Hadrian Skellig > Recent Status Updates

Not much is going well.

Insane. Everything is happening so fast. Tragedy, tumult, treachery... time for bed. The Dragons have Danced enough for one night.

I have reached season 2 of House of the Dragon. Pretty different from how it happens in the show but with similar outcomes so far. Very coo. Loyal followers: lmk if you are interested in hearing me ramble about this book. Not all at once though.

I have reached the beginning of House of the Dragon. What a ride.

Still 60 years from the beginning of the show.

Been dragging this guy out for a while. Definitely interesting subject matter, especially since the book is written by an actual Roman. However, I would not recommend this book to anyone that doesn't already have a FIRM understanding of the sorts of people each of the emperors chronicled in this book actually were. Although it's entertaining, the accuracy of 12 Caesars cannot be relied on, as much of it is gossip.

Holy smokes this story is nuts. 110 pages in and I still probably won't reach the beginning of the events of "House of the Dragon" for another several chapters. George is so talented he can look you in the face and tell you how a story ends and still surprise you around every corner. Could urge me to pick A Clash of Kings back up.

Super funny in such an unexpected way. A welcome change of pace from my recent history and fantasy books.

This book is pretty cool so far. A lot of the content is historical guesswork because of the lack of Romans that wanted to record their embarrassing defeats at the hands of a slave army, which I understand. History is written by the victors; but, in this case, only one of the two sides were literate, and they were losing. However, I don't mind because Barry Strauss (author of this and of Ten Caesars) knows his shit.

Titus Flaminius. As consul of Rome he was champion of the Greek people, liberating them from Macedonian oppression, Spartan tyranny, and even the Roman garrisons within their cities. As legate he assisted in driving the Seleucid king Antiochus from Greece. It was also he who finally hunted down an elderly Hannibal and pushed him to his death, avenging the Battle of Cannae. 80% public hero, 20% begrudging vindicator.

Philopoemen. "The Last of the Greeks," he is proclaimed to be the final renown-worthy man to sprout from the legendary land of Hellen. He was known to be humble and incorruptible as well as a natural leader and a fierce warrior. He led the Achaean League to their peak after the age of Aratus, finally subjugating the Spartans. A first one in last one out type of guy, he was adored by his people. 100% fearless general.

Aratus. A master of stealth combat and a hater of tyrants, he freed many Greek cities from ruthless autocrats and liberated all of Greece from Macedonian rule. Ultimately, though, to prevent Spartan hegemony from taking root across Hellas, he aided the Macedonians in re-subjugating his country before ultimately being betrayed by King Philip V, their last sovereign ruler. 60% sneaky liberator, 40% cowering sellout.

Marcellus. He was known as the Sword of Rome for a reason. He was one of three Romans to ever earn spolia opima, killing the king of the Gauls in single combat. He was the feared enemy of the Gauls, Sicilians, and Carthaginians; delivering Rome to victories against Britomartus, Archimedes, then Hannibal, until his death at the hands of the latter during the tenure of his fifth consulship. 20% diplomat, 80% warmaster.

Cleomenes III. Following in the footsteps of Agis IV, he succeeds at enacting many reforms as king of Sparta. He removes the ephors from power then redistributes all the wealth and land evenly among the Spartans, as Lycurgus did centuries earlier. He then reinstates Spartan military strength and almost conquers all of Greece until the Macedonians invaded and the Egyptians betrayed him. 50% sly general, 50% reformer.

Agis IV. As a young king of Sparta he sought to reform the constitution and redistribute the land to his citizens, who were now mostly landless except a handful of the elite. Like Lycurgus before him, he attempted to uproot the aristocracy and return to the subsistent and martial lifestyle that won his city so much glory in the days of old. He paid for his ambitions with his life. 50% discipline, 50% compassion.

Agesilaus II. He was king of Sparta at the pinnacle of Spartan dominance over Greece and Persia, and he was still king during Sparta's fall from grace. He was a humble, loyal ally and a merciful enemy. He saved Sparta from certain extinction when Epaminondas led the Theban army across the Eurotas. He continued fighting for the survival of his city until his death at 84 years old. 50% friend, 50% stubborn warmonger.

Alcibiades. A student of Socrates, he weaponized his charm, wit, and good looks to reignite war with Sparta for the sake of his own glory. A highly controversial character, he perfected the art of the turncoat flipping from Athens to Sparta to Persia back to Athens and then finally dying flipping back to Persia. Not a fan, although he was undeniably quite a specimen. 50% hedonist narcissistic warlord, 50% chameleon.

