The events in this story take place in the year of 45 BCE in the ancient city of Rome. It is an exciting time for the republic as Julius Caesar and his army have just returned from a deciding victory over the Pompeians in the long and bloody civil war. Although glad to be victorious the Roman public has begun to grow wary of Caesar and his most recent extravagant celebrations provide no solace for Rome’s citizens. There is a distinct aura of social and political change in the air and it seems as if this moment in time is a turning point for the future of the republic.
Amadeus, a former slave from the Etrurian region, was freed upon his return to Rome for his heroic acts of valor and bravery in the civil war. Raised as a slave, Amadeus was forced to embrace his position within society. He is a fairly intelligent and educated individual even though his social position is largely deemed other wards. His newfound freedom has granted him liberties previously unknown to him and although gracious, Amadeus is dissatisfied with the social structure of Roman society and his position within it. Not quite a respected citizen and no longer a slave, the personal toil that Amadeus experiences drives him to search for some sort of personal gratification. Finding this gratification in the form of public speaking, he soon becomes a notable figure in Rome’s circle of political philosophers. His preaching gains the attention of significant political figures and his teachings grow to become the basis of a significant political movement. Amadeus unexpectedly soon found himself as the leader of a dramatic revolt in roman social culture as both slaves and freedmen rely upon his teachings for reform and leadership in a quickly changing Roman society.
