Domitian Assassinated: Flavian Dynasty Ends in Rome
Emperor Domitian was assassinated on September 18, 96 AD, by a conspiracy involving court officials, his wife, and Praetorian prefects who feared they were next on his execution lists. A household steward named Stephanus, who had been faking an arm injury to conceal a hidden dagger for days, stabbed Domitian in the groin during a private meeting. A struggle ensued before other conspirators rushed in to finish the job. The Senate, which had been terrorized by Domitian's treason trials for fifteen years, immediately voted to damn his memory (damnatio memoriae), ordering his name erased from public records and his statues destroyed. The senators chose the elderly Nerva as his successor, inaugurating the reign of the "Five Good Emperors" that represented Rome's golden age.
September 18, 96
1930 years ago
Key Figures & Places
What Else Happened on September 18
The Roman Senate formally confirmed Tiberius as emperor, solidifying the transition of power after Augustus died of natural causes. This peaceful succession pro…
Court officials and his own wife, Domitia, orchestrated the assassination of Emperor Domitian, ending his fifteen-year reign of terror. The Senate immediately p…
The Roman Senate proclaimed Nerva emperor immediately following Domitian’s assassination, ending the Flavian dynasty’s erratic rule. By choosing a respected eld…
Licinius had ruled the eastern half of the Roman Empire for years, but Constantine had been closing the distance. The Battle of Chrysopolis on September 18, 324…
The Seljuq commander Kutalmış led a cavalry force deep into Byzantine Armenia and met a combined Byzantine-Georgian army near Kapetron — and won. The Byzantines…
Harald Hardrada and Tostig Godwinson anchored their fleet at the mouth of the Humber River, launching a desperate bid to seize the English throne. This invasion…
Talk to History
Have a conversation with historical figures who witnessed this era. Ask questions, explore perspectives, and bring history to life.