Soldier of Rome: Journey to Judea (The Artorian Chronicles)
Read Soldier of Rome: Journey to Judea (The Artorian Chronicles) Online
Authors: James Mace
Soldier of Rome:
Journey to
Judea
Book Five
of the Artorian Chronicles
Legionary Books
www.legionarybooks.net
Ele
ctronic Edition Copyright c 2013 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.
Certain characters and events portrayed in this book are based on actual persons and events but are used fictitiously.
Legionary Books
Meridian, Idaho 83642, USA
First eBook Edition: 2013
Published in the United States of America
Legionary Books
Catch a dream and you don’t know what it means
Give up your life, live for the King
-
Axel Rudi Pell
Dedicated
in memory of
Major Robert Elwood Cutler, U.S. Air Force
1952
– 2011
My Friend and Mentor
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
Courage, Marshal Ney
Table of Contents
Chapter I: Incursion on the Rhine
Chapter II: Unrest in the East
Chapter III: The Hand of the Emperor
Chapter VI: Changing of the Guard
Chapter VII: Across the Empire
Chapter XIV: Friends, Old and New
Chapter XV: Strange Traditions
Chapter XVIII: A Whisper of Death
Chapter XIX: The Fall of Sejanus
Chapter XX: Horsemen under the Bull
Chapter XXI: Punish and Enslave
Chapter XXII: Disciples of Love and Hate
Chapter XXIII: Before the Pain
Chapter XXIV: Render Unto Caesar
Chapter XXV:
Curse of the Damned
Chapter XXVI: Die by the Blade
Chapter XXVII: Execution of the Mind
Chapter XXX: Live for the King
Chapter XXXII:
Bitter Departures
Preface
The year is 31 A.D. It is five years into the Judean governorship of Pontius Pilate and the province ever stands on the edge of a knife. The Jewish religious leaders, the Sanhedrin, use their patronage with the Emperor to vent the slightest grievance, and the people themselves burn with a hatred for Rome. Pilate’s only military forces are Samaritan auxiliaries, little more than an undisciplined mob that abuse and torment the populace.
The Emperor Tiberius finally relents and assigns to Judea a single cohort of legionaries to restore order. Pilate tasks his old friend, Centurion Artorius, to command the First Italic Cohort. Though sad to leave the Rhine and the Twentieth Legion after sixteen years, Artorius relishes the chance for adventure in the East. With him will be some old friends, Magnus, Praxus, Valens, and Justus Longinus. In the scorching desert they will encounter bandits, a mad king, his evil seductress stepdaughter, numerous messianic prophets, and unreliable allies, all underscored by the beginnings of a zealot rebellion.
Cast of Characters
Soldiers:
Titus Artorius Justus
– Centurion Pilus Prior, Commander of the First Volunteer Cohort
Magnus Flavianus
– Artorius’ best friend and a centurion within the cohort
Gaius
Praxus
– A centurion within the cohort
Justus
Longinus
– An old friend of Artorius and Pontius Pilate, he serves as a centurion in the cohort
Lucius
Cornelius
– An optio from the Praetorian Guard, selected to be one of Artorius’ Centurions
Marcus Julius
– Another optio who is selected to be a centurion within the cohort
Tiberius
Valens
– Optio of the First Century
Felix
– Tesserarius of the First Century
Tiberius
Stoppello
– Commander in the Roman Navy
Hansi Flavianus
– Magnus’ brother, he is a crewman under Commander Stoppello
Abenader
– An auxilia centurion, commander of the Jerusalem garrison
Noble Romans:
Tiberius
Julius 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
Lucius Aelius Sejanus
– Commanding Prefect of the Praetorian Guard, he is Tiberius’ most trusted advisor
Aelia Paetina
– Wife of Claudius and sister of Sejanus
Pontius Pilate
– Procurator of Judea, old friend of Artorius and Justus, as well as a protégé of Sejanus
Claudia Procula
– Wife of Pontius Pilate
Diana Procula
– Wife of Artorius and sister of Claudia Procula
Jews:
Herod Antipas
– Ruler of Galilee, son of Herod the Great
Marcus Julius Agrippa
– Also known as Herod Agrippa, he is the nephew of Herod Antipas, who was raised in Rome and is close with Tiberius
Joseph Caiaphas
– A Jewish priest and leader of the Sanhedrin
Annas
– A member of the Sanhedrin
Jesus bar Abbas –
Also known simply as ‘Barabbas,’ he is a leader amongst the zealots who seek to overthrow Roman rule by force
Jesus of Nazareth
– A teacher whose followers think might be the prophesized Messiah, his message is of peace and understanding
Salome
– Stepdaughter of Herod Antipas
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 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 a centurion primus ordo. Though the number of soldiers under their direct command was fewer, these men were senior in rank to the centurion 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
