Peace, temple of divine Flavians, Flavian Amphitheater


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Flavian Dynasty

Arch of Titus


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Temple of Peace (Forum Pacis) Begun in A.D. 71, dedicated in A.D.

75 Built with the spoils of the Judean

War

No longer survives, known fromthe so-called Severan Map orMarble Plan and literaryreferences

Meant to illustrate the benefits ofpeace

Compare with Augustus AraPacis

Works of great Greek artists,particularly paintings and statueswere displayed

Many of these may havecome from the Domus Aurea

Products of the empire, such ascinnamon and other spices, wereshowcased

Included a great public library,Bibliotheca Pacis

Ruins of the Flavian Amphitheater or Colosseumc. A.D. 72-80


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Flavian Amphitheater, remaining walls

Models of the Flavian

Amphitheater

Each level sports adifferent order of column:Lower level, Doric; middle

level, Ionic; third level,Corinthian.

Note awning poles at the

top: a large tent shelteredspectators from the sun.


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Domitian, A.D. 8196 Imp. Caesar Domitianus Augustus

Competent Administration, like that of Tiberius Kleinreich versus Groreich

Small verses large empire

Modified Augustan frontier policy Rounded off borders, Agri Decumates, slight advance into Scotland

System of limes(fortified frontier road and line of forts) perfected

Increased autocracy Dominus et deus, flattery of Martial

Mistreated the Senate Also like Tiberius, but with the viciousness of a Gaius

Restrictions on expansion curtailed the ambitions of leading senators Example of Iulius Agricola, father-in-law of Tacitus

His jealousy of successful commanders Tac. Agricola4142 (see Mellor2, 447448)

Be careful of the bias of senatorial historiography!


Palace of Domitian: a return to Neronianluxury?


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Increasing Tyranny and Overthrow

A.D. 85, Domitian censor perpetuus A.D. 88,

Saturninus attempt to seize power and conspiracies at Romelead to Domitians reign of terror

Senate alienated further, increasing Stoic opposition

A.D. 95, Execution of Flavius Clemens and Flavia Domitilla

Close relatives of Domitian (Clemens was first cousin onceremoved of Domitian, and his wife was the emperors niece) andparents of the heirs presumptive

Associated with Judaism and/or Christianity in some way

Even the imperial family was not safe!

A.D. 96, Palace coup

Domitia Longina (wife), Petronius Secundus (praetorian prefect),and Stephanus (chamberlain)


Flavian Dynasty

Documents

31 Flavians(Combined)[1]