Rome's Fallen Eagle (4) (Vespasian)

Caligula lies dead by the hands of assassins. Claudius, the drooling fool is proclaimed Emperor but his rule will be a short one unless he wins over the legions. To do that his three conniving freedmen, Narcissus, Pallas and Callistus, concoct a scheme of breath taking magnitude. Thus we find Vespasian and his brother Sabinus on a seemingly impossible mission to find and return the lost Eagle of the 17th Legion; lost 30 years prior in the Teutoburg Forest massacre. What follows is a masterful story of danger, excitement and unrelenting action coupled with the snake-oil, behind the scenes plotting of the powers behind Claudius; not only of his freedmen but of his devious wife Messalina. Mr. Fabbri has created a compelling tale of Vespasian and his ever increasing belief in himself and his destiny. His leadership qualities and his abilities as a warrior come to the fore in this volume of what is a great series of books. From the vast and dark forests of Germania to the savage battles fought for Claudius' benefit in Britain, Rome's Fallen Eagle takes the reader on a splendid ride indeed. 5 stars

The Vespasian saga continues with the death of Caligula and the dispatch of Vespasian and his brother Sabinus on a mission to Germany to buttress the credentials of the new emperor, Claudius. The heart of the book, however, is in what follows, when the Roman army invades Britain with a flurry of political maneuvering and a lot of well-executed warfare. Vespasian and his brother have become senior army officers and key political players in this version of events.Author Robert Fabbri has really hit his stride with this fourth book in the series. The characters of Vespasian and Sabinus have matured and fleshed out and the supporting cast is credible and interesting. Fabbri's descriptions of military strategies and tactics, battles, battlefields and the political aftermaths are second to none. His research of the times and the key historic figures is finely done and the fictional elements that he adds to known historic fact ring true and produce some very readable pages.Looking forward to the next book in the series.

Stammering Claudius and his freedmen are scarce an improvement on the reign of the madman Galigula. Vespasian has to find the famous eagle of the 17th lost by Varus in the Teutoburg massacre. And then there is Claudius expedition to Brittania.

This has thus far been the best of the set in my opinion. The adventures of Vespasian is captivating and description of life in that period is quite interesting. Its an enthralling read.

What a great way to learn of the past history no one ever teaches you.I love the fact there is so much history tied up with all the battle lust and laughs.While reading this book, people often look at me while I burst out laughing at something written, then drift back to serious reading.Can't wait to start the next book today.

An amazing read. Full of action with real life characters. A great story line that keeps your attention and makes you not want to put the book down, and look forward to picking it up again, and not wanting it to end. He has a grasp for historical facts and translates them into a suspenseful, action packed work.

4th installment in the Vespasian series. Each book is better than the prior one. I read this entire book in almost two days. Just didn't like the hardcover version of it, since paperback was not available.

I have read the other titles in the series and had enjoyed them. This was divided into 2 parts and didn't have the interest of the others and I wonder if the author is running out if ideas. Also modern slang started to creep into the dialogue which rather detracted from the experience

