Gordopolis

Hi All, Just thought you might be interested in my new novel 'The Eagle & the Wolf'. Set in the early 5th century AD, it explores the encroaching worlds of the Huns and the Romans, as tensions ramp up between the two superpowers. Here's the blurb: As Hun hordes and Germanic tribes maraud through Imperial lands, two legendary men – Attila the Hun and the “Last of the Romans” General Flavius Aetius find their fortunes entangled with the chaos. Flavius Aetius, a noble Roman son, is an outsider in a savage land. He has been banished, given as hostage to the barbaric Huns and sent to the edge of the world. What the Huns do not know, however, is that his father and mother have been murdered in a coup. He is an orphan, with no value at all. His life hangs on a lie. In this new harsh world, he manages to find one grudging ally, a young boy named Attila. A brotherhood is formed. One that, the shamans foretell, will shatter the world. If it sounds of interest, you can pick up a copy at bookstores worldwide, or order online from the websites listed here: http://books2read.com/b/Attila1 Thanks! G

That's quite an important factor, Guy. I'm pretty sure (from the top of my head) that several Roman generals were forced to fall upon their sword for failures too. So Devotio could potentially be seen not as 'life or death', but 'execution and ignominy or heroic death in battle'!

My blog article on the bloody and world-changing religious shifts of the Late Roman Empire: https://www.gordondoherty.co.uk/.../the-old-gods-shall-die To quote Horace: “The wise man ought to bear the name of madman, the just of unjust, if they should pursue virtue herself with disproportionate zeal.” Painting by Anthonis Van Dyke, 1619.

A blog investigating the origins and jounrye of Alaric the Visigoth, the king who conquered Rome: https://www.gordondoherty.co.uk/writeblog/alaric-the-visigoth-king-of-all

What more can a person give to a cause, than their very existence? This is the essence of the ancient Roman oath of 'Devotio' - the word from which the modern term 'devotion' is derived. Read my blog that explores this chilling final resort of ancient Romans at war: https://www.gordondoherty.co.uk/writeblog/the-greatest-sacrifice?fbclid=IwZXh0bgNhZW0CMTAAYnJpZBEwakRWTXR2ek5uSTJFYVlvNQEeNZVGENCkHeYmyzIBbxt1NxTONyMw2DhxnpSQRnlx4_kGRYFxh1vhtdIkKyM_aem_eRglGEnEcW7QxP-VhbvZDw

Thanks Indy! In the end it went through the roof - made over £600 ❤️ Awesome result for the cause!

Just putting the shout out that an auction is underway for the 𝐕𝐄𝐑𝐘 𝐅𝐈𝐑𝐒𝐓 𝐒𝐈𝐆𝐍𝐄𝐃 𝐇𝐀𝐑𝐃𝐁𝐀𝐂𝐊 of 𝐋𝐄𝐆𝐈𝐎𝐍𝐀𝐑𝐘: 𝐃𝐄𝐕𝐎𝐓𝐈𝐎, the final instalment of the Legionary series, hot off the press after publication last week! Every penny of the winning bid will go to Myeloma UK - the charity that fights to defeat Myeloma blood cancer for good. As you can see, the book is numbered, giving proof that it is the FIRST signed copy, and is also stamped and quoted. I'll gladly add whatever personal message you might like as well. Visit my Facebook page to check out the rules and bid ☺️ https://www.facebook.com/share/p/1A6RwE1q9q/

