Soldier of Rome: The Sacrovir Revolt (The Artorian Chronicles)

by James Mace

  Soldier of Rome:

  The Sacrovir Revolt

  Book Two of the Artorian Chronicles

  James Mace

  Legionary Books

  www.legionarybooks.net

  Electronic Edition Copyright © 2012 by James Mace

  All rights reserved as permitted under the U.S. Copyright Act of 1976, no part of this publication may be reproduced, distributed, or transmitted in any form or by any means, or stored in a database or retrieval system, without the prior permission of the publisher.

  The characters and events portrayed in this book are based on actual events, but are used fictitiously.

  Legionary Books

  Meridian, Idaho 83642

  http://www.legionarybooks.net

  First Edition: 2008

  Revised and Reedited Edition: 2012

  Published in the United States of America

  Legionary Books

  Courage which goes against military expediency is stupidity; if it is insisted upon by a commander, irresponsibility.

  Don’t fight a battle if you don’t gain anything by winning.

  - Erwin Rommel

  The entire Soldier of Rome series is dedicated to the men of Company C, 2nd Battalion, 116th Cavalry

  “Cobra Strike!”

  The Works of James Mace

  The Artorian Chronicles

  Soldier of Rome: The Legionary

  Soldier of Rome: The Sacrovir Revolt

  Soldier of Rome: Heir to Rebellion

  Soldier of Rome: The Centurion

  Soldier of Rome: Journey to Judea

  Soldier of Rome: The Last Campaign

  Artorian Novellas

  Centurion Valens and the Empress of Death

  Empire Betrayed: The Fall of Sejanus

  The Great Jewish Revolt

  Kingdom of the Damned: Rebellion in Judea

  Kingdom of the Damned: Vespasian’s Fury

  Napoleonic Works

  Forlorn Hope: The Storming of Badajoz

  I Stood With Wellington

  Courage, Marshal Ney

  Preface

  It has been three years since the wars against Arminius and the Cherusci. Gaius Silius, Legate of the Twentieth Legion, is concerned that the barbarians, though shattered by the war, may be stirring once again. He also seeks to confirm the rumors regarding Arminius’ death. What Silius does not realize is that there is a new threat to the Empire, but it does not come from beyond the frontier; it is coming from within, where a disenchanted nobleman looks to sow the seeds of rebellion in Gaul.

  Legionary Artorius has greatly matured during his five years in the legions. He has become stronger in mind; his body growing even more powerful. Like the rest of the legion, he is unaware of the shadow growing well within the Empire’s borders, where a disaffected nobleman seeks to betray the Emperor Tiberius. A shadow looms; one that looks to envelope the province of Gaul as well as the Rhine Legions. The year is 20 A.D.

  Cast of Characters

  Soldiers:

  Titus Artorius Justus – A young legionary serving with the Twentieth Legion

  Magnus Flavianus – Artorius’ best friend and fellow legionary, he is of Nordic descent

  Statorius – A decanus (sergeant) of legionaries and Artorius’ section leader

  Flaccus – Tesserarius of the Second Century

  Camillus – Signifier of the Second Century

  Marcus Vitruvius – Optio of the Second Century and Chief Weapons Instructor, he is Artorius’ mentor

  Platorius Macro – Centurion of the Third Cohort’s Second Century

  Valerius Proculus – Commander of the Third Cohort

  Calvinus – Commander of the Fifth Cohort

  Flavius Quietus – Centurion Primus Pilus of the Twentieth Legion

  Pontius Pilate – Military Tribune of the Twentieth Legion

  Gaius Silius – Senatorial Legate and Commanding General of the Twentieth Legion

  Felix Spurius – Legionary Recruit

  Praxus, Decimus, Valens, Carbo, Gavius – Legionaries

  Noble Romans:

