Chapter 71: Antonius
Chapter 71: Antonius
The Senate's strategy of indefinite delay aimed to subdue Pompey, but not everything was on hold. Two tribunes had been impeached due to their involvement with Catiline, necessitating the election of replacements.
The by-election was scheduled for a week after Pompey’s speech. It was unusual to fill a position vacated before the term even began. Despite this, the Senate paid little attention to this election, which was only for two tribunes, focusing primarily on Pompey.
But a major incident diverted the Senate’s attention from Pompey.
The center of this commotion was Clodius Pulcher, who had recently been suspected of infiltrating the Bona Dea festival disguised as a woman. Now, he shocked the Senate by announcing his candidacy for the tribunate.
The same person who had caused a stir in Rome not long ago was at the center of controversy once again.
Initially, the Senate dismissed Clodius’s announcement as mere posturing. How could a member of the prestigious Claudius family, one of the highest noble families in Rome, run for the tribunate, a position traditionally held by plebeians? They assumed he was merely seeking attention.
However, Clodius followed Marcus’s advice and renounced his noble status by becoming a plebeian through adoption. This unprecedented move stunned the Senate.
“This is an affront to the Senate!”
“How can someone from the purest and highest noble blood in Rome become a plebeian? This is a disgrace to all nobility.”
“Is this his way of retaliating for our accusations? Surely he doesn’t genuinely intend to run for the tribunate…”
“Furthermore, such an adoption requires the approval of the Pontifex Maximus. Even Caesar, one of the most prestigious families in Rome, wouldn’t approve something so absurd.”
“Indeed. This will likely end as just a minor disturbance.”
The Senate hoped that Caesar, who was expected to reject such an act, would not approve Clodius’s request. To their surprise, Caesar granted Clodius’s request just before leaving for Hispania as governor.
Clodius relinquished his noble name and adopted the plebeian name Publius Clodius. This process led the Senate to mistakenly believe that Clodius was merely Caesar’s pawn.
This assumption made sense from their perspective. Caesar had previously covered up Clodius’s intrusion into the Bona Dea festival, and Clodius’s current actions seemed like a repayment for that favor. In fact, in history, Caesar and Clodius had a similar relationship.
Feeling threatened, the Senate put forward their own candidates to counter Clodius’s bid. Pompey, who had been staying at his villa, also sought a candidate who could serve as his proxy and nominated him.
The by-election for the tribunate turned into an unexpected three-way contest.
Among the candidates, Caesar was initially the least influential. Despite holding the titles of Pontifex Maximus, consul, and representing the populares, he was still inferior to the Senate and Pompey.
Clodius, however, was an exception. His popularity was so high that his background as a Claudius and his renunciation of noble status to align with the plebeians made him stand out. This was a unique story in Roman politics.
Moreover, his recent acquittal in a trial had further boosted his popularity. Voters felt he had been unfairly oppressed by the nobility. Clodius also invested heavily in his campaign, funds which had come from Marcus but were perceived by the Senate as Clodius’s own wealth from his noble past.
The citizens enthusiastically supported this prominent newcomer.
In the end, Clodius won the election decisively. The Senate-supported candidate barely secured second place, preserving some dignity. Pompey’s chosen candidate unfortunately finished in third place.
This outcome was not due to a lack of support for Pompey. Two factors contributed to this result:
Pompey’s candidate suffered due to these strategic missteps and weak presence.
Clodius's third-place finish was actually a testament to Pompey’s enduring popularity. Despite this, Pompey was deeply disappointed by the result and did not leave his villa until the inauguration ceremony.
From the Senate’s perspective, they had managed to sideline Pompey, but now faced an unexpected new challenge.
The Senate grew uneasy about this development, and their concerns were soon validated.
Clodius’s first order from Marcus was to pass the bill for reorganizing the eastern provinces. Marcus provided no specific instructions beyond this, as he viewed it as a test of Clodius’s abilities. However, he made it clear that Clodius was not to interfere with any other matters, particularly those related to land distribution, which Marcus planned to use strategically later. Marcus also harbored some resentment towards Clodius for disregarding his advice.
Clodius adhered strictly to Marcus’s directive. He unreservedly criticized the Senate at every assembly, with no intention of joining them after his term ended. His speeches were more forceful than anyone anticipated.
“Citizens! Rome is in unprecedented chaos right now. The bills that need to be passed are piling up like a mountain and remain stagnant. Do you know why? It’s because the Senate and Pompey are locked in a power struggle. The only ones who suffer are the innocent citizens.”
An agitator planted by Clodius raised a hand and posed a prepared question.
“Didn’t the Senate pass several reform bills recently?”
“That was merely a temporary measure to gain support. Do you know where the funds came from to reduce the debts? The eastern provinces. Without additional funds from there, these reform bills will be passed but will lack the budget for implementation. They will turn into nothing but empty promises.”
