Book V: Plotting to Murder Gallus

1) For several months, Magnentius attempted to negotiate a settlement of the empire with Constantius. Had it not been for the aged Vetranio, who kept the army of Illyria from joining the rebellion, the emperor may have been able to take all of the empire for himself. As it was, Magnentius had his portion and decided to try negotiation instead of arms. Letters passed frequently many words were tossed around. Although the eastern emperor had not been terribly fond of his brother he did not want to have a half-barbarian as his colleague. The thought was said to make him ill, so any means that would remove the creature were to be used.

One day, Decentius, very much agitated, burst in on his brother. Magnentius observed the distraught state that the Caesar was in and concluded there was trouble. This was always the case when his brother became excited to the point of being speechless.

"Well, what is it now?! Do control yourself, brother, otherwise I can never understand what you are saying."

2) Decentius composed himself and took a deep breath. "Constantius! Constantius has named his young cousin as his Caesar!"

"That is what's bothering you! Perhaps you had a fancy for the job yourself!"

Decentius became exasperated. "Hardly brother. You have no idea what this means?"

"Congratulations seem to be in order."

"This means that Constantius will be coming to take the empire back!"

"What do you mean? We are still negotiating. I have just sent a letter under escort."

"Can't you understand? He has decided that further talk is unnecessary. He's been getting stronger, stalling us all this time! His cousin is to act in his place in the east, keeping the Persians at bay and such, while he marches his soldiers here to finish you off! Our spies have reported that orders have already been given."

"Why the wretch! I made a decent offer to him too! Just give me Gaul, Italy and perhaps Britain and we'll have peace. I was willing to pay tribute too! It's not as if I asked for Spain, even though I have friends there. I should grab it now to show this back-stabber that I mean business!"

"I think it may be more impressive if we called out our troops...or..."

"Yes. Or what?"

3) "We could have Gallus murdered."

"How could that help us?"

"If he were murdered then Constantius would be weakened in the east. You know how he distrusts the Persians. Perhaps we could even encourage them to attack and that could keep the east busy for years."

"Yes, the Persian's are funny little men, so tenacious. Constantius loathes them. His father, may he rest in peace, died before he could conqueror them. What a great army we had in those days! Those were men, " Magnentius said dreamily. "So, you think this will work? Is the Gallus vulnerable? Who will we get to stick the knife in him?"

"Brother! You are jumping to conclusions. A knife...why not an accident?"

"That sounds tricky. How could you stage an accident?"

Decentius thought for a few moments. "We could saw a leg of his throne."

"What good would that do!?"

"If he fell of his dais I'm sure he'd break his neck."

"It's a worthy thought but far too difficult to carry out. Poison is more reliable."

"Poison! What a good idea! Poison can be put in his wine. He'll drink it ...and death comes without mess or risk!"

4) "But you will have to poison his entire court unless you are certain to put it in his own food or drink. We may kill some unwanted victim. That would be suspicious!"

"Ah, well!" Decentius sighed. "I'll try to find someone who can handle a knife. And who is motivated to defend our cause."

"I am certain that it will not take you long. People are devoted to me."

Weeks followed without Decentius being able to find anyone who was willing to perform the deed. The majority said it was too far, the prospect of a long sea voyage or overland travel, or both, with their inherent hardships, made any reward too little. To some, the thought of setting foot in the effeminate East was enough. Likewise, those who showed enthusiasm were questionable types in whom placing any degree of confidence was a risk. So, Magnentius asked his brother if their was any progress and the response was that Decentius had nobody to even present for his brother's consideration.

5) All this changed dramatically one day.

Decentius sent a slave to demand an audience with his brother. The slave found the emperor signing an edit having to do with grain distribution. Obediently but without intimating the least bit of interest, Magnentius told the slave that his brother would find him in the baths. He may at least be comfortable, but to make his brother somewhat uncomfortable Magnentius went to the steam room. An hour later Decentius entered the room clad in a loin cloth. The emperor had just poured water on the hot rocks and the clouds of steam that filled the room made it difficult for the Caesar to see his brother.

"Are you alone brother?" he whispered.

"I am here and there is nobody with me, at least that I can find. You wanted an audience? Do I need a secretary to take notes?"

"Why are you in the infernal room? I can scarcely breath!"

"All the better for a quick audience. And what do you want?"

"I have found the man to do the deed!"

"Really?" Magnentius said showing no concern. "A trustworthy soul has been found. Loyal and brave and all that kind of thing?"

"He is as close as I could come."

"Well, bring him in. It's as close to the pit of Hell as I can make it. This ought to be a good test of his endurance."

"You are not expecting anyone? This all must be kept a secret."

6) "No, I gave orders to my slave to exclude all but for you. But my masseur is someplace to be found, I hope."

"All right then. I think it is safe to seal the bargain. I will bring him in."

