Laeta (Spartacus)

Laeta was the privileged wife of a Roman dignitary whose life is irrevocably altered by the conflict with Spartacus. As the war unfolds, she becomes entangled in the struggle, forcing her to reconsider her allegiances and the world she once knew.

Names	Laeta
Gender	Female ♀
Race	Human
Occupation	Roman Noble, Slave, Rebel
Origin	Spartacus: War of the Dammed Episode 1 (S3E1): "Wolves at the Gate" (February 1, 2013)
Alignment	Good
Age	20s
Created By	Steven S, DeKnight, Aaron Helbing & Todd Helbing
Height	166 cm (5ft 5in)
Personality Type	INFJ
Portrayed By	Anna Hutchison

Appearance

Laeta is a strikingly beautiful and elegant woman with long auburn hair and piercing blue eyes. She typically dresses in the refined attire of a wealthy Roman noblewoman, maintaining her grace and poise even after her city falls to Spartacus. Despite being reduced to a prisoner, she continues to uphold her dignity.

After being handed over to the pirate Heracleo by Crassus, Laeta is branded on her arm with Heracleo’s initial, permanently marking her as a slave.

Personality

Unlike many Romans of her status, Laeta is compassionate and empathetic, treating slaves with kindness rather than contempt. However, she initially disapproves of the rebels and their violent treatment of Roman captives, believing in the structure and order of her people. She deeply cares for those under her protection and is willing to risk her life to ensure their safety.

After Crassus betrays her and sells her into slavery, Laeta feels abandoned by her own people. When Spartacus stages execution games for Roman prisoners, she admits that while she detests bloodshed, she takes satisfaction in seeing those who betrayed her punished, acknowledging that they are no longer "her people."

At first, Laeta resents Spartacus for killing her husband, Ennius, and taking her captive. However, his benevolence toward her and other Roman prisoners challenges her perspective, replacing hatred with curiosity. After being branded as a slave by Heracleo and spending more time among the rebels, she comes to understand Spartacus' cause and the suffering he has endured. Gradually, her loyalty shifts, and she embraces the rebellion, turning against Rome as it had turned against her.

As her bond with Spartacus deepens, Laeta develops romantic feelings for him, realizing that he is not the savage she once believed but a man who has endured immense hardship. After Agron reveals Spartacus' affections for her, the two become lovers.

Biography

Background

Intelligent, independent (within the limits of Roman society), and beautiful, Laeta was married to Ennius, an Aedile, with whom she shared a comfortable life in Sinuessa en Valle. Born into wealth and privilege, she knew only the luxuries of aristocratic Roman life. Despite her high status, she remained a kind and just Domina, treating her slaves with decency rather than cruelty. However, the war with Spartacus forces her into a brutal reality where her former life is shattered, pushing her onto an unexpected path that leads her to question everything she once believed.

War of the Dammed

During the events of War of the Damned, Laeta is approached by Ulpianus, a desperate baker in Sinuessa seeking grain, which her husband, Ennius, has in large supply. He pleads with her to persuade Ennius to lower the prices, and while she agrees to try, she admits it is unlikely.

On her way to see her husband, Laeta witnesses Laurus, a city official, presenting a slave to be publicly stoned. While Ennius insists that Laurus is merely fulfilling his duty, Laeta is disgusted, believing that if slaves were treated with kindness, they would not feel compelled to rebel. She argues that their mistreatment, like caged animals, only fuels their desire to rise up.

Unknowingly, Laeta meets Spartacus when he and his men enter the city disguised as potential grain buyers. He claims to be seeking provisions for housing slaves in Sinuessa, and she welcomes him to examine her husband's stock while Ennius is occupied.

She later encounters Spartacus again when Laurus and his men confront him. Before tensions escalate, Laeta intervenes, explaining that Spartacus is in the city on business with her husband. After Laurus departs, she and Spartacus converse, revealing that a curfew has been imposed due to the ongoing rebellion—a measure she has unsuccessfully tried to oppose. She then offers Spartacus lodging for the night, but he declines.

That night, Spartacus and his rebels launch a surprise attack, slaughtering many Roman citizens, including men, women, and children. As chaos engulfs the city, Laeta crosses paths with Spartacus once more and demands to know why he is aiding the rebels, only for him to reveal his true identity, leaving her in shock.