The citizens were swayed by Clodius’s rhetoric. They didn’t fully grasp the complexities when Pompey explained the situation in the eastern provinces. However, when Clodius related it to their interests, they understood the severity of the problem. Those who had been promised debt relief but hadn’t benefited were particularly anxious.
“So you’re saying that the promised reforms might not be implemented?”
“At best, their execution will be indefinitely delayed. Without a budget, there’s no way to carry them out. We are being sacrificed by the power struggle between the Senate and Pompey!
Therefore, I propose we pass the bill for reorganizing the provinces in the assembly, without Senate approval, according to Hortensius’s law!
We can no longer tolerate our interests being trampled by the power struggles of the privileged class! I, Clodius, will be your shield to protect your rights with all my strength!”
The citizens responded with deafening cheers, their support for Clodius overwhelming. The cheers echoed from the Forum Romanum, startling the guards at the nearby gates.
Clodius swiftly introduced a bill to reorganize the provinces. Cato, observing the scene, sighed and tapped his forehead.
“Did we create a madman…”
Calpurnianus, the consul for the year, clicked his tongue in annoyance.
“That’s what happens when you stir up a hornet’s nest. We’re already troubled by Pompey, and now we have a lunatic as tribune. I have a headache.”
“It was a consensus decision to use Clodius to bring down Caesar from his position as Pontifex Maximus!”
“True. I’m not blaming you alone. We all need to reflect on our hasty decision.”
“We can’t just worry about this. We need to come up with a countermeasure.”
Cicero, who had been sitting with a tense expression, finally spoke up. He was the most anxious of the senators because his last testimony nearly led to Clodius’s conviction. If Marcus hadn’t bribed some of the plebeian jurors, Clodius would have been found guilty. Clodius was aware of this and harbored a deep hatred for Cicero, who in turn feared Clodius’s potential retaliation.
The usual Senate measures for controlling a tribune were ineffective with Clodius. They could not invoke the Senate’s ultimate decree against him, as he hadn’t caused as much disruption as the Gracchi brothers. Other senators who had suggested actively accusing Clodius were secretly relieved that his ire was not directed at them.
A tribune couldn't completely disrupt the Senate, but he could target one individual if he was willing to sacrifice himself. No senator wanted to face a gruesome death at the hands of a madman.
Calpurnianus shook his head and muttered, “We’ll have to let this go for now. The bill to reorganize the provinces will likely pass in the assembly. There’s nothing we can do about it.”
Cato frowned and asked, “Don’t you think this might be Caesar’s scheme?”
“What are you implying? Caesar is in Hispania right now.”
“He could have chosen Clodius as his proxy to cause chaos in Rome while he’s away as governor. I also suspect Pompey might be involved. Perhaps Caesar and Pompey have made some kind of agreement, using Clodius to advance Pompey’s demands.”
Other senators found this theory plausible, but Cicero disagreed. “I think that’s unlikely at the moment. If Caesar and Pompey were allied, Pompey would be the leader, not Caesar. There’s a significant difference in their positions and popularity. Pompey even tried to nominate his own candidate for the tribune election, a risky move that could have cost both Clodius and his rival their seats. If they had joined forces, they would have unified their candidates.”
“Clodius’s victory would have been more certain then. Didn’t he win by a landslide anyway?”
“Yes, but even with a tribune, he can't achieve much alone. The Eastern provinces bill passed because it aligned with the citizens' interests. Distributing land to Pompey’s old soldiers? There’s no reason for the citizens to support that. Both Caesar and Pompey understand this, especially Caesar.”
Cato had to concede to Cicero’s logical rebuttal. Although he still believed in his conspiracy theory, he remained convinced that Caesar needed to be checked.
“Everyone should remember this. When Caesar finishes his governorship and returns, he will likely run for consul. If he becomes consul, that mad tribune will manipulate the assembly, and Caesar will exert pressure in the Senate. We shouldn’t become complacent just because we’ve managed to deal with Pompey. Our real threat is Caesar, who is pulling the strings behind Clodius.”
This time, no other senator objected. It was evident that Caesar had been increasingly antagonistic towards the Senate. Crassus also seemed to be struggling to control him.
Despite their concerns, they didn’t feel an immediate sense of crisis. To the senators who had successfully neutralized Pompey, Caesar appeared to be a minor nuisance. They believed they could handle him effectively.
Even Cato, who was most wary of Caesar, remained cautiously optimistic for now.
Clodius continued to meet Marcus’s expectations, relentlessly challenging the Senate. At times, he went too far, but Marcus would send subtle signals to rein him in.
The Senate, hoping for Clodius to make a misstep, repeatedly missed their chances. They had come to realize that Clodius was not merely an impulsive troublemaker.
Their only consolation was that Clodius had not addressed the land issue, which was Pompey’s main concern.
Cato’s conspiracy theory about a secret pact between Caesar and Pompey was completely dismissed. While the Senate remained vigilant regarding Clodius’s actions, Marcus calmly continued to advance his own career.
