Titus Flavius Clemens (consul)
Encyclopedia
Titus Flavius Clemens was a great-nephew of the Roman Emperor
Vespasian
. He was the son of Titus Flavius Sabinus (consul 69)
, brother to Titus Flavius Sabinus (consul 82)
and a second cousin to Roman Emperors to Titus
and Domitian
.
(Vespasian's granddaughter). They had two sons, both Titus Flavius, born ca. 88 and ca. 90, who were educated by Quintilian
and according to the On the Life of the Caesars, Domitian "openly named them, whilst they were very young, as his successors, changing their former names and calling the one Vespasian and the other Domitian".
However, Domitian later put Clemens to death:
. There was a great storm that threatened the ship, and the Captain had given up hope. Clemens brought his wife below deck, and when he returned, he saw Akiba ben Joseph with his hands in the air, saying a prayer to God. Having completed his prayer, the sea immediately became calm. Clemens introduced himself to the Rabbi, and offered his service in Rome
, mentioning that he was a close relative to the Emperor.
In the court of Emperor Domitian
, Clemens stood up for Akiba ben Joseph and his companions as it appeared that their gift to the Emperor was an insult (a chest of dirt), and they were sentenced to death. Clemens explained that it could be blessed dirt, similar to what the Jewish Patriarch Abraham
used against the Four Great Kings. There had been recent attacks by the Germans Chatti
on the Roman fortress Mogontiacum (Mainz), Germania Superior
's capital . Domitian
decided to let the Rabbis stay with Clemens until he could test out the blessed earth.
In his home, Akiba ben Joseph taught Flavius Clemens and his wife Flavia Domitilla
about the One True God and the teachings of Judaism. The earth proved successful against the Chatti and the Emperor returned and bestowed precious gifts on the Jewish deputation. Rabbi Akiva left Clemens on good terms, having planted the seed of love for The Almighty in his and his wife's hearts.
Approximately 15 years later the Rabbis' presence was requested by the Jewish citizens of Rome, as Emperor Domitian
had turned into a despot, having proclaimed himself a god, and having put out an edict that all Jews and Christians (which at that time was still seen as a Jewish sect) in the entire Roman Empire were to be slaughtered. Titus Flavius Clemens and his wife had converted to Judaism and so they specifically requested Rabbi Akiva's presence.
When the Rabbis arrived, Clemens welcomed them and instructed them to spend the night at the house of Marcus Cocceius Nerva
, another member of the Senate, who would go on to become the next Emperor, and who helped plan Domitian's assassination with Clemens' servant Stephanus.
When there were five days left until the edict would be voted on by the Senate, Clemens' wife Flavia Domitilla
convinced him to commit suicide in order to postpone the Senate vote, in hopes that God would bring a miracle in the extra time. Since Clemens was the Roman Consul
, if he were to die, another Consul
would have to be elected before the Senate could pass any decisions. It took a long time to elect a new Consul, so this was one way he could help save the Jews. The next day Clemens went to Emperor Domitian
and told him that he had become Jewish. That same day Domitian
appeared in the Senate to accuse the Consul Flavius Clemens of apostasy to Judaism. Clemens did not deny the charge; he was unanimously condemned to death.
Before he died, Flavius Clemens circumcised himself and took the name Shalom with the surname Ketiah.
and his feast day is 22 June. His wife Flavia Domitilla
was banished to the island Pandataria. Clemens' servant Stephanus avenged his master's death by assassinating Domitian
with the help of the members of the Senate.
In the early Christian romance or novel
known as the Clementine literature
, Titus Flavius Clemens is identified with Pope Clement I
- fourth Bishop of Rome, saint and martyr - an identification which has no extant basis in historical fact. However, the Pope may have been a freedman of the consul.
Roman Emperor
The Roman emperor was the ruler of the Roman State during the imperial period . The Romans had no single term for the office although at any given time, a given title was associated with the emperor...
Vespasian
Vespasian
Vespasian , was Roman Emperor from 69 AD to 79 AD. Vespasian was the founder of the Flavian dynasty, which ruled the Empire for a quarter century. Vespasian was descended from a family of equestrians, who rose into the senatorial rank under the Emperors of the Julio-Claudian dynasty...
. He was the son of Titus Flavius Sabinus (consul 69)
Titus Flavius Sabinus (consul 69)
See also Titus Flavius Sabinus for other men of this name.Titus Flavius Sabinus was the son of Titus Flavius Sabinus . He was suffect consul in May and June 69 and one of the generals who fought for Otho against Vitellius during the Year of the Four Emperors, although he submitted to Vitellius once...
