The King of Rome

by Francis Mulhern

  “I call for the Pontifex to complete the auguries and tell us what the god’s desire from us, their servants. They will say that a strong leader is needed, of that I am sure. They will see, as will you my friends, that I am that man” he said with certainty. He allowed his gaze to wander across the watching faces. “The gods on the Capitol need a decisive man who will turn away the threat as I did against the barbarians who came crawling to the doors of our temples as we brave souls held on to all that remained of Rome after the disaster of the Allia.” His right arm had risen with a clenched fist and his voice had risen to a shout as he finished speaking. The voices of dissent, and agreement from various factions of the patrician clans increased and continued to circle the room like a flock of startled birds. He shook his head as the speaker called for silence and shouted for the Pontifex Maximus to speak.

  Javenoli caught the smirk from Capitolinus as he stood. He let his chin fall to his chest as he waited for the noise to quieten. He then pulled the white hood of his ceremonial robe over the back of his head and spoke clearly, but slowly.

  “Capitolinus is right” he said, as all faces turned to him and finally fell into silence. “We must consult the gods and divine their needs. We are weaker than at any time in our history and without the full backing of the gods we can only expect another disaster like the Allia” he said as many voices grumbled agreement and some men bowed their heads in shame at the mention of the loss of so many Romans to gallic invasion force and the treacherous decisions which had led to the situation. “I will make haste now and complete the augury with the two chief priests” he said as he began to shuffle along the aisle towards the back of the room. Men rose to follow, most Romans were keen to see the augury and check that it was done correctly, each man holding to his own chosen deity but also not fool enough to ignore other gods who may have a part to play in their fate. The Senate moved as one, some standing and following the Pontifex, others turning to their clans and discussing the issues at hand, promoting their favourites for positions in the leading places in the Roman forces which would be decided that day before the votes from the people of Rome chose the lower officers; though each knew that the biggest clans held the most votes and so the decisions were, in reality, for the Senators to make. Javenoli caught a glimpse of Cincinnatus whispering with a man from the Junii clan, both men glancing around as they spoke hurriedly. He’d have to find out what that conversation was about, he thought. The Junii held lands across the east of the City and were stirring up trouble for some of his own business interests in the area, it was certainly a distraction he didn’t need.

  Marcus and Lucius stood and followed the crowd out of the building to where the altar stood, its marble still cracked and blemished from where the Gaul’s had damaged it and the stonemasons had completed running repairs. “Does Javenoli know the correct rituals?” Lucius whispered as Marcus leant forwards towards him.

  Marcus nodded slowly before replying under his breath. “The ritual is long and complicated but I have heard that he has studied the disciplina and has finally managed the correct process.” The disciplina was the formulaic process by which every ritual had to be followed. One small mistake and the whole ritual had to be repeated over again. The crowd of Senators was followed swiftly by a larger crowd of plebeians and other assorted people of Rome who had been waiting outside the senate building on the packed earth of the forum for the patricians to appear. As the Pontifex stood before the altar and started to chant the words, small earthen bottles of oils were brought to him by young boys in white tunics. Marcus smiled as he remembered the days when he, as a young Camillus, had been the boy who had stayed up all night to prepare the oils, standing for hours as he waited for the mixtures to settle and produce the correct consistency that was needed for each individual ceremony. He watched with interest as small silver bowls of herbs were placed on the altar and Javenoli took measured amounts from each, using small silver spoons for some and little carved wooden bowls for others, in the order that the ceremony dictated. Eventually the process was completed, voices rising with satisfaction as the sacrifices were made, entrails split and oiled before checking the contents.

