Bedrock of Empire

by Thomas M D Brooke

  Flavus stood up straighter, eyes shining with pride. ‘Yes, I took to life instantly in the legions. I loved it, and I realised that it was all I was ever meant to do in life.’

  Augustus’ eyes narrowed. ‘When did you suspect something was amiss with your brother?’

  I held my breath, noticing the trap in the princeps’ words. If Flavus inadvertently acknowledged that he knew what Julius was capable of, and had said nothing, the imperator might deem that enough evidence for his complicity. If Flavus noticed it, he gave no sign. He answered the question as truthfully and honestly as all the others. ‘When I started receiving letters from my brother in Spain, I noticed the difference at once. When he’d written to me from Syria, his letters often spoke of Rome and our times together growing up. But when he reached Germany, I believe something changed in him. His letters spoke of the greatness of the Cherusci, the glorious destiny he envisaged for them, but little else. The brother I’d known in Rome had become a stranger to me.’

  ‘And did he tell you what he planned?’

  Flavus looked the imperator straight in the eye and told him, ‘No, my brother was a lot of things, but he wasn’t stupid. He would never commit words of treason to a wax tablet. Instead, he implored me to join him in Germany. I now believe he wished to wait until he could speak to me in person before revealing what he was conspiring to do.’

  ‘So you believe that Julius Arminius meant to incorporate you into this treasonous plan?’

  Flavus swallowed hard. ‘Almost certainly. I think he thought that once he had me with him, he’d be able to control me as easily as he’d done in Rome growing up.’

  Augustus grunted. ‘But you refused to go.’

  Flavus gave a nod. ‘Yes, I refused to go. I knew nothing of what he really planned, but I suspected it wasn’t something that I’d like or agree with.’

  Germanicus couldn’t restrain himself any further. ‘You see, my lord. He condemns himself with his own words. He knew his brother planned something amiss.’

  Flavus replied angrily to Germanicus’ words. ‘I didn’t know he planned treason. I didn’t know he meant to murder thousands in the greatest betrayal of our history. How could I have done?’

  Augustus gave a grim smile. ‘How indeed?’ He raised his hand to prevent Germanicus from adding anything more. He focused his stare on Flavus. ‘Did you love your brother?’

  Flavus looked shaken by the personal question. He gave a deep swallow whilst he thought how to answer it. ‘I have always loved my brother.’ A shocked gasp went round the room. Flavus continued, ignoring the horrified senators. ‘But after hearing these last two days what he has done, what he has become, I would kill him in a heartbeat.’

  Augustus looked down coldly at the young centurion. ‘That is something that is easily said. But do you mean it?’

  Flavus clenched his fists in anger and met the imperator’s strong gaze. ‘Julius has become a monster, a demon from a nightmare. His hatred and anger has now consumed him entirely, so that the man I knew and loved no longer exists. I would end his life to save this monster from inflicting more harm, but also for destroying everything that he once stood for. Julius Arminius has to die, and I just hope to be the man to do it.’

  There was a stunned silence in the room now, the vehemence of Flavus’ words still reverberating around the chamber. I stood there shocked too. I knew the depth of my own hatred for Julius, but the sentiment clearly ran equally as strong in his brother. Can only those who once loved him ever truly learn to hate him?

  Augustus gave a deep sigh. ‘I think I believe you.’

  Germanicus protested. ‘But my lord!’

  Augustus held up his hand for silence and looked up at his audience of senators. ‘Since I heard of the disaster in the Teutoburg, I have blamed many people for letting it happen. I first blamed the shade of Varus, for destroying my legions with his incompetence. I also blamed the advisors who’d first suggested that I set up Julius Arminius as a client king of the Cherusci. Couldn’t they see what a viper he was? I blamed the few surviving remnants from those butchered legions, the broken soldiers that I deemed steeped in bad luck and ill-tidings. I exiled the former German units that were serving in my own Praetorian bodyguard to other areas of the empire in case their loyalty was now questioned. Now I am brought Julius Arminius’ brother, and am I expected to blame him too?’