  Tiberius Caesar – Emperor of Rome

  Livia Augusta – Mother of Tiberius and widow of Emperor Augustus Caesar

  Vipsania Agrippina – Former wife of Tiberius and mother of Drusus

  Germanicus Caesar – Adopted son and heir of Tiberius / defeated the Germanic tribes under Arminius four years previously

  Drusus Julius Caesar – Son of Tiberius and his first wife, Vipsania Agrippina

  Claudius – Brother of Germanicus / suffers from lameness and speech impediment

  Livilla – Sister of Germanicus and Claudius / wife of Drusus

  Antonia – Mother of Germanicus, Livilla and Claudius / daughter of Marc Antony and widow of Tiberius’ brother Drusus Nero

  Agrippina – Wife of Germanicus and half-sister of Vipsania, she mistrusts and despises the Emperor

  Lucius Aelius Sejanus – Commanding Prefect of the Praetorian Guard, he is Tiberius’ most trusted advisor

  Claudia Procula – Betrothed to Pontius Pilate, she is also a distant cousin of Centurion Proculus

  Diana Procula – Claudia’s older sister and domina of the Proculus family’s Gallic estate

  Gauls

  Julius Sacrovir – A Gallic nobleman, seeking to incite rebellion in the province

  Julius Florus – Sacrovir’s deputy, he is deeply in debt to Rome and sees rebellion as a means of salvaging his fortunes

  Heracles – A mysterious Greek who offers his services to Sacrovir and Florus

  Taranis – Chief of the Sequani tribe

  Belenus, Broehain, Lennox, Kavan – Gallic Nobles

  Farquhar – Son of Lennox, he is a student at the Augustodunum University

  Kiana – Daughter of a Gallic noble, she is the love of Farquhar’s life

  Alasdair – Son of Kavan and best friend to Farquhar

  Radek, Ellard, Torin – Escaped slaves who join Sacrovir’s rebellion

  Roman Military Ranks

  Legionary – Every citizen of the plebian class who enlisted in the legions started off as a legionary. Duration of service during the early empire was twenty years. Barring any promotions that would dictate otherwise, this normally consisted of sixteen years in the ranks with another four either on lighter duties or as part of the First Cohort. Legionaries served not only as the heart of the legion’s fighting force, they were also used for many building and construction projects.

  Decanus – Also referred to interchangeably as a sergeant in the series, decanus was the first rank of authority that a legionary could be promoted to. Much like a modern-day sergeant, the decanus was the first-line leader of legionaries. He supervised training, as well as, enforced personal hygiene and maintenance of equipment. On campaign he was in charge of getting the section’s tent erected, along with the fortifications of the camp.

  Tesserarius – The first of the Principal ranks, the tesserarius primarily oversaw the fatigue and guard duties for the century. He maintained the duty roster and was also keeper of the watch word. On a normal day, he could be found supervising work details or checking on the guard posts.

  Signifier – The signifier was a man much-loved on pay days. He was the treasurer for the century and was in charge of all pay issues. On campaign he carried the century’s standard (signum) into battle. This was used not only as a rallying point, but also as a visual means of communication. Traditionally, he wore a wolf’s hide over his helmet, draped around the shoulders of his armor. Because of his high level of responsibility, the signifier is third-in-command of the
century.

  Optio – The term optio literally means ‘chosen one’ for he was personally chosen by the centurion to serve as his deputy. He would oversee all training within the century, to include that of new recruits. In battle, the optio would either stand behind the formation, keeping troops on line and in formation, or he would stand on the extreme left, able to coordinate with adjacent units.

  Centurion – In addition to being its commander, the centurion was known to be the bravest and most tactically sound man within the century. While a stern disciplinarian, and, at times, brutally harsh, his behavior is borne out of a genuine compassion for his men. The centurion knew that only through hard discipline and sound training could his men survive in battle. He was always on the extreme right of the front rank in battle; thereby placing himself in the most precarious position on the line. Mortality rates were high amongst centurions because they would sacrifice their own safety for that of their men.

