Flavian dynasty The Flavian dynasty was a Roman Imperial Dynasty , which ruled the Roman Empire between AD 69 and AD 96 , encompassing the reigns of Vespasian ( 69 – 79 ) , and his two sons Titus ( 79 – 81 ) and Domitian ( 81 – 96 ) . The Flavians rose to power during the civil war of 69 , known as the Year of the Four Emperors . After Galba and Otho died in quick succession , Vitellius became emperor in mid 69 . His claim to the throne was quickly challenged by legions stationed in the Eastern provinces , who declared their commander Vespasian Emperor in his place . The Second Battle of Bedriacum tilted the balance decisively in favour of the Flavian forces , who entered Rome on December 20 . The following day , the Roman Senate officially declared Vespasian emperor of the Roman Empire , thus commencing the Flavian dynasty . Although the dynasty proved to be short - lived , several significant historic , economic and military events took place during their reign . The reign of Titus was struck by multiple natural disasters , the most severe of which was the eruption of Mount Vesuvius in 79 . The surrounding cities of Pompeii and Herculaneum were completely buried under ash and lava . One year later , Rome was struck by fire and a . On the military front , the Flavian dynasty witnessed the siege and destruction of Jerusalem by Titus in 70 , following the failed Jewish rebellion of 66 . Substantial conquests were made in Great Britain under command of Gnaeus Julius Agricola between 77 and 83 , while Domitian was unable to procure a decisive victory against King Decebalus in the war against the Dacians . In addition , the Empire strengthened its border defenses by expanding the fortifications along the Limes Germanicus . The Flavians initiated economic and cultural reforms . Under Vespasian , new taxes were devised to restore the Empire ' s finances , while Domitian revalued the Roman coinage by increasing its silver content . A massive building programme was enacted to celebrate the ascent of the Flavian dynasty , leaving multiple enduring landmarks in the city of Rome , the most spectacular of which was the Flavian Amphitheatre , better known as the Colosseum . Flavian rule came to an end on September 18 , 96 , when Domitian was assassinated . He was succeeded by the longtime Flavian supporter and advisor Marcus Cocceius Nerva , who founded the long - lived Nervan - Antonian dynasty . Establishment . Family history . Decades of civil war during the 1st century BC had contributed greatly to the demise of the old aristocracy of Rome , which was gradually replaced in prominence by a new Italian nobility during the early part of the 1st century AD . One such family were the Flavians , or " gens Flavia " , which rose from relative obscurity to prominence in just four generations , acquiring wealth and status under the emperors of the Julio - Claudian dynasty . Vespasian ' s grandfather , Titus Flavius Petro , had served as a centurion under Pompey during Caesar ' s civil war . His military career ended in disgrace when he fled the battlefield at the Battle of Pharsalus in 48 BC . Nevertheless , Petro managed to improve his status by marrying the extremely wealthy Tertulla , whose fortune guaranteed the upwards mobility of Petro ' s son Titus Flavius Sabinus I . Sabinus himself amassed further wealth and possible equestrian status through his services as tax collector in Asia and banker in Helvetia ( modern Switzerland ) ) . By marrying Vespasia Polla he allied himself to the more prestigious patrician " gens Vespasia " , ensuring the elevation of his sons Titus Flavius Sabinus II and Vespasian to the senatorial rank . Around 38 AD , Vespasian married Domitilla the Elder , the daughter of an equestrian from Ferentium . They had two sons , Titus Flavius Vespasianus ( born in 39 ) and Titus Flavius Domitianus ( born in 51 ) , and a daughter , Domitilla ( born in 45 ) . Domitilla the Elder died before Vespasian became emperor . Thereafter his mistress Caenis was his wife in all but name until she died in 74 . The political career of Vespasian included the offices of quaestor , aedile and praetor , and culminated with a consulship in 51 , the year Domitian was born . As a military commander , he gained early renown by participating in the Roman invasion of Britain in 43 . Nevertheless , ancient sources allege poverty for the Flavian family at the time of Domitian ' s upbringing , even claiming Vespasian had fallen into disrepute under the emperors Caligula ( 37 – 41 ) and Nero ( 54 – 68 ) . Modern history has refuted these claims , suggesting these stories were later circulated under Flavian rule as part of a propaganda campaign to diminish success under the less reputable Emperors of the Julio - Claudian dynasty , and maximize achievements under Emperor Claudius ( 41 – 54 ) and his son Britannicus . By all appearances , imperial favour for the Flavians was high throughout the 40s and 60s . While Titus received a court education in the company of Britannicus , Vespasian pursued a successful political and military career . Following a prolonged period of retirement during the 50s , he returned to public office under Nero , serving as proconsul of the Africa province in 63 , and accompanying the emperor during an official tour of Greece in 66 . From c . 