Chapter 83: The Messenger from the South
Chapter 83: The Messenger from the South
Egypt was one of the oldest civilizations in the world, alongside Mesopotamia. Long before the founding of Rome, Egypt had thrived with a brilliant culture and possessed the most fertile land in the Mediterranean.
At that time, North Africa was not yet fully desertified as it is today. Egypt was a proud nation with a history as ancient as itself, and its king, the Pharaoh, was revered as a living god.
However, by the Roman era, Egypt was a shadow of its former glory, struggling like a sinking ship. After Alexander’s death, his empire was divided into three parts, with the Antigonus and Seleucus dynasties already annexed by Rome. The last remaining Ptolemaic dynasty of Egypt had also lost much of its power.
Once a powerful state that extended into Asia Minor, Egypt was now barely surviving as a Roman protectorate. This decline was partly due to a flawed governance structure that marginalized the native population in favor of a privileged minority of immigrants. Although Egypt still boasted significant wealth, its military strength had waned.
Rome was eager to annex Egypt but recognized that it was not yet the right time. Egypt's pride was immense, and a hasty annexation would likely provoke strong resistance from the Egyptian people. As long as the Pharaoh, who was central to Egyptian identity, was still alive, Rome needed to act cautiously.
The current Pharaoh, Ptolemy XII Auletes, was not a capable ruler. In a land where the Pharaoh was worshiped as a god, the role of the priests who oversaw religion was crucial. A Pharaoh who was not accepted by them could not be considered legitimate. Unfortunately, Auletes did not grasp this reality.
The Ptolemaic dynasty was essentially an immigrant group from outside Egypt, and their capital, Alexandria, was seen as foreign by the original Egyptians. The highest priests resided in Memphis, not Alexandria. Auletes neglected the religious sector, angering the priests and failing to build a support base within Egypt. His authority was so tenuous that it overshadowed his status as a god-like Pharaoh.
To address this crisis, Auletes sought Rome’s recognition and support. He sent an embassy to Rome, which arrived in early April, after the Ceres festival. The Egyptian delegation requested that Rome guarantee Auletes’ legitimate rule over Egypt for his lifetime.
At this time, the Senate was preoccupied and unable to address Egypt’s demands immediately. Their official response was, “It’s difficult right now, so please wait a little longer.” Due to Auletes’ order not to return to Alexandria without results, the embassy was stranded in Rome.
Eudoras, Egypt’s finance minister and head of the embassy, tried to meet with Bibulus, who was handling state affairs. However, Bibulus was deeply disheartened by recent humiliations from Caesar and was not attending meetings properly. Consequently, he refused to see Eudoras, dismissing him with, “I’m busy, so see someone else.”
Confused and frustrated, Eudoras wondered if Rome sought to remove Auletes. Despite having funds for bribes, he could not secure meetings with anyone. After a month of failed attempts to contact the Senate, Eudoras decided to shift his approach. He chose to focus on a few influential individuals rather than many ordinary senators.
His first visit was to Pompey, renowned for his conquests in the Eastern world. Eudoras asked Pompey if he could guarantee Auletes’ rule over Egypt. Pompey’s reaction was tepid, not due to any dislike of Egypt’s ruling class but because of poor timing. He was preoccupied with settling his former soldiers on newly distributed lands and was not adept at political maneuvering. His considerable wealth made Eudoras’ bribe ineffective. Pompey replied, “Let me think about it for now. Go away. I’ll give you an answer when I have time.”
Eudoras’ next visit was to Crassus, the richest man in Rome.
But Marcus was ill and refused to see the Egyptian envoy. Eudoras had to turn away at the entrance once more.
At this point, Eudoras should have contacted Caesar. However, Caesar was occupied with preparing a bill related to Marcus’ sanitation project and was unavailable.
By May, Eudoras had achieved no results. His situation was becoming increasingly precarious, and he was desperate to find someone who could solve the problem.
One of his subordinates then provided some useful information.
“Finance Minister, there are three people currently most prominent in Rome.”
“Two of them must be Pompey and Caesar. Who is the third? Crassus? Or Cicero?”
