One of the things that makes being an author such a joy is meeting and getting to know other authors and their works. When it comes to all things Wars of the Roses, one expert stands out... Anne Easter Smith. I read her excellent work on Richard III this past year, and found her usage of his burial's excavation account within her text as pure genius. I'd like to welcome Anne to my blog. You're sure to enjoy her words this week.


Thanks so much for having me join your blog today, Brook. You told me I could write about anything I liked, so I have!
 
“Write what you know” was often advised when I plunged into the murky waters of literary endeavor and found myself floundering about in that terrifying first foray. So I did. 

What I “knew” centered on a king who died 528 years ago on a boggy field outside of Leicester, smack in the middle of England. A history nut from adolescence, I came upon a book in my early twenties by English mystery writer Josephine Tey called DAUGHTER OF TIME that repudiated everything I had learned at school about one of our “Bad” kings, Richard III. When I had turned the last page, I became a Ricardian fanatic.
 
What they didn’t tell me about writing was that, along with your knowledge of a subject, a strong dose of passion would lift your book above the ordinary. I learned this when an editor recognized it in my first effort at a novel, “A Rose for the Crown.” She told me my passion for righting the wrong done to Richard shone through every page.
 
For more than 40 years I devoured everything I could find about Shakespeare’s crookback protagonist, the much-maligned King Richard. Boy, oh boy, must Richard have flipped over in his grave as Will penned his play. (Now that we have found Richard’s bones under a car park in Leicester and know he was squashed, without even a shroud, into a shallow, makeshift spot under the nave of the one-time Greyfriars church, the poor man couldn’t have done much more than wiggle a toe much less turn over.) For 40 years, I would rave passionately about how erroneously Shakespeare and the other Tudor propagandists had chronicled Richard’s story.

But pontificating (read, being a bore) at parties didn’t fulfill my manic obsession to tell the world how wrong the history books were. Mercifully, I found I was not alone. There is actually a Richard III Society, begun in the 1920s, to attempt to redress his reputation. Today there are several thousand of us all over the world.
 
To write that first book, I became a self-styled expert on all things Wars of the Roses. My library of reference books on the period has grown to fill a bookcase and three drawers of a filing cabinet! After writing five books at the behest of Simon & Schuster, I became a victim of the current downturn in the industry. “Historical fiction readers want strong female protagonists,” my agent was told by most of the editors to whom we pitched THIS SON OF YORK. “They don’t want to read about men. Also, unfortunately for you, the medieval period is now OUT. Why don’t you write me a book about World War II? And besides the book is far too long for today’s busy readers.” (Hilary Mantel, take note!)
 
So three strikes, and I was out of the running to have my “passion project” traditionally published. Thankfully, I hooked up with a small independent publisher in my home state of Massachusetts, Bellastoria Press, and I believe they have done a wonderful job producing the book, with the help of cover artist Sanford Farrier, so it blends in with my other books on the shelf. I hope you will agree. This is the book I should have written first but was too chicken to get into Richard’s head! After writing around him for the first five, I think I have the measure of him now, and he spoke quite easily through me during the writing of his story.


Again, a huge thanks to Anne for taking time to be my guest blogger for April. Below are links to all of her books, so for those of you with a thirst for reads taking place in the late Middle Ages, have at it! 

​Everyone stay well and be sure to drop me a line if there's something you'd like me to blog about!

When I was a child, I remember watching Ben Hur, starring Charlton Heston, and being particularly moved by the scene in which Judah goes into the leper's colony to find his mother and sister. This was the first movie I'd ever watched about the ancient world, and to this day, it remains one of my favorites. The pitiable isolation of the lepers and their doomed condition in a world that didn't understand disease came to mind today, as I was considering what to write on for this week's blog. 

I am not a doctor or medical professional, but everyone who reads this blog has been touched in some way by COVID-19. Whether you are currently living under a lock-down due to this virus, or practicing social-distancing, every single one of us is in new territory for which none of us could imagine two months ago. So tonight, I cracked open my Oxford Classical Dictionary and turned to the topic of disease, thinking it would be most appropriate to learn a little about what the ancient world regarded as pestilence. 

First of all, disease was the number-one killer of people two-thousand years ago. According to writings from Galen, two in particular took a heavy toll: malaria and tuberculosis. Even in ancient times, physicians were able to identify three separate types of malaria, caused by mosquitoes. But the common symptom of all three were high fevers every two to three days, and these usually presented in either summer or fall. People of all ages were succeptable, and surprisingly, Malaria could be common in regions without marshes or wetlands. That being said, there are some scholars convinced that it was this mosquito-borne illness that may have led to the demise of the Etruscan civilization in Italy. Another killer in antiquity was tuberculosis, which mostly struck at young adults, especially in crowded city-centers. Physicians of the day believed it to be fatal, and most of the time, it probably was.

Though ancient sources don't offer much information on childhood diseases, many illnesses were were common ones for which most people are innoculated against today: diphtheria, chickenpox, mumps, and whooping cough. That being said, childhood anemia, iron-deficiencies, and other malnutrition ailments were common and have shown up in skeletal remains. Some archaeological digs have even yielded evidence of cancers, and Galen specifically mentions in his writings that breast cancer was especially prevalent. 