The primary duty of a quaestor was to audit and manage government finances. Marcus relied on his family’s experts to handle the job quickly and accurately.
He also took on the role of chairman for the Young Men’s Meeting for the Defense of the Republic, which had been held more frequently lately. Cicero, who used to host the meeting, could no longer manage it due to issues with Clodius.
As a result, the meeting was now held in Marcus’s reception room rather than Cicero’s mansion. The young men who attended continued their heated debate, today focusing on the question: "Is Pompey aiming for dictatorship?"
Brutus and Cassius argued that while Pompey might not be seeking dictatorship now, he could be in the future. In contrast, Curio and Decimus contended that Pompey had no such ambition.
After everyone had given their opinions, they looked to Marcus for his view.
“Personally, I don’t believe Pompey has such aspirations. I have a personal relationship with him, and he values his honor and glory more than ambition. If he truly wanted to be a dictator, he wouldn’t have disbanded his army.”
Brutus tilted his head and asked, “So do you think Pompey was unjustly sacrificed by the Senate’s decision?”
“Not necessarily. I’m sure many senators did not oppose him because they believed he was genuinely seeking dictatorship.”
“I see. It may seem harsh, but this is an unavoidable choice for the sake of the republic.”
Brutus, intelligent and perceptive, quickly grasped Marcus’s point and even questioned the Senate’s decision. Cassius shared a similar perspective, believing that if a few innocent individuals had to be sacrificed for the greater good of the republic, it was a regrettable but necessary measure.
Marcus covered his mouth with a cup of diluted wine, smirking bitterly. He thought that these two might accept such sacrifices willingly, even if they were the ones being sacrificed. The blind faith people have can be frightening.
He reflected, ‘That’s why they ended up stabbing someone who treated them like a son and saved their lives twice.’ Marcus had discussed Caesar with Brutus several times and was surprised to find that Brutus had a favorable view of Caesar. Although annoyed by the false rumor that he was Caesar’s illegitimate son, Marcus didn’t actually hate Caesar. He believed Caesar would reconcile with the Senate eventually, despite current conflicts.
In essence, Brutus had assassinated someone he personally admired due to his own principles—a common occurrence throughout history. This reminded Marcus to remain cautious.
For someone with significant power like Marcus, assassination was a real risk. He didn’t want to spend his life surrounded by bodyguards, constantly fearing assassination, even with Spartacus by his side.
The young men who discussed assassinating the tyrant made Marcus think more seriously about his situation. He wondered if there was a way to seize power without antagonizing republicans and minimizing the risk of assassination. While it wasn’t entirely impossible, the conditions were extremely demanding and presented numerous challenges for Marcus at present.
After the debate concluded, Brutus, Cassius, and Decimus left, but Curio stayed behind. He had mentioned he wanted to ask something but hesitated even when they were alone.
Marcus prompted, “Didn’t you say you had something to ask?”
“Ah, yes. Well… I know it’s very presumptuous of me to ask this, but I believe you have the ability to solve it easily, so I’ll ask anyway.”
Marcus nodded, signaling Curio to continue.
Curio took a deep breath and began.
“I have a friend I’ve been close with since childhood. He comes from a plebeian noble family, but his father was killed by the Marians when he was young. As a result, he squandered his natural talent, got into trouble, and accumulated a lot of debt. He also has a family to support and has borrowed money from everywhere. He’s realized his mistakes too late, and now he’s drowning in debt.”
“Can’t he use the personal bankruptcy system that was recently introduced?”
“I think that system requires a steady income. Unfortunately, he’s currently living off debt and used to get money from political gangs, but he wants to quit that now.”
“That’s a wise decision. So, do you want me to pay off his debt or act as his guarantor?”
“Of course not!”
Curio shook his head quickly.
“I’m not asking for such a blatant favor. I want to help him, but I’m in debt myself and can’t do anything. My friend is planning to go on a study abroad trip to Greece. If it’s not too much trouble, could you sponsor his ship and tuition? He’s very talented and will be able to repay you eventually. If he can’t, I’ll make sure to repay you myself.”
Curio, noted for his eloquence and scholarship, was seen as one of the republic's hopes. Marcus was intrigued by this friend whom Curio praised so highly.
“If he’s as remarkable as you say, I’d be glad to arrange the ship and sponsorship for him. But if he’s that exceptional, I would have heard of him by now. What’s his name?”
“Oh, he’s not known for his scholarship or eloquence. However, he’s very brave and has great military talent. While involved with political gangs, he often defeated rival gangs twice as large with fewer men.”
Curio then revealed his friend's name.
“His name is Antonius. I believe he’s a distant relative of Caesar, your father-in-law.”
“Antonius…!”
Marcus exclaimed, almost involuntarily. Antonius was one of the individuals he had been looking for an opportunity to contact. He had planned to reach out to him soon but hadn’t expected to hear his name at this moment.
A satisfied smile appeared on Marcus’s lips as he seized this unexpected opportunity.