However, Suetonius’ personal views may have tainted his biographies slightly. This paper will attempt to compare and contrast certain aspects surrounding the life of the emperor Domitian, according to Suetonius and a modern historian and biographer, David A. Wend.

One of the first statements that Wend makes is that our perceptions of the emperor Domitian come through the eyes of his enemies - he was assassinated after all. This may be one reason that contributes to Suetonius’ biases of Domitian. Right at the beginning of Suetonius’ biography of Domitian, he speaks of his birthplace and poverty-stricken childhood, and then mentions for no particular reason that Domitian promised Clodius Pollio in a let

Wend agrees with Suetonius’ judgment of Domitian’s administration of the provinces. Suetonius says that Domitian was careful to control his officials and ensure that they were honest men and intent on work. Wend confirms the judgment of Suetonius as sound because he had first hand knowledge as a secretary of the emperor Hadrian. Apparently, the scope of extortion among the officials of provinces was vast and almost impossible to control, but with Domitian’s interest in the minute details of governing, such illegalities were ceased. (Until the privy purse was exhausted of course.)

that, if anyone was charged for speaking or acting in prejudice of the emperor’s welfare would lead to the confiscations of their belongings, even if they were already dead. Domitian collected taxes from the Jews as wells as Jewish sympathizers with a lack of mercy. Wend on the other hand, explains to us that the imperial financial crisis was caused by a number of things including a raise in pay to soldiers and congiarium distributed to the people, the enormous building program, as well as the Chattian, British and Dacian wars. Without mentioning the cruelty of Domitian, Wend says that confiscations began and taxes were rigorously enforced to remedy the situation.

When Domitian fled to the Capitol during the war against Vitellius, he had to escape because the temple was set afire. Suetonius tells us that Domitian escaped because he disguised himself as a devotee of Isis. Then Suetonius explains that Domitian took refuge with priests of that ‘questionable order’. It is interesting that Suetonius would tell us that the worshipers of Isis was a questionable order and fail to explain Domitian’s role with them after being disguised as a devotee. Wend explains to us that Domitian remained a devotee of Isis and rebuilt the temple of Isis in the Campus Martius. In fact, he embellished it with an obelisk that depicted himself crowned by Isis.

to a great deal of trouble restoring burned libraries and that he had a lively turn of phrase, but he doesn’t credit his poetry, merely mentioning that he didn’t even bother learning the rudiments of a style. On the other hand, Wend says that despite Suetonius’ comment that he never came too familiar with poetry, Pliny the Elder actually congratulated Titus on imitating his brotherâ

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