Eagle in the Snow: A Novel of General Maximus and Rome's Last Stand

Picts, Scots, Attacotti and Saxons, in conspiracy, overwhelm the Wall and over-run Britain.

Fullofaudes, Duke of Britain, and Nectaridus, Count of the Saxon Shore, slain.

368

Count Theodosius, sent by Valentinian I, reconquers Britain and restores the Wall.

375

Death of Valentinian I.

Valentinian II and Gratian, Emperors of the West.

378

Battle of Adrianople.

379

Reign of Theodosius I.

383

Magnus Maximus, military commander, acclaimed emperor in Britain; conquers Spain and Gaul from Gratian who is killed.

388

Magnus Maximus defeated by Theodosius I, and executed.

395

Death of Theodosius I.

Honorius, aged 11, Emperor of the West: Stilicho, the Vandal, appointed his guardian.

?

Stilicho improves the defences of Britain and withdraws some troops.

403

Alaric, the Goth, invades Italy.

406

Stilicho defeats Radagaisus who invades Italy.

Constantinus proclaimed emperor in Britain.

Coalition of Marcomanni, Quadi, Asding and Siling Vandals, cross the Rhine at Mainz and over-run Gaul.

407

Alemanni sack Worms and annexe the right bank of the Rhine.

Constantinus, with his son Constans, crosses to Gaul with the last remaining troops in Britain, and establishes himself at Arles.

408

Stilicho murdered at instigation of Honorius.

410

Rome sacked by Alaric: Honorius bids the Britons look to themselves.

411

Constans and Constantinus killed by Honorius’ troops.

PRINCIPAL PLACE NAMES

Anderida

Aquae Mattiacae

Arelate

Augusta Treverorum

Bingium

Belgica

Borbetomagus

Borcovicum

Boudobrigo

Caledonia

Colonia

Confluentes

Corinium

Corstopitum

Danubius

Deva

Dubris

Eburacum

Germania Superior

Gesoriacum

Hibernia

Hispania

Illyricum

Isca Silurium

Lemanis

Londinium

Lugdunum

Mauretania

Mediolanum

Moenus

Moguntiacum

Mona

Mosella

Nava

Padus

Pevensey

Wiesbaden (Germany)

Arles (France)

Trier (Germany)

Bingen (Germany)

Belgium, N. France and a part of W. Germany Worms (Germany)

Housesteads

Boppard (Germany)

Highland Scotland

Cologne (Germany)

Koblenz (Germany)

Cirencester

Corbridge

River Danube

Chester

Dover

York

Upper Germany: a province on the west bank of the Rhine

Boulogne (France)

Ireland

Spain

Illyria (Yugoslavia)

Caerleon

Lympne

London

Lyons (France)

North Africa, from Morocco to Algeria

Milan (Italy)

River Main (Germany)

Mainz (Germany)

Anglesey

River Mosel (Germany)

River Nahe (Germany)

River Po (Italy)

Pannonia

Petriana

Ratae

Remi

Rhenus

Rutupiae

Richborough

Salisio

Segontium

Taunus

Ticinium

Vetera

Vindolanda

Vindonissa

Viroconium

Hungary and N.E. Yugoslavia

Stanwix

Leicester

Rheims (France)

River Rhine (Germany)

Salzig (Germany)

Caernarvon

range of hills and forests east of the Rhine

Pavia (Italy)

near Xanten (Germany)

Chesterholm

Windisch (Switzerland)

Wroxeter

GLOSSARY OF TERMS

ALA—a cavalry regiment, orginally 500 to 1,000 men, divided into 16 or 24 squadrons respectively.

AQUILIFER—the officer carrying the Eagle, the sacred insignia of the legion.

AUXILIARIES—originally provincial troops formed into cavalry regiments (alae) or infantry regiments (cohorts) 500 to 1,000 strong; later troops of the frontier army.

BALLISTA—a type of artillery for throwing heavy missiles. These varied in size and performance. The smaller ones were often called scorpions or onagers.

CARROBALLISTA—a type of mobile field artillery which fired 9 to 12 inch bolts with iron heads.

CENTURION—usually the officer commanding a century; a rank for which there is no modern equivalent.

CENTURY—the smallest unit (100 men) of the legion which originally contained 60 centuries.

COHORT—originally a tactical unit of the legion comprising six centuries; also an auxiliary regiment.

COMES GALLIARUM—Comes (Count) was an honorary title often conferred upon senior military and civil officers. In some instances the title carried special duties.

COUNT OF THE SAXON SHORE—(Comes Littoris Saxonici) the general commanding the defences of the south-east coast of Britain.

CURATOR—a civilian official who fulfilled the functions of a mayor.

CURIAL CLASS—the provincial class from which municipal and local government officers were selected.

DECURION—a junior officer in an auxiliary cavalry unit commanding a troop.

DUX—the commander in chief of a provincial army.

LEGION—originally a brigade of troops, 6,000 strong, commanded by a legate and recruited solely from Roman citizens. In the late empire the legion was smaller, was commanded by a praefectus and was part of the frontier army.

LIMES—a military frontier.

MASTER OF HORSE—(Magister Equitum) a subordinate general commanding all the imperial cavalry. The Magister Equitum per Gallias was the general commanding the Field Army of Gaul.

MILITARY MASTER—(Magister Militum) the general officer commanding all the imperial troops.

OPTIO—an officer junior to a centurion; often his second in command.

PRAEFECTUS—a general term for civil or military officials holding posts of varying degrees of responsibility.

PRAEFECTUS PRAETORIO—a civil official responsible directly to the emperor for the administration of a group of provinces.

QUAESTOR—a civilian official, often in charge of finance.

TRIBUNE—a senior officer of the legion; also an officer of the civil administration.