‘Just the gods, Vespasian; and they were trying to tell you all your life that this is what you were destined for; you just never stopped to listen to them properly.’
‘I did; I just never believed them. Well, not until recently, in the last few years. Now it seems to have been blatantly obvious, and my parents knew it all along. As did Sabinus.’ At the mention of his brother, Vespasian fell silent, watching the dancing and holding his woman’s hand. He felt himself relax for perhaps the first time since he had displeased Nero by falling asleep during a recital for Tiridates, the King of Armenia; subsequently recalled from hiding by the Emperor and then placed in command of suppressing the Jewish revolt, he had had, since that time, no chance to let his mind rest and drain itself of angst. Yes, there was still much to worry over, especially in financial terms and the ongoing revolts, but now that he was here, back in Rome, supported by the Senate and the law, Vespasian felt secure; and it was a strange feeling and a rare one in Rome with its relentlessly competitive society. That sense of wellbeing flowed through his system as the music played and the delightful figures moved with elegance and poise so that, soon, his eyes began to rest and his head started to loll.
It was the door swinging open and the sound of feet walking with purpose across the mosaic floor that disturbed Vespasian’s contentment; he opened an eye to see his steward approaching with a serious countenance. ‘What is it, Varo?’
‘Princeps, Marcus Ulpius Traianus is outside waiting to see you.’
‘Traianus? But he’s with his legion in Judaea, surely?’
‘I apologise for not being clearer, Princeps, it’s his son who has been serving as a military tribune with his father for the past six months. He has a letter from Titus Caesar.’
‘You had better show him in, then.’
Varo signalled to a slave standing at the door who opened it.
In walked a youth of no more than seventeen, smart in a tribune’s uniform, round-faced and thick-necked with a prominent nose, a thin-lipped, straight mouth and the darkest, most piercing eyes Vespasian had encountered.
With a confidence beyond his years, the younger Traianus approached the Emperor of Rome, snapped to attention before Vespasian’s couch and saluted with the crispness of a thirty-year veteran prefect of the camp. ‘Princeps!’
‘Yes, yes, there’s no need for all that when I’m at dinner,’ Vespasian said, hiding his amusement at the earnestness of the lad. ‘You have a letter for me from my eldest son, I believe.’
‘Yes, Princeps.’ Traianus handed Vespasian a leather scroll-case and stamped to attention again.
‘Please, tribune, relax; there’s a spare place, recline and have some fruit and wine whilst I read this.’ Vespasian slipped the letter from the case and unrolled it.
‘Well?’ Caenis asked after a short while.
Vespasian looked up from the letter. ‘Well, my love, gentlemen, Jerusalem has fallen and the Temple has been destroyed. There is not a Jew left alive in the city and over a hundred thousand are in chains; Shimon bar Gioras, their leader, is being sent to Rome.’
There was a communal exhalation of breath at such momentous news.
Caenis pressed her hand onto Vespasian’s forearm. ‘But that’s wonderful.’
‘It is; I shall summon the Senate tomorrow and convey the good news and make it clear that I expect them to vote me and Titus a double Triumph.’ Vespasian paused and frowned and then looked over to the young Traianus. ‘Why did Titus send you, tribune? I told him to come himself as soon as the city fell and leave the mopping up to your father.’
‘My father is mopping up, Princeps.’
‘Then where is Titus, is he following you?’
‘No, Princeps; he’s gone, with Queen Berenice, to Egypt.’
Vespasian’s blood froze. ‘Egypt! How dare he? He hasn’t got my permission.’
But Vespasian knew full well that Berenice would not be concerned by niceties like that, as she was leading Titus into temptation. One glance at Domitian told Vespasian that he too understood just what was at stake: Berenice was showing Titus how easy it would be to make himself King of the East; she was attempting to pitch son against father.
Vespasian’s sense of security and wellbeing melted.
