Soldier of Rome: The Centurion (The Artorian Chronicles)

Soldier of Rome:

The
Centurion

Book Four 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: 2011

Revised and Reedited Edition: 2012

Published in the United States of America

Legionary Books

And though our hearts are broken

We have to wipe the tears away

In vain they did not suffer

Ten
thousand strong will seize the day

-
        
Iced Earth,
Ten Thousand Strong

Dedicated
in memory of

Ian
Edward LaMott

199
2 – 2008

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

In the year 28 A.D. the people of Frisia, a previously loyal province, were suffering under the oppression of the Roman magistrate, a former Centurion named Olennius. So blinded by greed had he become, that he taxed the populous well beyond their means to produce. Now impoverished and risking starvation, the Frisians did the unspeakable and sought open rebellion as their only means of survival.

The Emperor Tiberius, now living in self-imposed isolation on the isle of Capri, is deeply troubled upon hearing that such a staunchly loyal province would seek to throw off the rule of Rome. Nevertheless, he orders the mobilization of the Army of the Rhine to suppress the Frisians back into docile submission, never knowing the real reason as to the origin of the rebellion.

As the Twentieth Legion marches north into Frisia on its first major campaign in eight years, Centurion Artorius finds himself facing his first major battle since taking over his Century. Years of relative peace, combined with the mass discharges of many of his veteran soldiers, have left the ranks filled with a number of young and inexperienced legionaries. For over a third of his men this will be their first action. The Frisians, in their desperation, know that they face death either by starvation in peace or slaughter on the battlefield. For Artorius and his legionaries the crucible of war will end in heartbreak; for only after the devastation of battle does the truth arise.

Cast of Characters

Soldiers:

Titus Artorius Justus
– Centurion of the Third Cohort’s Second Century

Magnus Flavianus
– Artorius’ best friend and the Century’s Chief Weapons Instructor

Gaius
Praxus
– Optio of the Second Century

Rufio
– Signifier of the Second Century

Platorius Macro
– Centurion Primus Ordo in the First Cohort

Valerius Proculus
– Centurion Primus Ordo in the First Cohort

Marcus Vitruvius
– Centurion of the Third Cohort’s Third Century

Statorius
– Optio of the Third Century

Calvinus
– Centurion Primus Pilus of the Twentieth Legion

Lucius Apronius
– Governor General of Germania Inferior

Gaius Longinus
– Legionary recruit, he is the son of Artorius’ friend, Justus Longinus

Felix, Decimus, Valens, Carbo, Gavius
– Legionaries

Noble Romans:

Tiberius Caesar
– Emperor of Rome

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

Claudius
– Nephew of Tiberius and Grandson of Livia / suffers from lameness and speech impediment

Livilla
– Niece of Tiberius and Granddaughter of Livia / widow of Drusus Julius Caesar

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

Agrippina
– Widow of Germanicus and half-sister of Tiberius’ late ex-wife, 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

Frisians:

Dibbald Segon
– King of Frisia

Femke
– Queen of Frisia

Klaes
– son of Dibbald and Femke

Amke
– Niece of Dibbald, leader of the all-female regiment,
The Daughters of Freyja

Tabbo
– Tribal war chief and leader of the Frisian army

Edeline
– Wife of Tabbo

Lourens
, Sjoerd, Eitel, Olbert
- Warriors

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 else 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

Decanii – 610

Tesserarii – 59

Signifiers – 59

Options – 59

Aquilifer - 1

Centurions
– 45 (approximately 80 men to a Century)

Centurions
Pilus Prior – 9

Centurions
Primus Ordo – 4

Centurion
Primus Pilus – 1

Tribunes – 6

Chief Tribune – 1

Legate – 1