How did Tacitus portray Emperor Domitian’s treatment of the Roman aristocracy?

The Roman historian Tacitus portrayed Emperor Domitian’s treatment of the aristocracy as a period of intense despotism and terror. Having observed these final years firsthand, Tacitus viewed Domitian’s rule as a time when the emperor’s cruelty and ostentation severely oppressed the noble class.123

Tacitus characterized this era as one where dynastic power corrupted the ruler and reduced the supporting nobility to a state of servility. Specifically, he noted that the law of majestas (treason) was frequently employed against senators, leading to a climate of fear where prominent figures were not safe. This atmosphere culminated in the years 93–96, which were regarded as a period of terror that was unprecedented in its severity.12

Tacitus’s analysis of this period was often marked by bitterness and pointed irony, reflecting his belief that such tyranny subverted Roman traditions and corrupted public morality. Ultimately, he diagnosed these years as a manifestation of the decline of political freedom under the Flavian dynasty, where the personal conduct of the emperor was fundamentally destructive to the aristocratic order.12