The End of a Dynasty

by David Adkins

  Some sections of the crowd were stunned and others yelled their dissatisfaction, for mercy granted by Domitian was almost unheard of. Aria stared at the Emperor in disbelief and did not remove her sword.

  Corelia was on her feet. “Release her, Aria,” she was yelling at the top of her voice, believing that if Aria heard her words she would obey them. I glanced towards Hylas only to see that he was doing the same. Aria still did not release her defeated foe and left her sword in position for the kill. I saw archers around the arena notching their arrows. One thing you could not do, was disobey the Emperor in front of sixty thousand people and live. If she killed Glyca she would fall under a flurry of arrows.

  “Release her, release her,” screamed Corelia.” She is not worth it,” she pleaded.

  I think that she must have heard Corelia. The drama that had lasted several minutes was ended as Aria reluctantly dropped her sword to the sand. Glyca rolled away and crawled away. She then managed to regain her feet and walk painfully towards the exit. Meanwhile, Aria stared at Domitian with hostile eyes and eventually followed Glyca out of the arena. Most of the crowd did applaud and cheer but I think that many were unsure how to react.

  Domitian sat down and it was obvious that he was furious. I wondered what Casperius had said to him. “That woman seems indestructible,” said Corelia. The next two gladiators were announced and entered the arena and Domitian simply sat in brooding silence; nobody dared speak to him, not even his great friend Manius Glabrio. I was not sure who he was most angry with. The contestants battled bravely but our attention was not on the contest below. I was sure that Corelia was as nervous as I was over the Emperor’s foul mood. One gladiator now had the upper hand and triumphed and the other was dispatched at the thumbs down from Domitian. I noticed that Aria had joined Hylas in the seating area and Corelia had noticed too.

  “Your majesty,” said Corelia. “May I go and join my friend for a short time to see how she is after her difficult contest?”

  “No, you may not go and see that bitch,” he retorted. “She almost disobeyed me in front of half of Rome.”

  Corelia’s voice was soothing. “She did not disobey you for she spared her opponent. She was just carried away with the fury of the contest. She meant no harm.”

  Domitian was not convinced. “You will not go and see her. You will stay here and that is final.”

  I stood up. “I wish to go and congratulate her on her victory. Is there a message I can give her for you Corelia?”

  “Tell her that I am relieved that all ended well and I will talk at length with her as soon as I have the opportunity.”

  I nodded and made to leave.

  “Parthenian,” said the Emperor coldly and I froze in my tracks. “Give the wretched creature Corelia’s message and be quick about it and then leave the Colosseo immediately and do not return tomorrow. It is about time you did some palace work.”

  His words made me anxious. “Have I done something wrong, your majesty?”

  “First you present me with a gladiatrix contest that only featured one gladiatrix. What might save you from a flogging was that it did have entertainment value. Then you spend most of your time chatting with Corelia like a love-starved youth and looking at her in a way I did not like.”

  Corelia interceded on my behalf. “He considered it his duty to chat with me while you were chatting with Manius Glabrio. You did place him next to me so what else was he to do? If he had ignored me you would have been angry with that.”

  “Just go, Parthenian, and I will see you at the palace after the games. I will be staying with Manius for the next few nights.” I did not like the possible threat implied in seeing me at the palace but I did not need a further invitation to leave the Emperor’s presence. I thought it safer to say nothing more to Corelia.

  Chapter 19

  I passed Casperius as I exited the royal box and we exchanged a few brief words. “We are both in trouble,” he offered.

  “What did you say to him that persuaded him to spare Glyca?” I asked

  “The only way I could save her was to threaten him a little.”

  “You threatened Domitian,” I was aghast.

  “Yes, it was probably a foolish thing to do but no more foolish than undressing Corelia with your eyes under the Emperor’s nose.”

  “I did not,” I denied the accusation.

  “You might not have meant to but that was how I saw it and that was how Domitian saw it, too. He is looking at us, Parthenian, so you had better go.”

