Dramatis Personae

Romans often had a lot of names. Alphabetization here is by the most used. Asterisks indicate historical figures; footnotes add information where liberties have been taken with historical figures.

ABGAR: Throne-name recurrently used by kings ofOsroene.

(MARCUS OCLATINUS) ADVENTUS: Head of the Evocati (veteran soldiers who chose to remain in service). Later PraetorianPrefect.

AJAX: Former slave in the imperial Palace, became chamberlain to Emperors Didius Julianus and Septimius Severus.

ALEXIANUS: Son of Mamaea, paternity disputed. Later Emperor as Alexander Severus, 222-235. Alexander was also a nickname forCARACALLA.

AMALRIC: King of the Goths. Brother-in-law of Sigiward and Guido Maro.

ANDROCLES: Bookseller. Survived being exposed to lions in the Colosseum.

(JULIA) ANICIANA: Friend of Tullia Minor. Mother of Postumus Sempronius.

(CLAUDIUS CLEMENS) ANNAEUS: Christian Senator.

ANNULINUS: Chief of staff for Septimius Severus. Second husband ofPhiloxena.

ANTONIANA: Cook in household of Cornificia. Daughter of Cocina and formerly named Cocinilla.

(LUCIUS SEVERUS) APER: Cousin of Septimius Severus. Consul in 207. Father of SeveraAquilia.

APOLLONIUS (OF TYANA): Reputed miracle worker and teacher of wisdom, from whom several subsequent cult leaders claimed to trace theirauthority.

AQUILEUS: Scout in the unit of Titus assigned to the mission of Uranius.

(SEVERA) AQUILIA: Vestal Virgin. Daughter of Aper. Later wife ofElagabalus.

ARGENTOCOXUS: see KUGLAS

ARGUS: Soldier. Friend of Ajax and Castor.

ARTABANUS: Brother of Vologases VI, with whom he contested the Parthian title of King of Kings. Engaged his daughter to Caracalla but marriage did notoccur.

ARTAXERXES (Persian ARDASHIR): Son of high priest Sasan and grandson of king Papak of Persia. Later became the first Persian Emperor of the Sassanianline.

AUSPEX: Seer andjester.

(DECIMUS CAELIUS CALVINUS) BALBINUS: Kin to the Pompeian family. Protégé of Caracalla. Consul in 213. Later Emperor during the Year of SixEmperors.

BALBUS: see FESTUS

BARTHOLOMAEUS: Harbormaster and Christian priest on Lipara.

(JULIUS) BASSIANUS: High priest of Elah Gabal. Father of Julia Domna and Maesa. Grandfather of Emperors Caracalla and Geta, and of Swamia and Mamaea. Great-grandfather of Emperors Elagabalus and AlexanderSeverus.

(FELIX) BULLA: Former slave in the Palace. Notorious banditleader.

BURRANUS: Former Roman soldier, became an aide to Kuglas.

CALIXTUS: Funerarian to the Christian community under Zephyrinus, whom he latersucceeded.

CAMILLA: Wife and mother of two Senators Sempronius, both killed for political reasons. Grandmother of Postumus Sempronius.

CANDIDUS: Officer under Septimius Severus. First husband ofPhiloxena.

(LUCIUS SEPTIMIUS BASSIANUS MARCUS AURELIUS ANTONINUS PIUS) CARACALLA: Emperor 198-217, at first jointly with his father Septimius Severus and brotherGeta.

CASTOR: Former slave of Tullian family, became chamberlain to Emperors Septimius Severus andCaracalla.

CELSUS: Author, a prominent opponent of Judaism and Christianity. Grandfather of NoniaCelsa.

CHOSROES: King of Armenia. Hostage at Gordian’s estate. Father ofTiridates.

(LUCIUS FABIUS) CILO: Companion¹ of Septimius Severus, held multiple titles in his career including Governor of Gallia Narbonensis and Prefect of theCity.

CLARA DIDIA: Daughter of Emperor Didius Julianus. Mother ofCrescentina.

(LAETA) CLODIA: Vestal Virgin. Daughter of JuliusLaetus.

