Josephus gives us a fantastic account of the Jewish revolt including the siege of Jotapata, his prophecy as to how long it would last, his cunning way of escaping death and his subsequent surrender to Vespasian and prophesying that he would become emperor. How much of that he embellished is up for speculation. However, he did become, firstly, Vespasian’s slave before being his freedman and taking the name Titus Flavius Josephus.
The father of the future Emperor Trajan was the legate of the X Fretensis under Vespasian’s command. Vespasian was wounded in the foot – or the knee, according to Suetonius – at Jotapata and the Jews did use sheep disguises to get in and out of the town and increased the height of their walls behind ox-hide screens.
The murderous in-fighting between the Jewish sects, both within Jerusalem and around the province, is attested to by Josephus. The various groupings of fanatics spent more time killing each other than the real enemy; and alas, as we have seen throughout the centuries, even to this very day, it was ever thus where religion is peddled by the ignorant and intolerant.
Tiberius Alexander, the Jewish prefect of Egypt, was the first to have his legions swear loyalty to Vespasian; that he did so because he owed his life to Vespasian is my fiction.
Mucianus did also support Vespasian, more than likely because he himself had no children and could not offer such stability. However, it is hinted that his interest in Titus was not irrelevant to his decision.
What Titus’ reasons were for going to Rome on Galba’s ascension are unclear; perhaps it was in the hope of being adopted. He did, however, turn back upon Galba’s death and went via Cyprus to hear what Venus’ oracle had to say about his future; the news was good.
King Malichus’ part in going to Rome and then to Parthia on Vespasian’s behalf is my fiction; however, Vologases did offer forty thousand horse archers to Vespasian so someone must have travelled east to see him.
Titus’ affair with Berenice is well documented and subject to much literature and poetry. Suetonius tells us of Titus’ behaviour in the East and Egypt and for a while it must have been a worry to Vespasian; he did, however, come back to Rome, leaving Berenice behind.
Sabinus coming to see Vespasian in Judaea is my fiction but he was removed as prefect of Rome by Galba and then reinstated when Otho came to power so, theoretically, had the time to travel.
Vespasian was said to have performed miracles in Alexandria; I have changed the location of them to the forum there to make it even more public. Whether they were staged or not we shall never know – although we can take a shrewd guess.
Vespasian going to Siwa to consult with Amun is my fiction; I also could not resist him coming across the army of Cambyses on the way – one day, perhaps, who knows, the sands might deliver it up.
As to his dying words, Suetonius gives us those and to me it shows what a marvellous sense of humour the great man had. That line is what drew me to Vespasian in the first place and is why I love him so much.
Robert Fabbri read Drama and Theatre at London University and has worked in film and TV for twenty-five years as an assistant director. He has worked on productions such as Hornblower, Hellraiser, Patriot Games and Billy Elliot. His lifelong passion for ancient history inspired him to write the Vespasian series. He lives in London and Berlin.
Also by Robert Fabbri
THE VESPASIAN SERIES
TRIBUNE OF ROME
ROME’S EXECUTIONER
FALSE GOD OF ROME
ROME’S FALLEN EAGLE
MASTERS OF ROME
ROME’S LOST SON
THE FURIES OF ROME
ROME’S SACRED FLAME
EMPEROR OF ROME
SHORT STORIES
THE CROSSROADS BROTHERHOOD
THE RACING FACTIONS
THE DREAMS OF MORPHEUS
THE ALEXANDRIAN EMBASSY
THE IMPERIAL TRIUMPH
THE SUCCESSION
Also
ARMINIUS: LIMITS OF EMPIRE
First published in hardback in Great Britain in 2019 by Corvus,
an imprint of Atlantic Books Ltd.
Copyright © Robert Fabbri, 2019
The moral right of Robert Fabbri to be identified as the author of this work has been asserted by him in accordance with the Copyright,
Designs and Patents Act of 1988.
All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise, without the prior permission of both the copyright owner and the above publisher of this book.
This novel is entirely a work of fiction. The names, characters and incidents portrayed in it are the work of the author’s imagination. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, events or localities, is entirely coincidental.
10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1
A CIP catalogue record for this book is available from the British Library.
Hardback ISBN: 978 1 78239 708 3
Trade paperback ISBN: 978 1 78239 709 0
E-book ISBN: 978 1 78239 711 3
Corvus
An imprint of Atlantic Books Ltd
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ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
As this is the final Vespasian book I won’t name names but, rather, I would like to give my thanks and heartfelt gratitude to everyone who has in some way contributed to the publishing of the series. Some of the people I know and some I don’t but I’m well aware just how important each part of the process is; so thank you all.
Now that I’ve come to the end of Vespasian’s story, a story that I started exactly ten years ago today, on 8 February 2008 – at 11.08 a.m., if you really want to know – I realise just how much I shall miss him; it’s been a fabulous journey and I’m so pleased, dear reader, that you came along for the ride.
Robert Fabbri
Berlin
8 February 2018 – at 11.08 a.m., if you really want to know.
Emperor of Rome Page 36