  I felt Domitian’s gaze upon us and so I quickly headed towards the seating enclosure of Petronius. It seemed that I might be in trouble and so also might the Praetorian Prefect, for I was sure that Domitian would not take kindly to being threatened. I never expected to have something in common with Casperius.

  I made my way to the seating area that was reserved for Petronius. His rank as a knight and head of the gladiatorial school meant that he had a row of six seats but only four were occupied. All four occupants appeared to be in a state of shock which I am sure was reflected in my own countenance. “This is Castor, who is head trainer at my school outside of Rome in Aqueem Tuticum.” He turned to Castor. “This is Parthenian, who is chamberlain to Domitian at the palace.” We both nodded after the introductions.

  “Why have you come and not Corelia?” Aria asked me.

  “Domitian spends all day pawing her and will not allow her to leave his side even to come and see you, Aria.”

  “One day I will kill Domitian.” Her words were whispered but said with venom.

  Petronius gave her a disapproving look. “Watch your words, Aria,” he frowned.

  “Corelia sends you a message,” I said. “She said to tell you she was relieved that all ended well and she will talk at length with you as soon as she has the opportunity.”

  “I heard the voices of Corelia and Hylas, even in all that noise, urging me to throw down my sword and not kill Glyca; otherwise I would probably have done so.” She turned and smiled at Hylas.

  “Why did you fight Glyca on her own terms?” I asked.

  “I have been admonishing her for that, and for putting her life in danger when there was no need,” said Hylas with feeling.

  “I thought I could beat her easily whatever form our contest took,” she sighed. “It was as if I was drawn to fight that way.”

  “Hence her name the sorceress,” I pointed out but they all looked at me as if I was mad. I glanced nervously towards the Emperor’s box but he was occupied with Corelia.

  “What is it?” asked Hylas.

  “Domitian told me to leave the Colosseo immediately and not come back.”

  “What about the contest tomorrow between Geta and Medusa?” asked Petronius.

  “I am not to return tomorrow either,” I shrugged.

  “What have you done to upset the Emperor?” asked Hylas.

  “He said that I had presented him and his adoring masses with a gladiatrix contest which only featured one gladiatrix, and he threatened me with a flogging. Hopefully I will escape that punishment because he also admitted the contest did have some entertainment value.”

  “I could also be in difficulty then,” sighed Petronius.

  “I think he holds me responsible,” I reassured him.

  “Why did he force me to spare Glyca?” asked Aria.

  “I do not know.” I did not know exactly what Casperius had said to Domitian and so my statement was half true.

  “Will you visit us at Tibur soon, Parthenian?” asked Hylas.

  “That may now be difficult but I will try to find a way. Now I really must go for Domitian ordered me to leave the Colosseo immediately and I do not wish to be in further trouble”

  They nodded their understanding and I made my way back to the central aisle. From there I walked steadily up towards the northern exit of the great complex. At last I was back in the Via Sacra and I gulped in the fresh air and breathed a sigh of relief. It was good to be out of the cramped and h
eaving conditions of the Colosseo. In the street outside my tension eased though I still had plenty to be anxious about. I started walking towards the forum knowing that from there it was an even shorter distance back to the Imperial Palace. At least I would have a few days respite before Domitian returned to his royal quarters.

  It was good to be back at the Imperial Palace. For a few days it would be quiet and peaceful and briefly I would not have the Emperor’s wrath to worry about. I called first at the barracks and let Otho know of my return and informed him that I would not be returning to the Colosseo. He seemed surprised but did not ask me why.

  I then went to the office and let Drucilla know that I was back and would not return to the Colosseo. Like Otho, she was surprised. I explained that the gladiatrix contest for which I had been made responsible did not meet with Domitian’s approval and I had been sent home in disgrace like an errant slave. She cautioned me to be careful when the Emperor returned to the palace.

  Most urgent on my list was to report to the Empress, for I wished to make sure that I had her support if Domitian was seeking to punish his chamberlain on his return. I sought an audience with her and I was immediately granted one. I entered her chamber as she strode in from an adjoining room of her large quarters. She sat down regally on a couch and smiled at me. “You have returned early.” She registered surprise.

