Enemy of Rome

IV

The great house on the lip of the Esquiline slope in Rome reminded Domitia Longina Corbulo of her father’s palace in Antioch: designed to be full of magical light and wonder, the rooms adorned with works of art and treasures from Asia, Africa and the East. The only difference was that she had felt safe in Antioch.

Walking along the pillared corridor in the villa gardens, she fought boredom as the toga-clad patrician beside her insisted for the fourth or fifth time that she could rely on his family’s protection. The years had made Titus Flavius Sabinus pompous and exaggerated the vanity for which he was famed. He must once have been considered handsome, she thought, but the strong features had blurred with age and his broad forehead now stretched all the way back across his scalp. Sabinus had a thick neck, wide shoulders and a conspicuous paunch that he carried in front of him like a basket of loaves. If he lacked the calm assurance of his younger brother Vespasian, and the signs of nervous stress were unmistakable, it was hardly surprising given his position.

‘As urban prefect I must be seen to be above politics,’ he explained, the thick lips pursing in a worried frown. ‘I am responsible for Rome and I take that responsibility seriously. I hope that whatever issues exist between my brother and the Emperor can be resolved without further bloodshed, but if not I will do my utmost to safeguard this city and its people.’

Domitia nodded gracefully as if she accepted the explanation without question, but she wasn’t sure she believed him. Sabinus’s main aim was to secure his family’s power base in Rome whatever the outcome of the Imperial struggle. He also had the predatory eye for an opportunity that was characteristic of all the Flavians. Vespasian’s decision to remain in Alexandria might be designed to keep the two branches of the family from meeting in combat, but if Vitellius showed any sign of weakness she suspected Sabinus would try to take advantage. Sabinus continued speaking, filling the unacceptable silence with words as was his habit. Domitia glanced over her bare shoulder.

He was still there, of course, three or four paces away, watching. Sabinus’s nephew Domitianus had appointed himself her protector on the long sea voyage back to Rome after her father’s death. No, call it what it was, despite the fact that Gnaeus Domitius Corbulo had taken his life with his own hand. It had been murder. Nero had murdered her father and left her an orphan. At first Domitianus had been like an adoring puppy, happy to be blessed with a nod or a smile, but all that changed when they reached Rome. Even when she’d married the elderly aristocrat Lucius Aelius Lamia, he’d continued to haunt her footsteps. After the wedding, Lamia had made it clear that the marriage was purely one of convenience. He’d cheerfully set off to take up his praetorship in Sicilia and left her to Domitianus’s mercy with instructions not to shame the family name.

Tall, pale and slim, with sandy, tight-curled hair, a weak chin and narrow eyes that never left her body, Domitianus caught her eye. His lips twitched. She flinched away and tried to turn her attention to what Sabinus was saying.

‘The Emperor,’ he grimaced as if the word was a betrayal of his brother, ‘has assured me that he understands and sympathizes with my situation. He is grateful for my support and the work I have done in past years.’ He turned to her with a resigned smile that made her like him more than she had. ‘As a former consul Vitellius knows the pressures of my position; the minutiae, the delicacy required when dealing with so many different personalities and classes. The provision of grain and the policing of the streets take up much of my energies, but in a time of civil …’ he hesitated, apparently not able to bring himself to say the obvious word, ‘strife, my responsibilities are multiplied. In many ways it was much simpler to command the Fourteenth when Claudius invaded Britannia. A man knew his place then.’

‘Then I will try to be as little a burden to you as possible, sir.’ Domitia bowed her head respectfully. ‘And you have the thanks of myself and my husband for your offer of protection in these troubled times.’ She imagined she could feel the heat of Domitianus’s fury at the use of the word ‘husband’. ‘I am sure he will insist on expressing his gratitude personally when he returns from Sicilia.’

Domitianus’s affection had grown into obsession when Marcus Salvius Otho ordered him to escort her back to Rome on the eve of the battle of Bedriacum. But when news came of Otho’s defeat it quickly became clear that obsession had been replaced by ownership. Domitianus assumed she was his for the taking, and all that was required was for her to recognize the fact. He still followed her around like a puppy, indulging what he believed were her needs, but now there were additional irritations. Little ‘presents’, compliments whispered just too low for Sabinus or his servants to hear, and the occasional inappropriate brush of the fingers that she met with a stare of outraged dignity. When patience ran out and word of the true scale of the disaster had arrived in Rome she’d screamed at him to leave her alone. He’d only laughed and said she was a typical woman, overwrought and prone to exaggeration. Sabinus suspected something, but had clearly decided that whatever it was was between his nephew and Domitia. But there had been times recently when the look in Domitianus’s eyes frightened her; moments, when he thought she wasn’t looking at him, when warmth was replaced by a diabolical rage, devotion by lust, and tenderness by the threat of violence.

