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| The Triumph of Titus by Sir Lawrence Alma-Tadema. Emperor Vespasian in the front, followed by Domitian and his wife, then Titus at the back. |
The Roman
Empire dominated western civilization for centuries. At its height, during the
period known as Pax Romana, its legions marched across the European continent
to the reaches of modern day Spain in the west, Asia Minor and the Middle East
in the East, to modern day Britain in the north, and crossing the Mediterranean
Sea to the whole North Africa in the south. Its dominion controlled the whole
Mediterranean basin for hundreds of years. With wealth and power, essentials
became cheap and luxury goods became affordable. Among this luxury was wine.
As trade
and wealth flowed to the major cities of the empire, wine became more
affordable for Roman citizens. With money, aqueducts were constructed to supply
fresh clean water to major cities across the Empire. It quench the thirst of
many citizens of Rome. However, water was not the only choice for quenching dry
throats in Rome. As money flowed to private coffers, Romans were capable to
drink beverages other than water. Wine was a luxury good that became the common
drink for Romans. From parties to just every simple meal, wine was consumed.
Roman soldiers, officials, and common folks drank jars of wine.
A
dilemma, however, accompanied the huge demand for wine. Wine came from grapes
that could be cultivated in large tract of vineyards. In the Roman province of
Gaul (modern day France) and the Italian Peninsula, vineyards flourished as
demand for grapes and wine surged upwards. More and more farmers then choose to
cultivate vineyards. The rise of vineyards, however, caused many farmers to
convert grain fields into vineyards, causing a drop in basic food production. A
luxury with basics as its cost.
The
conversion of grain fields into vineyards became the eye of change for the
Emperor Domitian. Emperor Domitian was the Roman Emperor from the year 81 CE to
96 CE. He was an Emperor determined to get out from the shadows of his two
predecessors who happened to be his father and his brother. Domitian was the
son of the founder of the Flavian dynasty of Rome, Emperor Vespasian. He was
also the brother of the successor of Vespasian, Emperor Titus. The former was
famous for constructing the classical wonder, the Coliseum. The latter was
famous for opening the Coliseum and a great military general. With Titus
becoming Emperor in 79 CE, it appeared that Domitian had no prospect of
becoming Emperor. Destiny, however, proved it wrong. In 81 CE, Titus
unexpectedly passed away. Domitian became suddenly the Emperor of the Roman
Empire.
From the
highest position in the land, he was determined to outdo his father and his
brother. He wanted to become a good Emperor to the Roman people. His first
order of business was to make grain production bountiful. Besides, chronic conversion of
grain fields to vineyards, natural disasters caused additional disruptions in
grain production. The eruption of Mount Vesuvius caused the destruction of
Pompei as well as damage to fields due to its ashes. Thus, production of grains
dropped further.
Short
grain production caused people to riot. Slight rise in prices could cause
serious protests and damaging riots by the common people. And with excessive
amounts of wine drinking, people became short tempered.
Thus in
81 CE, he made a decision that would curbed the problem. He ordered a
prohibition against vineyards and wine itself. Under the coat of promoting
temperance and reviving grain production, establishing of new vineyards in
Italy was forbidden. In addition, vineyards in the provinces, especially in
Gaul were reduced by 50%.
The
result was a sluggish wine trade. Soldiers in Britain who relied on wine from
France, had their supplies cut. Wine production faltered as vineyards were
converted back into grain fields in the provinces. For more than a hundred
years, the prohibition on vineyards lasted until 277 when Emperor Probus
repealed the law and wine and vineyards flourished once more in the provinces
of Gaul and Italy and allowed the spread of wine making to other provinces like
Britain.
The act
was a significant part of history of wine and alcohol. The act of Domitian
hampered the growth of wine making and production for centuries. In history of
wine books, it was always part of their timeline. It was similar act centuries
before Prohibition began in the United States in 1920. But Domitian could be
condemn for such an act. He was just concerned that wine was becoming a higher
priority than the basic needs. Domitian’s ban was
just re-prioritizing what their needs from their wants.
Bibliography:
Estreicher, S. Wine: From Neolithic Times to The 21st Century. United States: Algora Publishing, 2006.
Hornsey, I. A History of Beer and Brewing. Cambridge: The Royal Society of Chemist, 2003.
Southern, P. Domitian: Tragic Tyrant. Oxon: Routledge, 1997.
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