The Gates of Rome
Encyclopedia
The Gates Of Rome is the first novel
in the Emperor series, written by author Conn Iggulden
. The series is historical fiction
following the life of Julius Caesar
.
), son of a senator and born of noble-blood, and blood-friend Marcus (Marcus Junius Brutus
), son of a high-class courtesan
(Servilia Caepionis
).
, not only for the nobilitas but also for the slave
population, who revolt and kill Gaius' father during a siege on their villa.
As the two boys begin their careers (Gaius as a senator
and Marcus as a legionary
), a political war is being played out in the senate, between two powerful Generals: Cornelius Sulla and Gaius' uncle Gaius Marius
.
and Marcus grow up as close as brothers, forming a deep and long-lasting friendship. Adopted by Gaius' parents, Marcus grows up alongside the son of a Senator and is trained alongside Gaius by a famous, retired and unbeaten gladiator
named Renius. In preparation for a life served in the legions
serving the Republic
, Renius teaches them not only to use a sword, but how to become weapons themselves. To do this end, some of Renius' training employs near fatal results; both ended up nearly drowning on one particular occasion. As the boys grow up over the years, both start coveting the attention of a particular slave on their home estate named Alexandria.
At the end of their training, Renius seriously wounds Gaius in a training accident; in retaliation Marcus proves his skill with a sword and succeeds in severely damaging Renius' arm. Both Gaius and Renius are saved by the healing talents of a wandering old man named Cabera, a mysterious figure who boasts several extraordinary talents, including the skill of seeing into the future. While Gaius lies injured and unconscious and Renius still weak from his wound, a slave
revolt in Rome spreads to the surrounding estate, and the boys' home is attacked by the rampaging escaped slaves. Renius organizes the defence and almost loses his mind when Tubruk temporarily knocks him out. The slaves inside the estate all choose to help ther owner, including Cabera. The defenders take position on the walls and when nightfalls, the countless horde of slaves arrive. The defenders are hard pressed to repel the attackers with their limited manpower and resources, and Gaius' father and 189 slaves were found killed in the struggle. With his father dead, Gaius becomes head of the household.
In order to survive in the complex and ever-shifting world of Roman politics, Gaius casts his lot in with his uncle Marius
, who agrees to take both Gaius and Marcus under his wing. Marius is a Consul
and one of the two most powerful men in Rome, the other being his great rival Sulla
. After Marius secures a Triumph
for his legion Primigenia "the First borns" through the streets of Rome
, Marcus uses a recommendation from Marius to gain a position in a legion guarding the Roman province of Macedon. After leaving with Renius (who has his injured arm amputated by his brother along the way), Marcus begins to make a name for himself in the Forth Macedonia Legion's centuria:"Bronze Fist".
Meanwhile in Rome, Gaius accompanies Marius on his Triumph through Rome before being confirmed as a Senator in his own right. In his first session he witnesses Marius outwitting Sulla in a voting by sending he and his legion, Second Alaudae off to Greece to put down a rebellion led by the Greek king: Mithridates
(known as the Second Mithridatic War
. After spending a night with Alexandria, Gaius makes a reputation for himself as a serious party-goer, and takes his father's name as his own: Gaius Julius Caesar (hence written Julius instead of Gaius). Sulla quickly defeats Mithridates in Greece, but spares his life on the promise "never to attack Rome as long as he [Sulla] lives", and reveals to his nearby officers that he prefers to the Greek king, which he now knows can be eaisly be defeated and prepare to march on Rome.
With Marius preparing Rome and his legion Primigenia, for the return of Sulla and the inevitable civil war
that would surely follow. Julius eventually falls in love with Cornelia
, daughter of the wealthy and influential Senator Cinna
, and marries her on the morning of Sulla's return. When Sulla strangle arrives in march formation and stops just outside his archers' range, Marius is shocked to discover that Sulla had left behind several of his men in the city and finds himself unable to warn his own men about it, whose attacked by Sullas men from behind, disguised as firefighter slaves. Marius is quickly surrounded by Sulla's men in disguise, although he in vain struggles to free himself, he's brutally beaten and captured. Marius refuses to give up Rome and surrender his legion to Sulla, ordering his men to burn Rome with his last cry..
