ABSTRACT
By any criteria, the Roman empire’s dimensions were substantial, but, as many have observed,1 their administrative system was not. The term ‘imperial bureaucracy’ is a misnomer. Administrative officials were remarkably few.2 In practice, the emperor had to depend on the local provincial élite for many of the tasks one might have expected to be assigned to an army of ‘imperial bureaucrats’. The corollary, though, is that chaos could all the more easily result from a lack of firm central control. Domitian was never guilty of that or, indeed, ever accused of it. He was personally involved (or, perhaps, engrossed) in just about every aspect of the administration of the capital and of the empire. The economy was his special concern: hence, on his accession and quite unexpectedly, he almost immediately revalued the currency by 12 per cent. He was the new Augustus, in money, morals and religion (all of which he tried to control rigorously) as well as in building and entertainment (where he spent lavishly). So aspects of his administration meriting examination include (1) the economy, (2) the building programme, his reforms affecting (3) the individual citizen as well as (4) the provinces and, finally (5) the opposition his administration aroused.