Magnentius cleared his throat as Decentius turned to leave. "Bargain? Just how much must I pay for this 'secret weapon' of yours?"

"Because this is of vital importance I thought 5 thousand solidi would be right, plus expenses."

Magnentius made no comment as large sums of money no longer stunned him.

"Bring him in then."

"Now, don't expect too much from appearances."

7) A figure entered the room. The clouds of steam made it difficult to distinguish his features but the emperor was able to pick out a man of middle height, bearded with curly dark hair. He did not look very strong and was indeed quite skinny; his arms were without muscle and he was wearing a toga that was as threadbare and soiled.

"This is our man. His name is Johannes. He teaches rhetoric and is a philosopher. A very learned man to say the least! But, also a man of wide experience of the world."

Magnentius thought he was hearing things. "What do we need a philosopher for? If I want to know about the gods I will ask for one. What we do want is a burly assassin."

"Do let me finish. His family was wiped out by Constantius for practicing divination, so Johannes wants to get revenge."

"How will you bring off this murder?"

"With great cunning. Johannes will compose a panegyric on the heroic deeds of Constantius and ask permission to recite it before Gallus and dedicate it to him. If that fails, he was ask to at least to have an audience to present it to him should the Caesar not want to hear it. Gallus will be off his guard and our assassin will get close and strike when he feels the moment is right."

8) "But Gallus may be suspicious given the man's background and family name. They keep lists of criminals, don't they? We do, if I am not mistaken."

"He will have a different name. We are going to palm him off as a student of the Christian philosopher Themistius. As he is the court philosopher and is held in high regard by Constantius, so Gallus will not regard him as an enemy. In fact, he will probably feel obliged to receive our assassin. Then, one good stab, maybe two; that's all he needs."

"Let's hope that Themistius is out of town. What will his new name be?"

"Procopius."

"Well, it has an aristocratic ring to it. So tell me, Johannes-Procopius! Can you do it?"

"Why of course, your majesty. You may consider the eastern Caesar hypothetically dead."

"What do you mean?" Magnentius asked quizzically.

"The Caesar may be declared dead, philosophically speaking. All that is wanting is that the blade pierce his ribs. His breathing shall cease. His heart will have stopped. But his soul? Who can answer for that."

9) Magnentius stared at his brother in disbelief, tempted to use words that could cause a permanent rupture in the family.

"He is just accustomed to thinking this way: analytical," he explained.

"And you will commit this murder at a public performance!"

"Hardly that, your majesty. The Caesar will probably be with his wife, quite alone. In fact, I may suggest to him the smaller the audience the better. Then, it will be a simple matter to a good thrust."

"And if you are searched for weapons, what then?"

"Then, I will jump on the Caesar and bite through his jugular!"

Magnentius grimaced. "You will be killed in the attempt, no doubt of that. If the Caesar's wife does not kill you a guard is bound to do it."

"I am prepared to die. To be part of a blow to that Constantius, that monster. I will consider it an honor to sacrifice myself."

"Then, what do you need the money for?"

"Procopius needs it for his wife and children," Decentius chimed in.

10) The would-be assassin stood smiling slightly at the emperor, a sight that did not inspire confidence.

"I thought his family was already dead! Very well. We will see to it that they get the money. But only if you are successful. As for yourself, you may carry enough gold to take you to Antioch and eat reasonably well. By the way, have you ever been to the east?"

"Oh, yes, Your Majesty. I was a student in Pergamon, right in the area. I traveled around as a student to all the religious sights. I once saw the Great Mother in her chariot drawn by lions. Now there was something worth seeing," Johannes babbled on.

"You do not appear the sort who is a killer." Magnentius looked the man up and down. He did not appear to be sweating while Decentius looked like a drooping flower.

11) "A mere disguise, Your Majesty. I brained a rival student in the old days with a brick without any compunction. We were alone and he disputed one of my ideas. He did not survive and I was never suspected. Cunning conquers all. And it is one of my maxims that anyone is capable of doing anything."

"And you have no fatal habits, like drinking too much?"

"I am the very image of sobriety!"

Magnentius was silent for a few moments; his face was somewhat pained. "Very well. You have my permission to commit this crime."

"Your Majesty shall not regret the confidence placed in me."

"I have all the hypothetical confidence in the world," Magnentius said dryly throwing more water on the stones, which heated the room until it was stifling. Anything to rid himself of this scholarly murderer.

12) With the selection of the imperial assassin the plot took on wings. Procopius would journey by boat to Asia Minor and travel by camel train to Antioch where he would make his presence known the local teachers and petition Gallus for an interview. At the best possible moment, disregarding who was present, Procopius would pull a small dagger from its scabbard, strapped to his thigh, and plunge it into Gallus's neck. With so much at stake it was unwise to let the man go alone. The selection of his partner in crime was just as difficult as finding the murderer himself.