As the remnants of Primigenia under Orso Ferito & Bar Gallenius, fights a losing battle against the advancing Second Alaudae on the streets of Rome, Julius
is captured in the chaos. Marius' wife commits suicide after freeing Alexandria. Sulla is declared Dictator
and takes vengeance on all All of Marius friends are hunted down,killed and his beloved legion is stamped as traitors and removed from the senate's legion scrolls by order of Sulla. Marius and his supporter's holdings are seized and Rome is still burning. Julius is brought before the victorious dictator, and Sulla offers to spare his life if he divorces Cornelia (thereby damaging the reputation of Cinna) and swears allegiance to him. As the only one of the patrician (called "Nobleii" in the book),Julius refuses and calling for death instead. His courage, defiance and lack of fear impresses Sulla, who orders his release and instead exiles him from the city. To his stunned subordinates Sulla claims that "he [Julius] reminds me too much of myself" and that there "might be two of Marius in him".
With nothing left but his life and his name, Julius signs on with a naval legion where he finds his childhood nemesis Suetonius and swears to return once he is able to avenge his uncle. Unknown to him, Cornelia is pregnant with his child
and has attracted the attention of Sulla. Marcus meanwhile has impressed his superiors with his abilities on the battlefield, and agrees to sign a further contract which includes promotion to the rank of Centurion
. He signs the contract with his full name: Marcus Brutus.
Another example is in the beginning of the book we are introduced to Brutus and Caesar as being both eight years old when in actuality, Caesar is 15 years Brutus' senior.
One of the more controversial aspects of the series is Iggulden's attribution of other people's achievements to Caesar. For example, Caesar is portrayed as having defeated the Catiline
Conspiracy, which was actually the work of Cicero
, who was a significant politician throughout Caesar's life, and is only a minor character in later books such as The Field of Swords and The Gods of War.
The tagline on the front of the paperback version of Gates of Rome read:
"If you liked Gladiator you'll love Emperor" - Sunday Times
Excellent reviews helped Gates of Rome reach number two in the Sunday Times
Best-seller list.
Novel
A novel is a book of long narrative in literary prose. The genre has historical roots both in the fields of the medieval and early modern romance and in the tradition of the novella. The latter supplied the present generic term in the late 18th century....
in the Emperor series, written by author Conn Iggulden
Conn Iggulden
Conn Iggulden is a British author who mainly writes historical fiction. He also co-authored The Dangerous Book for Boys.-Background:...
. The series is historical fiction
Historical fiction
Historical fiction tells a story that is set in the past. That setting is usually real and drawn from history, and often contains actual historical persons, but the principal characters tend to be fictional...
following the life of Julius Caesar
Julius Caesar
Gaius Julius Caesar was a Roman general and statesman and a distinguished writer of Latin prose. He played a critical role in the gradual transformation of the Roman Republic into the Roman Empire....
.
Plot introduction
The first book in the series introduces two young Romans: Gaius (Gaius Julius CaesarJulius Caesar
Gaius Julius Caesar was a Roman general and statesman and a distinguished writer of Latin prose. He played a critical role in the gradual transformation of the Roman Republic into the Roman Empire....
), son of a senator and born of noble-blood, and blood-friend Marcus (Marcus Junius Brutus
Marcus Junius Brutus
Marcus Junius Brutus , often referred to as Brutus, was a politician of the late Roman Republic. After being adopted by his uncle he used the name Quintus Servilius Caepio Brutus, but eventually returned to using his original name...
), son of a high-class courtesan
Courtesan
A courtesan was originally a female courtier, which means a person who attends the court of a monarch or other powerful person.In feudal society, the court was the centre of government as well as the residence of the monarch, and social and political life were often completely mixed together...
(Servilia Caepionis
Servilia Caepionis
Servilia Caepionis was the mistress of Julius Caesar, mother of one of Caesar's assassins, Brutus, mother-in-law of another Caesar assassin, Cassius, and half-sister of Cato the Younger.-Life:...
).
Plot summary
It tells of the harsh realities of life in the Ancient RomeAncient Rome
Ancient Rome was a thriving civilization that grew on the Italian Peninsula as early as the 8th century BC. Located along the Mediterranean Sea and centered on the city of Rome, it expanded to one of the largest empires in the ancient world....
