Nero 28

By Pueros

Chapter XXVIII - Suicides

(Imperial palace, Rome, dies Martis A.D. III Id. Feb. DCCCII A.V.C., in the 8th year of the reign of the Emperor Claudius [Tuesday, 11th February, AD 49])

‘Nemo autem regere potest nisi qui et regi.’

(‘But nobody can rule who cannot also be ruled.’)

- Seneca the Younger (‘De Ira’)

“Suicide,” suggested the naked Narcissus, who was lying in bed with the handsome and similarly nude Doryphoros next to him, “it’s simply suicide for the Emperor to marry again, especially to that conniving woman! I know, from furtively observing Agrippina over the years, that she not only has no respect for the Princeps but also actually finds him both ridiculous and repulsive. It’s clear that she wants to wed her uncle only to acquire power. I additionally suspect that she’ll play her new role with far greater dangerous skilful subtlety than Messalina ever did, thereby undoubtedly, for her own ends, endangering us, her husband and his son, and probably ultimately the very Empire itself!”

“What’s particularly sinister,” the Imperial secretary continued, “is the arrival on the scene of her obnoxious offspring as the new stepson of the Emperor and the implications this might have for the future succession. I’m sure that Britannicus, who represents his father’s true bloodline, remains favourite in the Princeps’ eyes to inherit the purple but he’s over three years younger than Lucius Domitius Ahenobarbus, who’ll thereby reach manhood that much earlier than his new stepbrother. If Claudius doesn’t survive to see his son gain his toga virilis, that age gap might prove unfortunate, especially if Agrippina outlives her husband and, after earlier using her new position to improve her power base in Rome, is subsequently around to manipulate matters. As she’s 25 years younger than her aging spouse, I truly fear that she’ll succeed in terms of longevity and will additionally indeed use her new situation to acquire important allies at court, amongst the Praetorians and in the Senate, to influence the inheritance. For some unknown reason, she’s already popular with the plebeian mob.”

“Suicide,” repeated Narcissus with maintained deep melancholy, “because I worry for the Emperor’s own life if he marries Agrippina. I’m sure that, when she feels secure enough, she’d have no compunction in quietly bumping off her husband in order to further her aims. After all, it’s rumoured that she poisoned her own last spouse, Sallustius Passienus Crispus, to get her hands on his riches. What would such a woman do to gain an Empire?”

A vision of Britannicus’ sweet face then flashed through Narcissus’ mind. The Imperial secretary appreciated that the boy would not long survive the successful usurpation of the purple by Agrippina and her son, if normal bloody family practice was followed. The freedman had attended the delightful young prince’s 8th birthday celebration earlier in the day. It was an occasion when both had first heard the awful news about the proposed wedding, which the Emperor had deliberately kept from his offspring and principal servant, being rightfully fearful of diplomatic but nevertheless stringent admonition from the pair for his hapless decision.

Agrippina’s willingness to let Claudius finally consummate his passion for her, during their meeting on the previous evening, had come at what would, for many, turn out to be a terrible price, namely a promise elicited from the Emperor to marry his voluptuous niece. The fact that such union would currently be considered legal incest bothered neither, as both knew that the Senate could easily be manipulated to alter the relevant law speedily.

In the event, given Narcissus’ known dislike for a union between Claudius and Agrippina, the Emperor, at his niece’s suggestion, bypassed the Imperial secretary in respect of securing the change. Delegation of the task of influencing Senatorial minds was instead given to the highly capable Pallas, the Imperial treasurer being both a secret lover and the chief court ally of the bride-to-be.

“Suicide!” mumbled Narcissus unhappily once more. However, Doryphoros decided to try to terminate his patron’s depression, at least temporarily, by beginning to suck the Imperial secretary’s cock, which had softened after earlier impregnating the handsome young man’s rectum with much sperm.

I learnt about this conversation when Doryphoros eventually left the luxurious quarters of Narcissus, now sleepy soundly after his lover's successful act of fellatio, to make a late trip to see Helius. The latter, during his unexpected visit to Rome, was currently sharing the palace accommodation allocated to his older brother and me. I had been discharged early from Claudius’ service because the Emperor was spending time with his betrothed, who had remained at the palace after Britannicus’ birthday celebration. I presumed that Agrippina was currently rewarding her husband-to-be for announcing their engagement by providing him with further sexual favours.

