Dacia, after the death of Great King…

Cornelius Fuscus, Domitian’s Praetorian prefect, successfully drives the Dacians back across the border in mid-85, prompting Domitian to return to Rome and celebrate his second triumph.

Domitian's tendency towards micromanagement is nowhere more evident than in his financial policy.

The question of whether Domitian left the Roman Empire in debt or with a surplus at the time of his death has been fiercely debated.

However the evidence points to a balanced economy for the greater part of Domitian's reign.

Upon his accession, he had revalued the Roman currency dramatically, increasing the silver purity of the denarius from ninety to ninety-eight percent—the actual silver weight increasing from 2.87 grams to 3.26 grams.

However, a financial crisis in 85 forces a devaluation of the silver purity and weight to 93.5% and 3.04 grams respectively.

Nevertheless, the new values are still higher than the levels which Vespasian and Titus had maintained during their reigns.

Domitian's rigorous taxation policy ensures that this standard is sustained for the following eleven years.

Coinage from this era displays a highly consistent degree of quality including meticulous attention to Domitian's titulature and refined artwork on the reverse portraits.

Domitian firmly believes in the traditional Roman religion, and personally sees to it that ancient customs and morals are observed throughout his reign.

In order to justify the divine nature of the Flavian rule, Domitian emphasizes connections with the chief deity Jupiter, perhaps most significantly through the impressive restoration of the Temple of Jupiter on the Capitoline Hill.

A small chapel dedicated to Jupiter Conservator is also constructed near the house where Domitian had fled to safety on 20 December, 69.

Later in his reign, he replaces it with a more expansive building, dedicated to Jupiter Custos.

The goddess he worships the most zealously, however, is Minerva.

Not only does he keep a personal shrine dedicated to her in his bedroom, she regularly appears on his coinage—in four different attested reverse types—and he has founded a legion, Legio I Minervia, in her name.

Domitian also revives the practice of the imperial cult, which had fallen somewhat out of use under Vespasian.

Significantly, his first act as an Emperor had been 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, he erects a dynastic mausoleum on the site of Vespasian's former house on the Quirinal, and completes 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 orders the construction of the Templum Divorum and the Templum Fortuna Redux, and completes the Arch of Titus.

Construction projects such as these constitute only the most visible part of Domitian's religious policy, which also concerns itself with the fulfillment of religious law and public morals.

In 85, he nominates himself perpetual censor, the office charged with the task of supervising Roman morals and conduct.

Agricola, a shrewd and enlightened ruler who has gradually Romanized Britain, encouraging urbanization and fostering partial self-rule in the south, is recalled in 85, after an unusually long tenure as governor.

Tacitus claims that Domitian ordered his recall because Agricola's successes outshone the Emperor's own modest victories in Germany.

The relationship between Agricola and the Emperor is unclear: on the one hand, Agricola is awarded triumphal decorations and a statue (the highest military honors apart from an actual triumph); on the other, Agricola will never again hold a civil or military post, in spite of his experience and renown.

He is offered the governorship of the province of Africa, but declines it, whether due to ill health or (as Tacitus claims) the machinations of Domitian.

The first of the Qiang rebellions begins in 86, and while the Qiang are pacified fairly quickly, this is to prove be bad omen for the decades to come, as the Qiang, mistreated frequently by Han officials, will constantly rebel throughout the rest of the Eastern Han Dynasty and become a major factor in the decline of the Han Empire.

The Roman victory proves short-lived, however, as, early in 86, Fuscus embarks on an ill-fated punitive expedition into Dacia.

Ambushed by the forces of Diurpaneus at a mountain pass the Romans call Tapae (widely know as the Iron Gates along what is the modern Romania-Serbia border).

Legio V Alauda is annihilated, Fuscus is killed, and the battle standard of the Praetorian Guard is lost.

The loss of the battle standard, or aquila, is indicative of a crushing defeat and a serious affront to Roman national pride.

