| Laeta | ||
|---|---|---|
| ||
| First appearance | S3E02: Wolves at the Gate | |
| Last appearance | S3E10: Victory | |
| Profession | Roman Noble Slave Escaped Slave Rebel | |
| Race | Roman | |
| Relationships | Ennius (Husband, deceased) Ulpianus (Friend, deceased) Heracleo (Former Dominus, deceased) Sibyl (Friend) Spartacus (Former Captor/Lover, deceased) Kore (Friend, deceased) Rebel Mother (Friend) | |
| Status | Active | |
| Actor/Actress | Anna Hutchison | |
Laeta was the privileged wife of a Roman dignitary who becomes entangled in the struggle against Spartacus. Her life and those of the ones she loves are forever changed by the conflict.
Appearance
Laeta is a beautiful, elegant woman with long auburn hair and piercing blue eyes. She is usually seen dressed like a proper wealthy Roman woman. Even after her city was taken over by Spartacus, and she was relegated to a prisoner, she still took care of her appearance.
Following Crassus turning her over to Heracleo, Laeta was branded on her arm with his initial forever marking her as a slave.
Personality
Laeta is a kind and compassionate woman, unlike most other Romans, she does not look down upon slaves, and even pities and treats them well. But she disapproved of the rebels and their treatment of the Roman captives. Laeta also cared about her people greatly and - as seen while being a captive to the rebels - would do whatever she must to see them safe, even at the risk of her own life. After being discarded by Crassus, Laeta felt betrayed and resentful of her people. When Spartacus held execution games, she told him that while she had low tolerance for the bloodshed that she reveled in how they were being punished for betraying her even saying they were no longer her people.
Initially, Laeta resented Spartacus for killing her husband, Ennius and making her his prisoner, but after he demonstrated his benevolence to her and the other Roman prisoners, her negative opinion of him changed to a degree - to curiosity.
After Laeta was branded as a slave by Heracleo, which led to her joining the rebels and spending more time with Spartacus, she saw that he was not truly a savage, but really a man who endured years of pain after his branding as a slave. She also started to understand and even embrace the rebels' cause, turning from Rome as it had turned from her and supporting the rebels in their endeavors. In fact, Laeta gradually developed romantic feelings towards Spartacus after she was told about his own affections for her by Agron and they became lovers.
History
Intelligent, young, beautiful, and as independent as a Roman woman is allowed to be, Laeta was married off to her husband, an Aedile named Ennius, with whom she lived happily. She and her husband make a comfortable living in the city of Sinuessa en Valle. Born and raised in a wealthy home, Laeta has only known life as a privileged Roman aristocrat, but she is a kind Domina who does not mistreat her slaves.
War of the Damned
Laeta talking to Ulpianus about grain.
Laeta is approached by Ulpianus, a baker in the city of Sinuessa who is in desperate need of grain, which her husband, Ennius, has much stock in. He asks her if she could pursuade her husband to lower the prices of grain and although Laeta agrees to try, she states that it is unlikely.
As she goes to see her husband she witnesses as the speaker, Laurus is presenting a slave to be stoned by the public. While Ennius asserts that Laurus is doing his duty, Laeta is disgusted believing that if a slave were treated with kindness then they would not need to rebel, but because they are treated as caged animals, then it's no wonder they rise up as they do.
Laeta talking to Spartacus.
Laeta unknowingly meets the rebel leader Spartacus after he and a few of his men enter the city under the guise of seeking grain. He gives false pretense of planning to house his slaves in the city, and she welcomes him to look at her husband's stock while he is otherwise engaged.
She comes upon Spartacus once more. when he is confronted by Laurus and a clutch of his men. Before things get out of hand Laeta intervenes, telling Laurus that Spartacus is in the city in related business with her husband. After Laurus and his men leave, Laeta and Spartacus converse once more with Laeta revealing that the city has a curfew due to the rebellion, which she has tried to dissuade. She then offers Spartacus a place to stay for the night but he declines.
