Eager for Glory: The Untold Story of Drusus the Elder, Conqueror of Germania

by Lindsay Powell

"Drusus the Elder, illuminated at last in this the first biography of an important personality from the beginnings of Rome's empire and for which Lindsay is to be congratulated."
-- Graham Sumner, co-author Arms and Armour of the Imperial Roman Soldier

Nero Claudius Drusus Germanicus (Drusus the Elder) was regarded by the Romans as the first conqueror of Germania (The Netherlands and Germany) and a hero in the mold of Alexander the Great. Yet there has never been a full volume dedicated to his remarkable story, achievements and legacy. EAGER FOR GLORY brings this heroic figure back to life for a modern audience.

Drusus was a stepson of Augustus, through his marriage to Livia. As a military commander he led daring campaigns by sea and land that pushed the northern frontiers of Rome's empire to the Elbe River. He oversaw one of the largest developments of military infrastructure of the age. He married Marc Antony's daughter, Antonia, and fathered Germanicus, Rome's most popular general, and the future emperor Claudius. He was grandfather of Caligula. He died when he was only 29 and was revered in death.

Drawing on ancient texts, evidence from inscriptions and coins, the latest findings in archaeology, as well as astronomy and medical science, Lindsay Powell has produced a long overdue and definitive account of this great Roman.

Renowned author and illustrator Graham Sumner writes in the foreword to EAGER FOR GLORY, "Lindsay has produced a highly entertaining, thoughtful and readable account of a great Roman, which I am sure will be a treasured work on any Roman enthusiast's bookshelf". This ground-breaking book will appeal to all interested in ancient world history, biography, military history and adventure stories, and will be of particular interest to those studying classics in academia, Roman period re-enactment and numismatics.

Genres: History, Ancient History, Biography, Nonfiction, Ancient, Roman History, Roman

226 pages, Hardcover

First published April 19, 2011

About the author

LINDSAY POWELL is a historical detective. He is motivated to tell the stories of the under-reported personalities and events of history in the belief that they deserve to be told to complete our understanding of the past.

A historian and writer, Lindsay has a particular passion for the military history of the Roman Empire. He scours ancient documents, inscriptions, coins and museums for stories, and archaeological, engineering, medical and scientific reports to reveal deeper truths.

He was news editor of Ancient Warfare (2011-2016) and continues to contribute to the magazine. He has written for Military Heritage, Desperta Ferro and Strategy & Tactics magazines, as well as Pen and Sword Books, Osprey Publishing, The History Network and UNRV.com. Lindsay is a veteran of the world renowned Ermine Street Guard. His appearances include BBC Radio and The History Channel,

He divides his time between Austin, Texas and Wokingham, England.

Reviews

[Andrew Brozyna · Rating 4 out of 5]

Military biographies tend to be written by the same historic figures over and over again. There are dozens of books devoted to men like Julius Caesar, George Washington, Theodore Roosevelt, etc. There is a popular interest in such famous personalities, and there are ample resources on which a biographer can base his research. In Eager for Glory Lindsay Powell chronicles the life of an important Roman leader who has been unfairly neglected by history.

Before his accidental death, Drusus the Elder was successfully conquering western Germany. He was stepson of Emperor Augustus, the brother of Emperor Tiberius, father of Emperor Claudius, grandfather of Emperor Caligula, and great-grandfather of Emperor Nero. Had he not died so young, his exploits and family connections would have commanded a prominent place in Roman and world history.

Eager for Glory gathers the scattered evidence of Drusus' life and presents as near a complete story as can be told. The last person to write a biography of Drusus was the Emperor Augustus himself. Sadly, that text was lost to history. There is no surviving autobiography as Caesar has left us, nor are there full accounts written by ancient historians such as Plutarch or Tacitus. Yet, there are some short references to Drusus among ancient writings. Powell pieced these with his deep knowledge of the the Roman military, recent archaeology, and the general history surrounding Drusus' life. The gaps are filled with Powell's own intriguing theories.

