Roman Britannia Bulletin #1

By Duncan MacDonald

Exciting illustrated historical novel set in the 1st century in Britain and Europe. We first follow the adventures of a gallant Roman Legionary who was initially enrolled as a Company Clerk. The recording of his experiences in Rome and later Britain form the basis of this first Bulletin which will list the events of the Roman invasion of Britain in 43 CE and subsequent years.
We relate the lives and accomplishments of the early Roman Emperors and the Governors of Britain, their initial rise to power and occasional fall from grace. Major battles are dealt with in detail.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Duncan MacDonald
• Release date: Aug 27, 2019
• ISBN: 9780463878163

Duncan MacDonald

Duncan is an Australian currently living in Jakarta, Indonesia. He is married to Shinta Dewi Sanawiya, muse, mate, motivator and President Director of the business he founded in 1993, dMAC Group in Asia, now PT Daya MACro Dinamika.Duncan has had a passion for history since childhood. He travelled alone to Turkey in 1975 to visit ANZAC Cove, scene of Australia and New Zealand’s entry to World War I. He then worked for 5 years in London, enabling him to research the Roman Empire’s occupation of Britain and question the Arthurian legends. He has published his illustrated historical e-novels set in Ireland and Britain in the 1st-7th centuries on Smashwords. Search for 'Culann - Celtic Warrior Monk'.Duncan has also published an illustrated account of his private pilgrimage to 'Anzac Cove and Lone Pine in 1975' - Search for 'Anzac'Those interested in obtaining the latest historical information on the Battle of Waterloo, (detailing who actually defeated Napoleon) can download Duncan's illustrated version in dMAC Digest Vol 4 No 6 'Waterloo'. Also the Jakarta Journals, tracing Indonesian history over the past 2,000 years, up to granting of Independence in December 1949.Any one of Duncan's 12 'dMAC Digest Health & History' magazines, or 5 illustrated historical novels can be downloaded at Smashwords.'Britannia Bulletin #1 and #2' are the latest illustrated historical novel published by Duncan. Set in the 1st & 2nd century CE we follow the adventures of a Roman Legionary in Europe & Britain. He records the lives of the early Roman Emperors and Governors of Britannia, their initial rise to power and occasional fall from grace. Major battles are dealt with in detail.

Book preview

Family:

Potitius Valerius Bellator (warrior) – Messalla’s brother ~ 20 BCE – 9 CE – praefectus

Potitius Valerius Messalla (orator) - grandfather ~ 16 BCE – 58 CE

Olivia (olive tree) - grandmother ~ 14 BCE – ? CE

Potitius Valerius Vitalis (vital) - father ~ 2 CE - 27 CE – centurion

Potitius Valerius Clemens (gentle) - uncle ~ 5 CE – ? CE – property manager

Tamfana (Germanic Goddess) - mother ~ 9 CE - ? CE

Potitius Valerius Astutus (clever) - company clerk ~ 26 CE –

Other Main Characters:

Agricola born Gnaeus Julius Agricola <#> (40-93 CE) - Governor of Britannia 77-84 CE

Agrippa born Marcus Vipsanius Agrippa <#> (63-12 BCE) – friend of Augustus, successful General

Agrippina the Younger <#> (15-59 CE) Nero’s mother, Caligula’s sister, 4th marriage to Claudius 49 CE

Aemilius Verus Felix (Happy) new Head Company Clerk - Legio XX 88 CE

Arminius <#> (17 BCE-21 CE) Chieftain of Germanic Cherusci tribe at Battle of Teutoburg Forrest 9 CE

Augustus born Gaius Octavius Thurinus <#> (63 BCE–14 CE) 1st Emperor Roman Empire 27 BCE-14 CE

Aulus Didius Gallus - Legate of Legio XX – 63 CE

Bolanus born Marcus Vettius Bolanus <#> (c.33 – 76 CE) Governor of Britannia - 69–71 CE

Boudicca <#> (? CE – 61 CE) Queen of Icini

Caligula born Gaius Julius Caesar Germanicus <#> (12-41 CE) 3rd Roman Emperor - 37-41 CE

Caratacus <#> (c.10-54 CE) Chief of Catuvellaunian c.35-50 CE. Led resistance against Roman conquest

Cartimandua <#> (?-69 CE) Queen of Brigantes 41-60 CE, handed Caratacus over to Romans 50 CE

Celer (speedy) – Roman legion training officer

Cerialis born Quintus Petillius Cerialis <#> Legate of Legio IX in 61 CE, Governor of Britannia - 71-74 CE

Claudius born Tiberius Claudius Caesar Augustus Germanicus <#> (10 BCE-54 CE) 4th Emperor 41-54 CE

Didasko (teacher) (10 BCE - ? CE), - Greek teacher

Didius born Aulus Didius Gallus <#> 3rd Governor of Britannia - 52–57 CE

Felix born Aemilius Verus Felix – Head company clerk Legio XX – 88–95 CE

Frontinus born Sextus Julius Frontinus <#> (c.40-104 CE), Governor of Britannia - 74–77 CE

