By the end of his reign, Domitian had made numerous enemies within Rome’s political and military circles. His paranoia and ruthless actions towards potential conspirators led to a growing conspiracy against him.
Assassination
Domitian’s rule ended tragically in 96 CE when he was assassinated in a palace conspiracy. The plot was orchestrated by members of his own court, including his wife Domitia Longina, his chamberlain, and several high-ranking senators. The conspirators, fearing Domitian’s increasing cruelty and his growing detachment from reality, decided that the only way to end his rule was through assassination.
On September 18, 96 CE, Domitian was attacked and murdered while he was in his private chambers. The assassins managed to enter the emperor’s quarters and struck him down, stabbing him to death. His death was sudden and violent, marking a dramatic end to the Flavian dynasty.
After his assassination, Domitian's death was followed by a damnatio memoriae, a form of punishment that involved the official condemnation of his memory. The Senate declared that his name should be erased from public inscriptions, and all statues of him were destroyed. This was a clear sign of how deeply unpopular his reign had become by the end of his life. shutdown123