The text begins with a discussion of Drusus' early life in the imperial family. As a young adult he enters politics. At age 22 Augustus puts him in command of the Roman operation to conquer the Alps. This was the Bellum Alpinum (aka Bellum Noricum) against the Raeti. I have seen this war briefly mentioned in other Roman military books, so I was very interested to read Powell's detailed account. Those readers unfamiliar with the Roman, Celtic, and German ways of war are supplied with backgrounds on the respective armor, weapons, equipment, tactics, etc. Speaking of armor, Roman history buffs will be interested to see how Powell ties the introduction of segmented armor to Drusus' own legions. After the conquest of the Raetians, Drusus is rewarded with a governorship of Gaul.

Although technically provinces of Rome, the three Gauls are still a fertile land for rebellion. Through clever diplomacy, Drusus diffuses a potential revolt. He then responds militarily to violent incursions from German neighbors. The unstable border encourages Augustus to subdue and assimilate the people East of the Rhine. Powell narrates the daring exploration and long-distance combat of Drusus' Bellum Germanicum. At the book's end we learn of Rome's reaction to Drusus' unexpected death, his (until recently) fading legacy, and an assessment of the man. Eager for Glory is an engaging story of a worthy, yet forgotten Roman commander.

P.S. Other reviewers have grumbled that the figure numbers in the text don't match the photos. This really isn't much of a problem as it is easy to figure out which image his writing refers to.

[Alberto Martín de Hijas · Rating 4 out of 5]

Una interesante biografía sobre un personaje poco conocido hoy en día (Por lo menos, fuera del círculo de los aficionados a la historia romana) Powell completa las (escasas) fuentes sobre la vida del protagonista con información sobre la administración y política de las provincias romanas de forma que podemos hacer una idea de como pudieron ser sus actor de gobierno. Con todo esto forma una biografía bastante completa y bien escrita a la que sólo se puede reprochar que por momentos roza la hagiografía (Aunque, esto es comprensible dado el recuerdo que la breve vida de Druso dejó en sus contemporáneos)

Muy recomendable.

[R X · Rating 2 out of 5]

A 212-page panegyric that stretches its source material a little too far too often. A letter by Augusts about Drusus’ comeback during a bout of gambling is turned into a paragraph on the state of the man’s nature. Similarly, tales of ghosts are hypothesized to be in reference to possible sleep paralysis—or maybe they were used as a literary device. Twice. This kind of spitballing is fine for footnotes or an appendix on possibilities concerning some of the stranger tales about Drusus’ life, but—and I can only guess because the source material only allows for a meager biography otherwise—it’s used to fill out the main text. There are many such deviations throughout the work.

On the plus side, it’s handy to have so many collected references, as well as reading about the lasting impact he had in his area of operations. Unfortunately, though, it’s a tendentious slog for the most part. However, as one of the few English works on Drusus, and the only modern one, readers are left with little else. Oh, it also ends on something of a sour note, with a superficial comparison of Drusus with Alexander, ignoring many of the benefits of the former and inflating the advantages of the latter. Though that kind of approach is expected by that point.

[Koeneman · Rating 2 out of 5]

I don’t know what it is with these kind of books. Buy a book of a fairly unknown Roman emperor, general or politician and you get a biography that exists 10% about that specific person and 90% information about the Roman army, the way they fight, the opponents and they way they fight, the Roman life, the building and infrastructure, they way the boats looked (including their height, weight, width etc.). This is always such a big bummer and this time no different.

This book was recommended by someone and I hoped this time it was worth it but once again the title is misleading. Beter titles could be: “The Roman army during the Augustan time” or “Drusus his campaign in Germania”.

I know there isn’t that much known about Drusus but only 10/15% is about him in this book. It was hard to go through.

The only reason I gave this 2 stars and not one is because there was probably much studying done for this book and I would not disrespect that.

['Aussie Rick' · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book had so much potential considering the subject matter, the first recent biography of Drusus the Elder, however I was disappointed to find that the editor or publisher had let the author down. Lindsay Powell has a love for the Roman period and he has put his heart into this book providing the reader with as much detail as he could squeeze into the narrative.

What spoilt my reading pleasure was that nearly all the plate numbers that the author referred to in his text did not match the plate numbers in the photograph section and in one case he refers to a plate that didn't even exist in the book. So when the author referred to the Elbe River the corresponding plate number in the photograph section depicted a Roman coin and vice versa, such a simple thing that could have been corrected by an editor was missed and spoilt the book.

