Saturninus

Also known as: the Emperor / the king · Family: Rome · Role: emperor · First appears: Titus Andronicus · Act I, Scene I

At Rome, Titus Andronicus’s advice helped elect Saturninus emperor, and Saturninus allied with him before proposing Lavinia as empress. At the Pantheon, however, he chose Tamora instead: “Behold, I choose thee, Tamora, for my bride, / And will create thee Empress of Rome.” Tamora publicly secured Titus and his sons’ pardon while secretly vowing to massacre them, and by Act II, Scene II she and Saturninus were newly married.

After Bassianus’s death, Saturninus received Tamora’s letter, ordered Quintus and Martius imprisoned, refused Titus’s bail, and declared that death should be carried out upon them; Bassianus was his brother. By Act IV, Scene IV, Saturninus and Titus Andronicus had become enemies, while Saturninus feared that Rome’s citizens favored the banished Lucius and might revolt to support him: “Ay, but the citizens favour Lucius, / And will revolt from me to succour him.” He sent the loyal Aemilius to request a parley with Lucius, but in Act V, Scene III killed Titus in retaliation for Tamora’s stabbing, and Lucius then killed Saturninus in revenge.