"I think you ought to go," Magnentius suggested to his brother. "This Procopius needs watching. It was your idea and your plan. Who better to see to its execution?"

"I do have important duties here!"

"Such as selling wine and women! I know what you're up to. Making money is the only passion of your life!"

"This entire affair was my idea to save your miserable skin! The insult! I should let them come and chop off your head! To think of all the fools I had to beg to serve you! Ungrateful!..." And so Decentius raved on and Magnentius began to feel he had wronged him.

"Now, now, dear brother. Perhaps I was hasty. If you can find a seasoned veteran, a soldier with real nerve, let him go. And you can promise him a pension and a reward if he returns with the deed concluded. At least that should spur him on to try something."

13) Without too much trouble, Decentius found a soldier named Clodius, a centurion who had shown great promise until he had taken a wrong turn while fighting the barbarians, unwittingly leading his soldiers into an enemy camp in the belief it was a Roman outpost. Luckily, only women were present but they fought the soldiers, raising the cry of rape, and forced them back into the woods using stones, pitchforks and whatever came to hand. There were no Roman casualties beyond one or two wounded but Clodius was dogged for the rest of his career as being beaten by a bunch of barbarian women. Some stories gave credence to the idea they were old, if not ancient. He was always thought of as a jinx, born on a day of ill-omen. Here was a chance for Clodius to redeem himself.

The pair set off early one morning having bought passage on a merchant vessel. Decentius thought it wise to say nothing to his brother unless he asked, and Magnentius did not. He considered the entire affair to be lost from the start which saved him a great deal on anxiety that Decentius was not spared.

A month passed, then another. Day after day, the Caesar plotted on a map where the pair were to be that day and attempted to imagine what they were doing. By no stretch of the imagination could Decentius have guessed what had befallen the imperial assassins. It was five months later that the fate of the venture was learned. Clodius returned to Augustodunum looking extremely tired and emaciated. The guards found it difficult to recognize him as the poor man had an aged look beyond his years. Clodius asked to be taken to see Decentius and he was conducted to the Caesar's private apartment where he remained.

14) The following day, Decentius asked to see his brother alone.

"He is back I have heard," Magnentius said before his brother could open his mouth. "What is the news? Is Gallus alive or dead?"

Decentius was taken aback and was silent for a few moments, uncertain how to answer.

"You thought I had forgotten. Well, fools are always surprised, the poet says. Gallus is obviously alive and well! Must I wait five more months to be told the outcome of the affair?"

"Perhaps Clodius should tell you himself. I doubt I could remember all he told me."

15) The centurion was sent for and arrived looking sleepy but in far better condition than when he had arrived. Magnentius was ready to get down to business and Decentius moved a chair far away and sat down.

"Tell me what happened, Clodius. I want to know how badly we failed," Magnentius said calmly.

Somewhat nervously he began speaking with a wonderfully golden voice, the sounds the Achilles must have produced.

"O, Augustus. The first thing that happened, we put in at Brundisium for a day and Procopius decided to go out and see the town, saying he was going to worship at the house where the poet Virgil died. Hours passed and he did not show. Since the ship would not wait for him I went in search of my companion thinking if the worst came I would get a room at an inn to continue my search.

16) "Well, I found he had not gotten farther than the docks, much less to his place of pilgrimage. I found him in a tavern roaring drunk, challenging all comers to drink more than he could. Knowing how to command men I ordered him to get back to the ship. And then he began to spill the secret behind our journey by screaming how we were going to kill the emperor, and everyone thought he meant you, O Augustus. I apologized for Procopius's conduct and got him aboard ship with two hours to spare. He collapsed on deck and after we sailed he spent hours over the rail retching up his guts."

"By the gods! You should have pushed him overboard!" Magnentius roared, offended by what he had heard. "But I am certain nobody offered to join this vermin to kill me!"

"Not one, O Augustus! They were insulted by the suggestion," Clodius said none too convincingly. He blushed a rosy red and gave the emperor a half-smile and a very slight shrug.

Magnentius read the signs correctly and frowned. With a wave of his hand he commanded the centurion to continue.

"Had our mission been accomplished I might have pushed the braggart into the sea. But then as we rounded the rocky tip of Greece a hole was punched in the ship when we sailed too close to some rocks, so we had to make for the nearest port. I went below and helped bail the ship but Procopius sat on deck wailing that he was going to die and how unjust fate was. By this time the crew was quite angry with the little man. He kept talking over their heads about the fifth substance and quoted Plato and Aristotle, or at least it sounded like he was. So many of his words sounded as if he was insulting everyone. Then he was accused of stealing food. By luck, we landed at Piraeus when we did or Procopius would have been murdered. On shore, I kept a close eye on him and wouldn't let him touch a drop of wine. When he was desperate for wine he whined like a child and threw a long tantrum, then mumbled some words that he said was a magical incantation."