(TULLIA) COCINA: Former slave of Tullian family. Cook and herbalist. Wife of Magnus. Mother of Antoniana and Parvus.

CORNIFICIA: Sister of Emperor Commodus. Daughter of Emperor Marcus Aurelius. Second marriage to DidiusMarinus.

(CANNULIA) CRESCENTINA: Vestal Virgin. Daughter of ClaraDidia.

CRISPUS: Slave of the Sempronian family, then of Junius Severus, then of Postumus Sempronius.

CUNANUS: Caledonian interpreter for Uranius.

(MARCUS OPELLIUS ANTONINUS) DIADUMENIANUS: Son of Macrinus and Nonia Celsa. Later Co-Emperor218.

DIDIUS MARINUS: Husband of Cornificia. Tax farmer and PraetorianTribune.

DIO CASSIUS (COCCEIANUS): Author, historian. Protégé of Cornificia. Later Consul in229.

(AVITUS VARIUS BASSIANUS MARCUS AURELIUS ANTONINUS) ELAGABALUS: Son of Swamia, of disputed paternity. High priest of Elah Gabal. Later Emperor, 218-222.

EUPREPES: Record-setting charioteer for the Greenteam.

EVODUS: Tutor to Caracalla, Geta, andTullianus.

FABIA SERVILLA: Daughter of Fadilla. Wife ofGordian.

FADILLA: Sister of Emperor Commodus, and of Lucilla, Cornificia, and Sabina. Daughter of Emperor Marcus Aurelius. Mother of FabiaServilla.

FATHIKA: High priestess of the Maethi. Wife of Kuglas Argentocoxus. Mother of Wifathika.

FAUSTINA: Vestal Virgin, named for wife of Emperor Marcus Aurelius.

(POMPEIUS SOSIUS) FESTUS: Nicknamed Balbus. Bodyguard of Caracalla. Also the name of an author, on vocabulary in classicalworks.

(GAIUS AURELIANUS) FLAMINIUS: Senator, purported descendant of Consuls from the Republican era.

FLORINUS: Heretical Christianteacher.

FRIDA: Wife of Tausius, by whom she had Sigifrid and Linda, then of Sigimund.

(FLAVIUS) GENIALIS: Prefect of the Circuses.

(PUBLIUS SEPTIMIUS) GETA: Co-Emperor 209-211. Son of Septimius Severus and Julia Domna. Brother of Caracalla, who killed him. Also the name of a brother of Septimius Severus, lover of Tullius Primus andPaphluns.

(MARCUS ANTONIUS) GORDIAN (SEMPRONIANUS): Merchant and patron of literature. Husband of Fabia Servilla. Later Emperor along with his son Gordian II in the Year of Six Emperors, by the end of which his grandson Gordian III was the surviving Emperor, 238-244.

GUIDO MARO: King of the Quadi. Brother-in-law to Hilda andAmalric.

HEREWULF: Aide to Sigiward.

(CLAUDIUS) HIERONYMIAN: Legate of Legion VI. Governor ofCappadocia.

HILDA: Wife of Sigiward. Sister of Amalric. Mother of Sigibert.

HIPPOLYTUS: Author of theological works. Catechist to the Christians of Rome under Zephyrinus, later an antipope in opposition toCalixtus.

HOGEN: Gothic champion wrestler.

HORMOUTHIS: Native Egyptian representative on the city council of Alexandria.

(GAIUS FULVIUS PLAUTUS) HORTENSIAN: Son of Plautianus. Brother ofPlautilla.

IRIS: Slave of Plautilla. Secret Christian.

JULIA DOMNA: Wife of Septimius Severus. Mother of Caracalla andGeta.

JULIUS MARTIALIS: Son of Junipera. Protégé of Macrinus. [one of the most important characters and I managed to leave him out!]

JUNIA: Daughter of Junius Severus and Tullia Minor. Sister of Tullianus and Severa. Wife of Postumus Sempronius.

JUNIPERA: Former slave in the imperial Palace. Mother of Martialis.

