Book VI: Magnentius Learns the Ropes

1) It was in the autumn of his first year as emperor that Magnentius received a delegation from northern Gaul to report that the province was in dire striates from the failure of the crops. As was usual, they first saw Caesar Decentius before being passed on to the emperor. In this way Magnentius eliminated audiences with "the rabble" and could get down to business. Decentius had the character to put up with half-wits and scum and rather enjoyed his role of Magnentius' sieve. This time he called an immediate audience.

The delegation was brought before the emperor by Decentius; their spokesman, a Parisian named Quintus Julianus, came ahead of the others. Julianus was quite well dressed. His clothes looked new: a tunic of fine linen decorated with silver thread was covered by a mantle of dark green pinned into place by a golden broach and adorned with many colored handkerchiefs tucked in at the correct places. Julianus was also a handsome man; his beard neatly trimmed and his hair had been curled. On one hand he wore a signet ring; on the other hand an enormous jewel sparkled from a gold ring. He was not a good choice to present to Magnentius as the emperor tended to be suspicious of anyone dressed as well as or better than himself. Julianus had been a close friend of Constans and even, so it is reputed, was a member of the late emperor's debauchery club. This did not lend itself to a favorable impression to Magnentius, of whom the same rumor was spoken.

"Augustus!" Julianus said. "We have come to you to seek relief from our suffering. Famine threatens to break out without your intervention! This year we experienced horrible storms and so much rain that the grain rotted in the ground: nothing grew. Prices for a modius of grain have soared. Why just months ago a single gold solidius was enough to buy all you would want; now you must pay 10 gold solidi. We have made the best we can of these sorry events by conserving the grain we have but we must as for your majesties aide to feed the people. As we speak, people starve and children cry for food!"

"You do not appear to be starving?" Magnentius pointed out.

"A man in my position, Augustus, can meet his own needs. Many others cannot."

"So then, you are an exception! The north of Gaul starves but you keep yourself fat!"

2) Accustomed to dealing with royalty Julianus was not perturbed. "Augustus, I have donated 10,000 modi of corn to relieve the starving. I am considered a leading citizen, so the people sent me to beg for them."

"Very well," Magnentius said, clearly unsatisfied, "what grain do you need?"

"60,000 modi of grain, Augustus. Many mouths must be fed."

"Including yours I suppose! And the following year the grain will be made up?"

"As God permits, Augustus."

"And this dog is a Christian too!" Magnentius thought. "No wonder he's so rich, they all look after themselves."

"You will see to it that the grain is portioned fairly to everyone?"

"I am but one of the citizens involved, Augustus. My part is a humble one."

"But you are doing the talking! Do you give your guarantee?"

"Certainly, Augustus. I will do what I can to see the grain fairly divided."

"Very well, the grain will be transferred to you in a few days. The Caesar will see to it."

3) Julianus bowed and retreated to the group of Northerners. The audience was over.

Decentius returned minutes later having seen to all the paperwork.

"You were rather hard on Julianus, brother. Not feeling well?"

"HA! You claim to be so smart. Couldn't you see that Julianus is a crook."

"And what if he is! Everyone has got to get ahead you know!"

"I might have known he was a friend of yours. They say shit sticks to itself."

"I had never met him before today. They say, for your information, that Julianus has a brother at home on the farm and all he does is take care of the pigs. Cunning does not come from the loins it would seem!"

"I don't trust him. He's going to run off with the grain, just you wait."

"There will be an armed escort."

"Let us hope they are incorruptible."

4) The corn was delivered without incident in a matter of days. However, a few weeks later a delegation from the north had returned begging to be allowed an audience. Magnentius granted the request but grumbled. Five men stood before him dressed poorly and looking dirty. There was little doubt that they had walked the distance from their homes to Augustodunum. Julianus was not present.

"Why have you come? Did you not receive enough grain? There surely was enough to feed thousands of mouths."

"There is not even a cup of grain, Great Augustus," one of the men cried and fell to his knees. "It is all gone!"

"Gone? Gone where? Was it stolen?"

"No, Great Augustus. It was bought."

"Bought! Explain what you mean!"