  Augustus looked to the ground briefly before raising his head. ‘But in truth, the responsibility for what happened in Germany ends with me.’ There was a light murmuring from the senators. Augustus stood up and continued. ‘I should have seen the omens that preceded such a calamity. The Campus Martius was struck by lightning that year at the beginning of September – the sacred ground where those legions were recruited. Who can forget the plague of locusts that also afflicted us that summer? All know this to be a clear portent of ill luck! Why didn’t I pay it the attention it deserved? I saw the comet that blazed across the night sky that seemed to come from the direction of Germany towards Italy.’ He shook his head in regret. ‘No, it is time to stop blaming people for what happened and start making plans for putting right what has gone wrong.’

  Germanicus’ face lit up in excitement. ‘Then we’ll be returning to Germany?’

  Augustus gave a solemn nod. ‘Yes, we will return and reclaim those lost eagles that the vile traitor took from us. You will lead my army of vengeance, Germanicus.’

  Germanicus stood straight and saluted. ‘It would be an honour, Imperator.’

  ‘But first we must form it. You will need to work your consular year. This will give us time to recruit and train the strongest army those rabid barbarians have ever seen. Strong is the might of Rome, and these legions will be our arm of justice.’

  The senators stood up and applauded. Augustus raised his voice. ‘Rome has been dealt a great hurt, but her vengeance will be every bit as terrible. I will have the traitorous heart of Julius Arminius brought before me.’ He turned to Flavus. ‘You said you wanted to wield the knife. Will you bring his heart to me?’

  Flavus banged his fist to his own heart, his chains rattling. ‘By the gods, I swear I will either have this done or I’ll die in the attempt.’

  Augustus spun to Germanicus. ‘Will you take this man, this tool to be used by us, and aim it at his brother?’

  Germanicus raised his fist. ‘I will, my lord!’

  By the gods, what a theatrical lot we are! Moments ago, Germanicus was wishing for Flavus’ head. Now, after a few stirring words from Augustus, Germanicus was taking Flavus back to Germany to serve him. Few could move a crowd as well as the imperator. The senators cheered and I sat down next to Aulus, relieved. ‘We’ve done it.’

  Aulus smiled and whispered in my ear. ‘It was never in doubt.’

  Epilogue

  I left the Palatine and, after bidding farewell to Aulus at the Basilica Julia, wandered through the Forum in a pleasant mood. The Forum was pleasantly warm. The feast of Epulum Jovis was approaching, the sweltering heat of high summer almost past, and a few young people sat around the marble steps near the Temple of Vesta.

  I bid them good day with a spring in my step as I made my way through Rome to my home on the Caelian Hill. I was eager to see Numeria and tell her of the day’s events but thought I’d better return home and change out of my toga first. I was looking forward to slipping on a light tunic and a more comfortable pair of sandals. It had been a stressful last two days, but now I could finally relax, my work complete.

  Augustus had ordered the chains to be struck off the wrists of Flavus, who’d then left with Germanicus. I shook my head in wonder. The mood of the praetor had changed beyond recognition now he’d been given the go-ahead to start planning the campaign to reclaim the lost eagles of Germany. He was full of excitement and planned to use Flavus as a means to test the unity of the Cherusci. If he appeared with a rival Cherusci prince by his side, he was sure that some of the tribesmen’s loyalties could be tested.

  I’d sa
id to him, ‘Earlier this day, you were asking for his death. Now you want to use him in your campaign?’

  He’d given me his confident smile. ‘Of course, it wasn’t personal. I was instructed to prosecute him by the Lady Livia. I owed it to everyone concerned to undertake that charge to the best of my ability.’

  I raised an eyebrow. ‘You very nearly took me down as well. I thought you’d get your way, and I was about to stand trial myself.’

  He had given a shrug. ‘If it had ever come to that, I would have defended you myself. I’d have made sure you were cleared.’

  I’d laughed at his temerity and I’d left Flavus in his charge. Just before I left, Germanicus asked me, ‘I meant to ask, whatever happened to that lictor I lent you?’

  I really couldn’t see the point in telling him the truth. ‘He decided to stay on in Spain. Apparently the climate suited him.’

  Germanicus looked surprised. ‘Oh, that’s a shame. You’ll need to find yourself another, especially if you’re to join the Senate.’

  I’d looked at him closely. ‘You really think Augustus will let me serve?’

  Germanicus smiled. ‘I’m certain of it. He likes you more than he pretends. Besides, we need sharp minds who are prepared to stand up to us once in a while.’

  ‘We’ll see,’ I told him, before bidding him farewell. Serving in the Senate was a prize I desperately wanted, but it was a worry for another day.

