House Horatia

*"Like the mighty Oak we do not fall, nor falter."*

## **Scions Of Rome**

**Early History:**

It is said that House Horatia is as old as the Palatine Hill itself where the people of this ancient dynasty are descended. Upon the Hill sat a great oak tree, one which was but a sapling when Romulus forged the beginnings of an empire and put in motion events which would have this family rise to fame and fortune. In the early days Horatia was known for the breeding of fine horses and horsemanship which led to the family being well respected and noteworthy in the eyes of Romulus as he named the head of the family Patres, and his descendents patricians. As all of the tribes of Rome had to contribute soldiers and cavalry to the levies, Horatia were happy to provide the horses for their tribe and ride them into battle. Horatia kin were well known and respected for their bravery and prowess on and off horseback. With the sale of their prized horses and membership in the Roman Equites, gens Horatia were able to gain great political power and respect, leading to them being given the role of Interrex and choosing Numa Pompilius as King. Doing so granted the family further privileges by the King and as such after the death of Numa one of their family was elected King. Tullus Horatia was known to be a brutal and warlike king, one who vastly expanded the holdings of Rome and brought great respect to the name Horatia. His reforms to the military put in place the beginnings of the Roman military machine and made the name of Horatia become one synonymous with martial prowess. However, Tullus was not a particularly religious man and as such angered Jupiter himself. The god struck down Tullus Horatia and left with his priests a prophesy that remained true ever since.

*“ Horatia in arrogance and in their impiety, are cursed to never again hold the title of Rex until they have proved their piety and subservience to Jupiter. You and your house are cast down to nothing, but in love of the gods you will rise once more.”*

Ever since House Horatia despite prestige and glory failed to gain any great title ever again though they would be senators, Consuls, Tribunes, and every other possible honor. The oak tree that grew on the Palatine hill became the center of life for the family and as the tree grew, so too did the power of Rome and the family that tied their power with it. The great Domus Horatia was constructed around the Oak tree, a palace to one of Rome's most favored houses which for a time rivaled if not surpassed all others in its wealth and splendor paved with Equite glory and horse trading gold. Its gates were flanked by two great states of horses cast in bronze which were seen by all on their way to the circus maximus. The family was active in politics and saw their fortunes rise and fall, yet what truly defined the family during the later era was their skill in the Circus Maximus. Horatia was well known for sponsoring charioteers adding even more glory to the house.

**Republican Era:**

As the kings of Rome continued to rule, the Horatia family became more and more republican in nature, beginning to become much less power hungry. When Lucius Superbus, the last king of rome lost the support of the people, Horatia were among the first to call for the end of the Kingship system and demanded the Republic replace it. As the Kingdom Of Rome ended, the Roman Republic began and through their loyalty, wealth, and bravery several of the later Consuls of Rome bore the name Horatia. This was the golden age of the families power in Rome as they were wealthy beyond belief, controlling most of the finest breeds and families of horses in the Republic and sold their offspring all over Roman dominions. Horatia was known for their full commitment to the ideals of Republicanism and defending it both at home and abroad. It was seen as a great embarrassment for a son of Horatia to not be either a senator or Equites within the Roman Army. The most well known example of bravery and martial skill was Horatius Cocles, a Roman officer who held the Pons Sublicius against the invading Etruscans. He helped to rally a Roman retreat and managed to keep the bridge held through ferocity alone though the price was heavy as he was never able to fight again due to his wounds. The statue in his honor stood in Rome for centuries after. Over time the power of Horatia began to wane and by the time Julius Caesar ended the Republic the family had lost most of its political power though their wealth remained. During the civil war the major branch of the Horatia family backed Pompey which led to them almost reaching total ruin.

**Empire And Ruin:**

After their loss of power and wealth that came with the disastrous choice to back Pompey Horatia struggled to cling onto any remaining strength. Thankfully the roots of the Horatia family were still strong in that of martial prowess and horsemanship. A new generation of Horatian men served in the Empire's many conquests and through blood forged the power of their family back to almost what it had been at the height of the Republic. During this time the family had a major split as the Horati took on the historic power base in Rome keeping control over the family Domus. The original Horatia family were sent to administer the city of Athens at the order of Hadrian in 117AD where they proved themselves capable. The Horati unfortunately would bring ruin to both of their families when during the year of the five emperors Tullus Horati VI, the head of the family, threw his weight behind Pertinax who was a close friend. Unfortunately their attempts to reform the Praetorian Guard and bring needed reforms led to the Assassination of the Emperor. Tullus Horati was accused of heresy and treason and crucified for his crimes. His family was stripped of all titles, honor, and possessions leading to their utter destruction. To put salt on the wounds the Praetorian Guard burned the families ancestral Oak tree which was a symbol of the family and their strength. The Horatia family in Athens was not spared either as Septimius took their titles from the family leaving them with only their trading business which would prove to be their salvation.

