Hosker, G [Sword of Cartimandua 12] Roman Wall (37 page)
Read Hosker, G [Sword of Cartimandua 12] Roman Wall Online
Authors: Griff Hosker
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 XX
th
. 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 VI
th
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 1
st
Batavorum cohort
Quintus Licinius Brocchus-
First Spear VI
th
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 6
th
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 of Contents
Published by Sword Books 2014Copyright © Griff Hosker First Edition