The Death of Kings

by Conn Iggulden Book 2 in the Emperor series.

First published 2004

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4.6(4,456)

Caesar begins building a military reputation through service abroad, a dangerous encounter with pirates and a return to a Rome unsettled by revolt. Brutus follows a harsher path through war and divided loyalties, while the uprising led by Spartacus forces the republic to mobilise against an enemy within Italy. Their experiences draw them deeper into the ambitions of Crassus and the political competition that will shape Caesar’s rise.

The Spartacus revolt exposes Rome’s dependence on enslaved labour and the political rewards available to generals who can end a domestic emergency. Caesar and Brutus are still young enough to be shaped by older rivals, but each is learning how military reputation and patronage can accelerate a public career. Their friendship develops inside a republic where personal advancement is increasingly tied to armed command.