Meanwhile, Gaius and I, as well as Apollinus and Petronius, had already enjoyed our daily liaisons. When sexual indulgance did not intrude, the conversations of the respective pairings centred round the wooing of Claudius by Agrippina and of Helius by Doryphoros.

It had been obvious to us all that Doryphoros, barely 20 years of age, was beginning an earnest courtship of the delectable 14 year-old Helius, although everyone was too polite to remark on this development. We might have done if we felt that the newly enriched assistant to the Imperial secretary was unworthy of the boy. However, none of us believed this to be the case, all instead perceiving an inherent decency of character and, if you disregard the sexual motivation, intent in the clearly freshly infatuated young freedman.

Accordingly, no comments were made when Helius returned to our quarters after going off with Doryphoros. They had supposedly departed earlier to view the splendid night-time panorama of Rome, illuminated by both many lights in the vast array of buildings and the large number of street oil lamps. The marvellous scene was visible from many of the upper windows of the palace, which was located atop of the Palatine Hill.

Helius returned displaying a facial hue that suggested recent activity additional to, and more physically exciting than, mere sightseeing. The boy’s eyes and mannerisms, when his young suitor finally departed, also hinted that a new relationship had formed between the pair that was not just platonic friendship. Personally knowing the joys of true love, my heart rejoiced for the lovely 14 year-old.

(Domus of Palaemon, Rome, one week later, dies Martis A.D. XII Kal. Mar. DCCCII A.V.C., in the 8th year of the reign of the Emperor Claudius [Tuesday, 18th February, AD 49])

‘A course was served whose peculiarity attracted everyone’s attention, for a double tray in which it was set had the twelve signs of the Zodiac arranged in a circle and over each sign [was] some kind of food that was appropriate to it - over the Ram, some chick-peas with tendrils that curled like rams horns; over the Bull, a bit of beef….over the Lion, an African fig….’

- Petronius (Trimalchio’s Feast in ‘Satyricon‘)

Palaemon was providing a splendid feast for his guests. The main meat courses included sow’s paunch, boar, antelope, gazelle, hare, pheasant and flamingo. As a novelty, the renowned teacher’s proficient and imaginative cook had also supplied a double tray, with the twelve signs of the Zodiac arranged in a circle and with food appropriate to each. I have always presumed that Petronius, who was a guest, gained the idea, for a similar display he was to describe in a later fictional work that he entitled ‘Satyricon’, from his attendance on this night.

The feast was another unusual occasion held by Palaemon because slaves not only featured amongst the main diners again but also comprised the three guests of honour, or ‘locus consularis’. The renowned teacher had arranged the banquet, at short notice, in celebration of his sudden unexpected granting of freedom to Apollinus’ parents and younger brother, Helius.

Palaemon had originally planned that this development should form part of his will. The renowned teacher believed that his intended heir, Axenius, who still did not know about this scheduled munificent bequest, would not mind having three fewer slaves amongst the many that he would eventually inherit, spread round his benefactor’s domus, schools and other numerous commercial enterprises. Anyway, two of those the famous tutor was currently freeing were to remain in his employ.

Apollinus’ able and hard-working parents had proved so adept in their duties in Palaemon’s Umbrian vineyard that their master had decided to promote them to manage the viniculture operation, after the imminent comfortable retirement of the aged incumbent of the post. A small but pleasant villa went with the job. However, this situation had not been the main spur for the renowned teacher’s generous resolution to grant simultaneous freedom. Such impulse had instead primarily been stimulated by an approach from Doryphoros to buy Helius.

The official ostensive motive of Doryphoros, newly enriched because of the part he had played in Messalina’s downfall, for wanting to purchase his new young lover was because he wished to recruit some menial assistance for his official duties in the Imperial palace. However, everyone, including ultimately the young slave’s parents, appreciated the real underlying purpose of the approach to acquire Helius, who professed great interest in the move. Nevertheless, given the apparent genuine loving concern shown for the boy’s welfare by the assistant to the Imperial secretary, no-one in the end pursued any objections regarding the 14 year-old’s expressed preference as to where his future lay.

Helius loved his father and mother. However, when faced with the choice of remaining with them, in a quiet countryside vineyard, or living with his new paramour in the exciting world of the Imperial palace in Rome, where Apollinus and I were already resident, there was really only one option the boy was ever likely to select.