"All of the corn was bought by Quintus Julianus, Augustus. None of it was left for distribution, unless the black market can be called a fair price."

"What is the price?"

"About 30 gold solidi."

"What! That is outrageous!"

"So we are doubly reduced to starvation. The dogs, cats and rats, at least the ones we could catch, have all been eaten. Grass, O Great Augustus, a man cannot stomach for long. Some people have been poisoned by eating mushrooms and strange roots they dug up. Before long cannibals will be rampant and eating all of your supporters."

"That will do! I understand your problem. Julianus shall be summoned to the court! See to it Caesar Decentius!"

5) Decentius sent a squad of soldiers to drag Julianus to court. He arrived somewhat roughed up (soldiers always take liberties) but not surprised by the turn of events. Without ceremony, he was taken to see the emperor, who was himself summoned from the Baths and therefore disturbed that he had been disturbed. The meeting took place in the audience room. Magnentius thought the captive would be all aquiver but he seemed not to be the least afraid. Magnentius noticed was that his clothes were not as richly turned out (gone was the cloak and golden broach) and were dirty from traveling (and probably being thrown to the ground by his captors). His beard had not been trimmed in days and his hair was caked in mud. As he looked closer he saw that Julianus did not appear to be afraid and was almost smiling.

"What do you mean by disobeying me!?" Magnentius thundered out in his best style.

Quite unperturbed Julianus stood his ground. "Augustus, I do not know how I have disobeyed you."

"You know very well how! You snatched up the grain we sent north as soon as it arrived."

"I made a purchase of corn, Augustus. Considering the amount I donated to the starving peasants I needed the grain for my own use."

"That much! 60,000 modi! Do you have an army to feed?"

Julianus looked around him nodding at the secretary who was recording each word said and the imperial advisors who were standing around attentively. "If Augustus would permit a word alone I would explain everything to the most candid details."

"What! So you can assassinate me! You are a desperate man!"

"I have no weapon Augustus. I promise to tell you the entire truth."

6) Magnentius considered the request. "Very well. But our brother will stay."

"I am agreed, Augustus. Having a lunatic brother myself I admire the trust you place in yours."

Decentius came up to the throne and sat on the dais.

"You may continue with your explanation."

"It is very simple, Augustus. I am a man of business but in these days it is increasingly difficult to make any money at all. You can labor until you drop from exhaustion; it's just not possible any more from the terrible inflation. It is true that I am wealthy. I inherited my father's estate which was not too paltry but I built on it until I owned ten farms. How was this done? I am sure you want to know, Augustus, and I will keep my promise to be truthful. In a word: dishonesty."

"By your own mouth you are condemned!" Magnentius said certain he had caught his prey.

"Let him continue, brother. Without interruption, please," Decentius said.

"Yes, I am dishonest. But a man of business must be if he wants to get ahead. So, I gave away 10,000 modi of corn. I did that to serve my city. By purchasing all the corn that was delivered I can expect to quadruple my money on the black market selling just enough at lower prices to whet appetites. Not only that. When someone with money tried to buy a bushel of corn I have agents in the market who offer more money, so the fool spend much more than he ought to."

"I see," said Magnentius. "And why are you making this confession?"

"I want to offer my services to my emperor."

"Services? You mean you want to escape my justice!"

7) Very cool, Julianus stood before Magnentius and responded slowly and deliberately.

"Augustus, these are hard times that need hard solutions. The State totters on the edge of financial ruin. The money we had when we were young is hardly worth mentioning now, unless you have gold in your pocket. And that is what I am offering: Gold to the treasury."

The remarks caught Magnentius by surprise. He forgot the fact he was the inquisitor and questioned Julianus further.

"Do you mean the State, the emperor, ought to use such low tactics as you have?"

"But I have not done anything illegal under the law, just unscrupulous. To put it simply, Augustus, when you see a beggar in the road do you give him everything in your pocket, pass him by, or rob him of all he has in his wooden bowl? I am sure that your majesty does not rob him, yet I would believe that it has crossed your mind. There is no obligation to give him as much as a coin and he isn't harmed, even though he is no richer. In fact, at home he probably eats off gold plate. It is just his job to look poor. And that is what I have done. I gave some corn away but when I make an investment I expect a return. Now, on all the corn your majesty sent north no gain to the empire at all could have been realized."

