New Senators

Three senators will join the Senate tomorrow.

LUCIUS AEMILIUS PAULLUS (Mark Crowley) is the elder brother of Marcus Aemilius Lepidus. In 63, he brought formal charges of violence (vis) against Catiline; and he was one of the sponsors of the bill to recall Cicero from exile. Cicero called Paullus “a man born to preserve the Republic.” As curule aedile in 56, he began to restore the Basilica Aemilia in the Roman Forum, a building begun by the family in the second century BCE. He was praetor in 53 and consul in 50. He was a passive supporter of Julius Caesar in 50; perhaps he was won over by a huge donation from Caesar for the completion of the Basilica project, or perhaps he was helping his brother; in any event, he took no part in the Civil War.

GAIUS CLAUDIUS MARCELLUS (Kainien Morel) was consul in 50 BCE. Frustrated in his efforts to recall Julius Caesar from his province, Claudius called on Gnaeus Pompeius Magnus to take command of the two legions stationed at Capua and to raise more troops (2 December 50). After the outbreak of the civil war between Caesar and Pompey, Claudius remained in Italy and obtained Caesar’s pardon. In 46 he made a dramatic appeal to Julius Caesar for the pardon and return to Italy of his first cousin, Marcus Claudius Marcellus (consul 51 BCE), who had also opposed Caesar and had been in exile on the island of Mytilene in the eastern Mediterranean since 48. In response to Gaius' appeal and Caesar’s pardon of his cousin, Cicero delivered his speech of gratitude to Caesar, the pro Marcello. (Marcus Claudius Marcellus was murdered in 45, as he passed through Greece on his way back to Italy.)

Since 54 Gaius Claudius has been married to Octavia, daughter of Gaius Octavius and Atia (herself the daughter of Julia, Caesar’s sister) and sister of the young Gaius Octavius, adopted in his will by Julius Caesar.

LUCIUS CORNELIUS CINNA (Emily Allen) is from a patrician family and the son of Lucius Cornelius Cinna (consul 87, 86, 85, 84 BCE), who was the most famous supporter of Marius and opponent of Sulla. Cinna supported Marcus Aemilius Lepidus, the consul of 78, when he tried to dismantle Sulla’s “constitution,” and he joined Quintus Sertorius, a supporter of Marius and Cinna's father, in Spain, where Sertorius held out against the forces of Sulla through 75. Cinna was allowed to return to Italy, along with other supporters of Lepidus, in 70 BCE, supported by Julius Caesar (who was married to Cinna's sister at the time); but Sulla’s laws still prohibited Cinna from a public career until after Caesar captured Rome in the civil war and passed a law allowing the sons of those proscribed by Sulla to reenter public life. Cinna was elected praetor in 44. Cinna was not one of the conspirators against Caesar, but after Caesar's assassination Cinna joined the tyrannicides and took off the insignia of his office as praetor “because they were the gift of a tyrant.” Cinna resumed his insignia for the first Senate meeting after the assassination, but was attacked on his way to the Senate and was rescued by the magister equitum Marcus Aemilius Lepidus. The Roman mob attacked a tribune of the people named Cinna (Gaius Helvius Cinna) by mistake for Cornelius Cinna. After Caesar’s death, Cornelius Cinna sponsored the recall of the tribunes Gaius Caesetius Flavus and Gaius Epidius Marullus, who had been deprived of their tribunician powers after they removed a diadem from Caesar’s statue and prosecuted persons who saluted Caesar as king.

Rebellion in the Provinces

Senators I have some most grave though perhaps predictable news. Since we removed the legions to defend ourselves against the triumvirate there are grumblings of revolt in the provinces. As consul it is my duty to lead the armies of Rome in crushing this opposition; however, I am reluctant to leave Rome without any consuls in the city at this delicate time. My first duty is to the senate, next to the army. I will transfer the power of command to some worthy senators. Due to the overwhelming qualification of so many senators I have yet to choose who to send. I remind you that we already have Gaius Valerius Catullus and Lucius Antonius appointed to deal with the Syrian Province, but the legions from North Africa, Sardinia, the Hispanias, the Gauls, Illyricum and Macedon are all without leaders. Although I can give command of these legions away, I need you to vote to give funding and grain to the armies. I ask for your cooperation in this matter as it benefits none of us to have 17 legions leaderless, hungry, and without pay drifting across Italy.

A message from Lucius Antonius

A message has been sent from Lucius Antonius, as he is still co-commander of troops outside of Rome.

Fellow Senators! A great travesty has indeed occurred! I regret to tell you that the statues you may have seen in the forum recently are in the likeness of myself. Being immortalized next to the Gods is a great honor and I know that I have done nothing in my life worthy of such honor. Had I been in Rome at the time of their construction, I would have personally seen that they were immediately taken down and destroyed. When I returned to Rome it was at the co-command of troops with my fellow senator Catullus to help defend the city from those we once called our own. There was no time to focus on this issue, as my beloved city was under attack. Catullus and myself did the best we could with our limited military experience to help in the defense of our great city. I am happy to tell you now that the safety of our city is secure once more, I have turned my full attention to this great shame that has fallen onto me. I have taken it upon myself to be rid of the statues that I never deserved. As we speak they are being destroyed beyond recognition, never able to shame the forum with their presence again. My only regret is that they were ever put up at all.

