The King of Rome

by Francis Mulhern

  “It is madness” said Menenius slowly to exaggerate his point. “Look at it out there. There’s nobody out in the streets to listen to you or any man we might send out there. We need to wait for the weather to improve.”

  Capitolinus glanced at his walls, his head turning slowly as a smile crept over his face. “If I cannot go to the people, the people must come to me. This house remained safe during the barbarian siege and it will be a safe-house for people to come and discuss their future. Within these walls and within sight of the temple of Jupiter they should know that I will be their champion and save them from the arrogance of Romans who are not their betters, as they fear. Were we not all the same on the Capitol Hill when we starved? They must know that they have the strength of numbers to change Rome now and forever. This house, the Capitol on which it stands, will be the centre of a new Rome. A Rome which I will help to build, and you will prosper, my friends” he said with a cursory glance to them both. He stood, his voice suddenly amplified. “Put up signs to say that all men who wish to be free from debts should come to my house, here, tomorrow and every day at mid-day. I will talk to them, however many come. We must continue to give people hope, gentlemen. With Jupiter at my side we cannot lose. Go, now, and tell everyone that tomorrow I invite all to hear me talk of a future without debt, a future in which we return to the visions of our fathers, here” he waved an arm towards his walls, “in the sight of Jupiter himself, I will defend every individual as I did on that fateful night when I saved the Capitol itself.”

  Sicinius nodded, whilst Menenius simply frowned. After a moment, both men stood and were led from the house. Capitolinus looked at the empty room, and then back towards the window. He strode across and pushed back the shutters, his eyes creeping up towards the grey sky. “Your plans are coming to fruition, lord Jupiter” he said as he felt the rain land on his open hands. “I will soon have control of Rome and we’ll bring the changes to make you the supreme god. Give me the glory I ask and I will sacrifice to you every day; your chests will be filled with treasures and the love the people have for you will grow day by day.” Outside, as if in answer, a slow rumble of thunder began to resonate across the sky. Capitolinus dropped to one knee as he stared in disbelief at the empty greyness above. “I hear you, lord. I hear you” he muttered in reply to the rumbling from the cold slate-grey sky.

  ********

  “As Consular Tribunes it is your decision” said Javenoli, his face impassive at the words of Cornelius Malugenensis, who had taken the role of chair of the meeting. “And I would be glad to reduce the price to four thousand per Jugera of land” he said, “as it is such a benefit to the people of Rome.”

  The tribunes, Marcus amongst them, all looked to their wax tablets, where they had been making notes of the discussions.

  “Let me remind you” Javenoli said with a look at each man in turn. “This is prime land. Land which has been farmed for generations by one of my clients who recently had to sell it to me as his only heir was, sadly, killed at Satricum. As you know I’m a fool for a hard-luck story and in this case, I’m making no more than five percent profit on every Jugera I sell to you. Yes” he said, blushing, “I bought it with my heart, not my head” he sighed. Marcus looked up at him, recognising the wily fox was trying to tug on the Tribunes own feelings to get himself a decent price. “But to help alleviate some of the problems here in Rome, this land is worth every pound of Bronze, every gold coin. Think of the men who could resettle there at the gates of our old enemy, seize the chance to build a new life, to pay tributes to Rome and become a new colony which will secure our borders for generations to come. Is it too high a price to pay for the safety of your families, my friends? Ah” he said with a sense of feeling, “family. Such a word brings joy to us all, eh” he added, as each man gazed questioningly at his sudden emotional outburst. “And” he continued, changing his tone instantly and catching two of the tribunes off guard as they still gazed to each other as they tried to understand his previous comment. “These men will leave the city with their own families, removing some of the anger for the lack of support the plebeians have been given by the senate that is currently being levelled at us all. Think, gentlemen, how happy they will be loading their carts, driving to their newly gifted land for their services to the state and taking their families with them to make a new life.” He sat back and placed his hands on the table, fingers interlocked as his eyebrows rose in expectation of an instant response from Malugenensis.

  Marcus turned to Cincinnatus, another of the newly voted Consular Tribunes, his features passive as he glanced at the wax tablet and then to Marcus.