  “He has done well” Lucius said with a smile as Marcus nodded his agreement. Javenoli had surprised him with the vigour to which he had taken to his new role as Pontifex Maximus. There was word that he had even begun to consider redecorating the old Pontifex’s palace, which Marcus remembered as being dour and stuffy from his many visits there in days gone by. He had smiled at the thought that Javenoli, who always seemed to be up to some scheme or other, had finally found a position to which his talents were well matched. The Pontifex was not only the head of religious orders, but produced the annual calendars, religious festival dates and had a large part to play in any military preparations. Javenoli seemed ideally suited to the role. Marcus made a note that he should pay a visit to Javenoli to renew the acquaintance with the old man that he had lost these past few years.

  The Senate moved back into their seats, leaving the noisy population of Rome outside as they called to Javenoli for a sign which might tell them what the augury had said. Javenoli had waved to them but said nothing, as they knew he must.

  Inside the building the doors closed purposefully, the snapping of the lock barring the population from the decisions which the leading families must take. Capitolinus tightened his toga across his shoulders and glanced to Javenoli. He knew that the augury would be mixed and would call for Rome to defend itself as it had done against the Gaul’s as the barbarians assaulted the home of their gods. At that moment he would stand and claim that he had saved Rome from the Gaul’s by saving the Capitol and that this was, surely, what the gods were demanding again, the use of his strong right arm. As dictator his plans would take a fresh turn, the power of total domination would be his. He swallowed as he felt the saliva burst into his mouth at the thought of it, his heart starting to beat harder in his chest. Javenoli glanced to him nervously but with a faint nod, half-hidden by his white hood as he stood and adjusted his robes. Capitolinus shifted in his seat, his mouth set into a thin line as he breathed slowly to calm his expectant nerves.

  “Senators” called Javenoli as he put down the candle he had carried from the altar, its light fluttering as he fixed it to a short iron spike. Every head turned to him, all shuffling stopped and a silence fell into the room as he held his breath, preparing to speak.

  “The augury is mixed” he said with his head bowed and eyes downcast, instant gasps coming from the senate who had expected a favourable reading. Capitolinus narrowed his eyes and watched the family groups, arranged in their clans around the room, as their heads turned left and right in surprise. Deep set eyes and shocked faces met each other as grumbling echoed from the walls. “The readings suggest that the gods are still unhappy that we ignored them in recent years” said the sombre tones of Javenoli’s well-rehearsed script. “They say that we must honour them more strictly than ever before and never deviate from the paths they set for us.” He looked up, his cold eyes wandering the room as each Senator nodded their understanding at the words he’d spoken. Most Romans were convinced that the disaster at the Allia had been caused by a lack of devotion to the gods, who had, in the Roman’s view, given the enemy the strength and guile to slaughter the defenders of Rome due to their lack of devotion to their own gods. Head after head drooped as Javenoli spoke. Capitolinus held back a smirk as he watched the power of Javenoli’s speech begin to sway the leading men of Rome. Few held his gaze and fewer still appeared to be hostile to his words.

  The old man’s eyes circled the room slowly, waiting for total silence to fill the space around him before he spoke again. The tension in the room grew as the weight of the silence stretched.

  “The augury from the gods says that Rome must be defended under the same auspices and with the same leadership under which the city was redeemed” he said as his head bowed with a quick glance to Capitolinus, who was already grinning back at him awaiting
the right moment to stand and claim the dictatorship. “The reading says that without the favour of the gods which brought success to the defence of our great city, we will fail. Gentlemen.” At this Javenoli looked up and turned across towards Capitolinus, who leapt to his feet and called aloud.

  “I, Marcus Manlius Capitolinus, who defended the Capitol, the home of the gods, will gladly heed the call of Jupiter, greatest and best, and act as dictator. With this hand” he raised his right arm to the sky “which slew the Gaul’s who dared to attack our heart, will I slay the treacherous Latins, Hernici and Aequians. With this hand, beloved of Jupiter himself, will I lead our men to glory for Rome. With this hand” he thrust it up higher into the sky once again “will I be the messenger of the gods” he said with finality as his jaw squared and his eyes stared hard at Javenoli. As Javenoli started to clap several voices called out and a barrage of noise began to circle the room, the wave of sound smashing into the walls. Capitolinus turned an angry face to several men who called that he was not worthy of the role of dictator. Javenoli and Capitolinus caught each other’s eyes and the Pontifex motioned for Capitolinus to sit as he now started to wave his arms for silence.