Nicias. Cautious, wise, and rich, he was elevated to the role of leader in Athens after the death of Pericles. He brilliantly only ever claimed enough glory in his victories to make people admire but not envy him. After being assigned general in the Athenian invasion of Syracuse, although he advised them against the war, he clung to hope and loyally served his men until his death. 60% peacemaker, 40% superstitionist.

Fabius Maximus. He was the glue that held Rome together when Hannibal led his army across the Alps into Italy. He pioneered Fabian Strategy, which consisted of patiently wearing down the strength of a powerful enemy from a distance instead of charging in and risking a costly defeat. In this way he rescued Rome from Carthage and Rome's own recklessly ambitious leaders. 50% stoic general, 50% unwavering counselor.

Pericles. Destined for greatness, he lived his early years in Cimon's shadow as a respected and able soldier before ascending the political ladder. After strategically removing Thucydides and his other rivals from the spotlight, he led Athens into an age of artistic, militaristic, and economic splendor. His caution and persuasion saved his city from many dooms and confounded his enemies. 70% orator, 30% tactician.

Cimon. Like his father Miltiades who led the Athenians at Marathon, he was a real thorn in the Persian king's side. He lived a Spartan lifestyle but guided Athens on a path to naval superiority and brokered a peace agreement between Greece and Persia via pure grit. For his troubles as an unbribable and just magistrate he was ostracized, but returned and strengthened his city until he died. 70% commander, 30% wiseman.

Lycurgus reforms the Spartans, Solon reforms Athens and Cleisthenes founds democracy, Cleomenes picks a fight with Darius (who is proving to be a Greek killing machine) then dies and is replaced by Leonidas as king of Sparta. After hundreds of years of world building, the Persians have finally arrived on Attic soil, and Miltiades leads out the greatly outnumbered Athenian hoplites to face them at Marathon.

Aristides the Just. Many men who come to power do so to reap the wealth and reputation associated with it, less forgo some money to gain more popularity for doing so, but fewest of all are those who yearn for neither pay nor pride and only seek to do what is right: this is the type of man Aristides was. In all he did as archon of Athens and throughout his life, he always prioritized justice over gain. 100% good man.

Camillus. A natural warrior and a born leader, he enjoyed an unprecedented résumé of magistracies and triumphal parades. Despite his stature, he was exiled by the Romans. However, when Rome was captured by the Gauls, he arrived at the head of an army to deliver them from certain doom. After rebuilding the city from the ground up, he was named the Second Founder of Rome. 50% honorable tribune, 50% glorious dictator.

Coriolanus. Bravery, valor, strength, and most of all, anger. He led the Romans in many bloody battles against the Voluscians, becoming hated by their people. When he became too powerful, Rome exiled him. He responded to this slight by joining his worst enemies and ravaging his former allies' lands. However, just before he destroyed Rome, his mother convinced him to stay his hand. 50% pure vengeance, 50% momma's boy.

Themistocles. He through pure ambition grew to power in Athens from small beginnings and led Greece to defeat the strongest empire in the world: Persia. After his achievements he was exiled for the reason that he had become too great, so he then befriended the king of Persia and retired in Asia. When the king asked him to lead Persia against Greece, he chose instead to drink poison. 50% persuasion, 50% power of will.

Spoiler alert! Cyrus founds an empire, his sons lose it, and the Usurper Darius makes it great; but how will his descendants fare against Hellas? More to come soon.

Listening to this one as an audiobook! Just getting started but I like the format so far! The man bulk of the book will be the Greco-Persian War; but it's starting out with the founding of Persia and the story of King Cyrus, so that's pretty cool.

Publicola. He was given his name by his loving citizens after helping Brutus* overthrow the last king of Rome. He became the third ever consul and led the Romans in wars against tyranny while also making many powerful allies. He reformed the senate and the laws, and he destroyed much of his wealth to show his love for the new republic. When he died, he was mourned by all. 50% warrior-statesman, 50% man of the people.

Solon. A statesman and sage, he reformed many laws that had governed Athens for years. As archon he denied the offer to become tyrant and insisted on following even the strictest of his new laws himself. One day he had enough of his office and left home to travel the world. He took an interest in Atlantis before returning home to civil war. He finally became advisor to the new tyrant. 70% stoic lawgiver, 30% poet.