Masters of Rome (57 page)

The
Dying Gaul
and the
Gaul Killing Himself and His Wife
were both rediscovered at the Gardens of Sallust just close by in the early seventeenth century; it's not beyond the realms of possibility that they may have been in the Gardens of Lucullus in Vespasian's time.

Messalina's excesses are a matter of record in all three of the primary sources; the question is why did she go so far and marry Silius? Even the normally unshockable Tacitus feels that his readers would find it hard to comprehend. Silius was consul-designate in AD 48 according to Tacitus – but not Wikipedia! At the time of writing, that is – maybe that could explain it and perhaps I'm not that far from the truth; perhaps, though, it was just madness. The details of their wedding, the orgiastic behaviour, the tubs of grapes, Messalina's thyrsus, Silius' boots, wreath and head-tossing and Vettius Valens climbing the tree and seeing a storm over Ostia, all come from Tacitus. He also tells us that it was two prostitutes, Cleopatra and Calpurnia, who brought the news to Claudius in Ostia.

Narcissus did keep Claudius distracted with documents to prevent him noticing Messalina's attempt to see him as he returned to Rome and Vitellius did remain ambiguous in his criticism of the villainy.

Vibidia, the chief Vestal, did intercede on Messalina's behalf causing Claudius to say that he would call for his wife in the morning and allow her to plead her case. It was Narcissus who ordered her execution having been given command of the Guard for one day because the prefects' loyalties were suspect.

Vespasian's part in Messalina's death is my fiction as is Burrus being the tribune who finished her – but more of him in later volumes. She did die, with her mother in attendance, in the
Gardens of Lucullus, the seeming justice of which both Tacitus and Cassius Dio make much of.

Lucius Vipstanus Messalla Poplicola and his brother Gaius Vipstanus Messalla Gallus did become consuls with the Vitellius brothers that year; they being cousins of Messalina is my fiction but I enjoyed the coincidence of their name.

Corvinus betraying his sister is fiction but I felt justified in doing it as he not only survived her downfall but also went on to become consul a few years later. I am indebted to Ridley Scott's fine film
The Duellists
for the idea of Corvinus conducting himself as a dead man.

Sabinus, Vespasian and Galba's part in changing the law to enable Claudius to marry his niece is fiction; however, the law was changed and the Senate, at Lucius Vitellius' instigation, begged Claudius to accept the match – a match that Pallas had proposed.

Tacitus tells us that Agrippina used the niece's privilege of sitting on her uncle's lap and kissing him – isn't it strange how the definition of privilege has changed?

Agrippina's second husband, Passienus, did die in AD 47 – perhaps poisoned by his wife – and left everything to her son Lucius. That the inheritance included an estate next to the Flavians at Aquae Cutillae is fictitious. Claudius did introduce three new letters into the alphabet but they fell out of use after his death; he also wrote a book on dice and was an inveterate gambler. He also did some constructive arithmetic that allowed him to hold the Secular Games.

Finally, Claudius did adopt Lucius Domitius Ahenobarbus – who became known as Nero – which was as good as signing his own son's death warrant. Sometimes you just can't make it up!

Once again my thanks go to all the people who support me through the writing process: my agent, Ian Drury, at Shiel Land Associates and Gaia Banks and Marika Lysandrou in the foreign rights department – although sometimes I think it should be renamed the foreign writs department. Those publishers know who they are and shame on them for their dishonesty.

Thanks to Sara O'Keeffe, Toby Mundy, Anna Hogarty and everyone at Corvus/Atlantic for their constant enthusiasm for
the Vespasian series; I'm very grateful. Farewell and good luck to Corinna Zifko in her new job.

As always, much gratitude and respect goes to my editor, Richenda Todd, for such a thorough structural edit, which improved the manuscript considerably, and also for correcting my O-level grade D Latin. Thanks also to Tamsin Shelton for the copy-edit, picking up so well on all the minute mistakes that I could stare at all day and never notice.

Finally, my love and thanks to my wife, Anja Müller, for listening to me read my work aloud and supplying so many great ideas.

Vespasian's story will continue in
Rome's Lost Son
.