Having read all this tonight, I was reminded that even now, in an age of high technology and information overloads, we can still live in uncertain times, as did our ancestors. Each of us, in retrospection, probably never could have guessed that we'd be dealing with a pandemic at our doorsteps. I'd like to wish all of my readers a bill of clean health as I write this. Whether you're in lock-down, quarantine, or may be struggling with the Coronavirus itself, please know that you and your families are in my thoughts and prayers. 

In the meantime, wash your hands, boil some water, enjoy a cup of tea, choose a good book, and READ ON!

Marcus rubbed sleep from his eyes, considering. Why would Decimus Brutus be intervening to get Caesar to the Senate? That sounded suspicious.
Hackles raised, he threw the coverlet off.
“What day is it?” mumbled Fulvia, stretching and turning over.
“The ides of Martius,” Marcus replied, yawning. “Eros, get my toga. It seems I must look like a consul today after all.”

In Roman times, the calendar often had several terms signifying a particular date. The 15th of March, May, July, or October was considered the “ides”. All other months had an “ides”, as well; theirs landing on the 13th day of the month.

During Gaius Julius Caesar’s dictatorship, the ides in the month of March was to change Roman history permanently. In fact, it was a date so ingrained in the history of western civilization, that the Ides of March connotes a day of infamy—of bad luck. Each March 15th in Rome, actors descend upon the area where Caesar was killed to “replay” the deed. And then, people with a real fascination for Caesar’s history still deposit roses on the very place his body was cremated—within the ruined remains of the Temple of Caesar. (see photo at left)

If Caesar is so well-remembered today, then when why was he killed in the first place?

In 44 BC, Caesar had been granted the title of “Dictator for life”. This was a pretty big deal. Ever since Rome had first become a Republic, the mere thought of single-man rule was abhorrent—in fact traitorous. When the Senate allowed Caesar this honor, it was beyond anything that had been done before. Caesar was given a political permanence that no other dictator had been granted. However, one must remember that he won that permanence by military force. Once his final rival, Pompeius Magnus was dead, Caesar had full control over Rome.
​
Compared to his predecessors, Julius Caesar held a more worldly, global-based view of the Roman world. The exclusivity of Roman citizenship was now available for Gallic people and people in the east. But Caesar took it a step more, granting senatorial status to Gallic-born men. For hard-core Romans like Brutus, Cassius, and others, this was like swallowing poison. And Caesar had pretty much claimed divine roots by this time, too. He had always boasted that his family was descended from the goddess Venus Genetrix (Venus of the family—meaning his) and shortly before his death, he had a temple completed and consecrated in Rome, dedicated to her. But the juiciest tidbit about that, which turned into a raging scandal, was that the cult-statue inside the temple had a high-profile model—Cleopatra of Egypt, Caesar’s mistress!  Ruins of this very temple can still be seen today in the Forum. (see below left)

Good ol’ down-home, strait-laced Roman senators just couldn’t take any more.

A group of them, led by Gaius Cassius Longinus and Marcus Junius Brutus began to plan an assassination. On the day they chose to strike, it was assumed that Caesar would actually be appointed “king” over all Roman possessions, only excluding Rome itself. That fateful day?

The Ides of March.

Though Caesar was stabbed twenty-three times, it’s estimated that as many as sixty men were in on the plot. One man, Decimus Brutus (no big relation of Marcus Brutus, by the way) was actually a beneficiary in Caesar’s will! There’s some argument of whether or not Marcus Antonius (Marc Antony) was involved. However, Antonius was well-known as Caesar’s “right-hand man” by that time and he was also known for his loyalty to friends and family. 

So what exactly happened on the Ides?

Strangely enough, Caesar nearly missed his own assassination! Romans were a very superstitious people, and because of some dark portent, Calpurnia’s nightmare, or perhaps a real warning, he opted NOT to go—at first. However, the senator Decimus Brutus may have been the one to intervene and convince Caesar to attend.

Antonius was usually at Caesar’s side. Because of his physical size and reputation as a fine soldier, the assassins came up with a plan to separate Antonius from Caesar. As soon as Caesar and Antonius entered the Theater of Pompeius’s curia (where the Senate was meeting at the time), a friend of Antonius insisted he speak with him. This “friend” was Gaius Trebonius, a military colleague of Antonius. Both had fought for Caesar during the Gallic Wars at the final, bloody siege at Alesia. The two had shared a tent and as soldiers often do, had formed a close bond. Little did Antonius know that Trebonius was no longer his friend!

Once Caesar had taken his place in the Senate, “deliberations” of a sort began, with some petitions. Servilius Casca was the first to strike a blow and Caesar—always a fighter, even in encroaching age and illness—fought him off with a writing utensil known as a stylus. Ah, the power of the pen!

