Eagle in the Snow
Page 37
“No voices spoke; no-one cried out and reproached me for what I had done, nor for what I had failed to do. I looked at the sun, warm and friendly in a blue sky, and I prayed that Quintus’ dream had come true, and that he now drove the horses he had so long desired.
“They say that if you listen long enough, and have the gift, you may hear the sounds of the past, which never die. I do not know if that is so, but as I left that desolate and ghastly place, it seemed to me that I heard the faint sound of voices that cried, ‘Maximus, Maximus,’ as though in acclamation. Yet when I looked behind me, I could see nothing but the bowed grass, and hear nothing but the plaintive cry of a kestrel, gliding before the wind.
“I returned to the city, and I was empty with pain. I went up the stairs in Romulus to that room where I had once stood and made plans, and held false dreams of the Purple. I remember that I sat beside the window, and I put my head in my hands; and I wept. And then the Bishop came and touched my shoulder. He did not know what to say.
“I cried out then: ‘I do not know what to do? I should have died out there with my men. Oh, Mithras, God of the Sun, why did you not let me die?’
“The Bishop held out his hand, and in it was a sword that I recognised.
“‘It is yours.’ he said. ‘It was left for you by the man who brought you to my house. Do what you wish, Maximus. Stay here; I shall not ask questions. I have neither thanked you nor cursed you for what you did. It is not for me to judge, and I shall not do so.’
“I looked at him in despair; but even I could see that he looked ill. He, too, had suffered through my failure.
“I stayed. What else was there to do?
“He was more sick than I realised and, before the winter came, Mauritius, Bishop of Treverorum was dead; and I was more lonely than ever.
“In the spring, a new Praefectus Praetorio arrived, sent by Honorius to investigate the damage that had been done. It was a difficult time. There was war in the south; Constantinus was manœuvering against the imperial troops; and the land was still full of plundering bands who had deserted the main body of their tribe.” Maximus paused. He said, contemptuously, “But the first thing they asked the council for—was chariot races to amuse the people. Nothing had changed, you see.
“Later, I heard that Stilicho had fallen. The intrigues of a court eunuch succeeded where barbarian soldiers had failed. He could have fought back, but he did not wish for civil war. Unjustly condemned by the emperor he had served so faithfully, he walked to his execution with free hands.
“Then I grew restless, and I thought, why not? I have nothing to lose? I will go to Rome. I am an old man. No-one will harm me. That, at least, is one ambition I can fulfil without hurt to any man. I took a little of the money that the Bishop had left me, and I went; but I was too late. The country-side was filled with waggons and people, fleeing as though before an invading army. I knew the signs so well.”
Maximus paused, and laughed quietly. “I stood on the road, a mile away—think of that—only a mile from the Aurelian gate, and I watched Rome burn as Alaric and his Goths sacked the city after their fashion. I watched his hordes straggle up the road with their booty, and I saw a frightened woman upon a horse, her ankles tied beneath its belly, who was their prisoner. It was Galla Placidia, but I did not help her. Honorius would not have cared; and I had no wish to be a slave.
“I turned and made my way back to Gaul, and on my way I met a courier in the imperial service, taking a rescript to the government of my old island. It was a long and hazardous journey, and he had little stomach for the task. He offered me gold to take it for him. I agreed. I carried the letter in the end of my sleeve, pinned over my damaged wrist, for safety, you understand.
“So I came back, and I went to Londinium, and I found a man who called himself governor of that city. ‘Well,’ I said. ‘You may choose as many emperors as you please. Honorius has freed you at last. You must look to yourselves now—if you can.’ Then I went north and found Saturninus, and I broke his heart with the news of his son. He asked me to stay and, if Fabianus had been alive, I would have done so. But he is dead, and I could not. So—I came back here to Segontium where it all began.”
Maximus stood up. “I have kept you awake when you should have slept. You are safe enough here in your cold mountains.”
The chief of his listeners rose and faced him. He was a tall man with cold eyes and a beaked nose. He said, “We do not always sleep. Somewhere we shall find others who are like ourselves. And somewhere there will be a man with a sword, who has a purpose as you had.”
“He may be hard to find.”
“We shall find him.”
“You are quite certain.”
“Yes,” said the tall man. “Quite certain.”
Maximus said, “They have no tombstones. Not one man in Treverorum wept for their passing.” He looked at his audience in turn and smiled. “In the name of Mithras, my Master, may the Gods be kind to you on your journey.”
“And you?” asked the tall man.
“I, also, have a journey to make.”
“Where do you go?”
“To the Gods of the Shades.”
The tall man nodded. He said, formally, “Then may you live in God.”
Maximus bent down and then straightened up, the sword resting in the crook of his arm. He raised his head and turned his eyes upwards to the sun. He said, “What is the end of it all? Smoke and ashes, a handful of bones, and a legend. Perhaps not even a legend.”
They watched him go through the broken gate, heard his feet, heavy on the flint strewn path. “He is going to his temple in the woods,” said the tall man. “Listen.”
There was a long silence, and then a deep voice cried, “Mithras!” and the cry echoed back across the hill. And after that the silence went on for ever.
