War was always a grand game of dice with the lives of men. Fortunes were made and lost, and reputations soared meteorically or were forever sullied. Cassius Claudius had found himself catapulted from obscurity to a small measure of renown. Cassius was of old name and family, and of a senatorial rank, thus there had been little trouble in getting himself appointed as tribunus laticlavius to his cousin and legate Sextus Longinusâ legion.
Very little was expected to come of such an appointment, and little did for the first year following his appointment. A sleepy appointment to the legions in Aquilleia had offered little opportunity to do much other than pour over old manuals written by dead general, drill the men of the legion and drink the local wine. Then the Helvetii had invaded Gaul and Caesar had intervened, taking command of most of the Republicâs legions in the area. Suddenly a sleepy posting had become a bloody war.
Thee years and several tribes later Cassius had managed to make himself more than a notation on the rosters of the legions. In Amorica Longinusâ legion had proceeded along the planned route in to invest the Ventiâs city, however, the Venti and their allies had laid an ambush and twenty thousand men had assailed the legion before any reinforcements could arrive. Longinus was slain in the initial moments of the ambush by a pair of arrows and the legion had been sorely pressed, fallen into disarray and began to retreat on its own accord. But the tribune had taken command as was his right and demanded that the men stand and fight. Heâd stalked to the front and led counter-attack himself that bloodied the Venti and steeled the legion, discipline recovered and the assault was repelled leaving the Gauls fleeing as an angry legion began to slaughter like the well oiled killing machine that it was. Naturally no one had kept track but it was widely stated that so fiercely had the young tribune led the counter-attack that more than thirty men had surely fallen beneath his blade.
The legionnaires had proclaimed him a hero and given him the grass crown to honour him for saving the legion. Caesar had left him in command of a legion at the age of twenty one leading many of the older men to rather sardonically label him âthe boy heroâ. Though few mocked what followed, for as war continued to rage his command was impeccable. He lost few troops, decimated his enemies and followed his orders skillfully. Plunder from Gallic cities had flowed into his coffers and enriched his men. The senate some time later had confirmed his appointment after Caesar had lauded his deeds repeatedly in his dispatches. Some of more conservative senators had questioned his lack of experience and his youth, but it was wryly pointed out that by such a definition âAlexander of Macedon would have been unsuited for commandâ.
Cassiusâ fame and fortune had risen so meteorically such that as the wars were winding down and at the age of twenty five, he was informed by his commander that he was being sent to Rome to marry Pompeyâs niece. The yet youthful general had cocked a brow to his commander and in a rather puzzled fashion had inquired âMe?â
Caesar had noted âAntony is married already, and none of my own family are off a sufficient age. Rumors of a rift between my faction and Pompeyâs have began and we wish a show of unity. The mob loves you, so your return to be wed to Pompeyâs niece will be almost as auspicious as a triumph. I wish to remind Pompey and his friends just how popular I and my friends are.â Caesar paused and smirked as he noted âBesides it will marvelously grate on those that think you are too young to hold command to see the city hail you and to have one of its leading men give his kin to you in marriage.â
There had been little point in refusing as he didnât really expect he should have done better if left to his own devices. Hence as Gaul had settled to a discontented lull with no open violence he was sent by ship back to Rome. Several of his friends had been granted leave to accompany him Titus Curius and Publius Minicus whom had served with him in the legions. Half a century of men had been sent with him as an honour guard. Caesarâs own gifts had left him returning looking very much the hero, an iron breastplate ornate with the gold and gemstones that dripped from it that had once been in the possession of a Gallic king, and a white stallion that looked the sort of horse a god would ride. Naturally gold was given as well.
Cassius was a rather tall man by nature, his shoulder broad and his skin that bronzed tone that any Roman gained when subjected to the sun. His features were considered handsome enough, a cleft chin and rather classical good looks with thick dark hair framing his face. Riding into the city on the magnificent horse heâd been granted and with the gaudy breastplate of a Gallic king and a grass crown upon his head, he looked very much the part of a hero. He found a crowd assembled to great him which roared its approval as he arrived â and that was even before those that accompanied him began to distribute gold among the mob.
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