Legio XVII Series

Same book, new cover. Historical fiction, written by a 28 year U.S. Army veteran, follows Rome’s Legio XVII from its creation to final battle and puts you in the minds of Praetor Manius Tullus and his Centurions as they plan and fight their way across Northern Italy and Austria. Praetor Tullus, a survivor of Cannae, recruits, trains and leads Legio XVII on a 30-month independent expedition to face battle-hardened Gallic and Germanic tribes. Meanwhile, in southern Italy, 23 Roman Legions battle Hannibal in a desperate struggle for the survival of Rome.

Set during the 2nd Punic War, this book immerses readers in battlefield clashes, innovative tactics, strategic planning, and inspiring leadership. It starts when Timur, Chief of the Cimbri/Teuton Tribes, leads 300,000 people on an epic six year 700 mile migration through land occupied by hostile and friendly Tribes from Jutland to the Danube River. Timur’s 90,000 man Army crosses the river at night and overpowers the Suevi defenders, whose leader, Bethica, appeals to Rome to repel the invaders. Roman Proconsul Manius Tullus is the Senate’s choice to lead Legio XVII, Legio XX, and two Roman Auxiliary Legions across the Alps into Germania where he is reinforced with 20,000 Suevi tribesmen. Major battles are fought at Augsburg and Landshut before Manius’ Legions face off with Timur’s Cimbri/Teuton warriors at the climactic battle of Regensburg.

Legio XVII Series, Book 3 (historical fiction): Following Scipio’s victory at Ilipa, Spain in 206 BC, Mago Barca, Hannibal’s brother, sails with his army to the northern Italian port of Genoa in 205, to attempt to do what his brother Hasdrubal failed to do in 207: reinforce the embattled Hannibal. Mago recruits mercenaries from as far away as Illyria (modern Albania) and Posonium (modern Slovakia). Praetor Manius Tullus leads Legiones XVII and V Etrusci to Verona to prevent the mercenaries from joining Mago and fights them at the Battle of Lake Benacus. Scipio arrives in Africa in 204 BC and fights two decisive battles. Under intense pressure from Carthage, Mago engages the veteran Legionaries blocking his way south. Carthage recalls Hannibal from Italy and sets the stage for the Battle of Zama between the two greatest generals of the 2nd Punic War. A last minute appeal from Scipio draws Manius and his two Legions to Africa to block Numidian cavalry from joining Hannibal. The fictional exploits of Legio XVII are impacted by the Punic War and its military operations are conducted in support of the overall war effort, but do not intrude into or alter actual historical events. Together, the three books present a complete summary of that ancient War.

Following Hannibal’s defeat by Publius Cornelius Scipio at the Battle of Zama in 202 BC, Rome dramatically reduces the size of its Army and withdraws her Legions from Northern Italy. Carthaginian General Hamilcar though had remained in Northern Italy after Mago’s defeat in 203 BC to stir the Gauls to rebellion against Rome, leading to the sacking of the Roman colony at Placentia and the siege of the colony at Cremona. Rome responds to the threat by sending three Legions to the area who come face to face with 35,000 Gauls in the Battle of Cremona. Shortly after the battle, Legio XVII is forced to take refuge on a hill and fortify it against repeated attacks by 13,000 Apuani warriors who arrive too late to fight at Cremona but still aim to do their part to destroy Rome. This story follows Titus, son of retired Praetor Manius Tullus of Legio XVII, from the time he marries the daughter of the Cenomani Chief in 205 BC, through his military training, to his participation in the Battle of Cremona in 200 BC.