Palaemon stunned both Doryphoros and Helius by declining to sell the boy as a slave. The renowned teacher instead immediately awarded the 14 year-old his freedom, advising him that it was now entirely his own decision as to where he wanted to seek employment.

Palaemon also extended his largesse to Helius’ father and mother. The renowned teacher appreciated that etiquette suggested that such kindness, in such circumstances, should be afforded to both parties, son and parents.

On their part, the boy’s father and mother were obviously sorry to be parted from Helius. However, they were compensated by not only their own new improved status in life but also recognition that a career in the Imperial palace could eventually lead to significant social advancement for their younger offspring. They were additionally assuaged by promises from both their sons to make regular visits to Umbria.

Meanwhile, Doryphoros also obtained Narcissus’ permission to recruit a young assistant. The Imperial secretary knew full well, especially after sighting Helius’ great beauty for the first time, what the other side to the relationship between young man and boy would comprise but did not mind, as long as his own affair with his own aide was not affected.

Doryphoros was too astute and ambitious to neglect the attraction the second most powerful man in the Empire had for his body. In fact, the young assistant rather enjoyed being the largely passive sexual partner of the older Imperial secretary, whilst also being able to savour a more active role with a beautiful and charming 14 year-old boy.

In the event, the older freedman happily assisted the whole process of Helius’ recruitment to the service of the Emperor, perhaps motivated by delicious aspirations regarding three-in-a-bed sex romps. Narcissus arranged single palace accommodation and board for the young newcomer, which was commensurate with his free status and so better than that provided for Apollinus and me. The Imperial secretary also paid the boy a salary from his own resources.

Helius’ remuneration was only small but it represented previously unparalleled riches for the boy. The 14 year-old’s wages were also more substantial than either his older brother or me were paid because, as slaves, we earned nothing other than lodging and food, and our continued existence.

Helius’ early ability to fulfil the full range of duties required of the assistant to an assistant of the Imperial secretary was, however, restricted by his illiteracy until Palaemon volunteered his services to rectify this deficiency. Accordingly, the 14 year-old found himself going to school for the first time in his life, albeit only in a part-time capacity.

By the time of Palaemon’s feast, Helius’ parents had been introduced to the pleasant and courteous Doryphoros. They were no fools and had accordingly quickly realised what underscored the association between the assistant to the Imperial secretary and their son. However, as the boy seemed both very happy and excited about the relationship, and the agreeable young freedman completely genuine in his reciprocated feelings, they afforded it the same liberal attitude, for similar reasons, with which they had already blessed the now long-standing loving bond between Apollinus and Petronius.

For the feast, Palaemon had, with disregard to normal custom, set up five two-person couches round two long low tables placed together. Helius shared one of the guest-of-honour divans, or ‘lecti sumi’, with Doryphoros, whilst his parents reclined on the other. The host naturally occupied the ‘lectus imus’ with Axenius, whilst Petronius and Apollinus, as well as Gaius and I, shared the two ‘lecti medii’.

I remain unsure to this day whether the sole heterosexual pairing present, namely the parents of Apollinus and Helius, was uncomfortable at feasting with four pairs of homosexual lovers, two of which included their 16 and 14 year-old sons. However, if they were so troubled, they never revealed it, apparently enjoying the lavish banquet and convivial company as much as anyone. Parental liberality might have been aided by the facts that they were personally now free and in a good occupation, whilst their offspring were clearly happy and beginning to prosper. My friends’ father and mother would also never previously have been so well treated as they were at this banquet.

I am sure, however, that my friends’ parents worried about the propagation of the family line, especially now that their younger son was no longer a slave and so his offspring, if not that of his older sibling, would be born into freedom. I am also positive that they yearned to return someday to their ancestral homeland, the island of Rhodus, an aspiration I had once prayed to Helius’ namesake, the sun god, to grant. However, reader, whether they ever realised their hopes for grandchildren and a return to their Dodecanese roots will not be revealed until later chapters of my saga.

The main topic of conversation at Palaemon’s feast was the marriage, that very day, between Claudius and Agrippina, only hours after the Senate had passed a law making such a union legal. The only good, which everyone present agreed could be identifiable from the match, was the freedom the event had afforded me to attend the renowned teacher’s banquet.

