Saturninus – Character Bio

Political relationship with Marius

To be the most powerful man in Rome

• well above average, 6’0’’

• Tall and lean, with broader shoulders than his slender face or slight waist might indicate.

• Olive

• A full head of thick, dark curls.
• Stylish in a way that Sertorius wouldn’t have the patience or ability to emulate even if he wanted to, but it seemed that others were trying.

• Emotive eyes that could convey any emotion he was currently feeling, or the one he most desired to express. This was helped by eyebrows that seemed to move independently of one another.

• Pronounced cheek bones

• Dimples on one cheek, perhaps from his perpetual cocked smile.

• The height of fashion in the day. Others attempted to dress like him.
• He was actually accused of “luxuria” or “hubris” just before this, because of his expensive clothing, but he beat the charge and afterwards operated with a modicum of restraint, and the people loved him all the more for how he responded to these charges and it was said to play a role in their electing him to the tribunate.

• Has a habit of standing with his shoulders back, as if he’s reclining on a couch at all times.

• In the height of his health. Doesn’t take extra time for exercise very often, but he walks (so as to be with the people), rather than go about in a litter, so he remains in excellent shape.
• Takes an exceedingly great amount of time for the bathes, where he both conducts his business and takes his healing rituals seriously.

loud, quiet, harsh, etc.

• Extremely smooth voice, the kind that could have captivated an audience while reciting poetry everyone had heard a dozen times.

• Very refined, formal and precise.

• When asked why he hasn’t remarried, he jests “given recent history I can assume that I’d leave her a widow before the ceremonies are concluded”, or something like that.

• Calm in punctual in almost every occasion, he becomes a different animal entirely when on the rostra. He becomes extremely passionate, violently so, his arms flaying around and his voice crying out for justice.
• He says he is a great speaker because he never read a book or took classes. He believes in what he says, and that is enough.
• Many say that if Saturninus had a woman to remind him that he was only human, like other men, that perhaps Saturninus would have slowed his roll. He laughs and replies “well I’m glad I don’t believe that I am a god, for surely I would then seize to exist”.

• To rule Rome, in whatever capacity he is able.
• He says that he wants to be the most famous man in Rome. He tells this to Sertorius over a cup of wine at the end of his life. He says he wants to be so famous that they would make statues of him and but his face on the coins, so that the rich men Licinia wanted would have to give her coins with a little bit of him. He says he wants to be the greatest speaker of all time, to influence the way men spoke and addressed one another, so that when those rich men Licinia wanted spoke to her, she would hear a little bit of him. He says he wanted to be so famous, in the end, that he would be deified and considered to stand with the gods on Mount Olympus, so that when Licinia stepped out into the night and looked up, the moonlight that made her pretty would be a little bit of him.

• In Rome, on the Caelian Hill.

• He was a moneyer in 107/6, where he made a name for himself by quietly and competently manning his position.
• He lost his role as quaestor (wasn’t removed from the magistracy altogether, just recalled from Ostia) to Marcus Scaurus, and bares a seething hatred for him and the rest of the nobility ever afterwards. He was the fall guy for the grain shortages, although the real culprit was the war in Gaul, the slave uprising in Sicily, the instability of Sardinia.
• Saturninus (and Sertorius) is aware that this transition happened the same night that Mallius Maximus and Hirtuleius were attacked. He uses this as an example that even the most respected members of the aristocracy are corrupt, as the swapping of Saturninus and Scaurus would have required collaboration from the entire Senate.
• After this, he was considerable disliked by both the people and senate because he had been made the scapegoat.  Fortunately the memories of the people were short, and he set about accusing Caepio and Maximus openly, which the people loved him for. He used this to fuel his first election to Tribune, a year or so after his failed tribuneship.
• He was allowed into the senate in the census of 102 bc, where some tried to bar his entry. He had been a tribune already at this point, but he had not yet received full senatorial status.
• He persecuted Mallius Maximus in the plebiscite. He claims that he caught wind that Maximus was under threat of assassination, so Saturninus discussed with Marius and Maximus himself and decided that it was best if he was brought to trial and convicted. If he left willingly, he would be shamed. Then, once Caepio was convicted and exiled, they could call for the return of Mallius Maximus by placing the blame firmly on Caepio.

• Comes from a long line of Romans in political life. His mother kept a good house, but would never be mistaken for loving. He was raised more by his wet nurse than anyone else. His father was harsh and disapproving. He always seemed to pale in the view of others, until he met his wife.

• Being removed from Ostia, only to shortly after receive the news from his father-in-law that his wife, Licinia, would be leaving him for a more “suitable” marriage.

• A seaside vacation with his wife to Baiae, or somewhere close by. At the time, political upheaval in Rome certainly wouldn’t have felt worthwhile.

• Receives a diligent and proper education

• Doesn’t rest on his laurels. His proudest accomplishments are those he envisions in the future.

• Began his career as a prosecutor in the courts, where he was a terror to his enemies.