The Silva Brothers

Who Are the Silva Brothers?

Roman and Remy are the modernization of the legend of Romulus and Remus.

The Legend of Romulus and Remus

A long time ago in ancient Italy, twin brothers, Numitor and Amulius, ruled the city of Alba Longa. Numitor was responsible for making all the laws while Amulius was responsible for the royal treasury. But Amulius was jealous of his brother, so he overthrew Numitor and imprisoned him. Afraid Numitor’s daughter, Rhea Silvia, might one day have a son that would challenge his right to rule, Amulius forced her to become a priestess and take a vow of celibacy. Still, months later, Rhea mysteriously became pregnant and enraged Amulius decreed that she be confined until she gave birth.

When Rhea gave birth to twin boys, Amulius ordered that the babies be cast out into the wilderness and left to die. Luckily, the infants were found by a she-wolf, who suckled them until a lone shepherd, Faustulus, discovered them took the boys home to his wife. They adopted them and named them Romulus and Remus.

The boys grew up to be shepherds like their adopted father. One day, the twins got into a fight with some of Numitor’s shepherds. Remus was captured and sent to Numitor for questioning. After talking to the outlaw, Numitor realized who Remus really was. He was his long lost grandson! Meanwhile, Romulus was rushing to save his brother. Seizing the opportunity to regain his thrown, Numitor told the brothers about their birth. Together, Romulus and Remus killed Amulius and restored the city of Alba Longa to their grandfather.

After restoring the kingship to Numitor, the brothers decided to found their own city. They chose the land where the she-wolf had found them. But the brother began to argue over where the city should be built. Romulus wanted to build it on Palatine Hill while Remus wanted to build it on Capitoline Hill. In the end they built two cities, but still they could not stop arguing. One day, the brother began to fight, and in the heat of anger, Romulus killed Remus.

Romulus’s city, Roma, became a safe haven for outcasts and runaways. Its first citizens were outlaws and fugitives and many of them were single men. However, there were not enough women in the city for the men to take wives. So Romulus decided to steal women from a neighboring tribe, the Sabines. He held a huge festival and invited many Sabines to it. The Sabines came to enjoy the celebration and while the men weren’t paying any attention Romulus’s men rushed in and stole the women!

The Sabine men were furious. Their leader, King Tatius, declared war on Romulus. The fighting lasted a long time, with neither side willing to give up. Finally, the Sabine women, would had grown to love their Roman husbands, begged both sides to make peace. So there was peace between the tribes, and the tribes were eventually united under one rule, Romulus’s.

Later, when King Numitor died, Romulus was offered the crown of Alba Longa. Romulus refused, and instead appointed a governor to rule over the city. Romulus ruled Roma for thirty-eight years. Then, one day he simply disappeared in the middle of a violent storm. The Romans, believing he had been taken to heaven, began to worship him as the god Quirinus.

Connections

• Roman (Romulus)= hero of The Other Half, mate to Sabine Tate
• Remy (Remus) = hero of The Outcast, mate to Jane Lyke
• Numan (Numitor) = grandfather of Roman and Remy, leader of the Alban pack
• Rhea Silva = mother of Roman and Remy, abandoned them at birth
• Faust (Faustulus) = foster parent to Roman and Remy
• Anthony = half brother to Roman and Remy
• Sabine Tate (Tatius) = first born of Akron Tate, mate to Roman Silva
• Vivian Tate (Tatius) = second born of Akron Tate
• Jane Lyke = Lyke means she-wolf, mate to Remy Silva
• Capitoline and Palatine Islands (Hills) = land granted to the Silva Twins for helping Numan return to power
• Quirunus = name of Roman's investment firm and pack
• The Outcast = name of Remy's club, symbol of his status

Related Titles

• The Other Half - 2005 (Liquid Silver Books)
• The Outcast - 2006 (Liquid Silver Books)