“It’s a censor named Marcus. He’s the eldest son of the Crassus family and is currently rising in prominence. He enjoys overwhelming popularity with the people and is also trusted by the Senate.”
“What? How did we miss such an important political figure?”
Eudoras glared at the embassy staff. Analyzing the political landscape before negotiating was fundamental. It was a serious issue that they had overlooked the most prominent figure in the current political scene.
The embassy members avoided eye contact with Eudoras, clearly embarrassed.
‘What kind of information gathering is this…’
In fairness to the embassy, Marcus’ name had only recently gained widespread recognition after his financial reforms and successful censor duties. When they initially gathered information in Egypt, Marcus was not yet well-known.
Eudoras, unaware of this, frowned and questioned his subordinate.
“So, this Marcus is the heir of the Crassus family? But he’s an aedile? As far as I know, an aedile isn’t that high-ranking. Did you perhaps mean a praetor?”
“No, sir. He is indeed an aedile. He’s a young politician with exceptional abilities. Rumors on the street call him the rising sun of Rome. He has immense popularity and is trusted by the Senate.”
“Is that so? He seems worth meeting.”
Eudoras sent a polite letter to Marcus. Unlike other power holders, Marcus promptly agreed to meet with Eudoras.
Two days later, Eudoras visited the Crassus mansion to meet Marcus. This time, he was allowed in without issue.
Marcus briefly showed him around the mansion and then escorted him to the reception room.
“I hear you’ve been in Rome for over a month. It must have been quite frustrating.”
Marcus offered his sympathy as he assessed Eudoras. With his white skin and blue eyes, he was distinctively Greek, unlike the native Egyptians, reflecting the appearance of the current Egyptian rulers.
Eudoras sighed and gave a wry smile.
“Honestly, I thought this would be simpler. I never expected to be snubbed by Rome’s power holders like this.”
“It was unfortunate timing. The political scene in Rome is currently caught in a tug-of-war between the populares and the optimates. They’re too preoccupied to focus on other matters.”
“We didn’t receive any reports indicating such a serious situation when we left Egypt. I was shocked to learn about it later, but I also felt some relief. The Senate’s lack of reaction made me wonder if they were reluctant to recognize the current Pharaoh.”
“Why would they do that? Egypt is a valuable ally for Rome. It’s not in Rome’s interest to have an allied country in turmoil. Perhaps I can help expedite your return to Alexandria.”
Eudoras’ expression brightened, and he leaned forward slightly.
“I need to return with an answer that will satisfy the Pharaoh. Can you assist me?”
“I’m just a mere censor, so I can’t act directly. However, I can approach those who have the authority to help. They will not refuse my request.”
Eudoras, unaware of the Triumvirate, mistakenly assumed Marcus was referring to the Senate.
“That would be very helpful. We just need confirmation from the Senate.”
Securing Rome’s recognition meant that the Pharaoh’s authority would be backed by Rome’s substantial power. Despite any complaints from the priests, they could not challenge a Pharaoh supported by Rome.
Of course, this support was not without cost.
To secure a guarantee that they could borrow Rome’s power in an emergency, Eudoras needed to offer a substantial payment.
As the finance minister, Eudoras presented their only leverage.
“As a token of gratitude for Rome’s assistance, we are prepared to offer 6,000 talents. How does that sound?”
6,000 talents represented an astronomical sum of over 140 million sesterces. It indicated Egypt's immense wealth and their willingness to spend such a large amount on royal maintenance.
Though tempting, accepting this sum posed a risk for Marcus. Taking such a bribe could create the impression that he was corrupted and greedy, especially given his youth and inexperience.
To avoid this, Marcus planned to have the Triumvirate secretly handle the distribution of this money through Caesar.
“6,000 talents is indeed a considerable amount, but it is not enough to influence Rome’s top leaders. This sum will be divided among several people. Therefore, you will need to offer 8,000 talents.”
“8,000 is excessive. How about 7,000?”
“I am not negotiating; I am merely informing you that 8,000 talents is required.”
Eudoras tried to argue, but Marcus’s indifferent gaze made him feel a chill. His instincts, honed as a finance minister dealing with many power holders, told him to acquiesce.
“I will agree to 8,000 talents. However, paying it all at once is impractical, so I propose the following arrangement.”
