Rome and the Conquest of Mesopotamia (Book 8 of the Veteran of Rome Series)

by William Kelso

  Banishing the seriousness of his current position from his mind Fergus grunted and took another quick sip of wine before turning his eyes once more to the heavens. There was something far weightier on his mind that was dampening his spirits. Slowly his fingers reached out to touch the letter in his pocket. It had arrived a few days ago aboard a supply convoy all the way from Doura-Europus. It was from Galena. His wife had written that she and the girls were doing alright at Zeugma and that they missed him. Galena had spoken about her daily routine and that of the girls, trying to sound as if everything was alright. But it had been her last paragraph that had got to him. Despite writing several more times and paying generously for the delivery there had been no news from either Adalwolf in Antioch or Marcus, Kyna, Dylis and the others, faraway on the isle of Vectis in Britannia. No news, nothing but silence. No one had heard from his family in Britannia. There had been no news now for eighteen months and the silence and uncertainty were slowly eating away at him. Had Nigrinus had them all executed? Had he taken over the farm and erased the very memory of their existence? Wearily Fergus stirred and took a deep breath and closed his eyes as he allowed the balmy Mesopotamian breeze to touch his face. What had happened to his father and his family? The lack of news was growing harder to bear by the day.

  Author’s Notes

  The Roman grain annonae (Cura Annonae) and the famous idea of, “Bread and Circuses,” did exist and constitutes one of the earliest organised social security systems in the world. Its main purpose was to maintain the prestige of the Emperor and the State and to prevent riots from a starving populace. The loss of the Egyptian grain fleet in my book “Rome and the Conquest of Mesopotamia” is fiction but no doubt such disasters did occur. Their consequences would have been severe. It leads me to conclude that the ancient Romans had to contend with many of the same problems and challenges that we must deal with today in our modern world. From paying for and maintaining an expensive social security net, to large scale immigration, foreign threats and wars, organised crime, identity theft, runaway inflation and yes eventually even climate change. How the Romans tried to handle some of these challenges could provide valuable insights for us today. Their empire did after all manage to survive for nearly twelve hundred years in the West and much longer in the East.

  The contemporary historical sources on Trajan’s Parthian War are thin on the ground. We simply do not know exactly what happened or even the exact chronological order of events. In “Rome and the Conquest of Mesopotamia” I have based my story on F.A Lepper’s analysis and account of the war. His book “Trajan’s Parthian War” (1948) is well worth a read.

  Emperor Trajan’s motives for going to war are also fiercely debated. The ancient view was that he wanted to conquer Mesopotamia (modern Iraq) for the glory and to rival Alexander the Great. A more modern theory is that Trajan ordered the conquest because he wanted to secure lucrative trade routes to India and China. We are not even entirely sure which route to Seleucia and Ctesiphon Trajan actually took although Lepper provides convincing evidence for the Euphrates route. The fact that both Seleucia and Ctesiphon fell quickly during the initial campaign suggests to me that they surrendered quickly. There is no evidence that Fergus took Seleucia by using a ruse. That’s pure fiction. However, we do know that one of the daughters of the king of kings Osroes was captured during the fall of Ctesiphon.

  Finally, there is some evidence and suggestion that the Alani and Sarmatian tribes did indeed use Cannabis.

  “Rome and the Conquest of Mesopotamia” is book eight in the Veteran of Rome series. VOR 9 will be published later in 2018 and will be the final instalment of the series.

  William Kelso, London, January 2018

  MAJOR PARTICIPANTS IN ROME AND THE CONQUEST OF MESOPOTAMIA

  Marcus and Fergus’s family

  Kyna, Wife of Marcus, mother of Fergus.

  Corbulo, Marcus’s father, Fergus’s grandfather

  Ahern, Kyna’s son by another man. Jowan forced to adopt him.

  Elsa, Orphaned daughter of Lucius, but adopted by Marcus and his family.

  Cassius, Elsa’s husband and Marcus’s secretary

  Armin, Orphaned little brother of Elsa

  Galena, Wife of Fergus

  Briana, Fergus and Galena’s first daughter

  Efa, Fergus and Galena’s second daughter

  Gitta, Fergus and Galena’s third daughter

  Aina, Fergus and Galena’s fourth daughter

  Athena, Fergus and Galena’s fifth daughter

  Indus, Marcus’s Batavian bodyguard in Rome and ex-soldier

  Aledus, Friend and army buddy of Fergus

  Dylis, Marcus’s half-sister, adopted by Corbulo

  Cunomoltus, Marcus’s half-brother, illegitimate son of Corbulo

  Imperial family

  Marcus Ulpius Traianus, Emperor of Rome (Trajan) AD 98 - 117

  Plotina Pompeia, Empress of Rome, Emperor Trajan’s wife

  Salonia Matidia, Trajan’s niece.