57 to 59 , Titus was a military tribune in Germania , and later served in Britannia . His first wife , Arrecina Tertulla , died two years after their marriage , in 65 . Titus then took a new wife of a more distinguished family , Marcia Furnilla . However , Marcia ' s family was closely linked to the opposition to Emperor Nero . Her uncle Barea Soranus and his daughter Servilia were among those who were killed after the failed Pisonian conspiracy of 65 . Some modern historians theorize that Titus divorced his wife because of her family ' s connection to the conspiracy . He never re - married . Titus appears to have had multiple daughters , at least one of them by Marcia Furnilla . The only one known to have survived to adulthood was Julia Flavia , perhaps Titus ' s child by Arrecina , whose mother was also named Julia . During this period Titus also practiced law and attained the rank of quaestor . In 66 , the Jews of the Judaea Province revolted against the Roman Empire . Cestius Gallus , the legate of Syria , was forced to retreat from Jerusalem and defeated at the battle of Beth - Horon . The pro - Roman king Agrippa II and his sister Berenice fled the city to the Galilee where they later gave themselves up to the Romans . Nero appointed Vespasian to put down the rebellion , who was dispatched to the region at once with the fifth and tenth legions . He was later joined by Titus at Ptolemais , bringing with him the fifteenth legion . With a strength of 60 , 000 professional soldiers , the Romans quickly swept across the Galilee , and by 68 marched on Jerusalem . Rise to power . On 9 June 68 , amidst growing opposition of the Senate and the army , Nero committed suicide , and with him the Julio - Claudian dynasty came to an end . Chaos ensued , leading to a year of brutal civil war known as the Year of the Four Emperors , during which the four most influential generals in the Roman Empire — Galba , Otho , Vitellius and Vespasian — successively vied for the imperial power . News of Nero ' s death reached Vespasian as he was preparing to besiege the city of Jerusalem . Almost simultaneously the Senate had declared Galba , then governor of Hispania Tarraconensis ( modern Spain ) , as Emperor of Rome . Rather than continue his campaign , Vespasian decided to await further orders and send Titus to greet the new Emperor . Before reaching Italy however , Titus learnt that Galba had been murdered and replaced by Otho , the governor of Lusitania ( modern Portugal ) . At the same time Vitellius and his armies in Germania had risen in revolt , and prepared to march on Rome , intent on overthrowing Otho . Not wanting to risk being taken hostage by one side or the other , Titus abandoned the journey to Rome and rejoined his father in Judaea . Otho and Vitellius realised the potential threat posed by the Flavian faction . With four legions at his disposal , Vespasian commanded a strength of nearly 80 , 000 soldiers . His position in Judaea further granted him the advantage of being nearest to the vital province of Egypt , which controlled the grain supply to Rome . His brother Titus Flavius Sabinus II , as city prefect , commanded the entire city garrison of Rome . Tensions among the Flavian troops ran high , but as long as Galba and Otho remained in power , Vespasian refused to take action . When Otho was defeated by Vitellius at the First Battle of Bedriacum however , the armies in Judaea and Egypt took matters into their own hands and declared Vespasian emperor on 1 July 69 . Vespasian accepted , and entered an alliance with Gaius Licinius Mucianus , the governor of Syria , against Vitellius . A strong force drawn from the Judaean and Syrian legions marched on Rome under the command of Mucianus , while Vespasian himself travelled to Alexandria , leaving Titus in charge of ending the Jewish rebellion . In Rome meanwhile , Domitian was placed under house arrest by Vitellius , as a safeguard against future Flavian aggression . Support for the old emperor was waning however , as more legions throughout the empire pledged their allegiance to Vespasian . On 24 October 69 the forces of Vitellius and Vespasian clashed at the Second Battle of Bedriacum , which ended in a crushing defeat for the armies of Vitellius . In despair , he attempted to negotiate a surrender . Terms of peace , including a voluntary abdication , were agreed upon with Titus Flavius Sabinus II , but the soldiers of the Praetorian Guard — the imperial