Sadly for Caesar, the pen didn’t save him. It’s generally accepted that Marcus Brutus was the last man to stab the dictator. Brutus probably did have a lot of conflicted feelings. His mother had been Caesar’s mistress, he had also served Caesar in Gaul, and had even been pardoned by him after the civil war with Pompeius.
​
Regardless of whether Brutus’s jab finished the job, Caesar died shortly thereafter of multiple stab-wounds. Later, Brutus had a coin issued, commemorating his participation in the deed. (see below) One side of it features two daggers surrounding a cap. This was the type of cap that freed slaves often wore upon their liberation.

Thus, all of the conspirators, who at this point termed themselves as “liberators” fled to the Temple of Jupiter. It was located on the highest hill in Rome—the Capitoline—not an easy place to approach from a military standpoint. History tells us that Antonius was pretty slick during the days that followed. He walked the fine political line between civil unrest (again!) and keeping the peace, doing an admirable, if not wily job of it. And he gave his stellar funeral oration that not only stirred the plebians into a frenzy by cremating Caesar themselves, but spooked Brutus and Cassius all the way to Greece!

At this, the plebs became frenzied, chanting oaths to Caesar’s shade, jumping up and down in unison and lifting hands or balling fists in emotion. Their fervor encouraged Marcus, and in a daring move, he kicked the lid off of the basket at his feet. Inside was Caesar’s bloodied toga, and he whipped it out to thousands of gasps. One of his lictors stepped forward on cue, and Marcus took up his fasces, draping the stained garment over the axe. He lifted it high, striding back and forth across the Rostra, displaying it like a banner.
​
                                                    Italicized samples are from Brook Allen's newest novel, Antonius: Second in Command 

 If you fought in a Roman legion, what protected you? 

It was called a scutum in Latin. Early ones in the regnal period up until the early Republic were known as the clipeus and were round. Sometime in the 4th century BC, an oval, oblong-shaped shield was developed and that became the first scutum. By the 1st century AD or even the late Republic, these shields took on the shape that most "HollyRome" movies portray--curved and rectangular. That being said, cavalrymen like my protagonist, Marcus Antonius in Antonius: Son of Rome, would have wielded lighter, circular shields, known as the parma.

Scuta were made of layers of wood that were carefully glued. The wood was then covered with leather and topped with canvas which was brightly painted. We know this, since a phenomenal artifact was found intact in Syria, known as the Dura Scutum. (see photo at upper right) Looking at the photo, it's easy to see where the metal boss would have been--in the dead center. Bosses were probably made of either iron or bronze and were especially useful when the scutum was used as an offensive weapon. Each shield had a light, smoothly sanded wooden grip behind the boss and legionaries sometimes used sheepskin to further protect their hands during combat. Stats for the Dura Europos scutum ​were 41.5 inches long, 16 inches wide, and about a foot deep, in the curvature. And how much did this extremely necessary piece of equipment weigh? It was surprisingly light for its size: about twenty-two pounds. And it's jaw-droppingly beautiful! Shields decorated like this must have been an impressive sight, with thousands of men marching with them.

So what else protected you, besides your shield, armor, helmet, gladius, and pilum? 

Numbers protected you! The movie Gladiator, starring Russell Crowe very accurately showed the necessity of legionaries depending on one another for maneuvers, protection, and morale. In one of the more memorable scenes, supposedly in the Roman Colosseum, Maximus shouts to his men, "As one!" Indeed, that's how a legion fought: AS ONE--and I'd bet my life that the best soldiers in today's modern age are trained to rely on one another, too. Scuta could be used either as a defensive or offensive weapon. In a scene from Antonius: Second in Command, Marcus uses his parma shield offensively:
 
"As he cantered past a thicket, focusing on what was happening ahead of him, his horse shied at the sound of snapping branches He could barely think before two Britons on foot erupted out of the dense green foliage. Spooked and panicked, Marcus's horse squealed and feinted sideways, nearly pitching him into one of his enemy's arms. Legs burning, he clamped his calves around his frightened animal to stay on. His right hand frantically grasped his horse's mane in an attempt to right himself. Simultaneously, his left arm pummeled his shield hard atop one of the Britons' heads, and the man's skull crunched..."
                                                                   from Antonius: Second in Command by Brook Allen

At other times, generals like Marcus Antonius used a widely known maneuver called the testudo (tortoise formation). In my upcoming book Antonius: Legend, this formation is a tactic used against the Parthians and Marcus's men would have died without it. "As one" again, legionaries would create a tortoise-shell out of their scuta; those in front and on the ends of their unit forming a shield wall. Men inside the formation lifted their scuta above their heads. There were times in Parthia when Antonius's men literally marched like this all day long. Ugh! But it saved lives (and probably built biceps, too!). At other times, during stationary combat, men in front would actually kneel.

Since I'm an author and words fascinate me, I thought I'd share one last fun fact. Years ago, I worked as a naturalist in Everglades National Park. I was around alligators all day long and the wildlife there fascinated me. Coincidenatlly, the boney ridges along the backs of alligators and crocodiles  are called "scutes". It wasn't until I starte studying Roman History in depth that I realized from where this word was derived. 

Read on, wash your hands, and if you have ideas for my blogs, let me know! I love hearing from you. 

