Hosker, G [Sword of Cartimandua 12] Roman Wall

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Hosker, G [Sword of Cartimandua 12] Roman Wall Page 28

by Griff Hosker


  The Dacians were stationed at Vercovicium on the wall and the Syrian archers did arrive at about the time the novel was set although they were not in time to aid Julius. South Shields became Arbeia or Arab Town, when the Hamians and the river boatmen from the Euphrates and Tigris arrived in the province making the north east quite a cosmopolitan place.

  The Selgovae, Votadini and Brigante kept on revolting right up until the reign of Antoninus Pius who built the Antonine Wall to subjugate those tribes. It never quite worked out and eventually Hadrian’s Wall became the northern frontier and the Brigante finally accepted Roman rule.

  The building of the two walls was the last work of the legions in Britannia and the defence of the wall was left to the auxiliaries who were sent to the northern frontier to guard it. The wall itself was built largely as described. Where there was plenty of local stone, in the east and the middle then it was made of stone. In the west it was made of turf which is why the best sections to explore are in the centre of the wall.

  The vallum was added after the wall was completed. It ran along the south of the wall, on the Province side. It consisted of two mounds with a ditch between. The only crossing points were at the forts. It would not stop an enemy but it would slow him down considerably.

  I have used the term bolt throwers although the machines in question were quite sophisticated and there were many sizes: manuballista, ballista, scorpio and catapulta were all names for these weapons. Here is a picture of a modern reconstruction of a scorpio as used by the re-enactors of the XXth. Incidentally this photograph was taken by the author at Cilurnum.

  The sacrifice of Radha is based on evidence found all over Europe but especially in England. Lindow Man was found in a bog in Cheshire. He was not a slave and had manicured hands, traces of mistletoe in his body and was not bound. He had been struck on the head, strangled and then had his throat cut. This was a Celtic tradition. The fact that Radha was a Queen and a priestess would have made the sacrifice even more important.

  The single combat between leaders was an important aspect of Celtic life. There was much honour in such a combat and the ancient writers make much of the custom. The Celts were frequently surprised when the supposedly better Roman warriors refused such a combat.

  Mother Shipton’s cave on the River Nidd is a famous natural phenomenon. It is the oldest charging tourist attraction in Britain and has been visited since the 1660s. There is a petrifying well inside the cave and the limestone dripping from the roof of the cave turns everything to stone.

  Books used in the research:

  Rome’s Enemies-Wilcox and McBride (Osprey)

  Celtic Warrior- Allen and Reynolds (Osprey)

  The Roman Army from Caesar to Trajan-Simkins and Embleton (Osprey)

  Hadrian’s Wall- David Breeze (English Heritage)

  Chesters Roman Fort-Nick Hodgson (English Heritage)

  What the Soldiers Wore on Hadrian’s Wall- Russell Robinson

  Griff Hosker September 2014

  People and places in the book.

  Fictitious characters and places are in italics.

  Name-Description

  Ambrinus -Gallic Prefect

  Aneurin-Recruit

  Appius Serjanus-Governor’s aide

  Aulus Platorius Nepos-Governor of Britannia

  Belatucadros – a Celtic god of war

  Briac-Brigante prince and descendant of Venutius

  Capsarius(pl) capsarii-Medical orderly

  Carnyx- Celtic war horn

  Cilurnum-Chesters (on Hadrian’s Wall)

  Claudius Culpinus-Senior centurion vexillation of the VIth

  Coriosopitum-Corbridge

  Dunum- River Tees

  Felix-Brigante Scout

  Flavia Nepos-Wife of the Governor

  Frann- Marcus’ wife

  Frumentarii- Roman Secret Police frumentarius singular)

  Gaius Culpinus-Tungrian Prefect

  Iucher-Votadini warrior

  Julius Demetrius-Legate

  Julius Longinus-Ala Clerk

  Livius-Chosen Man

  Livius Lucullus Sallustius-Prefect Marcus’ Horse

  Lucia Scaura-Flavia’s companion

  Macro-Marcus’ son

  mansio-State inn for travellers

  mansionarius-The official in charge of a mansio

  Marcus Gaius Aurelius-Decurion Marcus’ Horse.