(CAIUS) JUNIUS SEVERUS (LEPCIUS): Appointed Governor of Britannia but never served. Cousin of SeptimiusSeverus.

KUGLAS (ARGENTOCOXUS): Leader of the Maethi in Caledonia. Husband of Fathika. Father ofWifathika.

(AEMILIUS) LAETUS: Deceased PraetorianPrefect.

(BUCCUS) LAETUS: Cousin to Aemilius, Julius, and Maecius Laetus.

(JULIUS) LAETUS: General under Septimius Severus. Father of LaetaClodia.

(MAECIUS) LAETUS: Governor of Egypt, Praetorian Prefect, Consul.

LANGORIA: Friend of Junipera. Wife of Castor.

LIBIUS SEVERUS: Infant son of Tullianus Severus and Livia. Also the name of one of the last Western Roman Emperors, 461-465.

(MARCUS ANNIUS FLAVIUS) LIBO: Senator. Consul in 204. Father ofLivia.

LINDA: Daughter of Tausias and Frida. Sister of Sigifrid.

LIVIA: Wife of Tullianus Severus. Mother of Libius Severus.

(MARCUS OPELLIUS) MACRINUS: Brother of Macrus. Husband of Nonia Celsa. Father of Diadumenianus. Road commissioner, then Procurator of Egypt, under Septimius Severus, and Praetorian Prefect under Caracalla. Emperor 217-218.

MACRUS (OPELLIUS DIADUMENUS SEVERUS): Former bodyguard to Septimius Severus. Brother of Macrinus.

(JULIA) MAESA: Daughter of Bassianus. Sister of Julia Domna. Mother of Swamia and Mamaea. Grandmother of Elagabalus andAlexianus.

(TULLIUS) MAGNUS: Former slave of Tullian family. Husband of Cocina. Father of Antoniana and Parvus.

(JULIA) MAMAEA: Priestess of Elah Gabal. Granddaughter of Bassianus. Daughter of Maesa. Sister of Swamia. Wife of Marcianus. Mother ofAlexianus.

(VARIUS) MARCELLUS: Husband of Swamia. Procurator in Britannia and Numidia, Prefect of theCity.

(GESSIUS) MARCIANUS: Husband ofMamaea.

MARCIUS AGRIPPA: Former slave. Fraudster. Taxfarmer.

(FLAVIUS) MATERNIANUS: Deputy of Festus. PraetorianPrefect.

MAXIMIN THRAX: Soldier, famed for height and strength. Later Emperor, 235-238.

MESSIUS (EXTRICATUS): Senator. Consul in 217. Later PraetorianPrefect.

NATHAN: Jewish ethnarch in Alexandria.

NICOPHORUS: Prefect of Alexandria.

NJORDING: Poet employed by king Gundgravn of the Vandals.

NONIA CELSA: Granddaughter of Nonius Mucianus and Celsus. Wife of Macrinus. Mother ofDiadumenianus.

(MARCUS) NONIUS (ARRIUS) MUCIANUS: Eldest Senator. Consul in 201. Archivist of Roman ancient records. Grandfather of NoniaCelsa.

(SEPTIMIA) OCTAVILLA: Sister of Septimius Severus. Priestess of the ancestral spirits of thefamily.

ORIGEN: Author of theological works. Catechist to the Christians ofAlexandria.

OTACILIUS: Husband of Severa. Later father-in-law to EmperorPhillip.

PANDION: Charioteer. Prefect of theCircuses.

PAPHLUNS: Former slave of Geta the brother of Septimius Severus. Seer.

PAPINIAN: Prominent lawyer. President of Judicial Council. PraetorianPrefect.

(TULLIUS) PARVUS: Son of Magnus and Cocina. Officer in the Watch.

(VALERIUS) PATRUINUS: Procurator of the imperial fisc. PraetorianPrefect.

(PUBLIUS HELVIUS) PERTINAX: Son of EmperorPertinax.

PHAETON: see SIGIMUND.

PHILOSTRATUS: Author, noted for semi-autobiographical works and a biography of Apollonius. Protégé of Gordian and JuliaDomna.