Later that night, Spartacus and the Rebels storm the city, massacring several men, women and children. As the city falls into chaos, Laeta encounters Spartacus once more and questions why is he aiding the rebels to which he reveals that he is Spartacus himself, to her complete disbelief. Crixus then brings news to Spartacus that the Aedile is threatening to the burn the grain. Spartacus orders Laeta to stop her husband, giving the Rebels time to kill the Aedile and save the grain. Laeta is distraught, and although Spartacus tells her that he is sympathetic to losing a loved one, he orders her to be chained along with the remaining Romans.
When the Cilician Pirates enter the city seeking the Aedile's seal, Spartacus calls on Laeta to find it, despite initial protests that her husband would never deal with such low people. He offers to end the mistreatment of her people in exchange for her help, to which she agrees. Although distraught over finding out her husband's secret, she is surprised that Spartacus asks her to ensure the Roman captives are treated well.
When the Rebels are attacked by Roman soldiers, Laeta is able to steal away a small group of captives in the chaos, hiding them in her villa's stables. When it is discovered that some captives are missing, Naevia goes on a blood hunt, accusing Attius of helping them escape. A fight ensues, and Naevia viciously kills him by smashing his head in with a hammer.
Laeta bumping into Sibyl.
Meanwhile, Laeta quietly roams the city, taking bread when available to the Romans she has hidden away. Unfortunately, she bumps into Sibyl, dropping the bread. Laeta pleads with Sibyl not to speak of what she has seen, and although she nervously agrees, she later tells Gannicus of what she has seen.
As Laeta begins handing out bread to the other captive Romans, she tells them that Crassus will soon arrive before Gannicus and Saxa along with Sybil arrive at the stables, discovering her deceit. Sybil apologizes for telling and Laeta yells at her before Saxa slapped her. Gannicus then recognized Ulpianus as a prisoner Attius freed, Laeta revealed Attius had no knowledge of the Roman's escape and gets threatened by Saxa for indirectly causing Attius' demise. Gannicus stops it and has Saxa take the Romans to Spartacus and rushes to confront Naevia about her unjust killing of his friend. He reveals to Crixus and the others helped the Romans escape and Attius was innocent. A fight breaks out between Gannicus and Crixus, only ending when Naevia smashes Gannicus in the head, thus knocking him out. As the mood turns, the rebels demand that the Roman captives be killed - a demand to which Crixus eventually agrees. As the massacre begins, Saxa quietly tries to sneak Laeta and the other Romans to Spartacus, although they are intercepted. Crixus grabs Laeta and prepares to kill her but Spartacus arrives in time to save her and the group, although Crixus demands that he kill Laeta for her role in hiding the Roman captives. Spartacus nearly obliges after Laeta stated her reasons in doing so, before deciding to house the captives in his own villa.
Laeta, being traded away.
As the rebels become increasingly agitated, Spartacus announces that he is to release the Roman slaves. He personally frees Laeta, informing her that he plans to leave Crixus and the others behind to find a new life in Sicilia. He leads Laeta and the remaining Roman captives to the gates while the rebels scream obscenities and toss filth at them.
After making it back to the Roman encampment, Laeta is taken to Crassus, where she does exactly what Spartacus had hoped for - she tells Crassus everything she has heard, including Spartacus' plans to leave. Crassus, however, questions her survival of the attacks, noting that she helped the rebels. Laeta replies that she helped the rebels so that her people could live, a thing that seems irrelevant to Crassus and his ambitions.
After the Romans retake Sinuessa, Crassus has Laeta tended to. She is bathed, dressed in fine Roman clothes, and has her hair styled - she is seen by Caesar who compliments her beauty. After a closer look, Laeta recognizes him, but before she accuses him of being among the rebels, Caesar reminds her that she did the same. Laeta accepts the truth by saying that they both did what was needed to survive.
