Domitian (October 24, 51 AD – September 18, 96 AD)

I was shoveling snow, when this analogy struck me: if Henry II was Vespasian, and Richard the Lionheart was Titus, then King John would be Domitian. The weaker younger brother stabs his sibling in the proverbial back and takes over the Kingdom.

Domitian is not well-remembered. He is especially hated by modern Biblical scholars:

The emperor Domitian, who was naturally inclined to cruelty, first slew his brother, and then raised the second persecution against the Christians. In his rage he put to death some of the Roman senators, some through malice; and others to confiscate their estates. He then commanded all the lineage of David be put to death.

The Second Persecution, Under Domitian, A.D. 81

This chart is rectified to show Domitian‘s assassination at age 44 (Mars). That stellium of planets in Scorpio, along with the Ascendant is indicative to his use of stealth to attain his gains. And Neptune in opposition to the Midheaven says the same thing. He cheats…

Mars Inconjunct Ascendant

The difficulty with this aspect is to find a balance between getting what you want in life and getting along with others. More than most people, you will have to learn the necessity of compromising to get along with people, especially because you often seem more aggressive than you are. While you are young, the need to compromise may be frustrating, because youth is a time when your own needs seem especially urgent and demanding. At times you may feel that nothing is going your way, that you continually have to give in to others and put your own wishes aside. However, it is not really this bad. You do not actually have to compromise any more than anyone else, but you are more reluctant to do so.

But all that Scorpio energy might be indicative of something else.

“According to Suetonius, a number of omens had foretold Domitian’s death. The Germanic soothsayer Larginus Proclus predicted the date of Domitian’s death and was consequently sentenced to death by him. Several days prior to the assassination, Minerva had appeared to the emperor in a dream. She announced that she had been disarmed by Jupiter and could no longer give Domitian her protection. According to an auspice he had received, the Emperor believed that his death would be at midday. As a result, he was always restless around that time. On the day of the assassination, Domitian was distressed and repeatedly asked a servant to tell him what time it was. The servant, who was himself one of the plotters, lied to the emperor, telling him that it was already late in the afternoon. Apparently put at ease, the Emperor went to his desk to sign some decrees. Stephanus, who had been feigning an injury to his arm for several days and wearing a bandage to allow him to carry a concealed dagger, suddenly appeared:

…he pretended that he had discovered a plot, and was for that reason granted an audience: whereupon, as the amazed Domitian perused a document he had handed him, Stephanus stabbed him in the groin. The wounded Emperor put up a fight, but succumbed to seven further stabs, his assailants being a subaltern named Clodianus, Parthenius’s freedman Maximus, Satur, a head-chamberlain and one of the imperial gladiators.

“During the attack, Stephanus and Domitian had struggled on the floor, during which time Stephanus was stabbed by the emperor and died shortly afterward.

“Domitian’s body was carried away on a common bier and unceremoniously cremated by his nurse Phyllis. Later, she took the emperor’s ashes to the Flavian Temple and mingled them with those of his niece, Julia. He was 44 years old. As had been foretold, his death came at midday.” (Assassination – from Wikipedia)

Yes, it does look as if the spirit of Minerva truly said, “Times up!” His ‘death’ Ascendant at 7 degrees Sagittarius is conjunct his natal Part of Fortune: could anything be clearer?