Domitia Longina

Domitia Longina (c. 53 – c. 130) was an Empress and wife to the Roman Emperor Domitian. She was the youngest daughter of the general and consul Gnaeus Domitius Corbulo. Domitia divorced her first husband Lucius Aelius Lamia in order to marry Domitian in 71. The marriage produced only one son, whose early death is believed to have been the cause of temporary rift between Domitia and her husband in 83. She became Empress of Rome upon Domitian's accession in 81, and remained so until his assassination in 96. She is believed to have died sometime between 126 and 130.

Family

Domitia Longina was born sometime between 50 and 55, as the youngest daughter to the family of Gnaeus Domitius Corbulo and Cassia Longina. Her paternal aunt was Milonia Caesonia, Roman Empress to Caligula. Her elder sister, Domitia Corbula, married the senator Lucius Annius Vinicianus. Domitia's father Corbulo had been one of Rome's most respected Senators and generals, serving as consul under Caligula, and conducting military campaigns in Germania and Parthia under Claudius and Nero. Following the failed Pisonian conspiracy against Emperor Nero in 65 however, Corbulo was disgraced when his family was brought in connection to the conspirators. Corbulo himself was forced to commit suicide, while Annius Vicinianus and his brother Annius Pollio, were executed in the ensueing purges.

Little is known about the life of Domitia before her marriage to Domitian, but sometime before 70, Domitia was married to Lucius Aelius Lamia, a man of senatorial rank.

Marriage to Domitian

Reign of Vespasian and Titus

The Triumph of Titus, by Sir Lawrence Alma-Tadema (1885). The composition alludes to the rumoured love affair between Titus (back left) and Domitia Longina (left, next to Domitian).

Following Nero's suicide on June 9, 68, the Roman Empire plunged into a year long civil war known as the Year of the Four Emperors, which saw the successive rise and fall of the Emperors Galba, Otho and Vitellius. The crisis came to an end with the accession of Vespasian, who re-established peace in the Empire and founded the shortlived Flavian dynasty. In 71, Vespasian attempted to arrange a dynastic marriage between his youngest son Domitian, and the daughter of his eldest son Titus, Julia Flavia. By this time however, Domitian had already met and fallen in love with Domitia Longina, and managed to persuade Lamia to divorce her, so that Domitian could marry her himself. Despite its initial recklesness, the alliance was very prestigious for both families. The new marriage rehabilitated Corbulo's family, while serving the broader Flavian propaganda of the time, which sought to diminish Vespasian's political success under the less reputable emperors of the Julio-Claudian dynasty. Instead connections to Claudius and Britannicus were emphasised, and Nero's victims, or those otherwise disadvantaged by him, rehabilitated.

In 73, Domitia and Domitian's only attested son was born. It is not known what the boy's name was, but he died in infancy sometime between 77 and 81. Vespasian died of natural causes on June 23 79, and was immediately succeeded by Titus, whose own reign came to an unexpected end on September 13, 81, when he died of a sudden illness. His last words were reported to have been: "I have made but one mistake". The contemporary historian Suetonius speculated on the possible involvement of Domitian in his brother's death, attributing his final words to a popular rumour of the time, which held that Titus had carried on an affair with Domitia Longina. However even he dismisses the story as highly unlikely.

On September 14, the Roman Senate confirmed Domitian as Titus' successor, granting tribunician power, the office of Pontifex Maximus, and the titles of Augustus, and Pater Patriae. Consequently, Domitia Longina became Empress of Rome.

Empress of Rome

Roman aureus minted in 83 during the reign of Domitian. Domitia appears on the reverse with the honorific title Augusta.

In 81, Domitian became the new Roman Emperor and Domitia became the new Roman Empress. Domitian awarded Domitia the title of Augusta.

Domitian was fond of Domitia and they travelled together. Domitia in 83 had an affair with an actor called Paris. Suetonius states that Domitian was a womaniser and was always accompanied by other women. There were times Domitia would join Domitian and his mistresses. Domitia was not jealous, yet the Emperor did not tolerate his wife having affairs. Paris was executed, Domitia was exiled and Domitian divorced Domitia.

During her exile, she remained close to Roman Politics. Domitian in 91, recalled Domitia from exile to Rome as a Roman Empress. Suetonius stated when Domitian wanted to reunite with Domitia, he describe it as ‘a recall to my divine bed’.

Later years

On September 18 96, Domitian was assassinated in a palace conspiracy, and succeeded by his friend and advisor, Marcus Cocceius Nerva. After 126 and before 140, there was a temple dedicated to Domitia in Gabii. Years after Domitian's death, Domitia still referred to herself as an Emperor’s wife. She died peacefully. Some coins of her were minted during Domitian’s reign.

References

• Jones, Brian W. (1992). The Emperor Domitian. London: Routledge. ISBN 0-415-10195-6.
• Levick, Barbara (2002). "Corbulo's Daughter". Greece & Rome. 49 (2): pp. 199–211. {{cite journal}}: |pages= has extra text (help)

External links

Primary sources

• Cassius Dio, Roman History Book 67, English translation
• Suetonius, The lives of Twelve Caesars, Life of Domitian, Latin text with English translation
• Tacitus, Histories, English translation

Secondary material

• Lendering, Jona (2006-07-17). "Domitia Longina". Livius.org. Retrieved 2008-06-26. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
• Donahue, John (1997-10-10). "Titus Flavius Domitianus (A.D. 81-96)". De Imperatoribus Romanis: An Online Encyclopedia of Roman Rulers and their Families. Retrieved 2007-02-10. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)