  However, as I walked past the familiar stone pines that lined the avenue up the Caelian Hill, my mind couldn’t help but think of the rewards that a seat in the Senate would give me. A senator’s purple band of my own, coupled with my extensive military experience, could lead to a command position. I might finally get to lead my own legion, the sum of my entire life’s ambition. I felt almost lightheaded with the prospect of having this dream finally fulfilled.

  I was greeted at the door to my home by my slave Patrellis. He was as pleased to see me as ever, but told me, ‘You’ve just missed Numeria. She called round to see you but didn’t stay long.’

  I cursed. ‘Didn’t she get my message from Silo that I would be tied up on the Palatine?’

  Patrellis shrugged. ‘I’m afraid I wouldn’t know, she didn’t say. You can ask Silo yourself. He’s in the atrium with Badriyah. They’re arguing about the new decorations again.’

  I smiled and walked through to the large open-aired room at the centre of the house with a small pool and statue of Apollo at its centre. This was the final part of the house that needed painting with the new bird designs that the two of them had decorated the rest of the house with. As soon as she saw me, Badriyah turned to me and implored, ‘Cassius, will you please tell him. He wants to paint one of those warships you told him about. It will spoil the peaceful nature of the whole house.’

  Silo’s painting had come on in leaps and bounds since I’d been away. He still wasn’t quite as adept as Badriyah, but his depictions of birds were still wonderful, and I was sure he’d eventually attain her level of mastery. ‘Silo, why don’t you stick to those beautiful goldfinches you painted in my study?’

  Silo folded his arms crossly. ‘I’m bored of painting just birds.’

  I gave a laugh. To be honest, I didn’t really mind what they painted. It was still a vast improvement on what was there before. ‘Well, why don’t you paint a peaceful fishing boat? Not everything needs to be based around war.’

  He looked up at Badriyah to see if she agreed. She shrugged. ‘That might work, but we need to practise first. Let’s not ruin these walls until we know what we want to depict.’

  Before they rushed off, I asked Silo, ‘You did give the Lady Numeria my message last night, didn’t you?’

  Silo looked affronted. ‘Of course! You don’t think I’d forget to do something that important?’

  ‘Then why did she come round?’

  Silo lifted both his hands in bafflement. ‘How should I know? She popped into your bedroom and then left.’

  I left them to continue their painting and returned to my bedroom. Numeria must have forgotten something when she stayed over the other night. She’d left in quite a hurry so it wasn’t that surprising. As soon as I entered my room, I pulled off my heavy formal toga and sighed with relief. At last.

  I gave myself a stretch and pulled on a light tunic that Patrellis had left out for me. The soft and clean fabric felt wonderful after the heavy and coarse fabric of my toga, and I ran my hands through my hair in pleasure.

  Then I saw it.

  A wax tablet was left waiting on my bed. I walked over to it and found it sealed with the mark from the small signet ring Numeria wore. I broke it open, and read.

  My dear Gaius,

  This is by far the hardest letter I have ever written, and it breaks my heart to bring you these tidings. I do love you, Gaius, I think I always have, and I always will. When I saw you after your trip to Spain, I thought my heart would burst with love for you. I wanted so much for it to be enough, my love to be so strong that it could sustain me alone.

  But it isn’t enough, Gaius. Not for me, although many others will call me a fool for saying so. My troupe of actors leave for Greece shortly. I intend to go with them. The laws of Augustus and the Lady Livia will never allow us to perform as we wish on the stages of Rome. Their injunction against female actors will always prevent us from showing the plays we desire to perform, especially a woman such as me, from a noble and privileged family. In Greece, we can travel around the city states performing the classic plays and tragedies that I love so much. I know you would join me if I asked it, but I could never allow a man to give up everything for me once again. I made that mistake with Otho, and I swore I would never let it happen again.

  You have the chance to start a career in the Senate and have the bright prospect of becoming a leading figure in Rome. This will never be possible if you consort with a woman who plies her trade on the stages of Greece. In Rome, the profession of an actress is considered little better than that of a fallen woman; I will always be reviled and looked down upon. So I ask you not to follow me, to let me go. Our paths in life lead in different directions, although it tears my heart to say goodbye.

  Please forgive me for telling you in this way. I just didn’t have the strength or courage to tell you to your face. Even in this final act, I have failed you.

  My love always,

  Numeria

  I sat down heavily on the bed, in stunned disbelief, knowing that the whole foundation to my world had just crumbled. Numeria had left me.

