Rome

52 B.C. Eager to return to Rome after eight long years of war, Gaius Julius Caesar ends his campaign with a big triumph in Gaul--and news of a shattering personal loss at home. When his army's gold standard is stolen, Caesar's cousin and commander Mark Antony enlists two soldiers, Centurion Lucius Vorenus and Legionnaire Titus Pullo, to track it down.

Appointed People's Tribune by Caesar, Mark Antony returns to Rome with Octavian's liberators, Vorenus and Pullo. After being feted by Atia, Vorenus heads home to his family for the first time in eight years. Unfinished business involving Pullo spawns a Forum melee--and sends Pullo and an injured Vorenus back into Caesar's ranks.

With Caesar quickly advancing toward Rome, Pompey begins ordering a retreat and forces his citizens to pick sides. Timon does Atia's dirty work and Vorenus cannot understand why no one is resisting while on a scouting mission.

As Pompey 'maneuvers,' Caesar seeks to consolidate his hold on Rome. Atia throws a party to welcome Caesar home, while Vorenus throws one of his own to usher in his new life. Pullo's run of luck continues when he delivers Quintus Pompey to Caesar, who in turn returns Quintus to his father's camp--with an offer he knows Pompey will never accept.

Caesar contemplates Pompey's counteroffer. Vorenus continues to struggle as a businessman and must reevaluate his career choice. Atia schemes to come between Caesar and Servilia and Pullo seeks Octavian's help.

Mark Antony is running Rome while Caesar pursues Pompey, but when news comes that the tide has turned and that Pompey now pursues Caesar, Antony must decide whether to stick by his old commander or turn against him. Pullo takes Octavian to a brothel; Atia attempts to mend fences with Servilia; and Vorenus and Niobe rediscover their intimacy, albeit briefly.

Marooned in the Adriatic Sea, Vorenus and Pullo try to survive. In Greece, Pompey decides to attack Caesar's depleted forces, whose lack of options turns into their greatest strength. The result finds Pompey seeking reinforcements. In Rome, Octavia is enlisted by Atia to ask another favor of Servilia.

Caesar's fevered pursuit of Pompey takes him to Egypt, where he makes a terrible discovery. Determined to establish supremacy over the Egyptian court, he sends Pullo and Vorenus off in pursuit of a fugitive Cleopatra.

With Scipio and Cato defeated, Caesar returns home to a hero's welcome. Vorenus and Pullo's showdown with local thug Erastes gets an unexpected reprieve from Caesar. Servilia's plan to use Octavia to unearth a secret about Caesar backfires.

Proclaimed Emperor by the Senate, Caesar pronounces the war over, and prepares for five days of feasting and games. No longer an enlisted soldier, Pullo eyes a pastoral future with Eirene; Vorenus runs for municipal magistrate, with Posca's help; Octavian retrieves Octavia from her exile; and Servilia invites Quintus Pompey into her home, to Brutus's dismay.

While Pullo descends into Erastes' netherworld, Vorenus negotiates a severance for veteran soldiers on behalf of Caesar, who invites him and Niobe to one of Atia's parties. Cassius attempts to convince Brutus that the life and death of the Republic is indeed 'in your hands.'

Pullo and Vorenus have become heroes, causing Caesar to reward those he normally would punish. Pullo's return to Vorenus's household is not appreciated by his former slave Eirene. Caesar overhauls the Senate by adding some unexpected new faces. Servilia crosses the final hurdle in her ambitious revenge plan, at Niobe's expense.