bodyguard — considered such a resignation disgraceful , and prevented Vitellius from carrying out the treaty . On the morning of 18 December , the emperor appeared to deposit the imperial insignia at the Temple of Concord , but at the last minute retraced his steps to the imperial palace . In the confusion , the leading men of the state gathered at Sabinus ' house , proclaiming Vespasian Emperor , but the multitude dispersed when Vitellian cohorts clashed with the armed escort of Sabinus , who was forced to retreat to the Capitoline Hill . During the night , he was joined by his relatives , including Domitian . The armies of Mucianus were nearing Rome , but the besieged Flavian party did not hold out for longer than a day . On 19 December , Vitellianists burst onto the Capitol , and in the resulting skirmish , Sabinus was captured and executed . Domitian himself managed to escape by disguising himself as a worshipper of Isis , and spent the night in safety with one of his father ' s supporters . By the afternoon of 20 December Vitellius was dead , his armies having been defeated by the Flavian legions . With nothing more to be feared from the enemy , Domitian came forward to meet the invading forces ; he was universally saluted by the title of " Caesar " , and the mass of troops conducted him to his father ' s house . The following day , 21 December , the Senate proclaimed Vespasian emperor of the Roman Empire . Although the war had officially ended , a state of anarchy and lawlessness pervaded in the first days following the demise of Vitellius . Order was properly restored by Mucianus in early 70 , who headed an interim government with Domitian as the representative of the Flavian family in the Senate . Upon receiving the tidings of his rival ' s defeat and death at Alexandria , the new Emperor at once forwarded supplies of urgently needed grain to Rome , along with an edict or a declaration of policy , in which he gave assurance of an entire reversal of the laws of Nero , especially those relating to treason . In early 70 , Vespasian was still in Egypt however , continuing to consolidate support from the Egyptians before departing . By the end 70 , he finally returned to Rome , and was properly installed as Emperor . The Flavian dynasty . Vespasian ( 69 – 79 ) . Little factual information survives about Vespasian ' s government during the ten years he was Emperor . Vespasian spent his first year as a ruler in Egypt , during which the administration of the empire was given to Mucianus , aided by Vespasian ' s son Domitian . Modern historians believe that Vespasian remained there in order to consolidate support from the Egyptians . In mid - 70 , Vespasian first came to Rome and immediately embarked on a widespread propaganda campaign to consolidate his power and promote the new dynasty . His reign is best known for financial reforms following the demise of the Julio - Claudian dynasty , such as the institution of the tax on urinals , and the numerous military campaigns fought during the 70s . The most significant of these was the First Jewish - Roman War , which ended in the destruction of the city of Jerusalem by Titus . In addition , Vespasian faced several uprisings in Egypt , Gaul and Germania , and reportedly survived several conspiracies against him . Vespasian helped rebuild Rome after the civil war , adding a temple to peace and beginning construction of the Flavian Amphitheatre , better known as the Colosseum . Vespasian died of natural causes on June 23 , 79 , and was immediately succeeded by his eldest son Titus . The ancient historians that lived through the period such as Tacitus , Suetonius , Josephus and Pliny the Elder speak well of Vespasian while condemning the emperors that came before him . Titus ( 79 – 81 ) . Despite initial concerns over his character , Titus ruled to great acclaim following the death of Vespasian on June 23 , 79 and was considered a good emperor by Suetonius and other contemporary historians . In this role he is best known for his public building program in Rome , and completing the construction of the Colosseum in 80 , but also for his generosity in relieving the suffering caused by two disasters , the Mount Vesuvius eruption of 79 , and the fire of Rome of 80 . Titus continued his father ' s efforts to promote the Flavian dynasty . He revived practice of the imperial cult , deified his father , and laid foundations for what would later become the Temple of Vespasian and Titus , which was finished by Domitian . After barely two years in office , Titus unexpectedly died of a fever on September 13 , 81 , and was deified by the Roman Senate . Domitian ( 81 – 96 ) . Domitian was declared emperor by the Praetorian Guard the day after Titus ' death , commencing a reign which lasted more than fifteen years — longer than any man who had governed Rome since Tiberius . Domitian strengthened