The traditional theory holds that John the Apostle — considered to have written the Gospel and the epistles of John — was exiled on Patmos in the Aegean archipelago during the reign of Domitian, and there wrote Revelation.

Domitian was assassinated in September 96.

Irenaeus mentions that the Apocalypse was seen " no very long time ago almost in our own age, toward the end of the reign of Domitian ".

Domitian (; 24 October 51 – 18 September 96 ) was Roman Emperor from 81 to 96.

Domitian was the third and last emperor of the Flavian dynasty.

While Titus held a great many offices under the rule of his father, Domitian was left with honours but no responsibilities.

The following day Domitian was declared Emperor by the Praetorian Guard, commencing a reign which lasted fifteen years – longer than any man who had ruled since Tiberius.

Significant wars were fought in Britain, where his general Agricola attempted to conquer Caledonia ( Scotland ), and in Dacia, where Domitian was unable to procure a decisive victory against king Decebalus.

As a consequence, Domitian was popular with the people and army but considered a tyrant by members of the Roman Senate.

After his death, Domitian's memory was condemned to oblivion by the Roman Senate, while senatorial authors such as Tacitus, Pliny the Younger and Suetonius published histories propagating the view of Domitian as a cruel and paranoid tyrant.

For Domitian, this meant that a significant part of his adolescence was spent in the absence of his near relatives.

During the Jewish-Roman wars, he was likely taken under the care of his uncle Titus Flavius Sabinus II, at the time serving as city prefect of Rome ; or possibly even Marcus Cocceius Nerva, a loyal friend of the Flavians and the future successor to Domitian.

Unlike his brother Titus, Domitian was not educated at court.

Domitian was allegedly extremely sensitive regarding his baldness, which he disguised in later life by wearing wigs.

In Rome meanwhile, Domitian was placed under house arrest by Vitellius, as a safeguard against future Flavian aggression.

During the night, he was joined by his relatives, including Domitian.

With nothing more to be feared from the enemy, Domitian came forward to meet the invading forces ; he was universally saluted by the title of Caesar, and the mass of troops conducted him to his father's house.

During the Batavian rebellion, Domitian eagerly sought the opportunity to attain military glory, but was denied command of a legion by superior officers.

By all accounts, Mucianus held the real power in Vespasian's absence and he was careful to ensure that Domitian, still only eighteen years old, did not overstep the boundaries of his function.

According to Tacitus, Mucianus was not keen on this prospect but since he considered Domitian a liability in any capacity that was entrusted to him, he preferred to keep him close at hand rather than in Rome.

Domitian then wrote to Cerialis personally, suggesting he hand over command of his army but, once again, he was snubbed.

With the return of Vespasian in late September, his political role was rendered all but obsolete and Domitian withdrew from government devoting his time to arts and literature.

Vespasian attempted to arrange a dynastic marriage between his youngest son and the daughter of Titus, Julia Flavia, but Domitian was adamant in his love for Domitia Longina, going so far as to persuade her husband, Lucius Aelius Lamia, to divorce her so that Domitian could marry her himself.

The most extensive account of the life of Domitian to survive was written by the historian Suetonius, who was born during the reign of Vespasian, and published his works under Emperor Hadrian ( 117 – 138 ).

The political career of Vespasian included the offices of quaestor, aedile and praetor, and culminated with a consulship in 51, the year Domitian was born.

He was born c. 45 CE From his boyhood he was victorious in poetic contests many times at his native Naples and three times at the Alban Festival, where he received the golden crown from the hand of the emperor Domitian who had instituted the contest.

The introduction to a dialogue called Virgilius orator an poeta is extant, in which the author ( whose name is given as Publius Annius Florus ) states that he was born in Africa, and at an early age took part in the literary contests on the Capitol instituted by Domitian.

The political career of Vespasian included the offices of quaestor, aedile and praetor, and culminated with a consulship in 51, the year Domitian was born.

Marcus Favonius, the imitator of Cato the Younger, was born in Terracina, as was the emperor Galba ( in 3 BCE ); both Galba and Domitian possessed villas in the area of the city.