  Mercaut- Lindisfarne (Holy Island)

  Nemesis-Roman Fate

  Oppidum- Tribal hill fort

  Pons Aelius-Newcastle

  Quaestor-Roman official or tax collector

  Cassius Metellus Meridius- Prefect 1st Batavorum cohort

  Quintus Licinius Brocchus-First Spear VIth Legion

  Roaring Waters- High Force Waterfall

  Rufius Atrebeus- Decurion and former Explorate and frumentarius

  Scanlan-Brigante Warrior

  sesquiplicarius-Corporal

  Sextus-Marcus’ chosen man, later a decurion

  signifer-The soldier who carries the standard and also acts as the turma banker

  Tinea- River Tyne

  Titus Plauca-Camp Prefect Eboracum

  tonsor-Roman barber

  Trierarch-Captain of a Roman warship

  Vedra- River Wear

  Vercovicium-Housesteads (Hadrian’s Wall)

  Via Claudia-Watling Street (A5)

  Via Hades-Road to Hell- Dere Street (A1)

  Via Trajanus-Dere Street (Al)-Eboracum North

  Vicus (pl)vici-Roman settlement close to a fort

  Other books

  by

  Griff Hosker

  If you enjoyed reading this book then why not read another one by the author?

  The Sword of Cartimandua Series (Germania and Britannia 50A.D. – 128 A.D.)

  Ulpius Felix- Roman Warrior (prequel)

  Book 1 The Sword of Cartimandua

  Book 2 The Horse Warriors

  Book 3 Invasion Caledonia

  Book 4 Roman Retreat

  Book 5 Revolt of the Red Witch

  Book 6 Druid’s Gold

  Book 7 Trajan’s Hunters

  Book 8 The Last Frontier

  Book 9 Hero of Rome

  Book 10 Roman Hawk

  Book 11Roman Treachery

  Book 12 Roman Wall

  They are all available in the Kindle format.

  The Wolf Warrior series (Britain in the late 6th Century)

  Book 1 Saxon Dawn

  Book 2 Saxon Revenge

  Book 3 Saxon England

  Book 4 Saxon Blood

  Book 5 Saxon Slayer

  Book 6 Saxon Slaughter

  Book 7 Saxon Bane

  The Aelfraed Series (Britain and Byzantium 1050 A.D.- 1085 A.D.

  Book 1 Housecarl

  Book 2 Outlaw

  Book 3 Varangian

  The Dragon Heart Series

  Book 1 Viking Slave

  Book 2 Viking Warrior

  Book 3 Viking Jarl

  Book 4 Viking Kingdom

  Book 5 Viking Wolf (due out November 2014)

  The Napoleonic Horseman Series

  Book 1 Chasseur a Cheval

  Book 2 Napoleon’s Guard

  Book 3 British Light Dragoon

  Book 4 Soldier Spy

  The Lucky Jack American Civil War series

  Rebel Raiders

  Confederate Rangers

  The Road to Gettysburg

  The British Ace Series

  1914

  1915 Fokker Scourge

  1916 Angels over the Somme

  Also available in paperback and Kindle is the book aimed at 12-15 years old, Great Granny’s Ghost

  Carnage at Cannes is a modern thriller and is available in the Kindle format.

  Travel

  Adventure at 63-Backpacking to Istanbul

  For more information on all of the books then please visit the author’s web site at http://www.griffhosker.com where there is a link to contact him.

  Table o
f Contents

  Published by Sword Books 2014Copyright © Griff Hosker First Edition

  Dedication

  PrologueCamulodunum 60 A.D.

  Chapter 1Britannia 127 A.D.

  Chapter 2

  Chapter 3

  Chapter 4

  Chapter 5

  Chapter 6

  Chapter 7

  Chapter 8

  Chapter 9

  Chapter 10

  Chapter 11

  Chapter 12

  Chapter 13

  Chapter 14

  Chapter 15

  Chapter 16

  Chapter 17

  Chapter 18

  Chapter 19

  Chapter 20

  Chapter 21

  Chapter 22

  Chapter 23

  Chapter 24

  Epilogue

  Maps

  Historical Background

  People and places in the book.

  Other books

 

 

 


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