Flavia Domitilla
First Wife of Vespasian
Flavia Domitilla was the daughter of Flavius Liberalis, a humble quaestor’s clerk. Domitilla was born in Sabratha to Italian colonists who had moved there during the reign of Augustus. This presented a rather serious scandal where she was alleged to have been a barbarian born only in a colony. Her father had to produce documentation to establish that she was a Roman citizen born before the family moved. She was also reportedly once the mistress of a Roman knight named Statilius Capella in Sabrath, located in Tripolitania.
Nonetheless, she became Vespasian’s wife in 39 AD before he was made emperor. She was the mother of Titus, Domitian, and Domitilla the Younger. She died before Vespasian became Emperor, which was the case for her daughter Domitilla the Younger. Nevertheless, she was the grandmother of Saint Flavia Domitilla, daughter of Domitilla the Younger, who became a Christian.
Monetary System
Posthumous Issues
Mints: Rome
Obverse Legends by Titus:
MEMORIAE DOMITILLAE SPQR
DOMITILLAE IMP CAES VES (or VESP)
Obverse Legends by Domitian:
DIVA DOMITILLA AVGVSTA
DENOMINATIONS
AU Aureus (Domitilla/Vespasian)(by Domitian)
AR Denarius (by Domitian)
