Hierro y poder

Throne of the Caesars #1

by Harry Sidebottom, María José Díez Pérez (Translator)

PRIMAVERA 235 d. C.

El emperador Alejandro Severo acaba de ser asesinado, y el trono del césar se convierte en objeto de deseo. Da inicio así un periodo convulso de la historia romana en el que en solo un año, serán seis los aspirantes a hacerse con el trono. El héroe de la revuelta es Maximino el Tracio, que se convierte en el primer césar surgido del fragor de la batalla. Su reinado quedará en nada sin la aprobación del Senado, y muchos senadores no aceptan que los gobierne un antiguo pastor. En el norte, la guerra contra los bárbaros consume hombres y dinero, y la rebelión y la tragedia personal llevan a Maximino a extremos desesperados, a venganzas sangrientas y al límite de la cordura. Inspirada en hechos reales, esta es la primera entrega de una épica aventura donde los hombres matarán para sentarse en el trono del césar.

Genres: Historical Fiction, Fiction, Historical, Roman, Fantasy, Ancient History, War

528 pages, Paperback

First published May 22, 2014

About the author

Harry Sidebottom is Lecturer in Ancient History at Merton College, Oxford, and part-time lecturer in Classics and Ancient History at the University of Warwick. He has written for and contributed to many publications, including Classical Review, Journal of Roman Studies, and War and Society in the Roman World.

Reviews

[Clemens Schoonderwoert · Rating 5 out of 5]

Read this book in 2014, and its the 1st volume of the amazing "Throne of the Caesars" trilogy.

At first I have to say that the historical details are very well researched by the author and implemented within this great story, to make it really believable and lifelike in all its facets.

The tale starts off in the year AD 235, with Alexander Severus in power for thirteen years as Emperor, and the Empire being strong and stable.

This Severan dynasty has been in power for more than four decades now, and after victory against the Sassanid Persians in the east, Rome prospers and peace reigns.

But the Roman empire will get into turmoil when Emperor Severus and his mother are assassinated in the Spring of the year AD 235, and Maximinus Thrax from Thrace, is hailed as the new Roman Emperor.

From this point on Rome is in turmoil with itself, with Senators secretly being against this Emperor Thrax, while this Emperor is ruling with an iron hand to hold on to power.

What is to follow is a fascinating retelling of Roman history that will head towards the year of the six Emperors, with all its double-dealing, treachery, backstabbing and assassinations that is evident in this period in Roman history, and all this is brought to us by the author in his own formidable and superb fashion.

Highly recommended, for this is a brillant first volume to this great trilogy, and that's why I like to call this episode: "A Wonderful Throne Of The Caesars Begin"!

[Martin · Rating 3 out of 5]

The short reign of the Roman Emperor Maximinus Thax from 235 to 238AD.

His reign may have been short but the story features a cast of thousands. He was the first of the soldier Emperors who rose up through the ranks and then grabbed the throne.

His reign finished in 238 otherwise known as the Year of the Six Emperors.

Enjoy

[Jane · Rating 4 out of 5]

Cassius Dio: " Our history now descends from a kingdom of gold to one of iron and rust."

I was never interested in the author's Ballista series, but I'm thrilled to read this one! Choice of title for this political thriller was really a propos since one might say this is the beginning of Rome's downward slide into mediocrity and weakness. This novel was the first volume of a planned tetralogy based on the fateful 238 AD [Year of the 6 Emperors]. The first in the series deals with Maximinus Thrax [The Thracian], an equestrian acclaimed emperor by the Roman Army in Germania. Soldiers assassinate the inept, cowardly, and corrupt Alexander Severus and his evil mother. Maximinus is hated by patricians even from his accession to the purple, because of his barbarian, uncouth, and [to patricians since he is not one of them] lower class peasant background. The novel deals with his reign. There are 4 distinct subplots that finally come together:

The situation in Germania [and later against Sarmatians];

Gordian [both father and son] in Africa;

People in Rome that surround Maximinus--Pupienus, the City Prefect; appointees, family and plebs, the last group represented by a simple die-cutter at the Mint; and

The war with Ardashir's Sassanid Persians.

