Primus had held minor posts as assistant
to everyone in every office, so this was his first office where
his reputation would be his own doing. He set off for Rome in
February and sent regular reports to Magnentius, which the emperor
never read being content to have his secretary file them. If the
emperor had read any, he would have noticed that treason trials
had been underway since the week after Primus arrived in the imperial
city. Many lesser offenses against morality had undergone the
scrutiny of the prefect resulting in the payment of bribes.
2) Four months later, Magnentius received
word that a delegation from Rome was requesting an audience. The
emperor was always pleased to receive visitors from Rome having
an affection for the city (even though he had never seen it) and
granted an immediate audience. On entering the throne room, Magnentius
was surprised to find his brother waiting for him.
"We are having an audience, brother.
You may stay if you wish but I know how affairs of state bore
you."
"Affairs of state have called me.
That is why I am here."
3) "What gossip have you been listening
to? A delegation has arrived from Rome, no doubt to offer me a
new title or to congratulate me on something. These Romans are
good at doing that."
"Premature thinking, brother. They
have come for another purpose."
"What could they possibly want?
Rome is the city that has everything."
"They have come to complain about
the appointment of Primus."
"The name is not familiar. Did
I approve this appointment?"
"In a manner of speaking, yes.
The choice was made known to you and you did not object. The empire
works so smoothly that the emperor only has to nod in the right
direction."
"Since they are here to complain
my response is: can I help it if inferiors make bad decisions
for me? The emperor cannot be everywhere at once! The empire is
too vast, the problems are monumental!"
4) "I admit I suggested the appointment.
Primus had an air of confidence about him, and he was due the
appointment."
"Well, brother. Caesar of the empire.
You can answer the questions of the delegation."
Magnentius gave a signal to the chamberlain
and the door was opened. In came five men: four of them about
middle-age and one youth. They were poorly dressed but this was
because one of their number was the senator Valerius Mettellus,
who hated ostentatious display. Besides, the humble qualities
of the garments were intended to add to the appearance of supplication.
Mettellus, famed as an orator, had been chosen to speak.
"Augustus Magnentius! We stand
before you as suppliants to your great justice." The voice
of the senator was clear and full of drama, demanding attention.
5) Magnentius was unsure how to respond.
From practice, he struck a regal pose and, staring down at the
delegation, assumed a thoughtful expression.
"Proceed."
"We have brought with us petitions
signed by many prominent citizens of Rome who look to you as a
liberator. Recall that when Nepotian attempted to seize power
and perpetuate the line of Constantine in the West, that he was
not allowed to have but a modest hold on power before being slaughtered
and cast out. Our loyalty to our emperor has been one of diligence
and humble devotion.
"So, we unfortunate citizens of
Rome call upon our emperor to help us in our hours of need. We
implore, on bended knee, to grant us our petition in the name
of justice and the sacred laws that our fathers sought to instill
in the very fiber of our being: truth and honor."
Magnentius had tied to listen closely
to what the senator was saying and maintained his thoughtful expression,
appearing to be pleased and interested. Inside, he was seething
in a vain attempt to understand what the man was talking about.
"Proceed."
"Our petition, Augustus Magnentius,
sets out in the simplest terms, in the form of an indictment,
a strong case of abuse of power against Antoninus Primus, prefect
of the city of Rome."
6) Then senator had spoken slowly, gradually
raising his voice until he was half-shouting. The tone of his
voice was heroic in tenor. Had he been a general, Mettellus would
have been undefeated; so great would be his power of engendering
courage and enflame the hearts of soldiers. Magnentius was aware
that he had to go one better and was turning over in his mind
what he could say. The room was quiet, waiting for an answer from
the emperor, who continued to sit still as a statue on the throne.
Of course, everything the emperor could think of saying was the
wrong, not eloquent and certainly not stirring. Phrases began
to tumble over themselves as he forgot the good ones and remembered
the bad. Had Mettellus said something about the sacred jaws of
our ancestors?
Before long, people were beginning to
think something was wrong with the emperor and even the senator
was expecting Magnentius would fall off his chair asleep or dead.
The emperor stirred himself and thoughtfully regarded the senator.
Magnentius cleared his throat. "Is
that all?"
"I am not yet finished, Augustus."
"Proceed," Magnentius said
as boldly as he could.
"This Antoninus Primus has bright
false charges against Roman citizens and accused good Roman matrons
of incest, debauchery and adultery. Without proving his charges
he has exiled citizens and taken their property; he has imprisoned
and tortured men of rank and executed citizens without trial.