"True, it was a gift to relieve the suffering of the unfortunates."

"God looks after the unfortunates, Your Majesty. Or so the priests have told us. After all, don't the flowers do nothing but grow?"

8) Magnentius could not deny what Julianus had said.

"What do you propose?"

"If your majesty will be so kind as to reimburse me for the corn, I will sell it for Your Majesty for a handsome profit. This is just to prove that a tidy sum may be had. You will, in fact, be feeding the people and making money."

"But how will the poor be able to afford the cost of the gain which is now, Zeus knows what?"

"They won't have to. Those who can buy it will certainly share it. There always are people like that. I suppose God is responsible. Think of it as rain dropping from a roof, a sort of a trickling down of the corn. Its like they say of the Rhone river; it eventually reaches the sea."

Magnentius was caught up in thought. He could see nothing wrong with the idea.

"What have I been telling you brother, O Augustus!" Decentius broke in. "The empire must be ruled like you own house. With all of the ins and outs of life these days the emperor must look out for himself. You have to learn the ropes of being ruthless."

"My brother, the noble Caesar, has had experience with life in the raw. But I will allow you to do what you will, Julianus, with my brother to give you your orders. Agreed?"

"Agreed, Augustus. And may I say you will not regret your decision."

"I pray not. Since I am, at the moment, paying twice for the same corn."

9) With Decentius managing the deal the corn was bought by the empire and sold on the black market. The resulting profit was substantial and pleased Magnentius greatly. Now he could think about building some great monument or extend the palace. The starvation of the north was abated somewhat when a mob stormed the grain stores of Paris taking everything. The city applied to Magnentius for relief for now that their grain had disappeared they could feed none of the population whose dole was the only relief they had. The emperor was dismayed and summoned his brother and, for good measure, Julianus.

"Thanks to the black market sale of corn there was a riot in Paris and all the available city stores were stolen. The city has sent an urgent letter saying they will starve unless I find relief! Next they will have a delegation here! Is that what being emperor consists of -- being the whipping boy to anyone who wants satisfaction!"

"It's just an unfortunate circumstance," Decentius said trying to soothe his brother.

"Circumstance! Where is the grain to come from? I have no more stored."

"Just tell the people to eat grass, or have they tried mud pie?"

"I think I can solve the problem, Augustus," Julianus said quietly.

"Tell me! How?"

"If memory serves me, I believe emperor Constans had some wheat put into storage at Ostia. Quite a lot I would say."

"But its all the way at Ostia!" Magnentius cried. "It will take time to haul cars down there and haul it up to Paris. Think of how many will have starved. They'll blame me!"

10) "But that is no problem, Augustus. I own several ships at Marsailles. I will have my men sail for Ostia with a written order from your majesty, load up the grain and sail back, then it can be loaded into carts for the journey north. In fact, if we use barges on the Rhone it would be there much quicker. All you must do is give the command, Augustus."

"A genius!" Magnentius said passionately.

So it was that Julianus gained great favor at court. Not only had he avoided prison but was given rooms of his own in the palace when he paid a visit. Generally, he spent more time in Paris directed his unscrupulous affairs. He indeed had the Ostian grain delivered in good time but he also managed to appropriate who knows how much for himself. Magnentius enjoyed Julianus's company greatly as he tended to make decisions for the emperor and Magnentius was not one to make an easy decision relying heavily on the advice of his councilors.

11) One day, Julianus received an urgent summons to come to Augustodunum. When he arrived he was conducted into the emperor's audience chamber where Decentius was sitting on the throne and Magnentius pacing like a caged animal (a lion most assuredly).

"There you are! Julianus how I have needed your advice!" Magnentius cried.

"I am humbled by the emperor's trust in me." Julianus said diplomatically.

"I have received a letter from Constantius. He had made me an offer. Tell Julianus, Decentius."

Decentius picked the letter up from the floor when it had been left, or thrown, and began to read:

"Constantius Augustus to Magnentius. Greetings."