the economy by revaluing the Roman coinage , expanded the border defenses of the Empire , and initiated a massive building programme to restore the damaged city of Rome . In Britain , Gnaeus Julius Agricola expanded the Roman Empire as far as modern day Scotland , but in Dacia , Domitian was unable to procure a decisive victory in the war against the Dacians . On September 18 , 96 , Domitian was assassinated by court officials , and with him the Flavian dynasty came to an end . The same day , he was succeeded by his friend and advisor Nerva , who founded the long - lasting Nervan - Antonian dynasty . Domitian ' s memory was condemned to oblivion by the Roman Senate , with which he had a notoriously difficult relationship throughout his reign . Senatorial authors such as Tacitus , Pliny the Younger and Suetonius published histories after his death , propagating the view of Domitian as a cruel and paranoid tyrant . Modern history has rejected these views , instead characterising Domitian as a ruthless but efficient autocrat , whose cultural , economic and political programme provided the foundation for the Principate of the peaceful 2nd century . His successors Nerva and Trajan were less restrictive , but in reality their policies differed little from Domitian ' s . Administration . Government . Since the fall of the Republic , the authority of the Roman Senate had largely eroded under the quasi - monarchical system of government established by Augustus , known as the Principate . The Principate allowed the existence of a " de facto " dictatorial regime , while maintaining the formal framework of the Roman Republic . Most Emperors upheld the public facade of democracy , and in return the Senate implicitly acknowledged the Emperor ' s status as a de facto monarch . The civil war of 69 had made it abundantly clear that real power in the Empire lay with control over the army . By the time Vespasian was proclaimed emperor in Rome , any hope of restoring the Republic had long dissipated . The Flavian approach to government was one of both implicit and explicit exclusion . When Vespasian returned to Rome in mid - 70 , he immediately embarked on a series of efforts to consolidate his power and prevent future revolts . He offered gifts to the military and dismissed or punished those soldiers loyal to Vitellius . He also restructured the Senatorial and Equestrian orders , removing his enemies and adding his allies . Executive control was largely distributed among members of his family . Non - Flavians were virtually excluded from important public offices , even those who had been among Vespasian ' s earliest supporters during the civil war . Mucianus slowly disappears from the historical records during this time , and it is believed he died sometime between 75 and 77 . That it was Vespasian ' s intention to found a long - lasting dynasty to govern the Roman Empire was most evident in the powers he conferred upon his eldest son Titus . Titus shared tribunician power with his father , received seven consulships , the censorship , and perhaps most remarkably , was given command of the Praetorian Guard . Because Titus effectively acted as co - emperor with his father , no abrupt change in Flavian policy occurred during his brief reign from 79 until 81 . Domitian ' s approach to government was less subtle than his father and brother . Once Emperor , he quickly dispensed with the Republican facade and transformed his government more or less formally into the divine monarchy he believed it to be . By moving the centre of power to the imperial court , Domitian openly rendered the Senate ' s powers obsolete . He became personally involved in all branches of the administration : edict s were issued governing the smallest details of everyday life and law , while taxation and public morals were rigidly enforced . Nevertheless , Domitian did make concessions toward senatorial opinion . Whereas his father and brother had virtually excluded non - Flavians from public office , Domitian rarely favoured his own family members in the distribution of strategic posts , admitting a surprisingly large number of provincials and potential opponents to the consulship , and assigning men of the equestrian order to run the imperial bureaucracy . Financial reforms . One of Vespasian ' s first acts as Emperor was to enforce a tax reform to restore the Empire ' s depleted treasury . After Vespasian arrived in Rome in mid - 70 , Mucianus continued to press Vespasian to collect as many taxes as possible , renewing old ones and instituted new ones . Mucianus and Vespasian increased the tribute of the provinces , and kept a watchful eye upon the treasury officials . The Latin proverb " Pecunia non olet " ( " Money does not smell " ) may have been created when he had introduced a urine tax on public toilets . Upon his accession , Domitian revalued the Roman coinage