DIS MANIBUS
P GAIO MAXIMO FILIO CLAUDII ARELATIS
PRAEFECTUS I COH TUNG LEG XX VAL VIC
DUX MOGUNTIACENSIS COMES GALLIARUM
ANN LVII CCCCX ET Q VERONIO PRAEFECTUS
ALAE PETRIAE PRAEFECTUS II COH ASTUR
MAGISTER EQUITUM GERMANIAE SUPER ANN
LVI CECIDIT BELLO RHENO CCCCVII
SATURNINUS AMICUS FECIT
LIST OF PRINCIPAL CHARACTERS
Those marked with an asterisk are known to history.
Aelia — wife to P. G. Maximus
Agilio — post commander. Thirtieth Milestone.
*Alaric — Prince of the Visigoths
Aquila — Chief Centurion, 20th Legion
Artorius — Curator of Augusta Treverorum
Barbatio — Praefectus of auxiliaries at Moguntiacum
*Chariobaudes — C. in C. the Army of Gaul.
*Constans — son to Constantinus
*Constantinus — Chief of Staff at Eburacum; later self-styled emperor
Didius — squadron commander, 20th Legion
Fabianus — son to Saturninus
Flavius — garrison commander at Augusta Treverorum
Fredbal — a prisoner of war
Fredegar — sword-brother to Marcomir
*Fullofaudes — C. in C. the Army of Britain
Gaius — 2 i/c the Tungrian cohort
Gallus — tribune of the Rhenus fleet
*Goar — Prince of the Alans; cousin to Respendial
*Godigisel — King of the Siling Vandals
*Gunderic — King of the Asding Vandals
*Guntiarus — King of the Burgundians
Hermeric — King of the Marcomanni
*Honorius — Emperor of Rome
Julian — cousin to P. G. Maximus
Lucillius — senior tribune, 20th Legion
Marcomir — Prince of the Franks
Marius — a tribune of the 20th Legion
*Mauritius — Bishop of Augusta Treverorum
*Maximus (Magnus) — Chief of Staff to Theodosius in Britain; later self-styled emperor
Maximus (Paulinus Gaius) — a Roman soldier
*Placidia (Galla) — sister to Honorius
*Rando — King of the Alemanni
*Respendial — King of the Alans
*Saturninus — Chief Centurion, Tungrian cohort
Scudilio — commander of auxiliaries at Bingium
Septimus (Julianus) — retired Curator of Augusta Treverorum
Severus (Marcus) — a tribune of the 20th Legion
*Stilicho — Military Master of the Western Empire
Sunno — son to Rando; later King of the Alemanni
Talien — King of the Quadi
Veronius (Quintus) — a cavalry officer
Vitalius — adjutant of the Tungrian cohort
HISTORICAL EVENTS
353 — Martinus, Vicarius of Britain, “killed” by Constantine II.
364 — Valentinian I, Emperor of the West. Picts, Scots, Attacotti and Saxons raiding Britain.
367 — 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 a
dministration.
VALLUM—a broad ditch running the length of Hadrian’s Wall on the south side, defining the area under control of the military.
VICARIUS—the governor under the Praefectus Praetorio immediately responsible for the administration of a group of provinces.
BIBLIOGRAPHY
Baatz (D.) and H. Riediger, Römer und Germanen am Limes. 1966.
Baume (P. La) Die Römer am Rhein. [1964].
Birley (A.) Life in Roman Britain. 1964.
Bruce (J. C.) Handbook to the Roman Wall; 12th edn. 1966. Cambridge Ancient History vol. 12. 1939.
Cambridge Medieval History vol. 1. 1911 and vol. 2. 1913. Collingwood (R. G.) and J. N. L. Myres, Roman Britain and the English Settlements; 2nd edn. 1937.
Dill (S.) Roman Society in the Last Century of the Western Empire; 2nd edn. 1899.
Frere (J. S.) Britannia. 1967.
Jones (A. H. M.) The Later Roman Empire. 3 vols. 1964.
Parker (H. M. D.) The Roman Legions. 1958.
Reusch (W.) Treveris: a guide through Roman Trier; 2nd edn. 1964.
Schleiermacher (W.) Der Römische Limes in Deutschland. 1961.
Starr (C. G.) The Roman Imperial Navy, 31 B.C.—A.D. 324; 2nd ed. 1960.
Vermaseren (M. J.) Mithras, the secret god. 1959.
Webster (G.) The Roman Imperial Army. 1969.
About the Author
Wallace Breem was born in 1926 and educated at Westminster School. In 1944 he entered the Indian Army Officers’ Training School and later joined a crack regiment of the North West Frontier Force. After the war he took a number of temporary jobs, eventually joining the library staff of the Honourable Society of the Inner Temple. By 1965 he had become the 11th Chief Librarian and Keeper of Manuscripts. He was a founder member of the British and Irish Association of Law Librarians. He served the organisation in a number of senior capacities from 1969 until his death in 1990, when the Association and the Inner Temple jointly set up a Memorial Award in his honour.