Soldier of Rome: The Legionary (The Artorian Chronicles)
Read Soldier of Rome: The Legionary (The Artorian Chronicles) Online
Authors: James Mace
Soldier of Rome:
The Legionary
Book One of the Artorian Chronicles
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
First Edition: 2006
Revised and Reedited Edition: 2012
Published in the United States of America
Legionary Books
“Thrice happy is the nation that has a glorious history. Far better it is to dare mighty things, to win glorious triumphs, even though checkered by failure, than to take rank with those poor spirits who neither enjoy much nor suffer much, because they live in the gray twilight that knows neither victory nor defeat.”
-
Theodore Roosevelt,
The Strenuous Life
Dedicated to the men of Company C, 2
nd
Battalion, 116
th
Cavalry
“Cobra Strike!”
The Works of James Mace
The Artorian Chronicles
Soldier of Rome: The Le
gionary
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
Courage, Marshal Ney
Cast of Characters
Soldiers:
Titus Artorius Justus
– A legionary serving with the Twentieth Legion
Magnus Flavianus
– Artorius’ best friend and fellow legionary, he is of Nordic descent
Statorius
– Decanus (sergeant) of legionaries and Artorius’ section leader
Marcus
Vitruvius
– Chief Weapons Instructor of the Second Century
Flaccus
– Tesserarius of the Second Century
Camillus
– Signifier of the Second Century
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
– A Military Tribune of the Twentieth Legion
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. He is the legate of the Twentieth Legion and the Commanding General of the Army of the Rhine
Caecina Severus
– Senatorial Legate and Deputy Commanding General of the Rhine Army
Drusus Julius Caesar
– Son of Tiberius and his first wife, Vipsania Agrippina
Claudius
– Brother of Germanicus; he suffers from lameness and speech impediment
Livilla
– Sister of Germanicus and Claudius and the wife of Drusus
Antonia
– Mother of Germanicus, Livilla and Claudius; she is the 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
Germans
Arminius
– War Chief of the Cherusci and leader of the united tribes of Germania. A former Roman ally, he betrayed them in Teutoburger Wald
Ingiomerus
– Uncle of Arminius and a veteran of many wars against Rome
Segestes
– Father-in-law to Arminius, he is a staunch Roman ally. Warned Varus of the pending disaster in Teutoburger Wald
Thusnelda
– Daughter of Segestes and wife of Arminius
Barholden
– War Chief of the Marsi; allies of the Cherusci
Haraxus
– A sub-war chief
Flavus
– Estranged brother of Arminius, he still fights for Rome
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
– He was the treasurer for the century and was in charge of all pay issues, so was much-loved on pay days. 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 bear’s hide over his helmet, draped around the shoulders of his armor. (A signifier wearing a wolf skin is a Hollywood invention).
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.
Aquilifer –
This man was a senior signifier bearing the Eagle Standard of a legion. (
aquila
means eagle). This standard was the most important possession of the legion – losing it brought shame and humiliation to the entire legion. This position carried great honor, though it is debatable whether or not he wore any headdress or animal skin. It is known that he carried a small, circular shield called a
parma
instead of the legionary scutum.
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 harsh, it is borne 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 be able to command a century on a line of battle, but he had to be able 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 acting 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 still 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 complete their tour of duty before going on 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 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
Decani – 610
Tesserarii – 59
Signifiers – 59
Options – 59
Aquilifer - 1
Centurions – 45
Centurions Pilus Prior – 9
Centurions Primus Ordo – 4
Centurion Primus Pilus – 1
Tribunes – 6
Chief Tribune – 1
Legate – 1