We cannot tolerate the tyranny of this man! We beg the emperor,
Augustus Magnentius, to read the particulars of our petition and
deliver his response to our just and righteous cause!"
7) Magnentius was now annoyed by the
senator's flawless tone and stared at the man as stonily as he
could. He was surprised that the senator stared back with just
as much force. Clearly, here was a man who knew how to get his
own way, Magnentius thought.
"Your petition will be considered."
the emperor replied. With this the Romans were shown the door.
They clearly had expected a better reception from Magnentius for
their troubles. The emperor ordered the chamber cleared and in
a short time only Decentius remained.
"Bravo, brother! You spoke well
indeed!"
"So, what am I to do, brother!
This Primus is your creature! Tell me how to deal with him?"
"I resent the implication that
Primus is my man. He is as much yours as he is mine."
"I did not appoint him!"
"But you signed the appointment.
So, at the very least, you are guilty by assimilation."
8) At this remark, Magnentius began
to seethe.
"Our bickering will do us no good,
brother," Decentius said coolly. "Primus is where he
is and nothing can be done to say he wasn't. We must decide what
to do about him."
"How do we know he did all the
things they say he did? It could all be exaggerated."
"My spies have kept me informed."
"Spies?! You have spies! How dare
you! I suppose you use them against me to discover embarrassing
details of my private life. To say nothing of undermining my influence."
"Actually, I have spies in several
places, high and low, but not in the palace. If I want to know
what's going on I only have to visit the women's quarters."
"Well then, can one of your spies
assassinate Primus?"
"The idea has some merit but there
is a chance you would be implicated. And, needless to say, it
may not please the families the man has wronged, especially since
you are their liberator. They have to feel they were avenged against
Primus. A trial will be necessary."
"May we suppose for a moment that
this creature may declare himself emperor if word gets out he's
about to be condemned. Things are critical enough with the eastern
emperor waiting to send his army at me."
"But think, when the trial is over
you will be thought of as a just emperor, who is incapable of
listening to the slander of the mob. By having a trial you give
Primus a chance to have his say."
"Very well. I will send the guard
and have him arrested."
"Have him recalled. If he runs,
then he'll be guilty for sure and he can be slaughtered out of
hand."
"A brilliant idea, my dear Caesar."
9) A message was prepared by Magnentius'
secretary. The tone was severe and informed Primus, in no uncertain
terms, that he had been accused of terrible crimes. When sent
to be copied, by the sub-secretary, Claudius, the message was
changed. Instead, Primus was invited to visit the emperor in order
to be promoted to prefect of Gaul. Primus received the summons
and rejoiced. He had made it at last! Primus promptly settled
affairs in Rome, expecting never to return, by executing half
his prisoners and sending the rest into exile after confiscating
their property. So much damage done with a few strokes of a pen.
With the presumed goodwill of Magnentius in his purse, Primus
began a slow journey to the imperial city. Before he arrived,
word of the recent atrocities had been passed on to the delegation
at Augustodunum. When they heard Primus was coming to court they
seethed with anger and sent demands to the emperor to have the
criminal arrested. Magnentius was perplexed by Primus.
"Could he be about to declare himself
emperor? Perhaps I should take to the field?"
"I doubt he would be willing to
expose himself so easily if he wanted to become emperor. Besides,
he is traveling with only four other men, hardly an army."
"Then we have Senator Mettellus
calling for blood."
"Well, his wife was recently put
on the rack and tortured. Of course, she lived but they say she
will be a hunchback for the rest of her life."
"But that shouldn't bother Mettellus;
he's a Stoic!"
"Something must be done, brother.
Shall we seize Primus on the road? It could be awkward if we wait.
At least, the Romans will be satisfied if he is in a cell under
the palace."
"Then they will want a trial. Have
a dagger offered to him. Better yet, go and do it yourself."
10) Decentius was happy to be away from
Augustodunum and in command of events. He took a dozen men, armed
to the teeth, and met Primus in two days. The unsuspecting man
was happy that Decentius had come to meet him and thought his
eminence at court must be bright indeed. Decentius was cool. Taking
Primus aside he read the official edict his brother had given
him.
"Augustus Magnentius orders the
arrest of Antoninus Primus, late prefect of Rome, on a charge
of unlawful murder and abuse in power while acting as the emperor's
representative. He is to be held in custody until tried."
Primus was stunned. Nothing had prepared
him for these words and he fainted, falling to the ground. Upon
being revived it was as if Primus had awakened from a nightmare.
"Oh, Decentius, it's you. I had
such a horrible dream. I thought you had come to arrest me. Silly
isn't it! The emperor is about to recognize my abilities and create
me prefect of Gaul, and I dream he wants to kill me!"
