| Titus Calavius | ||
|---|---|---|
| ||
| First appearance | S1E03: Legends | |
| Last appearance | S1E11: Old Wounds | |
| Profession | Magistrate | |
| Race | Roman | |
| Relationships | Sextus (Predecessor, deceased) Domitia (Wife, deceased) Numerius (Son, deceased) Ovidius (Cousin, deceased) Titus Lentulus Batiatus (Friend, deceased) Marcus Decius Solonius (Friend, deceased) Quintus Lentulus Batiatus (Friend/Enemy, deceased) | |
| Status | Deceased (Killed by Ashur, on Batiatus' orders) | |
| Actor/Actress | John Bach | |
Titus Calavius is a high-standing Roman Magistrate and proud father of Numerius.
Appearance[]
Calavius is a very tall man with a thin stature. He is elderly with white hair surrounding the bald crown of his head. He is typically adorned in the robes of a Magistrate and acts in manner as such.
Personality[]
A man of business, Calavius takes his title of Magistrate seriously, but also enjoys the more simpler joys of life. He has an interest in the gladiator games and attends them regularly, and this interest is passed on to his son. He loves his wife, Domitia, and son, Numerius, deeply and will go to any lengths to please them.
He is also show to have a condescending view to people he sees of lower class, this was seen when he believed Batiatus was unfit for politics and defiantly declared him to beneath him while held hostage by him.
Blood and Sand[]
Calavius is first seen attending the gladiator games along with his wife and son.[1] At next meeting, whilst Batiatus is out buying armor for Spartacus in honor of his victory over Theokoles, Calavius is visibly distressed over the death of his cousin, Ovidius, and his family. He is investigating the matter and seeks vengeance for whoever committed the vile act.[2] He receives news that Ovidius' boy yet lives (false news planted by Ashur to make Barca appear disobedient) and personally goes to retrieve the boy, only to find that the messenger delivered a lie.
For Numerius' 15th birthday, Calavius indulges his son's wishes and allows the party to take places in Batiatus' ludus. Many guests come to the party and Calavius is pleased by the outcome. When Numerius decides that he wants Spartacus and Varro to fight, and then that Varro should die, Calavius supports his son's decision, claiming that he is a man and can make decisions. Batiatus, angered at this change of events but worried he could lose his good standing with Calavius, feels forced to make Spartacus comply. That same evening, Batiatus, looking for someone to back him for a place in the senate, asks Calavius for his support. But Calavius believes Batiatus ill-suited for politics and suggests that he renounce his ambitions. Batiatus, mortified and humiliated, wants to exact revenge.
Batiatus later kidnaps Calavius and holds him down in the sewers while Aulus and Ashur keep watch.[3] He threatens and beats Calavius, trying to blackmail him into getting him a place in the senate, but Calavius refuses to comply, even managing to bite a chunk out of Aulus' neck.
Eventually, his throat is slit by Ashur and Solonius is blamed for his murder.
Trivia[]
- John Bach (pronounced "Baish"), the actor who plays Calavius, is 192 cm (6' 3") tall. He played Madril in Peter Jackson's Lord of the Rings and was previously also in another "sand and sandals" drama, Hercules, a 2005 TV Movie, playing a character called Creon.
- Apparently he knew Titus Lentulus Batiatus, as he mentioned in Shadow Games to Quintus that he knew Titus and called him a true Roman who knew his place.
- John Bach incorrectly pronounces his character's name the first time it is used. The character calls himself "Cavalius" when announcing the Primus of his games, yet thereafter uses the actual name "Calavius".
- Calavius may have been a Legatus before he was given the title of Magistrate.
- As a local politician, Calavius would have been known as a Curial. Curiales (plural) were the provincial equivalent of the Patrician class in Rome itself. They were city councillors on a local level of government. Alternately, local officials in provincial towns like Capua would have been known as Decuriones (not to be confused with the military title of Decurion Equitum).
- Its possible that Calavius, as a magistrate, may have actually been a Duumvir. A Duumvir was one half of a two-man political office of the Duumviri, who, similarly to the Consuls of the Roman Republic, were the ruling magistrates or mayors of a local town. If so, Calavius may have held this office in tandem with Magistrate Gallienus.
- Titus Calavius may be a member of the Gens Calavia, an old Campanian dynasty of Oscan origins. He may even be a descendant of a certain Pacuvius Calavius, a Meddix of Capua during the Second Punic War when Hannibal entered the city.
Quotes[]
- "You wish words from me? May you listen to them well...YOU ARE A JEST!!! A man tolerated because of his ownership of Spartacus, the savior of Capua...when he falls, you will quickly follow!"
- "You still do not see it, do you; good Batiatus? You are beneath me and you always will be, in this life or the next. Do what you must to balm your wounded pride. I will not beg."
- "I WILL HAVE YOU BOTH CRUCIFIED...AND YOUR MASTER!!!!!!!"