Germanicus Julius Caesar <#> (15 BCE - 19 CE), Roman general, politician, father of Emperor Caligula

Gnaeus Hosidius Geta <#> (20 CE – 95? CE), Legate in charge of Legio XIV Gemina, Battle of Medway

Julius Caesar <#> (100 BCE-44 BCE), Roman military general, historian, politician

Marcus Favonius Facilis <#> - a centurion with the Legio XX - 88 CE

Mish born Salvius Horamish Bassus – Legionnaire in Legio XX Valeria Victrix, friend of Astutus - 55 CE

Narcissus born Tiberius Claudius Narcissus <#> (? CE-54 CE), freed slave, advisor to Emperor Claudius

Nero Claudius Caesar Augustus Germanicus <#> (37-68 CE), - Emperor of Rome 54-68 CE

Petronius born Publius Petronius Turpilianus <#> (25-68 CE),- Governor of Britannia – 62-63 CE

Plautius born Aulus Plautius <#> (15 BCE-?CE) led 43 invasion forces. 1st Governor of Britannia 43-46 CE

Publius Quinctilius Varus <#> (46 BCE-9 CE), Roman general, defeated at Teutoburg Forrest 9 CE

Sallustius Lucullus <#> - Governor of Britannia 84-c. 89 CE

Scapula born Publius Ostorius Scapula <#> (15? - 52 CE), - 2nd Governor of Britannia 47-52 CE

Suetonius born Gaius Suetonius Paulinus <#> (10-?CE), - 5th Governor of Britannia - 58-62 CE

Tiberius Claudius Nero <#> (42 BCE-37 CE) - Roman general, 2nd Emperor of Rome 14-37 CE

Trebellius born Marcus Trebellius Maximus <#> - Governor of Britannia – 63 - 69 CE

Velleies Paterculus <#> (c.19 BCE-31 CE), - Roman officer, wrote The Battle of Teutoburg Forest 9 CE, in 29 CE

Veranius born Quintus Veranius Nepos <#> (12-58 CE), - 4th Governor of Britannia – 57-58 CE

Vercingetorix <#> (c.82 BCE-46 BCE)- King of Arverni tribe in Gaul. Surrendered to Julius Caesar 52 BCE

Vespasian born Titus Flavius Vespasianus <#> - (9–79 CE) Roman general, Emperor - 69–79 CE

Year of the Four Emperors – 69 CE

Servius Galba Caesar Augustus <#> (3 - 69 CE); Marcus Salvius Otho Caesar Augustus <#> 32 - 69 CE;

Aulus Vitellius Germanicus Augustus <#> 15 - 69 CE; Titus Flavius Vespasian <#> 9 – 79 CE

Actual historical figure <#>

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Introduction

The stories incorporated within this Bulletin, are written for those of us who wish to learn more about the fascinating actual events that took place leading up to, and during, the Roman occupation of Britain (43 CE to 409 CE).

Illustrations

Designed to show how 1st century inhabitants of Britain and the Roman world dressed, and the type of buildings in which they lived.

All illustrations by Duncan MacDonald (dMAC) unless otherwise stated.

Dates – AD/BC or CE/BCE

Common Era or Current Era (CE) is one of the notation systems for the world’s most widely used calendar era – an alternative to the Dionysian AD or BC system. The Era preceding CE is known as Before the Common Era (BCE), while the Dionysian era lists those eras as AD (anno domini) the year of the Lord and BC before Christ.

The two systems are numerically equivalent, ‘2019 CE’ corresponds to ‘AD 2019’ and ‘300 BCE’ corresponds to ‘300 BC’. Both notations refer to the Gregorian calendar (and its predecessor, the Julian calendar - compiled by Julius Caesar). In 2002, England and Wales introduced the BCE/CE notation system into the official school curriculum, while Australia in 2011 advised school textbooks would replace BC/AD notation with BCE/CE notation.

This book uses BCE / CE.

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Britannia Tribal Areas

1st Century CE

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Chapter 1 – Astutus’ Diary

My name is Potitius Valerius Astutus, or P. Valerius Astutus. My friends call me Astutus (clever). I am now in the twilight of my life and have decided to fill these empty days organising the journals and letters I have accumulated, during my long career in the Roman legions.

Roman Centurion Vitalis ~ Astutus’ father, Germania Superior village 26 CE

I was born in Germania Superior in 26 CE. My father, Potitius Valerius Vitalis, was a Centurion in Legio XX. He was stationed in two provinces of the empire; to the north - Germania Inferior (modern Luxemburg, southern Netherlands, part of Belgium and western Germany) and Germania Superior to the south (western Switzerland, southwest Germany and eastern France). During this station he fell in love with an attractive local maiden called Tamfana (named after a Germanic Goddess), and I am the offspring of their affair. In those days, Roman soldiers were forbidden to marry, but many formed relationships with local women. Any children born of this relationship were considered illegitimate under Roman law.

Luckily for me, my father wrote to his pater (father), my pater magnam (grandfather), Potitius Valerius Messalla, in Rome. He explained that although I was being cared for by my mother, who was from a Germanic Celtic tribe, her relatives were very unhappy that she had a child by a Roman soldier, rather than a local Celt. Plus, the child was born out of wedlock.