**A Christian Rome And Rebirth:**

For the next several hundred years the House of Horatia was reduced to nothing more than horse traders, merchants, and soldiers as their titles were gone, and their past glory nothing but a distant memory. Not long after their loss of power, the members of the house converted to Christianity as it spread through the empire like wildfire. Becoming very religious and moving to Byzantium when the great Christian Emperor Constantine moved his capital and court there. House Horatia with the still considerable money they had maintained through careful spending and trade, set up a palace in the city and became quickly ingratiated into the Emperors court as at the time Horatia had one of their sons high up in the military of the Eastern Empire. Over the next few centuries the family rose to grace once again, gaining a steadily growing collection of lands and glory. As the Hippodrome became the center of Roman politics and prestige, House Horatia continued their long tradition sponsoring racing teams and competing often in the events. Racing became as much of a family tradition as horse breeding, soldiering, or trading and the Emperors soon began to take notice. So it was in 868AD the historic holding of Athens was granted to the family once again as Lanius Horatia II was rewarded for backing Basil I in his overthrow of the previous emperor. As fate would have it this proved to be defining as the Macedonian Dynasty would rule for the next two centuries with House Horatia loyally serving and backing them through the great wars, rebellions, and strife this period brought.

**A Change In Leadership:**

Having received the support and favor of Roman Emperors for the last two centuries, House Horatia had enjoyed a golden age but this began to unravel in recent years. The political alliance the Macedonian Dynasty had maintained with Horatia was breaking down. Alexandrus Horatia was a respected strategos of the Roman Emperors and Empresses until Constantine Doukas, who forced him to retire but decided not to take away his families lands in Athens despite the generals initial unwillingness to serve him as he had been an ardent supporter of Isaac I and his desired reforms. In order to secure the loyalty and pacifism of such a renowned, skilled, and hostile general Doukas took his only son as ward in the capital while forcing Alexandrus to stay in Athens. Tullus Horatia IX was a man with great natural martial ability like his father an in his early days under his fathers care had learned the ways of war and strategy. However, as soon as he arrived  at the Emperors court alone but for a courtier of his father who supported him he was no longer permitted to do so. The Emperor feared that the Strategos’s son would become as much of a force as his father and seek revenge, forcing the boy to be educated in a courtly manner. Tullus had no way to get around this as he was but 9 at the time and the Emperor was adamant. As he grew older the old Strategos in Athens became docile and infirm with age and Doukas began to forget about him. Tullus met a similar fate and was able to have more and more autonomy. By 16 he was entirely without interest in the Emperor and was able to pursue his true passion in the Hippodrome.

Tullus had always had a knack for horses like almost everyone of his name. With his fathers great wealth he sponsored a chariot team and started to race for them at 17. Like all contenders and charioteers he had to declare a team and chose to race for the Reds, as they were an underdog having rarely seen great charioteers side with them. Choosing them in a political manner as they represented the outcasts of the Empire at the time including many who had supported the Macedonian Dynasty of recent memory, Tullus quickly began to make a name for himself as he won more often than most. Over the next 6 years he would stay in the capital racing for the Reds as his victories granted political power to the group of former Macedonian Loyalists to the Emperors Ire.

Finally just before his 26th birthday Doukas had grown tired of the Horatia upstart and sought to end his family in one swift stroke. In Athens a poisoned goblet of wine found its way into the hand of the old Strategos Alexandrus while a clearly intentional shipwreck of Tullus’s chariot on a sharp turn from a Green racer of the Emperor's side left him on the edge of death. Thankfully the charioteer's years of training and skill allowed him to cut his reins in time to save himself from certain death. Being rushed out of the Hippodrome by the Red supporters a huge riot followed as the greens and reds rioted over the incident forcing the Emperor to send in the guard and expel the injured rider back to Athens. Exiled and struggling to recover, Tullus Horatia is now the leader of his struggling house and with the anger of the Emperor he must maneuver carefully to survive.