to the standard of Augustus , increasing the silver content of the denarius by 12 % . An imminent crisis in 85 however forced a devaluation to the Neronian standard of 65 , but this was still higher than the level which Vespasian and Titus had maintained during their reign , and Domitian ' s rigorous taxation policy ensured that this standard was sustained for the following eleven years . Coin types from this era display a highly consistent degree of quality , including meticulous attention to Domitian ' s titulature , and exceptionally refined artwork on the reverse portraits . Jones estimates Domitian ' s annual income at more than 1 , 200 million sestertii , of which over one third would presumably have been spent at maintaining the Roman army . The other major area of expenditure encompassed the vast reconstruction programme carried out on the city of Rome itself . Challenges . Military activity . The most significant military campaign undertaken during the Flavian period , was the siege and destruction of Jerusalem in 70 by Titus . The destruction of the city was the culmination of the Roman campaign in Judeae following the Jewish uprising of 66 . The Second Temple was completely demolished , after which Titus ' s soldiers proclaimed him " imperator " in honor of the victory . Jerusalem was sacked and much of the population killed or dispersed . Josephus claims that 1 , 100 , 000 people were killed during the siege , of which a majority were Jewish . 97 , 000 were captured and enslaved , including Simon Bar Giora and John of Gischala . Many fled to areas around the Mediterranean . Titus reportedly refused to accept a wreath of victory , as there is " no merit in vanquishing people forsaken by their own God " . Upon his return to Rome in 71 , Titus was awarded a triumph . Accompanied by Vespasian and Domitian , he rode into the city , enthusiastically saluted by the Roman populace and preceded by a lavish parade containing treasures and captives from the war . Josephus describes a procession with large amounts of gold and silver carried along the route , followed by elaborate re - enactments of the war , Jewish prisoners , and finally the treasures taken from the Temple of Jerusalem , including the Menorah and the Torah . Leaders of the resistance were executed in the Forum , after which the procession closed with religious sacrifices at the Temple of Jupiter . The triumphal Arch of Titus , which stands at one entrance to the Forum , memorializes the victory of Titus . The conquest of Britain continued under command of Gnaeus Julius Agricola , who expanded the Roman Empire as far as Caledonia , or modern day Scotland , between 77 and 84 . In 82 Agricola crossed an unidentified body of water and defeated peoples unknown to the Romans until then . He fortified the coast facing Ireland , and Tacitus recalls that his father - in - law often claimed the island could be conquered with a single legion and a few auxiliaries . He had given refuge to an exiled Irish king whom he hoped he might use as the excuse for conquest . This conquest never happened , but some historians believe that the crossing referred to was in fact a small - scale exploratory or punitive expedition to Ireland . The following year Agricola raised a fleet and pushed beyond the Forth into Caledonia . To aid the advance , an expansive legionary fortress was constructed at Inchtuthil . In the summer of 84 , Agricola faced the armies of the Caledonians , led by Calgacus , at the Battle of Mons Graupius . Although the Romans inflicted heavy losses on the Calidonians , two thirds of their army managed to escape and hide in the Scottish marsh es and Highlands , ultimately preventing Agricola from bringing the entire British island under his control . The military campaigns undertaken during Domitian ' s reign were usually defensive in nature , as the Emperor rejected the idea of expansionist warfare . His most significant military contribution was the development of the Limes Germanicus , which encompassed a vast network of roads , forts and watchtowers constructed along the Rhine river to defend the Empire . Nevertheless , several important wars were fought in Gaul , against the Chatti , and across the Danube frontier against the Suebi , the Sarmatians , and the Dacians . Led by King Decebalus , the Dacians invaded the province of Moesia around 84 or 85 , wreaking considerable havoc and killing the Moesian governor Oppius Sabinus . Domitian immediately launched a counteroffensive , which resulted in the destruction of a legion during an ill - fated expedition into Dacia . Their commander Cornelius Fuscus was killed , and the battle standard of the Praetorian Guard lost . In 87 , the Romans invaded Dacia once more , this time under command of Tettius Julianus , and finally managed to defeat Decebalus late in 88 , at the same site where Fuscus had previously