Episode with
Historical Details
As
Caecilius and is master Titus returned from the Curia after an important
meeting there was a tension in the air. Caecilius knew when to leave his master
and friend alone and this was one of those times. Titus went into his bedroom
and tore of his Toga praetexta. Titus had been a curule magistrate for the past
year but he was becoming increasingly upset with the ever strengthening power
of Julius Caesar. Ever since the death of Pompey the great just a few years ago
Titus knew he was going to have little choice but to follow the orders of
Caesar. It was not just Titus, everyone in Rome was under the power of Caesar.
This pained him because he like his father was a traditionalist and did not
like the way that the republic was heading. He wanted things to return to how
they were some years ago when his father was a magistrate.
Earlier
this year news had returned to Rome of yet another victory for Caesar and his
Army. His latest conquest took place in southern Spain where he defeated Pompey
the younger and Titus Labienus. Pompey the younger was then executed which left
the optimate forces all but vanquished. Titus had just come from meeting at the
Curia where the magistrates were debating whether Caesar should be granted the
title of dictator for life. This was something that Titus was highly opposed to
but it seemed that he was going to have little choice in the matter which gave
him a helpless feeling. Despite his dislike of Caesar he could not help but be
impressed with what he had been able to accomplish. Earlier this year when he
had been named consul without colleague Titus wondered how long Caesar could
maintain this type of power. It now looked like there was no end in sight for
him as the sole leader of the republic.