Messalla, who was a very influential Roman Equestrian (land owning class, ranked just below the Senatorial class), immediately arranged for a squad of eight legionaries, led by a non-commissioned officer, to escort a Roman wet nurse to the camp where my father was stationed. He advised my father that the wet nurse could breast-feed me, a common event in Rome and then accompany me, with the squad, back to Rome. There I would be safe, looked after by him and his wife Olivia, and given a good Roman education.

My father, not surprisingly, agreed to this offer. Unfortunately, he was not destined to see his only son again, as he was killed in action some 12 months later, in Germania. His body was never recovered.

Tamfana ~ Germania maiden, Astutus’ mother

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1.1 Early Life in Rome

Legionaries escorted the Roman wet nurse with Astutus, back to Rome

The trip back to Rome took 30 days, thanks to the good Roman roads, with the legionaries marching, and the Roman wet nurse riding a covered cart pulled by a donkey, nursing me. I remember none of this of course, as I learnt much later, I was only about four months old.

I lived in my grandfather’s large home, in Rome, and was nursed by the wet nurse until I was two years old. Wet nurses are quite common in Roman upper-middle-class society. My grandmother, Olivia, fussed over me, as her three sons had long ago left home, and I was something of a novelty. Their eldest son Clemens managed their substantial agricultural properties north of Rome; their 2nd son died soon after childbirth, and their youngest son, Vitalis, was my father.

Messalla had a brother, Bellator, who had also joined the Roman legions and was killed in the Battle of Teutoburg Forrest in 9 CE.

Technically I was illegitimate, so grandfather Messalla officially adopted me as his son. Thus, I became a Roman citizen, with all the benefits that entailed.

My earliest recollections were of the pre-school classes I was sent to, when I would have been about three summers old. There were a number of other young boys about my age and a little older in the classes, but no girls. Rome did not give girls as much education as boys.

I have to thank my grandfather for providing me with an excellent education. He understood if any of his sons were to succeed him in the Roman Senate, they would have to receive a very good education, particularly reading and writing, then learn oratory before spending some time in the Roman legions. The only problem was his son, Vitalis, who was earmarked to eventually join the Senate and had passed the first milestone by enlisting in the army, had been killed in action.

With this in mind, Messalla developed a new strategy for his new ‘fourth son’ as he called me. When enlisting in the legions as the son of an Equestrian, one was directly placed as a deputy commander of a legion – an officer.

Instead, with my high skills in Latin and mathematics, he would have me enrolled as a Company Clerk, which was ideal for those looking for a military career with extra benefits, security, job mobility, and most important; personal security. Company Clerks were rarely in the front line of battles.

The recruiters for the Roman legions were beginning to look for individuals with the ability to write and do mathematics. There were several administrative departments in the legions that required soldiers not only to be literate but have some knowledge of ‘symbols’ (shorthand), and expertise in calculation and reckoning. The need for this ‘documentary culture’ was necessary to maintain order in the army. Company Clerks keep daily records of everything that happens in a legion; which soldiers perform which duties; who is taking time off; as well as calculating salaries and pensions.

Because clerks play an important role in maintaining records within a legion, they receive special privileges. Although clerks are still soldiers, their specialised skills allow them to work mainly indoors, and help them to avoid the more physical activities, such as ditch digging, road making and cleaning toilets. After completing their basic training with everyone else, they are excused the daily route marches and continuous weapons training.

Since clerks are literate, they tend to come from the middle or upper classes and have more social mobility than many of their ‘common-soldier’ counterparts. They could even end up becoming a head clerk, optio, or centurion. An Optio was second-in-charge in a Legion, chosen by the Centurion. He was stationed at the rear of the ranks and carried a long truncheon to keep the troops in order.

As far as my grandfather was concerned, Company Clerks were much less likely to be killed in action.

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1.2 Education

Grandfather Messalla and Grandmother Olivia – at their home in Rome

When I was five summers old, Messalla searched Rome for the finest tutor. He chose a Greek freeman called Didasko (teacher) and employed him to give me private lessons at my home. Lessons were conducted all day, with a short break for lunch, every day, except market day, (every 8th day of the year) and religious holidays – of which there were many.

Apart from learning to read and write in Latin, I was also taught by an athletic coach to hurl a javelin, to fight in armour, use a sword, ride a horse, also to box (for self-defence), and to swim.

Didasko taught me Grammaticus; to read and write in Latin; to memorising word lists; eventually to memorising and dictating texts. The majority of texts used were literature, predominantly poetry. Greek poets such as Homer and Hesiod, which were translated into Latin and frequently used as examples due to the lack of Roman literature. This led naturally to me wanting to learn to read and write Greek, (thank you Didasko). There were no tests in my education. My performance was measured through exercises that were either corrected or applauded by Didasko and in many cases witnessed by grand-mother Olivia and some of her friends. Occasionally Messalla would attend.

Initially Didasko recommended I start a daily journal and write down everything I did during the day, to assist me in learning to write Latin. Well that went well for a couple of