Under the Eagle
Encyclopedia
Under the Eagle is the first book in the Eagle Series
, by Simon Scarrow
and is his début novel.
It starts on the Rhine Frontier in 42, and centres on Macro, a newly appointed Centurion
, and his new second-in-command, Quintus Lucinius Cato.
in 55 BC. A group of legionaries lose the army's pay chest in a marsh while withdrawing to the ships. The action then shifts to the German frontier in AD 43, where a new draft of recruits are arriving at the base of the Second Legion
. One young recruit, Cato, bears a letter from emperor Claudius
raising him to the rank of optio, the centurion's second-in-command. The letter also contains another, message, written in code. This message tells the legate that one of the emperor's opponents is currently serving in the legion and that the emperor has sent an unnamed imperial agent to deal with the situation. The early part of the book dealing with Cato and his fellow recruits receiving basic training is followed by an attack on a Germanic town.
This attack is caused by the actions of a local settlement chief who cut out a tax-collector's tongue and refused to pay him. In retaliation, the legate, Vespasian
, sends the Third cohort, consisting of around five hundred men, to the village. The legionaries are then subjected to an ambush whilst at the village and must hold off the barbarians until the next day when they hope the legate will send reinforcements because the men didn't come back. Whilst holding one of the two village gates, Macro and his century accidentally set fire to the gates during an attempt to destroy the German's rudimentary battering ram
as per Cato's idea. The flames quickly spread to the village and whilst the cohort retreats from the flames back to the main village square, Macro and Cato are cut off from their comrades and the former is hit by a javelin. Cato drags his wounded friend into a nearby building and manages to lead him to safety in the ensuing chaos, which later earns him a medal. As Vespasian saw the smoke from the burning village, he sent out a relief force from the legionary fort in the night which arrives in the morning to save the survivors. The character of Vitellius, who commanded the Third cohort during the attack, one of the six tribunes attached to the legion, is introduced and Cato falls in love with a young slave girl called Lavinia sold to Flavia, the legate's wife.
Whilst recovering from his wounds, Macro asks Cato to teach him to read, a skill he hasn't yet learnt and which he needs to be a good centurion, having previously delegated all paperwork to the scribe Piso.
, is attacked by a group of mercenaries with the intention to kill Narcissus. The convoy successfully reaches the coast where the other legions are gathering. Rumours of mutiny reaches Narcissus, who rounds up the ringleaders and executes them, then goes on to challenge the legionaries in a fight. The watching legionaries laugh at this and the mutiny is crushed. The invasion
is thus free to continue, and several days after the initial landings Macro and Cato land in Britain, somewhere in the Isle of Thanet
. There they are ordered to report to the legate of the Second Legion, the future emperor Vespasian, and are sent on a special mission to recover the pay chest Caesar lost one hundred years ago. Pushing ahead of the army into a bleak, misty swamp, the pay chest is successfully recovered, but Vitellius makes his move with a band of mercenaries and attempts to seize it. He is repulsed and on the return to the legate with the chest, Cato and Macro observe the British warlord Togodumnus
setting up an ambush along the legion's line of march. Cato attempts to warn the column, and while the ambush succeeds in killing a great deal of legionaries, it is fought off, Macro killing Togodumnus in single combat as he retreats. Unfortunately, Vitellius turns up and steals the credit for the warning, leaving our heroes with the pay chest and a grudge...
Eagle Series
The Eagle Series is a military fiction series written by Simon Scarrow. The books describe the lives of two soldiers in the Roman army- Quintus Licinius Cato and Lucius Cornelius Macro. The first 5 books in the series are set in Roman Britain, between the years AD 42 and 44. The Eagle's Prophecy...
, by Simon Scarrow
Simon Scarrow
Simon Scarrow is a UK-based author, born in Nigeria and now based in Norfolk. He completed a master's degree at the University of East Anglia after working at the Inland Revenue, and then went into teaching as a lecturer, firstly at East Norfolk Sixth Form College, then at City College Norwich.He...
and is his début novel.
It starts on the Rhine Frontier in 42, and centres on Macro, a newly appointed Centurion
Centurion (Roman army)
A centurion , also hekatontarch in Greek sources, or, in Byzantine times, kentarch was a professional officer of the Roman army after the Marian reforms of 107 BC...
, and his new second-in-command, Quintus Lucinius Cato.
Germania
The book opens with a short prologue set during the first Roman invasion of BritainCaesar's invasions of Britain
In his Gallic Wars, Julius Caesar invaded Britain twice, in 55 and 54 BC. The first invasion, made late in summer, was either intended as a full invasion or a reconnaissance-in-force expedition...
in 55 BC. A group of legionaries lose the army's pay chest in a marsh while withdrawing to the ships. The action then shifts to the German frontier in AD 43, where a new draft of recruits are arriving at the base of the Second Legion
Legio II Augusta
Legio secunda Augusta , was a Roman legion, levied by Gaius Vibius Pansa Caetronianus in 43 BC, and still operative in Britannia in the 4th century...
. One young recruit, Cato, bears a letter from emperor Claudius
Claudius
Claudius , was Roman Emperor from 41 to 54. A member of the Julio-Claudian dynasty, he was the son of Drusus and Antonia Minor. He was born at Lugdunum in Gaul and was the first Roman Emperor to be born outside Italy...
raising him to the rank of optio, the centurion's second-in-command. The letter also contains another, message, written in code. This message tells the legate that one of the emperor's opponents is currently serving in the legion and that the emperor has sent an unnamed imperial agent to deal with the situation. The early part of the book dealing with Cato and his fellow recruits receiving basic training is followed by an attack on a Germanic town.