  “Three and a half thousand per Jugera” said Malugenensis, his deep voice resonating around the silence in the room.

  Javenoli winced as if he’d been stung, his rotund face recoiling in pretend pain. He sucked air through his teeth and looked to Marcus, before turning to glance at Cincinnatus, whose eyes suggested he was very happy with this new amount offered even though it less than what they had both agreed to promote prior to the meeting. “Three, seven fifty” he said firmly. “I would make a loss otherwise” he said with pride in his voice.

  Cincinnatus spoke quickly, his face turned to Malugenensis, “I think we can agree to that, Cornelius.”

  “Agreed?” asked the chairman to each of the other five tribunes before turning to Javenoli and nodding his agreement. “The papers will be drawn up today and I’ll ask” he looked at the men, “Cincinnatus” he said with authority “to draw up the land rights for the new colonists. It is a momentous day, gentlemen” he said as he pushed a hand towards Javenoli to firm up the agreement.

  Shaking his hand vigorously, Javenoli stood. “A better day for Rome than for my personal finances” he joked as Marcus and the rest laughed at his jest. Marcus didn’t miss the glance between Cincinnatus and Javenoli which came as they shook hands. He wondered what deal they had brokered privately before the meeting, his lips curling at the audacity of the older senator and Pontifex.

  As they shook hands he looked at Javenoli and suggested “you appear more ebullient than usual.”

  Javenoli smiled at this and winked, something which made Marcus frown. A tilt of the head suggested they talk privately, and after a few moments of small talk amongst the group Marcus manoeuvred himself into leaving to walk back to the Capitol Hill with Javenoli, who had said he was attending a wedding ceremony within the hour and must leave promptly.

  The stones along the road were slippery and wet as both men walked back towards the Capitol, some fifteen minutes away. Guards strode ahead, the lictors of the Pontifex staying close enough to announce his presence to all citizens, but far enough away not to hear their conversation. “Something tells me that you haven’t quite lost out as badly as you say from that deal” Marcus said, his eyes staring straight ahead as he spoke.

  Javenoli remained silent but was clearly smiling at the words. “One has to make it clear that the toga is being ripped from his back to get a good deal out of Malugenensis. You’d think the man was taking every As out of his own fortune, not the public purse” he replied. “But, yes, you’re correct. I did buy the land at a competitive price, but only a fair price” he added quickly, his face turning to Marcus as he spoke. “I wouldn’t steal from the people, not like some consuls do in their term of office” he added with a knowing smile.

  Marcus nodded agreement, he’d seen many consular tribunes grow very rich in their one year of office. “And Cincinnatus was a part of your agreement?” he asked, to which Javenoli grinned more widely, his eyes glancing across with the crow’s feet of laughter splitting his features.

  “Ah, well, I did need someone on my side, Marcus. I didn’t think I could count on you to be paid a small stipend to support my claims” he added slowly, his mouth pursing as he glanced at Marcus with his heavily lidded eyes. Marcus didn’t reply to this, but did incline his head at the compliment.

  “And, my friend” he asked. “What was that about families you me
ntioned? It seemed somewhat out of place”

  Javenoli stopped suddenly and turned watery eyes towards Marcus, his face almost splitting with joy. “There is something I must tell you” he said as he dropped his voice into a whisper, his eyes glancing around at the quizzical faces of the guards and Lictors who had come to a halt as he ceased walking. “But, nobody, and I mean nobody else knows, so you must keep this a secret between us” he added cryptically, his eyes wide and absolute joy written across his face.

  ********

  Two weeks after the senate had announced the land grants at Satricum, Capitolinus was washing his face in a bowl of warm water in preparation for another meeting. He’d met with Sicinius and Menenius and the two plebeian tribunes had raised challenges to the senate for the meagre apportionment of land to the fighting men of Rome, stating that the grants were not enough for the lives lost in constant wars and that patricians continued to take more land than plebeians. Of course, the senate had ignored their claims, causing more people to flock to Capitolinus’ house as he continued to harangue the patricians for taking the lion’s share of any spoils from war. On this morning there was a modicum of sunshine, although the wintry weather was now well and truly embedded into the daily life of the city. Women wrapped in thick blankets carried water from the wells, men wore wooden, or leather, shoes as they carried out their daily business and the skies remained a menacing slate grey nearly all-day long. Capitolinus looked out from his upper floor window to see that the street below was bustling with people waiting to enter his house. He nodded appreciatively. Today was the day, he thought. Yes, today is the day. His teeth clenched in his jaw as he smiled. “Let them in” he called to his door slave.