  Centurion Pilus Prior – Commander of a cohort of six centuries, the centurion pilus prior was a man of considerable influence and responsibility. He not only had to command a century on a line of battle, he had to maneuver his cohort as a single unit. Such men were often given independent commands over small garrisons or on low-level conflicts. A centurion pilus prior could also be tasked with diplomatic duties; such was the respect foreign princes held for them. At this level, a soldier had to focus not just on his abilities as a leader of fighting men, but on his skills at diplomacy and politics.

  Centurion Primus Ordo – The elite First Cohort’s centuries were commanded by the centurions primus ordo. Though the number of soldiers under their direct command was fewer, these men were senior in rank to the centurions pilus prior. Men were often selected for these positions based on vast experience and for being the best tacticians in the legion. As such, part of the duty of a centurion primus ordo was to act as a strategic and tactical advisor to the commanding general. Generals such as Caesar, Marius, Tiberius, and Agrippa were successful, in part, because they had a strong circle of First Cohort Centurions advising them.

  Centurion Primus Pilus – Also referred to as the chief or master centurion. This is the pinnacle of the career of a Roman soldier. Though socially subordinate to the tribunes, the centurion primus pilus possessed more power and influence than any, and was, in fact, third-in-command of the entire legion. He was also the commander of the elite First Cohort in battle. Upon retirement, a centurion primus pilus (and possibly centurions of lesser ranks as well) was elevated into the patrician class of society. He could then stand for public office, and his sons would be eligible for appointments as tribunes. Even while serving in the ranks, a centurion primus pilus was allowed to wear the narrow purple stripe of a patrician on his toga; such was the respect Roman society held for them.

  Tribune – Tribunes came from the patrician class, often serving only six month tours with the legions. Though there were exceptions, many tribunes stayed on the line only long enough to get their “ticket punched” to a better assignment. Primarily serving as staff officers for the commanding legate, a tribune would sometimes be given command of auxiliary troops if he proved himself a capable leader. Most were looking for a career in politics, though they knew they had to get as much experience as they could out of their time in the legions. In Soldier of Rome, Pontius Pilate is an example of a tribune who elects to stay with the legions for as long as he is able; preferring the hard life of a soldier to the soft comforts of a political magistrate.

  Laticlavian Tribune – Most commonly referred to as the chief tribune, he was a young man of the senatorial class starting off his career. Second-in-command of the legion, his responsibility was incredible, though he was often aided by the master centurion, who would act as a mentor. A soldier’s performance as chief tribune would determine whether or not he would be fit to command a legion of his own someday. Given the importance of military success to the future senator’s career, he would no doubt make every effort to prove himself competent and valiant in battle.

  Legate – The legate was a senator who had already spent time in the legions as a laticlavian tribune and had proven himself worthy of command. Of all the possible offices that a nobleman could hold, none was dearer to a Roman than command of her armies.

  Legion Infantry Strength (estimated)

  Legionaries – 3,780

  First Cohort Legionaries – 700

  Decanii – 610

  Tesserarii – 59

  Signifiers – 59

  Options – 59

  Centurions – 45

  Centurions Pilus Prior – 9

  Centurions Primus Ordo – 4

  Centurion Primus Pilus – 1

  Tribunes – 6

  Chief Tribune – 1

  Legate – 1

  Chapter I: Changes in the Ranks

  Fortress of the Twentieth Legion, Cologne, Germania

  February, 20 A.D.

  ***

  It was a brisk winter morning; the sun cast its light on the semi-frozen ground. Snow crunched underfoot as the two legionaries eyed each other. Artorius and Vitruvius had faced each other on the sparring field on the first Thursday of every month for several years now. Originally, they sparred once a week, but Vitruvius’ duties as the century’s optio, combined with the sheer beating Artorius’ body was suffering, had caused the men to cut back their bouts. Artorius was baffled that in five years he had not once defeated his adversary and mentor. He swore that Vitruvius was not even human. Both men wore a standard-issue legionary helmet, while wielding a practice gladius and wicker shield. The weight of these was twice that of service weapons, though both men hardly noticed.