The re-enactor's shield below shows a scutum complete with its boss. How would you like that ​mercilessly shoved in your face? 

While learning my way on Twitter, one person has been truly indispensable in assisting and orienting me. That individual is Australian author, Emma Lombard. And she does this for anyone who needs help! Emma is professional and resourceful. In crafting her characters for her book, she even hired an artist to visually "create them" (see bottom picture)! 

Before becoming a historical fiction author, Emma Lombard was an editor in the corporate world across various industries—aviation, aquatic ecology, education and the world of academia. Her blog series Twitter Tips for Newbies is popular in Twitter's #WritingCommunity for helping writers navigate the platform and find their voices on social media. She is the author of the upcoming historical adventure, Discerning Grace. 

​I'd like to introduce author Emma Lombard and allow her to share more about her work as a writer.​

Where the Idea Came From 
The idea for Discerning Grace came about when my grandmother wrote and told me (many moons ago) that my 3x great grandmother eloped with an English sea captain. All it took was for me to read the opening to one of her letters and I just knew I had to write a story about it! This is what the letter said, ‘Your GGG grandmother was only 16 when she ran away from home to marry a sea captain … her family cut her off and she sailed the seas with him …’
 
Armed with the knowledge my grandmother gave me of my GGG grandmother’s character, I had a great foundation upon which to build my fictional tale. I’ve been thrilled by the journey of writing it and all the research too, but most of all, I’ve loved imagining the incredible courage and fortitude it would have taken my ancestor to choose such a life! Plus, there is my GGG grandfather’s side of the tale to consider too. As my grandmother put it, they were ‘obviously a very enlightened couple, and she a very, very liberated woman.’
 
While the foundation for my novel comes from a piece of ancestral gossip, I have been very mindful not to encroach on my ancestor's lives and so my story is a purely fictional, historical naval adventure—with a dash of romance.
 
Writing a Female Protagonist in a Patriarchal Society
 
My research highlighted just how few naval adventures are authored by women and have a female protagonist. There is also so much in the history books about men at sea but comparatively little about women. Certainly, history shows us that women went to sea, whether with permission or not—as passengers or wives, but there are fewer records of what life was like at sea for these women.
 
Thankfully, I found some incredible resources that are a treasure trove of an insight into the lives of many women at sea, drawn from newspaper articles, diaries and historical records. The personalised accounts from the women’s diaries gives so much more depth and emotion, outlining their hopes and fears as well as lamenting the loss of luxuries and comfort, than say a ship’s books recorded by a male clerk, which while brimming with factual information, is devoid of that personal touch.
 
Any doubt I had about my characters being too modern and breaching the class or gender expectations of the time was securely put to bed by Elizabeth Gaskell’s series North and South. Here is a female author who published her works in 1854 with a recurring theme of complex social conflicts, including an entitled female protagonist who befriends working-class characters. As can be expected, Gaskell’s work received scathing critical reception for going against the prevailing views of the time but it is a great source for me, as a modern author, to know that these thoughts existed back then and has enabled me to confidently craft some unconventional relationships between my characters.
 
Research Gives a Flavour of the Times
 
I had to do a lot of research about living aboard a naval vessel in the 19th century. The irony is, I can't even step foot on a ship because I get terribly sea sick! However, I’ve managed to explore a few ship museums around the world, which has been fabulous to immerse myself in shipboard life, even if they aren’t quite of the era I was writing.
 
While most Royal Navy captains commanded their ships under the governance of the Articles of War, there are plenty of tales of wayward captains who either abused the punishments or were indifferent to complying with the regulations. Let’s face it, once out on the open ocean for years at a time, a ship was the captain’s kingdom to command as he pleased. My research gave me a flavour of the dress, etiquette, food and expectations of shipboard life, which helped me thread this authenticity into my works.
 
Interestingly enough, there were several scenes that I wrote based on factual events or characters that today’s modern audience (aka my beta readers and my editor) found implausible. So, I had to find that sweet spot between toning down some of the more colourful events and keeping the plot going, while still maintaining the historical flavour.
 
I also unearthed how much of an influence popular culture has on historical events that have been inaccurately portrayed over the years either through fictionalisation or screen adaptation. As a historical fiction writer, you want to ensure you get the facts straight but sometimes there comes a point in your story where creative licence kicks in and certain events have to go a certain way to keep your readers engaged and entertained.
 
My Inspiration
 
I’ve drawn inspiration from Wilbur Smith’s galloping historical adventures that don’t shy away from sweeping the globe and diving into other cultures. Diana Gabaldon’s epic historical tomes are a brilliant source for learning how to use all your senses as a writer to build the old world. I have created a naval adventure that I hope will appeal to a wider audience as it is not overly bogged down with the technicalities of sailing or navigation found in a lot of naval fiction. It instead focuses more on the dynamics of relationships between rank and class, and on breaking down social and gender stereotypes of the day.
 
Many changes in history come about as a result of pioneering individuals and I hope to have captured this spirit in my characters. And let’s not forget, it’s also a rollicking adventure!