Most of Maximinus' policies are not well thought-out and finally everyone turns against him for his decisions. He is fixated on winning the war in Germania to the exclusion of all else. The coup de grâce, so to speak, is his harsh restriction of the 'bread and circuses' of the lower classes. He also unleashes a purge of his political enemies, both real and imagined. He goes berserk at the death [murder? suicide?] of his beloved wife, who is no longer around as the only one to whom he can speak frankly and really trusts. Also, she is no longer around to put a bridle on his impetuosity and bad temper. He has lost his soul mate. Two plots involving usurpers claiming the throne, are nipped in the bud, one of which Maxentinus uncovers. The battle scenes were very well-done: in different theaters of war: Ad Palmam, an oasis in Africa; a pass in the Harzhorn mountains [Germania]; fight against Sassanid Persians in northern Mesopotamia and against Sarmatians on Hierasos River [present-day Ukraine].

The historical research was impeccable, but sometimes the style was dry. On the whole, I found the novel gripping. The action moved right along. Although I know something of the history of that period, I liked the author's assigning plausible motivations for the action. I did feel sympathy for Maximinus although he became a tyrant; he struck me as a fish out of water and no one was willing to cut him any slack. He certainly angered people from all levels of society. I felt he became paranoid after the death of his wife. I think characters were portrayed realistically. There was an extensive dramatis personae; I'm glad there was a section on who was who. I had to keep referring to this list. The maps, glossaries and 'Historical Afterword' were very informative. I can't think of any other novels about this rather obscure period of history, so this novel does fill a much-needed lacuna. Most of the characters were unpleasant!

I reread this novel ending May 1, 2015. I found it just as good as before and my opinion is much the same as above. This time around one expression really irritated me: one of the principals "arranging his face." Used several times in the text, that expression was an affectation if I've ever heard one! I did note along with the different plotlines, at the head of each chapter was date and location so the readers would know which plotline was coming. I think upon reading the novel, one might look up and read a short description of the "Year of the Six Emperors."

[Liviu · Rating 5 out of 5]

much more interesting than the Balista novels (of which i read first and found it ok but not really cared to read more) as Iron and Rust brings a combination of 3 things:

outstanding character reconstruction (from the soldier emperor Maximinus to his former colleague, "graeculus" Tymetheus now governor, plotter and confidant, to various commanders and senators, to the women of Rome;

intrigue and high stakes

battles, revolts, coups etc

the one negative is the breathless pace as the novel is relatively short but covers a lot of events and maybe 150 pages extra would have made it outstanding overall

still very good stuff and I am definitely in for the next

[Ozymandias · Rating 4 out of 5]

Plot: 6 (fragmented and overly reliant on memories)
Characters: 9 (generally unlikeable but distinct and plausible-feeling)
Accuracy: 10 (speculative but well-researched and believable)

It's funny given how poorly the Warrior of Rome novels could handle high politics (at least from a narrative point of view if not an accuracy one) just how well this novel functions. Because that is the entire plot of this novel: political scheming and backstabbing to claim the throne of the Caesars. And it's very complex plotting indeed.

First off, I'm just going to state what this book does well, because the things it does well far outweigh the things it handles poorly in my estimation. And the element that it most strongly captures is the mood and feel of the period. The idea that the empire had passed from a golden age to one of iron and rust is not a modern conception, it comes from Cassius Dio who is either an irrelevant old man or a recently dead one at the time this book takes place. There was a feeling of deep unease about the course the empire was taking, and nobody could quite put their finger on what the cause of this was apart from the fact that the emperors no longer listened to the Senate and nobody displayed the same virtue they had in the Republic. In other words, the same complaints that people had been making since the time of Augustus. But the problems were very real. Instability was countered by increased autocracy and the establishment of a lasting dynasty was becoming impossible. The characters in this book are anxious, they are scared and not a little paranoid. And they are right to be so because this has suddenly become a very dangerous world.