  Members of the Peace Party

  Publius Aelius Hadrianus, (Hadrian) Leader of the peace party

  Adalwolf, German amber and slave trader, but also guide, advisor and translator for Hadrian.

  Vibia Sabina , Hadrian’s wife

  Publius Acilius Attianus, Hadrian’s old childhood guardian (Jointly with Trajan)

  Marcus Aemilius Papus, friend of Hadrian

  Quintus Sosius Senecio, Soldier and supporter of Hadrian

  Aulus Platorius Nepos, Roman politician and soldier

  Admiral Quintus Marcius Turbo, close friend of Trajan and Hadrian

  Members of the War Party

  Gaius Avidius Nigrinus, Senator, leading citizen in Rome and close friend of Trajan. Leader of the war party and potential successor to Trajan

  Lady Claudia, A high born aristocrat and old acquaintance of Marcus

  Paulinus Picardus Taliare, One of Rome’s finance ministers, in charge of the state treasury

  Aulus Cornelius Palma, Conqueror of Arabia Nabataea and sworn enemy of Hadrian.

  Lucius Pubilius Celsus, Senator and ex Consul; bitter enemy of Hadrian.

  Lusius Quietus, Berber prince and Roman citizen from Mauretania in northern Africa, a successful and popular Roman military leader.

  Marcus, Fergus’s father, senator and supporter of the War Party

  Members of Fergus’s close protection team

  Arlyn, Hibernian bodyguard of Hadrian

  Barukh, Jewish bodyguard of Hadrian, recruited in Antioch.

  Flavius, Blond Germanic bodyguard and Fergus’s deputy

  Saadi, only female and youngest member of Fergus’s protection team

  Skula, A bald Scythian (Russian) tribesman. One of Hadrian’s guards.

  The two Italian brothers, ex-legionaries and bodyguards to Hadrian

  Numerius, bodyguard to Hadrian, recruited in Antioch.

  The Armenians and Parthians

  Osroes I, King of Kings of Parthia

  Parthamasiris, Nephew of Osroes, who became king of Armenia.

  Volagases III, rival Parthian king to Osroes, rules in eastern Parthia

  Sanatruces, nephew to the king of kings Osroes

  The Fourth “Scythica” Legion

  Gellius, legionary legate of the Fourth legion.

  Britannicus, A young Tribune augusticlavii with the Fourth legion

  Hiempsal, Numidian officer with the Seventh auxiliary cavalry alae of Numidians

  Other Characters

  Cunitius, A private investigator and one-time enemy of Marcus

  Heron of Alexandria, A Greek mathematician, engineer and inventor.

  Similis, Ex-prefect of Egypt, placed in charge of all security matters in Rome whilst Trajan is away in the east.

  Blaikisa, Cassius’s freedman

  Alexandros, Greek captain of the ship Hermes that sailed to Hyperborea with Marcus

  Licinius, Roman ambassador in Gabala, Caucasian Albania

  GLOSSARY

  Adia
bene, region in north-eastern Iraq

  Aerarium, State treasury for Senatorial provinces

  Aesculapius, The god of healing

  Agora, market place and public space

  Albania, Roman client kingdom at the southern foot hills of the Caucasus

  Aila, Red sea port now called Aqaba in Jordan

  Alae, Roman cavalry unit

  Alani, A Scythian people living on the steppes to the north of the Caucasus

  Antioch, Near Antakya, Turkey

  Arabia Nabataea, modern day Jordan and northern Saudi Arabia

  Araxes river, also known as the Aras. Former border between the USSR and Iran

  Artaxata, ancient capital of the kingdom of Armenia

  Athena, Greek goddess and protector of Athens

  Agrimensore, A land surveyor.

  Armorica, Region of north-west France

  Aquincum, Modern Budapest, Hungary

  Arcidava, Fort in the Banat region of Dacia

  Argiletum, Street of the booksellers in ancient Rome.