Laeta being presented to Crassus.
Laeta is taken before Crassus, to which he casually questions her about Spartacus. She tells him that Spartacus is not the beast she thought him to be, but a man who fights for what he believes in. Heracleo then enters the room, telling Crassus that he will now take his leave with all that the imperator has paid him for his service, including Laeta. Crassus tells her it is because she aided the rebels while they had the city. She screams as Heracleo's men bind and gag her, before taking her out of the room.
Laeta being branded a slave by Heracleo.
Before they set sail, Heracleo and his men take Laeta to an abandoned workshop, where Heracleo brands a slave mark on her arm with a hot iron rod. He whispers to her that she will be taken care of and that they now have a future together. Before Heracleo can have his way with Laeta; Gannicus and Sibyl, who are trying to find a way out of the city, enter the workshop. Gannicus confronts Heracleo for his treachery, and his men attack them. Gannicus kills them all, but Heracleo manages to capture Sibyl and threatens her. Before he can kill her, Laeta appears behind him and stabs him through the neck with an iron rod, killing him. Sibyl tells Gannicus that Laeta should come with them, as she states she is now a branded slave like they once were.
Laeta, with Gannicus and Sibyl in trying to escape the city.
Gannicus leads Sibyl and Laeta through the city streets wearing Heracleo's cloak, attempting to sneak out unseen. Before they can make an escape, Caesar and his men appear in front of them and he asks why Heracleo has two women instead of one. Gannicus was forced to reveal himself and fights them off and the three steal two horses to flee the city. They ride to the city gate where a group of soldiers stands in their path. The three ride and fight through them, but Laeta is stabbed in the side by one of their spears. Nevertheless, they escape and make it to the rebel camp. The rebels assume the wounded Laeta is a prisoner, but Gannicus and Sibyl say she is one of them now. Spartacus pulls her off her horse, and Nasir tells Spartacus that he will see that her wound is tended to.
Laeta is seen to the medicus tent by Spartacus.
Laeta meets briefly with Spartacus in the medicus tent describing, in essence, her loss of faith caused by the brand Heracleo burned into her forearm. Spartacus tries to counsel her loss by saying there is no single, simple answer and that each person must find their own way past it. They meet again at the height of the storm, where Laeta shares her blanket with Spartacus, telling him that she wants him to live.
Laeta sharing her blanket with Spartacus.
Later, she is shown to have recovered from her wounds and is with the rebels when they leave the mountains. After the rebels make camp in the forest, she tries to pitch a tent, but has trouble due to her inexperience in such matters, to her frustration. Agron sees this and lends her a hand by setting the tent for her. When she thanks him, he shrugs it off and she asks why he helped since he had previously promised to kill her. Agron says he's only helping her because he noticed that Spartacus has feelings for her. She's greatly taken aback by this revelation, as Agron casts this aside before he tells her of the hardship Spartacus went through, as she ponders on it until Kore runs up asking for help. Kore and Laeta soon help deliver a baby. The rebels notice Kore's slave mark means she was Crassus' slave, and accuse her of being another spy like Caesar was. Laeta vouches for her and convinces them to spare her life and she is placed under Laeta's watch.
Spartacus and Laeta share a kiss.
The next day, the rebels invade a nearby villa and then hold a celebration for Crixus, who will soon leave the group with his followers. At night, Spartacus met with Laeta and asked her about Kore as she informs him that she was asleep and grateful to still be alive. She and Spartacus trade a few verbal barbs (in a joking manner), as Spartacus notices that she is healed of her wound by being her old self while she states that nobody can turn from their true nature. They share a moment of staring at each other before he tries to leave but she quickly stops him, wanting his company. They stare at each other for a while until he kisses her, a sentiment she returns with it being rather intense.
Spartacus and Laeta making love.