The plot is good and very complex due to the scale of the empire and the number of characters. Basically, it revolves around the Emperor Maximinus Thrax and his usurpation of Alexander Severus and wars against the northern barbarians. Despite this (and while he is the one driving events and getting the most space) the book isn't so much about Maximinus as about people's reactions to him. For all his skills as a military leader, his political goals are basically to support the army at the cost of everyone else. People who get in his way or even look like they might do are to be eliminated and their properties used to pay the army. And this is creating tensions to say the least. Most chapters deal with the way that these tensions affect the other characters and force them to make difficult decisions that could get them killed. One element of the novel that I love is how he doesn't feel the need to explain everything for his audience. There are 'easter eggs' (for lack of a better term) for people who study the period that gives a bit of a deeper insight without making others feel lost. One of the more interesting examples was in what most people would consider a somewhat random scene where Timesitheus is pleasing his wife orally. Unnecessarily explicit sex scene you might say, and maybe, but in a Roman context this was considered the most disgusting sex act a man was capable of. So the scene establishes that Timesitheus is a pervert (by Roman standards) and utterly in thrall to his wife. I mean, you gather that anyway but it's nice to have it laid out so clearly in a Roman context.

Another thing that Sidebottom does very well is creating distinct characters. His skill in this was not obvious from the Warrior of Rome novels which were told almost exclusively from Ballista's point of view, but here we have no fewer than ten different POV characters. Ten! And each of them feels unique and brings a different perspective to the world. From the self-destructively ruthless yet strangely virtuous Maximinus to the hedonistic Gordian to the treacherous political climber Timesitheus everyone is given their own goals and personality. Most of these character sketches are derived from the not very accurate but at least detailed and imaginative Historia Augusta and expanded upon to make them real breathing characters. In those cases where the HA is silent (Priscus, Junia Fadilla, Timesitheus) he allows himself more leeway. Priscus becomes the pragmatist, Junia the nymphomaniac Roman matron archetype much beloved in popular culture, and Timesitheus a power-hungry plotter with few scruples. I don't always agree with his characterizations (I quite like the real Timesitheus for all that everything we know about him could fill maybe a page's worth of material) but they are distinct. At times I feel the characters are a bit too pathetic. Often they feel more like a massive character flaw with some other traits attached than as a collection of both good and bad traits.

The character issue leads us into our first problem with the book: there are just too damn many of them. I thought, when hearing that complaint, that these were just people whining about the same thing they'd whine about reading George R.R. Martin. And of course having an interest in this period I'm well prepared to remember a string of names that are more than just names to me. But Sidebottom treats these POVs differently than does Martin. Martin had a longer book to play with and his chapters tend to be long and full of incident. Sidebottom's book is short and his characters tend to spend each chapter recounting the events that happened between now and their last appearance. It's a great way of filling in background detail (I was a big fan at first) but over time it started to get tiresome. We want to actually see what's happening with some of these events rather than just hearing about them secondhand. If an author is going to forgo the omniscient narrator approach (which is fair enough) they should really find ways to have the characters they do choose to focus on be witnesses to these events. And when they are we should experience it with them rather than have them recount them afterwards.

This is connected to the disconnected feeling that one gets from the book. With the story whipping around to so many different places and different narratives it's hard to keep track of what's going on. I already know the basics so if I got lost at times I can't even imagine what people who know nothing of the period are going to make of it. A part of the problem is the nature of the period being covered. The novel takes place over three years and is united only by the fear and paranoia of its leads. Because of this, the book was always going to be somewhat fragmented and filled with exposition. But a lot of these issues are self-inflicted. Most chapters are short (nine pages on average, although this is due to some exceptionally long chapters. Most are about half this) and once we've heard from one character we can't expect to hear from them again for another five or so chapters. For Priscus (admittedly a minor character at present) it actually takes us eighteen chapters to return to him. This goes a long way to explaining the problems with the POV usage. When so much happens between chapters we need to spend time catching up to date on where the characters stand, yet with such short chapters we often have time for nothing more.

A lot of this book is worthy of five stars but it doesn't always hold together well enough to be worthy of that. I have high hopes for future books in this series since what this book does well it does really well, and what it does badly is largely due to a lack of focus. The next book should take place over about a month and have a clear narrative focus, which should help with a lot of these problems.