Crixus then arrives with urgent news that Ennius is threatening to burn the grain stores. Spartacus orders Laeta to intervene and stall her husband long enough for the rebels to act. As a result, Ennius is killed, and the grain is secured. Devastated by her husband's death, Laeta protests, but Spartacus, while acknowledging her grief, has her chained alongside the remaining Roman captives.

When the Cilician Pirates arrive in the city demanding the Aedile’s seal, Spartacus orders Laeta to retrieve it. She initially refuses, insisting that her husband would never associate with such men, but Spartacus promises to ease the suffering of the Roman captives in exchange for her cooperation. Reluctantly, she agrees. Upon discovering her husband's secret dealings, she is deeply shaken but surprised when Spartacus entrusts her with ensuring the fair treatment of the Roman prisoners.

During a Roman counterattack, Laeta seizes the opportunity to smuggle a small group of captives to safety, hiding them in her villa's stables. When it is discovered that some prisoners are missing, Naevia becomes suspicious and accuses Attius of aiding their escape. A confrontation ensues, culminating in Naevia brutally killing Attius by crushing his skull with a hammer.

Meanwhile, Laeta secretly moves through the city, discreetly bringing bread to the hidden Romans. However, she is spotted by Sibyl, who sees her drop the food. Desperate, Laeta pleads with Sibyl to remain silent. Although Sibyl hesitantly agrees, she later informs Gannicus of what she witnessed.

As Laeta continues distributing food to the captives, she reassures them that Crassus will soon arrive to rescue them. However, Gannicus, Saxa, and Sibyl soon arrive at the stables and uncover her deception. Sibyl apologizes, but Laeta lashes out at her, only to be struck by Saxa. When Gannicus recognizes Ulpianus as one of the prisoners Attius had previously freed, Laeta insists that Attius had no involvement in their escape. Her defense falls on deaf ears, and Saxa nearly kills her in retaliation for Attius' death, but Gannicus intervenes. He orders Saxa to bring the captives to Spartacus and rushes to confront Naevia about her wrongful killing of Attius.

Gannicus exposes the truth to Crixus, revealing that Attius was innocent. This sparks a violent clash between Gannicus and Crixus, which only ends when Naevia knocks Gannicus unconscious. As tensions escalate, the rebels demand the execution of the Roman captives, a demand that Crixus ultimately endorses. As the massacre begins, Saxa attempts to secretly lead Laeta and the remaining captives to Spartacus, but they are intercepted. Crixus seizes Laeta and prepares to kill her, but Spartacus intervenes just in time. Crixus insists that Spartacus must execute her for aiding the Romans, and though Spartacus appears to consider it, he ultimately spares her, deciding instead to house the captives in his own villa.

As unrest among the rebels grows, Spartacus announces his plan to release the Roman prisoners. He personally frees Laeta, informing her that he intends to leave Crixus and his faction behind while seeking a new life in Sicilia. He then leads Laeta and the remaining captives to the city gates, enduring the wrath of the rebels, who hurl insults and filth at them as they depart.

Laeta returns to the Roman encampment, where she meets with Crassus and reveals everything she's learned from Spartacus, including his plans to leave. However, Crassus questions her survival and motives, given her aid to the rebels. Laeta explains that she helped the rebels to ensure her people's survival, but this reasoning falls on deaf ears.

After the Romans retake Sinuessa, Laeta is pampered and dressed in fine Roman attire, catching the eye of Caesar, who compliments her beauty. Upon closer inspection, Laeta recognizes Caesar, but before she can accuse him of being among the rebels, he reminds her that she too did what was necessary to survive. Laeta acknowledges this truth.

When Laeta is brought before Crassus again, she describes Spartacus as a man fighting for his beliefs, rather than a beast. Heracleo then arrives, claiming Laeta as his own, as payment for his services to Crassus. Laeta is bound, gagged, and taken away, screaming.

Heracleo brands Laeta with a slave mark, intending to make her his own. However, before he can harm her further, Gannicus and Sibyl arrive, seeking to escape the city. A fight ensues, and Heracleo is killed by Laeta, who stabs him with an iron rod. Sibyl suggests that Laeta join them, as she is now a branded slave like themselves.

