The Turn of the Tide, page 31
part #7 of Soldier of the Republic Series
For a moment Flavius remained speechless as he stared at his youthful patron. Then abruptly he turned to look away, his expression darkening in disgust.
“You conceded the election before it had even take place!” Flavius exclaimed. “You allowed me and the others to believe that we had a chance of winning. You betrayed the trust of thousands who voted for you. That is disgraceful Sir. Why? Why did you not tell me?”
“I am sorry Flavius but I could not tell you or the others,” Scipio replied. “The deal I struck with the other families was done on terms of strict secrecy. No one was to know until after the election had taken place. Not even Tertia. I know its not a pretty sight but the end justifies the means.”
“You did not trust me Sir.”
“No I do trust you Flavius,” Scipio replied coolly.
“So why proceed with the vote? If you had already conceded. Why keep up all this pretence?”
“It would have damaged my reputation if I had officially pulled out at this late stage,” Scipio said looking philosophical. “The people would have taken that as a sign of weakness. It is better to be seen as a magnanimous loser than a man who conceded before the vote had actually taken place. But by conceding I have set myself up in a very good position for the next time - for the next elections. That was the prize. And when Nero fails as he will and the next vote comes along I shall win and go to Spain.”
“Goddamn you Sir,” Flavius muttered. “You went behind my back. That was underhand. You sold us out. So everything that I and the team were working for was for nothing. A sham. What if we had won in our own right? What if the people had placed their trust in you today?”
“Your work was not for nothing,” Scipio replied quietly. “I have learned a great deal from this experience. It has helped prepare me. You have helped prepare me Flavius. You and the team. So I want to thank you for that. Success comes from going from failure to failure without a loss of enthusiasm. One day I shall go to Spain to avenge my father and uncle. I am going to win the war for Rome. And it is not all bad for you personally either. Part of the deal, I struck with the other families involved appointing you as our ambassador to the Tin Islands. Like I just told you, I look after my friends. I reward them well. If you can make a success of this job - you will start to accrue your own political power base and reputation here in Rome. People will start to notice you. You could start to recruit your own clients. Think about that. Think about what such power and influence could mean. Think about the considerable benefits for you and your family Flavius that lie in store.”
“You and all the good patrician families of Rome are nothing but con artists,” Flavius snapped scowling at Scipio. “I have been let down before by powerful men. You are just like Trebonius, stringing me along with false promises. Getting me to do your dirty work while good friends of mine are killed for nothing. While my family desperately needs my presence and support. Damn you Sir. Damn the senate and damn the agreement you made.”
“Maybe you are right. Maybe we are just all con artists,” Scipio replied ruefully. “And I understand that you are angry. But the Republic needs men like you Flavius and the war will not wait. So, I need you to go do this job for me. Go to the Tin Islands as our ambassador. If not for me then do it for the Republic. The old wife is calling on you to do your duty.”
The Romans Flavius’s Family Agrippina, Wife of Flavius Atia, Agrippina’s mother, Flavius’s mother in law (deceased) Caius, Oldest son of Flavius and Agrippina Octavia, Oldest daughter of Flavius and Agrippina (deceased) Julian, Youngest son of Flavius and Agrippina Cassia, Youngest daughter of Flavius and Agrippina Sicounin, Julian’s Spanish wife Gallus, Cassia’s Gallic husband Little Corbulo, Julian and Sicounin’s baby son Little Daleninar, Julian and Sicounin’s daughter Little Corbulo, Cassia’s and Gallus’s first-born son Little Hortensia, Cassia’s and Gallus’s daughter Little Laela, Octavia’s daughter Little Mastanabal, Amia’s son
Friends of Flavius and Julian Amia, Victorix’s new wife, former wife of Mastanabal Victorix, Cenomani hunter and friend of Flavius Gallus, cousin of Victorix from Turin, Cassia’s husband Trebonius, Patrician patron, Roman spymaster. Magistrate Plato, Trebonius’s freedman and secretary Aemilia, Trebonius’s sister Lucius, army friend of Julian Gordianus, army friend of Julian (deceased) Manus, Julian’s commanding officer in Spain (deceased) Bion, army translator and friend of Julian Papiria, Roman agent recruited by Flavius (deceased)
Roman citizens, soldiers and commanders Archagathus, Greek doctor and Trebonius’s personal physician (deceased) Gnaeus Cornelius Scipio, brother of Publius Cornelius Scipio Publius Cornelius Scipio, Military Tribune and later Consul of Rome Publius Cornelius Scipio, the younger, Son of his father by the same name Marcus Claudius Marcellus, Roman general, known as the sword of Rome Titus Manlius Torquatus, Roman general assigned to command in Sardinia Tiberius Sempronius Gracchus, Consul of Rome in 215 BCE
Quintus Fabius Maximus, Consul of Rome in 215 BCE, known as the Shield of Rome Quintus Caecilius Metellus, Roman plebeian aristocrat and relative of Velio Velio, Roman land commissioner at Placentia Quintus Naevius Crista, prefect of allied forces, victor of the battle of Apollonia and Capua Quintus Fulvius Flaccus, Consul in 212 BCE, Pro Consul 211 BCE, Conqueror of Capua Appius Claudius Pulcher, Consul in 212 BCE, Pro Consul 211 BCE, Conqueror of Capua (deceased) Gaius Claudius Nero, ancestor of emperor Nero Lucius Marcius, Roman knight and soldier in Scipio’s army Caciro, young Iberian guide from Castulo Platinus, Scipio family lawyer Scoti, astronomer friend of young Scipio Davido, entrepreneur friend of young Scipio Gaius Laelius, soldier and childhood friend of young Scipio Aemilia Tertia, young Scipio’s wife - grandmother of the famous Gracchi brothers
Roman Glossary Acta, News reports Achaean League, the city states of Corinth, Argos, Sicyon and Megalopolis in the Peloponnese Adyton, small holy room at the back of a temple which was never open to the public.