A Taste of My Resources
 
Nautical Sources
 
Naval:

• Royal Museums Greenwich: for all things British Royal Navy

 

• Historic Naval Fiction: all aspects of naval fiction, including links to great fiction and non-fiction resources

 
Women’s Point-of-view At Sea:

• Seafaring Women by renowned historian, Linda Grant De Pauw

 

• Female Tars by Suzanne J. Stark

 

• Hen Frigates by maritime historian, Joan Durett

 

• She Captains by maritime historian, Joan Durett

 
Great Storm Descriptions:

• Two Years Before the Mast by Richard Henry Dana, Jr.

 
Digitalised Newspapers

• Trove: Australian digitalised newspapers

 

• Newspaper Archive: US digitalised newspapers

 
Language

• Google Ngram Viewer: shows when a word or phrase was used throughout the history of written records

 

• Etymology Online: a history of words and their origins, and when they were first recorded in writing

 

• Deviant Art: Victorian-style Insults Generator (SO much fun!)

 
Victorian Times

• The Victorian Dictionary: a treasure trove of Victorian resources compiled by historical fiction author, Lee Jackson

 

• The Victorian Web: literature, history & culture in the age of Victoria

 

• Rootsweb: an absolute rabbit hole of ancestral history and stories

 
Maps

• David Rumsey Map Collection: digitalised, rare 16th through 21st century maps of North and South America, as well as maps of the World, Asia, Africa, Europe, and Oceania

 
Ship’s Museums I’ve Visited

• Polly Woodside

 

• Royal Yacht Britannia

 

• The Notorious

Here are some easy ways to connect with Emma on her webpage and social media sites: 
Website: emmalombardauthor.com
Twitter: @LombardEmma
Facebook: @EmmaLombardAuthor
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Picture this: You are a Roman legionary in attack-mode. You are in the middle of a formation, approaching the enemy. You have a large shield in your left hand, your gladius still sheathed on your right side. But how is your unit going to illicit fear into the enemy army? And WHAT are you holding in your right hand, if not your sword?

You are holding a pilum (pl. pila)--the Roman version of the javelin. And you have a second one in reserve.

Pila were typically used in the first phase of combat, when a legion was approaching and getting into range of their enemy. Until the very end of the Republic, this long spear came in two varieties: a light and heavier version (graphic at left shows both, as well as what is probably the later Republican model in the middle.). Both were weighted and had barbed tips which were either extremely difficult or impossible for an enemy soldier to remove from his shield. And when this weapon was discharged, legionaries actually used a small leather sling device, giving it a rifle-like launch--affording more impetus than just a muscled arm! These things had a range of nearly 100 ft. and if you were on the receiving end of a pilum throw, you were probably killed quickly if hit. A solid strike was powerful enough to pierce through armor or chain mail. But fending one off with your shield was awful too, since the point's barb insured that it wouldn't come out. You'd be lugging around a shield WITH a long, cumbersome pilum sticking in it! The effect of hundreds of these things being launched all at once against an opposing army must have been terrifying. 

Now, you're back to being a Roman legionary again. As you draw your gladius and near your first opponent, he has someone's pilum jutting out of his shield. For you, this is easy. Since he has no way of removing it, you can use your shield to hit it hard, briefly jerking his shield away long enough to gut him with your sword. Or, if it's low enough on his shield, you just step on the pilum's shaft to get the same result. 

By the 1st century BC, the pilum had been used long enough for enemy soldiers to devise ways of re-using them. Either after a battle, or even in a different phase of a battle, they'd jerk them out of their unfortunate comrades bodies and shields, hurling them right back against the Romans. Obviously, this didn't sit well with Roman generals.

Gaius Marius, a wily legate toward the end of the Roman Republic, improved the pilum so it would wind up useless in the hands of the enemy, regardless of how it wound up--stuck in a corpse or a shield. He removed one of the wooden pegs that attached the shaft to the weapon's iron business end. When the spear struck a target, the remaining peg broke, rendering the weapon useless in enemy hands. That being said, it may not have been as useful a tool for legionaries wanting it for leverage in taking down a foe, since it broke apart. So by Marc Antony's day, yet another improvement had been made. The iron shank was made to be narrower to a fault, and no longer even had as prominant a barb on the end. They were weakened on purpose so that they would still stick in an enemy's shield, but the pilum's iron end would bend and become useless. 

The Legio XX Online Handbook (https://www.larp.com/legioxx/pilum.html) offers a close look at the pilum, as well as other javelin/spear-type weaponry used by the Romans. It's also loaded with great photos, to give you an idea of what the various period pila looked like.

In the second week in March, one of my readers has requested that I share more about the scutum--the Roman military shield. Feel free to throw me ideas if you'd like to know more about particular subjects that I cover or mention in the Antonius Trilogy! 

Next week's blog will be a special treat! Australian author, Emma Lombard will be sharing more about her upcoming book, based on one of her own ancestors! 

​So, until then, READ ON!

              An example of a pilum shaft that was actually used in combat--bent at impact. This would have been the                        type of javelin used in Marc Antony's day. For my Biblical scholar friends out there, it was also probably the type                           of weapon used to pierce Jesus's side and on which the sponge soaked in wine was placed.