been killed . An attack on Dacia ' s capital canceled however when a crisis arose on the German frontier , forcing Domitian to sign a peace treaty with Decebalus which was severely criticized by contemporary authors . For the remainder of Domitian ' s reign Dacia remained a relatively peaceful client kingdom , but Decebalus used the Roman money to fortify his defenses , and continued to defy Rome . It was not until the reign of Trajan , in 106 , that a decisive victory against Decebalus was procured . Again , the Roman army sustained heavy losses , but Trajan succeeded in capturing Sarmizegetusa and , importantly , annexed the gold and silver mines of Dacia . Natural disasters . Although his administration was marked by a relative absence of major military or political conflicts , Titus faced a number of major disasters during his brief reign . On August 24 , 79 , barely two months after his accession , Mount Vesuvius erupted , resulting in the almost complete destruction of life and property in the cities and resort communities around the Bay of Naples . The cities of Pompeii and Herculaneum were buried under metres of stone and lava , killing thousands of citizens . Titus appointed two ex - consuls to organise and coordinate the relief effort , while personally donating large amounts of money from the imperial treasury to aid the victims of the volcano . Additionally , he visited Pompeii once after the eruption and again the following year . The city was lost for nearly 1700 years before its accidental rediscovery in 1748 . Since then , its excavation has provided an extraordinarily detailed insight into the life of a city at the height of the Roman Empire , frozen at the moment it was buried on August 24 , 79 . The Forum , the baths , many houses , and some out - of - town villas like the Villa of the Mysteries remain surprisingly well preserved . Today , it is one of the most popular tourist attractions of Italy and a UNESCO World Heritage Site . On - going excavations reveal new insights into the Roman history and culture . During Titus ' second visit to the disaster area , a fire struck Rome which lasted for three days . Although the extent of the damage was not as disastrous as during the Great Fire of 64 , crucially sparing the many districts of insulae , Cassius Dio records a long list of important public buildings that were destroyed , including Agrippa ' s Pantheon , the Temple of Jupiter , the Diribitorium , parts of Pompey ' s Theatre and the Saepta Julia among others . Once again , Titus personally compensated for the damaged regions . According to Suetonius , a similarly struck during the fire . The nature of the disease , however , or the death toll are unknown . Conspiracies . Suetonius claims that Vespasian was continuously met with conspiracies against him . Only one conspiracy is known specifically . In 78 or 79 , Eprius Marcellus and Aulus Caecina Alienus attempted to incite the Praetorian Guard to mutiny against Vespasian , but the conspiracy was thwarted by Titus . According to the historian John Crook however , the alleged conspiracy was in fact a calculated plot by the Flavian faction to remove members of the opposition tied to Mucianus , with the mutinous address found on Caecina ' s body a forgery by Titus . When faced with real conspiracies however , Vespasian and Titus treated their enemies with lenience . " I will not kill a dog that barks at me , " were words expressing the temper of Vespasian , while Titus once demonstrated his generosity as Emperor by inviting men who were suspected of aspiring to the throne to dinner , rewarding them with gifts and allowing them to be seated next to him at the games . Domitian appears to have met with several conspiracies during his reign , one of which led to his eventual assassination in 96 . The first significant revolt arose on 1 January 89 , when the governor of Germania Superior , Lucius Antonius Saturninus , and his two legions at Mainz , Legio XIV Gemina and Legio XXI Rapax , rebelled against the Roman Empire with the aid of the Chatti . The precise cause for the rebellion is uncertain , although it appears to have been planned well in advance . The Senatorial officers may have disapproved of Domitian ' s military strategies , such as his decision to fortify the German frontier rather than attack , his recent retreat from Britain , and finally the disgraceful policy of appeasement towards Decebalus . At any rate , the uprising was strictly confined to Saturninus ' province , and quickly detected once the rumour spread across the neighbouring provinces . The governor of Germania Inferior , Lappius Maximus , moved to the region at once , assisted by the procurator of Rhaetia , Titus Flavius Norbanus . From Spain , Trajan was summoned , whilst Domitian himself came from Rome with the Praetorian Guard . By a stroke of luck , a thaw prevented the Chatti