  Voices continued for a few moments as people began to call for order and silence. Eventually Javenoli was able to search the crowd and stare down the last dissenting voices. As he spoke silence, once again, fell into the room.

  “Leaders of Rome” he said in a hushed voice which barely hid his anger. “The augury could not be clearer. The gods demand that we defend the city as we defended it against the Gaul’s. Only in this way will they be happy, and only in this way will they give us their blessing to defeat our enemy.” His face searched the silent rows of men as they looked to him. “We must heed this message, gentlemen. Think how the gods use us as their earthly tools in their great games and choose the man who will be dictator wisely. We must choose a man to whom the gods give favour, a man to whom they have given the strength to save the city and to bring glory to his family and to Rome. Such a man sits here amongst us” he said with a glance towards Capitolinus.

  A tall, thin, man, his dark beard oiled into a smooth line under his chin, stood and narrowed his eyes at the Pontifex. Javenoli cocked his head slightly but nodded and then sat as all heads turned to the new speaker.

  “Men of Rome” said the strong voice of Lucius Lucretis, his deep tones causing all to listen intently. “Pontifex” he bowed towards Javenoli, who nodded in response. “The augury must be discussed in more detail as the Pontifex has said. I thank Marcus Manlius Capitolinus for his strong words, borne as they are from his great deeds in saving the Capitol in our hour of need.” He nodded again towards Capitolinus who smiled, his heart thumping in his chest as Lucretis spoke. He had been on the Capitol with his brother and was profiting from being one of the Capitol men, though he was not within the inner circle that he knew Javenoli had developed. “Yet we must consider that the city was defended by Marcus Furius Camillus as well.” Nodding heads and murmurs of agreement circled the room at these words. “What if the gods meant that they wished Camillus, second founder of our great city and our new Romulus to be our dictator? Hasn’t he proven that the gods are beloved of him? He, too, as did Capitolinus, saved our city in its time of need. Surely this is the man who should be dictator as his deeds fit the message of the gods just as well as those of Marcus Manlius Capitolinus. I would hear from both men” he finished and sat, crossing his arms over his chest as the noise level rose again.

  Javenoli and Capitolinus glanced to each other quickly, Capitolinus growing red with anger as Javenoli stared hard at him in an attempt to get the man to hold his tongue as the tide of faces in the room turned towards Camillus.

  “Both men have equal right, but there can be only one dictator. Surely, we must understand what plans each man may hold for our defence if we appoint them dictator and only then, with this information, can we make the right decision” Lucretis said, standing once more as he turned to Capitolinus and looked long and hard at him. “Marcus Manlius Capitolinus, what would you have us do to defend our city against these foes?” he asked as faces turned back to the rising form of Capitolinus and many voices called in agreement to ask what he would do.

  “The gods have spoken, Lucretis, as you have said. They say that the defender of Rome will be auspicious in saving Rome, again.” He glanced at the faces arranged around the room, all watching him with interest. “And you are right” he said as he stood tall and smiled benevolently “to ask which man the gods deem fit for this decisive task” he said with a nod towards Marcus. Heads followed his action to see Marcus nodding in response.

  “You ask what defences I would plan for our beloved city, weak as we are” he said with a frown. “Weak” he chided. “We are strong Lucretis. Strong in our faith, strong in our love of Jupiter, Mars, Minerva and all the other gods of the Capitol. We are stronger than our enemy and I have the strength given to me by the gods. With that strength, I will march forth with our armies and meet them in battle, tearing their hearts from their bodies with my strong hand, beloved of the gods, as they scream their hatred of our great city. With the love of Jupiter and the strength of this right hand, which saved Rome as the augury has said, I will take the fight to these enemies and put them to the sword. I have the background in campaigns. I have led successfully. I have saved our sacred Capitol, seat of the gods, from the barbarians. The gods have clearly chosen me for this task; the augury is clear.” As he finished a smattering of applause and a low cheer went around the chamber. Javenoli stood and clapped with those who had already been paid well to agree with Capitolinus’ appointment.