, brother to Titus Flavius Sabinus (consul 82)
Titus Flavius Sabinus (consul 82)
See also Titus Flavius Sabinus for other men of this name.Titus Flavius Sabinus, son of Titus Flavius Sabinus and brother to Titus Flavius Clemens, was consul of the Roman Empire in 82...
and a second cousin to Roman Emperors to Titus
Titus
Titus , was Roman Emperor from 79 to 81. A member of the Flavian dynasty, Titus succeeded his father Vespasian upon his death, thus becoming the first Roman Emperor to come to the throne after his own father....
and Domitian
Domitian
Domitian was Roman Emperor from 81 to 96. Domitian was the third and last emperor of the Flavian dynasty.Domitian's youth and early career were largely spent in the shadow of his brother Titus, who gained military renown during the First Jewish-Roman War...
.
In classical sources
Clemens married Flavia DomitillaFlavia Domitilla (saint)
Flavia Domitilla was daughter of Domitilla the Younger by an unknown father, perhaps Quintus Petillius Cerialis. She married her cousin, the consul Titus Flavius Clemens.-In Roman literature:...
(Vespasian's granddaughter). They had two sons, both Titus Flavius, born ca. 88 and ca. 90, who were educated by Quintilian
Quintilian
Marcus Fabius Quintilianus was a Roman rhetorician from Hispania, widely referred to in medieval schools of rhetoric and in Renaissance writing...
and according to the On the Life of the Caesars, Domitian "openly named them, whilst they were very young, as his successors, changing their former names and calling the one Vespasian and the other Domitian".
However, Domitian later put Clemens to death:
- suddenly and on a very slight suspicion, almost before the end of his consulship; and yet Flavius was a man of most contemptible laziness.
In Jewish tradition
According to the Talmud, Clemens was greatly affected by the Jewish Sages of the time, especially Akiba ben Joseph. His first contact with Akiba ben Joseph was on a ship travelling through the Mediterranean to the Italian coast. The Rabbi was with an embassy from the Jewish homeland, on their way to deliver a gift to the newly appointed Emperor DomitianDomitian
Domitian was Roman Emperor from 81 to 96. Domitian was the third and last emperor of the Flavian dynasty.Domitian's youth and early career were largely spent in the shadow of his brother Titus, who gained military renown during the First Jewish-Roman War...
. There was a great storm that threatened the ship, and the Captain had given up hope. Clemens brought his wife below deck, and when he returned, he saw Akiba ben Joseph with his hands in the air, saying a prayer to God. Having completed his prayer, the sea immediately became calm. Clemens introduced himself to the Rabbi, and offered his service in Rome
Rome
Rome is the capital of Italy and the country's largest and most populated city and comune, with over 2.7 million residents in . The city is located in the central-western portion of the Italian Peninsula, on the Tiber River within the Lazio region of Italy.Rome's history spans two and a half...
, mentioning that he was a close relative to the Emperor.
In the court of Emperor Domitian
Domitian
Domitian was Roman Emperor from 81 to 96. Domitian was the third and last emperor of the Flavian dynasty.Domitian's youth and early career were largely spent in the shadow of his brother Titus, who gained military renown during the First Jewish-Roman War...
, Clemens stood up for Akiba ben Joseph and his companions as it appeared that their gift to the Emperor was an insult (a chest of dirt), and they were sentenced to death. Clemens explained that it could be blessed dirt, similar to what the Jewish Patriarch Abraham
Abraham
Abraham , whose birth name was Abram, is the eponym of the Abrahamic religions, among which are Judaism, Christianity and Islam...
used against the Four Great Kings. There had been recent attacks by the Germans Chatti
Chatti
The Chatti were an ancient Germanic tribe whose homeland was near the upper Weser. They settled in central and northern Hesse and southern Lower Saxony, along the upper reaches of the Weser River and in the valleys and mountains of the Eder, Fulda and Weser River regions, a district approximately...
on the Roman fortress Mogontiacum (Mainz), Germania Superior
Germania Superior
Germania Superior , so called for the reason that it lay upstream of Germania Inferior, was a province of the Roman Empire. It comprised an area of western Switzerland, the French Jura and Alsace regions, and southwestern Germany...
's capital . Domitian
Domitian
Domitian was Roman Emperor from 81 to 96. Domitian was the third and last emperor of the Flavian dynasty.Domitian's youth and early career were largely spent in the shadow of his brother Titus, who gained military renown during the First Jewish-Roman War...
decided to let the Rabbis stay with Clemens until he could test out the blessed earth.
In his home, Akiba ben Joseph taught Flavius Clemens and his wife Flavia Domitilla
Flavia Domitilla (saint)
Flavia Domitilla was daughter of Domitilla the Younger by an unknown father, perhaps Quintus Petillius Cerialis. She married her cousin, the consul Titus Flavius Clemens.-In Roman literature:...
about the One True God and the teachings of Judaism. The earth proved successful against the Chatti and the Emperor returned and bestowed precious gifts on the Jewish deputation. Rabbi Akiva left Clemens on good terms, having planted the seed of love for The Almighty in his and his wife's hearts.
