Table Of ContentRome--Palatine Hill Marcus Salvius Otho--the emperor* Salvius--the emperor's nephew* Tiberius Claudius Epaphroditus--the emperor's secretary* Onomastus--the emperor's dwarf* Marcus Celsus--a valuable military advisor* Servius Sulpicius Lysander--the emperor's announcer Statilia Messalina--professional empress* Sporus--empress-in-waiting* Artemina (Mina)--the empress' bodyguard Cassandra--the empress' secretary Brutus--a star gladiator Honoratus*, Proculus, Lucullus, Paulus--a collection of Praetorians Rome--Elsewhere Flavius Sabinus--city prefect* Titus Flavius Domitian--Flavius' nephew* Antonia Caenis--a former imperial secretary* Tiberius Claudius Philo--an imperial freedman Teretia--his wife Pompeia Minor--his mother-in-law Verenia--Teretia's cousin Claudia Aphrodite--Epaphroditus' estranged wife Nymphidia Sabina--a grieving mother* Elsewhere in the Empire Aulus Vitellius--the other emperor* Fabius Valens--the other emperor's commander (the cruel one)* Caecina Alienus--the other emperor's other commander (the handsome one)* Asiaticus--the other emperor's freedman* Gwencalon--a wise woman Salonina--Caecina's paramour* *Historical personages
SynopsisRome, AD 69. Having spectacularly grabbed the imperial throne by way of a very bloody coup, new emperor Otho is horrified to discover another emperor already declared. Aulus Vitellius is relaxing in Germania, and his two generals, the twisted Valens and the handsome but dim Caecina, are marching colossal armies to Rome to claim his prize. Hopelessly outnumbered, all looks doomed for Otho, until a series of unexpected victories bring hope.Meanwhile, a former palace slave, Antonia Caenis, returns from Judaea with plans of her own..., Rome, AD 69. Having spectacularly grabbed the imperial throne by way of a very bloody coup, new emperor Otho is horrified to discover another emperor already declared. Aulus Vitellius is relaxing in Germania, and his two generals, the twisted Valens and the handsome but dim Caecina, are marching colossal armies to Rome to claim his prize. ......, Duplicity. Degeneracy. Destruction. One Empire. Two Emperors. Only one can survive. Rome, AD 69. Having spectacularly grabbed the imperial throne by way of a very bloody coup, new emperor Otho is horrified to discover another emperor already declared. Aulus Vitellius is relaxing in Germania, and his two generals, the twisted Valens and the handsome but dim Caecina, are marching colossal armies to Rome to claim his prize. Hopelessly outnumbered, all looks doomed for Otho, until a series of unexpected victories bring hope.Meanwhile, a former palace slave, Antonia Caenis, returns from Judaea with plans of her own...