Rome's Fallen Eagle is divided into 3 sections: Rome, AD 41, Germania Ad 41 and The Invasion of Brittania in Spring AD 43. In these 3 sections, you learn a great deal of Roman history which has been meticulously researched by the author and as a novel has been changed in various places. The omissions and additions shown in the Notes at the end of the book are very interesting for a reader who would like to understand what was happening in Imperial Rome and the machinations as to supremacy which at that time was being planned by three freedmen, who held the Empire to ransom, such was the fear of the ruling family of the time. At this time, Ancient Rome was a marvel of both horror and admiration.The novel begins with the brutal murder of Caligula which puts the end to his wicked reign and his treatment of all the Roman aristocratic families which changed them into almost fawning creatures afraid for their lives. After his death, Claudius, who is perceived as a foolish and drooling idiot, takes over from Caligula and then Claudius' three freedmen who have planned to make their master only a puppet ruler, begin to wield what they believe is their supreme power over the disabled Emperor. Vespasian, a blunt young aristocrat realises his brother Sabinus is implicated in the Caligula's death, but happily Sabinus is not executed for his part in the assassination as Vespasian is owed two favours by one of the freedmen. Then the two young men are ordered to go to Germania to bring back the lost Eagle of the Seventeenth Legion which is almost as bad as signing their own death warrants. It is in Germania that Vespasian learns more of his trade, fighting the Checchi in their sacred groves and later, in a great naval battle where his finding of the Eagle is thwarted by another Roman officer, Gabinius, who steals the Eagle and returns it to Claudius as if he was the one who found it. Afterwards Vespasian is despatched as legate to the Second Augusta, with General Aulius Plautius in charge, to bring Britannia under Roman rule. The brutalities that happen during this war are hard to read and the first and last battle of that invasion are written in so much detail that it matches the days the killing continued when thousands of savage Britons are slain, with many casualties also on the Roman side. It is very interesting to find out how the Romans fought and owing to such a disciplined army were able to overcome, even if they had a lot less men. Any Roman soldiers who grumbled about the system were put to death immediately, which was a cruel but successful way to remind a soldier discipline is everything and warning each man that he must act on any orders, bad or good, and fight until the last man standing.Against the backdrop of this war, the political intrigue in Rome continues and Vespasian in particular is always trying to find a way out of the freedmen's web that could result in his death when he arrives back in Rome. In this novel most characters know their role and are determined to surface triumphant both in battle or in agreement with those who plot against them politically.It is only towards the end of the novel, Vespasian begins to understand a great deal more about politics that have affected him and how to look after himself on the battlefield. He has been a popular leader of the Roman soldiery and honourable in their eyes. He is now a man who has made mistakes, learned from them, yet he has survived. But his wife and children have been taken to live in the palace to be brought up with Claudius' son and his mother, the evil Messalina and her brother, Vespasian's enemy. His thoughts begin to turn on higher things and he begins to ask himself the question as to why one imperial family alone should rule the whole of the known world. A thought comes briefly that he himself might one day do a lot better for himself and his stricken family: to stand a chance to make and wield the supreme power himself. A 5* book but only read it, if you love battles.

Robert Fabbri has returned his hero in to the ranks of the legions, as Legate of the II Augusta. after the assassination of Caligula and the subsequent rise of Claudius and his Freedmen Narcissus & Pallas.The political intrigue and danger to all after the death of Caligula and the threat to Sabinus as a co-conspirator put Vespasian and his brother under the control of Narcissus and they are susequently sent looking for the lost Eagle of the XVII LegionFabbri manages to convey to the reader the brutalities of life in Ancient Rome.The historical detail relating to the invasion of Britannia is excellent, as the Roman documentation of the invasion is pretty sparseWe know that Vespasian will one day become Emperor and these books of his early life are unable to place him in the sort of life or death situations one normally experiences with a fictional hero.Bring on the next installment, (I just hope he does not run into Marco & Cato)

This book had me gripped from cover to cover. Detailed narrative and exciting all the way through. A great series and a very talented writer.

Arrived timely - a most entertaining and informative series

Great fictional book based on historical fact that keeps the excitement going from the start. Likeable series of books giving a possible rise to the Emperor Vespasian

maybe not as superb as 2 and 3, more battle and figths but still excellent!

Great read

Excellently written tale of Roman conquest and the political intrigue of that time.Well written,exciting and very believable,so disappointing that it ended when it did !!!

I love Roman fiction and fact combined.. The author keeps the reader riveted and the story line is excellent .. AReady downloaded the next book in the series

Action, humour and strong storyline that gallops along, really enjoyable. Looking forward to reading the next chapter of the series.

The invasion of Britain in glorious detail. The Flavian brothers get further embroiled in Roman politics. Great story telling, throughly enjoyable

I have read already the Vespasian series .After reading Arminius , in which there was part from the book above-mentioned , had to re read it again .I have enjoyed all the books by Robert Fabbri

This is first book by this author which I read purely by chance. Looks like I will be reading the previous ones in the series shortly. Excellent novel - compelling read - could not put it down.

Really enjoyed this book away to start reading the next book now! Fantastic series of Rome's conquests looking forward with anticipation

Good Book.