The Lives of the Twelve Caesars, Volume 12: Domitian

Suetonius paints a vivid portrait of the future emperor from his very birth, revealing a childhood marked by hardship and intrigue in the bustling streets of Rome. The narrative traces Domitian’s daring escape during the chaotic civil war, where disguises and secret passages kept him one step ahead of his pursuers. Through these early episodes, the author hints at the restless ambition and cunning that would later shape his rule.

As Domitian steps into public life, the work chronicles his rapid accumulation of titles, his flamboyant marriage to Domitia Longina, and his restless desire to match his brother’s military glory. Suetonius blends anecdotes of extravagant personal habits—like an odd daily pastime of pinning flies—with glimpses of his growing appetite for poetry and ceremony. The biography offers listeners a richly textured view of a man whose early deeds and personality set the stage for the complex reign that follows.