"How dare the man lie to me. The model of sobriety. Why, he drinks like you, Decentius."

17) The Caesar was too humiliated to be offended.

"We left ship and took another, making a brief stop at Rhodes, to Caesarea. Procopius was like a madman and quite arrogant. I warned him to keep his mouth shut about philosophy. But he went on and on saying whatever entered his head until it was clear he had made an enemy of everyone. While we were in Rhodes I practically chained myself to him and, thank the gods, there was no incident. But when we arrived at Caesarea and were, at last, in the East, Procopius changed his spots and became zealous in his friendship as if everyone was his brother. He embraced complete strangers. As an easterner, he appeared to assume that those who haled from such parts were among his closest relations. I mistook his true motive. When he embraced a man he was actually feeling for their bag of money and he made off with a tidy sum. He only stopped when he had collected so much his purse was full.

"All was well until he saw a handsome boy and fell in love, or so he told me. But the boy, such was his good taste, that Procopius revolted him. And who would not! His beard was untrimmed and dirty making him look like a wildman and his eyes had such a mad, piercing look. Also he did not wash. Nothing would not stop the madman. While I made arrangements to get to Antioch, he searched for the boy and not finding him drank himself into a stupor. He would go on babbling such odd things that sounded like philosophy and he was always having an argument with himself asking: "Should I do this thing? What are the consequences? How does the moon affect it all?". I managed get places on a caravan after undergoing three days of this torture.

18) "The caravan consisted of twenty merchants all going to Antioch. One of the merchants brought his son along and, of course, Procopius fell in love with him. This time, instead of a beauty he chose a lad with a broken front tooth and a long scar across his face. Generally speaking, the boy had a hideous face. Yet, there was something about the shape of his body that caught the lecher's eye. He would stare at the lad and even tried to ride next to him but my threats prevented him from being too bold. Then, one night after we had camped and eaten, and all of us thought of our beds, Procopius stole over to the boy and got under his blanket. I have no idea if he drugged him, or the gods know what, but he managed to satisfy his urge and was in the act of returning to his blanket when there was such a tremendous uproar with shouts of: thief, thief! That woke everyone and upset the camels so much they did not stop braying: no one slept after that. Procopius wore a huge smile the next day and I wonder that he didn't have it knocked off, nobody was feeling very good and suspicion fell on him as the cause of the disturbance.

"After this incident, he became so cocky there was no living with him. So, in these stages we arrived at Antioch."

"Without going further I am able to tell that Procopius did not even attempt to carry out his mission, is that not true?"

"He was prevented, O, Augustus."

"Since I am not going to be disappointed, if you can call it that, you may as well tell me the rest of your tale."

19) "We arrived in Antioch and found a room in an inn. Procopius wanted a room for himself, probably so he could make more conquests among the local boys. I reminded him why we were in Antioch and that made him quiet. In the days that followed he made the acquaintance of the local teachers of rhetoric. They traded stories on the new Caesar and how reckless and savage he is. I think Procopius got scared. Then, it became apparent to me that the philosopher was going out at night while I was asleep to drink and carouse. It seemed to me that he thought he might as well live it up before he went to the slaughter. I woke up once and saw his vacant bunk and when I questioned him in the morning, by which time he had reappeared, he said I was wrong. He insisted I was dreaming and gave me a weird lecture of how my phantasm was walking around while I was asleep.

"To his credit, Procopius did manage to persuade a contact in the palace that he wished to present his panegyric to Caesar Gallus. He was given an appointment to bring it to the palace. After I questioned him, not only didn't he have a panegyric written but he thought he could bluff his way through a reading or go out and buy one! All he thought he had to do was get in the doorway and stab Gallus when he saw him! I realized that he couldn't fake something so important.

20) "So, I had him up at nights composing something suitable, just a few pages, to be able to put up a front long enough to accomplish our mission. Procopius did not work well and was constantly complaining that he had done enough and it was time for him to see his friends. He suggested we could forget the scheme and try to ambush the Caesar. We actually finished the thing having been up the better part of three days. We were ready. Gallus had issued an invitation to hear the work two days later. I was exhausted, as I thought the philosopher was, and I fell asleep. When I woke up, Procopius was gone. I was so angry that I went after him going from tavern to tavern. It was the middle of the night and I had no idea where he could be. But I got, in a manner of speaking, lucky. I heard his familiar voice.

"'Of course I am at ONE with the gods. When I pray to them, they listen! They will do anything I ask! Why, just yesterday I raised a man from the dead! He was run over by an ox-cart and I prayed to the great god, the Earth Mother, Osiris, adding a dash of King Helios, and the man began to breath before my eyes! He promised me any reward I wanted. But I told him. The gods willed it! I am their mouthpiece!'

