Hammer of Rome

by Douglas Jackson

  So just what can we believe? Some historians doubt Mons Graupius ever happened, but I think the name Aulus Atticus proves otherwise. Tacitus cites him as the only Roman casualty of the battle – apparently auxiliaries didn’t count – and his relatives or descendants would still have been alive when the Agricola was published. Apart from Atticus no other Roman is mentioned. It appears the commanders of Agricola’s legions were not to be allowed to take any of the shine from his victory. Historian Birgitta Hoffman, who has spent years studying the archaeology of the Gask Ridge frontier, which Agricola may have created, probably puts it best. Comparing Tacitus’s Agricola and his Commentaries, she says: ‘Both start off with a double blitzkrieg, Caesar against the Helvetii and Ariovist, Agricola with the Ordovices and Anglesey. Both consider invading an island at roughly the same time in their career and both describe a night attack on a legion, where the general saves the situation at the last moment. And lastly both culminate in a final battle preceded by great speeches about civilization and freedom. One recurring event may have been coincidence, but the pattern here is too persistent.’

  Whatever the answer, and for all its faults, Tacitus’s Agricola provided me with a wonderful foundation for Valerius’s ninth, and sadly final, adventure.

  And what of Valerius’s Ninth legion? Did it or didn’t it disappear into the Scottish mists along with its coveted eagle? The truth is that unless some lucky metal detectorist unearths an unusually shaped piece of bronze in a Perthshire glen we’ll never know for sure. The Ninth may or may not have had a reputation for ill-fortune. It was certainly one of the legions that threatened to mutiny at Gesoriacum (Boulogne) during Claudius’s invasion of Britannia in AD 43 because the soldiers resented being asked to campaign beyond the edge of the ‘known world’. In AD 60 it lost half its strength in an ambush by a contingent of Boudicca’s army. And, according to Tacitus, Agricola had to ride to the legion’s rescue during Calgacus’s night attack, which I’ve depicted in this book. The last physical evidence of the legion’s presence in Britain is a building inscription in York dated to AD 108. A legend has grown up – propagated by Rosemary Sutcliff’s wonderful Eagle of the Ninth – that the legion was annihilated in the early second century during a period of violent upheaval that led to the construction of Hadrian’s Wall. Yet records exist of officers serving with the unit as much as ten years later and an inscription mentioning the Ninth legion and dated to the 120s has been discovered in Nijmegen in Holland. Some historians believe the Ninth was destroyed in Judaea in the Bar Kokhba revolt of AD 132, or simply disbanded in disgrace a little later. Others continue to argue for the Scottish scenario. There’s no real evidence for or against either and it’s even possible both could be true. It was common for battle groups or vexillationes to be split from legions to fight in other war zones. Substantial elements of the Ninth could have been fighting on two fronts, perhaps for decades. The only thing we know for certain is that the Ninth disappears from the records by the time of Marcus Aurelius.

  *

  Author’s note: Gaius Valerius Verrens came to life for me after a telephone call from my then editor, Simon Thorogood, sometime in 2008, when he suggested that my Caligula series should become the only two-book trilogy in literary history. He asked me to consider abandoning my character, Rufus, keeper of the Emperor’s elephant, and come up with a more mainstream hero. As a slave, he felt Rufus was reactive rather than proactive: things happened to him, but he had little power to direct events. When I put my mind to the problem I remembered a character who made a minor appearance during the Boudiccan rebellion in what was to be the third of the Rufus books. I’d read a line in Tacitus that mentioned how, in response to pleas from the people of Colchester for reinforcements, Catus Decianus, procurator of Britannia, sent a tiny force of two hundred men – an assortment of military odds and sods – to face the might of Boudicca’s horde. Their commander’s name in the original book was Crispinus, but I decided Valerius had a more martial ring to it. As for a title, when I asked for some guidance I was told ‘anything with Rome is selling well at the moment’. And so Hero of Rome was born. At that point I only had a single book in mind, based on events I’d already researched about the last stand in the Temple of Claudius. Simon was interested in a trilogy, so I gave him two more titles, Defender of Rome and Avenger of Rome, with not the slightest idea what the storylines would be. I never believed in my wildest dreams there would eventually be nine books. It was my great good fortune, and by pure chance, that the Valerius I created existed in a time of turmoil, battles and political strife that both suited and shaped his character. His career and his class allowed him to move fairly seamlessly between rank and file legionaries and the great men of his time. He has done the bidding of seven emperors, only two of whom died in their beds, and one of those in suspicious circumstances, fought Britons, Dacians, Batavians, Romans, Parthians and Judaeans, and been hunted to the very ends of the Empire. I hope you’ve enjoyed reading his adventures as much as I’ve enjoyed writing them.

  Glossary

  Abhainn dubh – The River Forth.

  Ala milliaria – A reinforced auxiliary cavalry wing, normally between 700 and 1,000 strong.

