Livia Drusilla (58 BC - 29 BC)

Historical figure ✓

Livia Drusilla was one of the most powerful women in Roman history, serving as the wife of Emperor Augustus for over fifty years. Born into the patrician Claudian family, she first married Tiberius Claudius Nero and had two sons, Tiberius and Drusus, before divorcing to marry Octavianus (later Augustus) in 38 BC. Her marriage to Augustus was both a political alliance and, apparently, a genuine love match, and she became his most trusted advisor and confidante throughout his reign.

As empress, Livia wielded considerable behind-the-scenes influence and was instrumental in shaping imperial policy and succession. She was known for her intelligence, political acumen, and ability to navigate the complex world of Roman court politics. After Augustus's death, her son Tiberius became emperor, and she continued to play an active role in politics until her own death. She was deified by her great-grandson, Claudius, and remains a subject of fascination for historians studying the role of women in the early Roman Empire.

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Marcus Vipsanius Agrippa (64/63 BC - 12 BC)

Historical figure ✓

Marcus Vipsanius Agrippa was Augustus's closest friend, most trusted general, and key architect of the Roman Empire's early success. Born into a relatively modest family, he rose to prominence through his friendship with Octavianus and his exceptional military and administrative talents. He played a crucial role in the civil wars that brought Augustus to power, most notably commanding the fleet that won the decisive Battle of Actium against Antonius and Cleopatra in 31 BC.

Beyond his military achievements, Agrippa was responsible for numerous significant public works projects that transformed Rome during Augustus's reign. He supervised the construction of the original Pantheon, built numerous baths, aqueducts, and sewers, and generally modernised Rome's infrastructure. He also served as Augustus's deputy in various provinces and married Augustus's daughter, Julia, further cementing their alliance. His combination of military genius, administrative skill, and loyalty made him indispensable to Augustus and crucial to the establishment of the Roman Empire.

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Marcus Antonius (Marcus Antonius, 83 BC - 30 BC)

Historical figure ✓

Marcus Antonius, known in English as Mark Antony, was a Roman general and politician who played a pivotal role in the transformation of the Roman Republic into the Roman Empire. A skilled orator and charismatic leader, he served as one of Julius Caesar's most important lieutenants and was consul at the time of Caesar's assassination in 44 BC. Following Caesar's death, he initially cooperated with Caesar's heir, Octavianus, forming the Second Triumvirate with Lepidus to hunt down Caesar's assassins and divide the Roman world among them.

Antonius's relationship with Cleopatra VII of Egypt became one of history's most famous love affairs, but it also proved to be his political downfall. His alliance with the Egyptian queen was seen by many Romans as a betrayal of Roman values and interests. The relationship provided Octavianus with propaganda ammunition and a justification for civil war. Antonius and Cleopatra's forces were decisively defeated at the Battle of Actium in 31 BC, and both committed suicide the following year as Octavianus's forces approached Alexandria, thereby ending the last major threat to Augustus's supremacy.

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Cleopatra VII (69 BC - 30 BC)

Historical figure ✓

Cleopatra VII Philopator was the last active pharaoh of Ptolemaic Egypt and one of the most famous women in ancient history. A descendant of Alexander the Great's general Ptolemy I, she was highly educated, reportedly spoke nine languages, and was the first Ptolemaic ruler in 300 years to learn Egyptian. She came to power in 51 BC as co-ruler with her younger brother Ptolemy XIII, but civil war soon broke out between them. Her intelligence, charisma, and political acumen enabled her to maintain Egypt's independence far longer than might otherwise have been possible during Rome's expansion.

Her relationships with Julius Caesar and later Marcus Antonius were as much political alliances as romantic partnerships, designed to protect Egypt's sovereignty through association with powerful Romans. She bore Caesar a son (Caesarion) and Antonius three children, using these connections to secure Egypt's position. However, her alliance with Antonius ultimately led to conflict with Octavianus, culminating in defeat at Actium. Rather than face capture and humiliation in Rome, she committed suicide in 30 BC, bringing the Ptolemaic dynasty and Egypt's independence to an end.