  Asses, Roman copper coins, money

  Babylonia, region around Babylon, Mesopotamia

  Ballista, Roman artillery catapult

  Banat, Region of Dacia, Romania and Serbia

  Berzobis, Fort in the Banat region of Dacia

  Bonnensis, Bonn, Germany. Full name.

  Burdigala, Roman city close to modern Bordeaux, France

  Bostra, a Roman occupied town in Jordan

  Capitoline Hill, One of the seven hills of ancient Rome

  Carnuntum, Roman settlement just east of Vienna, Austria

  Carrobalista, Mobile Roman artillery catapult

  Castra, Fort.

  Caltrops, small spiked metal anti cavalry and personnel weapons

  Cappadocia, Roman province in central and eastern Turkey

  Caucasian Gates, Darial Gorge Georgia/Russia border

  Centurion, Roman officer in charge of a company of about 80 legionaries

  Cella, internal space in a temple

  Chaboras river, now known as the Khabur river, tributary to the Euphrates

  Charax, near modern day Basra

  Cilicia, Roman province in modern Turkey

  Circesium, a town now called Buseira in Syria

  Classis Pannonica, Roman fleet based on the Danube at Carnuntum

  Cohort, Roman military unit equivalent to a battalion of around 500 men.

  Colchis, land around the south-eastern part of the Black sea

  Colonia Agrippina, Cologne, Germany.

  Contubernium, Eight-man legionary infantry squad. Barrack room/tent group room

  Corona Muralis, Roman military decoration

  Cornicen, Trumpeter and signaller.

  Cuirassed armour, Expensive chest armour that followed the muscles of the chest

  Cyrenaica, eastern part of Libya

  Currach, Celtic boat

  Cataphract, type of heavily armoured cavalry

  Ctesiphon, Parthian winter capital, near modern Baghdad

  Dacia(n), The area in Romania where the Dacians lived.

  Decanus, Corporal, squad leader

  Decurion, Roman cavalry officer.

  Demeter, Greek goddess of agriculture

  Denarii, Roman money.

  Derbent, claims to be oldest town in Russia, on the Caspian-sea

  Deva Victrix, Chester, UK.

  Domitian, Emperor from AD 81 – 96

  Draco banner, Dacian coloured banner made of cloth

  Doura Europus, Near to Salihiye in eastern Syria

  Edessa, Sanliurfa, now in south eastern Turkey

  Emporium, Marketplace

  Elegeia, Armenian town in the region of Erzurum

  Eleusinion, Temple of Demeter, Athens

  Eponymous Archon of Athens, The city’s ruler and mayor

  Equestrian Order, The Order of Knights – minor Roman aristocracy

  Equites, Individual men of the Equestrian Order.

  Euphrates, major river in Iraq, Syria and Turkey

  Falx, Curved Dacian sword.

  Fibula, A brooch or pin used by the Romans to fasten clothing

  Fiscus, The Roman state treasury controlled by the emperor and not the senate

  Focale, Roman army neck scarf

  Fortuna, The Goddess of Fortune.

  Forum Boarium, The ancient cattle market of Rome

  Forum Romanum, Political centre of ancient Rome, area of government buildings

  Frisii, Tribe of Frisians who lived in the northern Netherlands

  Gabala, ancient capital of Caucasian Albania

  Gades, Cadiz, southern Spain

  Garum, Roman fermented fish sauce.

  Gladius, Standard Roman army short stabbing sword.

  Greaves, Armour that protects the legs

  Hatra, Hatra in Iraq

  Hengistbury Head, Ancient Celtic trading post near Christchurch, UK.

  Hibernia, Ireland.

  Hispania, Spain.

  Hyrcanian Ocean, Caspian Sea

  Hyperborea, Mythical land beyond the north wind.

  Iberia, Spain but also a small Roman client kingdom south of the Caucasus

  Imaginifer, Roman army standard bearer carrying an image of the Emperor

  Imperator, Latin for commander/emperor, used to hail the Roman emperor

  Invidia/Nemesis, God of envy and vengeance

  Insulae, Roman multi-storey apartment buildings

  Janus, God of boundaries.

