Gordopolis

In AD 451, two colossal armies gathered on the fields of Chalons, northern Gaul. Almost every man - from Europe and beyond - of fighting age was there, armed to the teeth, waiting for the battle horns to herald a clash that would shape the fate of the ailing Roman Empire and history itself. On one side stood Flavius Aetius, high commander of the Roman and allied armies. Leading the enemy horde was Attila, King of the Huns. What followed was a seismic clash that would inspire legends - including Tolkien himself (The Battle of Chalons inspired his depiction of the Battle of the Pelennor Fields in Lord of the Rings). Close your eyes and imagine the two leaders. You might see Flavius in his shining Roman armour and plumed helm, and nomadic Attila on his battle horse, draped in goatskin? Two starkly contrasting figures - one representing imperium and order, one the barbarian 'other'. Now consider this: Firstly, that Flavius, son of a senatorial family, actually spent his adolescence with the Huns, in the wilderness of the Eurasian steppe. There he became a man, learning the nomadic way of life and honing his survival skills. Secondly, Attila the Hun, the so-called "Scourge of God", nemesis of the Romans, very likely spent years of his youth in Roman Empire. There, he was educated in the imperial ways in the great marble cities so very different to his wild homeland. It's quite incredible, isn't it? To think that the opposing high commanders at Chalons might have - during boyhood - stepped through a mirror, each into the other's shoes. How would such a great and early switcharound come about? Read on at my blog, here: https://www.gordondoherty.co.uk/writeblog/the-incredible-story-of-attila-the-hun-and-flavius-aetius

Tensions in the world of Attila the Hun and Flavius Aetius ramp up to new heights in 'Shield of Rome'! books2read.com/Attila2

Hi All, Been busy putting together this series of video shorts investigating the little known world and ways of the Huns, around the time of Attila. Hope you like: Also check out the Romana Humanitas forum for a matching series about Romans of the same era!

Hi All, I've been making a series of short factoid videos about the Roman Empire (particularly the late Empire) recently - tidbits concering life and warfare in the Roman world. Here's a playlist of what I've got so far. Hope you like! Also see the 'Glory of the Army' forum for a matching series of vids about the Huns!

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