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Young Cicero (Marcus Tullius Cicero Minor, 65 BC - unkown)

Historical figure ✓

Marcus Tullius Cicero Minor was the son of the famous Roman orator and statesman Marcus Tullius Cicero. Born during his father's consulship, he grew up in the shadow of one of Rome's greatest speakers and political figures. His father had high expectations for him and invested heavily in his education, sending him to study in Athens. However, young Cicero struggled with alcoholism and failed to live up to his father's intellectual and political achievements, causing considerable disappointment and strain in their relationship.

After his father was killed during the proscriptions of the Second Triumvirate in 43 BC, young Cicero's life took a different turn. He served as a cavalry officer under Brutus and later found favour with Octavianus (Augustus), who appointed him consul in 30 BC. This appointment was likely both a gesture of reconciliation toward his father's memory and recognition that the younger Cicero posed no political threat. While he never achieved his father's literary or oratorical greatness, he managed to survive the dangerous political transitions of his era and maintain a respectable, if unremarkable, career.

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Octavia the Younger (69 BC - 11 BC)

Historical figure ✓

Octavia the Younger was Augustus's sister and, briefly, the wife of Marcus Antonius, making her a central figure in the political dramas that ended the Roman Republic. Known for her virtue, intelligence, and loyalty, she was considered one of the most admirable Roman women of her era. She was first married to Gaius Claudius Marcellus, with whom she had several children. After his death, her brother arranged her marriage to Marcus Antonius in 40 BC as part of the Treaty of Brundisium, which aimed to reconcile Antonius with Octavianus.

Despite Antonius's increasingly open relationship with Cleopatra, Octavia remained loyal and dignified, even raising Antonius's children from previous relationships alongside her own. When Antonius finally divorced her in 32 BC to formalise his relationship with Cleopatra, the insult to Octavia became a powerful propaganda tool for Octavianus in his war against Antonius. After Antonius's defeat and death, she continued to be revered in Rome and played an important role in Augustus's court, helping to raise the next generation of the imperial family.

Lucius Antonius (80 BC - 40 BC)

Historical figure ✓

Lucius Antonius was the younger brother of Marcus Antonius and served as consul in 41 BC during the turbulent period of the Second Triumvirate. Although less famous than his brother, he played a significant role in the political conflicts that arose among the triumvirs following Julius Caesar's assassination. As consul, he found himself in a difficult position, representing his brother's interests in Rome while Marcus Antonius was campaigning in the eastern Mediterranean and becoming increasingly involved with Cleopatra in Egypt.

Lucius's most notable historical role came during the Perusine War (41-40 BC), when he allied with Marcus Antonius's third wife, Fulvia, to oppose Octavianus's confiscation of land for veteran settlements. Together, they raised eight legions and initially achieved some success against Octavianus's forces. However, they were eventually besieged in the city of Perusia (modern Perugia) by Octavianus. After a lengthy siege marked by famine and hardship, Lucius was forced to surrender. Surprisingly, Octavianus treated him with clemency, likely to avoid further inflaming tensions with Marcus Antonius, and Lucius was permitted to enter exile rather than be executed.

Fulvia (83 BC - 40 BC)

Historical figure ✓

Fulvia was a powerful and politically active Roman woman who was successively married to three prominent politicians: Publius Clodius Pulcher, Gaius Scribonius Curio, and Marcus Antonius. She was unusual among Roman women for her direct involvement in politics and her willingness to use violence to achieve her goals. After her first husband, Claudius, was killed in political violence, she reportedly displayed his mutilated body in the Forum and demanded vengeance against his killers, demonstrating her fierce loyalty and vengeful nature.

Her most significant political action came during her marriage to Marcus Antonius, when she and Antonius's brother Lucius initiated the Perusine War against Octavianus in 41-40 BC while Antonius was in the East with Cleopatra. This conflict arose from disputes over land redistribution for veterans and tensions between the triumvirs. Though initially successful, Fulvia's forces were eventually defeated and besieged at Perusia. She fled to Greece, where she died shortly after, but her actions had significantly strained the relationship between Antonius and Octavianus and contributed to the eventual breakdown of the Second Triumvirate.