"At the point I came in on this conversation, or rather, argument. Procopius had so angered everyone that they thirsted for his blood. I went inside the tavern and told Procopius, as harshly as possible, to get back to our room and sleep off his wine. I noticed that my presence had a calming effect on the patrons, somebody was here to collect this lunatic, and they almost went back to what they were doing. The philosopher cringed before me, then recovered himself.

"'And him,' Procopius said pointing at me. 'I created him from dog shit yesterday! I needed a companion anyway! But look what I got! What a miserable specimen! Together we sit around talking with the gods all day and tomorrow we're going to go to the palace and stab the bugger that lives there to death! Then we'll go around town searching for love!'

22) "I must have gone pale at the mention of the murder, enough to be a confession, because the mob became angry. I tried to assure them all, and the crowd was getting larger by the moment, that Procopius was merely drunk and he always made up stories. I smiled and tied to act embarrassed. Even this may have succeeded if the fool hadn't gone on shouting his trash at the top of his voice.

"'Drunk, am I! You don't know what drunk is! I need more wine to show you. A fine, brave centurion! He only drinks water and cat piss. He also eats stones for bread. And think that I made him myself! Well, we are going off to the palace to do good work tomorrow and kill that miserable slug called Caesar! That coward! That backbiter! That dog! I'll take my dagger and give him a quick one through the balls!'

23) "Procopius proceeded to demonstrate by pulling his dagger from its hiding place. That was all the mob needed. They fell on us both. The last I saw of Procopius was as chairs, bricks, pots and benches were being thrown at him. Then he disappeared under a hail of arms and legs kicking and punching. To be sure, the philosopher fought as long as he could; drink always made him wild. As for me, I got a good kick to the head and was rendered unconscious for I don't know how long. It was probably because I was not putting up a fight that I survived: I was just another casualty. When I woke up I was lying amid the rubble of the tavern and Procopius was nowhere to be seen although there was what looked like blood or wine spilled about. I found the tavern keeper sleeping in a room in the back of the place. I woke him to find out what had happened.

"'The philosopher?' he said. 'They smashed him as best they could and threw him in the river.'

"Then, he drowned?"

"'Well, he was in no shape to swim.'

"And so, O, Augustus. That was how my fortunes went. All of my money was stolen in the fight so I worked at odd jobs until I earned enough to come back."

When the centurion had finished his tale, in fact his voice had not yet faded from the chamber, the emperor spoke.

"We will keep our promise and pay you your pension, Centurion Clodius, and half the money you would have received had the murder succeeded."

24) Clodius was stunned and fell on his knees thanking the great Augustus for his generosity and mercy. Magnentius blushed a bit at the excess of this outpouring of affection and sent the soldier off a very happy man.

"Why on earth did you give him his pension? Under the circumstances you look rather foolish, brother."

"I did it to get him out of the army. The man is obviously a jinx. Consider it a change of luck on our part. Of course, we'll never know if Procopius was crazy or Clodius simply blew the whole thing."

Book VI: Magnentius Learns the Ropes.

1) It was in the autumn of his first year as emperor that Magnentius received a delegation from northern Gaul to report that the province was in dire striates from the failure of the crops. As was usual, they first saw Caesar Decentius before being passed on to the emperor. In this way Magnentius eliminated audiences with "the rabble" and could get down to business. Decentius had the character to put up with half-wits and scum and rather enjoyed his role of Magnentius' sieve. This time he called an immediate audience.

The delegation was brought before the emperor by Decentius; their spokesman, a Parisian named Quintus Julianus, came ahead of the others. Julianus was quite well dressed. His clothes looked new: a tunic of fine linen decorated with silver thread was covered by a mantle of dark green pinned into place by a golden broach and adorned with many colored handkerchiefs tucked in at the correct places. Julianus was also a handsome man; his beard neatly trimmed and his hair had been curled. On one hand he wore a signet ring; on the other hand an enormous jewel sparkled from a gold ring. He was not a good choice to present to Magnentius as the emperor tended to be suspicious of anyone dressed as well as or better than himself. Julianus had been a close friend of Constans and even, so it is reputed, was a member of the late emperor's debauchery club. This did not lend itself to a favorable impression to Magnentius, of whom the same rumor was spoken.

"Augustus!" Julianus said. "We have come to you to seek relief from our suffering. Famine threatens to break out without your intervention! This year we experienced horrible storms and so much rain that the grain rotted in the ground: nothing grew. Prices for a modius of grain have soared. Why just months ago a single gold solidius was enough to buy all you would want; now you must pay 10 gold solidi. We have made the best we can of these sorry events by conserving the grain we have but we must as for your majesties aide to feed the people. As we speak, people starve and children cry for food!"

"You do not appear to be starving?" Magnentius pointed out.

"A man in my position, Augustus, can meet his own needs. Many others cannot."

"So then, you are an exception! The north of Gaul starves but you keep yourself fat!"

