Greek and Roman warfare was unlike that of any other culture before or since. The key difference is often held to be that the Greeks and Romans practiced a “Western Way of War,” in which the aim is an open, decisive battle-won by courage instilled, in part, by discipline. Here, Harry Sidebottom looks at how this Western Way of War was constructed and maintained by the Greeks and Romans and why this concept is so prevalent today.
All aspects of ancient warfare are thoroughly examined-from philosophy and strategy to the technical skills needed to fight. Sidebottom examines war in the wider context, showing how wars were able to shape classical society, and how an individual’s identity was sometimes constructed by war, as in the case of the Christian soldier fighting in God’s name. He also explores the ways in which ancient society thought about conflict: Can a war be just? Why was siege warfare particularly bloody? What role did divine intervention play in the outcome of a battle? Taking fascinating examples from the Iliad, Tacitus, and the Persian Wars, Sidebottom uses arresting anecdotes to show that any understanding of ancient war is an ongoing process of interpretation.

AD 255: The Roman imperium is stretched to the breaking point, its authority and might challenged throughout the territories and along every border. One man is sent to marshal the defenses of a lonely city and to shore up the crumbling walls of a once indomitable symbol of Roman power, a man whose very name means war, a man called Ballista. So unfolds an epic drama–a story of empire, heroes, treachery, courage, and most of all, of brutal, bloody warfare.

The spectacular flair for explosive action, depth of literary and geographic knowledge, as well as the psychological complexity of the characters makes Fire in the East a trulyauthoritative historical adventure. Already a bestseller in the UK, Fire in the East is the first gripping installment in an immense grand narrative–the Warrior of Rome series.

The Warrior of Rome is back.

In AD 256, the specter of treachery hangs ominously over the Roman Empire. The sparks of Christian fervor have spread through the empire like wildfire, and the imperium is alive with the machinations of dangerous and powerful men. All the while, Sassanid forces press forward relentlessly along the eastern frontier. The battle-bloodied General Ballista returns to the imperial court from the fallen city of Arete only to find that there are those who would rather see him dead than alive. Ballista is soon caught in a sinister web of intrigue and religious fanaticism, and his courage and loyalty will be put to the ultimate test in the service of Rome and the emperor.

Renowned for their skilled blending of action and historical accuracy, Harry Sidebottom’s Warrior of Rome novels take listeners from the shouts of the battlefield to the whispering of the emperor’s inner circle.

In Mesopotamia, AD 260, Ballista faces yet another enemy, the man the Syrians call the Lion of the Sun.

Betrayed by his most trusted advisor, Roman Emperor Valerian has been captured by the Sassanid barbarians. The shame of the vanquished beats down mercilessly like the desert sun as the frail old emperor prostrates himself before Shapur, king of kings. Ballista looks on helplessly but vows under his breath to avenge those who have brought the empire to the brink of destruction with their treachery. But first he must decide what price he will pay for his own freedom. Only the fearless and only those whom the gods will spare from hell can now save the empire from a catastrophic ending. Ballista, the warrior of Rome, faces his greatest challenge yet.

In the sixth novel in Harry Sidebottom’s bestselling Warrior of Rome historical fiction series, Ballista returns to undertake yet another epic mission–while the Roman Empire reels in chaos around him.

In AD 264, the Roman Empire has been torn in two. The western provinces–Gaul, Spain, and Britain–have been seized by Postumus, the pretender to the throne. To the east, on the plains of northern Italy, the armies of the emperor Gallienus muster, and he is keen to take his rightful place of power. A war between two emperors is coming, and everyone must choose a side.

On a mission shrouded in secrecy and suspicion, Ballista is sent by Gallienus back to his home of Hyperborea, the place of the people of his birth, to raise an army against Postumus. This means Ballista must journey along the Amber Road to the far north. Along the way Ballista meets a fearsome, masked warlord who attacks, bringing fire and sword against Ballista and his men. And in his home of Hyperborea, not all welcome Ballista’s return. In the battle between Postumus and Gallienus, only one can survive and be emperor.

Renowned for their skilled blending of action and historical accuracy, Sidebottom’s Warrior of Rome novels take the reader from the shouts of the battlefield to the whisperings of the emperor’s inner circle. Rich in detail and punctuated by harrowing action, these books will transport you back to the days of the Roman Empire.

In the fifth novel in Harry Sidebottom’s acclaimed and bestselling Warrior of Rome historical fiction series, Ballista returns to undertake yet another epic mission–while the Roman Empire reels in chaos around him.

In AD 263, the Roman Empire is close to turmoil as violent uprisings threaten to shatter the fragile balance of power. In the north, the tribes are increasingly bold in their raids on the Imperium. Ballista must undertake his most treacherous journey yet. He must face the Heruli–the Eaters of Flesh, the Wolves of the North–the most brutal tribe of them all, and try to turn them against one another. As Ballista and his retinue make their journey, someone–or something–is hunting them, picking them off one by one, and leaving a trail of mutilated corpses and terror. Ballista is in a strange land, among strange people, but is it possible that the greatest threat may come from within his own circle?

Renowned for their skilled blending of action and historical accuracy, Sidebottom’s Warrior of Rome novels take the reader from the shouts of the battlefield to the whisperings of the emperor’s inner circle. Rich in detail and punctuated by harrowing action, there’s no better way to transport yourself back to the days of the Roman Empire.