CHAPTER XVIII
‘AND THAT BRINGS me to our dispositions along the Rhenus and Danuvius,’ Vespasian said, his voice echoing around the Curia packed with senators who had heeded their Emperor’s summons. ‘Now that Cerialis has restored the west bank of the Rhenus to our control and the rebel leaders, Civilis, Tutor, Classicus and Julius Sabinus, have fled east and the incursions into Moesia and Pannonia have been repelled we have an excellent opportunity to reorganise our frontier defences in such a way that these outrages do not occur again. It is vital for the long-term development of the Empire that our colonists in those areas can feel safe to bring up their families in peace and therefore further Romanise those regions.’ Vespasian gave way with a sigh as for the fourth time that morning Helvidius Priscus got to his feet to make an interjection.
‘The Imperator seeks to gloss over an issue here, I believe: what about Civilis, Classicus, Tutor and Julius Sabinus? Not to mention the hundred and twenty-three other rebel petty chieftains who went with them into exile in Germania Magna; what about them, Conscript Fathers? Did they not revolt against Rome? Were they not the cause for much spillage of Roman blood? Did they not nearly succeed in splitting the Empire in two as the Imperator’s own son is currently doing in Egypt, parading in a kingly diadem with a Jew-bitch queen on his arm? A new Cleopatra. How much more blatant can he be?’ Puce with righteous Republican indignation, Helvidius Priscus cast his eyes about the chamber whilst adjusting his toga and posture to imitate the grandees of that period as they too railed against creeping tyranny. ‘Yes, Titus has sent plunder and captives back to Rome for the Triumph he and the Imperator are due to share in three months in June, but will he actually be here? Or will he have become the new Marcus Antonius and declared himself King of the East?’ With venom in his eyes he pointed an accusatory finger at Vespasian. ‘Perhaps that’s why the Imperator is unwilling to bring those Germanic and Gallic traitors to justice for rebelling, so that he can equally forgive his son for the same treason.’ He sat down, bolt upright and eyes forward with his nostrils slowly flaring as he sucked in huge breaths after his tirade.
‘Are you finished, Priscus?’ Vespasian asked in a mild tone mixed with a touch of exaggerated concern.
Priscus was in too much of an advanced state of indignation to answer.
‘Very well, I’ll take that as a yes.’ Vespasian cleared his throat as he looked down the rows of senators all awaiting his reply with eagerness; Titus had been the talk of Rome since news of his going to Egypt had reached the city six months previously. ‘Of course I don’t need to answer such accusations, but in this instance I will and I will take them one at a time. Firstly, the reason I do not punish Civilis, Classicus and Tutor is that they have accepted Roman hegemony and their auxiliary units have retaken the oath and are now fighting for us again and not against us. Four Batavian, two Tungrian, three Lingonian and four Nervian cohorts are already back in Britannia helping quell the Brigantian revolt in the north, and Cerialis, whom I have appointed as the new governor of that province, will be taking more with him when he goes, including Gallic and Germanic cavalry. If they’ve come to their senses, why upset them by killing their princes? Civilis is of noble blood, grandson of the last Batavian king; he is more useful to me alive than dead. The only one who will forfeit his life is Julius Sabinus, when we find him, as he termed himself Caesar and that can never be forgiven; the Lingones will have to suffer that or face further retribution. Does anyone question my thinking?’
There was a positive murmur from the gathering; with the exception of a seething Priscus, all present seemed to be in agreement.
Vespasian put up a hand to call for silence. ‘As to my son and the situation in both Egypt and Judaea: Helvidius Priscus,
a man of great principle, does have a point. However, he is mistaken. Titus Caesar did not seek permission from me to enter Egypt because the precedent for that was set by Germanicus fifty years ago when he, also the heir apparent in the terms of Augustus’ will, entered Egypt without Tiberius’ permission. He was not reprimanded—’
‘No, he was murdered!’ Priscus shouted in triumph. ‘By Calpurnius Piso on Tiberius’ orders; the act of a tyrant! Is that what you plan for your son?’