The narrative ran to 143 pages in a 234 page book, the rest was made up of lots of great and interesting information including Gazetteer (places to visit and what to see), Glossary, place names, ancient sources, notes and bibliography.

[Heather Domin · Rating 4 out of 5]

I've been waiting to read this book for ages, and it was worth the wait. It confirmed all the things I already knew about Drusus, taught me a lot more, and agreed with many of my theories. It's going to be invaluable while I finish my novel, but more importantly, it's a well-written and well-researched biography.

[Stephanie Matthews · Rating 4 out of 5]

A must-read for anyone who has interest in the lives and times surrounding the early principate. The only thing this book suffers from is a lack of source material and the author sometimes diverts too much into supporting history to supplement. The overall result though, is a strong representation of the world Drusus lived in.

[Judy Ridgley · Rating 4 out of 5]

Can't wait to read Eager for Glory. Lindsay is a professional and knowledgeable about ancient Rome as anyone can be. If you are at alll interested in this era, don't miss his books

[James Goldsmith · Rating 5 out of 5]

Got this book because I liked the author’s Agrippa; enjoyed this one MUCH more than I expected

I bought this book last week after finishing Powell’s Agrippa, which I thought was excellent. While Agrippa is one of the titanic figures of ancient history, I was not particularly interested in Drusus the Elder — an individual who is remembered primarily because his brother, son, and grandson happen to be three of the most famous/infamous emperors in history.

Obviously, there’s not the wealth of source material on Drusus that Powell had for Agrippa, and, as you’d expect from an author writing about a comparatively obscure figure, Powell uses the framework of Drusus’s life and career to write about aspects of Roman history that he happens to find interesting. Since he clearly has a passion for reenactment and the history of the legions, I thought this book wouldn’t be for me. I’ve not all that interested in Roman military history; I’m more interested in the the social and political aspects of the empire. Since Drusus’s main accomplishments were his military ventures against the Raeti and in Germania, I didn’t think this one would be my cup of tea, but I lended up really enjoying it for three reasons.

First, it’s a real page-turner, Drusus’s life story is pretty simple. He was an aristocrat whom everyone liked and who had great military talent, but who died young before he could leave the kind of complicated legacy that has sparked endless books about Tiberius and Claudius. I burned through it in three days.

Second, I realize now that this part of the story has really gotten short shrift in popular histories for lay people like me. You read about Augustus’s principate after the end of the civil wars, and the focus is on palace intrigues and the tragedy of his last years; he outlives most of his heirs, his daughter is an enormous disappointment, and Varus loses three legions in the Teutoberg Forest. Usually, the story goes along these lines: Augustus decides to conquer Germany, his stepsons fight there for twenty years, then Arminius blows up Varus and ruins the old man’s dream. This book effortlessly explains what Drusus and Tiberius actually did to tee up all of the action that happened later.

Third, the book puts some nice context around one of my favorite books from antiquity, I love Cassius Dio, but I’ve never thought he was at his best in the books about 15 through 9 BCE. I have tended to skim through his Books 54 and 55, because I had trouble following the story; I have rarely been to Germany, and the narrative always confused me. Now I feel,as though I can go back and enjoy that part of Dio as I haven’t been able to in the past.

In sum, I’m the kind of reader who tends to prefer authors on Roman history such as Barrett, Everitt, and Levick — folks who focus on politics. I read Syme’s books again and again. I usually eschew military history, but I am very enthusiastic about Eager for Glory. I will definitely pick up Powell’s Germanicus.

[Anibal · Rating 5 out of 5]

Drusus the Elder embodied all the qualities a Roman was expected to possess—loyal to his family, brave beyond belief, a great warrior, a fine general, a devoted husband, an able governor with authority, a skilled diplomat, and a respectable, virtuous man. He was a hero, bred and groomed to be a hero. Yet, due to an incredible stroke of bad luck, almost all contemporary sources about him were lost. This man—so loved and respected in Rome—was all but forgotten by history, reduced to a mere footnote in the Principate of Augustus.

