Throne of the Caesars 01 - Iron and Rust

DEDICATION

T
O
E
WEN
B
OWIE,
M
IRIAM
G
RIFFIN

AND
R
OBIN
L
ANE
F
OX

Our history now descends from a kingdom of gold to one of iron and rust.

CASSIUS DIO LXXII.36.4

There have never been such earthquakes and plagues, or tyrants and kings with such unexpected careers, which were rarely if ever recorded before.

HERODIAN I.I.4

CONTENTS

C
OVER

T
ITLE
P
AGE

D
EDICATION

E
PIGRAPH

M
APS

T
HE
R
OMAN
E
MPIRE
AD
235–8

T
HE
C
ENTRE OF
R
OME

A
FRICA
P
ROCONSULARIS

T
HE
N
ORTHERN
F
RONTIER

T
HE
E
AST

C
AST OF
M
AIN
C
HARACTERS

I
RON &
R
UST

C
HAPTER
1

C
HAPTER
2

C
HAPTER
3

C
HAPTER
4

C
HAPTER
5

C
HAPTER
6

C
HAPTER
7

C
HAPTER
8

C
HAPTER
9

C
HAPTER
10

C
HAPTER
11

C
HAPTER
12

C
HAPTER
13

C
HAPTER
14

C
HAPTER
15

C
HAPTER
16

C
HAPTER
17

C
HAPTER
18

C
HAPTER
19

C
HAPTER
20

C
HAPTER
21

C
HAPTER
22

C
HAPTER
23

C
HAPTER
24

C
HAPTER
25

C
HAPTER
26

C
HAPTER
27

C
HAPTER
28

C
HAPTER
29

C
HAPTER
30

C
HAPTER
31

C
HAPTER
32

C
HAPTER
33

C
HAPTER
34

C
HAPTER
35

C
HAPTER
36

C
HAPTER
37

H
ISTORICAL
A
FTERWORD

G
LOSSARY

T
HANKS

L
IST OF
C
HARACTERS

A
BOUT THE
A
UTHOR

A
LSO BY
H
ARRY
S
IDEBOTTOM

C
OPYRIGHT

A
BOUT THE
P
UBLISHER

C
AST OF
M
AIN
C
HARACTERS
 
 
(A
COMPREHENSIVE LIST APPEARS AT THE END OF THE BOOK
)

IN THE NORTH

Alexander Severus
: The Emperor

Mamaea
: His mother

Petronius Magnus
: An imperial councillor

Flavius Vopiscus
: Senatorial governor of Pannonia Superior

Honoratus
: Senatorial commander of the troops detached from Moesia Inferior

Catius Clemens
: Senatorial commander of the 8th legion in Germania Superior

Maximinus Thrax
: An equestrian army officer

Caecilia Paulina
: His wife

Maximus
: Their son

Anullinus
: An equestrian army officer

Volo
: The commander of the
frumentarii

Domitius
: The Prefect of the Camp

Julius Capitolinus
: Equestrian commander of 2nd legion
Parthica

Macedo
: An equestrian army officer

Timesitheus
: Equestrian acting-governor of Germania Inferior

Tranquillina
: His wife

Sabinus Modestus
: His cousin

IN ROME

Pupienus
: The Prefect of the City

Pupienus Maximus
: His elder son

Pupienus Africanus
: His younger son

Gallicanus
: A Senator of Cynic views

Maecenas
: His intimate friend

Balbinus
: A patrician of dissolute ways

Iunia Fadilla
: A young widow, descended from Marcus Aurelius

Perpetua
: Her friend, wife of Serenianus, governor of Cappadocia

The die-cutter
: A workman in the Mint

Castricius
: His young and disreputable neighbour

Caenis
: A prostitute visited by both

IN AFRICA

Gordian the Elder
: Senatorial governor of Africa Proconsularis