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THE OLD REPUBLIC
The system of abuse and excesses of Crassus Daia began in 112bc, after the defeat of the armies of Sarius Carus and Pertinax Carus. It was the third civil war in forty years, and they were taking their toll upon the Empire. Crassus used his cronies Braeus Sabaco, Antoninus Varro, and the young Augustus Aelius to achieve his military success. Crassus was an uninspired leader and made a poor head of state.
Despite valiant efforts by Publius Rufo and Marcellus Servo in the Senate, Crassus' reign of indifference and harsh autocracy continued without impediment. A new character, more ambitious than Braeus and more gifted than Antoninus began to emerge. Pertinax Veno, once a lowly officer, had been recalled to Rome to reorganize the Praefectury.
Balbus Rhesus and Scipio Lucinius Pollio bitterly rejected their replacement. Pertinax did, however, the finest job that could be expected. Antoninus and Braeus began to question Pertinax's true loyalties, but Crassus felt nothing but approval for the young man. This favoritism would lead to Crassus' death in 99bc.
THE TORRENT, THE TRIUMVERATE, AND THE END
The end of Crassus began with yet another war against Gaul in 106bc. Only this time it was aided by Macedonia. Four long and bitter years of war narrowly averted a serious Roman defeat. Gaul was held in check, Illyrica was saved, and part of Dalmatia was now occupied as a buffer. Augustus Aelius had brought this great success to Rome and his name began to grow now which deeply worried Pertinax who saw himself as Crassus' obvious successor.
Pertinax had increasingly turned the hierarchy against the aged and corrupt Crassus. Pertinax needed to take command of the Empire before rivals such as Marcellus Servo and Augustus Aelius could challenge his authority. Antoninus Varro and Braeus Sabaco openly challenged the dictator, and supported Pertinax. By 100bc civil war was in full effect, but within a year the armies of Crassus Daia were defeated, and the old dictator took his own life on January 27th, 99bc.
There was no simple exchange of power. In the following year, known as the Time of Torrents, Marcellus Servo, Augustus Aelius, most of the senate, and many other supporters of Crassus Daia, the senate, and Augustus Aelius all ended up murdered.
Pertinax Veno, by 91bc had murdered countless dozens of people who could stand in the way of his complete and total power. Braeus Sabaco became the final target, but not before Braeus no longer agreed to allow Pertinax to share the now biumvirate after the death of Antoninus Varro in 95bc.
Braeus Sabaco had only one person to turn to for help in leading the armies against Pertinax. His family was unknown, but his talent was brilliant. His name was Julius Aetus and he was adopted by Braeus Sabaco as Antoninus Maxus.
THE COMING OF ANTONINUS
Antoninus Maxus was born Julius Aetus in Campania in 119 bc. He went on to become famous fighting against the Carthaginians in Sicilia and Hispania during the consulship of Gabus Fleccius, a secondary to Antoninus Varro, who was a well known Roman Patrician. The triumvirate was a noble and honorable, or so it seemed. Shortly after its installment in 99bc, Pertinax Veno began a reign of vicious dictatorship often overpowering Braeus Sabaco and Antoninus Varro. In 95bc, when Varro took offense at Pertinax's vicious ways, he ended up dead on the counts of treason and conspiracy.
In 91bc, Braeus challenged Pertinax' authority bringing about another civil war. All seemed lost with the overwhelming numbers in Pertinax Veno's favor, but fate is a tricky thing. Julius Aetus, whose Patrician name became Antoninus Maxus or Antoninus the most powerful when he was adopted by Braeus Sabaco in 90bc, raised his meager 2 legions against the dictator Veno at a battle called Corbae. Though Antoninus was defeated, this show of will to ouster the dictator was well noticed. Soon other generals such as Marius Aelius and Cassius Manus rose to help Antoninus. By end of five years of civil war, Pertinax Veno was executed and general elections for consulship were to be announced.
Antoninus claimed flaws in the Consular system and through military power, he dissolved the senate, and made the first consul something of a King, only without being a blood monarch. The consulship would still be elected, but would have supreme command as no senate or government could go above the decree of the Emperor as it was now called. Antoninus' plan was met with harsh criticism of the old Patrician house at the Caephine Forum. Antoninus stormed the site and arrested and put to death hundreds of Patricians and Senators who were determined to "save the republic". Antoninus claimed the new system a republic as there would be no blood monarchy and those whom were wise agreed. The people of Rome awed by his power and force of will voted him to be first consul or now Emperor and so began the birth and growth from infancy of the Roman Empire as it is today.
