"A Struggle for Rome" by Felix Dahn Quiz

Answer: Cethegus

Cethegus Caesarius is not a real person, but is based on a real-life member of the Cethegus clan, which was still important in sixth-century Rome. Throughout the book, Cethegus is shown to be a ruthless, yet charismatic, leader, whose aim to restore the ancient Roman res publica leads him to double-cross both Goths and East Romans more than once. For all the futility of his cause, Cethegus goes down manfully at the end, facing the last Gothic King in the climactic battle of Mons Lactarius.

Answer: Hildebrand

Hildebrand's name appears in Germanic heroic legend. In the novel, he feels that, after Thoderic's death, the Italian Kingdom is bound to collapse, so he has Witigis, Hildebad, Totila and Teia swear that they will do everything in their power to save their people. He is one of the few characters to survive to the end, being amongst the Goths that board the ship to Thule.

Answer: Matasuntha

Matasuntha was a real person. In the book, she is shown as resenting the fact that her younger brother will inherit the throne, and not herself. She has conceived a passion for Witigis, later forcing him to marry her, but her love turns to hatred when she discovers that his heart could not be detached from his beloved Rauthgundis, whom he had married secretly years before.

Answer: Gothelindis

Gothelindis is the name given to the wife of Theodahad, distant kin of the royal Amal clan. Both in history and in the book, Theodahad and his retainers assassinate Princess Amalasuntha, which gave a pretext for the invasion of Italy by the East Roman Empire. The backstory involving the hatred of Gothelindis against Amalasuntha is the author's invention.

Answer: Camilla

Initially, Camilla is used by Cethegus as a pawn, being sent by him to seduce the young King Athalaric. Yet, make-believe turns into reality, with the young girl reciprocating the young man's passion. Cethegus, frustrated, concocts a poison to thwart the young King's actions to strengthen the defences of the Kingdom, which Camilla also drinks,and dies.

Answer: Rauthgundis

Rauthgundis is presented as a loyal and devoted wife, preferring a secluded life, far from riches, fame and the turbulence of politics. Yet, when Witigis, whom the assembly of the Goths selected as King in order to repel the invasion, is forced to marry Matasuntha, last member of the royal clan, the dutiful wife is forced to leave her husband. Contrary to recorded history, in the novel, the pair dies in each other's arms, falling into a river, rather than facing capture and humiliation.

Answer: Julius Montanus

Julius is a compassionate and chivalrous young man, who turns his back to Cethegus' grandiose plans and opts for a life of Christian piety. His friendship with Totila was a shock to Cethegus and his co-conspirators, who believed in the incompatibility of Romans and Goths.

Answer: Procopius

Procopius the historian is quite an important character. He admires the General Belisarius, thinking of him as the last hero in the world. He thinks of himself as a new Thucydides and is determined to record both the bright and the bleak pages of the reign of Justinian.

Answer: Isaac

Isaac is one of the few characters who are neither Romans nor Goths. He is favourably disposed towards Theoderic and the Italian Kingdom, because it brought peace and stability to Italy. His daughter, Miriam, admires Totila as a hero and dies bravely, trying to warn him about the advance of the East Romans, in a death paralleling that of Isaac himself.

Answer: Valeria

Initially, Valeria's father is quite reluctant to see his beloved child with Totila, viewing the latter with contempt, due to his Gothic origins. Yet, Totila's chivalrous spirit wins the respect of the noble Roman, so he allows them to be together and to get married once the danger for Italy is fended off. Alas, as history proved, this was never to come, since Totila was slain at the Battle of Taginae.

Answer: Cassiodorus

Cassiodorus' "Variae" are a valuable historical source for sixth-century Italian history. In the novel, Cassiodorus features in important episodes, coming just in time to indict Theodahad and Gothelindis for the drowning of the Princess. There is also an inaccuracy cncerning the timing of the events in his life, for he is shown going into retirement at Vivarium just after Theoderic's death, while in real history his retirement occurs much later, during the closing phases of the war.

Answer: Adalgoth

We see young Adalgoth in the third installment, taking care of an injury suffered by his step-sister, Gotho, with whom he is enamoured, but holds back, being under the impression that they are biologically related. Later on, at the urging of the man who raised him, he journeys to the court of Totila, with the mystery of his origins being solved. On account of his bravery and noble origin, Totila bestows the Duchy of Apulia upon him and is present in his wedding with Gotho. Later, the loving couple is amongst the few Goths that board the ship to Thule, after the end of the war.

Answer: Gotho

We see the youthful shepherdess in the third installment, in her mountainous home. While pasturing her father's sheep, she suffers an injury, which her adopted brother (whom she thinks was born of the same father and mother) tends to. She is torn between the norms of society and the affection she feels for him, being much relieved when it is revealed that they are not biological siblings.

Answer: Teia

Teia was, of course, a real person. In the book, he is shown as a gloomy person, who knows the sad destiny of his people, yet he fights, having emraced his fate. He and Totila sometimes seem like two polar opposites, Totila being fair-haired, optimistic and friendly, while Teia is introverted, dark-haired and a pessimist.

In the climactic battle of Mons Lactarius, Teia kills Cethegus, getting some revenge for his treacheries against Goths and Romans alike, but is mortally wounded and perishes shortly afterwards.

Answer: Narses

Narses the Persarmenian was one of the most intriguing figures of the sixth century and a very clever person. In the novel, he is the opposite of Belisarius, with the former being gallant, rash and brave, while Narses is cold, calculating and much more of a strategist rather than a tactician.

It is said that his later mistreatment by the Emperor Justin II made him covertly assist the Lombards in acquiring hegemony over much of Italy.