Adoption of Caesarion

I, Marcus Tullius Cicero, have undertaken to pledge myself, and have acted upon this pledge, to adopt Caesarion, son of Cleopatra and Gaius Julius Caesar, into my household and family. I further pledge to ensure his continued safety within my household and those of my friends. he will be afforded a postion equal to that of my own son, as is appropriate to his young age. His mother, the Queen of Egypt, will be welcomed into my household as an honored guest, and will be provided full access to her son during his education in my my house. He will be given the name Marcus Ptolemy Tullius Caesarionis.

Marcus Tullius Cicero

[Please read comments]

Recovering

Senators,
You probably noticed that I was not in my usual place, just outside the senate house during its last meeting. I sat down to eat the other night, but stopped after the first taste. My poor servant is dead, and I am violently ill. Someone was obviously trying to poison me. He or she did not succeed. I will be returning to listen in on the Senate meeting today.
Cleopatra

A Queen in a Bind

Senators,

I firmly believe that one man with the potential to do great good has also the power to wreak great havoc. The late, great Julius Caesar saw a potential in his young nephew. He knew him to be cunning and bright. He saw a brave and courageous leader; he saw much of himself in the young man. Yet, few in the Senate felt the same. You recognize the all of the appointments and suggestions made by Caesar before is death, including the praetorship of the murderous, Brutus, accept for one. The young Caesar has acted according to his own dignitas. He knows he is all that his adopted father could have hoped for and more, but he is very dangerous now. We must not forget how important dignitas is to a Julius Caesar.
I find myself in a bind. I am a definite supporter of the young Julius Caesar, but, though my attempts at reaching out to you so far have been shot down, I still feel a sense of duty to Rome. If I stay in Rome amongst those left in the Senate, am I really going to be heard, understood, cared for, respected, or even recognized as one important to Rome in terms of resources? Catullus may make whatever outrageous claims of whose bed I may take comfort in, but nothing of the sort has happened. I still miss the warmth of the late Caesar. If he is referring to my obvious contact with Marcus Antonius and Gaius Julius Caesar, he should remember 1) These two were Caesar’s close and trusted friends before his death, and 2) they do not stand now beside a murderer and a coward. Also, I am sure as consul, Marcus Antonius receives a great deal of correspondence. There is no proof that any letter snatched by Catullus’ ridiculous fingers came from me.
Back to the topic at hand, where do I go from here? Where does my allegiance lie, with the rightful heir of Julius Caesar or with the Senate of Rome? Unless these two can be reconciled I am going to have to follow my heart. Unless someone wants to recognize that I am a strong, intelligent, and useful human being to the noble cause of protecting Rome, I am going to have to leave and give my support fully to the young Gaius Julius Caesar. I think he has a much to offer to the Senate and people of Rome. The senate has made a grave mistake in not seeing that.
On to Lepidus and Dolabella: I think the senate may regret a few of its recent decisions. 1) Lepidus should have been brought down immediately when he was still in Rome. 2) When Lepidus was declared an enemy of Rome, you sent out one legion, a legion unable to face the forces of Lepidus and led by an inept, debt-ridden fool. How can we be sure Dolabella won’t give in to Lepidus and join up with him after the offer of a bribe? Was Dolabella not a great supporter of Lepidus while he was still in the Senate? Was he not incredibly adamant about NOT sending a formidable force? I guess, we’ll have to wait and see where Dolabella’s heart truly is. I offered my aid, my grain, my friendship, and none of it has been accepted. What is it you want from me, Senators? I have offered it all. I just hope you know what you are doing when you have an army at your door. It is coming.

Cleopatra

P.S. That could have been read as a threat, but I don’t it wasn’t one. It was a warming.

Filth In the Forum

Fellow Senators! A great travesty has occurred. Statues have been erected in the forum of one of our tribunes, Lucius Antonius. Let me remind you that these statues join the placement of our all-powerful Gods, of Jupiter, Venus, and Mars. Remember that Caesar placed several statues of himself as well as one of the horse of Alexander the Great so that he might confirm the absolute power of the beings immortalized within the forum. What has Lucius Antonius done to deserve such an honor? Line his pockets and the pockets of the bankers who put the statues there. Careful Senators. I am wary of a man who brings upon himself such an honor. He has no right to be immortalized next to Jupiter, nay even Caesar. For at least Caesar exercised great military skill whereas Lucius Antonius exhibits none.


(This was approved by Dr.Dix/Gamemaster/Jupiter/Rockin' Classics Professor)