  Ala quingenaria – Auxiliary cavalry wing normally composed of 500 auxiliary horsemen.

  Alauna river – The River Allan.

  Amici – A Roman emperor’s inner circle.

  Aquilifer – The standard-bearer who carried the eagle of the legion.

  As – A small copper coin worth approx. a fifth of a sestertius.

  Asturian – Native of the mountains of northern Hispania.

  Aureus (pl. Aurei) – Valuable gold coin worth twenty-five denarii.

  Auxiliary – Non-citizen soldiers recruited from the provinces as light infantry or for specialist tasks, e.g. cavalry, slingers, archers.

  Ballista – Portable catapult capable of hurling heavy stones four or five hundred paces.

  Beltane – Ancient Celtic festival marking the beginning of summer.

  Beneficiarius – A legion’s record keeper or scribe.

  Caligae – Sturdily constructed, reinforced leather sandals worn by Roman soldiers. Normally with iron-studded sole.

  Campi Flegrei – The Phlegraean Fields, a broad area of volcanic activity on the north side of the Bay of Naples close to Puzzuoli.

  Carnyx – A Celtic trumpet.

  Century – Smallest tactical unit of the legion, numbering eighty men.

  Classis Misenensis – The Misenum fleet, Rome’s largest and most powerful naval force, based in the Bay of Naples.

  Cohort – Tactical fighting unit of the legion, normally containing six centuries, apart from the elite First cohort, which had five double-strength centuries (800 men).

  Colonia – A colony of retired legionaries set up and given special rights and dispensations on the orders of the Emperor.

  Consul – One of two annually elected chief magistrates of Rome, normally appointed by the people and ratified by the Senate.

  Contubernium – Unit of eight soldiers who shared a tent or barracks.

  Cornicen – Legionary signal trumpeter who used an instrument called a cornu.

  Decurion – A junior officer in a century, or a troop commander in a cavalry unit.

  Denarius (pl. Denarii) – A silver coin.

  Domus – The house of a wealthy Roman, e.g. Nero’s Domus Aurea (Golden House).

  Duplicarius – Literally ‘double pay man’. A senior legionary with a trade or an NCO.

  Equestrian – Roman knightly class.

  Fortuna – The goddess of luck and good fortune.

  Gladius (pl. Gladii) – The short sword of the legionary. A lethal killing weapon at close quarters.

  Governor – Citizen of senatorial rank given charge of a province. Would normally have a military background (see Proconsul).

  Groma – Measuring staff with cross piece and plumb lines used by Roman engineers to lay out roads, camps and any other major building projects.


  Imaginifer – The standard-bearer who carried the imago, the Emperor’s image, when the legion was on the march.

  Jupiter – Most powerful of the Roman gods, often referred to as Optimus Maximus (Greatest and Best).

  Kerse – Old Scots word identifying an area of fertile alluvial land in a river valley.

  Lectica – A sedan chair carried by slaves.

  Legate – The general in charge of a legion. A man of senatorial rank.

  Legatus iuridicus – Legal official of senatorial rank appointed to aid the governor of a province.

  Legion – Unit of approximately 5,000 men, all of whom would be Roman citizens.

  Lictor – Bodyguard of a Roman magistrate. There were strict limits on the numbers of lictors associated with different ranks.

  Lituus – Curved trumpet used to transmit cavalry commands.

  Manumission – The act of freeing a slave.

  Mars – The Roman god of war.

  Milites – Lowest ranking legionary. Soldier with no specialist duties.

  Mithras – An Eastern god popular among Roman soldiers.

  Mule – Self-deprecating title Roman legionaries gave themselves, after Marius’s Mules, the soldiers of the Roman general Gaius Marius, who formed what became the Imperial legions.

  Ordo – The council of a hundred leading citizens responsible for running a Roman town.

  Ordovices – Celtic tribe which inhabited the mountainous area of north Wales.

  Pannonians – Members of a powerful Balkan tribe which lived in what is now Hungary. Provided auxiliary units for the Roman Empire in return for relief from tribute and taxes.

  Phalera (pl. Phalerae) – Awards won in battle worn on a legionary’s chest harness.

  Pilum (pl. Pila) – Heavy spear carried by a Roman legionary.

  Praefectus Castrorum – Literally camp prefect, the third most senior officer in a Roman legion, often a soldier who had risen through the ranks.

  Praetorian Guard – Powerful military force stationed in Rome. Accompanied the Emperor on campaign, but could be of dubious loyalty and were responsible for the overthrow of several Roman rulers.

  Prefect – Auxiliary cavalry commander.

  Primus Pilus – ‘First File’. The senior centurion of a legion.

  Princeps – Chief man of the state, an unofficial title conferred upon the Emperor.

  Principia – Legionary headquarters building.

  Proconsul – Governor of a Roman province, such as Britannia or Syria, and of consular rank.

  Procurator – Civilian administrator subordinate to a governor.

  Quaestor – Civilian administrator in charge of finance.