Vespasian struggled to keep his voice level. ‘The idea is preposterous; shall we confine ourselves to reasoned argument rather than ridiculous theory? Titus is in Egypt with my blessing,’ Vespasian continued, hoping that the unease he felt at the lie did not show on his face, ‘and he will be here for our joint Triumph in June; long before then.’ He tried to keep uncertainty out of his voice.
‘But what’s he doing there?’
‘I would remind you, Priscus, that the amount of booty that he has sent to Rome is more than this city has seen in centuries. Indeed, a shipment of top-quality male captives destined for the arena and the mines arrived only yesterday; that is not the act of a man who is thinking about rebelling. Titus took so much gold from the Temple that the price has halved in the East. Contrast this with the Jews beginning to try to buy their brethren out of captivity, which means the price of slaves has not fallen, due to the huge glut that has just come on the market, as we had originally feared one time last year, but, instead, has remained stable and is now starting to rise again. That’s what he’s doing in Egypt, Priscus, negotiating the sale of Jewish prisoners to Jewish delegations paying with Jewish gold from all over the Empire who are meeting in Alexandria because it has the richest Jewish community. He is making sure that the fanatics stay enslaved, living out short and miserable, but useful, lives in the mines or arenas all over the Empire, and that the women, children and less dangerous men are bought for a decent price and do not go back to Judaea but, rather, are dispersed throughout Jewish communities both within the Empire and in Parthia and Armenia as well. Some may even go as far as the Jewish settlements in India.’ Vespasian began to warm to his improvisation. ‘So you see, he’s selling slaves back to the Jews for twice the amount of gold that we could have expected because we took so much from the Jews that the price fell. I’d call that a much-needed act of genius which will, along with the rest of the plunder taken from Jerusalem, go a long way to balancing the budget. Now does that satisfy you, Priscus?’
‘I shall believe it when I see it,’ came the grudging reply.
Vespasian decided to waste no more time on the unsettling subject of his son. He had received very few letters from Titus in the six months he had been in Egypt and they had been vague in detailing his plans, although he had mentioned the idea of selling the Jewish prisoners back to the Jews. But more than that Vespasian did not know. His spies had confirmed that Titus had worn a diadem that he had received from the Alexandrians at various occasions both religious and civil, and he had been treating Berenice as his wife, a scandal to both the Greek and Jewish communities. Vespasian had written back, veiling his concerns about his son’s loyalties with entreaties for him to return to Rome as soon as business allowed so that he could take charge of the organisation of their Triumph; but still he tarried.
‘And now Conscript Fathers,’ Vespasian resumed, ‘if Helvidius Priscus is satisfied, I wish to return to the much more important subject of our borders. I will keep the number of Rhenus legions at eight, four in both Lower and Upper Germania. In the former, the Twenty-first Rapax will be stationed at Bonna and the Twenty-second Primigenia at Vetera where it will rebuild the fortress that was destroyed in the Batavian revolt. Novaesium will be the base of the Sixth Victrix, and the Tenth Gemina will construct a new camp in the north of the province. As Lower Germania was the centre of the Batavian revolt I shall boost the number of auxiliary cohorts in the province with the First and Second Civium Romanum, the Sixth Ingenuorum and the Second and Sixth Brittonum building new forts for them to garrison, making a total of twenty-seven forts in all with less than ten miles between each one. I think, Conscript Fathers, when you look at those dispositions you will feel that the province is well protected from attack as well as uprising.’
Most of the Senate, having served under the Eagles, saw the military sense in their Emperor’s thinking and rumbled their agreement; Priscus, however, rose to his feet.
‘What is it now?’ Vespasian asked, failing to keep the irritation from his voice.
‘What if we don’t feel that these dispositions are adequate, would it make any difference? Could we argue the point or is your word final?’
