Roma Victrix

by Russell Whitfield

  So, Lysandra of Sparta. Life or death?

  ‘Choose.’

  Author’s Note

  Roma Victrix is a work of fiction and should be read as such, though, where possible, I’ve tried to weave in real people and events into the story.

  Sextus Julius Frontinus, Quintus Vibius Crispus, Tettius Iulianus, Decabalus, the unfortunate Cornelius Fuscus and of course Domitian are all historical figures.

  We know that at least one legion, the Fifth Alaudae, was totally destroyed in Fuscus’s invasion of Dacia. What we don’t know precisely is what happened to the others. The consensus is that Fuscus took five legions across the Danube. Were all five destroyed? Probably not. But the Dacian defeat was certainly a bitter pill for the Romans to swallow.

  Domitian is an interesting character. Like many emperors, he starts off well enough but succumbs to paranoia toward the latter part of his reign. Though he didn’t have much time for the Senate, the army liked him well enough and his twelve years weren’t a bad innings for a Roman Emperor in the first century.

  Suetonius says that he: presented many extravagant entertainments in the Colosseum and the Circus. Besides the usual two-horse chariot races, he staged a couple of battles, one for infantry, the other for cavalry; a sea-fight in the amphitheatre; wild-beast hunts; gladiatorial shows by torchlight in which women as well as men took part.

  That the women fought by torchlight suggests late afternoon/evening – the time of the main events. So Domitian, as sponsor, was giving female gladiators top billing.

  Lysandra was inspired by the Halicarnassus frieze of ‘Amazona and Achillia’, but these names are all we have. Aesalon Nocturna – the Midnight Falcon – is fictional and some astute readers might have spotted the homage to David Gemell, the late master of the fighting fantasy genre. A celebrated gladiatrix prima of Rome could have arisen in the reigns of Domitian or Nero, who also liked the gladiatrix shows.

  There are some excellent histories of the gladiator and one, Gladiatrix, by Amy Zoll, is devoted to the female warriors of the arena. I heartily recommend it, as well as one by Philip Matyszak called Gladiator: The Roman Fighter’s (Unofficial) Manual.

  I really hope you enjoyed Roma Victrix and would like to thank you for reading.

  Russell Whitfield, April 2011

  Acknowledgements

  A novel has one person’s name on the jacket, but the truth is most writers have a team behind them, and so my heartfelt thanks go out to the following:

  The guys and girls at www.unrv.com whose knowledge of the Roman Empire is second to none and whose support of Gladiatrix and Roma Victrix has been unflagging; Robin Carter, Dave Slaney, Andy Canty and Isabel Picornel, whose characters, written in their honour, have all been brutally killed; Vilmarys Collado and the sisters at www.bookreadertimes.com; Tara Chevrestt – a brilliant, talented writer and a good friend; Paul Browne, for lending me all the kit (that I didn’t nick!); Graeme Moore, who came up with the name for Kleandrias and has always been a source of encouragement; Jason Frost of www.russosbooks.com my friend from across the pond who has gone above and beyond the call in promoting Gladiatrix; the members of the www.legendreaders.com forum – especially Philippa and Ana.

  Tony Riches and Ben Kane – one of the great things about this book business is that you get to meet people you really admire as writers.

  They continue to inspire me.

  Frances Arnold, eagle-eyed proofreader and Ian Binnie, typesetter at Ellipsis; Catherine Martin and Jeroen de Lange who advised on Latin usage and grammar; Lee Metcalf for producing the excellent promo video (thanks, Lee – you’re a legend); Lisa Sullivan and the team at Blacksheep who’ve ensured that Lysandra always enters bookshops well clad; Alistair Leslie and Greg Goodale of www.gregveit.com for the brilliant promotional artwork.

  The beautiful models who took part in the photo-shoots for promotional material: Alexis Caley www.alexiscaley.com (the only person who could have brought life to Illeana); Paula Ciascai www.starnow.co.uk/paulaciascai (real-life Dacian Sorina who made fake-fur look really good; Kerry Davies (a wonderful Ankhsy and, even as a mum-to-be, unafraid to strap on the armour and swords); Suzy Deakin www.facebook.com/suzyCJsexy (who was Eirianwen, killed in Gladiatrix and had to endure so much fake blood!); Caroline Elman http://www.carolineroseelman.com (who showed us how little Varia grew up and made me sorely regret killing her off); Sarah Jackaman www.modelmayhem.com/1274513 (Hildreth from Gladiatrix, another victim – sorry, Sarah!); Keeley-Jo Jupp http://www.ukscreen.com/cast/juppk (A character in the next instalment and a marvellous actress in her own right); Kimberley Thompson http://www.kimber-leythomson.uk/ (who took out her lenses so we could capture Lysandra’s ice-blue eyes); Bailey Porter www.modelmayhem.com/661071 (the amazing make-up artist who covered our girls with gore!) Anni DeVil, Bitchie Blackwhore, Hell’n Drums, Mary Death and Satanica. Hysterica www.hysterica.se – the Girls Made of Heavy Metal.

  Thanks for the music, guys – you rule!

  Robin Wade, agent, advisor, scholar and gentleman, and Ed Handyside, master of the dark art of editorial alchemy.

  My wonderful daughter Samantha who brings such joy to my life: you make everything worthwhile.

  And finally, Sally, who remained strong in the face of adversity.

  None of this could have been done without your help, support and encouragement: you will always be first in my thoughts and in my heart.

  Also by Russell Whitfield: GLADIATRIX

  ‘A great debut that shines an entirely new light on the glory and the bloodshed of the Roman arena. Whitfield paints a vivid picture of the fights and the passions of women combatants. It’s exciting stuff, with well rounded characters, nail-biting duels to the death and vividly depicted settings. Gladiatrix makes Gladiator look very tame indeed!’

  Simon Scarrow, author of Under the Eagle and Centurion

  ‘What a brilliant novel! Whitfield has taken one of history’s curiosities – the role of the female gladiator – and woven from it a savage and splendid tale of the Roman arena . . . a tale that, once sampled, cannot be easily forgotten.’

  Scott Oden, author of Men of Bronze and Memnon

  ‘. . . brutal, fast paced . . . a great first novel.’

  Gareth Wilson, Falcata Times

  PAPERBACK: ISBN 978-1-905802-098

  E BOOK: ISBN 978-1-905802-48-7

  Coming in 2012…

  I M P E R AT R I X

  Table of Contents

  Also by Russell Whitfield:

  Copyright

  Contents

  PROLOGUE

  I

  II

  III

  IV

  V

  VI

  VII

  VIII

  IX

  X

  XI

  XII

  XIII

  XIV

  XV

  XVI

  XVII

  XVIII

  XIX

  XX

  XXI

  XXII

  XXIII

  XXIV

  XXV

  XXVI

  XXVII

  XXVIII

  XXIX

  XXX

  XXXI

  XXXII

  XXXIII

  XXXIV

  XXXV

  XXXVI

  XXXVII

  XXXVIII

  XXXIX

  XL

  XLI

  EPILOGUE I

  EPILOGUE II

  Author’s Note

  Acknowledgements

  Also by Russell Whitfield: GLADIATRIX

 

 

 
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