  I kneeled before the Empress. “I believe that I am in disgrace with Domitian,” I smiled.

  “So am I, these days,” she said in resigned fashion. “Sit by my feet, nephew, and tell me what has happened.”

  I made myself comfortable by her feet. “The gladiatrix contest between Aria and Glyca, for which I was responsible, was of a poor standard and Domitian was not pleased.”

  “Is that all?” she smiled. “Have one of these small plums for they are delicious.” She put a plum in my mouth.

  I ate it and removed the stone. “That is not all, aunt.” I had decided to tell her the extent of my misdemeanours. “He accused me of paying too much attention to Corelia and looking at her in a way he did not like.”

  “Were you?” she laughed.

  “I did not think so.”

  “Of course you were, nephew. What man can stop himself from admiring a beautiful woman, especially you, Parthenian? I must admit that Corelia is exceptionally beautiful.”

  “You are right, aunt.” I put my head in my hands.

  “Have you been behaving since I made you chamberlain?”

  “What do you mean?” I asked.

  “You came with a warning from Nerva that you drank too much and womanised too much.”

  “I have cut down considerably on drinking sessions since I arrived at the palace. You must have noticed that, aunt. I felt I needed to show authority as chamberlain and you cannot do that if you are drunk.”

  She nodded. “I have noticed. What about the womanising?”

  “There has only been one woman since I started this job and that was just a flirtation.”

  “I will not ask you who that might have been,” she smiled again. “I think you are worrying too much, Parthenian.”

  “Domitian was furious and threatened to have me flogged and I fear that he might do so when he returns.”

  “I think you are safe now, nephew. If he could have had you flogged there and then he probably would have done and so. You were lucky you were at the arena and not the palace. He is spontaneous like that; look at poor Maximus. He does tend to quickly forget minor matters but I will offer you as much protection as I can.”

  “Thank you, aunt,” I said and kissed her knee.

  “When will he return to the palace?” she asked.

  “In a few days time; he is staying with Manius Glabrio until then.”

  “I wonder what the attraction with Glabrio is, for it is surely not his wife, Livia. He has been spending much time there of late.” she mused.

  “His wife is not particularly attractive,” I agreed. “Have you been managing to avoid Julia?”

  She smiled. “Julia believes she is destined to be Empress. Her maid, Petronilla, has been saying that Domitian will make the baby his heir even if it is a girl. This is bad news for me, if true, for the mother of his heir will, inevitably I fear, become Empress and I will then have to be disposed of.”

  “Petronilla has an idle tongue and that will not happen,” I assured her.

  “No, it will not,” she said firmly as she put another plum in my mouth.

  “Is Flavia Domitilla or Titus Clemens or even their steward Stephanus in the palace?”

  She sighed. “They are not here. They all spend more and more time at Clemen’s other residence. I fear they are happier away from the palace.”

  I was sure they were. “Perhaps they are happier away from the Emperor’s moods.”

  “It is just me and Julia Flavia.” She pulled a face. “Drucilla is a good girl and always willing to chat with her mistress.”

  “She is,” I agreed. “I suppose I should get back to work, aunt.” I kissed her hand and rose to my feet.

  “Send Drucilla to me.” she ordered.

  I smiled. “I will.” I left her presence feeling rather more content. Her assurance that I would enjoy her protection on Domitian’s return made me feel safer.

  Domitian duly returned three days later and I was delighted to find that he was in a very good mood. I hesitated to ask him about the gladiatrix battle between Medusa and Geta for fear of upsetting his good disposition, but I did speak to Casperius on the subject later when I saw him in the gardens. “How did the gladiatrix contest between Medusa and Geta turn out?” I asked, feeling that I now had something in common with the Praetorian Prefect. We had both crossed the Emperor and we both wanted to survive.

  “It was a hard fought contest in which Geta from our Roman school eventually and unexpectedly triumphed. It was not a great contest but it was good enough to please the Emperor.”

  “Yet he seems in an exceptionally good mood,” I replied.

  He grinned. “The reason for his exceptional mood is that the sea battle in the Colosseo was a total success and the city will be talking about it for months to come. Thankfully it has taken his mind off our transgressions.”