PHILOXENA: Greek freedwoman. Former governess of Tullia Minor. Wife of Candidus, then of Annulinus. Procurer for Co-Emperor Geta.

(GAIUS FULVIUS) PLAUTIANUS: Cousin of Septimius Severus. Praetorian Prefect. Father of Plautilla andHortensian.

(PUBLIA FULVIA) PLAUTILLA: Daughter of Plautianus. Sister of Hortensian. Wife ofCaracalla.

(TIBERIUS) POLLIO: Name of two successive Governors of GalliaNarbonensis.

POMPONIA (MINOR): Daughter of Pomponius Liberalis. Affianced to Co-Emperor Geta but never married.

POMPONIUS BASSUS: Senator, Consul in 211. Nephew of PomponiusLiberalis.

POMPONIUS LIBERALIS: Senator, Consul in 204. Uncle of Pomponius Bassus. Father of Pomponia Rufina and PomponiaMinor.

POSTUMUS SEMPRONIUS: Son of Julia Anicia and the deceased Senator Sempronius. Husband of Junia. Friend of Tullianus.

(MARCUS CLODIUS) PUPIENUS (MAXIMUS): Senator. Later Consul in 234, and Emperor during the Year of SixEmperors.

(POMPONIA) RUFINA: Vestal Virgin. Daughter of PomponiusLiberalis.

(SEMPRONIUS) RUFUS: Juggler and magician. Prefect of theCity.

(LUCIUS) SEPTIMIUS SEVERUS (PERTINAX CAESAR AUGUSTUS): Emperor 193-211. Husband of Julia Domna. Father of Emperors Caracalla andGeta.

SEVERA: Daughter of Junius Severus and Tullia Minor. Wife of Otacilius. Also the name of Aquilia before she was devoted to the Vestals.

SIGIBERT: Son of Sigiward and Hilda.

SIGIFRID: Son of Tausias and Frida.

(PHAETON) SIGIMUND: Former slave of the Tullian family. Husband of Frida. Stepfather to Sigifrid and Linda. Brother of Sigiward.

SIGIWARD: King of the Southern Valsings. Brother of Sigimund. Husband of Hilda. Father of Sigibert.

SPACHSCUDARIS: see MAXIMIN THRAX

STALTICIUS: Plaintiff in case against Patruinus and theState.

STULTUS: Guard to Caracalla.

(JULIA) SWAMIA (spelled SOAEMIAS in Roman script): Priestess of Elah Gabal. Granddaughter of Bassianus. Daughter of Maesa. Sister of Mamaea. Wife of Marcellus. Mother of a son by Marcellus who died young, and of Elagabalus whose paternity wasdebatable.

TAIGHE SAAL: King of Taixalia in northern Caledonia.

TARAUTUS: Gladiator, famed for short stature and elusiveness. Tarautas was also a nickname forCARACALLA.

TENEBRUS: Ethiopian fighter.

THEOCRITUS: Dance instructor. Militarycommander.

TIRIDATES: Son of Chosroes. Succeeded him as king ofArmenia.

TITUS: Centurion assigned to cartographic mission of Uranius.

TULLIA (MINOR): Wife of Junius Severus. Mother of Tullianus, Severa, and Junia.

TULLIANUS SEVERUS: Son of Junius Severus and Tullia Minor. Husband of Livia. Father of Libius Severus. Friend of Postumus Sempronius.

URANIUS: Astrologer, mathematician, cartographer.

(QUINTILIAN) VITERBIUS: Lawyer raised to Senatorial rank.

VOLOGASES (Persian BALAGASH): Name of six Parthian emperors. Vologases VI was contesting the throne with his brother Artabanus at thistime.

WIFATHIKA: Daughter of Kuglas Argentocoxus and Fathika.

ZEPHYRINUS: Bishop ofRome.

1 Cilo was, so far as we can tell, the first to bear this title of comes Companion which was also acquired by Papinian, Macrinus, and perhaps others at this time, and subsequently became more and more widely used for those in imperial favor; from its usage by the Carolingians we get the title comte in French, that is count in English.