In his first book, Lindsay Powell tirelessly investigates the surviving evidence and presents a well-annotated biography of Drusus the Elder. Drawing from minute references in ancient texts, the archaeological record, numismatics, and more, the author reconstructs Drusus’s life and career. The highlights include the war in Raetia and Noricum; his administration in Gaul (notably the creation of the Concilium Gallorum); the invasion of Germany via an impressive amphibious operation (reaching the Elbe and securing the Spolia Optima—a rare and prestigious trophy); his diplomatic skill in forging alliances with the Batavians and other tribes; and, of course, the tragic circumstances of his death in Castra Scelerata. Powell also does justice to Drusus’s devotion to his wife, Antonia Minor, as well as his political leanings toward Republican ideals.

Drusus was indeed a remarkable man, and now readers can enjoy an engaging account of his exploits. Naturally, some limitations are inevitable; for example, when describing the Alpine Celts, the author relies on general information about the Celts as a whole. This happens several times, but it serves an important purpose: to provide readers less familiar with ancient history the necessary background on terms and concepts such as the cursus honorum, the Roman army, and the Germanic tribes. These sections are not “filler” but valuable aids for many readers.

The work is further enriched with excellent notes, remarkable maps (most by Carlos de la Rocha), a superb gazetteer with detailed travel recommendations, and a foreword by the great Graham Sumner (though one can’t help but wonder—why didn’t you provide plates for this book, Graham? Why?).

The only serious shortcoming lies in the plate references scattered throughout the text, where numerous errors appear. For example, on page 26, a reference to Drusus’s passage through the Alps points to Plate 7 (which actually depicts a carving of Drusus on the Ara Pacis); on page 31, a discussion of the pole used by legionaries to carry equipment refers to Plate 12, but the pole is in fact illustrated in Plate 11. Such mistakes occur repeatedly. This is something to be addressed in a future edition, but it is not enough to make me deduct a star from what is otherwise a great work.

[Duco · Rating 3 out of 5]

A biography on Drusus has been long overdue, Lindsay Powell takes the honours to write him one. Or at least, tries to do justice to what Drusus might have been. Other than just footnotes in books on similar subjects.


How do you write a book on a person that lived 2000 years ago and of which almost all known contemporary sources have been lost? It's hard, really hard. And that is something that surfaces whilst reading this book.

Powell does his research well and you can see his obsession(positive!) with the Romans. He tries to reconstruct the years that Drusus was active and retraces his conquests as far as possible. Something that clouds up the reading and the enjoyability of the texts are the enormous loads of details that are given that are just loose linked to the subject. Ofcourse, its great to see research done well, but all measurements of everything is a bit much. That is just one example.

So in reconstructing the life of Drusus, the book is 25% on Drusus, 45% indepth research on places Drusus went to or made, details on vessels, buildings, armour, weapons, clothing etc. The other 30% is on Augustus and the aftermath. The legacy of Drusus and what he left behind and what rose from his ashes.

What i did like is Powells comparison to Alexander The Great, which strikes and gives you a great idea on what drove him and what might have been aspects of his character.

That said, I enjoy Lindsay Powells style of writing and his enthousiasm to shed light on subjects that needed that light for some time.

[Astor Teller · Rating 4 out of 5]

As we know so little of Drusus, we instead learn a lot about the surroundings and infrastructure he was dealing with. You get an overview of the time Drusus lived in, like a snapshot of his Rome.

The campaigns against the Germans are interesting (and easy to follow thanks to the maps).

This book gives the vibe of a prequel to the catastrophe in Teutoburg Forest where Varus lost three Roman legions.

[Frank · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fantastic and detailed account of a truly great Roman General... Lindsey Powell never let's his readers down.

[Mick Maye · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a great read as it filled in the areas around Augustus and the emperor's family. I baulk a little at some of the superlatives for Drusus from the author, however I appreciate the work that has gone into this excellent book, Well recommended.

[Alaric Longward · Rating 5 out of 5]

The one book on the great Drusus, I am so happy for this book. Helped me create my Drusus for the Wyrd, my second book on the Hraban Chronicles series.

Very well written, portraying the man in a believable light, opening up fresh viewpoints on the Roman thoughts on Germania, I loved it.