The first emperor of Rome is dead. A second one is preparing to take over. The Roman Forum, once the scene of fierce battles, has turned into an almost museum-like space. The house of all powers is located high on the Palatine Hill, ready to become the birthplace of Western bureaucracy, a labyrinth of symposiums and bedrooms, a dangerous family where special skills are required for survival. This is a Roman story with a new generation of men and women, often mistakenly portrayed as flatterers and gastronomes, rebellious slaves and former slaves, lawyers pursuing interests, daredevils, and unrestrained socialites. The book "Palatine" reveals the lives of the Vitellians, perhaps the least beloved imperial dynasty of Rome, Pompeius, a traditional soldier entangled in the politics of the new era, Lucius, an extremely capable and slick courtier, and Aulus, a pleasant loafer whose skill at the table leads him to the throne, before forever tarnishing his family's reputation. Few remember them now. However, in their slow ascent to the top of the imperial hierarchy lie overlooked truths about a lasting legacy of Rome.