Prologue in Gaul

High-pitched screams from the general direction of the women’s quarters pierced the room where the generals were sitting in conference. This was an unwelcome distraction from the serious discussions about manpower allocations between the Rhine and Danube fronts. Septimius Severus, commander on the Danube, was vigorously opposed to any diminution of the forces under his authority. He knew of course that he would have to give up some, but was striking a hard bargain. Really, this should all have been decided by the Emperor, but Commodus Caesar, as useless as ever, had simply ordered them to settle this among themselves. One might even think that Commodus liked having his generals at loggerheads with each other. After some time-wasting exchanges by messenger, Severus was meeting them more than halfway by agreeing to this face-to-face in Lugdunum, which was a longer journey for him than for the Rhine commanders. He was regretting the trip already, and especially regretting that he brought along his very pregnant wife. Julia Domna, who was not the sort of woman to endure any suffering silently. She let him know about every bump along the road, and every unsatisfactory feature of her accommodations here.

A maidservant burst into the room, then abased herself nearly to the floor. "Sorry, rigi... she said, slipping in a Gaulish word that was stronger than masters, similar-sounding to the Latin for kings and meaning much the same. Lady Julia... water breaks... child comes!" Her Latin was poor but the message was clear.

She isn’t supposed to deliver for nearly a month, Severus said. We should be home before that happens. He was visibly irritated that his planned schedule was not being obeyed.

Sorry... now comes!

Severus waved vaguely at his personal bodyguard, a tall muscular soldier from eastern Mauretania Caesarensis. Big guy, go handle it. The bodyguard’s name, which meant chieftain of the Adoum people in his dialect of the Numidian tongue, was more than Severus could manage. When the two were introduced, the staff interpreter, a Greek who had at least a smattering of all the languages in the Empire, said the name meant he was a makros great man among his people, so Severus just called him Macrus or the big guy as was his way.

That big guy had made himself indispensable the past few years, but in the personal service of Severus, not of his wife. Still, he was not surprised to be called upon now. It was clearly correct for the maid to inform Severus at once, but equally clearly, the general could not leave his duties. The Mauretanian followed the maid to a room that men seldom entered, where a Gaulish midwife was tending to Lady Domna’s labors. He held the lady’s hand, and mopped her brow, through the hours of ordeal, uneasy about the degree of intimacy but understanding the need. He was greatly relieved when the baby boy came out alive, even if its first cry was weak. He was not ignorant about childbirth, and understood that prematurity was a cause for concern. We need to keep the baby warm, he said to the midwife, who was doubtless more knowledgeable than himself about the subject. Her friendly but blank look indicated to him that she had not understood a word. Bad, if baby cold, he tried in simpler words, miming shivers.

I have a caracalla which is too small now for my son, though too big for the baby, she replied in Gaulish. It was his turn to nod blankly. She tried her basic Latin. I go, I bring, you see. He held the baby, still fluid-spattered, while the midwife went out. Lady Julia was too exhausted, but did not appear to be in any danger. The midwife returned with a woolen cloak and hood, made for a child about two years old. On the baby it was ludicrous. The bottom was well past his feet, the sleeves hung uselessly from the sides, and the hood more than adequate to wrap around his whole head. He will grow, the midwife said.

It’s perfect, the bodyguard replied, then added, Good, good! in case she didn’t understand that word. He kept the baby bundled up and sat near the fire holding him, day and night, except when Lady Julia gave feedings. It did not appear that she would be the kind of mother to hold her children much. She was soon testily asking why a wet nurse had not been arranged. It would have been practically impossible on such short notice to find one, who would need to be willing soon to abandon all family and friends and move to Pannonia for an indefinitely long time. The only thing that was more difficult was to make Lady Julia understand this. It would be no good at all to hire one temporarily, just long enough for Julia’s own milk to dry up, and then be caught short. The bodyguard tried not to be argumentative with her, and the two of them tacitly came to an agreement that nothing which had passed between them, during the day of her labor or during her moody days that followed, would ever be spoken of again.

