Senator Darius Julianus had spent the night previous night in the Castra Praetoria under the protection of Prefect Gaius Varro. After his false imprisonment by Consul Vibius Varro’ private Praetorian bodyguard, Darius had been sent over to the Castra Praetoria, the barracks of the Praetorian Guard located to the west of Rome, outside the city walls. There Prefect Gaius Varro had taken command of the situation and placed the Senator under his protection.

That night Darius watched the smoke raise from behind the city walls into the sky. This made him anxious as he wondered if Consul Vibius had made a move on the legions of Augustus Tiberius or even worse, the Praetorian were moving against his supporters in the simple insulae districts of Rome. It would take many hours before a tired Darius Julianus would fall asleep that night, fearful of what might happen the next day.

It was early morning when Aedile Quinus Vitellius and Senator Darius Julianus were reunited, having spent the night in different sections of the barracks. Gaius informed them of their release and pledged a bodyguard for both of them if they wished it. Darius was pleased to see that Consul Vibius Varro’s arrest of the Populares deputies had been seen as unjustified by the Praetorian Prefect. After some words from Consul Publius Varro, who later arrived, the Prefect decided to let Darius and Quinus go rather than see more of the cities businesses burn to the ground. The sudden arrests of the two men had sent crowds of lower-class plebeians into riot mode, burning shops belonging to Vibius Varro and other members of his faction throughout the city in retaliation.

Using ink and paper supplied by Gaius, Darius set out to immediately help restore order to the city. He scribbled orders to the Populares district leaders informing them that he and Quinus were alive and well. His message read; “Romans, sorry that this is written in haste, but I must leave the city soon. I have been released earlier today by Gaius Varro. I shall now take the four legions that Augustus Julianus has raised out of the city and march them south to Bovillae, to avoid any possible bloodshed. Once I see to the billeting and safety of the legions, I shall return to Rome to be with my dearest friends, the people of Rome, who have done so much for me in the past night.”

When Darius was finished with the quick notes, he set off for the insulae complex near Augustus Julianus’ house where the four legions raised by the late Legatus Imperatoris were waiting. Quinus soon left afterwards with the letters, and headed off to find Senator Disius, who was taking in Qunius’s family and sending them from Rome for safety.

Senator Darius travelled along now, the risks were great, but they would be even greater if he travelled in escorting provoking a already volatile situation. Arriving at the Colline Gate he found it barred and the Praetorians refused to allow him entrance. Darius now remembered that Quinus had informed him that he would be re-entering the city from the Appian Way to the south. There he found the gates closed as well, but manned by the Urban Cohorts who let him pass, but not before taxing him of the small allowance which Gaius had given him to see to his safe return to Rome as he had not taken a bodyguard.

Entering the city he decided to head for Quinus domus to see if he had returned to the city and if not, to at least inform his wife of his safety. Upon arrival he was a little shocked to see perhaps thirty Praetorian Guard surrounding the medium sized dwelling. Apparently, he later learned, Publius had convinced the Prefect to give guards to the young Aedile for protection. Darius was greeted most enthusiastically by Quinus as he entered the home.

“Darius, I need to speak with you. It is important, private.” Quinus placed his hand on Darius’s back and escorted him to a room unoccupied by guards or family. He asked what Quinus needed, time was short if bloodshed was to be prevented.

“My slaves have been busy, as you know; running around the town informing people of our arrest… not that it wasn’t in public.” Then Quinus laughed; they were arrested in the forum after all! Quinus continued. “My slaves have come upon many rumors overnight, regarding a member of our own party. It seems Manlius Thrax is a spy, or so they have heard, and that he is in the pay of a legate from the north. I have heard that is an informant for Vibius… I wanted to tell you, and let you know that I have already taken the liberty of dispatching a note to him informing him of his removal from the Populares party.”

Darius didn’t look surprised. “I knew he was a snake, I knew it. Well let’s not make a big deal out of it right now, it is a rumour after all. But! Now that it’s being spread, we must take caution. I myself am on my way to the Legatus Imperatoris’ residence to organise the legions raised by the Augustus Julianus and march out of the city. You are welcome to come, friend.” Darius reached out and grasped Quinus’s shoulder. “I think you would be safer outside the city, with your family. Maybe Tacitus has the right idea.” Quinus politely declined. “Despite the current situation, one of us needs to remain in the city to lead the people in the right direction.” Darius nodded in agreement and went on his way to the palace. “Look after our people, don’t let Vibius arrest anymore of them”

The fires on the city skyline of Rome and the many rumours flowing through the palace had made the legionaries nervous. Most had spent the night awake expecting the Praetorian Guard to attack their insulae compounds and put them all to the sword for their part in Augusts Julianus’ private little army. Instead, to the surprise of them all, Senator Darius Julianus arrived, alone on horse which had been provided to him by Quinus.

The populist senator spent over an hour explaining to the Tribunes and Centurions the events of the night before, of Augustus’ death in suspicious circumstances and of his own arrest by Vibius. Darius had no military experience other then being a Julianus, so fortunately these were the “private” legions of a Julianus. It was now up to Darius to save these fledgling legions. The two leading Julianus family heads had died in quick succession, first Sarius in Germania and now Augustus in Rome. The current Julianus family head, Augustus Tiberius, was in Germania and wouldn’t hear of this for sometime. It was up to Darius.

In reality the men assembled barely amounted to one regular legion. They were the cadre of the four legions. They had their Eagles, standard bearers, musicians and Centurions. There were ceveral centuries in each cadre, but they lacked enough men to put up any serious contest for the city. Despite the shortfall of troops, that afternoon came about with Senator Darius Julianus and the senior Centurions forming up the legions in a plaza adjourning the late Legatus Imperatoris’ house for a march south out of the city.

The Urban Cohort guardsmen and Praetorians that Darius had passed by on his way in earlier that day ordered the small army to stop. They disarmed the few men who were equipped with weapons, and then opened the gates, letting the tiny little private army march out of the city. Darius was loyal to the emperor, and determined to keep the legions alive and ready for whatever lay ahead in the future of Rome. The small army was heading for Bovillae, not seven miles from Rome, Darius could see to their safety and return to Rome later that evening to be questioned by the Senate.

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By: Tullius Quinus Vitellius and Marcus Darius Julianus


AD 47