Caenis and Pallas were both in Antonia’s household and Caenis was her secretary so would have known the contents of those scrolls had they really existed – and who’s to say they didn’t? Whether she was descended from the Caenii – or Kaenii as it is spelt on some old maps – is debateable, but to my mind it seems likely.
When I claim that Antonia was the most powerful woman in Rome it is not strictly true; Augustus’ widow, Tiberius’ mother, Livia was still very much alive and involved in politics but she died in AD29 before Vespasian returned from Thrace so I decided to leave her out. It was through Antonia that Vespasian received preferment due, in part, to his relationship with Caenis which lasted until her death in AD75.
Antonia’s assertion that Gnaeus Calpurnius Piso was responsible – perhaps with Tiberius’, Livia’s or Sejanus’ connivance – for the poisoning of her son, Gemanicus, was accepted by most historians in the Roman world; his suicide before the end of his trial proving his guilt. Robert Graves puts forward another theory in “I, Claudius”; if you want to read an interesting conspiracy theory I recommend Stephen Dando-Collins’ “Blood of the Caesars”.
Exactly when and how Vespasian met Caligula is not recorded; however, due to his ties with Antonia, Vespasian would almost certainly have come into contact with him.
Asinius was consul in AD25 and did die the following year but how and where we don’t know; however, the fact was very convenient for the plot. His being in league with Antonia against Sejanus is my invention but is not unlikely.
Sejanus’ request to marry Livilla was denied by Tiberius in AD25 but their relationship did carry on in combination with his quest for ultimate power.
Gaius’ lifestyle is totally made up but, as there is no record of him ever having had children, completely within the realms of possibility and an enjoyable excursion into perceived Roman decadence.
My thanks go many people. Firstly to my agent, Ian Drury at Sheil Land Associates, for taking me on and always being so positive; and to Gaia Banks and Emily Dyson in the agency’s international rights department for all their hard work on my behalf. Secondly to Nic Cheetham at Corvus Books for publishing my book and also for getting Richenda Todd to edit it, working with her was a great experience. Thanks also to Emma Gibson at Corvus for guiding me through the publishing process of which I have no previous experience.
No education is complete without memories of special teachers. I would like to thank three masters at Christ’s Hospital School, Horsham: Richard Palmer for introducing me to Shakespeare and Donne and the joys of the English language; Andrew Husband for giving me – though it may not have been obvious to him at the time – a lifelong love of history; and Duncan Noel-Paton who showed me that imagination has no boundaries.
Heartfelt thanks to my aunt, Elisabeth Woodthorpe and my sister, Tanya Potter, for their support and enthusiasm whilst writing this.
Finally my deepest thanks to my girlfriend, Anja Muller, who, when I first mentioned this idea to her six years ago, went and got me a notebook with Vespasian’s picture on the front, printed off everything that she could find about him on the internet – beware! – and then told me in the kindest possible way to stop talking about it and get on and write it. Once I did eventually take her advice she sat and patiently listened to what I had written every evening; thank you my love.
Vespasian will carry on his rise to power in “Rome’s Executioner”.