  The End.

  Historical Note

  ‘But the most fell and furious beast of all others, is the Licorne or Monoceros: his body resembles a horse, his head a stag, his feet an Elephant, his tail a boar; he loweth after a hideous manner; one black horn he has in the midst of his forehead, bearing out two cubits in length: by report, this wild beast cannot possibly be caught alive.’

  So wrote Pliny the Elder in his Naturalis Historia before his death in AD 79 whilst attempting to rescue a friend from the eruption of Mount Vesuvius. In all likelihood, he was describing the Asian rhinoceros. However, this description also gave rise to the myth of the unicorn that played such an important part in later medieval heraldry.

  It is hard to overstate the importance of obtaining such rare beasts for the games in the ancient Roman world. The rich and powerful competed to host ever more lavish events to secure the favour of the masses and increase their own standing. The arrival of a new and exotic animal would greatly enhance those games, and successive emperors would pay vast amounts to secure them for their own spectacle. Huge fortunes were also spent on an ever-increasing number of gladiators, who would be forced to fight to entertain the large crowds at the games. The Romans were certainly more ruthless in their interpretation of entertainment, but it isn’t so dissimilar to the billionaires of our own age who buy expensive sporting franchises in order to increase their own fame in the modern world. The importance of the games grew to such an extent that A
ugustus was forced to limit their excesses by politically motivated individuals. So in 22 BC the number of gladiators was limited to one hundred and twenty, unless given express permission by the Senate.

  Germanicus was to have his games to celebrate becoming consul in January AD 12. These games were important to increase his standing in the Roman capital as Augustus had needed to bend the rules to allow Germanicus to ascend the position at such a young age. It was said that two hundred lions were recorded as having been killed during the performance, so I think we can surmise that this wasn’t a small affair. Although whether he was ever able to find himself a rhinoceros, I have no idea.

  The Praetorian Guard used the scorpion emblem on their shields and standards, and this is attributed by most historians to the birth sign of the future Emperor Tiberius. Likely reasons are his reforming the Praetorians and building a large camp for them on the outskirts of Rome. I wanted to retain the identity of Tiberius in my account of how the emblem came about, but I gave it a slightly more romantic air. Hence, my fictional account of a Praetorian spearing a scorpion before it stung the young Tiberius. The Praetorians were a personal bodyguard for the emperor, but they were so much more than that. They were the backbone of the emperor’s power. They ensured that the Senate, or anybody else for that matter, never dared to oppose the emperor’s direct rule. They stood ready to quash any rebellion or unrest. The Praetorians were often used in overseas campaigns and contained many veterans, so were no mere honour guard. They were a highly trained elite unit, and the legionaries on the frontiers often viewed their privileged position with envy.

  The wars in Spain lasted two hundred years. They started as one of the key battlegrounds of the Punic Wars in the titantic struggle for supremacy of the Mediterranean Basin between Carthage and Rome. After the defeat and destruction of Carthage, the wars continued. Rome now understood the tactical importance of the Iberian Peninsula and were never going to settle for anything less than a position of complete dominance. Therefore, countless regional wars were fought between the native Celtic-Iberian tribes and Rome’s legions. These wars were hard and protracted. The Celtic-Iberians had a fighting tradition as renowned as that of Rome, and they were both organised and well led. This, combined with the mountainous terrain of the peninsula, made it a long drawn-out struggle. The wars only came to a close after Augustus and his primary general Agrippa put down the last of the resistance. Even after this period, there would have been problems from outlaws and small uprisings. But gradually the Roman way of life seeped into the people of the region and it became one of Rome’s most treasured provinces. The gold and silver mines provided vast wealth and the olive groves a steady trade with the Roman capital. Why did the people change? Was it simply because the Roman legions were so good that resistance became futile? Possibly, but more likely, the benefits of the Pax Romana became apparent. In the Roman world, even those from subjugated colonies could aspire to Roman citizenship. The benefits of a settled life of trade and farming over one of constant tribal conflict is obvious. But also don’t discount the importance of living in a society regulated by laws rather than the whims of a tribal chief or the strength of his warriors. Roman law gave people a structure they could base their lives around and a society governed by rules rather than the sword alone. There is much concerning ancient Rome to horrify the modern observer, but this should also be balanced against the laws that they bequeathed to the world and that most modern societies are based upon.