Character guide

Augustus

major

Also known as Octavia, The Deified Augustus, Ancharia, Atia, Quintus Hortensius, Caesar Augustus

First Roman emperor, central figure in the early books.

Tiberius

major

Also known as Tiberius Nero, Nero, Tiberius Claudius Drusus, Claudius, Drusus, Tiberius Claudius Nero, Caesar Tiberius

Second Roman emperor, known for his reclusive and paranoid rule.

Caligula

major

Also known as Gaius Caligula Germanicus, Germanicus, Gaius, Thereupon Caligula

Third Roman emperor, infamous for his extravagance and cruelty.

Claudius

major

Also known as Tiberius Claudius Drusus, Claudius, Drusus, Claudius Caesar

Fourth Roman emperor, considered an unlikely but effective ruler.

Nero

major

Also known as Agrippina, Nero son of Agrippina

Fifth Roman emperor, known for his artistic pretensions and tyranny.

Galba

major

Also known as Servius Galba, Servius

Brief emperor after Nero, known for his severity and old age.

Otho

major

Also known as Salvius Otho, Marcus Salvius Otho, Marcus, Accordingly Otho

Brief emperor who succeeded Galba and committed suicide after defeat.

Vitellius

major

Also known as Aulus Vitellius, Aulus

Brief emperor known for his gluttony and short reign.

Vespasian

major

Founder of the Flavian dynasty, restored stability after civil war.

Titus

major

Also known as The Deified Titus

Son of Vespasian, known for his generosity and the destruction of Jerusalem.

Domitian

major

Also known as The Deified Domitian

Last Flavian emperor, known for his autocratic rule and persecution of senators.

Julius Caesar

major

Also known as Gaius Caesar, Caesar Strabo, Caesar, Gaius, the Deified Julius, Julius, Gaius Julius Caesar Strabo, Julius

Dictator and central figure of the first book, assassinated in 44 BC.

Mark Antony

supporting

Also known as Antony, Marcus Antonius

Roman general and ally of Caesar, later rival of Octavian.

Agrippina the Younger

supporting

Also known as Agrippina

Mother of Nero, influential and ambitious, eventually murdered by him.

Germanicus

supporting

Also known as Germanicus, Vitellius Germanicus

Popular general and father of Caligula, died under mysterious circumstances.

Drusus Nero

supporting

Also known as Drusus, Nero, Claudius Nero, The father of Claudius Caesar

Younger brother of Tiberius, father of Claudius, died in Germany.

Sejanus

supporting

Also known as Aelius Sejanus

Powerful prefect of the Praetorian Guard under Tiberius, later executed.

Livia Drusilla

supporting

Also known as Livia, Drusilla, Livia Drusilla, Livia Augusta, Augusta

Wife of Augustus, influential matriarch of the Julio-Claudian dynasty.

Cicero

supporting

Also known as Marcus Tullius Cicero, Marcus Cicero

Orator and statesman, opponent of Mark Antony, executed in 43 BC.

Brutus

supporting

Also known as Decimus Brutus, Marcus Brutus, Brutus on Cato

One of Caesar's assassins, later defeated at Philippi.

Cassius

supporting

Also known as Gaius Cassius, Cassius Longinus, Lucius Cassius Longinus

One of Caesar's assassins, later defeated at Philippi.

Pompey the Great

supporting

Also known as Pompey, Sextus Pompey, Gnaeus Pompey, Gnaeus Pompeius Magnus

Roman general and rival of Caesar, defeated at Pharsalus.

Cleopatra

minor

Queen of Egypt, ally of Caesar and Mark Antony.

Messalina

supporting

Also known as Valeria Messalina

Third wife of Claudius, known for her promiscuity and executed for conspiracy.

Poppaea Sabina

minor

Second wife of Nero, reportedly kicked to death by him.

Seneca

supporting

Also known as Annaeus Seneca

Philosopher and tutor to Nero, later forced to commit suicide.

Thrasyllus

minor

Astrologer and confidant of Tiberius.

Heraclitus

minor

Philosopher mentioned in passing.

Cato the Younger

minor

Also known as Marcus Cato, Cato

Stoic senator and opponent of Caesar, committed suicide at Utica.

Sulla

minor

Also known as Lucius Sulla, The soothsayer Sulla

Roman dictator and earlier historical figure.

Marius

minor

Also known as Gaius Marius

Roman general and earlier historical figure.

