During Emperor Trajan’s reign, Rome fought multiple wars against the Dacians, who inhabited what is now Romania. The tribes united under Decebalus posed a constant threat to the empire—just as the Romans did to them. Flavius Ferox, centurion and protagonist of Adrian Goldsworthy’s City of Victory trilogy, takes command of the frontier fort of Piroboridava. If the Dacian armies, preparing for war, decide to march, this fort will be the last line of defense before the provinces.
Through the Eyes of a Historian
Following his Vindolanda novels, Adrian Goldsworthy continues the adventures of his British-born Roman officer, who now finds himself on the empire’s opposite frontier, accompanied by his warrior-queen wife, Claudia Enica. Despite being far from the City and focusing on the relatively low-ranking officers of a minor fort, Goldsworthy still manages to paint a complex picture of how the Roman Empire operated—particularly from a military perspective.
As Flavius Ferox strengthens the fort’s defenses against the looming war, all while dealing with the resentment of the tribal warriors under his command and the rightful anger of his warrior-spirited wife—historian Goldsworthy, too, demonstrates his expertise.
However, if you’ve already prepped for Roman history by devouring classics—say, Colleen McCullough’s brilliant Masters of Rome series—and consider yourself something of an expert, you might still find the sheer volume of Latin terminology overwhelming, from military ranks to soldier slang.