[Gork · Rating 2 out of 5]

Me ha decepcionado muchísimo. Historia irrelevante, basada en rumores y poco más, poca acción, poca guerra, poca intriga. Casi nula la acción, en definitiva, para mi gusto irrelevante, sin más.

[La Gran Biblioteca de David · Rating 5 out of 5]

El emperador Alejandro Severo ha sido asesinado y Maximiliano sube al trono con la ayuda y el apoyo del ejército, pese al recelo por parte del Senado. Maximiliano tiene que ganarse a los senadores, mientras en el norte sigue la guerra con los bárbaros y se suceden una serie de rebeliones.

Históricamente, se le considera a Maximiliano como el primer emperador bárbaro de Roma, de ahí el sobrenombre de el Tracio. En esta novela vamos a caminar en el Imperio Romano entre el 235 y el 238 d.C. La novela gira mucho en torno a las luchas internas por el poder entre cónsules y senadores, la oligarquía y las clases sociales, así como la presión de los bárbaros, especialmente los germanos. Pero además seremos testigos de algunas campañas importantes en el Norte de África y algunas otras batallas en nombre del emperador difunto. Hay aproximadamente tres o cuatro tramas en esta novela: los problemas con los bárbaros germanos, las campañas de Gordiano en África, la guerra con los persas y los problemas dentro de la propia Roma.

Documentalmente, la novela está muy bien construida. Es una época muy convulsa para la historia de Roma, malas decisiones de Maximiliano, una clase alta muy caldeada, el "pan y circo" para la clase baja, la muerte de su esposa etc. La novela resulta ser apasionante realmente, con un ritmo constante, unos personajes bien logrados y fácilmente se empatiza con el protagonista, una trama histórica bien explicada. Además los anexos o material extra finales nos ayuda muchísimo a entender toda la trama y a no perdernos con la lista tan grande de personajes que van desfilando.

https://lagranbibliotecadedavid.blogs...

[Kate · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this Roman political thriller, more so than I have recent novels in the Ballista series. It feels clever, accurate, tense, with a host of memorable characters, most of whom face an almighty challenge of keeping their heads on their necks. I'm looking forward to seeing where this series goes.

[Lisa the Tech · Rating 2 out of 5]

3 years in 300 pages? Is Sidebottom for real? Not nearly enough detail in the scenes - a soldier Caesar would have tons of battle scenes, but even these were lacking for detail. This book reminds me of the Gospel According to Mark - so compressed that stuff flew by too quickly. I was sick of the conniving Senators and other 'non-soldier' types by the first third of the book. Superficial, dull, and unsatisfying.

[Bobby · Rating 4 out of 5]

So many characters made this a difficult read at first but repetition of said names finally culminated in being a really good read. The maps were invaluable and the treachery is nonstop! I'm really looking forward to book #2.

[Jerry Bennett · Rating 3 out of 5]

I was a bit disappointed with this novel, not so much the story line as the development of the characters and the plot. The author has taken on a tremendous challenge, covering the history of the years when the post of the Roman emperor changed hands so swiftly, and encompassing Rome itself, the Rhine and Danube frontiers, the Syrian frontier and North Africa, and that's just the first book in the series.

Can I add my usual rider in that these are my personal views, and I hope they do not deter anyone from trying this book. There are, I believe, two more in the series and I will certainly be reading them because the story is quite fascinating - full of conspiracies, plots, warfare and shifting alliances. It is both the book's strength and weakness, because you never really feel you get to know any of the characters. I like a book where you can empathise with the main characters. I want them to overcome this problem, escape from danger, rescue the friends and family from peril, fall in love and show weaknesses and faults, or take revenge for wrongs committed in the past. None of the main characters in this novel has been developed enough for me to feel that way about them, because I feel it moves around too fast. Perhaps they might develop further in book 2, but to be brutally honest I found out more about some of the characters from looking them up on Wikipedia.

I read this book at intervals - work can be a damn nuisance at times - and struggled with the names. One tip for new readers - photocopy the list of characters and keep it alongside you when you read it. I was constantly back-checking to see who was who, which isn't all that convenient on a Kindle. But I will certainly be reading the next book in the series, because I want to know what happens. There's a good plot lurking in here, and its well worth investigating.