"Who told you the emperor was about
to make you prefect of Gaul?"
"But I am to be the new
prefect of Gaul. The emperor has ordered it."
11) Decentius read the message sent
to Primus and grunted.
"A mere administrative oversight.
The message should have informed you to surrender yourself to
the emperor for trial on a charge of misuse of office! I have
been instructed to offer you a dagger."
This time, Primus did not faint but
shrieked as loudly as he could. He was seized by two soldiers
who thought he was about to escape. Then he had an attack of catalepsy
and could not move or speak, even under threat of bodily harm.
So, Decentius had Primus tied on a horse (Primus had gone catatonic
standing up) and took him to Augustodunum. He thought of pushing
the man into a river to see if he would drown or save himself
but the Caesar thought better of the matter. Primus was placed
into a cell where he promptly left his cataleptic state and went
to pieces, weeping without cease. Magnentius felt he was humiliated.
"What does this say of the men
the emperor chooses to govern for him! The shame. Why can't Primus
be a man? He slaughtered enough people to make all of Rome hate
him. Don't these tyrants know what to expect? Zeus only knows
what's going to happen next."
"I'm sure I know nothing of tyrants,"
Decentius replied philosophically. "I think you'll have to
write Primus off as being an ordinary bully."
12) When it was known that Primus was
in custody, Mettellus was at the palace demanding an audience
with the emperor. Magnentius (who could blame him) was reluctant
to see the man and sent excuses. However, Mettellus saw through
the ruse, so the emperor had little choice but to force himself
to be verbally abused.
"Augustus Magnentius! It has come
to our attention that this unspeakable criminal is within the
palace walls! The delegation, indeed, all of Rome, demand his
immediate execution of the charge of treason!"
Magnentius had rarely been addressed
in such language and was not pleased. "Senator. We must,
in our position, proceed with a trial, as much as you would like
to shed this man's blood."
"This man has no defense. If you
put him on the rack for a few good turns he will confess."
"For the moment, Primus is not
charged with treason but with the misuse of his office. He has
not been here long enough for even me to see him."
13) It was clear that Mettellus had
lost control of himself. He turned red in the face and babbled
words that sounded like "Idiot...usurper...barbarian"
among others that could not be properly identified. Suffice it
to say that Magnentius was offended and ordered the senator thrown
into a cell. Mettellus was aghast and realizing his error threw
himself at Magnentius' feet and had to be dragged away.
"That must have lifted your self-esteem,
brother," Decentius commented. "What do you plan to
do with Mettellus."
"Less than I should like to do.
I am mindful, having heard you say it several times, that I need
the Romans. Much as I would like to run a few of them through."
"That's the spirit of diplomacy,
brother."
"As for Primus, I think Mettellus
is right. Why have a complicated trial when all that is necessary
is putting him on the rack for a few turns. See to it, if you
please."
14) Primus was put on the rack and before
long had confessed to all of his crimes and even said he would
have burnt Rome if he had had the chance. So, without too much
physical pain, certainly less than he had delivered to the unfortunates
that attracted his attention, Primus was condemned to be beheaded
and his body burnt. Magnentius had considered burning him alive
but relented at Decentius's urging. The verdict was delivered
to the Roman delegation and celebrations began. The execution
was to be carried out immediately and Mettellus was to be released
from his cell having been pardoned by Magnentius. Two orders were
written by the imperial sub-secretary Claudius, a freedman. The
orders were handed over to the praetorian prefect for execution.
Shortly thereafter, while Magnentius was enjoying a few quiet
moments in his Baths, Decentius arrived with a pair of soldiers.
15) "Has the execution been carried
out?" the emperor inquired. "Show me the head of the
traitor before it is burned."
"I will have someone fetch it,
if you like," Decentius commented. "I can assure you
that the sentence of death was carried out, but on Mettellus."
"He was supposed to live, wasn't
he? What happened to Primus?"
"He was set free with an imperial
pardon."
"Send someone after him! Cut him
to pieces on the spot!"
"I have given the order already.
But he has a head start and he was riding east."
"Toward the enemy! The traitor!
Set them free and they always turn on you."
"It may be wise to make up a story
so we don't have a rebellion in Rome. Mettellus had quite a following."
"That is something for you to settle.
After all, you appointed Primus in the first place."
"At least I didn't set him free
when he was to be executed. By the way, you should get a new secretary.
Claudius is obviously a cretin! He doesn't know the difference
between apples and oranges!"
© David A Wend 1998