, not only for the nobilitas but also for the slave
Slavery
Slavery is a system under which people are treated as property to be bought and sold, and are forced to work. Slaves can be held against their will from the time of their capture, purchase or birth, and deprived of the right to leave, to refuse to work, or to demand compensation...
population, who revolt and kill Gaius' father during a siege on their villa.
As the two boys begin their careers (Gaius as a senator
Roman Senate
The Senate of the Roman Republic was a political institution in the ancient Roman Republic, however, it was not an elected body, but one whose members were appointed by the consuls, and later by the censors. After a magistrate served his term in office, it usually was followed with automatic...
and Marcus as a legionary
Roman legion
A Roman legion normally indicates the basic ancient Roman army unit recruited specifically from Roman citizens. The organization of legions varied greatly over time but they were typically composed of perhaps 5,000 soldiers, divided into maniples and later into "cohorts"...
), a political war is being played out in the senate, between two powerful Generals: Cornelius Sulla and Gaius' uncle Gaius Marius
Gaius Marius
Gaius Marius was a Roman general and statesman. He was elected consul an unprecedented seven times during his career. He was also noted for his dramatic reforms of Roman armies, authorizing recruitment of landless citizens, eliminating the manipular military formations, and reorganizing the...
.
Full Summary
GaiusJulius Caesar
Gaius Julius Caesar was a Roman general and statesman and a distinguished writer of Latin prose. He played a critical role in the gradual transformation of the Roman Republic into the Roman Empire....
and Marcus grow up as close as brothers, forming a deep and long-lasting friendship. Adopted by Gaius' parents, Marcus grows up alongside the son of a Senator and is trained alongside Gaius by a famous, retired and unbeaten gladiator
Gladiator
A gladiator was an armed combatant who entertained audiences in the Roman Republic and Roman Empire in violent confrontations with other gladiators, wild animals, and condemned criminals. Some gladiators were volunteers who risked their legal and social standing and their lives by appearing in the...
named Renius. In preparation for a life served in the legions
Roman legion
A Roman legion normally indicates the basic ancient Roman army unit recruited specifically from Roman citizens. The organization of legions varied greatly over time but they were typically composed of perhaps 5,000 soldiers, divided into maniples and later into "cohorts"...
serving the Republic
Roman Republic
The Roman Republic was the period of the ancient Roman civilization where the government operated as a republic. It began with the overthrow of the Roman monarchy, traditionally dated around 508 BC, and its replacement by a government headed by two consuls, elected annually by the citizens and...
, Renius teaches them not only to use a sword, but how to become weapons themselves. To do this end, some of Renius' training employs near fatal results; both ended up nearly drowning on one particular occasion. As the boys grow up over the years, both start coveting the attention of a particular slave on their home estate named Alexandria.
At the end of their training, Renius seriously wounds Gaius in a training accident; in retaliation Marcus proves his skill with a sword and succeeds in severely damaging Renius' arm. Both Gaius and Renius are saved by the healing talents of a wandering old man named Cabera, a mysterious figure who boasts several extraordinary talents, including the skill of seeing into the future. While Gaius lies injured and unconscious and Renius still weak from his wound, a slave
Slavery
Slavery is a system under which people are treated as property to be bought and sold, and are forced to work. Slaves can be held against their will from the time of their capture, purchase or birth, and deprived of the right to leave, to refuse to work, or to demand compensation...
revolt in Rome spreads to the surrounding estate, and the boys' home is attacked by the rampaging escaped slaves. Renius organizes the defence and almost loses his mind when Tubruk temporarily knocks him out. The slaves inside the estate all choose to help ther owner, including Cabera. The defenders take position on the walls and when nightfalls, the countless horde of slaves arrive. The defenders are hard pressed to repel the attackers with their limited manpower and resources, and Gaius' father and 189 slaves were found killed in the struggle. With his father dead, Gaius becomes head of the household.
In order to survive in the complex and ever-shifting world of Roman politics, Gaius casts his lot in with his uncle Marius
Gaius Marius
Gaius Marius was a Roman general and statesman. He was elected consul an unprecedented seven times during his career. He was also noted for his dramatic reforms of Roman armies, authorizing recruitment of landless citizens, eliminating the manipular military formations, and reorganizing the...
