Flavians

Part of speech: noun

Definitions

1. The members of the Roman imperial family of Vespasian and his sons Titus and Domitian who ruled from 69 to 96 AD ; relating to that dynasty, its emperors, or the period of their rule
2. Vespasian, Titus and Domitian, the Roman emperors of the Flavian line who governed between 69 and 96 AD ; belonging to or characteristic of that imperial house and its age
3. The Roman rulers of the Flavian family, who held power from 69 to 96 AD ; pertaining to the Flavian emperors or the historical era they shaped

Etymology: The Flavians were the imperial dynasty that ruled Rome from 69 to 96 CE, and their name goes back to a Roman family name, Flavius. That name was common among Romans, but the dynasty's founder, Vespasian, gave it lasting fame when he seized power after the chaotic Year of the Four Emperors. His sons Titus and Domitian carried the name onward, and it became the label for the whole line. The adjective "Flavian" comes from Latin "Flaviānus", built from "Flavius" with the suffix "-ānus", which forms adjectives meaning "belonging to" or "associated with" a name. So "Flavian" simply means "of the Flavius family," a pattern repeated in many Roman-derived English adjectives. The plural "flavians" is the form used when referring to members of the dynasty together, as in "the Flavians built the Colosseum." It is the plural of "Flavian" used as a noun for the people themselves.