Editing Domitian (section)

=== Ceremonial heir (71–81) ===

[[File:The Triumph of Titus Alma Tadema.jpg|thumb|210px|''The Triumph of Titus'', by Sir [[Lawrence Alma-Tadema]] (1885), depicting the Flavian family during the triumphal procession of 71. [[Vespasian]] proceeds at the head of the family, dressed as [[pontifex maximus]], followed by Domitian with [[Domitia Longina]], and finally [[Titus]], also dressed in religious regalia. An exchange of glances between Titus and Domitia suggests an affair upon which historians have speculated.<ref name=jones-36/> Alma-Tadema was known for his meticulous historical research on the ancient world.<ref>{{cite journal | last = Prettejohn | first = Elizabeth | author-link = Elizabeth Prettejohn | title = Lawrence Alma-Tadema and the Modern City of Ancient Rome | journal = The Art Bulletin | volume = 84 | issue = 1 | pages = 115–129 |date=March 2002 | doi = 10.2307/3177255 | jstor=3177255}}</ref>]]

Before becoming Emperor, Domitian's role in the Flavian government was largely ceremonial. In June 71, Titus returned triumphant from the war in Judaea. Ultimately, the rebellion had claimed the lives of tens of thousands, perhaps hundreds of thousands, a majority of whom were Jewish.<ref name="Popovic2011">{{cite book|author=Jonathan J. Price|editor=Mladen Popovic|title=The Jewish Revolt Against Rome: Interdisciplinary Perspectives|chapter-url=https://books.google.com/books?id=tmCWlYQDrOoC&pg=PA410|year=2011|publisher=Brill|isbn=978-90-04-21668-6|pages=410–411|chapter=The Jewish Population of Jerusalem}}</ref><ref name="Bloom2014">{{cite book|author=James J. Bloom|title=The Jewish Revolts Against Rome, A.D. 66–135: A Military Analysis|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=AEOiDBTXya8C&pg=PA247|year=2014|publisher=McFarland|isbn=978-0-7864-6020-5|page=247}}</ref> The city and [[Second Temple|temple of Jerusalem]] were completely destroyed, its most valuable treasures carried off by the Roman army, and nearly 100,000 people were captured and enslaved.<ref name="josephus-wars-vi-9">Josephus, ''The Wars of the Jews'' [[s:The War of the Jews/Book VI#Chapter 9|VI.9.3]]</ref> For his victory, the Senate awarded Titus a [[Roman triumph]]. On the day of the festivities, the Flavian family rode into the capital, preceded by a lavish parade that displayed the spoils of the war.<ref name=jospehus-war-7-5-5>Josephus, ''The Wars of the Jews'' [[s:The War of the Jews/Book VII#Chapter 5|VII.5.5]]</ref> The family procession was headed by Vespasian and Titus, while Domitian, riding a magnificent [[White (horse)|white horse]], followed with the remaining Flavian relatives.<ref name="suetonius-domitian-2">Suetonius, Life of Domitian [https://penelope.uchicago.edu/Thayer/E/Roman/Texts/Suetonius/12Caesars/Domitian*.html#2 2]</ref>

Leaders of the Jewish resistance were executed in the [[Forum Romanum]], after which the procession closed with religious sacrifices at the [[Temple of Jupiter (Capitoline Hill)|Temple of Jupiter]].<ref name=jospehus-war-7-5-5/> A [[triumphal arch]], the [[Arch of Titus]], was erected at the south-east entrance to the Forum to commemorate the successful end of the war.<ref name=jones-93>Jones (1992), p. 93</ref> Yet the return of Titus further highlighted the comparative insignificance of Domitian, both militarily and politically. As the eldest and most experienced of Vespasian's sons, Titus shared [[tribune|tribunician power]] with his father, received seven consulships, the [[Roman censor|censorship]], and was given [[Praetorian prefect|command]] of the Praetorian Guard; powers that left no doubt he was the designated heir to the Empire.<ref name=jones-18>Jones (1992), p. 18</ref> As a second son, Domitian held honorary titles, such as ''Caesar'' or ''[[Princeps]] Iuventutis'', and several priesthoods, including those of ''[[augur]]'', ''[[pontifex]]'', ''[[Arval Brethren|frater arvalis]]'', ''magister frater arvalium'', and ''sacerdos collegiorum omnium'',<ref name=jones-19/> but no office with ''[[imperium]]''. He held six consulships during Vespasian's reign but only one of these, in 73, was an ordinary consulship. The other five were less prestigious [[suffect consul]]ships, which he held in 71, 75, 76, 77 and 79 respectively, usually replacing his father or brother in mid-January.<ref name=jones-18/>

