The End of a Dynasty

by David Adkins

She turned to me. “How about my loyal chamberlain, can you plunge the dagger into his despised frame?”

  “I would like to but I have never killed a man,” I replied hesitantly.

  “Have any of you ever killed?” she asked.

  We all shook our heads.

  “Well, this is a fine dilemma, for I lack a brave man with enough hate in his heart. I have spoken to Secundus and he is willing to withdraw his guards and turn a blind eye while the deed is done but he is not willing to do it himself. He does not even think that we can risk telling Norbanus of our plot.”

  “He is loyal to you Empress, and he must be used to killing so why will he not do the deed?” I asked.

  “The man has scruples and he does not believe that it sets a good precedent for the guard to be murdering the Emperor. The Praetorian Guard has always been very loyal. You three have access to the Emperor so it would have to be you three who do it. Preferably all of you working together, and if you each have a blade it will make it easier for you and you will encourage each other.”

  I was sure that Stephanus and Maximus felt the same way as I did. They also hated the Emperor but also like me, they were not assassins. “We would be caught and executed after committing the deed,” I pointed out.

  “The assassin would escape and never be found because he would not really exist. I pledge you that, and I pledge you that the household staff would never be suspected. It would be done when the Glabrio family are away from the palace and that would give us plenty of opportunity with the help of Secundus to cover up our involvement in the plot.”

  “Then what would happen? There could be anarchy or chaos or even civil war,” I suggested.

  “The Praetorian Guard would declare a new Emperor and the senate would support their candidate,” she answered.

  “Who would that be?”

  She smiled, “Your old employer, Marcus Cocceius Nerva.”

  “Nerva,” I gasped.

  “Do not concern yourselves with what will happen when Domitian is dead, for that will be taken care of. Your present concern is finding the courage to kill him, and never did a man deserve it more, but still you hesitate. My main fear is that you will not be able to go through with it. What we need is a professional assassin to join you. A man you could introduce into the palace as a new servant. He would be allowed to escape of course and we would pay him well for his services.”

  I marvelled at how cool my aunt was as she discussed the assassination of her husband. “I know a man who knows a professional assassin,” I offered.

  “Then you must speak to him and be quick about it for I fear that I do not have much time. If he will do the deed so much the better but if not then you three will have to do it. Do not breathe a word of this to anyone under pain of death. Do you all understand?”

  We all nodded.

  The Empress continued. “Parthenian will speak with his friend as soon as possible and then we will all meet again, hopefully before the Emperor returns from his sojourn in Tibur. For now you are dismissed and silence is the word.”

  Stephanus and Maximus filed out but the Empress put a restraining hand on my shoulder. “Who are these men you talk of, nephew?” she asked.

  “My friend is Hylas, the Head Guard at Tibur, and the professional assassin is his friend, Solanus Fuscus.”

  She nodded thoughtfully. “Go ahead and sound them out and let me know the outcome. If they will not get involved then can I rely on you, nephew? I fear that if we do not act first then my time in this world is drawing to a close. He will have Tertia as Empress and I will probably have to die.”

  “I will not let that happen, aunt,” I assured her.

  “Thank you, nephew, I know you will not let me down.”

  *

  The next morning I left the palace early for Tibur, along the now familiar Via Tiburtina. I knew I was going to have to be very careful for I had to make sure that the Emperor did not see me when I arrived at Corelia’s villa. When I got to the villa’s gates I was in a dilemma for I did not want the guards to see me for even that could place me in great danger if Domitian got to hear of it. A plan formed in my mind and I looked out for a likely assistant. I did not have to wait long before a shabbily dressed boy of about twelve years came in to sight. I approached him and tossed him a coin which ensured his interest. “I have a little job for you and if you perform it well there will be a few more of those.”

  “What is it, master?” he asked dubiously.

  “See those gates to that grand villa over there.” I pointed to the gates of Corelia’s villa.

  “I see them.”

  “Just go and give the guard a message. Tell him that you have an urgent and most important message for Hylas and that it is a matter of life and death. When Hylas comes you will whisper to him so that only he can hear that Parthenian is waiting for him a short distance away and then you will lead him to me. Can you remember all that? Do you understand?”

  The boy nodded. “I can remember.”

  “Go then,” I encouraged him.

  I watched as he went to the gate and spoke to the guard but they were much too far away for me to hear. The guard hesitated and looked uncertain but eventually left the gate and disappeared out of sight and the boy waited. Several minutes later I watched as Hylas came to the gate and spoke with the boy. The boy seemed to be giving him my message and it looked like my ruse was working. Hylas slowly followed the boy in my direction until Hylas saw me and speeded up to join me. I tossed the boy a few coins and turned to Hylas. “I need to speak with you urgently and privately.”

  “Yes, you must not be seen lurking round the villa. Let us go to the taverna.” We quickly covered the short distance to the taverna and we found ourselves sitting at the same table as the night when Tero had attempted to murder Hylas.

  “I am pleased to see you, Parthenian, for I needed to speak with you but you had better go first as the lad told me that it was a matter of life and death.”