When the general was done with his business, he called in the big guy. I must go back to my province, but I don’t think it safe for my wife or child to travel. You’ll have to stay and keep taking care of them for a while yet.

It’s an honor and a privilege for me to do so, sir.

If anything should happen... It would be unlucky to say explicitly what might still happen.

I will see that everything proper is done.

Excellent. You must be the judge of when it’s time to come home, I know she can be bullheaded. I decide to trust you. I’m much in your debt, my little son may owe his life to you and to that blankie you got for him. No, don’t shake your head, I owe you, and I always pay my debts. Now I understand that your family rank highly, and govern the natives, where you come from? What, they are the local equivalent of Senators or something?

My ancestors were kings, before the Caesars came. He puffed out his chest a little. The Adoum may never have held much territory, but they were fiercely independent. My family was given citizenship by Julius Caesar himself.

We Romans don’t much care for kings. But surely your family should be considered equestrian rank. This was not as dignified as Senatorial rank, but above mere citizenship. I have the authority to recommend to the Censor that you, and all your family, be recognized as such. There is just one thing... He could not fill out the paperwork without asking the question he dreaded. What is your name again? Severus wrote down Macrus which was what everybody called him anyway, but wanted something more.

Aqelluy d’Yadumen.

Opellius...?

Aqelluy, he repeated more slowly. Severus just wrote it down the way he heard it. The big guy completed his name with careful enunciation, d’Yadumen.

Diadumenus?

Very good, sir.

Severus also added his own last name as an agnomen. It was an honor for a protégé to be allowed to use the name of his patron. So, Macrus Opellius Diadumenus Severus would be the official name. And, I will make sure that the document makes it clear that you are no new man, rather I am asking Rome to officially register a rank which your family has held for generations. Severus himself did not really care much about such distinctions, but he knew that others did.

If there was any name more pejorative than king in Roman politics, it was new man.

Prologue in Pannonia

One morning, Macrus went in to greet and dress Severus, as usual, but the general seemed in a pensive mood. Sit down, big guy, we need to talk. Macrus knew from this that it must be something serious, but it was a little while before Severus said anything more. Have you heard a japing poem that is going around the camp, that I trusted Annulinus with my province, but would not trust him with my wife?

Macrus was shocked. Nobody would dare say such a thing in my presence! Tell me who said that, and I will kill him for you.

Severus smiled wryly. Too many have said it by now, and I would not want to lose you in combat with half the camp. Some informer finally told me about it. There’s always one.

That informer was not being kind, to repeat such a slander to your face.

I prefer to know things. And they are not all wrong. I really should have left her with the Chief. I’ve known him twenty years, served under him and over him, and no matter what they say, I would trust him with anything.

I’ve known you seven years, and am honored to serve under you. Macrus was a little hurt by the implication that he would not be as trustworthy as Annulinus.

And you have earned all my trust. Really, I still owe you for what you did during... the trouble. It would still be unlucky to mention the premature birth outright. Who could ever tell what evil spirit might be listening for an excuse to do harm? I meant only that if I’d left her here with the Chief, there might not have been any trouble. But... you were very close to her during that time. Everyone sees how you love her.

I honor her as your wife.

But do you love her?

I honor her also for her own sake. She is a great lady.

I meant... do you find her attractive?

She is beautiful! But... I would never... He was not at all liking the direction this was taking.

They also say around the camp that the love you show my boy is like the love of a father for his son.

Macrus sprang to his feet. How could anyone say such a thing?

Utter foolishness, he looks nothing like you. That was not exactly what Macrus meant, but it was a relief to hear that at least Severus was not believing any of this rubbish. But see now, my wife is pregnant again. She said we need a spare child right away, and she wants to have her childbearing done with quickly, and as you know, what she wants she generally gets. And now, she says that she must return to Rome, that she might be attended at the birth this time by midwives she knows and trusts. But I know she really means that she must get away from all the ugly whispers around here. So, I cannot have any more of this kind of talk. I must dismiss you from personal attendance on me.