Approximately 15 years later the Rabbis' presence was requested by the Jewish citizens of Rome, as Emperor Domitian
Domitian
Domitian was Roman Emperor from 81 to 96. Domitian was the third and last emperor of the Flavian dynasty.Domitian's youth and early career were largely spent in the shadow of his brother Titus, who gained military renown during the First Jewish-Roman War...
had turned into a despot, having proclaimed himself a god, and having put out an edict that all Jews and Christians (which at that time was still seen as a Jewish sect) in the entire Roman Empire were to be slaughtered. Titus Flavius Clemens and his wife had converted to Judaism and so they specifically requested Rabbi Akiva's presence.
When the Rabbis arrived, Clemens welcomed them and instructed them to spend the night at the house of Marcus Cocceius Nerva
Nerva
Nerva , was Roman Emperor from 96 to 98. Nerva became Emperor at the age of sixty-five, after a lifetime of imperial service under Nero and the rulers of the Flavian dynasty. Under Nero, he was a member of the imperial entourage and played a vital part in exposing the Pisonian conspiracy of 65...
, another member of the Senate, who would go on to become the next Emperor, and who helped plan Domitian's assassination with Clemens' servant Stephanus.
When there were five days left until the edict would be voted on by the Senate, Clemens' wife Flavia Domitilla
Flavia Domitilla (saint)
Flavia Domitilla was daughter of Domitilla the Younger by an unknown father, perhaps Quintus Petillius Cerialis. She married her cousin, the consul Titus Flavius Clemens.-In Roman literature:...
convinced him to commit suicide in order to postpone the Senate vote, in hopes that God would bring a miracle in the extra time. Since Clemens was the Roman Consul
Consul
Consul was the highest elected office of the Roman Republic and an appointive office under the Empire. The title was also used in other city states and also revived in modern states, notably in the First French Republic...
, if he were to die, another Consul
Consul
Consul was the highest elected office of the Roman Republic and an appointive office under the Empire. The title was also used in other city states and also revived in modern states, notably in the First French Republic...
would have to be elected before the Senate could pass any decisions. It took a long time to elect a new Consul, so this was one way he could help save the Jews. The next day Clemens went to Emperor Domitian
Domitian
Domitian was Roman Emperor from 81 to 96. Domitian was the third and last emperor of the Flavian dynasty.Domitian's youth and early career were largely spent in the shadow of his brother Titus, who gained military renown during the First Jewish-Roman War...
and told him that he had become Jewish. That same day Domitian
Domitian
Domitian was Roman Emperor from 81 to 96. Domitian was the third and last emperor of the Flavian dynasty.Domitian's youth and early career were largely spent in the shadow of his brother Titus, who gained military renown during the First Jewish-Roman War...
appeared in the Senate to accuse the Consul Flavius Clemens of apostasy to Judaism. Clemens did not deny the charge; he was unanimously condemned to death.
Before he died, Flavius Clemens circumcised himself and took the name Shalom with the surname Ketiah.
In Christian tradition
Flavius Clemens is a saint in the Catholic Church and in the Greek Orthodox ChurchGreek Orthodox Church
The Greek Orthodox Church is the body of several churches within the larger communion of Eastern Orthodox Christianity sharing a common cultural tradition whose liturgy is also traditionally conducted in Koine Greek, the original language of the New Testament...
and his feast day is 22 June. His wife Flavia Domitilla
Flavia Domitilla (saint)
Flavia Domitilla was daughter of Domitilla the Younger by an unknown father, perhaps Quintus Petillius Cerialis. She married her cousin, the consul Titus Flavius Clemens.-In Roman literature:...
was banished to the island Pandataria. Clemens' servant Stephanus avenged his master's death by assassinating Domitian
Domitian
Domitian was Roman Emperor from 81 to 96. Domitian was the third and last emperor of the Flavian dynasty.Domitian's youth and early career were largely spent in the shadow of his brother Titus, who gained military renown during the First Jewish-Roman War...
with the help of the members of the Senate.
In the early Christian romance or novel
Novel
A novel is a book of long narrative in literary prose. The genre has historical roots both in the fields of the medieval and early modern romance and in the tradition of the novella. The latter supplied the present generic term in the late 18th century....
known as the Clementine literature
Clementine literature
Clementine literature is the name given to the religious romance which purports to contain a record made by one Clement of discourses...
, Titus Flavius Clemens is identified with Pope Clement I
Pope Clement I
Starting in the 3rd and 4th century, tradition has identified him as the Clement that Paul mentioned in Philippians as a fellow laborer in Christ.While in the mid-19th century it was customary to identify him as a freedman of Titus Flavius Clemens, who was consul with his cousin, the Emperor...
- fourth Bishop of Rome, saint and martyr - an identification which has no extant basis in historical fact. However, the Pope may have been a freedman of the consul.