This attack is caused by the actions of a local settlement chief who cut out a tax-collector's tongue and refused to pay him. In retaliation, the legate, Vespasian
Vespasian
Vespasian , was Roman Emperor from 69 AD to 79 AD. Vespasian was the founder of the Flavian dynasty, which ruled the Empire for a quarter century. Vespasian was descended from a family of equestrians, who rose into the senatorial rank under the Emperors of the Julio-Claudian dynasty...
, sends the Third cohort, consisting of around five hundred men, to the village. The legionaries are then subjected to an ambush whilst at the village and must hold off the barbarians until the next day when they hope the legate will send reinforcements because the men didn't come back. Whilst holding one of the two village gates, Macro and his century accidentally set fire to the gates during an attempt to destroy the German's rudimentary battering ram
Battering ram
A battering ram is a siege engine originating in ancient times and designed to break open the masonry walls of fortifications or splinter their wooden gates...
as per Cato's idea. The flames quickly spread to the village and whilst the cohort retreats from the flames back to the main village square, Macro and Cato are cut off from their comrades and the former is hit by a javelin. Cato drags his wounded friend into a nearby building and manages to lead him to safety in the ensuing chaos, which later earns him a medal. As Vespasian saw the smoke from the burning village, he sent out a relief force from the legionary fort in the night which arrives in the morning to save the survivors. The character of Vitellius, who commanded the Third cohort during the attack, one of the six tribunes attached to the legion, is introduced and Cato falls in love with a young slave girl called Lavinia sold to Flavia, the legate's wife.
Whilst recovering from his wounds, Macro asks Cato to teach him to read, a skill he hasn't yet learnt and which he needs to be a good centurion, having previously delegated all paperwork to the scribe Piso.
Invasion of Britain
The second part concentrates on the march of the Second Legion to the coast of Gaul, where a convoy, commanded by Macro, guarding the Imperial Secretary NarcissusTiberius Claudius Narcissus
Tiberius Claudius Narcissus was one of the freedmen who formed the core of the imperial court under the Roman emperor Claudius. He is described as praepositus ab epistulis ....
, is attacked by a group of mercenaries with the intention to kill Narcissus. The convoy successfully reaches the coast where the other legions are gathering. Rumours of mutiny reaches Narcissus, who rounds up the ringleaders and executes them, then goes on to challenge the legionaries in a fight. The watching legionaries laugh at this and the mutiny is crushed. The invasion
Roman conquest of Britain
The Roman conquest of Britain was a gradual process, beginning effectively in AD 43 under Emperor Claudius, whose general Aulus Plautius served as first governor of Britannia. Great Britain had already frequently been the target of invasions, planned and actual, by forces of the Roman Republic and...
is thus free to continue, and several days after the initial landings Macro and Cato land in Britain, somewhere in the Isle of Thanet
Isle of Thanet
The Isle of Thanet lies at the most easterly point of Kent, England. While in the past it was separated from the mainland by the nearly -wide River Wantsum, it is no longer an island ....
. There they are ordered to report to the legate of the Second Legion, the future emperor Vespasian, and are sent on a special mission to recover the pay chest Caesar lost one hundred years ago. Pushing ahead of the army into a bleak, misty swamp, the pay chest is successfully recovered, but Vitellius makes his move with a band of mercenaries and attempts to seize it. He is repulsed and on the return to the legate with the chest, Cato and Macro observe the British warlord Togodumnus
Togodumnus
Togodumnus was a historical king of the British Catuvellauni tribe at the time of the Roman conquest. He can probably be identified with the legendary British king Guiderius....
setting up an ambush along the legion's line of march. Cato attempts to warn the column, and while the ambush succeeds in killing a great deal of legionaries, it is fought off, Macro killing Togodumnus in single combat as he retreats. Unfortunately, Vitellius turns up and steals the credit for the warning, leaving our heroes with the pay chest and a grudge...
Characters
- Macro – main protagonist, a new centurionCenturionA centurion was a professional officer of the Roman army .Centurion may also refer to:-Military:* Centurion tank, British battle tank* HMS Centurion, name of several ships and a shore base of the British Royal Navy...
in the Second Legion - Quintus Licinius Cato – an optioOptioAn optio , sometimes anglicized option , was a soldier in the Roman army who held a position similar to that of an executive officer in modern armies...
, Macro's new second in command in the Second Legion - NarcissusTiberius Claudius NarcissusTiberius Claudius Narcissus was one of the freedmen who formed the core of the imperial court under the Roman emperor Claudius. He is described as praepositus ab epistulis ....
– Imperial Secretary - VespasianVespasianVespasian , was Roman Emperor from 69 AD to 79 AD. Vespasian was the founder of the Flavian dynasty, which ruled the Empire for a quarter century. Vespasian was descended from a family of equestrians, who rose into the senatorial rank under the Emperors of the Julio-Claudian dynasty...
– LegateLegatusA legatus was a general in the Roman army, equivalent to a modern general officer. Being of senatorial rank, his immediate superior was the dux, and he outranked all military tribunes...
of the Second Legion - VitelliusVitelliusVitellius , was Roman Emperor for eight months, from 16 April to 22 December 69. Vitellius was acclaimed Emperor following the quick succession of the previous emperors Galba and Otho, in a year of civil war known as the Year of the Four Emperors...
– duplicitous tribune of the Second Legion
External links
- A review of the book may be found here
- The author's web page on the book may be found here