Two weeks ago, I wrote a blog on legionary soldiers that was (apparently) really well-received. This week I thought I'd start tackling weaponry that was a typical part of a legionary's life. A trademark of "Romanism" is something we've all been taught in history classes. Romans stole ideas from the various cultures they conquered. However, they were exceptionally good at taking that stolen good, adapting it, and making it BETTER. Such was the case of the vital and world-changing weapon known as the gladius--Roman short-sword.

Early Roman armies used pretty much the same type of sword as the ancient Greeks. But that all changed when it appears a Spanish-type sword (Gladius Hispaniensis) of the iron-age Cogotas culture in Spain was discovered. This became an early model for the type of weapon that eventually became the Roman gladius--which in Latin, means sword. Though mostly used for stabbing, gladii were effective weapons for slashing, too. Thus, each side of the blade was sharpened for cutting/slashing and tapered to a sharpened point for stabbing. Gladii were developed to be used in close combat scenarios, so they were not a long sword. In fact, most archaeological samples that have been discovered are around 23 inches long. When behind a shield, legionaries usually punched their arms out to wound enemies in the torso. Occasional slashes could easily take someone in the knee. So a gladius could take an enemy out of a battle by immobilizing them or by giving them a wound that was completely debilitating--all in very close range. Legionaries knew that stabs to either kill or disable didn't have to be deep. A stab wound penetrating only two inches would eventually kill a man. Slowly, perhaps (ugh!), but such wounds in ancient times almost always proved fatal.

The overall shape of a gladius could vary. Earlier samples show gladii to be wasp-shaped--very similar to the Spanish weapons from which they originated. As time progressed, however, gladii became slightly longer and the blade was straightened. Cavalrymen in the Imperial Age used the spatha, a slightly longer version of the gladius, which helped in range, since these men were mounted. And by the 2nd century AD, legions were actually switching from the gladius to the spatha, because of the changing tactics in fighting their enemies. Tracing exactly "when" some of these weapons began to be in use is dicey, sometimes making it tough for us authors. In Antonius: Son of Rome, I did not depict Marcus using a spatha as a cavalryman, since my sources indicated that this longer sword wasn't used until the imperial age.​​

A gladius's hilt was known in Latin as the capulus, and for officers and ceremonial weapons, they could be ornate with semi-precious stones, ivory, and finger indentions. Though the hilt didn't survive, portions of the scabbard of a gladius labeled the Mainz Gladius (see photo below) shows the skillful and intricate decorations on weaponry that probably belonged to officers. Imagine how rich and stunning this sword would have been! Scabbards were not worn on belts, but on shoulder straps. ​And in researching more for this blog article, I stumbled across some information that may provide an answer to something that had been puzzling me. Why did Romans wear their swords on the right, when they typically fought right-handed? Drawing a sword worn on the right when one is right-handed seems incredibly awkward. However, it could have been due to the large shields legionaries carried on their left. They may not have had the space in tight man-to-man combat to draw a sword from their left side, when their shield occupied most of that space. It would have been too risky to move one's shield. So, they would have been forced to learn how to draw the weapon from their right . (I'd still love to see a demonstration of how one of these swords would have been drawn, quickly and smoothly. I'm certain they had their ways!) 

By now, you may be wondering what a gladius blade was made of. Even though the Romans were busy conquering "Iron Age" Gaul to their north, the Classical world was already quite adept at using carbon steel blades. Archaeological samples have revealed that gladii could be made using either a single piece of steel or by using composite materials. Artifact swords have also discovered that had slight design differences over the course of several hundred years. And during the Late Republic, when Roman armies were so occupied fighting each other, generals had the blade length shortened slightly, since such tight combat was the trademark of Roman legions.

Since the gladius would have remained sheathed until two opposing armies came into very close angle, next week, I'm going to introduce everyone to the very first type of weapon the legionary soldier would have used in a battle: the pilum. Until then, READ ON!

Inside a cavern-like grotto overlooking the Circus Maximus, Marcus knelt on the stone floor with the handful of other naked men chosen to run for Lupercalia. Legend held this to be the very cave where a she-wolf suckled Romulus and Remus.

Indeed, the Roman festival of Lupercalia was grounded in the legend of Romulus and Remus—the twin brothers who were destined to become synonymous with the founding of Rome. And most of Rome’s attested history from the 7th and 8th centuries BC does point to the Palatine Hill as being the original “acropolis” of the city. Whether Romulus and Remus actually lived there—who knows? Back in 2007, an archaeological dig, beneath the Houses of Livia and Augustus, revealed a grotto that some historians argue is the original Lupercal cave. However, recent studies suggest it’s simply a nymphaeum. On the photo above look for the she-wolf suckling Romulus and Remus. This is from a panel on the Ara Pacis--Altar of Roman Peace, built by Augustus.​​

Wherever the location of the Lupercal cave was, each February 15th, young noblemen between the ages of 20-40 were selected as “luperci” who would participate in purifying and fertility-bestowing rites as they “ran the Lupercal”. Truly, the very name of the month “February” is derived from two terms associated with Lupercalia. First, there was a minor deity based on a god from Etruscan times, named Februus. He was often likened to mythological fauns and since they had a tendency for being randy, the Romans probably selected him to be honored in this festival. Secondly, the strips of bloody skin from the sacrifices, used to smack women in the hopes that they’d conceive, were known as “februa”.