After the kiss, Spartacus says that since she is a roman, he could never truly give his heart to her. Undeterred by this statement, Laeta comes onto him by stating that she doesn't want his heart for the night but something else before the two make passionate love on the floor. After this encounter, they officially become lovers as the rebels separate to the mountains to escape the grasp of Rome.
When Spartacus holds gladiator games with Roman prisoners to honor the fallen Crixus, Laeta joins the rebels in the audience. When Spartacus notices her disgust at the proceedings, she assures him that she is not sympathizing with the Roman prisoners since they followed the man who condemned her to slavery, she is just not used to seeing people killed so readily. She even asked Spartacus about why Gannicus was a rebel if he was freed and is told his bond to his gladiator brothers is what persuaded him to join the cause.
Spartacus and Laeta's final kiss.
The warrior rebels would stand against Rome for a final battle so that the ones who cannot fight would be able to escape and live free. Laeta is seen speaking with Spartacus before the battle and the rebels leader thanks her for the affection for him, as they share their final kiss. The rebels split up into two groups and Laeta leaves with Sibyl, Belesa, the rebel mother, and others who decided to wait for Spartacus at the mountains. The final battle results in the defeat of the rebels and Spartacus
Laeta holding Spartacus hand while he slowly dies.
is mortally wounded.
Laeta, after Spartacus dies.
Agron and Nasir carry Spartacus to the Alps, where Laeta, Sibyl and other rebels decided to wait for him. When Spartacus awakens, Laeta cries out and suggests to transport him in the mountains but Spartacus refuses, knowing his end is near. As his life begins to fade, Laeta begins to speak his name. Upon hearing it called, Spartacus remarks that it was not his true name and that he will finally be able to hear his true name once more. After bidding them safe passage and speaking his final words, the rebel leader dies, much to the anguish of Laeta and the remaining survivors.
After burying Spartacus, Laeta and the other rebels continue their journey, as they finally live free from the grips of the Roman Republic.
Relationships
Romances
Ennius
She loved him dearly, being confident that she could get him to see reason. He loved her in a way, as he was distraught to see her captured but relieved she was alive. However, he was unwilling to yield to slaves, despite her pleas. His death caused her great turmoil and she went onto resent the rebel leader. Laeta was very devastated that her husband was actually corrupt, as Heracleo revealed their deals and how Ennius authorized the attacks on innocents.
She appeared to have let go of any lingering affection for him after realizing he was no different from the society that cast her aside. She also directed her affection to the one who killed him.
Spartacus
Laeta first met him while he was looking for grain in Sinuessa, unaware of his true intentions. When the rebels attack the city, Laeta encountered him again and questions as to why he sided with Spartacus, but she became horrified when he revealed that he was Spartacus himself. She was distraught to watch Spartacus kill her husband in front of her eyes before imprisoning her though he gave her more freedom among the hostages.
In the incoming days, she resented him but surprised he granted her more freedom than the other prisoners.
In Decimation, when Crixus led the rebels in a slaughter of the prisoners and was about to execute Laeta, Spartacus intervened. He soon learned that she hid the prisoners and questioned her over her actions after he gave her mercy. When she rebuked his words by listing the things the rebels have done, he was somewhat taken back and though urged to kill her by Crixus, but he refuses and has her and the remaining hostages placed in his villa for protection. Spartacus soon released her and the prisoners as a plan to trick Crassus, this allowed the romans to leave the city.
When Crassus took the city, he spoke to Laeta about Spartacus and she gave her own views of him, noting he was different from the rumors. After Crassus condemned Laeta as a slave to Heracleo, but she escaped with Gannicus and Sybil; albeit wounded. Laeta reunited with Spartacus who tended to her wounds.
Laeta is seen to the medicus tent by Spartacus.
In Mors Indecepta, Laeta meets briefly with Spartacus in the medicus tent describing, in essence, her loss of faith caused by the brand Heracleo burned into her forearm. Spartacus tries to counsel her loss by saying there is no single, simple answer and that each person must find their own way past it.