Antoninus was coronated Emperor of Rome and all of her dominion or Empire on February the twenty second, 84bc, in Rome. He had, in less than six years, defeated Pertinax Veno, put down the senate and the aristocracy, defeated the Republican sentiment in the Patricianry, and had become Emperor of Rome.
THE FIRST EMPEROR REIGNS
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As Antoninus Maxus' reign began, the people of Rome looked forward to a new era of prosperity. The government's authority was reestablished throughout the empire. Verius Pollio was appointed Prima Legatus and a new Senate was formed. Reforms abounded and the new emperor enjoyed a high level of popularity. Supports of the regime claimed that Antoninus' new Imperial Republican system would forever end the feuding of the old Republic. It appeared that they were correct, but animosity and intrigue continued to exist beneath a facade of unity and patriotism. These hidden fractures would later explode, but for the time they remained static. Following the vicious Civil War, the people of Rome welcomed even a temporary pax. The first real challenge of the new emperor's reign came when the economy imploded. The Senate under their new Proconsulus Postumus Varro worked to improve the financial situation, and Postumus' power increased as his marriage with Drusilla Maxus brought him into the emperor's extended family.
To further complicate matters, the province of Hispania prepared for open rebellion against Roman authority. Diplomacy failed and war loomed with Hispania, Gaul and Macedonia. Fortunately the empire did not lack skilled commanders. Antoninus Maxus was himself an experienced soldier and he appointed as Praetors of his armies the famed Marius Aelius and the young but ruthless Tomidius Servo. Tomidius was to attack Hispania and Gaul while Marius would fight in the east. In the city of Rome itself tension grew and riots were common. Cassius Varro, brother of Postumus, was incriminated by his brother the Proconsulus and executed alongside several other senior officials. Antoninus felt threatened as never before and was willing to take no chances. The young and cunning Postumus Varro replaced Verius Pollio as Prima Legatus and heir to the throne of the Imperial Respublica.
The war in the east began on a shameful note with a Roman defeat at Cada. Marius was having trouble withstanding combined Macedonian, Dacian and Thracian onslaughts with his six legions and it was clear that reinforcements were needed in the Dalmatia. And so Tomidius Servo's western army launched an all out attack on Hispania. In a surprisingly short period of time resistance crumbled and the Imperium was restored over the Iberian peninsula; Tomidius next prepared to attack Gaul. The "Gallic War" began with an outstanding Roman victory and brought hope to the empire. But back in Rome tensions were still high. Old-style Republicans clashed with Imperialist and the economy remained frail. Commodus Servo, the new Proconsulus, was considered inept and a puppet of Antoninus by some elements of the populace. After only months in office he was found dead in his home, murdered by his opponents. More politicians were killed in mob violence and the people reacted furiously to the Emperor's proposal to grant citizenship to the provinces. Meanwhile Tomidius Servo continued to crush resistance in Gaul and finally good news came from the east; Marius Aelius had won a great strategic victory over Macedonia, despite very heavy Roman losses. Such high levels of success abroad paired with a deteriorating situation in Rome led to a decrease in the power of Antoninus Maxus and foreshadowed future conflict. Acedus Julianus and Marcus Dio were executed following an attempt to steal millions from the Imperial treasury. This in itself was not so remarkable, but when the Emperor learned that Praetor Marius Aelius was behind the attempt he knew that Rome should brace itself for a major military rebellion. The die had been cast. The Imperial Republic was about to face its first Civil War.
