Snapshot #
Gaius Calidius is the patriarch and authority figure of the ancient-era narrative. A wealthy landowner and businessman, he owned a dyeing works (fullonica) in Pompeii and significant assets in Picentia. While initially skeptical of Marcus's connection to the future, he became the primary financial and political anchor for the industrial revolution in Campania.
Biography #
Gaius was a man of commerce and Roman law, focused on the logistics of the "wool road" and the shearing schedules of his flocks. After losing his villa and business to the eruption of Vesuvius in 79 AD, he faced financial ruin. Following Marcus's guidance, he invested his remaining resources into mechanized spinning and steam power. Despite his status as a master, he showed profound nobility by opening his remaining granaries to the community after the disaster, eventually becoming one of the "Merchant Princes" of the new industrial state.
Roles & Ranks #
- Dominus: Master of the household and head of the industrial house.
- Merchant Prince: A leader of the Picentian industrial coalition.
- Political Anchor: A key voice in the regional council against the Roman center.
Relationships #
- Marcus: His literate slave and technical advisor. Gaius respected Marcus's education and eventually trusted him with the survival of the household.
- Livia: A close associate among the Picentian elite.
- Aulus: A friend and political ally in the regional councils.
Key Appearances/Events #
- The Evacuation of Pompeii (79 AD): Trusting Marcus's warning and ordering the household's survival.
- The Regional Bailout (79 AD): Financing the transition to mechanized labor.
- The Implementation of Steam (80 AD): Overseeing the transformation of his villa into a factory.