[Ricard Pascual · Rating 2 out of 5]

Una auténtica decepción. No seguiré con el resto de la trilogía. Innumerables personajes e historias inconexas que consiguen que te pierdas y no sepas qué estás leyendo. Una lástima.

[Mark Green · Rating 4 out of 5]

Love these books but the complexity of Roman politics at this time even makes the time of Julius Caesar seem simple! Would love to read the rest of this series. Always good to read about history i'm not so familiar with in an entertaining way.

[Glyn · Rating 5 out of 5]

The first in the "Throne of the Caesars" trilogy.

This is somewhat of a departure from the rollicking action of the Ballista books. I love those books but this is a different kettle of fish and no worse for it. If one can flippantly characterise the Ballista novels as being "Sharpe with a spatha" then this series is "Game of Thrones with togas". We are entering into the murky depths of Rome at it's lowest ebb. This is just about the start of the "Third Century Collapse"

Like the Ballista series, this opens with the army bringing "regime change" down onto a failed Emperor. Here it is Severus Alexander and his domineering mother who die at the hands of the series central character. Maximinus Thrax is a giant of a man a peasant shepherd who joined the army and through sheer ability rose to it's very zenith. Thrax has made the army his life and only accepts the purple because it allows him to lead the army better and to stabilise the parlous situation on Rome's northern frontiers. Severus had been killed because he preferred to make treaty with the threatening Germanic tribes rather than loose the legions for war and plunder, Thrax is happy to fight those battles. The needs of campaigning prevent him from visiting Rome to have his ascencion confirmed by the Senate. Such niceties don't seem important to Maximinus Thrax; there are bigger problems than needy Senators and Rome will only be secured through battle. Readers of the Ballista novels know Thrax as the brutal tyrant killed by Ballista and whose shade still haunts our hero. Here we are given a more rounded view of a loving husband and a man forced into a situation that he never wanted and doesn't really know how to handle. Like every over promoted individual, when they are all at sea in a job, he makes the job what he does understand the brutal simplicity and discipline of the army.

The Senate is the other main string of this story. It is here that we get the GoT influences. They have no particular interest in the Northern Wars. Senators rarely bother with military duty and besides Rome is the World not some freezing Northern province. The most they tend to know about it is when demands for greater taxation start rolling in. That is more of an irritation to them than civic duty. They pride themselvest that they alone can make Emperors and no Emperor who does not acknowledge this will be legitimate. As Maximinus makes ever more financial demands, while refusing to meet them in person their ire grows. Forced to take sides between the distant pleb with thousands of highly trained killers at his eager command or standing for the principles of oligarchic self improvement that had underpinned the Senate for centuries, parties form and divisions are created.

Some see only opportunity. Since the current Emperor is illegitimate, why cannot I be the legitimate one? is a question several Senators ponder. The Frumentarii and the Praetorian Guard provide Maximinus's brutal response. The rapid destruction of these plots leads only to impressions of tyranny and despotism. Their reported rise and destruction, perhaps unsrurisingly, creates paranoia the mind of the politically naive Maximinus. Thus Sidebottom creaes a spiralling vortex of political betrayal and machiavellian survivall instincts.

Slightly slow burning if you want your Ballista fix of battles but history shows that the climax of this tale is well worth sticking with

This is a superb read with the expected mix of learned but lightly worn research and searing narrative.

[Speesh · Rating 3 out of 5]

There was, for me, a distinct running out of steam feeling going on in the last couple of Fire in the East books, so Harry has shifted direction, more Europe-based, Northern Europe mainly (OK, that's where Ballista was from and ended up, but only on his return home at the end).

Right, Rome is in turmoil Part XXVIII, etc... But six Emperors?! That's a lot of Emperors (even for the Romans) and a lot of explaining to be done for us part-time Romanologists. Some, I've picked up through reading other books set in Roman Times, a lot of what is here is new to me. And practically meaningless. My other problem was that I started 'reading' this on audiobook. The reader wasn't, in my opinion, very good for this type of book. Not quite as OTT god-awful terrible as the person doing the Giles Kristian God of Vengeance, or whatever it was, but not right. I couldn't grasp much of what it was on about and so, to try and play fair with Harry, I switched to reading words on paper. Much better. Well, kind of.