Laeta sharing her blanket with Spartacus.
Spartacus and Laeta meet again at the height of the storm where she shares her blanket with him, telling him that she wants him to live.
Spartacus and Laeta kiss.
In Separate Paths, Laeta is told by Agron that Spartacus holds affections for her which surprises her and leaves her speechless. However, this has her question her own feelings. When the rebels have a celebration, Spartacus and Laeta have a private talk where they bicker (in a joking manner) and Spartacus sees her wounds have healed as she's back to her old-self. He tells her to rejoin the party, so they could be ready for the long journey and tries to leave but she pulls him back, wanting his company before he kisses her a sentiment which she returns with it being intense.
Spartacus and Laeta making love.
After the kiss, Spartacus then told Laeta that because she was roman, he couldn't give her his heart. Undeterred, she replies by coming onto him and stating it wasn't his heart she was after but "something else". The two then proceeded to make passionate love on the floor, officially becoming lovers after this encounter.
Before the final battle, Spartacus thanked Laeta for her affections and they shared one final kiss. His death devastated her but she honored him by burying him before she and the survivors escaped to the Alps.
Friends and Allies
Ulpianus
Sibyl
Kore
Enemies
Marcus Licinius Crassus
Heracleo
Trivia
- Laeta is the first and only known Roman noblewoman that became a slave.
- Historically, it's possible that some of the rebels had purposely branded free Romans as a way to get revenge on them or to force them to participate in the rebellion. Many Romans, both soldiers and non-soldiers, were taken prisoner by the rebellion.
- Technically, she's never truly enslaved as her dominus is killed(by her) almost right after she is branded. If being marked alone counts her as a slave, she is the only one to be freed before actually being forced into servitude.
- She is the only Roman noblewoman who is known to not mistreat slaves, a somewhat unique trait among Romans in the series.
- She shares some similarities with Sibyl
- Both of them are introduced in the episode Wolves At The Gate.
- They have compassionate and kind personalities.
- They are the last lovers of two rebel leaders, Spartacus and Gannicus. And they both lose their lovers, while they survive after the final battle of the last episode.
- They are both portrayed by New Zealand actresses.
- Laeta is the only woman to knowingly become a lover to the man who kills her husband.
- This makes her character development similar to victims with Stockholm syndrome, a psychological condition which the victims develop a bond with their abusers or captors and empathize or identify with their goals for survival. However, the desire to live is not the main reason behind her choice to join the rebel or her developing feelings for Spartacus, but mostly due to Romans' betrayal and abandonment, and seeing Spartacus's noble qualities personally.
- Her role or character can be considered as a counterpart or polar-opposite to that of Naevia in the final season of the series. As it is her company or appearance in Spartacus's life may have swayed Spartacus toward the path of being more forgiving and merciful toward Romans who do not present threats while Naevia pushes Crixus toward slaughtering all Romans regardless whether they are innoncent or not
- In Latin, the name Laeta means "merry" or "cheerful", an ironic name for the character.
- Of all the women who have slept with Spartacus (Sura, Illythia, Mira), she is the only one not to die.
- She is also the second roman woman to have sex with Spartacus, the first one being Illythia.
- They both become Spartacus's prisoners at one point, and he releases and spares them both.
- She is also the second roman woman to have sex with Spartacus, the first one being Illythia.
- Among all major or reoccurring female characters, she alone has only one sex scene in the series.
- She has only killed one character in the series.
- Also, like Spartacus, Laeta is the only other slave to have killed their dominus.
Quotes
- "It is not your heart, I'm after, this night..", Laeta coming onto Spartacus
Laeta isn't searching for Spartacus' heart.
- "I stand nothing but a slave...as you once did.", Laeta showing her brand to Gannicus
- "You robbed me of my husband, lay waste to my city, and now you call upon fucking aid?!", Laeta to Spartacus
- "We waited for you, as promised.", Laeta to Spartacus right before he dies.