Gannicus, Sibyl, and Laeta attempt to flee the city, disguised in Heracleo's cloak. However, they're confronted by Caesar and his men. A fight breaks out, and the trio manages to escape on horseback. They're pursued by soldiers, and Laeta is stabbed in the side by a spear. Despite her injury, they reach the rebel camp, where Laeta is accepted as one of their own. Spartacus and Nasir tend to her wounds, welcoming her to their ranks.

Laeta meets with Spartacus in the medicus tent, expressing her loss of faith after being branded by Heracleo. Spartacus offers words of wisdom, suggesting that everyone must find their own way to overcome their struggles. They share another moment together during a storm, where Laeta shares her blanket with Spartacus and tells him she wants him to live.

As Laeta recovers from her wounds, she joins the rebels as they leave the mountains. While setting up camp, she struggles to pitch a tent, but Agron assists her. When she thanks him, Agron reveals that he helped her because Spartacus has feelings for her. Laeta is taken aback by this revelation.

Laeta and Kore, a former slave of Crassus, help deliver a baby. The rebels are wary of Kore, but Laeta vouches for her, and Kore is placed under Laeta's watch.

During a celebration for Crixus, Spartacus and Laeta share a moment, trading playful jabs. They stare at each other, and Spartacus kisses her. The kiss leads to a passionate night together. Despite Spartacus' reservations about giving his heart to a Roman, Laeta is undeterred, and they become lovers as the rebels flee to the mountains to escape Rome.

Laeta watches the gladiator games alongside the rebels, but her disgust is evident. She assures Spartacus that her reaction isn't sympathy for the Roman prisoners, but rather her unease with the brutality. She asks about Gannicus' motivations for joining the rebellion, and Spartacus explains that his bond with his fellow gladiators drove his decision.

As the final battle approaches, Spartacus thanks Laeta for her affection and they share a poignant kiss. Laeta leaves with a group of non-combatants, including Sibyl and Belesa, to wait for Spartacus in the mountains.

The battle results in the rebels' defeat, and Spartacus is mortally wounded. Agron and Nasir bring him to the mountains, where Laeta and the others are waiting. Laeta is overcome with emotion as Spartacus awakens, and she suggests transporting him further into the mountains. However, Spartacus knows his time is running out and refuses.

As Spartacus' life fades, Laeta calls out his name. He responds, saying that Spartacus was not his true name and that he will soon hear his true name again. With his final breath, Spartacus bids the group safe passage and dies, leaving Laeta and the others in anguish.

After burying Spartacus, Laeta and the surviving rebels continue their journey, finally free from the Roman Republic's grasp.

Trivia

Laeta's character has several notable aspects:

• She's the first and only known Roman noblewoman to become a slave.

• Her branding as a slave is the only one shown on-screen.
• Technically, she's never truly enslaved, as her dominus is killed shortly after branding her.
• She's the only Roman noblewoman who doesn't mistreat slaves, showing a unique trait among Romans in the series.

Laeta shares similarities with Sibyl:

• Both are introduced in "Wolves At The Gate."
• They have compassionate personalities.
• They're the last lovers of rebel leaders Spartacus and Gannicus.
• Both are portrayed by New Zealand actresses.

Laeta's character development is notable:

• She's the only woman to knowingly become a lover to the man who kills her husband.
• Her development is similar to victims with Stockholm syndrome, but her motivations differ.
• Laeta's role can be seen as a counterpart to Naevia's in the final season:
• Laeta's presence may have swayed Spartacus toward mercy, while Naevia pushed Crixus toward slaughter.
• Laeta's name means "merry" or "cheerful" in Latin, an ironic name for her character.

Other notable facts:

• Laeta is the only woman to have sex with Spartacus and not die.
• She's the second Roman woman to have sex with Spartacus.
• She and Illythia are the only Roman women Spartacus spares.
• Laeta has only one sex scene in the series.
• She's killed only one character.
• Like Spartacus, Laeta is the only other slave to kill their dominus.
• She's the only Roman who becomes Spartacus's friend and ally to survive the series finale.