  Jupiter Optimus Maximus, Patron god of Rome

  Kaftan, Parthian dress, a long traditional outer garment

  Kostolac, City in Serbia

  Keffiyeh, Traditional Arabic headdress

  Kushan Empire, Afghanistan, Pakistan and parts of India

  Lares, Roman guardian deities

  Iazyges, Barbarian tribe, roughly in modern Hungary

  Legate, Roman officer in command of a Legion

  Liburnian, A small Roman ship

  Limes, Frontier zone of the Roman Empire.

  Londinium, London, UK.

  Lower Pannonia, Roman province in and around Hungary/Serbia and Croatia.

  Ludus, School

  Lugii, Vandals, barbarian tribe in central Europe.

  Luguvalium, Carlisle, UK.

  Mars, Roman god of war

  Marcomanni, Barbarian tribe whom lived north of the Danube in modern day Austria

  Mardi, Armenian tribe that lived around lake Van

  Massalia, Marseille, France

  Mausoleum of Augustus, Mausoleum of Augustus in Rome

  Mesopotamia, modern Iraq

  Middle Sea, Mediterranean Sea

  Mogontiacum, Mainz, Germany.

  Mons Graupius, Roman/Scottish battlefield in Scotland

  Mosul, Mosul northern Iraq

  Munifex, Private non-specialist Roman Legionary.

  Noviomagus Reginorum, Chichester, UK.

  Numerii, Germanic irregular soldiers allied to Rome.

  Nero, Roman emperor 54-68 AD

  Nike, Greek god of victory

  Nisibis, Known now as Nusaybin in south-eastern Turkey

  Numidians, one of the Berber tribes of northern Africa

  Nymphaeum, monument consecrated to the water nymphs

  O group meeting, Modern British army slang for group meeting of officers

  Onagers, Heavy Roman artillery catapults

  Optio, Roman army officer, second in command of a Company.

  Ostia, Original seaport of Rome

  Osrhoene, a Roman client kingdom around Edessa

  Palatine Hill, one of the seven hills of Rome. The Imperial palace there.

  Palmyra, Palmyra in Syria, ancient city partially destroyed by IS

  Panathenaea, Ancient Greek festival in honour of Athena

  Parthian Empire, Iraq, Iran and parts of Saudi, Syria and central Asia

  Parthenon, The temple of Athena on top of the Acropolis in Athens

  Peplos dress, traditional dress presented to the goddess Athen
a

  Peristyle, open space surrounded by vertical columns

  Petra, Petra, Jordan.

  Pilum/pila, Roman legionary spear(s).

  Pistorum, college of bakers

  Porolissum, Settlement in northern Dacia/Romania

  Portus Augusti, The new seaport of ancient Rome

  Portus Tiberinus, Rome’s Tiber river port

  Posca, watered down wine with added spices

  Praefecti Aeranii Saturni, Rome’s finance ministers

  Prefect, Roman officer in command of an auxiliary cohort or civil magistrate.

  Praetorian Guard, Emperor’s personal guard units

  Principia, HQ building in a Roman army camp/fortress.

  Propylaia, ancient monumental entrance gate into the Acropolis

  Pugio, Roman army dagger.

  Quadi, Germanic tribe living along the Danube

  Resafa II, Fictitious Roman fort near Sergiopolis

  Rosia Montana, Ancient gold and silver mining district in Romania/Dacia

  Roxolani, Barbarian tribe in eastern Romania

  Rutipiae, Richborough, Kent, UK.

  Sacred Way, Important road in the ancient city of Rome

  Satala, east of Sadak in Turkey on the ancient border with Armenia

  Sarmatians, Barbarian allies of the Dacians

  Sarmatian cataphracts, Heavily armoured Sarmatian cavalry

  Sarmisegetusa Regia, Capital city of ancient Dacia

  Saturn, God of wealth

  Saturnalia, Roman festival in late December

  Scythians, Barbarian tribes, modern Ukraine and Russia

  Singidunum, Belgrade.

  Sirmium, The ancient city of Sirmium on the Danube

  Singara, modern Sinjar in northern Iraq

  SPQR, Senate and People of Rome.

  Stola, Woman’s cloak

  Stoas, covered walkways

  Styx river, Mythical river of the underworld.

  Stylus, Roman pen

  Subura, Slum neighbourhood in central Rome

  Sura, ancient city on the Euphrates river in Northern Syria, west of Raqqa and north of Resafa

  Tapae, Dacian fort at the entrance to the iron gates pass

  Tara, Seat of the High King of Hibernia, north-west of Dublin, Ireland.