Reading order · 7 books · 1990 to 2007 · Set in Rome
Masters of Rome Books in Order
The Masters of Rome is a series of seven long, meticulously researched novels about the fall of the Roman Republic, from the rise of Gaius Marius to the triumph of Octavian.
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Series facts
- Books
- 7
- Published
- 1990 to 2007
- First book
- The First Man in Rome
- Latest
- Antony and Cleopatra (2007)
- Setting
- Set in Rome
The reading order
Every Masters of Rome book in publication order. Choose a title for its cast and summary.
7 books · Set in Rome
- 1The First Man in Rome1990With Gaius Marius and Lucius Cornelius SullaIn the last years of the second century BC, Gaius Marius, a new man from the country, and Lucius Cornelius Sulla, an impoverished patrician, rise to power in Rome.Buy on Amazon
- 2The Grass Crown1991With Gaius Marius and Lucius Cornelius SullaMarius grows old and dangerous, Sulla rises, and Rome’s Italian allies go to war against the city.Buy on Amazon
- 3Fortune's Favourites1993With Lucius Cornelius SullaSulla becomes dictator of Rome, while young men like Pompey, Crassus and Julius Caesar begin their careers.Buy on Amazon
- 4Caesar's Women1996With Gaius Julius CaesarIn the 60s BC, Julius Caesar climbs the political ladder in Rome, shaped by the women in his life.Buy on Amazon
- 5Caesar1997With Gaius Julius CaesarCaesar conquers Gaul and crosses the Rubicon into civil war.Buy on Amazon
- 6The October Horse2002With Gaius Julius CaesarCaesar wins the civil war, meets Cleopatra and faces the conspiracy against him.Buy on Amazon
- 7Antony and Cleopatra2007With Octavian and Mark AntonyAfter Caesar’s death, his heir Octavian and Mark Antony struggle for control of the Roman world.Buy on Amazon
Do you need to read them in order?
Read in order, starting with The First Man in Rome.
Who appears in which book
The series’ main characters, book by book. Lead means the book is told around them; minor covers cameos.
| Book | Gaius Julius Caesar | Lucius Cornelius Sulla | Gaius Marius | Mark Antony | Octavian | Cleopatra | Pompey the Great | Marcus Porcius Cato |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 The First Man in Rome | LLead | LLead | ||||||
| 2 The Grass Crown | ·Minor | LLead | LLead | |||||
| 3 Fortune's Favourites | MMajor | LLead | MMajor | |||||
| 4 Caesar's Women | LLead | MMajor | MMajor | |||||
| 5 Caesar | LLead | ·Minor | MMajor | MMajor | ||||
| 6 The October Horse | LLead | MMajor | MMajor | MMajor | MMajor | |||
| 7 Antony and Cleopatra | LLead | LLead | LLead |
Characters in the Masters of Rome books
8 characters from Colleen McCullough’s chart, with the number of Masters of Rome books each appears in.
| Character | Books | First in this series |
|---|---|---|
| Gaius Julius CaesarYoung patrician who becomes dictator | 5 | The Grass Crown 1991 |
| Lucius Cornelius SullaPatrician who becomes dictator | 3 | The First Man in Rome 1990 |
| Gaius MariusNew man who becomes consul seven times | 2 | The First Man in Rome 1990 |
| Mark AntonyCaesar's lieutenant | 3 | Caesar 1997 |
| OctavianCaesar's heir, later Augustus | 2 | The October Horse 2002 |
| CleopatraQueen of Egypt | 2 | The October Horse 2002 |
| Pompey the GreatAmbitious general | 3 | Fortune's Favourites 1993 |
| Marcus Porcius CatoStern defender of the Republic | 3 | Caesar's Women 1996 |