The genealogy of the blessed Cadoc arises from the most noble emperors of Rome, from the time of the incarnation of Jesus Christ, Augustus Cesar, in whose time Christ was born, begat Octavianus, Octavianus begat Tiberius, Tiberius begat Caius, Caius begat Claudius, Claudius begat Vespasian, Vespasian begat Titus, Titus begat Domitian, Domitian begat Nero, under whom the apostles Peter and Paul suffered, Nero begat Trajan, Trajan begat Adrian, Adrian begat Antonius, Antonius begat Commodus, Commodus begat Meobus, Meobus begat Severus, Severus begat Antonius, Antonius begat Aucanus, Aucanus begat Aurelian, Aurelian begat Alexander, Alexander begat Maximus, Maximus begat Gordian, Gordian begat Philip, Philip begat Decius, Decius begat Gallus, Callus begat Valerian, Valerian begat Cleopatra, Cleopatra begat Aurelian, Aurelian begat Titus, Titus begat Probus, Probus begat Carosius,

While some recent scholars have questioned the existence of a large-scale Domitian persecution, others believe that Domitian's insistence on being treated as a god may have been a source of friction between the Church and Rome.

As Emperor, Domitian strengthened the economy by revaluing the Roman coinage, expanded the border defenses of the Empire, and initiated a massive building program to restore the damaged city of Rome.

Although the Senate's power had been in decline since the fall of the Republic, under Domitian the seat of power was no longer even in Rome, but rather wherever the Emperor was.

Domitian himself supported the travel of competitors from all corners of the Empire to Rome and distributed the prizes.

Although little information survives of the battles fought, enough early victories were apparently achieved for Domitian to be back in Rome by the end of 83, where he celebrated an elaborate triumph and conferred upon himself the title of Germanicus.

In 85, Agricola was recalled to Rome by Domitian, having served for more than six years as governor, longer than normal for consular legates during the Flavian era.

Fuscus successfully drove the Dacians back across the border in mid-85, prompting Domitian to return to Rome and celebrate his second triumph.

Domitian, Capitoline Museums, Rome

From Spain, Trajan was summoned, whilst Domitian himself came from Rome with the Praetorian Guard.

The Tridentine Calendar also had on 6 May a feast of " St John before the Latin Gate ", associated with a tradition recounted by Saint Jerome that St John was brought to Rome during the reign of the Emperor Domitian, and was thrown in a vat of boiling oil, from which he was miraculously preserved unharmed.

* Emperor Domitian recalls Agricola back to Rome, where he is rewarded with a triumph and the governorship of the Roman province Africa, but he declines it.

* Domitian bans philosophers from Rome.

* The informers used by Domitian to support his tyranny are expelled from Rome.

Until 1960, another feast day which appeared in the General Roman Calendar is that of " St John Before the Latin Gate " on May 6, celebrating a tradition recounted by Jerome that St John was brought to Rome during the reign of the Emperor Domitian, and was thrown in a vat of boiling oil, from which he was miraculously preserved unharmed.

During the reign of Roman emperor Domitian after having spent time imprisoned in Rome, John was sentenced to be boiled in oil at the Colosseum.

Until 1960, another feast day which appeared in the General Roman Calendar is that of " St John Before the Latin Gate " on May 6, celebrating a tradition recounted by Jerome that St John was brought to Rome during the reign of the Emperor Domitian, and was thrown in a vat of boiling oil, from which he was miraculously preserved unharmed.

Nero persecuted Roman Christians after Rome burned in 64, and the congregation may have suffered further persecution under Domitian ( 81 – 96 ).

* Paris ( actor under Domitian ), actor in Rome under the emperor Domitian

In particular, he tells lengthy stories of Apollonius entering the city of Rome in disregard of Emperor Nero ’ s ban on philosophers, and later on being summoned, as a defendant, to the court of Domitian, where he defied the Emperor in blunt terms.

When emperor Domitian was murdered on September 18, 96 AD, Apollonius was said to have witnessed the event in Ephesus " about midday " on the day it happened in Rome, and told those present " Take heart, gentlemen, for the tyrant has been slain this day ...".