Caractacus: Spear of Britannia

‘An entertaining insight into the era.’ Richard Foreman, author of Spies of Rome

Nor Shall My Sword Sleep
43 AD.

Britain braces itself for invasion by a brutal and ruthless enemy.

All that stands in the way of the Emperor Claudius and his legions is a young warrior, Caractacus, and his brother. Both men have prepared their whole lives for this moment.

But as the blow falls, their father the High King suddenly dies and they are alone. Worse, Caractacus now threatens the network of alliances that hold the British nations together by falling in love with Sarah, a Hebrew princess judged to be ill-suited for the kingdom.

How will the Briton navigate his way through the diplomatic minefield so that he can fight the invader – while his brother is dangerously under the influence of the Roman officer, Julius Osteria Scapula, who murdered their sister.

Then he begins to suspect there is another reason altogether why the Romans are there. It’s because the Christians have arrived in the West and desire to make Britain a base for their operations.

This is Caractacus as we have never encountered him before – the brilliant leader of British resistance to Roman rule, and the sophisticated chief of a proud race – put terrifyingly to the test.

Crown of Thorns

44AD.

Caractacus, the British war leader, has been beaten into a corner and his brother, the previous high king, has changed sides in despair.

The island of Albion is split down the middle, along the line of the old Fosse Way. If Caractacus engages the Romans on the battlefield, his people will be slaughtered. If not, then he will have to accept the enemy’s increasing presence in his country.

So, what should the leader of the British nations do?

To add to his trials, the soldier’s old enemy returns, Scapula. The Roman officer, who murdered his sister, is out for blood. The son of the new Roman governor has the will and means to hunt Caractacus down – to end his tribe and their peaceful, civilised way of life.

As Caractacus sets up his headquarters in Caer Leon, another factor comes in to play – the early Christians and relatives of Christ himself have begun to settle in southern Siluria. Are the Romans actually there to root them out?

Caractacus and those other Britons determined to reject Roman domination find themselves forced into battle – on a distant, but well-defended hillfort – in Ordovicia.

The fate of a man – and his tribe – hang in the balance.

Roman Briton
52 AD.

Caractacus, the British High King is now in chains, being taken to Rome with his family.

He fears a for the life of all of them.

But to his great surprise, the Briton’s speech wins him the sympathy of the Emperor Claudius and his new wife Agrippina.

His fate is to suffer exile from his native land.

But there are major challenges about being a Christian king in pagan Rome – especially after Claudius is succeeded by Lucius Domitius Ahenobarbus – known to history as Nero.

Caractacus must steer a careful path via the British house, the legendary Palatium Britannicum, through the Great Fire of Rome and the persecution of the Christians.

Then, his beloved niece Claudia is snatched by the Praetorian Guard, and she looks set to meet a horrific death in the circus.

The Briton has a choice to make. Does he submit, to protect his people, or does he fight back and attempt to save Claudia’s life?

David Boyle is a British author and journalist who writes mainly about history and new ideas in economics, money, business, and culture. Other titles by the author include Dunkirk: A Miracle of Deliverance and Alan Turing: Unlocking the Enigma.