Sabinus stalked off. A second later she felt hot breath on the back of her neck, and she wasn’t sure whether she heard the whisper or only imagined it. ‘You will be mine. It is only a matter of time.’

She had to get out of here.

But only one man could help her. And for all she knew that man was dead.

Aulus Vitellius Germanicus Augustus felt an ominous liquid gurgling in his lower stomach and fought to conceal the look of unease that was the natural result. His digestive system, so reliable for so many years, appeared to have become confused or unbalanced by the strictures imposed by his new eminence. He’d always been known for his gargantuan appetite and was aware men called him the Emperor of the Dinner Table, but it didn’t concern him. A man should enjoy his food, and if the consumption of it gave him a presence to match his appetite, then so be it. Nothing had spoiled his pleasure, until now. Who would have thought that after so many years of bequeathing vexatious decisions to those more able to deal with them, he should have managed to elevate himself to a position where the problems of the world were the sole province of a single, unlikely, and, he feared, singularly ill-equipped personage. Not that you would know that from the reaction of those in the Senate, who hailed his tormented, hard-won decisions as god-inspired works of genius. Yes, he’d managed to make one or two patently sensible changes. He’d earned the gratitude of his soldiers by outlawing the selling of furloughs and exemptions by centurions. The populace applauded his order to cast every astrologer and like charlatan from the soil of Italia. After Nero’s suicide, Galba’s murder, and the demise of Otho, the mob were happy with the prospect of stability, the games he’d promised, and bread in their stomachs. True, he had made mistakes. He should not have blurted out that Otho’s grave marker was a little tomb, fit only for a little man. In retrospect it was unfitting, had been said in anger at the trouble Otho had created, and he regretted it. Still, the Senate would support him as long as the army did, and the army would support him as long as they were paid — and as long as they were winning.

The thought generated a new spasm and he forced a smile to disguise the discomfort of the moment from the two men who shared the room with him in the great Golden House Nero had built to reflect his glory. Each was clad in the purple-striped toga of a senator, but worn in the distinctive manner, tied at the middle with the cinctus Gabinus, that marked a serving consul of Rome. Suffect consuls, it was true, filling a prescribed role for a prescribed period of time, but consuls no less. When they marched north, the fasces borne by their dozen lictors would carry the axe heads that proclaimed their right to put to death the enemies of empire.

They were the generals of his armies: Gaius Fabius Valens and Aulus Caecina Alienus. His greatest strength and his greatest weakness.

Valens was the elder and normally a man of frighteningly violent disposition. Thin and spare as an unsheathed gladius, blank-eyed, with a nature as vicious as his weaselly features, he was as feared by his officers as he was respected by his troops. Yet the grey pallor and pink eyes staring out from beneath drooping lids took the edge off the threat. He looked old; old and worn out.

‘A tincture with your wine, general?’ Vitellius suggested. ‘My physician can mix it up in an instant.’

Valens grunted his thanks, but shook his head. ‘It’s nothing. A flux that lays me low for a few days. I fear the waters of the Padus did not agree with me.’

‘They agreed with Otho less, I’d say.’ Caecina was plainly enjoying his rival’s discomfort. Ten years younger, he had handsome tanned features and an appealing nature that hid an ambition as great as his opinion of himself, which was enormous. Despite the setback at Placentia, where his desperation to outdo Valens had almost torn the heart out of his army, that opinion remained undiminished. Aulus Caecina Alienus was a young man on the rise. Vitellius had a suspicion he would not be satisfied with a consulship for long. He decided he’d feel more comfortable when the young general was on campaign, where his silver tongue could do less damage than among the marble columns of the Forum.

‘You are …’ Another rumble erupted in the Emperor’s stomach, this time audible to the two men facing him. He struggled to suppress it, only to release an involuntary fart on a scale with his massive frame. Valens looked horrified and Caecina was about to say something more dangerous than clever, but thought better of it. Vitellius shifted uneasily in his seat.

‘I apologize, consuls, but I too am feeling a little indisposed. However, I think we may continue.’ He called to his secretary, Asiaticus, hovering attentively by the doorway, to bring a map of northern Italia. The tall Greek produced a scroll and pinned it to the large mahogany table that dominated this corner of the Emperor’s personal quarters. ‘Vespasian, that low-born mule driver, has challenged the authority vested in me by the Senate and people of Rome. The legions of Syria and Egypt have declared for him. They are far away, but of greater concern is the support of the traitors in Pannonia and Moesia who would have fought for Otho. You are my generals. Advise me.’