Catiline

minor

Conspirator against the Roman Republic, opposed by Cicero.

Vindex

minor

Gallic governor who rebelled against Nero.

Nymphidius Sabinus

minor

Praetorian prefect who claimed to be Caligula's son.

Flavius Sabinus

minor

Also known as Sabinus

Brother of Vespasian, prefect of Rome.

Helvidius Priscus

minor

Stoic senator executed under Vespasian.

Licinius Mucianus

minor

Also known as Mucianus

General and supporter of Vespasian.

Berenice

minor

Jewish princess, mistress of Titus.

Domitia Longina

minor

Also known as Domitia

Wife of Domitian, involved in his assassination.

Stephanus

minor

Steward of Domitian's niece, involved in his assassination.

Parthians

minor

Also known as the Parthians, king of the Parthians

Eastern empire frequently at war with Rome.

Germans

minor

Also known as the Germans, the victorious Germans

Tribes beyond the Rhine, often fought by Roman armies.

Gauls

minor

Also known as the Gauls

Inhabitants of Gaul, conquered by Caesar.

Alexander the Great

minor

Also known as Alexander

Macedonian king, historical figure admired by Roman emperors.

Homer

minor

Ancient Greek poet, author of the Iliad and Odyssey.

Virgil

minor

Roman poet, author of the Aeneid.

Horace

minor

Roman poet, friend of Augustus.

Plutarch

minor

Greek biographer, source for Suetonius.

Tacitus

minor

Also known as Tacitus Annals

Roman historian, source for Suetonius.

Cassius Dio

minor

Also known as Dio

Roman historian, source for Suetonius.

Josephus

minor

Jewish historian, source for Suetonius.

Pliny the Elder

minor

Also known as Pliny

Roman naturalist and author, source for Suetonius.

Suetonius Laetus

minor

Also known as Suetonius

Father of the author Suetonius, a Roman knight.

Jupiter

minor

Also known as Jupiter Optimus Maximus, Jupiter Custos, Jupiter Capitolinus, Jupiter Cassius, Jupiter Olympius

Chief Roman god, often invoked by emperors.

Mars

minor

Also known as Mars the Avenger

Roman god of war, patron of the Roman state.

Venus

minor

Also known as Venus Genetrix

Roman goddess of love, claimed as ancestor by the Julian family.

Minerva

minor

Roman goddess of wisdom, patron of Domitian.

Apollo

minor

Also known as Apollo Sandalarius

Greek and Roman god of music and prophecy.

Hercules

minor

Mythological hero, often compared to emperors.

Romulus

minor

Also known as Titus Tatius, Atta Claudius

Mythical founder of Rome.

Fortune

minor

Also known as Good Fortune

Roman goddess of luck, often personified.

Castor

minor

Mythological twin, associated with the Dioscuri.

Pollux

minor

Mythological twin, associated with the Dioscuri.

Minos

minor

Mythological king of Crete, judge of the dead.

Achilles

minor

Greek hero of the Trojan War, mentioned in comparisons.

Nicomedes

minor

Also known as King Nicomedes

King of Bithynia, rumored lover of Caesar.

Juba II

minor

Also known as Juba

King of Mauretania, scholar and ally of Rome.

Ptolemy

minor

Also known as King Ptolemy

King of Mauretania, son of Juba II, executed by Caligula.

Mithridates

minor

Also known as king Mithridates

King of Pontus, enemy of Rome.

Vologaesus

minor

Parthian king, contemporary of Nero and Vespasian.

Artabanus

minor

Parthian king, contemporary of Tiberius.

Vonones

minor

Parthian king, deposed and lived in Syria.

Bato

minor

Illyrian leader, defeated by Tiberius.

Locusta

minor

Poisoner employed by Agrippina and Nero.

Tigellinus

minor

Praetorian prefect under Nero, notorious for cruelty.

Narcissus

minor

Freedman secretary of Claudius, powerful and wealthy.

Pallas

minor

Freedman treasurer of Claudius, immensely rich.

Callistus

minor

Freedman secretary of Caligula and Claudius.

Halotus

minor

Eunuch and taster for Claudius, possibly involved in his death.

Sporus

minor

Also known as This Sporus

Young boy castrated and married by Nero.

Epaphroditus

minor

Freedman secretary of Nero, helped him commit suicide.

Icelus

minor

Freedman and favorite of Galba.

Caenis

minor

Freedwoman and mistress of Vespasian.