There is, as said, too much background information, not enough foreground events. Much that could have been left to be explained in the following books. Some writers can do it, others struggle. Here' he's seemingly trying to cram everything in this first volume. Maybe to get it out of the way for the other two? So they don't get all bogged-down? Maybe. Let's hope so.

It all meant that it felt like it couldn't really find a sense of purpose. Like it went through all the background stuff - about everything, not just characters - until it found something to latch on to and tell a story. Finally, it discovers some Roman Emperor who takes over, has the 'purple' thrust on him, and seems able to get on with it. From then on, maybe tow thirds in, it improvers significantly. Uses the interest I have for the end of the Roman era and becomes almost seductive in it's attraction.

So, finally, it all seemed to begin to form, to be much more interesting and raise itself up to become an interesting look at yet another, to be fair, the final, turbulent period in Roman history.

However, I can't really imagine this one, this series, flying off the shelves just yet. The next two had better be spectacular for that to happen.

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[Roger Kean · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sidebottom is the master of the Roman empire in the third century. He may well have taken Ballista as far as sensible in the Warrior of Rome series (though don't take that as read!) and many might assume he would turn to fresh pastures, but Iron and Rust goes back to a point earlier than Ballista's first outing in Fire in the East, to the moment in time when the Roman empire fell apart with the murder of the last legitimate Severan emperor, Severus Alexander.

In a series of short, sharp chapters Iron and Rust lays out the conflicting ambitions of Maximinus Thrax—arguably Rome's first barbarian ruler—the numerous conspirators he executed, and the future contenders for the throne. The chapters switch between four main locations (and several points of view): the Rhine-Danube frontier; the east facing destruction at the hands of the newly risen Sassanids; Rome, where the senatorial figures of Pupienus and Balbinus wait in the wings; and Africa where the two Gordiani wait for their inevitable doom. The way in which Sidebottom skilfully interweaves all the characters makes this a page-turning accomplishment, and brings to life men and women who in many cases only rate a footnote in the official histories. As usual in his work, Sidebottom never has wholly bad or entirely good characters, and this even-handedness rings as being true to life, and the disconnect between what one feels about him or herself and what others perceive is always a treat.

It's a fine novel and a great start to one of Rome's least known and understood period, yet one of the most fascinating.

[Pam · Rating 3 out of 5]

I added this to my list out of curiosity when Donna Leon mentioned it in her NYT 'What are you Reading' interview... and as I read it I did get hooked. The whole thing in one lovely day of reading reading. At a certain point I did get put off w/ battle detail but not so much I could put it DOWN. And now I am done. It certainly filled up my pleasure in small details of other times and places. There....you are THERE very easily transported. Perhaps this means that each book in the series will require the absorbed day of reading ... now that's an idea.

I'm not sure this is on a 'recommend' list to any of my friends but onward I go - lucky for me that DC seems to have a lot of fans for almost the whole series is in the eBook library!!

[Chris Rigby · Rating 3 out of 5]

A very entertaining history book, or a rather mediocre novel? Well, both at once, paradoxically.

First, to deal with the book as a novel. Sidebottom is a historian, and he never lets you forget it. That's no bad thing of course, if you're looking at this as a history textbook. But from the point of view of a novel, it's too full of 'laundry lists' - detailed descriptions of cultural artefacts and customs which in no way contribute to the plot; as for names, Sidebottom positively drowns you in them. So many, and so similar. This is the problem when you deal with history, you have no option but to deal the hand you've got; if that means not coming up with characters who are sufficiently different from each other to make the action easier to follow, then that's factual narrative for you.

The other problem is that Sidebottom lets you see glimpses into the mind, the inner person, of people who actually existed. And therein lies the biggest problem : because these are historical characters, but only documented in their own times in the ancient fashion of reputation, exaggeration and anecdotal evidence, they are essentially unknown as real people. That's not an issue if your name is Hilary Mantel, but Sidebottom would be first to admit that he is no Mantel. Too much 'telling' and not enough 'showing', no real imaginative insights into the emotions and motivations of the main characters. So as a historical novel, this is not a great coup.