Aemilii, Roman aristocratic family/clan Aesculapius, the God of healing Aesculapius temple, on Tiber island, Rome, dedicated to the God of healing and medicine Aetolian League, city states of Elis, Messene and Sparta Agora, the central marketplace Alpheus, god of rivers Amposta, modern Castell D’Amposta, Spain Aoos river, now known as Aoos or Vjose river, northern Greece and Albania Aphrodite, Goddess of love Apollo, God of healing and music Apollonia, Greek speaking city on the Illyrian coast, now known as Pojani, Albania Appian Way, road connecting Rome to Capua Apulia, region in south eastern Italy Aquae Appia, the oldest of Rome’s aqueducts Achaean league, Greek city state defensive alliance Arethusa, Syracusan nymph, water spirit Arevaci, Celti-Iberian tribe Argiletum, the street in Rome of the booksellers Ariminum, modern Rimini, Italy Arno river, still called the Arno and it flows through the city of Florence Arpi, ancient town in south eastern Italy Artemis, Greek Goddess of the hunt, the Roman goddess Diana Arx, the most northerly of the two summits of the Capitoline hill.
Asses, simple Roman coinage Atanagrus, capital city of the IIergetes, in the region of modern Lleida, Spain Atellani, Iberian tribe Athena, patron goddess of Athens Atrium, the open-living-space at the heart of a fine Roman house Aufidus, now known as the Ofanto river, Italy Aufidena, now known as Alfedena, Italy Augur, fortune teller, religious priest Bacchus, god of wine, liberation and a good time, otherwise known as the Greek Dionysus Baebulo silver mine, mine location near Linares, Spain Baetis river, now called the Guadalquivir Balearic slingers, slingers from the Balearic Islands Belli, Celti-Iberian tribe Beneventum, Latin colony, now known as Benevento, Italy Boii, Gallic tribe living in the Po valley, Italy Bononia, now known as Bologna, Italy Brundisium, a Greek speaking city in the far south of Italy, now known as Brindisi Brutians, ancient peoples living in southern Italy Calabria, region in southern Italy Calatini, ancient Italian tribe Campanians, people from the Italian region of Campania Candida, the official clothing of a candidate up for election Canusium, modern Canosa di Puglia, Italy Capitoline Hill, one of the hills in ancient Rome Capua, Campanian city close to Naples Carales, capital of Roman Sardinia, now known as Cagliari Carnyx, boar headed Celtic war trumpets Castra, fort Casilinum, stood on the spot where now stands modern Capua, Italy Castulo, near modern Linares, Southern Spain Celtici, Celti-Iberian tribe in southern Portugal Cenomani, a Gallic tribe in northern Italy, who were friends and allies of Rome.
Chakka, a small handheld mill stone to grind grain into flour Cis-Alpine Gaul, Roman name for the Gallic lands in northern Italy between Alps and Apennines Cispadana Gaul’s, Gauls living south of the Po river Cissa, small ancient town just north of modern Tarragona, Spain Clastidium. now known as Casteggio, Italy Clepsydra, a Greek time keeping machine, a water clock Cloaca maxima, the old sewage system in central Rome Cloacina, the goddess of cleaning Colline Gate, Rome’s most northerly gate Comitium, the circular public space right outside the Curia Hostilia in Rome Consul, highest elected Roman war leader and magistrate Corcyra, Greek speaking city on the Illyrian coast, now known as Corfu, Greece Cornicen, trumpeter Cornus, town on the west coast of Sardinia, now known as Cuglieri Cryptologist, code breaker Cremona, Cremona, Italy Croton, now known as Crotone in southern Italy.