Apollinus had secured Britannicus’ advance permission to attend the nighttime dinner, once his duties for his young master had been concluded for the day. However, the Imperial slave was subsequently initially reluctant to make use of the prince’s kind acquiescence, having become unwilling to leave the boy, who was exhibiting clear misery at the recent unwanted marital events. However, the 8 year-old had selflessly insisted, considerately stating that he would only feel more unhappy if he prevented the attendance of the youth at a banquet honouring the freedom of his parents and brother.

Meanwhile, my own presence, for which Doryphoros had generously secured Narcissus’ approval, had been obtainable because the new Imperial newlyweds had retired early for the night. Claudius was apparently very keen to secure further sexual reward for making Agrippina the new Empress.

As well as lambasting Claudius for his feeble stupidity at succumbing to Agrippina’s blatantly ambitious and insincere charms, the subject of banquet chat included the invidious position in which Britannicus had been landed by his thoughtless father. Apollinus had confirmed that the prince had been most upset to discover that he was to have a new stepmother and stepbrother, neither of whom he had ever liked.

“He’s probably too young to recognise it yet,” Palaemon disturbingly suggested during the debate, sagely echoing some of Narcissus’ words of a week earlier, “but the marriage also clouds the future destiny of the purple. The boy might be the blood heir but that means nothing, as is proved by the fact that, so far, no Emperor has been succeeded by the son of his own seed. Augustus wasn’t the direct offspring of Caesar, nor was Tiberius of Augustus, nor was Caligula of Tiberius, nor was Claudius of Caligula.”

“Let’s therefore pray to the gods,” I recommended, “that Agrippina’s obnoxious son does not succeed Claudius!” Everyone present toasted this aspiration.

Apollinus, probably, of us all, most worried about Britannicus’ future and now fortified by several expensive goblets of wine, then shouted “Down with ‘hairy mug’!” The latter expression was the deliberately derogatory secret nickname the 8 year-old prince, and his similarly-aged best friend Titus, applied to Lucius Domitius Ahenobarbus. The appellation referred to the 11 year-old’s cognomen, which literally means ‘bronze beard’, presumably because one of his distant ancestors once sported a brown hirsute appendage to his chin.

(Imperial palace, Rome, same time)

‘Vae victis!’

(‘Woe to the conquered!’)

- Livy (‘Praefatio’)

Agrippina lay awake besides her snoring new husband. The new Empress was now content, having already endured the man’s loathsome sexual attentions, which fortunately were speedily concluded, the aged Imperial cock not having much endurance before succumbing to climactic ejaculation. The 33 year-old woman’s ease was also boosted by the plans her wicked devious mind were currently formulating for the future in order to consolidate her position and that of her son, whom she was determined should eventually succeed to the Principate.

In a bedchamber nearby, that son was also making plans for the future. With his recent further rise towards the summit of Rome’s social hierarchy, the 11 year-old perceptively appreciated that now only two males within the Julio-Claudian gens separated him from the very top. However, he additionally astutely knew that he would have to wait until he took the toga virilis of manhood to be a realistic candidate to succeed Claudius.

Lucius Domitius Ahenobarbus therefore prayed to the gods that his ridiculous stepfather survived for that long, for otherwise alternative non-family, but adult and dangerously reputable, candidates for the purple could arise from Rome’s other major patrician clans. The boy was sure that if the present Emperor did live long enough, his mother, the scheming Empress, should be able to organise matters in her son’s favour. He could then secure revenge for all perceived insults from supposed enemies. Top of this particular list was Claudius' natural 8 year-old offspring.

Meanwhile, in another nearby palace bedchamber, the delightful Britannicus had just managed to cry himself to sleep. The 8 year-old, wise beyond his tender years, was clever enough to appreciate something that his father seemed ignorant about, namely that the boy’s new stepmother and older stepbrother represented trouble, for not only the Emperor and the son of his own blood but also probably the whole Empire.

(Domus of Lucius Junius Silanus, Rome, same time)

‘….non dolet.’

‘….it does not hurt.’

- Arria the Elder (after stabbing herself to commit suicide)

Lucius Junius Silanus, formerly betrothed to Octavia, young daughter of Claudius and the late Messalina and older sister of Britannicus, lay on his bed, dressed only in his undergarments. The young man was of direct descent from the divine Augustus. He was also once so highly favoured by the Emperor that he had accompanied the Princeps to Britannia almost six years earlier and subsequently been lavished with honours, including a praetorship less than 12 months previously. However, the young patrician’s world had fallen apart when Aulus Vitellius had falsely accused him of practising incest with his sister, after which he had forfeited not only his engagement to the Imperial daughter but also all of his prominent social rankings, including his Senatorial status.

