Caesar’s Arrival in Rome

           ItwasaspecialdayinRome,aholiday.Fiftyblack-armoredroyalguardsmarcheddownthemainstreetofRome,followedbyhundredsofmenonhorses.Behindthemcametheroyalcarriage.Commodus,thenewEmperorofRome,wascominghome.

           HissisterLucillawassittingnexttohim.Anotherfiftyguardsmarchedbehindthem.Closetotheroyalcarriage,onabeautifulblackhorse,rodeQuintus,thenewCommanderoftheRoyalGuards.

           CommodushadtoldtheSenatethathewasnowtheCommanderoftheRomanArmy,andthatthearmywasloyaltohim.Manysenatorsdoubtedit,buttherewasnooneinRomewithenoughpowertotakecontrol.AndsonothingcouldstopCommodus.

           ThepeoplehadbeentoldthattheirnewEmperorwouldarriveinRomeonthisdate,atthistime.Thecitywascleanedupandpurpleflagswerehungoutsidethemostimportantbuildings.ThecitizensofRomelinedthestreetsatthetimehewasexpected.

           Thecrowdwasnotverybiganditwasnotveryenthusiastic.Theycheered,butnotloudly.Commoduswasyoungandhadnoexperience,butthepeoplecouldforgivethat.Theyweremoreworriedaboutthestoriestheyhadheard-thatCommoduswasselfishandcruel.Hewasnothisfather,andtheyhadlovedMarcusAurelius.Commodushadmuchworktodotomakehimselfpopularandwinthesupportofthepeople.

           Ahead,onthestepsoftheSenate,agroupofsenatorsstoodwaiting:Falco,Gaius,andGracchuswereamongthem.Lucius,Lucilla’seight-year-oldson,wasstandingwiththem.