Soldier of Rome: Journey to Judea (The Artorian Chronicles)

  Soldier of Rome:

  Journey to Judea

  Book Five of the Artorian Chronicles

  James Mace

  Legionary Books

  www.legionarybooks.net

  Electronic 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

  http://www.legionarybooks.net

  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

  I Stood With Wellington

  Courage, Marshal Ney

  Table of Contents

  Preface

  Cast of Characters

  Roman Military Ranks

  Prolog: The Passing of Livia

  Chapter I: Incursion on the Rhine

  Chapter II: Unrest in the East

  Chapter III: The Hand of the Emperor

  Chapter IV: Seasons End

  Chapter V: New Horizons

  Chapter VI: Changing of the Guard

  Chapter VII: Across the Empire

  Chapter VIII: Family Matters

  Chapter IX: Ghosts of the Past

  Chapter X: Casting Off

  Chapter XI: Sea of Evil

  Chapter XII: Black Devil Ship

  Chapter XIII: Lost and Damned

  Chapter XIV: Friends, Old and New

  Chapter XV: Strange Traditions

  Chapter XVI: To Jerusalem

  Chapter XVII: Unworthy Allies

  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 XXVIII: Unholy Hatred

  Chapter XXIX: Paid in Blood

  Chapter XXX: Live for the King

  Chapter XXXI: Days of Rage

  Chapter XXXII: Bitter Departures

  Chapter XXXIII: Death is Just the Beginning

  Chapter XXXIV: End of Days

  Epilog

  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

  Prolog: The Passing of Livia

  The Imperial Palace, Rome

  September, 29 A.D.

  ***

  Livia is dying.

  The loud banging on the door to his house had startled Claudius. Though he hated being woken in the middle of the night, he knew that it could only mean something dire for his slumber to be disturbed. As he rubbed his hand over his sleepy eyes, his instincts told him it must have something to do with his grandmother, Livia, the empress dowager. Though viewed as a stuttering imbecile by many, as Livia’s only surviving grandson and with his uncle away, he would be the first notified if there were any drastic changes in her health.

  His perpetual limp made progress slow, and it was his wife, Aelia, who read the one-line note that was handed to her by an imperial messenger. Without a word, she handed the parchment to her husband. As he read, the words struck Claudius hard. Though he had spent most of his life living in fear of his grandmother, during the last four years they had grown surprisingly close. Her absent son, Emperor Tiberius, now lived in self-imposed isolation on the Isle of Capri. In truth, he had been estranged from his mother years before his departure. Seven years earlier, when Livia had fallen ill, Tiberius put aside his personal animosity and immediately rushed to her side. This time there would be no return of her wayward son.

  In some small way, Livia managed to find solace in the company of the lone surviving grandson that Tiberius denied her. Her younger son, Drusus Nero, who was Claudius’ father, had passed into the afterlife nearly forty years before, when Claudius was an infant.

  “The m…mother of our empire is dying,” he said quietly to himself. He had been ar
ound the Empress dowager his entire life, yet it was only when Livia’s time had grown so late did the two finally understand each other. It had been over dinner with just the two of them. A few goblets of wine brought Claudius’ guard down and his grandmother realized her suspicion. Though his afflictions were real, all his life he’d exaggerated his stutter and limp so that he’d be thought a fool and left alone.

  “Go to her,” Aelia insisted. “Her son will not come, and it would not be fitting for an empress to die alone.”

  Claudius nodded and quickly made for the door, almost forgetting to throw a tunic on as a slave hurried after him with some clothes. A pair of praetorian guardsmen awaited him.

  “We’re here to escort you to the palace, sir,” one of the men spoke. He was an optio by the name of Cornelius. Many of the guardsmen viewed Claudius with contempt; Cornelius was one of the few who recognized him for his strength of mind and character. “There’s a litter waiting for you.”

  “M…much obliged,” Claudius replied as limped towards the curtained litter, borne by a dozen slaves.

  The praetorian optio walked alongside, and he sought to take Claudius’ mind off his grandmother’s failing health with conversation. “I served under your brother,” he stated.

  Claudius’ brother was the late great general, Germanicus Caesar. “Yes,” Claudius acknowledged. In truth, it pained him to talk about his brother, who’d been murdered ten years earlier while serving in the east.

  “I was fortunate to have been with the praetorian cohorts that fought beside him at both Idistaviso, as well as the siege of Angrivarii,” the optio continued, unaware of the vexation this brought to Claudius, whose face was hidden in the dark behind the partially drawn curtain of the litter. “He led the assault on the stronghold without donning his helmet, that way all the lads could see him. By Mars, he was the bravest of us all!”