2) Accustomed to dealing with royalty Julianus was not perturbed. "Augustus, I have donated 10,000 modi of corn to relieve the starving. I am considered a leading citizen, so the people sent me to beg for them."

"Very well," Magnentius said, clearly unsatisfied, "what grain do you need?"

"60,000 modi of grain, Augustus. Many mouths must be fed."

"Including yours I suppose! And the following year the grain will be made up?"

"As God permits, Augustus."

"And this dog is a Christian too!" Magnentius thought. "No wonder he's so rich, they all look after themselves."

"You will see to it that the grain is portioned fairly to everyone?"

"I am but one of the citizens involved, Augustus. My part is a humble one."

"But you are doing the talking! Do you give your guarantee?"

"Certainly, Augustus. I will do what I can to see the grain fairly divided."

"Very well, the grain will be transferred to you in a few days. The Caesar will see to it."

3) Julianus bowed and retreated to the group of Northerners. The audience was over.

Decentius returned minutes later having seen to all the paperwork.

"You were rather hard on Julianus, brother. Not feeling well?"

"HA! You claim to be so smart. Couldn't you see that Julianus is a crook."

"And what if he is! Everyone has got to get ahead you know!"

"I might have known he was a friend of yours. They say shit sticks to itself."

"I had never met him before today. They say, for your information, that Julianus has a brother at home on the farm and all he does is take care of the pigs. Cunning does not come from the loins it would seem!"

"I don't trust him. He's going to run off with the grain, just you wait."

"There will be an armed escort."

"Let us hope they are incorruptible."

4) The corn was delivered without incident in a matter of days. However, a few weeks later a delegation from the north had returned begging to be allowed an audience. Magnentius granted the request but grumbled. Five men stood before him dressed poorly and looking dirty. There was little doubt that they had walked the distance from their homes to Augustodunum. Julianus was not present.

"Why have you come? Did you not receive enough grain? There surely was enough to feed thousands of mouths."

"There is not even a cup of grain, Great Augustus," one of the men cried and fell to his knees. "It is all gone!"

"Gone? Gone where? Was it stolen?"

"No, Great Augustus. It was bought."

"Bought! Explain what you mean!"

"All of the corn was bought by Quintus Julianus, Augustus. None of it was left for distribution, unless the black market can be called a fair price."

"What is the price?"

"About 30 gold solidi."

"What! That is outrageous!"

"So we are doubly reduced to starvation. The dogs, cats and rats, at least the ones we could catch, have all been eaten. Grass, O Great Augustus, a man cannot stomach for long. Some people have been poisoned by eating mushrooms and strange roots they dug up. Before long cannibals will be rampant and eating all of your supporters."

"That will do! I understand your problem. Julianus shall be summoned to the court! See to it Caesar Decentius!"

5) Decentius sent a squad of soldiers to drag Julianus to court. He arrived somewhat roughed up (soldiers always take liberties) but not surprised by the turn of events. Without ceremony, he was taken to see the emperor, who was himself summoned from the Baths and therefore disturbed that he had been disturbed. The meeting took place in the audience room. Magnentius thought the captive would be all aquiver but he seemed not to be the least afraid. Magnentius noticed was that his clothes were not as richly turned out (gone was the cloak and golden broach) and were dirty from traveling (and probably being thrown to the ground by his captors). His beard had not been trimmed in days and his hair was caked in mud. As he looked closer he saw that Julianus did not appear to be afraid and was almost smiling.

"What do you mean by disobeying me!?" Magnentius thundered out in his best style.

Quite unperturbed Julianus stood his ground. "Augustus, I do not know how I have disobeyed you."

"You know very well how! You snatched up the grain we sent north as soon as it arrived."

"I made a purchase of corn, Augustus. Considering the amount I donated to the starving peasants I needed the grain for my own use."

"That much! 60,000 modi! Do you have an army to feed?"

Julianus looked around him nodding at the secretary who was recording each word said and the imperial advisors who were standing around attentively. "If Augustus would permit a word alone I would explain everything to the most candid details."

"What! So you can assassinate me! You are a desperate man!"

"I have no weapon Augustus. I promise to tell you the entire truth."

6) Magnentius considered the request. "Very well. But our brother will stay."

"I am agreed, Augustus. Having a lunatic brother myself I admire the trust you place in yours."

Decentius came up to the throne and sat on the dais.

"You may continue with your explanation."

"It is very simple, Augustus. I am a man of business but in these days it is increasingly difficult to make any money at all. You can labor until you drop from exhaustion; it's just not possible any more from the terrible inflation. It is true that I am wealthy. I inherited my father's estate which was not too paltry but I built on it until I owned ten farms. How was this done? I am sure you want to know, Augustus, and I will keep my promise to be truthful. In a word: dishonesty."

"By your own mouth you are condemned!" Magnentius said certain he had caught his prey.

"Let him continue, brother. Without interruption, please," Decentius said.