  “The time has come to deal with the Emperor,” I said in a matter of fact tone.

  Hylas looked surprised. “What do you mean?”

  “He is running amok and must be stopped. Treason trials become ever more frequent and senators are disposed of at will and even members of the royal family are not safe. You said to me that I must be patient and the tyrant will eventually fall but I have run out of patience.”

  “So have I but I sense that something has happened at the palace to rile you into this extreme. What is it, Parthenian?”

  “He intends to dispose of the Empress, whom I serve and who has treated me so well. If I do nothing she will soon meet with death or be banished. I will not allow either to happen. He will act soon so I must act first.”

  “How do you intend to stop him?”

  “There are a number of servants at the palace who hate him and desire revenge for past grievances. I am one of them and we intend to murder him or have him murdered.”

  “What about the Praetorian Guard?” he asked.

  “Secundus, the Praetorian Prefect works for the Empress and will turn a blind eye.”

  “So the Empress and the Praetorian Prefect are in on this,” he whistled in disbelief.

  “It is true, Hylas. We all have our motives and my motive is to free Corelia and save the Empress.”

  “She certainly needs freeing, for this is what I wanted to talk with you about. Aria was bathing with her the other day and noticed the bruises. Corelia had done a lot less bathing with Aria of late and that is the reason. The Emperor has been beating her regularly. He is always sorry afterwards and begs forgiveness but it does not stop.”

  “Why does she put up with it? She could knock his head off if she wanted.” I was furious.

  “True, but if she struck back then even she could face execution or he would find some other way to take revenge perhaps, at the expense of her friends. The Emperor’s person is inviolate.”

  “It will not be when we have finished with him,” I raged.


  “I have been tempted to kill him here in Tibur for the last few days but that could destroy Corelia’s future and so Aria and I have had to restrain ourselves.”

  I had a thought. “I believe I can secure Corelia’s future once the Emperor has been assassinated. Let me talk to the Empress about that.”

  “Please do so. That is the word we have been avoiding, Parthenian, but who will wield the dagger and plunge it into his august body and assassinate him?”

  “We three servants have never killed and so we do not know for sure that we can do the deed. Secundus will turn a blind eye but will not do it himself. We need an assassin and you know an assassin.”

  “You mean Solanus Fuscus,” he mused.

  “Yes, he is, I believe, a professional assassin and he is your friend. He would be paid well.”

  “Payment would not be a factor with him and I am far from sure he would do it. He is a retired assassin and he is now living a more satisfying life with his wife Kotys in Aquileia. The days of killing are far behind him and I do not think he could be persuaded.”

  “And Aquileia is a long way and the situation is urgent,” I pondered.

  “I will do it,” said Hylas.

  “What about Aria?”

  “She would do it too, if you asked her. But we will not ask her,” he replied.

  “I did not mean that. You are happy with Aria and I would not wish you to endanger that.”

  “I will do it for Corelia. I would do anything for Corelia and so would Aria. We both love her.”

  “As do I, but could you do it?” I asked.

  “I was a Praetorian Guard and I killed the notorious Marcus Gracchus. I would have no problem killing Domitian. If ever a man deserved to die it is him.”

  “I just do not think it fair to ask this of you,” I said, shaking my head.

  “Who are the servants who will help?”

  “They are Stephanus who bears him an enormous grudge and Maximus who he beats regularly. The three of us had looked to do the deed but not one of us has ever killed.”

  “I see, Parthenian. How about this? Get me into the palace and the four of us will go to Domitian together and if Secundus has kept his word and he is not guarded then the four of us will kill him. We will all carry daggers.”

  “That is a plan and you can be a new servant,” I agreed.

  “How can we be sure that we will not be arrested afterwards?”

  “The Empress will arrange that. We are just servants. The mysterious assassin will get clean away.”

  “Can you trust her and the Praetorian Prefect,” he asked.

  “I trust the Empress with my life, she is my aunt.” I had never confided this to anyone.

  He gasped. “Your aunt, Parthenian, but that means you are a member of the royal family.”

  “A member of a disgraced branch of the royal family. This must be our secret Hylas. I can trust her and Secundus works for her.”

  “Then we will do it. How long before we act?”

  I thought about this. “The Emperor is currently in Tibur and we do not know when he will return to the palace. It must happen as soon as possible after his return and when the Glabrio family are visiting their other residence. It will be much easier if they are not there.”

  “He seems ensconced with Corelia at the moment.” Hylas spat out the words with distaste and they made me feel sick in my stomach when I thought how he had beaten her.

  “He has to leave Tibur first but I will get word to you when you must come to the palace.”

  “Make the arrangements with your aunt and I will be ready when the summons arrives,” he said.

  I raised my glass of wine. “To the freedom of Corelia,” I said enthusiastically.

  “To the freedom of Corelia,” he responded with feeling.

  Chapter 28

  We four conspirators met again as soon as I returned to the Imperial Palace. The Empress addressed her three servants and we bowed in respect of her status for we were now totally committed to working for her in this dangerous scheme. “Do you have anything to report?” she asked.