"Do you hear that!" Magnentius roared. "He does not address me by my proper title! That nervy little man!" The emperor continued to pace.

12) Decentius waited for his brother to cool down before he continued. "Well, avoiding all of the flowery language what it come to is this: Constantius will recognize Magnentius as co-emperor if he will give up Italy."

"And I can keep the other territories."

"Yes, all of Gaul and the other bits and pieces we picked up."

"I won't give up Italy. They love me there. Why they proclaimed me their liberator! Besides, I like it there and this eastern emperor has enough land as it is."

"It may be a trick, O Augustus, to lull you into thinking you are safe. Then, Constantius will send in his army."

"But still, brother. Recognition is recognition. It may bring others into the fold later on. Besides, if Constantius goes back on his word you can always take Italy back."

"That is why you were summoned, dear Julianus. We need your advice."

13) Julianus grew serious for a moment and stared at the floor. After a few moments he spoke: "Augustus, may I frame the response to the eastern emperor? If I could write an answer to his letter, knowing the family as I do, I may be able to negotiate a way around the surrender of Italy."

This was what Magnentius wanted to hear. "Splendid! Write the reply and let Decentius read it for his comments. Now I am certain I will keep my empire intact!"

Julianus disappeared for two days during which time a letter was written. On the third day, Decentius stormed into the palace looking for his brother. He found him in the garden taking the air.

"You are ruined brother! Constantius will be looking for your head!"

14) Nonplused, Magnentius stared back with widened eyes. "Why is that, brother?"

"This is a copy of the letter from Julianus to the Eastern Ruler. When it arrives Constantius will be furious."

"But the letter isn't under my seal! And you were to read it before it was sent!"

"The secretary to whom we lent the seal thought Julianus had authority to use it, so he sealed the letter. The man read it and, because I have given him some discretion in these matters, thought nothing was amiss. You're sitting down, so read it."

15) Magnentius read:

"To the Eastern Ruler from Magnentius, Augustus and Emperor.

Your demand for the whole if Italy is unreasonable. I am fond of the countryside there and would not part with it if you deigned to pay me a fortune, as well as confirming my position as Augustus. I, at least, have paid may visits to Italy and the people love me. Isn't that why they called me their liberator?

In any case, the people of Italy are fed up with the house of Constantine, or the Second Flavians as you ridiculously call yourselves. The country is mine fair and square; so go stew about it!

Magnentius Augustus Pius Felix

16) Magnentius studied the letter for a few moments. "He certainly vents his feelings," he said in a tone of admiration. "So much for negotiating thus far. Well, a follow-up letter can be sent excusing the first and giving our true terms. I'm sure Constantius will not mind."

"He probably won't read your letter. When he flies into a rage there is nothing or no one who can reason with him."

"We could call it a forgery."

"Possible, but not probable."

"I could write to the Empress," Magnentius innocently suggested. "I have heard she has much influence over him. Women are susceptible to my charm."

Decentius frowned.

"Well, I'll write to Constantius and tell him my seal was stolen."

"Then, we have to have a new one made with a new device."

Magnentius was very fond of his eagle device, carved by an expert, so a compromise was made. A letter was written in almost subservient terms and sealed with a coin portrait of the emperor, which, of course, gave the inverse impression of the emperor's bust and name. The letters were duly delivered and, as Decentius predicted, Constantius read the first, raged, then ordered his army to march. The second letter remained among a collection of petitions that went unanswered and were found many years later by the emperor Julian.

17) As for Julianus, he waited in vain for the emperor to summon him to court not realizing that Decentius had contemplated sending an assassin to his house; but the emperor would not let him do it. After all, they had been friends and there was all the money the emperor had made. Word of Magnentius' displeasure reached Julianus and to play it safe he went into hiding on one of his estates disguised as a farmer. The drawback to this was the scratchy clothes Julianus was forced to wear which, as he claimed, destroyed the softness of his skin forever. Of course the smells, to say nothing of the swineherd he lived with who never bathed, gave Julianus a horror of such places for the rest of his life. He was freed from this torture after a few months, just after the battle of Mursa, when Julianus felt safer with the emperor having been beaten to a draw by Constantius. He figured Magnentius had more on his mind.