‘I’m sorry to hear that,’ Vespasian said as he realised that Malichus’ expression was inviting comment. ‘What is it that Rome has done to make you feel of less worth than one of your women?’
Again Malichus stared hard at Vespasian, looking for signs of sarcasm as again Vespasian’s expression betrayed none; just genuine concern. With another laugh and slap on Vespasian’s knee Malichus continued. ‘Seventeen years ago, in my father’s time, the Emperor Gaius Caligula transferred the sovereignty of Damascus to the Kingdom of Nabataea as a gift of friendship to a mighty neighbour in the first year of his rule.’
It was something that Vespasian was unaware of but he made sounds of approval nonetheless.
‘And my father presented him with four magnificent Arab stallions.’
‘Yes, I remember now; Caligula was very fond of one of them in particular, Incitatus was its name. I had the pleasure of dining with the beast on a number of occasions,’ Vespasian said, recalling Caligula’s habit of inviting his favourite horse to dinner.
Malichus evidently did not find an equine presence at the dinner table unusual. ‘Then, when my father died three years later, Caligula confirmed the gift of Damascus to me upon my coronation.’
‘And very right and proper for him to do so,’ Vespasian commented solemnly, amused by how the brash young Emperor had managed to use the same gift again.
‘Indeed, my friend; a gift from one equal to another.’
‘Quite so.’
‘And in return I sent him another four stallions. However, he, er … died in the spring of the following year, before my gift arrived.’
‘But Claudius accepted them instead?’
‘Yes, he did, and then confirmed Damascus on me as a gift commemorating his elevation to the Purple.’
Vespasian hid his admiration for such an economical use of a single gift. ‘Again the correct thing to do.’
‘Yes, my friend, and now that I’ve been given the same gift three times over you would have thought that it really was mine to keep.’
‘But it’s not?’
‘No! Two months ago that poisonous ex-slave Felix, the procurator of Judaea, a man so beneath my rank that it offends me even to look at a letter written in his name, wrote to inform me that Claudius has decided to take Damascus back under Roman rule as part of the province of Syria. Pah! Pah!’
Vespasian inclined his head in lieu of expressing an opinion.
‘Damascus is my main income! The taxes from there alone are more than those of Petra and Bostra combined. My brethren in the desert, naturally, do not pay taxes, so I have to rely on the settled population of Jews and Greeks and suchlike in my three main cities for income. If Claudius takes Damascus from me, how will I be able to distribute wealth to my desert brethren and afford all the finest things for my horses and sons?’
‘Cut back on what you spend on your wives and daughters?’ Vespasian suggested, instantly regretting his flippancy.
Fortunately Malichus considered the suggestion worthy of deliberation. ‘I have thought about that but it would not save enough. I have to provide respectable dowries for my daughters as befits a man of great position; this year alone I’ve married four of them off at the cost of many horses, camels and goats as well as much gold. As to my wives and lesser women, I already provide them with the bare minimum to keep them quiet and prevent too much friction in their living quarters. No, my friend, my budget is tight as it is; I need to keep Damascus.’
‘Then appeal to Caesar.’
Malichus gleamed at Vespasian, his eyes twinkling in the firelight. ‘My friend, you understand my predicament so well; that is indeed what I must do. However, I am not a Roman citizen so therefore I do not have the automatic right to make such an appeal.’
Vespasian thought he understood where the conversation was heading. ‘So your favour is to ask me to appeal in your name as an ex-consul?’
‘No, Vespasian; the favour that I would ask of you is to get me citizenship.’
‘Citizenship?’
Malichus nodded enthusiastically. ‘Yes, my friend; as a citizen I can go to Rome knowing that my person is safe and there I can appeal to Caesar face to face, man to man; a conversation between rulers. And also if I were a citizen Claudius would have less right to take my property away from me.’
And so therefore he would be hardly likely to grant the request that would prejudice his case, Vespasian deemed, though he did not share the thought with Malichus. ‘As an ex-consul, I do have a certain amount of influence with the Emperor; I shall see what I can do. Tell me, do you know why he has decided to take Damascus back?’