Will you always take care of my brother? His younger brother had been in the legions for a few years.

The little big guy has been serving honorably. Of course he referred to the little brother of Macrus as Macrinus. You know I always respect that. Severus was not quite understanding where this was going. The big guy saluted and fled weeping, without even waiting for his salute to be acknowledged.

They found Macrus Opellius Diadumenus Severus floating in a hot bath, with his wrists slit, a true Roman at last.

Book One

On Your Special Day

Book One: On Your Special Day

Book One

On Your Special Day

Chapter One

S he’s gone and done it, Macrinus Opellius said. My dear Caracalla, I hate to be the one to tell you such a thing, but it would be worse if it caught you by surprise.

The tall, ruggedly handsome young man he was addressing was originally named Lucius Septimius Bassianus after Lucius Septimius Severus, his imperial father, and Julius Bassianus, his mother’s father. But after Septimius Severus defeated Pescennius Niger and Clodius Albinus to take sole command of the Roman Empire, he changed his elder son’s name to Marcus Aurelius Antoninus Pius to honor, and associate himself to, the old imperial family. Weren’t all Emperors, past and present and yet to come, members of one big happy family?

Severus later made the Senate confer upon his renamed son the formal status of joint ruler. So, the correct way to address him was as the August One, rather than by either his old or his new name, or by the nickname Alexander which he tried to get his intimates to use. The common people used rather the nickname Caracalla after the tattered Gaulish cloak which he used to clutch after outgrowing it, even sucking his thumb, if rumor was to be believed, well after the age when a boy should give up such things. He was currently wearing a new caracalla, sized for his growing frame, as if defying anyone to find anything even the least bit amusing about it. Macrinus was the only person in the world who could get away with calling him Caracalla to his face, since he was now the keeper of the original caracalla, as the brother of the man who originally bestowed it.

Macrinus was also one of very few who understood that Caracalla actually hated to be addressed O August One which, to his ears, was only a mocking reminder that his father had not the slightest intention of ever sharing even a smidgen of real power. He could only express his rebelliousness in such little ways as clipping his hair very short, like a soldier who mustn’t give an enemy anything to grab onto. His father wore the more flowing hairstyle and full beard of a senior officer, who would never again have to worry about personally engaging in combat. The son’s hairstyle was an implicit claim to be more of a real military man, despite his father’s many famous victories. Of course, if father and son ever did go at it hand-to-hand, the smart money would bet on the father.

And what has Mother done? He had no doubt which she Macrinus was referring to.

Macrinus searched in vain for some indirect way to say it, but decided to be plain. She has asked the Senate to confer the title of Augustus on your brother. She plans to announce it at his life day celebration tonight. As a child, Geta had fallen deathly ill, and was despaired of, so his mother made a big deal out of the anniversary of his recovery, and repeated the ritual of soteria thanking the gods, every year. If Caracalla would rather that this had been Geta’s death day, he did not say so in the presence of either parent.

Caracalla was angry, but not really shocked. He looked down on Geta for being younger, envied him for his charming ways, but most of all, resented him for being their parents’ favorite. Maybe the Senate will refuse? This was a joke. The Senate never refused the August Ones anything. So, what? We’re going to have three Emperors now? Haven’t they heard of the saying that it’s bad luck where three roads meet? What if we give orders in three different directions? Well, in that case I know which one would be obeyed first, and which one last. He made no effort to conceal his bitterness.

Perhaps I could pressure Senator Flaminius? Macrinus had been placed in charge of road repairs, not a particularly lofty office but one affording him opportunities for graft, although he had to share the proceeds with Prefect Plautianus, who had suggested this job for him. The Flaminian Way was in need of widening and repaving, and some hills would be flattened to straighten some sections. The purported last survivor of the ancient gens Flaminia was anxious to have a statue of his ancestor where the road entered the pomerium, the formal boundary of the city. Naturally, the current Senator would be the model for the statue. Macrinus had already hit him up for substantial financial contributions to the road construction, but could perhaps still lean on him for some favors.

Caracalla said, If you think that will help. His tone said that he had no hope of that.