However, if you turn it around and say : here is a most exciting and eventful period of Roman history, how do you make it come alive? Turning it into a novel form while presenting actual history (leading statesmen, supporting politicians, military leaders, Emperors and Empresses and their children, battles, politics, intrigues, strategy etc) is a very good and effective way to present, and therefore teach, history. On that aspect, Sidebottom has delivered a triumph.

And make no mistake - he understands how to keep the tension going, how to create a 'page turner'. No matter that it is really speaking a history textbook, it's a whole lot more fun than reading Wikipedia.

[ERIC PECHINOT · Rating 5 out of 5]

Who else but Harry Sidebottom and his pepping up to tell us about the short reign of Maximus Thrax (235 - 238 AD), mostly all forgotten about? Who else but him to keep us on our toes with a subject-matter completely overlooked today by biographers and novelists indeed?
In three books ("Iron and Rust", "Blood and Steel" and "Fire and Sword" put together under the title "Throne of the Cesars"), he collated all the material available to this day from the ancient sources, then made it fitting to a modern eye in order to encapsulate a watershed moment in the long history of Rome.
Though he is but an equestrian, Maximus Thrax is hailed Imperator after he has the Emperor Severus Alexander and his mother Moemia murdered. The usurper sets about holding out against the many Barbarian tribes north of the Rhine and the Danube. Such a policy is fast draining on the dwindling resources of the Treasury, hence the urgent need for ever more money. Grain dole and spectacles in Rome are thus cut down, so much for Panem and Circuses! Treasures are pillaged by official tax collectors in many temples throughout the Empire. Well off people are arrested and relieved of the burden of their fortune. Meanwhile, more and more soldiers are drafted from the East to the North. As a result of all this boldness, sparks of resentment are very soon flying all about and that is how the year 238 will be known as the year of the six Emperors! The old time record of 69 AD is broken, smashed to smithereens!
The series is not only about big political and military events. Sidebottom goes well beyond the brutal reality of politics at the head of the Roman Empire or at the provincial level. He offers us a well documented scope of life and society at the time when the old Empire stood at the threshold of a new era.

[Ruth · Rating 3 out of 5]

Oh No. A trusty favourite author and favourite genre and I just couldn't get into it! Aarggh. The beginning was really slow and ploddy and I just couldn't find the hook. Perhaps I will try this one again at a later date but for now I am unable to recommend to the normal crew.

Update: 29/02/16: AD235. Yay. So, I tried it again and it was much better. I rather liked Gordian in the African arena of the story - especially his battle strategy. His two friends also provided light humour in contrast to the very dark Maximinus. I believe that this would make an excellent TV series! It would have lots for everyone. Now able to recommend to the normal crew. Dedicated to Ewen Bowie and the author's website reveals the following "Ewen Bowie was the supervisor of my doctoral thesis at Oxford, and is now a very good friend." - See more at: http://www.harrysidebottom.co.uk/news...

[Cheri · Rating 4 out of 5]

Incredible. What an incredible book. I’m glad I picked this one and I can’t wait to read the continuation of this trilogy and other books by Harry Sidebottom. I love the premise — the assassination of Severus Alexander that leads to Maximinus being elevated as an Emperor — is really thrilling. The many characters in this book are actually interesting and not boring at all. It made me read multiple times to remember all the characters and their roles in this book and I was glad that the more I read it, the more interesting it became.

[Kay · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book as I have enjoyed all of Harry Sidebottom's books. It really can't be compared to the Ballista series because they are totally different but I believe equally good.
I found this one to be deeper than Harry's previous novels and in this, more real.
Once again this author has the knack of placing the reader, right in amongst it and I was so glad to know that it's another series, highly recommend Iron and Rust for anyone interested in Roman history.

