Eagle in the Snow: The Classic Bestseller

  “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

  Optatus (Julius)

  Quartermaster, 20th Legion

  *Placidia (Galla)

  sister to Honorius

  *Rando

  King of the Alemanni

  *Respendial

  King of the Alans

  *Saturninus
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  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 civi
lian official, often in charge of finance.

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

  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.