Domitia

Family: Flavian · Role: Titus's brother's wife · First appears: Titus 10

During Titus’s time, Domitia was said to have formerly had a connection with him, but she solemnly denied the report on oath. The account adds that she was otherwise forward in boasting of her scandalous intrigues.

At one point, when Domitian was enamoured of Domitia, he obstinately refused her. They later married, had a son, and, in the year following his second consulship, Domitian honored her with the title of Augusta. Soon after his advancement, he repudiated her after discovering her passionate love for Paris, the actor, but within a short time took her back, “under pretence of complying with the people’s importunity.”

Later, Domitian caused Domitia’s death by forcing her to procure a miscarriage when she was pregnant by him: “he was the occasion of her death, by obliging her to procure a miscarriage when she was with child by him.”

Relationship record

Life events

• Domitian repudiated Domitia after discovering her passionate love for Paris.(Domitian 3)
  • With: Domitian Paris
  • “Soon after his advancement, his wife Domitia, by whom he had a son in his second consulship, and whom the year following he complimented with the title of Augusta, being desperately in love with Paris, the actor, he put her away;”
• Domitian took Domitia back after their separation.(Domitian 3)
  • With: Domitian
  • “but within a short time afterwards, being unable to bear the separation, he took her again, under pretence of complying with the people’s importunity.”
• Domitian honored Domitia with the title of Augusta.(Domitian 3)
  • With: Domitian
  • “and whom the year following he complimented with the title of Augusta”
• Domitian caused Domitia’s death by forcing her to procure a miscarriage.(Domitian 22)
  • With: Domitian
  • “he was the occasion of her death, by obliging her to procure a miscarriage when she was with child by him.”

Titus 10

• with Titus (A formerly alleged scandalous connection; Domitia denied that it had occurred.) “Some imagine that he alluded to the connection which he had formerly had with his brother’s wife. But Domitia solemnly denied it on oath; which she would never have done, had there been any truth in the report; nay, she would certainly have gloried in it, as she was forward enough to boast of all her scandalous intrigues.”
• with Titus (Alleged former connection between Titus and Domitia, explicitly denied by Domitia.) “Some imagine that he alluded to the connection which he had formerly had with his brother’s wife. But Domitia solemnly denied it on oath; which she would never have done, had there been any truth in the report; nay, she would certainly have gloried in it, as she was forward enough to boast of all her scandalous intrigues.”

Domitian 3

• married with Domitian (Domitian put away and later took back his wife Domitia.) “his wife Domitia, by whom he had a son in his second consulship, and whom the year following he complimented with the title of Augusta, being desperately in love with Paris, the actor, he put her away; but within a short time afterwards, being unable to bear the separation, he took her again”
• admired: Paris (Domitia was in love with Paris.) “being desperately in love with Paris, the actor”
• courtship with Paris “being desperately in love with Paris, the actor”

Domitian 22

• courtship with Domitian “but being at that time enamoured of Domitia, he obstinately refused her.”
• admirer: Domitian “but being at that time enamoured of Domitia, he obstinately refused her”

⭐ Constellation map → · 📖 Read the original → · 🗂 Character index → · 🕰 Chronicle → · 📍 Places →

Extracted from the original text of The Lives of the Twelve Caesars. Made with Rho MD.