, who agrees to take both Gaius and Marcus under his wing. Marius is a Consul
Roman consul
A consul served in the highest elected political office of the Roman Republic.Each year, two consuls were elected together, to serve for a one-year term. Each consul was given veto power over his colleague and the officials would alternate each month...
and one of the two most powerful men in Rome, the other being his great rival Sulla
Lucius Cornelius Sulla
Lucius Cornelius Sulla Felix , known commonly as Sulla, was a Roman general and statesman. He had the rare distinction of holding the office of consul twice, as well as that of dictator...
. After Marius secures a Triumph
Roman triumph
The Roman triumph was a civil ceremony and religious rite of ancient Rome, held to publicly celebrate and sanctify the military achievement of an army commander who had won great military successes, or originally and traditionally, one who had successfully completed a foreign war. In Republican...
for his legion Primigenia "the First borns" through the streets of Rome
Rome
Rome is the capital of Italy and the country's largest and most populated city and comune, with over 2.7 million residents in . The city is located in the central-western portion of the Italian Peninsula, on the Tiber River within the Lazio region of Italy.Rome's history spans two and a half...
, Marcus uses a recommendation from Marius to gain a position in a legion guarding the Roman province of Macedon. After leaving with Renius (who has his injured arm amputated by his brother along the way), Marcus begins to make a name for himself in the Forth Macedonia Legion's centuria:"Bronze Fist".
Meanwhile in Rome, Gaius accompanies Marius on his Triumph through Rome before being confirmed as a Senator in his own right. In his first session he witnesses Marius outwitting Sulla in a voting by sending he and his legion, Second Alaudae off to Greece to put down a rebellion led by the Greek king: Mithridates
Mithridates VI of Pontus
Mithridates VI or Mithradates VI Mithradates , from Old Persian Mithradatha, "gift of Mithra"; 134 BC – 63 BC, also known as Mithradates the Great and Eupator Dionysius, was king of Pontus and Armenia Minor in northern Anatolia from about 120 BC to 63 BC...
(known as the Second Mithridatic War
Second Mithridatic War
The Second Mithridatic War was one of three wars fought between Pontus and the Roman Republic. The second Mithridatic war was fought between King Mithridates VI of Pontus and the Roman general Lucius Licinius Murena....
. After spending a night with Alexandria, Gaius makes a reputation for himself as a serious party-goer, and takes his father's name as his own: Gaius Julius Caesar (hence written Julius instead of Gaius). Sulla quickly defeats Mithridates in Greece, but spares his life on the promise "never to attack Rome as long as he [Sulla] lives", and reveals to his nearby officers that he prefers to the Greek king, which he now knows can be eaisly be defeated and prepare to march on Rome.
With Marius preparing Rome and his legion Primigenia, for the return of Sulla and the inevitable civil war
Sulla's second civil war
Sulla's second civil war was one of a series of civil wars of ancient Rome. It was fought between Lucius Cornelius Sulla and Gaius Marius the younger in 82 BC.-Prelude:...
that would surely follow. Julius eventually falls in love with Cornelia
Cornelia Cinna minor
Cornelia Cinnilla , daughter of Lucius Cornelius Cinna , and a sister to suffect consul Lucius Cornelius Cinna, was married to Gaius Julius Caesar, who would become one of Rome's greatest conquerors and its dictator...
, daughter of the wealthy and influential Senator Cinna
Lucius Cornelius Cinna
Lucius Cornelius Cinna was a four-time consul of the Roman Republic, serving four consecutive terms from 87 to 84 BC, and a member of the ancient Roman Cinna family of the Cornelii gens....
, and marries her on the morning of Sulla's return. When Sulla strangle arrives in march formation and stops just outside his archers' range, Marius is shocked to discover that Sulla had left behind several of his men in the city and finds himself unable to warn his own men about it, whose attacked by Sullas men from behind, disguised as firefighter slaves. Marius is quickly surrounded by Sulla's men in disguise, although he in vain struggles to free himself, he's brutally beaten and captured. Marius refuses to give up Rome and surrender his legion to Sulla, ordering his men to burn Rome with his last cry..