Cirus (Rebel)

Fictional figure ✓

A rebel at his core. Despite his small size, his heart and mind made him a brave and clever character. I enjoyed seeing the story through Cirus' eyes. A street-wise type of man. His instincts, his thought process and iron courage made him stand out among the rebels. He came from a family of rebels himself. His father, Fabius Vestus, a staunch farmer, convinced his neighbours to form a group of armed men to protect their land when it was attacked or threatened. Eventually, the Romans repossessed all the land and killed his father and his three brothers, cold-heartedly, while Cirus, as a young boy, hid in the grain fields and escaped. From then on, he lived as a homeless scavenger, and his survival skills made him a valuable asset for a revolution that never materialised.

Maurus (Servant)

Fictional figure ✓

The young servant at Octavianus's villa, Maurus, came from a poor Roman family. His father worked at the local market, while his mother was unemployed and tended to the household. Times were hard in Rome during that period, and extra gold coins were always appreciated. It was a fleeting, exhilarating experience for young Maurus, who dared to take a deadly risk. Although young, he was shrewd enough to weigh the risk against the reward. A good listener can sometimes turn things around, was Maurus one?

Koticu (Cleopatra's messenger)

Fictional figure ✓

A merchant, a spy, a herald serving Queen Cleopatra. No family, no history for this self-made man, who claimed the Mediterranean region as his playground. From a successful merchant to a spy and ultimately an ambassador of one of the most prestigious kingdoms ever known. His wit, loyalty, and adventurous spirit define him in the story's most crucial moments. He is unobtrusive, yet part of the bigger picture, and wherever he goes, things change.

Maximus (Praetorian's commander)

Fictional figure ✓

A formidable figure in Octavianus' protection. Maximus hails from a respected Julii family of elite soldiers. He embodies the honour, strength, morals, and values of the old Republic. In every sense, he is the man who would sacrifice his life to defend his leader. A man who commands the entire Praetorian legion with dignity and respect. He is also a man who always remembers the past.

Artabanus (Roman-Egyptian emissary)

Fictional figure ✓

His persona renders the story intriguing and suspenseful. Artabanus is a breed of Egyptian heritage with Roman customs. His Egyptian family migrated to Rome after a flood on the outskirts of Alexandria nearly destroyed the entire village. He was just a boy when he arrived in Rome; however, his parents continued to speak to him in Egyptian, and he honoured that tradition throughout his life. Always at the top of his game, his demeanour makes him stand out when he interacts with leaders or colleagues alike. It is hard to tell what Artabanus is really like until he reveals his true nature.

Kurus (Roman ambassador)

Fictional figure ✓

A young Roman who, early in his life, became the youngest recruit to serve Rome's interests abroad. Educated in Athens, he became an outstanding diplomat of his era. His father, an argentarius, had the resources and the right contacts to send his son to one of the most prestigious educational hubs in the Mediterranean world, paving the way for his son to become a key figure in this tale of shadowy figures. His bravery, ambition, and intelligence will not go unnoticed. Conversely, Rome launched one of its greatest military campaigns after Kurus revealed the true state of affairs in Egypt. Another captivating figure with a twist - a deadly one.

Gaius Valerius (Roman ambassador and later Naval Admiral)

Fictional figure ✓

An all-round figure who embodies the true spirit of a genuine Roman. Devoted to his fellow citizens and his motherland. He fights with words and swords. He is cunning and well-equipped with carefully considered diplomatic efforts, and a loyal right-hand man when action is required. Like Kurus, he was educated abroad in Rhodes, where he refined his skills as a politician and an ambassador. However, his fighting skills were learned from his father, a loyal Centurion during Julius Caesar's era. From an astute Roman ambassador to a courageous naval admiral, bring this Roman character to life.