  Artorius was a strong young man of twenty-two years and had been in the army for five. He was of average height, though his frame was massive, wrought with powerful muscle, his biceps threatening to tear through the sleeves of his tunic. His brutal physical strength and skill in battle were becoming legendary. He learned his lessons so well from his mentor that he had made a name for himself, not just within his century and cohort, but within the entire legion. Many had challenged him to similar sparring sessions, only to be dispatched like amateurs. Even soldiers from the elite First Cohort held a large amount of respect for the young legionary. Only one man potentially stood between him and the title of Legion Champion. Optio Vitruvius had held that title for so long it had fallen into disuse; there was no one in the entire Twentieth who could come close to defeating him.

  Vitruvius was of similar build to Artorius. Though he was slightly taller, he looked to be as muscular. He possessed the quickness and agility of a cat and was able to wield his gladius with terrifying speed and skill. Unlike most veterans, his body was devoid of any noticeable scars from battle. Secretly, he hoped Artorius would best him someday. That would show that his young protégé had learned his lessons and there was nothing left to teach him.

  More than three years before, during the triumphal games in Rome that followed the defeat of Arminius and the Germanic tribes, Vitruvius had killed a gladiator that many considered to be invincible. He had dispatched the man with such contemptuous ease it was still the talk of the legion to that day, to say nothing of the enormous wagers won by the friends and associates of Vitruvius. Indeed, Artorius had been brave enough to wager an entire stipend of seventy-five denarii, a third of his yearly wages, and had walked away with a considerable sum following Vitruvius’ victory. The gladiator’s owner, a weasel of a Gaul named Julius Sacrovir, had lost a large quantity of his fortune that day. He left Rome screaming curses towards Vitruvius, as well as the entire Roman Army.

  “By the gods, but it is cold!” Artorius muttered as he blew hard into his hands; he despised being cold. Even five years on the Rhine frontier had failed to thicken his blood. He wished they could have used the cohort’s indoor drill hall; however, it was being used that day to train recruits.

  “That’s alright, a little exertion and you won’t even notice,” Vitruvius replied as he wave
d his gladius about, warming up his joints and muscles. “You ready?”

  Artorius nodded as both men settled into their fighting stances. As if on cue, both soldiers lunged forward, punching with their shields, looking for openings with which to strike. They had faced one another so many times they each knew the other’s fighting style by heart. Theirs was truly a test of pure skill, seeing as how their physical power was so close that neither could claim it as an advantage.

  Artorius brought his shield down in an attempt to smash the optio’s foot. Vitruvius pulled his foot back and stabbed at Artorius’ exposed face. Quickly, the young legionary dodged his head to the side. As he did so, he brought his shield back up and caught Vitruvius in the face. Vitruvius stumbled, though Artorius knew better than to attack recklessly. Too often he had tried to follow up on such an advantage, only to have victory snatched from him by the crafty and skilled optio. Instead, he settled back into his fighting stance once more. Vitruvius lunged in, allowing their shields to collide. He swung his shield to the left in order to block the stab he knew was coming. Artorius stepped to his own left and worked his arm past Vitruvius’ shield. With an elbow to the wrist, he knocked the shield away. As the optio dropped his shield, he swung his left hand up and caught Artorius on his helmet cheek guard with a roundhouse punch. The young legionary fell to the ground, dazed, while Vitruvius wrenched his shield from his hand. Artorius instinctively rolled to his side and sprung to his feet, lunging. Vitruvius countered. Both men stopped in mid-attack, catching their breath. Vitruvius’ gladius point was resting against Artorius’ throat, while the legionary had his poised to thrust underneath the optio’s ribcage. In a real battle, each man would have slain the other. Vitruvius stood breathing hard for a second while Artorius took a step back and threw his gladius straight down into the snow.