Salvatoria: The Memoirs of Lucretia Aurelia

ᑕᕼᗩᑭTEᖇ ᙭᙭᙭: TO TᕼE ᒪᗩᔕT ᗰᗩᑎ!

August 36 B.C

Near to Mylae, Sicily

After establishing peace with Antony and occupying Hispania, he needed to rush east to deal with Parthia. Under Prince Pacorus and Quintus Labienus, they invaded the heart of Syria, overthrew Judea, and marched all the way to Asia Minor. Given the triumvirs knew I was in close correspondence with Parthia they knew the consequences of losing this war.

The invasion of Syria was not a spontaneous event but rather a carefully planned campaign orchestrated by the Parthian King Orodes II. The Parthians had been emboldened by their recent successes against Rome, including the humiliating defeat of my father in law and brother in law at the Battle of Carrhae in 53 B.C. Now, they saw an opportunity to further weaken Rome's grip on the region by striking at one of its key provinces. I had been involved in the planning process.

Pacorus led a sizable Parthian army across the Euphrates River, bypassing the Roman defenses along the eastern frontier of the province. The speed and audacity of the Parthian advance caught the Roman authorities off guard, leaving them scrambling to muster a defense against the invading force.

The Parthians quickly seized control of several key cities and strongholds in Syria, including Antioch, the provincial capital. The local Roman garrisons, unprepared for such a swift and coordinated assault, were overwhelmed by the Parthian onslaught. Many Roman soldiers and officials were either killed or captured, while others fled in disarray.

The invasion sent shockwaves throughout the Roman Republic, prompting a frantic response from the authorities in Rome. The news of the Parthian incursion into Syria reached the ears of Mark Antony, one of the triumvirs ruling Rome at the time. Antony, recognizing the severity of the situation, hastily assembled a force to confront the Parthians and drive them out of Roman territory.

Despite Antony's efforts, the Parthians proved to be elusive adversaries, adept at hit-and-run tactics and guerrilla warfare. The rugged terrain of Syria favored their style of combat, making it difficult for the Roman legions to engage them in pitched battles. Nonetheless, Antony managed to score some minor victories against the Parthians, temporarily halting their advance.

Pacorus would be killed in battle as was Quintus Labienus, and Antony alongside his lieutenant Ventidius were hailed as heroes. But now Octavian had turned his gaze to me, and massed for another invasion of Sicily. While this was happening, I welcomed my first daughter into the world, which my husband eagerly named Lucretia the Younger. I was opposed to it, but he wouldn't take any rebuttals. He wanted to name his daughter after "the finest woman Rome has ever seen". Two years later, I gave birth to twins, Tullia and Marcus Cicero the Third.

Once it was opportune, Octavian broke the peace Antony and I had made, which supplied my propaganda machine with fresh work. I made my way to Sicily with my fleet, which then went north to try and defeat the Caesarian fleet under construction.

While inflicting heavier losses on the Caesarians, my favorite admiral, Menas, was killed in battle and my fleet retreated back to Sicily. Octavian tried to cross the straits but failed to make progress and called off the campaign. Yet he immediately began preparing to return, recalling Marcus Agrippa from Gaul and building up his fleet. Antony and Lepidus joined with Octavian, bringing hundreds of ships.

Without consulting the Senate, the three men renewed the second triumvirate in 37 B.C, and that was the final straw. The Senate packed their bags and made their way to Carthage. Now, with the blockade resumed and the Senate gone, the Roman people knew exactly what the triumvirate was: A three-man dictatorship. Time was not on their side, yet they were forced to postpone the invasion another year. Antony would return to the East instead to wage a war against Parthia.