Paul Doherty
Queen of the Night
PRINCIPAL CHARACTERS
THE EMPERORS
Diocletian the old Emperor
Maxentius formerly Emperor of the West, defeated and killed by Constantine at the Milvian Bridge
Constantine new Emperor of the West
Helena Constantine's mother, Empress and Augusta
Licinius Emperor in the East
IMPERIAL OFFICIALS
Anastasius Christian priest and scribe, secretary to Helena
Burrus German mercenary, Captain of Helena's bodyguard
Chrysis chamberlain
Ophelion imperial spy
Cassius Chaerea imperial spy
THE TEMPLE OF HATHOR
Sesothenes high priest
VILLA CARINA
Carinus senator and merchant
Antonia his daughter
Theodore an actor
VILLA AURELIAN
General Aurelian
Urbana Aurelian's second wife
Cassia former courtesan, close friend of Urbana
Alexander Aurelian's only son by his first wife
Casca a physician
Leartus a eunuch
THE FRETENSES ('THE WILD BOARS')
Postulus centurion
Stathylus decurion
Crispus, Secundus, Petilius, Lusius cavalrymen
THE CHRISTIAN CHURCH
Militiades Pope, Bishop of Rome
Sylvester Militiades' assistant, principal priest in the Christian community in Rome
AT THE SHE ASSES
Polybius the owner
Poppaoe his common-law wife
Oceanus former gladiator
Januaria serving maid
Claudia Polybius' niece
Murranus a gladiator
Simon the Stoic
Petronius the Pimp
Sallust the Searcher
Sorry tavern boy
Caligua tavern cat
Apuleius the Apothecary
Callista his wife
Venutus the Vine-dresser
Torquatus the Tonsor
Narcissus the Neat former embalmer
Mercury the Messenger tavern herald
Introduction
During the trial of Christ, Pilate, according to the gospels, wanted to free the prisoner. He was stopped by a cry that if he did so he would be no friend of Caesar's. According to commentators, Pilate recognised the threat. Every Roman governor and official was closely scrutinised by secret agents of the Emperor, 'the Agentes in Rebus', literally 'the Doers of Things'! The Roman Empire had a police force, both military and civil, though these differed from region to region, but it would be inaccurate to claim the Empire had anything akin to detectives or our own CID. Instead, the Emperor and his leading politicians paid vast sums to informers and spies. These were often difficult to control; as Walsingham, Elizabeth I's master spy, once wryly remarked, 'He wasn't too sure who his own men were working for, himself or the opposition.'
The Agentes in Rebus were a class apart amongst this horde of gossip-collectors, tale-bearers and, sometimes, very dangerous informers. The emperors used them, and their testimony could mean the end of a promising career. This certainly applied to the bloody and byzantine period at the beginning of the fourth century ad.
The Emperor Diocletian had divided the Empire into East and West. Each division had its own emperor, and a lieutenant, who took the title of Caesar. The Empire was facing economic problems and barbarian incursions. Its state religion was threatened by the thriving Christian Church, which was making its presence felt in all provinces at every level of society.
In ad 312 a young general, Constantine, supported by his mother Helena, a British-born woman who was already flirting with the Christian Church, decided to make his bid for the Empire of the West. He marched down Italy and met his rival Maxentius at the Milvian Bridge. According to Eusebius, Constantine's biographer, the would-be Emperor saw a vision of the cross underneath the words 'In hoc signo vinces' ('In this sign you will conquer'). Constantine, the story goes, told his troops to adopt the Christian symbol and won an outstanding victory. He defeated and killed Maxentius and marched into Rome. Constantine was now Emperor of the West, his only rival Licinius, who ruled the eastern empire. Constantine, heavily influenced by his mother, grasped the reins of government and began to negotiate with the Christian Church to end centuries of persecution. Nevertheless, intrigue and murder still held sway. There was unfinished business in Rome and the Agentes in Rebus had their hands full… Helena favoured the Christian Church but soon realised that intrigue, robbery and murder were no respec-tors of emperor or priest.