As the remnants of Primigenia under Orso Ferito & Bar Gallenius, fights a losing battle against the advancing Second Alaudae on the streets of Rome, Julius
Julius
The gens Julia was one of the most ancient patrician families at Ancient Rome. Members of the gens attained the highest dignities of the state in the earliest times of the Republic. The first of the family to obtain the consulship was Gaius Julius Iulus in 489 BC...
is captured in the chaos. Marius' wife commits suicide after freeing Alexandria. Sulla is declared Dictator
Roman dictator
In the Roman Republic, the dictator , was an extraordinary magistrate with the absolute authority to perform tasks beyond the authority of the ordinary magistrate . The office of dictator was a legal innovation originally named Magister Populi , i.e...
and takes vengeance on all All of Marius friends are hunted down,killed and his beloved legion is stamped as traitors and removed from the senate's legion scrolls by order of Sulla. Marius and his supporter's holdings are seized and Rome is still burning. Julius is brought before the victorious dictator, and Sulla offers to spare his life if he divorces Cornelia (thereby damaging the reputation of Cinna) and swears allegiance to him. As the only one of the patrician (called "Nobleii" in the book),Julius refuses and calling for death instead. His courage, defiance and lack of fear impresses Sulla, who orders his release and instead exiles him from the city. To his stunned subordinates Sulla claims that "he [Julius] reminds me too much of myself" and that there "might be two of Marius in him".
With nothing left but his life and his name, Julius signs on with a naval legion where he finds his childhood nemesis Suetonius and swears to return once he is able to avenge his uncle. Unknown to him, Cornelia is pregnant with his child
Julia Caesaris
Julia Caesaris is the name of all women in the Julii Caesares patrician family , since feminine names were their father's gens and cognomen declined in the female form...
and has attracted the attention of Sulla. Marcus meanwhile has impressed his superiors with his abilities on the battlefield, and agrees to sign a further contract which includes promotion to the rank of Centurion
Centurion
A centurion was a professional officer of the Roman army .Centurion may also refer to:-Military:* Centurion tank, British battle tank* HMS Centurion, name of several ships and a shore base of the British Royal Navy...
. He signs the contract with his full name: Marcus Brutus.
Literary significance & criticism
At times, Iggulden drifts away from historical accuracy for the purposes of storytelling, especially where the war between Marius and Sulla is concerned where fantasy is entered into, although he does explain his reason in an historical note at the end of the book. His main defence is that we don't have enough historical information especially of Caesar's childhood but still he makes huge compromises. For example in his book Caesar is the only child, when actually he had 2 sisters.Another example is in the beginning of the book we are introduced to Brutus and Caesar as being both eight years old when in actuality, Caesar is 15 years Brutus' senior.
One of the more controversial aspects of the series is Iggulden's attribution of other people's achievements to Caesar. For example, Caesar is portrayed as having defeated the Catiline
Catiline
Lucius Sergius Catilina , known in English as Catiline, was a Roman politician of the 1st century BC who is best known for the Catiline conspiracy, an attempt to overthrow the Roman Republic, and in particular the power of the aristocratic Senate.-Family background:Catiline was born in 108 BC to...
Conspiracy, which was actually the work of Cicero
Cicero
Marcus Tullius Cicero , was a Roman philosopher, statesman, lawyer, political theorist, and Roman constitutionalist. He came from a wealthy municipal family of the equestrian order, and is widely considered one of Rome's greatest orators and prose stylists.He introduced the Romans to the chief...
, who was a significant politician throughout Caesar's life, and is only a minor character in later books such as The Field of Swords and The Gods of War.
The tagline on the front of the paperback version of Gates of Rome read:
"If you liked Gladiator you'll love Emperor" - Sunday Times
Excellent reviews helped Gates of Rome reach number two in the Sunday Times
The Sunday Times (UK)
The Sunday Times is a Sunday broadsheet newspaper, distributed in the United Kingdom. The Sunday Times is published by Times Newspapers Ltd, a subsidiary of News International, which is in turn owned by News Corporation. Times Newspapers also owns The Times, but the two papers were founded...
Best-seller list.