Valens blinked. Surely it was obvious. ‘You must lead your army north at the first opportunity, Caesar. Whoever controls the Padus valley controls Italia, and by default the Empire. Choose your battlefield and draw the Balkan legions to you. They are Vespasian’s elite; seasoned troops hardened by years of fighting on the Danuvius. Defeat them and you defeat him.’

Vitellius frowned. This talk of leading and choosing battlefields perplexed him. Wasn’t that why he employed generals and showered honours upon them? He was no coward. A coward did not become Emperor of Rome. But he was prudent, and a prudent man knew his strengths. He studied the two soldiers. ‘How long will it take to concentrate our forces and reach the Padus?’

Caecina looked away and Valens sniffed. ‘Longer than it would have taken if we’d left the First Germanica with the Fifth and Twenty-first Rapax on the Padus as I suggested.’ Vitellius frowned at the implied criticism of his decision to bring the majority of his legions south to take part in his triumphal entry into Rome. The spectacle had been a masterpiece of might and dignity, but the aftermath little short of a disaster. Thousands of troops full of themselves with victory spread through the city taking what they wanted, setting up camp where it suited them and polluting the streets and streams with their filth. With them they’d brought disease, which had spread rapidly, weakening the men and their units. These required replacements, who were already in short supply because he had been forced to replace much of the Praetorian Guard which had still been loyal to Otho’s memory. The worst offenders had been the Batavian auxiliaries who had proved so ungovernable on Valens’ march south. Vitellius had been forced to send them back to their homeland where they would undoubtedly cause problems for the governor of Germania. Still, none of that could be changed. He held the other man’s stare until the legate continued: ‘A week to bring the legions together west of the mountains.’ Valens coughed. ‘Another two to reach the Padus.’

Vitellius looked to Caecina, expecting him to disagree, but the younger man only smiled. ‘I believe the general is correct in his dispositions, Caesar,’ he said.

‘Very well.’ The Emperor nodded decisively, setting his great dewlap jowls wobbling. ‘You, General Caecina, will rally our troops … here, at Narnia, before marching north to suitable positions in the Padus valley. You will also pick up whatever forces you can along the way.’

‘The marines of the Ravenna fleet?’ Valens suggested.

Caecina shrugged dismissively. ‘Is that really necessary? We have four full legions and the substantial elements of another six. What use are a few wetbacks?’

‘A few wetbacks of the First Adiutrix held the walls at Placentia.’ The younger man bridled at Valens’ unnecessary reminder of his failure. ‘And they took the Twenty-first’s eagle.’

‘You must do as you see fit,’ Vitellius said placatingly. ‘In the meantime, you, General Valens …’ Valens glared suspiciously and the Emperor hesitated, knowing there was no point in suggesting the old soldier take the rest he so patently needed, ‘will ensure that whatever forces are available are ready to march north, and aid my brother Lucius in creating a cavalry force that will hold the south against insurrection.’ He saw Valens’ frown deepen and cut him off with a smile. ‘Of course, you will complete your duties in time to re-join your legions before General Caecina departs from Narnia.’

Now it was Caecina’s turn to speak out. ‘So we are to fight as separate armies?’

‘You will have joint command and you will cooperate, as you did at Bedriacum,’ Vitellius answered smoothly. ‘As you said, consul, you have more than sufficient forces to defeat our enemies. Choose your ground with care and the outcome is not in doubt.’

‘And you, Caesar?’

Vitellius froze at Caecina’s question. Did he detect insolence? Perhaps, but the young consul’s smile seemed to rob his words of any slight. ‘I will remain in Rome to run affairs of state and ensure that the Senate keeps my victorious generals well supplied.’ He waved a plump hand towards the doorway to indicate the interview was over. ‘We will discuss the details later, but you have your orders.’

The two generals walked down the marble corridor and past the gigantic gold-leafed marble statue of Nero that still dominated the entrance hall of the Domus Aurea. Caecina stopped to stare up at the head, with its spiked sun rays forming a halo around the dead Emperor’s chubby features. He turned to face Valens. ‘Did you ever serve with Vespasian in Britannia?’

‘No. I was in Germania when Claudius invaded.’

‘But he’s a soldier, yes?’

‘I believe so.’

Caecina shook his head in mock despair as he marched towards the doorway. ‘And we follow a fat fool who will be counting wine barrels while we do the fighting and dying for him.’

Valens watched him go. He knew he should protest, would even be justified in shouting ‘Traitor’, but he was tired. In any case, Caecina was right.