Cumae, now known as Cuma, close to Naples Curia Hostilia, the Senate house in Rome Decimomannu, now part of the city of Cagliari, Sardinia, Italy Decurion, Roman cavalry officer Demeter, goddess of the harvest Diana, Goddess of hunting otherwise known as Artemis Dilectus, the conscription process by which Roman military tribunes would choose new recruits for the legions during the Republican period.
Dimale, Greek speaking city on the Illyrian coast, now near modern Krotine, Albania Discordia, Goddess of strife and discord Drepana, modern Trapani, Sicily Dugouts, canoes Emporiae, modern Empuries, Catalonia, Spain Epidamnum, Greek speaking city on the Illyrian coast, now known as Durres, Albania Equestrian, Roman social class, just below the senatorial class Equites, Roman cavalrymen Etruria, Tuscany, Italy Etruscans, tribe of Tuscany Factionalism, old-fashioned party politics and personal rivalries.
Faesulae, town of Fiesole, Italy Falacrinum, Roman village near town of Rieti Falcata sword, curved Iberian sword Fasces, the bundle of rods symbolising the power of the office of the consul.
Firedogs, a bracket support on which logs are laid for burning Focale, Neck scarf Fortuna, Goddess of Fortune/Luck Forum, central market square Forum Boarium, the ancient cattle market of Rome.
Forum Romanum, the ancient Roman forum Gades, Cadiz, Spain Garum, fermented fish sauce Gaesatae, Feared professional Gallic mercenaries, from north of the Alps Geronium, ancient town in Molise, Italy Gladius Hispaniensis, double-edged, pointed sword Grumentum, now known as Grumento Nova, Southern Italy Hades, the underworld Hamae, ancient sacred grove, only three miles from Cumae Hasta, Roman spear Hastatii, Roman infantrymen, formed the first line of a Roman army Herdonia, modern Ordona, southern Italy Hibera, modern Tortosa, Catalonia, Spain Hippocrates of Kos, father of medicine Hirpini, ancient Italian tribe House of Aemilia, Roman patrician aristocratic family IIergetes, Spanish tribe living around modern Lleida, northeast Spain Illyria, modern coast of Croatia, Montenegro and Albania including the old cities of Apollonia, Oricum, Dimale, Epidamnus, Pharos and Lissos Impluvium, basin set in the floor to catch rainwater Insubres, Gallic tribe living around Milan Insulae, apartment blocks in Rome Juno, Wife of Jupiter and queen of the Gods Juno Moneta, temple housing the state Mint Jupiter, Rome’s patron god Klepsydra, a Greek water clock Lacetani, Iberian tribe in northeast Spain Lares, the guardian spirits who protected the household.
Latinitas, citizen without the right to vote in the public assembly Latium, region of Lazio around Rome Lebbade, Punic cap Leontini, Lentini, Sicily Liburna, small, light and fast ships with a single rowing-bench and twenty-five oars on each side.
Lictors, attendants to a Roman consul Ligurians, tribe living around Genua, Italy Lilybaeum, modern Marsala in Sicily Llorca, located near modern Cartagena, Spain Locri, now known as Locri in southern Italy.
Lucania, region in southern Italy now called Basilicata Lucanians, ancient peoples living in southern Italy Luceria, Latin colony, now known as Lucera, southern Italy Ludi Consualia, the festival of the harvest.
Lusitanii, Celti-Iberian tribe living around Lisbon, Portugal Maniple, Roman army unit of up to 120 men Mars, god of war Massalia, Marseille, France Messana, modern Messina, Italy Messene, town in southern peloponnese, Greece Mount Eryx, mountain in western Sicily Narnia, modern Narni, central Italy Naupactus, now known as Nafpaktos, Greece or Lepanto Neapolis, Naples, Italy Nemesis, the winged goddess, the collector of dues.