Macrinus understood. Should I fetch out the Getinus? As a boy, Caracalla had a doll with a wooden head and sacking filled with sawdust for the body and limbs. He asked Macrinus to paint the face of Geta on the head. Later, Macrinus caught him pounding nails into the little Geta until the sawdust stuffing started to spill out. Caracalla was embarrassed to be caught at this, but Macrinus just refilled the Getinus with fresh sawdust and sewed it all back up.

That was the time when Macrinus, though twenty years his senior, had shifted from being a caretaker to being a comrade.

Chapter Two

Philoxena was reasonably certain that the girl understood everything, but did not wish to leave anything to chance. She explained carefully again. Now you know that when Caesar enters you, there is likely to be some pain. Young Geta might not yet be an Augustus, but he had been given the rank of Caesar, and Philoxena never called him anything else. But you must not cry out or wince. Wait to make any sounds until he gives you pleasure, for he will. Caesar is quite proud of his ability to please women. He might be only turning sixteen, but he was far from sexually inexperienced. It would be a stretch to say that he had slept with many women, however, since Philoxena preferred to find him young virginal girls like this one. Only on the occasion of his own deflowering had an old experienced prostitute been brought in, to teach him what was what. Especially on the occasion of his life day, I do not wish to hear afterward that he has had anything but the happiest of times. The girl nodded.

The young man who was betrothed to her asked, And when will the money we spoke of be paid? He too did not wish to leave anything to chance. He was willing to give up the first night with his bride, for the right price, but was wary of being taken.

You will receive an enlistment bonus when you join my husband’s unit. This was in reference to her second husband. Her first husband Candidus had a meteoric rise under Commodus, promoted to senior staff officer in the crucial border province of Pannonia Superior, with an imperial appointment letter allowing him to retire, whenever he wished, to a judicial post in Roma that would give him Senatorial rank. But he remained in the military, as a high commander in the civil wars of Septimius Severus against Pescennius Niger and Clodius Albinus, until he was abruptly executed, on a ridiculous charge of plotting against Severus after he had done so much to make him Emperor.

Philoxena had guessed that her husband must have been a little too loose-lipped about a murder Severus asked him to commit and wished to keep quiet. She knew how to hint at things without saying them, and talked the Emperor into marrying her to Annulinus, his most trusted commander, a widower who needed a stepmother for his son. The Emperor admired Philoxena for her sneaky way with secrets, and trusted her with tasks which required that talent, such as this one.

Annulinus was in a coma now, and only a nominal commander. But the soldiers of his unit received special favors sometimes, out of imperial gratitude for the long service Annulinus had given him. In that unit, an enlistment bonus larger than usual is often given. Of course, she continued, that will not be nearly the full amount, lest it seem suspiciously large. The remainder will come in installments, as systematic overpayments for your father’s wares. His father was a supplier to the legions. After a year or two, you may receive a promotion to staff, with a healthy bump in pay, if you have shown yourself trustworthy during that time.

I shall be the most dutiful of soldiers, he said, puffing himself up a little.

She means, his more worldly-wise fiancée said, that we are not to breathe a word about this. Don’t worry, we will never say that we even saw the Caesar.

Precisely. If any child results, it is your husband’s child, and let there be not the slightest suggestion otherwise. Now young man, it is time for you to vanish. He slipped out the back entrance of this seemingly-undistinguished house into an alleyway, since it would never have done for them to be seen coming and going from the street. Philoxena led the girl into an atrium where Geta Caesar and his friends were convivially drunk. She was surprised that he was even handsomer than the statues and mosaics portrayed him.

She was a little afraid that others saw her presence, but none of Geta’s friends would talk to anyone she knew. Isn’t she lovely? Philoxena is always so good to me, he said. Philoxena abased herself nearly to the floor, and left. Now the girl was afraid that he might strip her then and there, to show her off to his fellows. But instead he took her by the hand and led her to a back bedroom. She started to take off her clothes, but he said, Why be so hasty? Here, have some wine. He poured a cup for her.

I... I don’t drink.

"Oh,