The devastated and severely depressed Lucius Junius Silanus now presented the razor-sharp blade of his knife to his left wrist and prayed to the gods to grant him peace in the underworld. The young man then proceeded to slice open this particular limb location, bloodily severing in the process every artery and vein present. The brave but ruined young patrician, grief stricken at his own social demise and the ascent of a familial enemy to the position of Empress, subsequently somehow also perpetrated the same act on his right arm.

Lucius Junius Silanus then lay back whilst his blood and life flowed away.

Agrippina had never personally perpetrated any physical harm on Lucius Junius Silanus. However, the desperate reaction of the depressed young patrician to the real menace the new Empress, in her fresh exalted position, presented to him and his family effectively turned out to be the first of many sanguine crimes that were now caused or actually perpetrated by her bloodstained hands.

(Amphitheatre of T. Statilius Taurus, Campus Martius, Rome, two months later, dies Veneris A.D. XIV Kal. Mai. DCCCII A.V.C., in the 8th year of the reign of the Emperor Claudius [Friday, 18th April, AD 49])

‘Isdem consulibus atrox odii Agrippina ac Lolliae infensa, quod secum de matrimonio principis certavisset, molitur crimina et accusatorem qui obiceret Chaldaeos, magos interrogatumque Apollinis Clarii simulacrum super nuptiis imperatoris. exim Claudius inaudita rea multa de claritudine eius apud senatum praefatus, sorore L. Volusii genitam, maiorem ei patruum Cottam Messalinum esse, Memmio quondam Regulo nuptam (nam de G. Caesaris nuptiis consulto reticebat), addidit perniciosa in rem publicam consilia et materiem sceleri detrahendam: proin publicatis bonis cederet Italia.’

(‘In the same consulship, Agrippina, who was terrible in her hatred and detested Lollia for having competed with her for the Emperor's hand, planned an accusation, through an informer who was to tax her with having consulted astrologers and magicians and the image of the Clarian Apollo, about the Imperial marriage. Upon this, Claudius, without hearing the accused, first reminded the Senate of her illustrious rank, that the sister of Lucius Volusius was her mother, Cotta Messalinus, her granduncle, Memmius Regulus, formerly her husband (for of her marriage to Gaius Caesar he purposely said nothing), and then added that she had mischievous designs on the State, and must have the means of crime taken from her. Consequently, her property should be confiscated, and she herself banished from Italia.’)

- Tacitus (‘Annals’, XII.22)

Claudius and Agrippina were attending gladiatorial games and were, with the huge bloodthirsty mob of screaming spectators, currently watching another victory for the now famous retiarius, Didius, still unbeaten after almost two years of performances in the amphitheatre. During this period, the diminutive gladiator had maintained a reputation for highly skilled and seemingly fearless fighting ability, sometimes bordering on the suicidal.

In fact, the 22 year-old’s frequent recklessness, in his so far invariably successful appearances in the arena, actually stemmed from a secret desire for glorious suicide, which resulted from the constant physical torment he had to endure because of the loss of his cock. However, whenever the young retiarius performed on this deadly public stage, his death wish had never been strong enough to enable him to overcome his pride so that he would desist from fighting to his natural limits, which had been copiously boosted by all-pervading acute anger regarding his genital disability. The result was his continued survival at the expense of many colleagues.

Of course, Agrippina cared little for either Didius or his plight, or even the bloody games themselves, as she daydreamed in the amphitheatre’s Imperial box. The new Empress’ scheming mind was instead concentrating on other wicked and ultimately sanguine deeds.

Agrippina now felt sufficiently secure and influential in her position to try to attempt to eliminate a potential rival for her husband’s affections. The new Empress was encouraged to do so by recognition that her position was not yet unassailable and that Claudius had divorced his first two wives and executed the third. She realised that, if her spouse was malleable in her hands, he might also be manipulated by other beautiful patrician women should she drop her guard.

Agrippina’s first target was Lollia Paulina, who had briefly been Gaius Caligula’s third wife before being divorced because she was barren. She had also been a dangerous rival to succeed Messalina as Claudius’ fourth wife, particularly as she had been proposed by Callistus, one of the Emperor’s most influential freedmen after Narcissus and Pallas.