from crossing the Rhine and coming to Saturninus ' aid . Within twenty - four days the rebellion was crushed , and its leaders at Mainz savagely punished . The mutinous legions were sent to the front in Illyricum , while those who had assisted in their defeat were duly rewarded . Both Tacitus and Suetonius speak of escalating persecutions toward the end of Domitian ' s reign , identifying a point of sharp increase around 93 , or sometime after the failed revolt of Saturninus in 89 . At least twenty senatorial opponents were executed , including Domitia Longina ' s former husband Lucius Aelius Lamia and three of Domitian ' s own family members , Titus Flavius Sabinus IV , Titus Flavius Clemens and Marcus Arrecinus Clemens . Some of these men were executed as early as 83 or 85 however , lending little credit to Tacitus ' notion of a " reign of terror " late in Domitian ' s reign . According to Suetonius , some were convicted for corruption or treason , others on trivial charges , which Domitian justified through his suspicion . Flavian culture . Propaganda . Since the reign of Tiberius , the rulers of the Julio - Claudian dynasty had legitimized their power largely through direct descendence from Augustus and Julius Caesar . Vespasian could no longer claim such a relation however . Therefore , a massive propaganda campaign was initiated to justify Flavian rule as having been predetermined through divine providence . As early as 70 , rumours circulated of Vespasian healing the sick and raising the dead in Egypt . At the same time , Flavian propaganda emphasised Vespasian ' s role as a bringer of peace following the crisis of 69 . Nearly one - third of all coins minted in Rome under Vespasian celebrated military victory or peace , while the word " vindex " was removed from coins as to not remind the public of rebellious Vindex . Construction projects bore inscriptions praising Vespasian and condemning previous emperors , and a Temple of Peace was constructed in the forum . The Flavians also controlled public opinion through literature . Vespasian approved histories written under his reign , assuring biases against him were removed , while also giving financial rewards to contemporary writers . The ancient historians that lived through the period such as Tacitus , Suetonius , Josephus and Pliny the Elder speak suspiciously well of Vespasian while condemning the emperors that came before him . Tacitus admits that his status was elevated by Vespasian , Josephus identifies Vespasian as a patron and savior , and Pliny dedicated his " Natural Histories " to Vespasian , Titus . Those that spoke against Vespasian were punished . A number of stoic philosophers were accused of corrupting students with inappropriate teachings and were expelled from Rome . Helvidius Priscus , a pro - republic philosopher , was executed for his teachings . Titus and Domitian also revived the practice of the imperial cult , which had fallen somewhat out of use under Vespasian . Significantly , Domitian ' s first act as an Emperor was the deification of his brother Titus . Upon their deaths , his infant son , and niece Julia Flavia , were likewise enrolled among the Gods . To foster the worship of the imperial family , Domitian erected a dynastic mausoleum on the site of Vespasian ' s former house on the Quirinal , and completed the Temple of Vespasian and Titus , a shrine dedicated to the worship of his deified father and brother . To memorialize the military triumphs of the Flavian family , he ordered the construction of the Templum Divorum and the Templum Fortuna Redux , and completed the Arch of Titus . In order to further justify the divine nature of the Flavian rule , Domitian also emphasized connections with the chief deity Jupiter , most significantly through the impressive restoration of the Temple of Jupiter on the Capitoline Hill . Construction . The Flavian dynasty is perhaps best known for its vast construction programme on the city of Rome , intended to restore the capital from the damage it had suffered during the Great Fire of 64 , and the civil war of 69 . Vespasian added the temple of Peace and the temple to the Deified Claudius . In 75 a colossal statue of Apollo , begun under Nero as a statue of himself , was finished on Vespasian ' s orders , and he also dedicated a stage of the theater of Marcellus . Construction of the Flavian Amphitheatre , presently better known as the Colosseum ( probably after the nearby statue ) , was begun in 70 under Vespasian and finally completed in 80 under Titus . In addition to providing spectacular entertainments to the Roman populace , the building was also conceived as a gigantic triumphal monument to commemorate the military achievements of the Flavians during the Jewish wars . Adjacent to the amphitheatre , within the precinct of Nero ' s Golden House , Titus also ordered the construction of a new public