  Salve – Latin word for welcome.

  Samhain – Ancient Celtic festival held at the end of October to mark the end of the harvest season and the onset of winter.

  Scutum (pl. Scuta) – The big, richly decorated curved shield carried by a legionary.

  Selgovae – Celtic tribe who occupied the western Borders during the 1st century AD. The Eildon Hills may have been their spiritual capital and gathering place.

  Senator – Patrician member of the Senate, the key political institution which administered the Roman Empire. Had to meet strict financial and property rules and be at least thirty years of age.

  Sestertius (pl. Sestertii) – Roman brass coin worth a quarter of a denarius.

  Sicarii – violent Judaean sect related to the Zealots, who opposed Roman rule.

  Signifer – Standard-bearer who carried the emblem of a cohort or century.

  Spatha – Sword wielded by Roman cavalry. Longer and heavier than the gladius.

  Testudo – Literally ‘tortoise’. A unit of soldiers with shields interlocked for protection.

  Thuaidh river – The River Tweed.

  Tribune – One of six senior officers acting as aides to a legate. Often, but not always, on short commissions of six months upwards.

  Tribunus laticlavius – Literally ‘broad stripe tribune’. The most senior of a legion’s military tribunes.

  Tuessis river – The River Tay.

  Valetudinarium – a hospital, in this case a Roman military hospital.

  Venicones – Celtic tribe who inhabited the lands between the Forth and the Tay in Scotland during the 1st century AD.

  Vexillatio – A detachment of a legion used as a temporary task force on independent duty.

  Victimarius – Servant who delivers and attends to the victim of a sacrifice.

  Victory – Roman goddess equivalent to the Greek Nike.

  Votadini – Celtic tribe who occupied what is now East Lothian and the eastern Borders and are believed to have made an accommodation with the advancing Romans in the 1st century AD.

  Acknowledgements

  Once again I’m indebted to my editor, Simon Taylor, and the production team at Transworld, with a special mention for my wonderful copy-editor Nancy Webber, for helping make this book what it is, and my agent, Stan, of the North Literary Agency, for his constant support and encouragement. Even after fifteen books and ten years of ups and downs, I wouldn’t be a writer without the support of my wife Alison and that of my children, Kara, Nikki and Gregor, for which I will be for ever grateful. The advice of Dr Murray Cook, Stirling Council’s archaeologist, gave me a unique insight into ancient life in the area around Bennachie, which he has dug so extensively and with so much success. Amongst the numerous books that have helped me create an image of the life and times of Roman soldiers in Britain and the native Celts who opposed, and, in the occasional case, abetted them, I should single out Peter Salway’s A History of Roman Britain; An Imperial Possession: Britain in the Roman Empire by David Mattingly; Before Scotland by Alistair Moffat; Roman Scotland by David Breeze; The Last Frontier: The Roman Invasions of Scotland by Antony Kamm; also, although the fort probably wasn’t built until after the events depicted in Hammer of Rome, a special mention for Garrison Life at Vindolanda: A Band of Brothers by Anthony Birley, which provides an unrivalled glimpse into the minds of the men who garrisoned Roman Britain. As on previous occasions, Roman Military Equipment by M. C. Bishop and J. C. N. Coulston was invaluable for recreating an authentic Roman military, along with Roman Battle Tactics by Ross Cowan and Exploring the World of the Celts by Simon James; and Miranda J. Green’s The Druids performed a similar function for my depiction of the rites and religious traditions of the native inhabitants.

  ABOUT THE AUTHOR

  A journalist by profession, Douglas Jackson transformed a lifelong fascination for Rome and the Romans into his first two highly praised novels, Caligula and Claudius. His third novel, Hero of Rome, introduced readers to a new series hero, Gaius Valerius Verrens. Eight more novels recounting the adventures of this determined and dedicated servant of Rome have followed, earning critical acclaim and confirming Douglas as one of the UK’s foremost historical novelists. An active member of the Historical Writers’ Association and the Historical Novel Society, Douglas Jackson lives near Stirling in Scotland.

  Also by Douglas Jackson

  CALIGULA

  CLAUDIUS

  HERO OF ROME

  DEFENDER OF ROME

  AVENGER OF ROME

  SWORD OF ROME

  ENEMY OF ROME

  SCOURGE OF ROME

  SAVIOUR OF ROME

  GLORY OF ROME

  For more information on Douglas Jackson and his books, see his website at www.douglas-jackson.net

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  First published in Great Britain in 2018 by Bantam Press

  an imprint of Transworld Publishers

  Copyright © Douglas Jackson 2018

  Photography: © Johnny Ring

  Cover Design and image manipulation: Stephen Mulcahey/TW

  Douglas Jacks
on has asserted his right under the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988 to be identified as the author of this work.

  This book is a work of fiction and, except in the case of historical fact, any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, is purely coincidental.

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  Version 1.0 Epub ISBN 9781473526839

  ISBN 9780593076170

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