"Yes, I am dishonest. But a man of business must be if he wants to get ahead. So, I gave away 10,000 modi of corn. I did that to serve my city. By purchasing all the corn that was delivered I can expect to quadruple my money on the black market selling just enough at lower prices to whet appetites. Not only that. When someone with money tried to buy a bushel of corn I have agents in the market who offer more money, so the fool spend much more than he ought to."

"I see," said Magnentius. "And why are you making this confession?"

"I want to offer my services to my emperor."

"Services? You mean you want to escape my justice!"

7) Very cool, Julianus stood before Magnentius and responded slowly and deliberately.

"Augustus, these are hard times that need hard solutions. The State totters on the edge of financial ruin. The money we had when we were young is hardly worth mentioning now, unless you have gold in your pocket. And that is what I am offering: Gold to the treasury."

The remarks caught Magnentius by surprise. He forgot the fact he was the inquisitor and questioned Julianus further.

"Do you mean the State, the emperor, ought to use such low tactics as you have?"

"But I have not done anything illegal under the law, just unscrupulous. To put it simply, Augustus, when you see a beggar in the road do you give him everything in your pocket, pass him by, or rob him of all he has in his wooden bowl? I am sure that your majesty does not rob him, yet I would believe that it has crossed your mind. There is no obligation to give him as much as a coin and he isn't harmed, even though he is no richer. In fact, at home he probably eats off gold plate. It is just his job to look poor. And that is what I have done. I gave some corn away but when I make an investment I expect a return. Now, on all the corn your majesty sent north no gain to the empire at all could have been realized."

"True, it was a gift to relieve the suffering of the unfortunates."

"God looks after the unfortunates, Your Majesty. Or so the priests have told us. After all, don't the flowers do nothing but grow?"

8) Magnentius could not deny what Julianus had said.

"What do you propose?"

"If your majesty will be so kind as to reimburse me for the corn, I will sell it for Your Majesty for a handsome profit. This is just to prove that a tidy sum may be had. You will, in fact, be feeding the people and making money."

"But how will the poor be able to afford the cost of the gain which is now, Zeus knows what?"

"They won't have to. Those who can buy it will certainly share it. There always are people like that. I suppose God is responsible. Think of it as rain dropping from a roof, a sort of a trickling down of the corn. Its like they say of the Rhone river; it eventually reaches the sea."

Magnentius was caught up in thought. He could see nothing wrong with the idea.

"What have I been telling you brother, O Augustus!" Decentius broke in. "The empire must be ruled like you own house. With all of the ins and outs of life these days the emperor must look out for himself. You have to learn the ropes of being ruthless."

"My brother, the noble Caesar, has had experience with life in the raw. But I will allow you to do what you will, Julianus, with my brother to give you your orders. Agreed?"

"Agreed, Augustus. And may I say you will not regret your decision."

"I pray not. Since I am, at the moment, paying twice for the same corn."

9) With Decentius managing the deal the corn was bought by the empire and sold on the black market. The resulting profit was substantial and pleased Magnentius greatly. Now he could think about building some great monument or extend the palace. The starvation of the north was abated somewhat when a mob stormed the grain stores of Paris taking everything. The city applied to Magnentius for relief for now that their grain had disappeared they could feed none of the population whose dole was the only relief they had. The emperor was dismayed and summoned his brother and, for good measure, Julianus.

"Thanks to the black market sale of corn there was a riot in Paris and all the available city stores were stolen. The city has sent an urgent letter saying they will starve unless I find relief! Next they will have a delegation here! Is that what being emperor consists of -- being the whipping boy to anyone who wants satisfaction!"

"It's just an unfortunate circumstance," Decentius said trying to soothe his brother.

"Circumstance! Where is the grain to come from? I have no more stored."

"Just tell the people to eat grass, or have they tried mud pie?"

"I think I can solve the problem, Augustus," Julianus said quietly.

"Tell me! How?"

"If memory serves me, I believe emperor Constans had some wheat put into storage at Ostia. Quite a lot I would say."

"But its all the way at Ostia!" Magnentius cried. "It will take time to haul cars down there and haul it up to Paris. Think of how many will have starved. They'll blame me!"

10) "But that is no problem, Augustus. I own several ships at Marsailles. I will have my men sail for Ostia with a written order from your majesty, load up the grain and sail back, then it can be loaded into carts for the journey north. In fact, if we use barges on the Rhone it would be there much quicker. All you must do is give the command, Augustus."

"A genius!" Magnentius said passionately.

So it was that Julianus gained great favor at court. Not only had he avoided prison but was given rooms of his own in the palace when he paid a visit. Generally, he spent more time in Paris directed his unscrupulous affairs. He indeed had the Ostian grain delivered in good time but he also managed to appropriate who knows how much for himself. Magnentius enjoyed Julianus's company greatly as he tended to make decisions for the emperor and Magnentius was not one to make an easy decision relying heavily on the advice of his councilors.