The Dacian king Duras again orders his troops to attack Roman Moesia in 86.

After this attack, the Roman emperor Domitian personally arrives in Moesia and in August 86 and reorganizes it into two provinces, divided by the river Cebrus (Ciabrus): to the west Moesia Superior—Upper Moesia, (meaning up river) and …

…to the east Moesia Inferior—Lower Moesia (also called Ripa Thracia), (from the Danube river's mouth and then upstream).

Each is governed by an imperial consular legate and a procurator.

Domitian transfers three additional legions to the Danube and plans an attack into Dacia for the next campaign season.

It does not turn out well.

Domitian acquits himself of the task of censor dutifully, and with care.

He renews the Lex Iulia de Adulteriis Coercendis, under which adultery is punishable by exile.

From the list of jurors he strikes an equestrian who had divorced his wife and taken her back, while an ex-quaestor is expelled from the Senate for acting and dancing.

Domitian also heavily prosecutes corruption among public officials, removing jurors if they accepted bribes and rescinding legislation when a conflict of interest is suspected.

He ensures that libelous writings, especially those directed against himself, are punishable by exile or death.

Actors are likewise regarded with suspicion, as their performances provide an opportunity for satire at the expense of the government.

Consequently, he forbids mimes from appearing on stage in public.

In order to appease the people of Rome, an estimated one hundred and thirty-five million sestertii will be spent on donatives, or congiaria, throughout Domitian's reign.

The Emperor also revives the practice of public banquets, which had been reduced to a simple distribution of food under Nero, while he invests large sums on entertainment and games.

In 86, he founds the Capitoline Games, a quadrennial contest comprising athletic displays, chariot racing, and competitions for oratory, music and acting.

Domitian himself supports the travel of competitors from all corners of the Empire to Rome and distributes the prizes.

Innovations are also introduced into the regular gladiatorial games such as naval contests, nighttime battles, and female and dwarf gladiator fights.

Lastly, he adds two new factions to the chariot races, Gold and Purple, to race against the existing White, Red, Green and Blue factions.

The most significant threat the Roman Empire faces during the reign of Domitian arises from the northern provinces of Illyricum, where the Suebi, the Sarmatians and the Dacians continuously harass Roman settlements along the Danube river.

Of these, the Sarmatians and the Dacians pose the most formidable threat.

In approximately 85 or 86 the Dacians, led by Diurpaneus (the later king Decebalus), cross the Danube into the province of Moesia, wreaking havoc and killing the Moesian governor Oppius Sabinus.

Domitian quickly launches a counteroffensive, personally traveling to the region accompanied by a large force commanded by his praetorian prefect Cornelius Fuscus.

King Duras knowingly offers the kingship to Diurpaneus as a recognition of his diplomatic, military and leadership skills.

Diurpaneus accepts, dubbing himself Decebalus, meaning "with the strength of ten [men]" or simply "The Brave," and is crowned king of the Dacians.

Vestal Virgins are found in 87 to have broken their sacred vows of lifelong public chastity.

As the Vestals are regarded as daughters of the community, this offense essentially constitutes incest.

Accordingly, those found guilty of any such transgression are condemned to death, either by a manner of their choosing, or according to the ancient fashion, which dictates that Vestals should be buried alive.

Foreign religions are tolerated insofar as they do not interfere with public order, or could be assimilated with the traditional Roman religion.

The worship of Egyptian deities in particular flourishes under the Flavian dynasty, to an extent not seen again until the reign of Commodus.

Veneration of Serapis and Isis, who are identified with Jupiter and Minerva respectively, is especially prominent.

Fourth-century writings by Eusebius of Caesarea maintain that Jews and Christians were heavily persecuted toward the end of Domitian's reign.

The Book of Revelation is thought to have been written during this period.

However, no nonpartisan, secular convincing evidence exists of any widespread religious oppression under Domitian.

Although Jews are heavily taxed, no contemporary authors mention trials or executions based on religious offenses other than those within the Roman religion.