Marius began his campaign to overthrow Antoninus by purging his own ranks of Imperial loyalists. He then succeeded in negotiating a peace with Macedonia. Turning on Rome with seven veteran legions, Marius Aelius commanded a formidable force. Antoninus Maxus was facing an unprecedented amount of pressure within Rome and it seemed that his defeat was likely. But fortunately for the Emperor and his supporters, Tomidius Servo refused to join Marius or even remain neutral. Tomidius' legions prepared to counter the rebellious army. In a series of decisive maneuvers Marius' forces moved into Italia, occupied Ostia, and prepared for a possible attack on Rome. The Praetor was now in a position to strike against the city and overthrow Antoninus the "Tyrant". But unfortunately for Marius the common people did not rally to his side. Antoninus Maxus was not particularly popular but the Populus Romanus stood with him more out of fear of Marius than love for the Emperor. An initial assault by Tomidius on the rebellious forces ended in a draw, buying time for Marius. Postumus Varro met Marius Aelius but his diplomacy and arguments were not successful; now all Romans knew that the Civil War would be fought to a bloody end.
A second Imperial assault on Marius' forces in Ostia was to be the most decisive battle in the Civil War. A clever ploy by Verius Thrax deceived the rebels into believing that the Senate and many others had turned against Antoninus. But when he was attacked the next day Marius learned that they had been wrong. General Manlius Varro, a key member of the rebel legions, defected and the rebel forces suffered a major defeat. Marius Aelius retreated north to regroup but he was pursued by an unrelenting Tomidius. Bold actions by loyalist troops in Hispania eliminated the Iberian provinces as a source of recruitment for Marius and the Praetor's fortunes continued to deteriorate. Finally Avignon became the scene of an incredibly bloody and decisive battle. Marius Aelius died fighting with his men, but only after inflicting devastating losses on Imperial forces. All rebels who surrendered were executed by Tomidius. It was 80 BC, only four years after the coronation of Antoninus Maxus.
Now began the long and painful process of rebuilding a devastated empire. Tomidius Servo had confirmed himself as a loyal, if ruthless, supporter of the Emperor and the old soldier Turpillius Castus was called out of retirement to serve. Turpillius was sent to crush the Gauls for once and for all. The new Praetor imposed harsh conditions on his troops and prepared to strike at the Gallic warriors in a series of overwhelming offensives. He was successful in inflicting heavy casualties in several successive battles but only after thousands of Roman soldiers had lost their lives. Seen as a failure, many called for Turpillius to be replaced but Military Consulus and Prima Legatus Postumus Varro retained confidence in him. The next year he reinitiated the Roman offensive and, after some setbacks, was successful in breaking Gallic resistance. At the battle of Carthanis Rome won an astounding victory. New campaigns were launched against rebels in Hispania as well and the Imperium seemed to be finally on the road back to prosperity.
By 76 BC Roman conquest of Hispania and Gaul was complete. Antoninus agreed to generous peace terms. Notable Romans were appointed as Governors-General; Verius would govern Gaul and Pontus Servo would governor Africa. Tomidius Servo was recalled to Rome to act as Secondo Legatus and Postumus Varro's influence over the emperor increased. Then began the final chapter of the reign of Antoninus Maxus. Baerana Sabaco, Antoninus' wife and the popular Proconsulus, died and was replaced by Suvius Maxus. The Black Faction emerged during this period as an underground anarchist organization. Politicians were struck dead in seemingly random assassinations. Tomidius Servo responded decisively, arresting dozens of notable Romans. Senator Marcus Agrippa was the highest ranking victim of the arrests; he strongly denied any involvement with the faction and many Romans believed him. After a year of intense fear throughout the establishment, the crisis cooled and a few were found guilty of affiliation with the Faction and executed or imprisoned for long terms. The other prisoners were released. Antoninus concluded that the "Black Faction" was the work of a small group of fanatics and it seemed that he was right. Justice triumphed. Only shortly afterwards Quintillius Marcus Agrippa replaced Suvius Maxus as Proconsulus; he would continue to hold the office for decades to come. As the menace of the Black Faction receded few could imagine that the Empire would soon see a period of overwhelming change.
A boarder war with Aegyptus raged in Africa and Rome invaded Macedonia. Antoninus Maxus was old and feeble and became increasingly reliant on Postumus to run the war for him. Tomidius saw that the emperor was dying and "furthered" the process. Peace favorable to Rome was forced upon Macedonia and Postumus Varro, fresh from success in the east, claimed the throne. He was not immediately coronated but he did install an old friend as Secondo Legatus, Gnaeus Sabaco. Tomidius was in turn promoted to Prima-elect. A new era of Roman history had come.