One priest handed him a narrow slice of goatskin to cover his loins. Marcus tied it about his waist and between his legs. Bowing his head obediently, he opened his hands. Within moments, slick warm strips of newly shredded dog and goat hide februa were placed atop his palms. Clumsily, he braided them into a whip to be used on women passing his way. Another priest offered him another silver basin of blood, and he dunked the braided februa into it, letting it soak. After removing it, his hands were red and dripping, as was the februa.

Typically, goat and dog sacrifices were made as expiations against evil. They were then skinned and used like whips to hit women who were hopeful of having children within the year. To us, it sounds positively barbaric to have killed innocent animals (especially dogs!) in this fashion and for this bizarre purpose. However, this was a pre-Christian era rite and in Roman society at the time, animal sacrifice of all sorts was a daily routine in temples throughout the city.

First out of the cave, Marcus bolted down the narrow path where girls were already waiting, hitching up tunics and exposing bare legs, thighs, and buttocks. Warmth pulsed through his veins despite the chill air, warming him. The sight of comely women baring extremities charged his blood.

The Lupercalia must have been a rowdy festival, and also proves how superstitious the Romans were, as even high-born women were happy to participate if being swatted by a februa meant getting pregnant.

And that brings me to my favorite Lupercalia story!

Marc Antony, my main character in the Antonius Trilogy, was selected as one of the Luperci—the men who ran the course of the Lupercal. His participation was not approved of by everyone. Cicero in particular balked at the thought of a serving consul running through the streets half naked. But Antony being Antony probably LOVED every minute of it! However, the mention of his current office enables us to date this Lupercal event to 44 BC. This was but a month away from Caesar’s demise on the Ides of March.

Militarily trained, he ran well ahead of the others. Women and men pressed close about him, screaming. Now at the foot of the Palatine, he entered the Forum. The Lupercal route through Rome would end at the Rostra, where Caesar waited, sitting on a recently bestowed golden throne.

Most people probably recall this story from Shakespeare’s Julius Caesar; Antony offering Caesar a crown repeatedly, and Caesar turning it down… Well, far from being legend, this incident probably really happened. Plutarch, a biographer living at the end of the 1st century AD tells about it in detail in his Life of Antony. Nobody knows for sure, but it’s likely that Caesar put his fellow consul up to the task, curious as to the opinion of the people regarding a possible kingship.

So is there any relation between Lupercalia and Valentine’s Day? Well, there was a respected Christian back in the 3rd century AD known as Valentine. He was martyred on February 14th—the day before Lupercalia. Known for assisting captured Christians and helping young couples who were Christians to safety during one of the later persecution periods, he was a beloved figure. After Lupercalia was banned and Christianity legalized, Valentine was canonized and honored on the supposed date of his martyrdom—February 14th. Thus began the yearly celebration, known as St. Valentine’s Day.

In researching the ties between the ancient rites of Lupercalia and how they might have “morphed” into Valentine’s Day, I’m skeptical that that was the case here. There may have been some symbolism, such as the color red—originally the color of a bloody februa, used in the fertility rite. But even that seems to be a stretch. There just isn’t much hard evidence that the Lupercalia “became” Valentine’s Day.

Roman history lover that I am, I’ll keep them separate. I’ll accept my roses from my husband with a broad smile and a kiss and leave the running of the Lupercal to my main man, Marcus! Happy Valentin'es Day, readers!

Bare feet hammering the pavement, sweat beaded Marcus’s forehead, spiting the cold. Every single exhale turned to mist in the clear morning air. Prostitutes at a food stall whistled and called as he passed, admiring his lean, powerful body. His muscles were rigid whenever he stopped suddenly or whirled about, lashing out with his februa to switch a hopeful female. Part of the crowd started shouting his name in rhythm, so he lifted his februa, grinning and waving at them in response.

(Italicized portions are from Brook Allen’s Antonius: Second in Command)

Typewriters & Bookstores, Websites & Facebook
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By Michelle Gill
Typewriters and bookstores, what do they have in common? A writer used to hope to have a traditional publisher read and publish their typewritten pages. Once those labored-over pages were printed in book form, the publisher would advertise their book and send them to a local bookstore lined with wooden shelves and large windows to be held and bought. Today most writers do not use a typewriter, publishers require the author to market their own book, and a bookstore cannot depend on their physical location alone to sell books. Bookstores are forced into online sales and digital marketing. Today your book is written on a computer and sold on the internet.

Marketing, generally, depends on the writer. If the writer is chosen by a traditional publisher, that publisher looks at their digital follower numbers. I have personally known bloggers who were picked up by a publisher or agent because of the following that they created themselves on-line.