  Lucretis stood as Capitolinus returned to his seat. “And you, Camillus. What would you have the men of Rome do?” he asked his tone friendlier and measured.

  Marcus stood slowly, his gaze moving to Capitolinus as he did so. He noted the grey hairs, the eager eyes and the confident air the man gave as he sat and nodded towards him. “I thank you, my friend, for suggesting that I act as the voice of the gods at this time” he said with a glance to Lucretis. “I agree with Capitolinus” Marcus said as heads turned quickly towards him at his words. “I agree that we are not weak. I agree that we are strong in our faith for our gods and I agree that Rome will endure against our enemies.” Capitolinus was leaning forwards now, licking his lips and waiting for Marcus to announce his agreement that Capitolinus should be dictator. “But I disagree with his tactics” he said, as Capitolinus shuffled backwards on his seat and tightened his jaw, feeling the anger start to burn in his throat as he stared at the speaker. Camillus again, he thought as his anger began to grow and he saw Rome’s leaders fall under the spell of the many times dictator.

  “You ask what I would do if I were appointed” he said as his voice became slightly louder and authoritarian. He allowed a moment of silence to hang in the air as he perused the crowd. “Rome must fight this war with guile” he said as he took a long breath. “The defence of the city must remain paramount in our thoughts” he added as he turned to his right and looked at Javenoli. “And we must remember that we left the city gates open to the Gaul’s so that they could slaughter our families as they rode into our great city, something we cannot allow to happen again. As I understand the latest reports” he looked to the messenger who had read out the latest messages of enemy movements at the start of the meeting. “The enemy approaches in two marching columns. One from Etruria which marches towards Bolae where it will meet the Volscan army approaching from the South. We must intersect these armies and defeat them separately” he continued despite a rising murmur from Capitolinus’ paid men. “Yes Senators. To await the merging of enemy forces will be a disaster.”

  He raised his voice again “and we must also defend the city” he said as he looked out at the eyes which watched him. “So, I propose we split the legions into three. The first legion will march with me to defeat the Volsci. I would ask Gaius Servillius Ahala to be master of horse and ride with me.” Ahala nodded
at the words. “The second legion will march to meet the army approaching from the South East under Lucius Aemilius.” Men’s heads moved to look to the middle-aged man who sat straighter in his seat but showed no emotion on his stern looking features.

  “For the third legion, we must draft men of all ages, even those above the usual retirement age” he said as heads turned to each other questioningly. He raised one hand slowly as he asked for silence from the senate. “Gentlemen, there are barely enough young men of fighting age in Rome to fill both of the legions I have mentioned. Yet we have veterans not long past their fortieth year who are fit and strong and ready to fight for their families. These men will camp outside the city of Rome itself and be our rear guard. Never again can we allow an enemy to approach our gates whilst they stand open and undefended. These men, supported by a number of the new recruits, won’t have to endure the long marches that the fitter legionaries will have to complete. Yet they are strong, disciplined soldiers with experience. Men who have fought shoulder to shoulder with you” he said as he looked hard into the faces of the older men, many now starting to nod at his words. “Men you would trust to stand at your side when the enemy charge and to stand and fight to preserve their homes.” The words were sinking in and he narrowed his eyes as the final few words formed in his mind. “And the third legion will be led by Aulus Manlius” he said as people sat up and heads began to turn. As he spoke the name heads flicked from Capitolinus to his brother, who sat straight and stared at Marcus without any movement, his face a mask which showed no emotion.