The concerned Agrippina had noticed, earlier and at various social occasions since her wedding, that Claudius remained attracted to Lollia Paulina. The new Empress was also jealous of the sight of her rival attending such functions whilst dripping with pearls, emeralds and other precious stones, on her head, neck, ears, wrists and fingers. The estimated value of these gems was, according to the woman’s own boasts, for the verification of which she always carried written proofs, 50 million sestercii.

Agrippina therefore launched a very Messalina-like and quickly effective private campaign of vitriol against Lollia Paulina, which included appraising her husband of many tall tales. These slanders included accusations that her gaudy bragging rival tried to use magic to undermine the new Imperial marital union.

Claudius, now as gullible regarding Agrippina’s perfidy as he had been with that of Messalina, believed his new wife and so eventually denounced Lollia Paulina in the Senate in order to confiscate the accused woman’s vast property and riches and send her into exile beyond the shores of Italia. However, these punitive actions, taken against the Princeps’ erstwhile feminine suitor regardless of her protestations of innocence, which went unheard by the Emperor, proved insufficient for the vengeful new Empress, despite the fact that she had now acquired over 50 million sectercii worth of extra jewellery.

Subsequent further untruthful allegations from Agrippina about Lollia Paulina’s supposed subversive attempts to undermine the Imperial marriage, even from the poor woman’s distant exile, enabled her to secure from Claudius an order inviting her rival to commit suicide. In the event, Gaius Caligula’s former Empress declined to comply with the command and so she was executed by the Praetorian officer who had delivered the instruction.

Agrippina had already requested that the Praetorian provide proof of Lollia Paulina’s death, regardless of whether this was achieved by suicide or execution, in the form of her rival’s head. Unfortunately, when this grisly evidence of the success of the man’s mission was returned to Rome, it had so rotted that identification was originally difficult until the new Empress recognised a well-know dental defect possessed by the deceased.

(Imperial trireme, Alexandria, Aegyptia, same time)

‘Fata viam invenient.’

(‘The Fates will find a way.’)

- Virgil (‘Aeneid’)

The Imperial trireme, on which I had been a reluctant crewmember, albeit for a thankfully short time, finally left Alexandria to return to Rome. The ship boasted a full complement of 170 eunuch galley slaves. The survivors of the mass gelding had all now physically recovered from the ordeal of emasculation, with the numbers of those dying as a consequence of the process, or as a result of the earlier outward voyage, having been made up by fresh acquisitions from Aegyptia’s penal system.

As Servius ploughed his oar into the harbour waves, from the hot hell of the trireme’s hold, he was not the only eunuch galley slave who prayed to the gods to allow him to perish quickly or, somehow sometime, provide him with an alternative opportunity to commit suicide.

(Imperial palace, Rome, two months later, dies Mercurii A.D. XIV Kal. Iul. DCCCII A.V.C., in the 8th year of the reign of the Emperor Claudius [Wednesday, 18th June, AD 49])

‘Actually, Agrippina knew no feminine weaknesses. Intolerant of rivalry, thirsting for power, she had a man’s preoccupations.’

- Tacitus (‘Annals’)

Happy with the success of her campaign against Lollia Paulina, Agrippina suddenly began to become very interested in the development of her new stepson, Britannicus. As a start, the Empress reviewed the facilities the boy had been provided in terms of accommodation and servants. The wicked stepmother concluded, for purely spiteful reasons, that the 8 year-old was not only too comfortable, and in danger of being spoilt, but also surrounded by unsuitable attendants. The former accusation was extremely hypocritical, given the mollycoddled luxury in which her own offspring now resided, and the latter evilly untruthful. Nevertheless, she used her persuasive feminine charms to secure Claudius’ approval for radical changes in the daily regime of the young prince.

Agrippina began by moving Britannicus to far less salubrious quarters and severely reducing the number of his slaves, most of whom had loyally served the delightful boy very well from birth. The Empress intended eventually to replace them all, including Apollinus, with her own nominees, who would have considerably less concern for their young charge’s welfare.

Agrippina then ensured that all of Britannicus’ tutors were either exiled or put to death for alleged corruption, incompetence or wickedness. Her awful misdeeds, based entirely on bogus charges and designed to subvert the young prince’s position and mental health, succeeded in traumatising the 8 year-old.

The wicked stepmother, however, had only just begun her campaign to undermine Britannicus’ wellbeing.

(To be continued in chapter XXIX - ‘Tutors’)

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