“Of course. You may pay 6,000 talents upfront once the resolution is passed, and the remaining 2,000 can be paid in installments over two years. Also, please allocate 3,000 of the initial 6,000 talents directly to the Senate.”
“I have no objections. I agree to all the terms you’ve proposed. I will pay 3,000 talents to the Senate out of the 8,000.”
“By the way, I am merely a mediator. The rest of the money will be received by someone else. It is essential that my involvement remains confidential. If my name becomes known, all agreements will be void, and I cannot guarantee what might happen next.”
“I understand. I swear by the name of the Pharaoh that this transaction will remain secret.”
Marcus smiled in satisfaction and handed over the contract. The document made no mention of Marcus’s name or implied any bribe. Eudoras signed it with a wry smile.
“Now that the financial arrangements are settled, let me tell you what I really want.”
“Wasn’t the deal concluded?”
“Oh, don’t worry. I’m not asking for more compensation. The negotiation regarding the Pharaoh’s authority is over. I want to discuss something else: I wish to conduct business in Alexandria and need permission for that.”
“Business? What sort of business?”
“It concerns banking. If you agree to this proposal, you won’t need to pay me the 2,000 talents that we previously discussed.”
Eudoras’s eyes widened. He couldn’t fathom why Marcus would forgo such a significant amount of money for mere permission to operate a business.
Marcus, however, believed that if he had 2,000 talents in hand, the Ptolemaic dynasty would delay or obstruct payment. Thus, he considered it better to forgo the uncertain money in favor of a potentially more profitable venture.
He viewed the banking opportunity in Alexandria as a long-term investment, worth the trade-off. The initial negotiation amount had been raised from 6,000 to 8,000 talents to facilitate this.
Unaware of Marcus’s reasoning, Eudoras readily agreed to consider the proposal to save the 2,000 talents.
“I can likely grant your request, but I need more details. If it involves any threat to Egypt’s security, I cannot approve it.”
“There’s no cause for concern. This is a standard business operation used throughout Rome and its provinces. It will benefit both Egypt and me.”
As a finance minister, Eudoras could not fully grasp the impact of the banking business, a concept unfamiliar to him. Nevertheless, given its implementation in Rome and other provinces, he assumed it wouldn’t pose a problem.
To ensure Egypt’s interests were protected, Eudoras decided to include a specific clause.
“The terms must match those in Rome or other provinces exactly. You cannot exploit Egypt more than you would in a foreign country. Do you agree to this condition?”
“Of course not. I uphold business ethics.”
Eudoras and Marcus reached an agreement that satisfied both parties. Marcus quickly persuaded the Triumvirate and Caesar to draft a resolution recognizing the authority of the Egyptian Pharaoh. The justification was the stability of Egypt, which was crucial for Rome’s food supply.
Caesar proposed the bill, and despite some reluctance, the Senate approved it. The stability of Egypt was vital for Rome’s well-being, and they could not afford to oppose it without good reason due to potential backlash.
As a reward, Marcus announced that he would pay 3,000 talents to Rome’s treasury. The remaining 3,000 talents were divided equally among Caesar, Pompey, and Marcus.
Unexpectedly, Ptolemy XII sent an offer. He expressed his deep gratitude for Rome’s support and wanted to thank Marcus personally. He also subtly indicated his desire to discuss the banking business further.
Marcus, already burdened with work, debated whether to accept the invitation. However, he realized that Egypt’s strategic importance outweighed the inconvenience of a temporary financial loss. Establishing a foothold in Egypt could be advantageous.
Additionally, he might have the chance to meet Cleopatra VII Philopator, Ptolemy XII’s daughter. Cleopatra was so renowned that her name became synonymous with the historical figure. The saying that “if her nose had been a little lower, the entire surface of the earth would have changed” was so famous that many modern people had heard it.
‘I wonder if there’s any truth to that?’
Marcus planned to return by next July, when Rome’s political elections would take place, ensuring he wouldn’t miss crucial developments.
Thus, Marcus accepted Egypt’s invitation as a representative of the Senate. A new direction in Rome’s affairs briefly shifted towards Alexandria in Egypt.