Once powerful, now humbled kings face the reversal of their fortunes in this 4 part series from Amalaric. In Part 1, an arrogant young king is overthrown and humiliated.
Fate of the Barbarian Kings - Part 1: The Triumph of the Respublica
by Amalaric
Series: Fate of the Barbarian Kings
THE TRIUMPH OF RESPUBLICA
He had plenty of time for reflection and realized, now, that the massacre of Italians after the siege of Cirta had been a mistake. His half-brother, Adherbal, hadn’t been any problem at all- the effeminate wastrel, lost in schemes of preening grandeur, was child’s play- but the Romans were another story. He shouldn’t have massacred the Italians when the city fell…
They had come as he knew they would but by that time Jugurtha rode the wave of his own hubris and, made bold by the ineptitude of the consular general Quintus Caecilius Metellus, challenged the ruthless might of the Republic. He should have known better. As was often the case, the bumbling political general was followed by the real thing and the arrogant young North African king was thrashed by the forces of Gaius Marius and was captured by the brilliant bisexual quaestor, Lucius Cornelius Sulla, and brought back to the gleaming city by the Tiber.
He languished without hope in dungeons of the Tullianum until the bright day that gathering trumpets announced the advent of Marius’ triumphal procession. The tall young king was brought to a holding cell and roughly ordered to strip until, naked, his gleaming muscles and regal manhood were fully displayed. It was only then that the royal treasures of heavy gold and precious stones were placed on his forearm and around his neck as ensigns of vanquished power and spoils of war.
Jugurtha was bound with heavy chain and led nude into the sunlight, led like a dog along the narrow streets and broad avenues behind the chariot of his conqueror. The crowd cheered his passage, impressed by the handsome young humiliated king who, nevertheless, managed to square his broad shoulders, staring impassively ahead. He knew what his fate must be and was afraid but was only betrayed (if one could see) by the pounding of his heart and great deep breaths lifting his mighty chest.
The procession ended at the pit of execution where, stripped of his jewels, Jugurtha finally wept- not for himself, but for the rough green and dry wind of North Africa.
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31118azti - September 7, 2018, 9:38 pm
To play with him……
scotts60143 - September 13, 2018, 8:07 am
As usual any story by Amalaric is so very well written! Can just picture the naked king led through the streets so all the people can see him…in his glory, on the way to his execution. Of course, the nip by Amalaric is of book quality!!