[Steve Switzer · Rating 4 out of 5]

Superb new book from harry sidebottom combining erudition with detailed knowledge of the anarchy of the 3rd century roman Empire.
Based on fact it races along on a blistering course , death betrayal and self interest the governing plot features

[Ángel Real · Rating 3 out of 5]

Me ha resultado un poco sosete.
Ambientación buena y de más a menos.

No sé si seguir la saga.

[Chris · Rating 3 out of 5]

I'll be honest. I'm glad its over. It had times of excitement but they were few and so far between I needed binoculars.

I have read previous reviews of this book and it seems a lot of people ask you to bear with it; that the first book is more about character and world building than actual story but I found it so boring that I almost had a panic attack thinking that I might have to read two further books of the same monotonous mediocrity.

According to my Kindle, the book should take around 5 hours and 28 minutes to finish. My Kindle obviously does not take into account that a further 3 hours is taken pronouncing the names: Gaius Iulius Verus Maximus Caesar, for example, or Gaius Iulius Verus Maximinus Augustus. I had a headache after one particular passage where there were several of these names to deal with. Yes, I know Romans had long names but after a while I decided to start calling them Timmy, Bob and Max just so I could get through it.

And one final point which has either annoyed me or - most likely - confused me. Gordian. Was he Roman or Greek? Because if he was Roman, worshipping Aphrodite, who is clearly a Greek Goddess, is not going to go down particularly well with Venus, her Roman equivalent!

I 'arranged my face' twice with this book. Once, for excitement at the beginning and once for relief after I'd finished. I am now arranging my notes to remind me never to buy the sequels.

[Martin Rea · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another good read. Have had this book for ages and this was me just getting round to it. Worth the wait.

[David · Rating 3 out of 5]

Took me a couple go’s to get into this. Quite different in my opinion from his earlier novels. Worth the effort.

[Sasa Borjanovic · Rating 5 out of 5]

Started a little confusing for me. A lot of names are mixed with Latin words. Not as easy and exciting as "Warrior of Rome", but it was my fault to expect the same. Later there are glimpses of events and characters that appeared later in time and that we read about in Balista`s adventures. As the book goes on it becomes easier to blend in with characters and events, and by the end of the book, I was again in ancient Rome living their ups and downs..... Great book by all means, now I moved to the next one in the Throne of the Caesars series.

[Krasnaya Calvo Torel · Rating 5 out of 5]

Novela histórica de la buena. Intensa y muy concienzuda. Me encantó.

[Ian Miller · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a historical novel set in ancient Rome that starts with the end of the unfortunate boy Alexander. By now, the imperium was usually ended by murder, usually by the soldiers. Discipline was clearly not what it had been at the time of Marius or Sulla. There is a brief illustration of the decadence and ineptitude of Alexander's court, then we see the imperium of Maximinus. The book largely covers the preparation for campaigns by Maximinus, and the various plotting, etc, that was going on. The book is very strong on historical facts, and very strong on the structure of Roman society at the time, but is strangely unemotional regarding many of the issues. There is an account of Iunia Fadilla and her betrothal and marriage to Maximus, and the consequent horrors for the young lady. I have no idea how accurate that is, but interestingly, there is no coinage for the wife of Maximus. There are accounts of Maximinus' campaigns, but there is little of military interest in them, and there is the frequent and odd usage of the word "phalanx". The Romans did not use the phalanx, at least in the sense that was defined by the Greeks. Another point is that there are frequent references to money problems, but nowhere is there any discussion of the fact that the economy of the Roman empire was at risk of decaying totally at this time. In short, this is an incredible work of scholarship in some ways, but is strangely missing on some other key points. Equally, I found it difficult to get really committed to any character; the book was to some extent almost free of emotional involvement as none of the characters had any real goal that they tried to achieve, except possibly Maximinus, whose goal was to stay alive and beat the Germans.

The book ends with the ascent of Gordian. This is misleading. The book says nothing about Maximinus at this stage, and with good reason, because he had not been removed, and neither Gordian lasted more than three weeks. This was not in the book. Leaving that aside, this book neatly summarizes much of what went wrong with Rome following the Severines. Perhaps Sidebottom has further plans for sequels, because what happened after the book ends is almost an unbelievable sequence of murders, greed for power, and most of what went wrong with Rome.