As a writer, you are sharing a story or you are sharing your story. You are inviting people in to take a look at your work, to take a look at you. The internet is a way to reach people, lots of people at once. I tell my clients to think of their website as their home. It is from there that you reach out, that you invite people in for a visit.

Most writers are not interested in social media or digital marketing. It is all too overwhelming. But think of them as invitations. These are tools to invite others to read your message, to share your world.

Social media, store links (author pages), and blogs are all avenues or vehicles to you, your work, your art. Your website should send readers to stores selling your books, to social media to be shared, and to potential reviews. Your social media, online stores, author pages, review apps, blogs, and the like, all bring readers back to you at your on-line home, your website. It is an interconnected circle of information connecting you and encouraging others to introduce you into their community.

Building a Website
Finding a website builder who builds through coding is not necessary for an author. Today most website building programs use the “drag and drop” system. It is one where you drag an element, text, or image and drop it where you want it on the page.  Most platforms or programs include security, templates, and instructional videos. If you have the time and inclination, you can learn how to use any of the drag and drop systems. Or you can hire a builder-designer to do it for you. I recommend that if you do hire someone, that you inquire if they will show you the basics of blogging and maintaining your own website. Some companies choose to not allow their clients in to make basic changes and/or require a monthly fee.

As an author your basic needs in a website are standard pages offering a biography, blog, social media links, and store or links to on-line stores to purchase your book. You will need a subscriber feature most likely as well. This feature helps you to continue relationships with those interested in your work.

Social Media
I advise my clients to choose the social media that works best for them. Do not create accounts in all the social media that you can find, but those that you will be able to maintain easily. If you have a profile in any social media, it needs to be active. Choose your top two. For an author, right now, I would say Facebook and Twitter. In general, both are not as popular with the under thirty generation but Twitter focuses on words and this is necessary for a writer and it is easy to gain followers in Twitter. Facebook is a mainstay and through a page, advertising is inexpensive. But do your research and see where your desired audience is the most active. Make social media part of your regular schedule. An example would be to post something new each Monday and Friday.

There are so many more tricks to getting your name out there as an author and there is always paid advertising which is called digital marketing. I would not suggest buying into all the so-called experts and paying a thousand bucks for someone on-line to tell you what to do through videos. In the end you are still the one who has to do the work. Follow successful authors that you would like to emulate. How do they do it? Learn from them.

Good luck in your great web adventure! And may your readers come to you by the thousands! (And support your local bookstores often!) 
 
​For more information, feel free to contact Michelle Gill: www.michelleranaigill.com

 I'm rather ashamed that I've not really written much about the Roman military yet. And since I'm writing about one of Rome's most well-known generals, I think it's time I did. 

This week, I want to share some fun-facts about the common legionary--the grunts who dug latrines, built the amazing highway system throughout the Roman Empire, and became the most integral part of the world's first, year-round military force. In a forced march, these guys could cover more than 46 miles per day. Now this is based on "Roman miles" which were a little shorter than today's. But still---my dogs are barking and I haven't walked a mile yet today!!! I think it's pretty incredible! And these men were incredibly fit. On a typical march their armor, weapons, kit, helmet, and whatever else they carried was probably well over sixty pounds. Whenever I've visited museums in Rome, I seldom find Roman art depicting obese individuals, and certainly not soldiers. 

So what did a typical legionary soldier wear during the late Republic, which was the time-frame of Antonius: Son of Rome? First off, you didn't want to leave home without your lorica hamata--literally a tunic made from chain mail. By this time, it was standard issue for infantry had been in use for around three-hundred years, and may have been a Gallic contribution, though that's arguable. One mail tunic weighed over twenty pounds and probably had around 45,000 rings in its assemblage. Legions always employed blacksmiths and swordsmiths who could help maintain broken or worn equipment and weapons. The men who wore these fought on the front lines, after all!

                                                 A lorica hamata replica, probably worn by a re-enactor. 

Because I was wary of infringing on someone's copyright, the bottom picture of a re-enactor is the best I could find of a man dressed in what is close to "late Republican" military garb. ​You can see the lorica hamata, worn over the man's regular tunic, and possibly some padding over that.

No insult intended here, but this guy's footwear example isn't really accurate. So, look at the picture on the right for an example of caligae. Legionaries wore these nail-shod footwear and considered them boots. A far-cry from our boots today, of course! However, in the very early 1st century AD, legionaries in Germanicus's army gave their general's young son a nickname--Caligula--meaning "Little Boots". The name stuck, of course, and he grew up to be quite a piece of work, with or without his boots! Note the nails on the bottom of the soles. They allowed for traction, which must have been really important in northern climbs during winter. And I imagine it didn't feel too nice getting kicked or stomped on by a pair of caligae, either. But perhaps most importantly, with iron nails as soles, they lasted. On long campaign marches, a soldier needed long-lasting footwear.

So there you have it, folks--Roman Legionary 101!

Next week, I'm delighted to share yet another guest-blogger with you. Michelle Gill has been an indispensable resource to me as my "web-mistress". She has helped construct the beautiful website you visit weekly to read my blogs and will be featured discussing some of her knowledge about internet use in publishing and marketing.