Give Me Back My Legions!
Encyclopedia
Give Me Back My Legions! is a 2009
historical novel
by Harry Turtledove
. While Turtledove is mainly known for alternate history novels, this novel is an historical novel, in which the real-life events leading up to the Battle of the Teutoburg Forest
, as well as the battle itself, are re-created.
s that he spent the next several weeks in a stupor, repeating the phrase "Give me back my legions!" (some translators replace "legions" with "Eagles
").
, formerly the governor of Syria
, is appointed to the governorship of Germany
, a hold-out full of what the Romans thought of as barbarians. During a brief assignment to the Legions in Dalmatia
, Varus befriends the Germani auxiliary commander Arminius
, unaware that the latter has plans of his own for the Romans occupying Germany.
and others.
2009 in literature
The year 2009 in literature involved some significant events and new books.-Events:*8 October - Romanian-born German novelist Herta Müller wins the 2009 Nobel Prize in Literature....
historical novel
Historical novel
According to Encyclopædia Britannica, a historical novel is-Development:An early example of historical prose fiction is Luó Guànzhōng's 14th century Romance of the Three Kingdoms, which covers one of the most important periods of Chinese history and left a lasting impact on Chinese culture.The...
by Harry Turtledove
Harry Turtledove
Harry Norman Turtledove is an American novelist, who has produced works in several genres including alternate history, historical fiction, fantasy and science fiction.- Life :...
. While Turtledove is mainly known for alternate history novels, this novel is an historical novel, in which the real-life events leading up to the Battle of the Teutoburg Forest
Battle of the Teutoburg Forest
The Battle of the Teutoburg Forest took place in 9 CE, when an alliance of Germanic tribes led by Arminius of the Cherusci ambushed and decisively destroyed three Roman legions, along with their auxiliaries, led by Publius Quinctilius Varus.Despite numerous successful campaigns and raids by the...
, as well as the battle itself, are re-created.
Explanation of the Title
The title refers to Emperor Augustus' alleged words in the aftermath of the battle, in which he was so devastated by the annihilation of three Roman legionRoman legion
A Roman legion normally indicates the basic ancient Roman army unit recruited specifically from Roman citizens. The organization of legions varied greatly over time but they were typically composed of perhaps 5,000 soldiers, divided into maniples and later into "cohorts"...
s that he spent the next several weeks in a stupor, repeating the phrase "Give me back my legions!" (some translators replace "legions" with "Eagles
Aquila (Roman)
The Aquila was the eagle standard of a Roman legion, carried by a special grade legionary known as an Aquilifer. One eagle standard was carried by each legion.-History:...
").
Plot
Publius Quinctilius VarusPublius Quinctilius Varus
Publius Quinctilius Varus was a Roman politician and general under Emperor Augustus, mainly remembered for having lost three Roman legions and his own life when attacked by Germanic leader Arminius in the Battle of the Teutoburg Forest.-Life:His paternal grandfather was senator Sextus Quinctilius...
, formerly the governor of Syria
Syria
Syria , officially the Syrian Arab Republic , is a country in Western Asia, bordering Lebanon and the Mediterranean Sea to the West, Turkey to the north, Iraq to the east, Jordan to the south, and Israel to the southwest....
, is appointed to the governorship of Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
, a hold-out full of what the Romans thought of as barbarians. During a brief assignment to the Legions in Dalmatia
Dalmatia
Dalmatia is a historical region on the eastern coast of the Adriatic Sea. It stretches from the island of Rab in the northwest to the Bay of Kotor in the southeast. The hinterland, the Dalmatian Zagora, ranges from fifty kilometers in width in the north to just a few kilometers in the south....
, Varus befriends the Germani auxiliary commander Arminius
Arminius
Arminius , also known as Armin or Hermann was a chieftain of the Germanic Cherusci who defeated a Roman army in the Battle of the Teutoburg Forest...
, unaware that the latter has plans of his own for the Romans occupying Germany.
Style
As with many of Turtledove's novels, we see several viewpoint characters, including Arminius, Varus, SegestesSegestes
Segestes was a noble of the Germanic tribe of the Cherusci involved in the events surrounding the Roman attempts to conquer northern Germany during the reign of Roman Emperor Augustus....
and others.