11) One day, Julianus received an urgent summons to come to Augustodunum. When he arrived he was conducted into the emperor's audience chamber where Decentius was sitting on the throne and Magnentius pacing like a caged animal (a lion most assuredly).

"There you are! Julianus how I have needed your advice!" Magnentius cried.

"I am humbled by the emperor's trust in me." Julianus said diplomatically.

"I have received a letter from Constantius. He had made me an offer. Tell Julianus, Decentius."

Decentius picked the letter up from the floor when it had been left, or thrown, and began to read:

"Constantius Augustus to Magnentius. Greetings."

"Do you hear that!" Magnentius roared. "He does not address me by my proper title! That nervy little man!" The emperor continued to pace.

12) Decentius waited for his brother to cool down before he continued. "Well, avoiding all of the flowery language what it come to is this: Constantius will recognize Magnentius as co-emperor if he will give up Italy."

"And I can keep the other territories."

"Yes, all of Gaul and the other bits and pieces we picked up."

"I won't give up Italy. They love me there. Why they proclaimed me their liberator! Besides, I like it there and this eastern emperor has enough land as it is."

"It may be a trick, O Augustus, to lull you into thinking you are safe. Then, Constantius will send in his army."

"But still, brother. Recognition is recognition. It may bring others into the fold later on. Besides, if Constantius goes back on his word you can always take Italy back."

"That is why you were summoned, dear Julianus. We need your advice."

13) Julianus grew serious for a moment and stared at the floor. After a few moments he spoke: "Augustus, may I frame the response to the eastern emperor? If I could write an answer to his letter, knowing the family as I do, I may be able to negotiate a way around the surrender of Italy."

This was what Magnentius wanted to hear. "Splendid! Write the reply and let Decentius read it for his comments. Now I am certain I will keep my empire intact!"

Julianus disappeared for two days during which time a letter was written. On the third day, Decentius stormed into the palace looking for his brother. He found him in the garden taking the air.

"You are ruined brother! Constantius will be looking for your head!"

14) Nonplused, Magnentius stared back with widened eyes. "Why is that, brother?"

"This is a copy of the letter from Julianus to the Eastern Ruler. When it arrives Constantius will be furious."

"But the letter isn't under my seal! And you were to read it before it was sent!"

"The secretary to whom we lent the seal thought Julianus had authority to use it, so he sealed the letter. The man read it and, because I have given him some discretion in these matters, thought nothing was amiss. You're sitting down, so read it."

15) Magnentius read:

"To the Eastern Ruler from Magnentius, Augustus and Emperor.

Your demand for the whole if Italy is unreasonable. I am fond of the countryside there and would not part with it if you deigned to pay me a fortune, as well as confirming my position as Augustus. I, at least, have paid may visits to Italy and the people love me. Isn't that why they called me their liberator?

In any case, the people of Italy are fed up with the house of Constantine, or the Second Flavians as you ridiculously call yourselves. The country is mine fair and square; so go stew about it!

Magnentius Augustus Pius Felix

16) Magnentius studied the letter for a few moments. "He certainly vents his feelings," he said in a tone of admiration. "So much for negotiating thus far. Well, a follow-up letter can be sent excusing the first and giving our true terms. I'm sure Constantius will not mind."

"He probably won't read your letter. When he flies into a rage there is nothing or no one who can reason with him."

"We could call it a forgery."

"Possible, but not probable."

"I could write to the Empress," Magnentius innocently suggested. "I have heard she has much influence over him. Women are susceptible to my charm."

Decentius frowned.

"Well, I'll write to Constantius and tell him my seal was stolen."

"Then, we have to have a new one made with a new device."

Magnentius was very fond of his eagle device, carved by an expert, so a compromise was made. A letter was written in almost subservient terms and sealed with a coin portrait of the emperor, which, of course, gave the inverse impression of the emperor's bust and name. The letters were duly delivered and, as Decentius predicted, Constantius read the first, raged, then ordered his army to march. The second letter remained among a collection of petitions that went unanswered and were found many years later by the emperor Julian.

17) As for Julianus, he waited in vain for the emperor to summon him to court not realizing that Decentius had contemplated sending an assassin to his house; but the emperor would not let him do it. After all, they had been friends and there was all the money the emperor had made. Word of Magnentius' displeasure reached Julianus and to play it safe he went into hiding on one of his estates disguised as a farmer. The drawback to this was the scratchy clothes Julianus was forced to wear which, as he claimed, destroyed the softness of his skin forever. Of course the smells, to say nothing of the swineherd he lived with who never bathed, gave Julianus a horror of such places for the rest of his life. He was freed from this torture after a few months, just after the battle of Mursa, when Julianus felt safer with the emperor having been beaten to a draw by Constantius. He figured Magnentius had more on his mind.

© David A. Wend 1997