  Soon the main room was bustling with men of all shapes and sizes, their chatter as loud as the dawn chorus of birdsong on a bright summers day. Capitolinus felt joy leap into his heart as he surveyed the group of men who had turned up again to hear his words. He clapped his hands and people turned to him, some holding wooden plates with grapes and dates as well as cheeses, others simply standing and chatting to their friends.

  “Friends” he cried as his hands rose to the air and he beamed at them all. “Welcome to my humble home” he allowed his arm to wave across the group as if supplicating himself to them. “Jupiter welcomes you too. I have completed the sacrifice to him prior to your arrival” he said as those who had been to the house previously glanced to the small wooden statue in the alcove by the rear door where a small silver bowl was filled with blood and two candles burned. “Please sit, sit” he motioned to everyone as he moved towards three chairs which were placed along the back wall, near the statue of the god. Menenius and Sicinius waited by the chairs and at his arrival the three men sat and looked out at the room around them.

  “let me start by saying that the senate have agreed to increase the land grants by another half Jugera for the good people of Rome…” At this the men cheered, some shouting extremely loudly as they punched the air; clearly the watered wine wasn’t watered enough, thought Capitolinus. He waved a hand and called for silence. “Your tribunes deserve credit” he said as he gripped Sicinius’ hand and raised it to the air, nodding for Menenius to do the same, which he did slowly, uncomfortable at the praise. Capitolinus nodded to Sicinius, who, in response, stood, and placed a hand on Capitolinus’ shoulder before he set off from the room, some prior agreement between them to be fulfilled. “You men” he said, now shaking his head, “you do not know how strong a voice, how strong a hand” he looked at his right fist as he spoke, “you have. The patricians give you paltry amounts of land and you cheer” he said with a look towards the corner where the cheering men had stood. “Yet for every scrap of land you receive you know that a patrician family takes another farm. How long will you, the plebeian class, remain ignorant of your strength?” As he spoke, his eyes fixed on his clenched fist, which he curled and twisted under his gaze. The room was as silent as a tomb, the air suddenly turning very cold. He noticed Menenius twitch at his words, but ignored it. The man appeared to be wavering in his love for Jupiter and their cause. He returned to his speech. “Even the beasts know that the many rule the few, the strong the weak.” He looked up now, eyes staring at him, hanging on his words. “Jupiter” he said, standing and causing those closest to back away slightly in fear at the invocation to the god. “Has spoken and he knows how many you are, how strong you are. The patricians trick you again, taking more than twice the land that you cheer about for their own families, for their own sons. Men who didn’t spill their blood at Satricum” he added with a deep sadness to his voice. “And you accept this” he said pitifully. “I have shown you, again, that if you give a display of anger against the patricians they always back down, as you have seen they have done in this case now” he added as he looked to the Menenius, the one remaining plebeian tribune. “They know the limits to which they can push you. You’ve heard me talk of a display of force” he said as he moved towards the rear door and picked up the statue of Jupiter and turned it in his hands. “A display against your debts which would see them change the laws to give more freedom to you, my friends. That is our next step. Without it” his voice rose now “you will be indebted to them forever, paying interest which never allows you to be released from their chains. How many of you have I loaned money to, without interest?” he asked, continuing without waiting for an answer as many heads nodded and hands rose to the air. He saw Sicinius slide into the door, his head nodded and Capitolinus smiled in response. “Yet I cannot continue to pay every debt for every man, as I would like” he said as he looked to the floor. “You must decide, gentlemen, if you have enough anger to rise and make a show of force against the debts that chain you, acting as one against your oppressors as I acted against the barbarians. Let the patricians see that you intend to use force and they will abate their claims against you. If you make a show of war you will have peace. That is the natural way of men. Here” he lifted the statue so that every eye could see it. “Jupiter embodies all the gods, great and small, here on the Capitol Hill. He knows your strength, my friends. You must dare everything as one, not as individuals, if you wish to remove yourselves from debts.” He stared at the men around him, fixing his eyes on Sicinius, who had the hungry look of a man who knew what was coming and desired it with every finger on his grasping hands. He turned back to the room, clasping the figure of the god to this chest, and smiled.

