Legio XVII: Roman Legion at War
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Charles, Tom, Colonel, U.S. Army: Assistant Professor of History at the United States Military Academy at West Point, New York. On loan for six months to assist the translators interpret the scrolls.
Clastidium [clas-TI-di-um] (modern Casteggio): Site of Roman fort rebuilt and defended by Centurion Vitulus while in command of half of Legio XVII Triarii.
Clausal [CLAW-zul]: Commander of 200 Illyrian archers assigned to Centurion Servilius.
Concolitanus [con-co-li-TANus] and Aneroestes[Ana-REStes]: Leaders of mercenary Gaesatae Gauls from the Transalpine hired by the Insubres and Boii to fight against Rome. They defeat three Roman Auxiliary Legions in Battle of Faesulae [fay-SUL-a], but were defeated at the Battle of Telamon in 225 BC.
Consuls Gaius Terentius Varro and Lucius Aemilius Paullus: Roman Consuls who led the Roman army that was defeated by Hannibal at Cannae in 216 BC. Varro survived.
Consuls Lucius Aemilius Papus and Gaius Atilius Regulus: Roman Consuls who led the Roman army that defeated the Gauls at the Battle of Telamon in 225 BC. Papus survived.
D
David: Son of Joseph. Little is known about David. He abandoned Rome and returned to Israel with his father’s scrolls and passed them to his son Benjamin.
Decima: Daughter of Lucia and Gaius Tullus, Praetor Tullus’ brother. She married Joseph.
Davenhardt: Political advisor to Ariovistus and Bethica. Married Bethica.
E
Elitovius [E-lit-TOVius]: Praetor Tullus’ spy master from the Cenomani tribe in Brixia.
Etruria (modern Tuscany): Roman allies.
F
Farrid, Davood: Carthaginian Ambassador to Rome. Spy for Carthage and Hannibal. Persian ancestry. Attempted to foil mission of Legio XVII in northern Italy.
Flavia: Mother of the brothers Manius and Gaius Tullus.
G
Gaius [GUY-us]: Brother of Manius Tullus. Married to Lucia and father of Decima. Killed at Battle of Faesulae in 225 BC.
Genua (modern Genoa): Mediterranean seaport.
H
Hamilcar Barca: 275 BC - 228 BC, Father of Hannibal, Hasdrubal, and Mago.
Hannibal: 248-183 BC. Carthaginian General and scourge of Rome. Nonpareil military tactician of the ancient world. Invaded Italy in 218 BC and remained until 203. Defeated multiple Roman Legions. He was defeated by Consul Scipio Africanus in 202 BC at the Battle of Zama near Carthage. His ability to defeat Roman armies stands as apodictic a law as any in nature, but his strategy for ultimate victory was fatally flawed.
Hasdrubal the Fair: 270-221, Carthaginian General. Brother-in-law of Hannibal and son-in-law of Hamilcar Barca. Concluded Carthage-Roman treaty of 225 BC, which seeded control of Spain south of River Ebro from Rome to Carthage.
Hasdrubal: Carthaginian General and brothers of Hannibal. Fought the two Roman Scipio brothers in Spain for six years (218-212); defeated and killed them both. Crossed the Alps in 207 to support Hannibal. Defeated in northern Italy at Battle of Metaurus in 207 and was killed.
J
Joseph: Born in Rome in 227 BC. Son of Queastor Levi. Accompanied Praetor Tullus to Cisalpine Gaul and wrote scrolls. Became Plebian Tribune of the Concilium Plebis.
L
Latin allies of Rome who contributed troops to Rome’s Auxiliary Legions: Etruscans, Samnites, Umbros, Veneti, and Cenomani are mentioned most frequently.
Levi: Born near Lake Kinneret (Sea of Galilee), Israel in 268 BC. Moved to Corinth at an early age with his parents. Travel to Rome as Corinthian ambassador at age 25 and stayed. Appointed Roman Quaestor. Husband of Rivkah, father of Joseph, and friend of Praetor Tullus.
Lucani and Luceria: Elderly couple from Samnite village of Agnone who nursed Manius back to health from wounds suffered at Battle of Cannae in 216 BC.
Lucia: Wife of Centurion Gaius Tullus killed at Battle of Faesulae in 225 BC. She married Praetor Manius Tullus, Gaius’ brother. Mother of Decima, Flavia, and Titus.
Lugano: Leader of 2500 Raeti warriors that support Legio XVII.
M
Mago: 243-203 BC. Carthaginian General and youngest brothers of Hannibal. Crossed Alps with Hannibal and participated in Battles of Trebia 218, Lake Trasimene 217, and Cannae in 216 after which he returned to Carthage. Fought Romans in Spain. Arrived at port of Genua in Summer 206 BC with Army to aid Hannibal, but was confined to Northern Italy by Roman Legions. Wounded in battle and sailed back to Carthage in 203. He died enroute.
