Roman emperor Domitian is believed to have put on a sea battle in the Colosseum in 85 AD, for instance. The "Gladiator II" naumachia raises the stakes by having sharks, although that is unlikely ...

Domitian’s murder marked the end of the Flavian dynasty and changed the rules of succession. Nerva and Trajan (ruled 96 – 98 AD, 98 – 117 AD) were not born to rule, but were chosen for the job.

The two sons of Vespasian Titus and Domitian (ruled 79 – 81 AD, and 81 – 96 AD respectively) could not have been more different as emperors. Although Titus had a reputation for ruthlessness ...