  ********

  “Brevo come out” called the voice of Regullus, his men fanning around the doorway. “You haven’t paid your debts and by the power invested in me by the law of the twelve tables, I proclaim your lands forfeit” he shouted as people began to appear from the doorways of local houses, some men with clubs already in their hands and prepared for violence.

  Brevo came out of his house, his face red with fury. “You cannot take my lands” he shouted. “You?” he snapped as he saw Cincinnatus himself standing with the group of men who had come to enforce the law.

  “You owe me, Brevo. Pay now or you’ll be arrested and your lands forfeit” he said with ice in his voice. Brevo’s family appeared behind him in the doorway and then began to spill into the street, spreading out to face the tax collector and his own men. “Don’t be stupid Brevo, the laws the law” called Cincinnatus to the group. “If you pay the remaining debt plus the interest now, I will go. I’m a fair man. You’ve had your chance to repay and you’ve failed at every ask.”

  “You know I don’t have it” snarled Brevo. His brother stepped forwards and waved a large knife at Regullus, swearing loudly about cutting off his debts if he stepped any closer to the house. This brought a small moment of laughter to the group, though Regullus simply shook his head and looked over his shoulder at Cincinnatus. The senator nodded in reply, at which Brevo tensed for a charge, which didn’t come, instead Regullus turned to the crowd and let his gaze connect with every person before he returned his stare to Brevo.

  “You have, under law, one other option Brevo” called
Regullus loudly as he glanced, again, to the crowd of onlookers, his hand taking a small slate from a pocket and holding it up as if reading from it, though in reality, he knew the lines by heart. “As a freeborn man and a man who has fallen on tough times you have the option to declare yourself bankrupt and to become a slave to the man to whom you are in debt. Such an option is written in the twelve tables and is the law, you cannot deny it. All your lands are forfeit, but your brethren may live according to the rules of the new owner at terms agreed with him. Otherwise you shall be sent to gaol and all lands given to the man to whom you own the debt, and all brethren shall lose the rights to live in these houses and farm these lands.” He looked up at Brevo, who knew the law as well as any of them and was shaking with anger at the words spoken to him. His hands came to his face and rubbed at his tired, red-rimmed, eyes.

  ********

  In his house on the Capitol Hill, Capitolinus bowed his head as he spoke “I acted as your champion, supporting your needs, and was clapped in chains and dragged to prison” he said, dramaticising his removal to the Carcer. “Yet I have returned, stronger, with the love of Jupiter, and with your love. I thank every man, woman and child who stood at the doorway to the Carcer and called for my release. I owe every one of you a debt. Yes, Jupiter is my patron, but the gods will never come down from their thrones to help me as you have done. No” he said as he turned quickly and stared at the open mouths in the room. “No, the gods will give you the strength to support me, not to leave me as happened with Cassius and Maelius who were turned upon by their fellow plebeians” he said as some men dropped their heads in shame at the mention of previous plebeian champions who had been turned against by their own people when the patricians had used the laws against them. “In every war you have been tested, men of Rome. In every war you have bested your enemies, you have shown the resilience of men who are beloved of Jupiter. Yet you have been content to be dominated by the few, the patricians who hold back your civil liberties and your rights, chaining you to debts for land that your blood has won. Now is the time to attempt greater things, men of Rome. For at every step of every challenge you, the people, have been successful. Yet, you are still looked down upon by the patricians. They act as lord over you all, though they are in fact few, and weak. What natural power do they have over you? None” he answered as he lifted the statue and looked into the wooden eyes of the god, painted into small brown circles with dark black centres.