New Carthage, now known as Cartagena, Spain Nola, still called Nola, Italy Okilis, now known as Medinaceli, Spain Optio, second in command of a maniple unit Oricum, ancient city in Albania Ortygia – the site of the original colony at Syracuse, Sicily Ostia, ancient port of Rome Paenula cloak, Poncho Parthini, city on the Illyrian coast, now known as Dimale, Albania Patrician, Roman aristocratic class Pella, historical capital of Macedonia Peloponnese, southern Greek mainland Persephone, wife of Hades, co-ruler of the underworld Pharos, city on the Illyrian coast, now known as Stari Grad, Croatia Picenum, region of Italy Pila, Roman spear Pisae, Roman town now known as Pisa Placentia, now known as Piacenza, Italy Plebeians, commoners Plebeian tribune, Magistrate tasked with championing and looking after the political interests of the common people Pontifex Maximus, the Roman High Priest Poseidon, Greek God of the sea Praetor, Consul’s military subordinate Prefecture, the administrative building housing the colony’s authorities and public records Principes, second line of Roman infantrymen Principia, Roman camp HQ
Pro-praetor, Roman magistrate, commander and official Pugio, army knife Punic, Carthaginian Quinquereme, heavy warship propelled by sail and five banks of oars Reate, Rieti, central Italy Revetments, banks to hold river water back Rhegium, modern Reggio, Calabria, Italy Rion, straights of Rion, Greece, western entrance to the Gulf of Corinth Robigus, Roman god of agricultural disease Rostra, a wooden elevated platform from where Rome’s magistrates would traditionally address the people Sabine country, region north east of Rome Saguntum, Sagunto, near Valencia, Spain Salapia, now known as Salapia, Italy Salaria, old Salt road Samnites, Italian peoples living in south central Italy Sandaracha, a gold coloured mineral from which arsenic dust was derived Saturn, God of plenty and wealth Saturnalia, festival of Saturn in december, comparable to Christmas Scorpions, bolt-throwers mounted on tripods Scutum, shield.
Sentinum, now known as Sassoferrato, Italy Sicyon, now known as Sicyona, Greece Signifier, officer who keeps a unit’s banner Sora, modern Sora, Lazio, Italy Spolia opima, Rome’s highest military decoration, Spoletium, modern Spoleto, Italy SPQR, Senate and People of Rome Strategos, Greek commander in chief Stylus or styli, Roman pens Sibylline books, the books of destiny Stoa, a Greek style covered walkway with stone columns supporting a high tiled roof Stratagem, a trick Stylus, iron-tipped pen Subura, slums in the heart of Rome Syracuse, still known as Syracuse, Sicily Tabula Valeria, painting in Rome depicting the Roman victory against Hiero of Syracuse and Carthage in the first Punic war Tarentum, modern Taranto, Italy Tarquinia, now known as Tarquinia, Tuscany, Italy Tarraco, modern Tarragona, Spain Taurini, Gallic tribe living near modern Turin Taurasia, Turin, Italy Terra Mater – the mother earth goddess, called Gaia in Greek Tesserarius, the watch commander Tharros, town in Sardinia Thrace, modern Bulgaria Ticinus river, modern Ticino Tifata, mountain above Capua, Italy Toga candida, specially whitened toga worn by candidates during elections Torc, Celtic neck ring, denoting high social status Tramontana wind, local wind that blows in the Apennines Trebia river, modern Trebbia Triarii, Third class of Roman infantrymen. The most senior and experienced class of heavy infantry Triplex acies, Roman battle formation comprising three battle lines Triremes, ancient warship Tullianum, Rome’s central prison Tumultus Gallicus, A state of emergency referring to a Gallic invasion Turma, Squadron of around thirty cavalrymen Umbria, Italian region of Umbria Utica, Carthaginian colony on the coast of Tunisia Velites, Roman light infantry - skirmishers and javelin throwers Venusia, Latin colony, now known as Venosa, Southern Italy Vestal virgin, female priestess dedicated to the goddess Vesta Via Aurelia, Roman road from Rome to Pisa, Italy Via Flaminia, Flaminian way, ancient Roman road Via Salaria, the old salt road, in Rome Victoria, goddess of victory Villa Publica, building where the censors had their base and where the public records were held. Stood on the fields of Mars.
Volturnus river, now known as the Volturno river, Italy Vulcan, god of fire and carpenters Zeus, Greek king of the Gods, Roman Jupiter
The Carthaginians, Spaniards and Gaul’s Gisgo’s family, five blood brothers and friends Gissa, Gisgo’s wife (deceased) Metzul, Gisgo’s son by Gissa Eliza, Gisgo’s daughter by Hanna Mastanabal, Numidian deputy commander (deceased) Xenocles, Greek mercenary commander Ablon, Iberian head of family Korbis, Ablon’s son (deceased) Turibas, Ablon’s son in law (deceased) Asha, prostitute friend of Gisgo in Carthage Caelina, Flavius’s ex-girlfriend and Punic sympathiser (deceased) Bostar, Punic doctor and friend of Gissa Jezebel, Gissa’s sister and Gisgo’s sister in law Donis, Phoenician sea captain and owner of the Punic Star Hanna and Arishat, friends of Gissa, fellow captives and priestesses of Baal Hamon Honorius, Roman double agent (deceased)