While ceremonial, these offices no doubt gained Domitian valuable experience in the Roman Senate, and may have contributed to his later reservations about its relevance.<ref name=jones-19>Jones (1992), p. 19</ref> Under Vespasian and Titus, non-Flavians were virtually excluded from the important public offices. Mucianus himself all but disappeared from historical records during this time, and it is believed he died sometime between 75 and 77.<ref>{{cite journal | last = Crook | first = John A. | title = Titus and Berenice | journal = The American Journal of Philology | volume = 72 | issue = 2 | pages = 162–175 | year = 1951| doi = 10.2307/292544 | jstor=292544}}</ref> Real power was unmistakably concentrated in the hands of the Flavian faction; the weakened Senate only maintained the facade of [[democracy]].<ref name=jones-163>Jones (1992), p. 163</ref> Because Titus effectively acted as co-emperor with his father, no abrupt change in Flavian policy occurred when Vespasian died on 24 June 79. Titus assured Domitian that full partnership in the government would soon be his, but neither tribunician power nor ''imperium'' of any kind was conferred upon him during Titus' brief reign.<ref name="jones-20">Jones (1992), p. 20</ref>

Two major disasters struck during 79 and 80. In October/November 79, [[79 eruption of Vesuvius|Mount Vesuvius erupted]],<ref>Cassius Dio, ''Roman History'' [https://penelope.uchicago.edu/Thayer/E/Roman/Texts/Cassius_Dio/66*.html#22 LXVI.22]</ref> burying the surrounding cities of [[Pompeii]] and [[Herculaneum]] under metres of ash and lava; the following year, a fire broke out in Rome that lasted three days and destroyed a number of important public buildings.<ref name=jones-80>Jones (1992), p. 80</ref> Consequently, Titus spent much of his reign coordinating relief efforts and restoring damaged property. On 13 September 81, after barely two years in office, he unexpectedly died of fever during a trip to the [[Sabine]] territories.<ref name=jones-20/> Ancient authors have implicated Domitian in the death of his brother, either by directly accusing him of murder,<ref>Philostratus, ''The Life of Apollonius of Tyana'' [https://www.livius.org/ap-ark/apollonius/life/va_6_31.html#%A732 6.32] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160303165942/http://www.livius.org/ap-ark/apollonius/life/va_6_31.html#%A732 |date=3 March 2016 }}</ref> or implying he left the ailing Titus for dead,<ref name="suetonius-domitian-2"/><ref name="dio-romanhistory-lxvi-26">Cassius Dio, ''Roman History'' [https://penelope.uchicago.edu/Thayer/E/Roman/Texts/Cassius_Dio/66*.html#26 LXVI.26]</ref> even alleging that during his lifetime, Domitian was openly plotting against his brother.<ref name="dio-romanhistory-lxvi-26"/> It is difficult to assess the factual veracity of these statements given the known [[bias]] of the surviving sources. Brotherly affection was likely at a minimum, but this was hardly surprising, considering that Domitian had barely seen Titus after the age of seven.<ref name=jones-20/> Whatever the nature of their relationship, Domitian seems to have displayed little sympathy when his brother lay dying, instead making for the [[Castra Praetoria|Praetorian camp]] where he was proclaimed emperor. The following day, 14 September,<ref>This is a date found in the ''[https://books.google.com/books?id=a-9Wf6Yx9LgC&pg=PA64 Acta Fratrum Arvalium]''. The text reads ''XV(...) ob imperium Caes..s divi f... Domitiani Aug...'', where ''XVIII'' is the earliest possible date.</ref> the Senate confirmed Domitian's powers, granting tribunician power, the office of ''[[pontifex maximus]]'', and the titles of ''[[Augustus (honorific)|Augustus]]'' ("venerable"), and ''[[Pater Patriae]]'' ("father of the country").<ref name=jones-21>Jones (1992), p. 21</ref>