  “It worked then, flooding the arena?”

  “It could not have worked better, Parthenian. The Colosseo arena was like a large lake as the water was pumped in quickly and efficiently. It was a touch of architectural genius by Rabirius. Two Roman galleys took on two pirate vessels and the ensuing battle was a visual spectacle and quite breathtaking.”

  “I am sorry I missed it.” I felt a little disappointed.

  “There was much great action and many deaths with screaming warriors falling from the vessels after desperate fights. Bodies were floating in the water which was turned a reddish colour from the blood that was shed and the Emperor loved it. The Roman galleys eventually won the day and the pirates were put to the sword.”

  “And Domitian wanted Corelia and Aria in the pirate vessels,” I muttered.

  “Perhaps the result would have been different if they had taken part or perhaps they would have fought in the Roman galleys. I could not see the Emperor letting his gladiatrix die.”

  “Perhaps you are right, Casperius.” I said as I walked away thinking of Corelia.

  In the euphoria that followed my transgressions were forgotten and life at the palace returned to normal. In fact it was better than normal, for apart from Julia regularly enraging Domitia Longina by taking on a condescending manner all was most peaceful. The main reason for this was Domitian’s absorption with his new project, which was major improvements to the Imperial Palace on a grand scale. He was continually locked away with his now renowned architect of sea battle fame Rabirius, mulling over details and plans. While he was so engrossed it was possible for the rest of the palace to rest easier.

  My relations with the Praetorian Prefect, Casperius, had improved since the death of Tero and Tero’s replacement Otho was, on the whole, much e
asier to live with. Casperius, however, never did divulge what he had said to the Emperor on that fateful day in the Colosseo. Glyca never returned to the palace and Casperius informed me she had disappeared, but that was not unusual for our sorceress. Drucilla remained a rock on which the whole palace, including me, relied and the infamous word Christian was never mentioned. It saddened me greatly that, though Domitian seemed to hold me no grudge, he would not allow me to visit Tibur or the gladiatorial school. I did countenance disobeying him but fortunately a keen sense of survival prevailed and I even judged the sending of messages to be too risky. So as winter approached I was left pining for Corelia with a vague hope that she might visit the palace, but that was not to be.

  Chapter 20

  Rome – Winter AD90/91

  The months passed and we entered Januarius, very often the coldest month in Rome and it certainly lived up to its reputation. We even suffered a fleeting snow shower but life at the Imperial Palace continued uneventfully and settled down into a matter of peaceful routine. I made a few attempts to persuade Domitian to let me visit Tibur but to no avail. Domitian, himself, made a number of visits there but adamantly refused to take me with him. I did risk sending Corelia a couple of messages which explained my absence and even pledged my devotion. I entrusted the messages to Drucilla who, it was now generally accepted, left the palace on a regular basis to visit her sick mother. I never received a reply but then that could simply mean that Corelia did not wish to endanger me, at least that is what I hoped. Corelia was never received as a guest by the Emperor at the palace, and so much to my chagrin the months passed by without me seeing the gladiatrix. I believe that the Emperor no longer invited Corelia to the palace because of the entreaties of Julia who became ever more influential. Domitia Longina lamented that it was years since she had had such leverage with her husband.

  I returned to my room one evening after supervising the servants at a banquet held by Domitian in celebration of the completed plans for the renovations to the Imperial Palace. It had been a prestigious affair with many wealthy aristocrats invited by Domitian with a view, on his part, to raising funds for his new project. It was attended by both the Empress and the pregnant Julia Flavia and even Titus Clemens and Flavia Domitilla were present. It had been a successful evening for Domitian because many wealthy men had committed large sums of money to his enterprise but I felt that they had done so more out of fear than anything else. It had been a hard night’s work for me and the servants, with the extra pressure of making sure that everything went well and without mishap. The clearing up was completed and I was more than ready to sleep. I relaxed in my chamber for the first time that day and pulled an extra blanket over me, for the night was uncommonly cold. In no time I fell asleep.