Marcellus; Roman Praetor and leader of the Auxiliary Legions defeated by the Gauls at the Battle of Faesulae 225 BC.
Marcellus: Roman Consul who defeated Gauls at Battle of Clastidium in 222 BC. He was awarded the spolia optima for defeating the enemy commander in hand-to-hand combat.
Mediolanum [medio-LAN-um] (modern Milan) – Home of the Insubres Gauls.
O
Ofra Abishai: Israeli archeology student who discovered scrolls in 2010 while participating in archeological dig at Lake Kinneret following an earthquake and collapse of houses.
P
Patavium [pata-VI-um] (modern Padova): Site of Roman fort defended by Centurion Servilius while in command of half of Legio XVII Triarii.
Pontius: Young Samnite man from village of Agnone traveled to Rome to negotiate exchange of Tribune Manius Tullus after village nursed him back to health.
Professors Emily Burns, Adiv Tuviya, Bruce Holloway, George Albright, and Tom Connor: Greek, Hebrew, and Latin linguists who translated scrolls.
Pulvillus Tomaeus Venditus: Chief Engineer assigned to Praetor Tullus. Used the name “Tomaeus.”
Q
Quiamelius [quee-ME-lius]: Ligurian spy master assigned to Centurion Vitulus’ Clastidium Mission.
R
Rasce [race]: Etruscan who replaced Tribune Sextus as XVII cavalry commander.
Rivkah: Wife of Levi and mother of Joseph.
Rosa: Young Roman girl selected and schooled to become the wife of Timo Bosettius and Queen of Rhaetia.
S
Segovesus [seg-o-V-sus]: Cenomani [cen-o-MA-knee] tribal Chief at Brixia. Provided 2500 warriors to Legio XVII.
Servilius, Publius Auerlius: Roman Centurion, Commander of half of Legio XVII Triarii. Defeated Hannibal’s ally Agron while enroute from Rome to port of Aternum. Successfully defends fort at Patavium against Gaesatae mercenaries led by Bagaudas.
Sextus, Tribune: Legio XVII incompetent patrician cavalry commander dismissed by Tribune Manius Tullus.
Sura, Didius Quintus: Commander of the Roman cavalry detachment assigned to Centurion Servilius.
T
Taluric: Leader of the 2500 Cenomani and future village Chief in Brixia. Supported Legio XVII.
Tertius: Legionary friend of Joseph.
Tridentum [tri-DEN-tum] (modern Trento): Home of Rhaetian [RAY-shin] people.
Triplex Acies: “Triple battle order” of a Legion consisted of the Hastati, the first line facing the enemy, the Principes, the second line, and the Triarii, the third. Each man of the three lines of battle had a file of men lined up behind him. In battle, each man would rotate to the rear of his file to constantly present fresh men to fight the enemy.
Tullus Titurius, Manius:Born 259 BC at Rome. Became a Legionary at age 17 and advanced through the ranks to Centurion, Tribune, and Praetor. Married his brother’s widow, Lucia and had two children, Flavia and Titus, and adopted Decima. Commanded Legio XVII on 30 month mission in northern Italy and Austria.
V
Viridomarus [vere-e-doe-MAR-us]: Gaesatae Gaul and leader of Gallic Army at the Battle of Clastidium in 222 BC. He was defeated in hand-to-hand combat by Roman Consul Marcellus.
Vitulus [VIT-tul-us], Appollonius Albus: Roman Centurion, Commander of half of Legio XVII Triarii. Sailed from port at Ostia to Genua and rebuilt fort at Clastidium in 209 BC.
Vocion: Contender to replace Ariovistus as Suevi Chief at Innsbruck. Led a Suevi army of 6000 men at the Battle of Innsbruck against Manius. Vocion is killed in the battle.
About the Author
Thomas A. Timmes, a 28 year veteran of the U.S. Army, holds the Bronze Star for Valor and Vietnamese Cross of Gallantry for combat in Vietnam. He served with the 3rd and 8th Mechanized Infantry Divisions in Germany during the Cold War as an Infantry Platoon Leader, Company Commander, and Battalion and Brigade Operations Officer. Tom has extensive experience with Military Psychological Operations as a Team Leader, an Executive Officer, and Battalion Commander of an airborne unit. Tom also served on the Department of the Army Staff and the Joint Staff in the Pentagon. After retiring from the Army, Tom joined the Office of the Secretary of Defense and was involved with the planning, deployment, and execution of numerous overseas military operations. He worked in the Department of Defense for 42 years including 24 years in the Pentagon. Tom earned military and civilian awards including the Medal for Exceptional Civilian Service, the Defense Superior Service Medal, Combat Infantryman’s Badge, and holds a Master’s Degree in History. In 2013, he was designated a Distinguished Member of the Psychological Operations Regiment. Tom is married and has five children and nine grandchildren.
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