  “It is arranged,” I replied. “If you are all agreeable this is what we will do.”

  They all listened intently and somewhat nervously as I addressed the Empress. “Your husband will soon return from Tibur and when the Glabrio family visit their other residence, as they frequently do, we will act. It will be easier if Domitian is alone in the palace. I have recruited the aid of a person who will be our insurance if your servants cannot do the deed. He will be recruited as a new servant and the four of us will present ourselves to the Emperor on some pretext which we will work on. We will have daggers concealed about our persons and, if possible, we will all stab the Emperor for it is better that way. The new servant will make sure that the deed is definitely done. I then propose that we leave the body for a short time and then arrange for it to be discovered by another servant, the Praetorian Guard or even one of us. The assassin, it will be assumed, has got away after perpetrating the foul deed. Perhaps Empress you will make sure that no further enquiries entail and that we are never suspected.”

  She looked thoughtful. “I am sure I can guarantee your safety. Can this new servant be trusted?”

  “He can but I will not divulge his identity.”

  “As you wish, Parthenian,” she agreed.

  “And Secundus will not search for the murderers?”

  “He will not for he will be too busy declaring the new Emperor.” She smiled broadly.

  “Then we wait for the right time to act,” I said.

  She turned to the other two conspirators. “Do you both agree on this course of action?”

  “I do,” said Stephanus and the man sounded positively enthusiastic. It would be revenge for the death of Clemens and the banishment of Flavia Domitilla.

  Maximus nodded but he looked worried. “It will go according to plan and that will mean no more beatings,” I assured him.

  “You may go.” The Empress addressed Stephanus and Maximus, and then when they had left she turned to me. “I make no promises yet, Parthenian, but if we are successful I will be saved and your future will be secure. Now join the others and talk to me regularly.”

  I knelt and then left. Now we had to wait.

  *

  The Glabrios returned to the palace a few days later and Domitian returned from Tibur the day after that. My main concern was that Domitian was timing his trips to Tibur when the Glabrio family were at their private residence. He now had Tertia strutting around the palace like an Empress in waiting though she did, at first, look a little uncomfortable in the role but now she was growing into it. Domitian spent most of his time either checking with Secundus on his personal security, or in bed with the beautiful Tertia. A couple of weeks passed by and then I was called into his presence.

  I knelt before the Emperor and his aristocratic concubine and then stood up to receive instructions. He smiled at me. “Manius and his family will leave the palace tomorrow and will not return for a few weeks, and I will go to Tibur in a few days time though I am not sure when I will return. While I am away I want you to dispose of Stephanus and find a replacement.”

  “Why is that, your majesty?” I inquired. I was also not sure of what he meant when he said dispose.

  “His surly attitude is bad enough but today it almost bordered on subordination.”

  “What did he do?” I asked politely, fearing that my attitude might also be judged.

  “He does not give Tertia enough respect. He seems to sneer at her as if comparing her with his previous mistress, Flavia Domitilla, and so I asked him to bow down and kiss her slipper. I thought for one moment he was going to refuse. Well I cannot put up with such an attitude from one of my servants so dispose of him.”

  “What do you mean dispose of him?”

  “Get him out of the palace and out of my sight, or better still have him killed. I do not care what you do but just get rid of him and then find me a repl
acement, preferably someone who will have a bit more respect for their superiors.”

  “I will do that, your majesty.” I left thinking that the responsibilities of a chamberlain grow ever wider.

  I passed Stephanus in the corridor and he was fuming. “Do you know what he made me do today? He made me kiss the whore’s feet and then later he kicked Maximus to show off to her.”

  “He told me that you had to kiss her slipper and had been reluctant and then he instructed me to get rid of you because you did not show Tertia enough respect.”

  “Get rid of me?” He paled.

  “Preferably have you killed were his words, but perhaps it will not be you that is murdered. The Glabrios are leaving the palace for a couple of weeks. The time has come.”

  I informed the Empress that the moment we have all been waiting for will soon arrive. I told Maximus and Stephanus to be ready to act and I sent Drucilla to Tibur with a message for Hylas.

  Summer was passing into autumn and the intense heat was being replaced by pleasant, warm sunshine when on a mid September afternoon Hylas arrived at the Imperial Palace. I settled him into a spare room in the servants’ quarters and then in the early evening I went to see the Empress one last time to let her know that we were ready.

  I fell to my knees and bowed low. “Empress, our insurance has arrived and we await your final instruction.”

  She raised me up and kissed my cheek. “Nephew, you have been nothing but loyal to me since you arrived at the palace. I expect one last act of loyalty from you, and for that I have arranged that you will be richly rewarded.”

  “Aunt, serving you is enough reward.”

  She smiled. “When Domitian goes to bed alone this evening he will see that the guards are posted outside his room as usual. When the servants bring him a late breakfast the next morning those guards will have dispersed. Take him his breakfast and take his life. The gods have decreed that the Emperor will die tomorrow. The Goddess Minerva has ordained that he will die and become a God and I will see to that detail. The Flavian Dynasty ends tomorrow.”

  “You will be able to stay on at the palace?” I asked.