Hope this is okay with you all as it's self-promo. I checked with the mods who said it should be alright. Anyway, for the last two years I've been writing a novel based around the Battle of the Frigidus. The more I read into it, the more I realised just how needlessly destructive the whole affair (the second civil war in 6 years) was. Beforehand, I thought it was a candidate reason for the fall of the Western Roman Empire. Now, I'm certain it was (at least the main catalyst). Anyway, here's the deets for LEGIONARY:DEVOTIO AD 391: in the aftermath of civil war, the Roman Empire lies broken. The emperor is missing. Rumours fly that he has lost his mind. Sensing weakness, the Goths rise in revolt. All to the delight of the dark hand who orchestrated the civil war… and plots to stoke another. Far out at sea, Pavo stands watchfully at the prow of the Justitia, running cargo between distant lands. At every port, he hears of the empire's swelling troubles. Of fire and zeal and panic. Of legions, bristling for battle. But his days of protecting the provinces with sword and shield are over. He, his wife and his lad will soon have enough funds to make a home on a quiet island, far from the madness. Yet the empire is an ever-hungry beast, and Pavo is about to sail straight into its jaws… It is a journey that will take him to the brink, and throw down before him the question to which there is only one answer: what would you sacrifice to save your loved ones? Blood, treachery, reckless heroism, justice, honour. This story has it all. If you fancy a read, it's out on all the usual places: Amazon: http://mybook.to/LegionaryX All other retailers: http://books2read.com/Legionary10 Thanks!

I went to the #LegionExhibition in London last week. As the name suggests, the exhibition is very much focused on the Roman military, and specifically during the Principate (spanning 27 BC - AD 284). There were some terrific artefacts on show - my favourite being the crocodile armour! But the smartest thing about the exhibition, in my opinion, was how they threaded it all together using the career records of an Egyptian legionary named Claudius Terentianus. A papyrus archive found at Karanis, Egypt, contained several letters Claudius had written and sent home to his family. They reveal how he tried and failed to join the legions in AD 110, thanks to a lack of satisfactory references. So, he instead joined the marines - a less prestigious and lucrative career path. His duties would have included building roads and guarding the grain fleet harbours as well as long and hazardous sea voyages. The letters tell of very practical and human things - his struggles to fit in with his marine colleagues, his need for new shoes and socks, and of his injuries sustained when fighting to supress a revolt. He was deployed in the east for a time, likely in Emperor Trajan's war against Rome's rival superpower, Parthia. Having proved himself he finally achieved his goal and was permitted to join the legions! Here's a couple of photos (of Augustus, and of the Dura Europos shield!) Full gallery with commentary is on my Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/GordonDohertyAuthor/posts/pfbid02AqWchBNFauQHLTcK3QSCTLCxziY67inptoe68vHwr1jPAzA9jHXNALNh8ZXW2C6gl

Brilliant info - thank you very much!!! I am interested in the Venetian Empire/Republic history too, but I am very much a novice in that period. Is the Maritime Musuem the same as the Arsenale?

Hi All & HNY, I'm heading to Venice soon for a break. I'm struggling tho to find a good list of late Roman/Byzantine sites to visit there. Can anyone advise on the 'must-see' places there? Cheers, Gordon

The Mother River, strong & swift, bringer of luck... but not always. Read the epic history of the River Danube during the days of the #Roman Empire. https://www.gordondoherty.co.uk/writeblog/the-mother-river?fbclid=IwAR0WLjMEFGjB3gsgbqdPxrjZmHqlq53N-IL7b9X6Wqajc3rPiQSrdxvRrfA

I've put together a blog piece about this legendary figure and the momentous events of the late 4th century AD that changed the course of history: https://www.gordondoherty.co.uk/writeblog/magnus-maximus-hero-or-tyrant Was Magnus Maximus a hero or a villain? In essence, I don't know - he was both loved and hated. Maybe that's the answer - he was human!

"It was an immense slaughter, greater than had ever occurred in any former naval action. Thus the river was filled with dead bodies." - Historia Nova, Zosimus As winter fell in AD 386, the Eastern Roman Empire found itself in a position of delicately-balanced stability. The Gothic War had ended four years prior, thanks to a peace deal that granted the Goths Roman lands in the northern parts of the Diocese of Thracia on which to settle and farm. In return for this, their fighting men were to muster for imperial military service if and when Emperor Theodosius called upon them. This system of gradual cultural integration and laying aside of old grievances was only just beginning to settle into place. So, the last thing Emperor Theodosius needed was for a huge host of erstwhile unknown Goths to descend from the north and appear at the River Danube, demanding entry into the empire. Full article (free, no paywall or anything) here: https://www.gordondoherty.co.uk/writeblog/the-horde-of-odotheus

A couple of videos to give you a flavour of the story The trailer vid: Me doing a reading from the book (Scottish subtitles ON! 😄😞