What Roman Generals Did to the Daughters of Defeated Kings Was Worse Than Death

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Title: The Price of Survival

Cassia knelt in the dimly lit stable, the coarse ropes biting into her wrists, a stark contrast to the silk robes she had once worn as Princess of Pontis. At 26, she had been raised in luxury, educated in philosophy and poetry, destined to marry a prince and rule alongside him. Now, the stench of sweat and straw filled her nostrils, and the sounds of her younger sisters echoed through the wooden walls—a haunting keening that spoke of their fear.

Nine days had passed since the Roman army had crushed her father’s kingdom, and Cassia felt the weight of her family’s legacy pressing down on her. Her sisters, Leodise and Nisa, were only 19 and 18, innocent girls who had done nothing to deserve the fate that awaited them. Bound and terrified, they were to witness the horrors of Roman punishment, a punishment that would strip them of their dignity and their future.

The soldiers moved around her with the casual indifference of men accustomed to cruelty. They were preparing for a spectacle that Cassia had heard whispered about in court—a punishment involving horses, a punishment designed to humiliate and destroy. As she watched her sisters, bound and trembling in their stalls, a fierce determination ignited within her. She had always been their protector, and she would not let them suffer alone.

When General Cassus entered the stable, Cassia felt a surge of defiance. He was the man responsible for her family’s downfall, the one who had ordered their capture. But instead of cowering, she spoke up, her voice steady. “General Cassus, I have an offer for you.” The soldiers paused, surprised that a captive would dare address their commander.

Cassus regarded her with curiosity. “What could a princess possibly offer me?”

“Take me instead,” she proposed, her heart racing. “Whatever punishment you planned for my sisters, do it to me. I am older and stronger. I will endure longer, and the spectacle will be greater.”

His expression shifted as he considered her words. Cassia knew that Romans valued pragmatism; if she could redirect their cruelty away from her sisters, she would do whatever it took. “Your sisters are younger, more appealing to certain tastes,” he countered. “Why would I accept less?”

“Because I have information,” she replied, her mind racing. “I know the locations of treasures my father hid before the war, the names of Roman officers he bribed, the routes of supply networks he established with Partha.”

Cassus studied her, weighing her offer against his own ambitions. “You love them,” he said, a hint of amusement in his voice. “That is rare in royal families.”

“They are all I have left,” Cassia said, her voice firm. “My brothers are dead, my father will be executed. I will do anything to protect them.”

Finally, Cassus agreed. “Very well. You will take their place, and they will be spared. But your sisters will watch you endure what is to come.” Cassia nodded, steeling herself for the horrors ahead. She would protect her sisters, no matter the cost.

As the soldiers prepared her for the punishment, Cassia felt a mix of fear and resolve. She had heard of the horrors inflicted on royal women—how they were bound and subjected to the brutality of horses. But she would endure it all for the sake of her sisters. When the time came, she would not break; she would show them the strength of a princess.

The punishment was brutal and public. Cassia was displayed before the soldiers, forced to kneel and kiss the feet of General Cassus as he proclaimed her submission. It was a humiliation designed to strip her of her identity, to reduce her to nothing more than a pawn in Rome’s game of power. But as she knelt there, she felt the weight of her sisters’ presence, their love and support anchoring her to her purpose.

Days turned into weeks, and Cassia endured the unimaginable. She became a source of intelligence for the Romans, using her knowledge to protect her sisters and keep them safe. Each day, she provided information about her father’s hidden treasures and the political landscape of the East, ensuring that her sisters remained unharmed.

In the midst of her suffering, Cassia found a flicker of hope. Tribune Marcus Antonius Prriscus, a man who had intervened during her punishment, began to take an interest in her. He recognized her intelligence and the value she could provide to Rome. He became her advocate, negotiating her sisters’ safety and providing her with the means to survive.

As the years passed, Cassia transformed from a captive into a valued advisor. She navigated the complexities of Roman politics, using her position to protect her sisters and ensure their futures. Leodise was eventually adopted by a Roman senator, gaining citizenship and a life of comfort. Nisa found her own path as a celebrated musician, her talent earning her respect and admiration.

Cassia’s sacrifices had not been in vain. She had saved her sisters, and in doing so, she had forged a new identity for herself. No longer just a princess, she had become a powerful woman in her own right, one who had learned to navigate the treacherous waters of Roman society.

But even as she thrived, Cassia never forgot the price of her survival. The memories of her captivity haunted her, the humiliation and degradation lingering in the corners of her mind. She had paid dearly for her sisters’ safety, and the scars of that sacrifice would remain with her forever.

In her 63rd year, as she lay on her deathbed surrounded by her sisters, Cassia reflected on her life. She had endured unimaginable horrors, but she had also experienced profound love and connection. Leodise and Nisa had become her greatest treasures, their lives a testament to the strength of family bonds.

As she took her last breaths, Cassia felt a sense of peace. She had fought for her sisters, sacrificed everything for their survival, and in the end, she had created a legacy that would endure long after her departure. Her story would be told for generations, a reminder of the strength of a woman who had faced the darkness and emerged victorious.

In that moment, Cassia knew that she had not just survived; she had thrived, and her sisters would carry her spirit with them always.