‘My door is always open to people who wish to offer me advice, Priscus; indeed, I made this plan for the defence of the Empire having consulted with many of this House who have served as governors of the frontier provinces or as legates in the legions involved. I myself have served in Moesia and Upper Germania as well as Britannia; remind me where you have served, Priscus; what is your area of military expertise? I believe you were a quaestor in Achaea, a tribune of the plebs and now a praetor.’
‘I served under Corbulo in Armenia.’
‘Then I shall consult you when I come to deploying legions to that client kingdom.’
‘But we have no legions there.’
‘Exactly!’
Amidst much sycophantic laughter, Priscus sat back down with as much dignity as he could muster, fuming at the manner of his put-down.
‘Now for Upper Germania,’ Vespasian continued. ‘Moguntiacum will remain a double camp for the First Adiutrix and the Fourteenth Gemina, which will not return to Britannia. The Second Adiutrix, newly formed from marines, will replace them in order to blood the new legion. Argentorate will house the Eighth Augusta, and the Eleventh Claudia will replace the Twenty-first Rapax at Vindonissa; the auxiliary cohorts already in the province will all remain in place. The Thirteenth Gemina and the Seventh Galbiana, which will now also be renamed Gemina, will garrison in Pannonia whilst the First Italica, Sixth Ferrata, the Seventh Claudia and Third Gallica will be stationed in Moesia. Since the concerted attacks that we have faced in that province, there have been calls for a full-scale invasion of the Dacian and Sarmatian lands across the Danuvius with a view to incorporating a province of Dacia into the Empire. Whilst I applaud the idea and can see its many advantages, I consider that now is not the time for such a venture and I will leave it to my successors to complete once the Empire’s finances are back in order. For now we shall hold our borders as they are but there will come a time when we shall again expand, out of necessity, for I believe that a stagnant empire is a doomed empire. Therefore once we have rested and the wounds of this civil war are healed we shall go back onto the offensive.’
This was met by a bout of patriotic cheering and waving of scrolls and the loose ends of togas.
Vespasian indulged the sycophancy for a while; it was his stomach rumbling that caused him to call for silence so that he could finish his round-up of the state of the Empire’s defences, his first and most important speech on the subject. ‘Finally, I would like to announce the creation of two new legions on top of the Second Adiutrix in order to bring the number up to twenty-nine. One will take the survivors of the Fifteenth Primigenia which was almost annihilated at Vetera last year as well as the more worthy members of the Sixteenth Gallica, First Germanica and Fourth Macedonica legions, all of whom will be cashiered for their disastrous performance and cowardice in the Batavian revolt. These two new legions, Conscript Fathers, will be called the Sixteenth Flavia Firma and the Fourth Flavia Felix and will receive their Eagles from my own hand.’
‘Vanity!’ Priscus shouted.
‘No, Priscus, that is not vanity. That is no more than my desserts having reached where I am; a legacy is the least a good emperor can expect and I intend to be a good and just emperor.’
‘A tyrant, more like.’
‘Priscus, even a good and just emperor has a limit to his patience, and min
e is approaching. Now, before I adjourn this meeting of the Senate I have one more announcement: on part of the site of the Golden House, I intend to commence the largest public building project since the rebuilding of the Circus Maximus. Estimated by my architects as a ten-year construction, the Flavian Amphitheatre will be Rome’s first stone amphitheatre and will be able to seat over fifty thousand people. And that, Conscript Fathers, will be forever my legacy.’
‘Vanity!’
‘He goes too far, Father,’ Domitian said as he and Vespasian processed behind their lictors towards the colossal stature of Nero at the heart of the Golden House.
‘He does, but at the same time he serves a purpose,’ Vespasian replied.
‘What? Making you look weak?’
‘In a manner of speaking, yes: in that at least I don’t look all-powerful; there is still room for a bit of dissent in the Senate.’
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