bath - house , which was to bear his name . Construction of this building was hastily finished to coincide with the completion of the Flavian Amphitheatre . The bulk of the Flavian construction projects was carried out during the reign of Domitian , who spent lavishly to restore and embellish the city of Rome . Much more than a renovation project however , Domitian ' s building programme was intended to be the crowning achievement of an Empire wide cultural renaissance . Around fifty structures were erected , restored or completed , a number second only to the amount erected under Augustus . Among the most important new structures were an Odeum , a Stadium , and an expansive palace on the Palatine Hill , known as the Flavian Palace , which was designed by Domitian ' s master architect Rabirius . The most important building Domitian restored was the Temple of Jupiter on the Capitoline Hill , which was said to have been covered with a gilded roof . Among those he completed were the Temple of Vespasian and Titus , the Arch of Titus , and the Colosseum , to which he added a fourth level and finished the interior seating area . Entertainment . Both Titus and Domitian were fond of gladiatorial games , and realised its importance to appease the citizens of Rome . In the newly constructed Colosseum , the Flavians provided for spectacular entertainments . The Inaugural games of the Flavian Amphitheatre lasted for a hundred days and were said to be extremely elaborate , including gladiatorial combat , fights between wild animals ( elephants and cranes ) , mock naval battle s for which the theatre was flooded , horse race s and chariot race s . During the games , wooden balls were dropped into the audience , inscribed with various prizes ( clothing , gold , or even slaves ) , which could then be traded for the designated item . An estimated 135 million sestertii was spent on donatives , or " congiaria " , throughout Domitian ' s reign . In addition , he also revived the practice of public banquet s , which had been reduced to a simple distribution of food under Nero , while he invested large sums on entertainment and games . In 86 , he founded the Capitoline Games , a quadrennial contest comprising athletic displays , chariot races , and competitions for oratory , music and acting . Domitian himself supported the travels of competitors from the whole Empire and attributed the prizes . Innovations were also introduced into the regular gladiator ial games , such as naval contests , night - time battles , and female and dwarf gladiator fights . Finally , he added two new factions , Gold and Purple , to chariot races , besides the regular White , Red , Green and Blue teams . Legacy . The Flavians , although a relatively short - lived dynasty , helped restore stability to an empire on its knees . Although all three have been criticised , especially based on their more centralised style of rule , they issued reforms that created a stable enough empire to last well into the 3rd century . However , their background as a military dynasty led to further marginalisation of the senate , and a conclusive move away from " princeps " , or first citizen , and toward " imperator " , or emperor . Little factual information survives about Vespasian ' s government during the ten years he was emperor , his reign is best known for financial reforms following the demise of the Julio - Claudian dynasty . Vespasian was noted for his mildness and for loyalty to the people . For example , much money was spent on public works and the restoration and beautification of Rome : a new forum , the Temple of Peace , the public baths and the Colosseum . Titus ' s record among ancient historians stands as one of the most exemplary of any emperor . All the surviving accounts from this period , many of them written by his own contemporaries such as Suetonius Tranquilius , Cassius Dio , Pliny the Elder , present a highly favourable view towards Titus . His character has especially prospered in comparison with that of his brother Domitian . In contrast to the ideal portrayal of Titus in Roman histories , in Jewish memory " Titus the Wicked " is remembered as an evil oppressor and destroyer of the Temple . For example , one legend in the Babylonian Talmud describes Titus as having had sex with a whore on a Torah scroll inside the Temple during its destruction . Although contemporary historians vilified Domitian after his death , his administration provided the foundation for the peaceful empire of the 2nd century AD , and the culmination of the ' Pax Romana ' . His successors Nerva and Trajan were less restrictive , but in reality their policies differed little from Domitian ' s . Much more than a gloomy coda to the 1st century , the Roman Empire prospered between 81 and 96 , in a reign which Theodor Mommsen described as the sombre but intelligent despotism of Domitian .