03-07-2010, 02:25 PM
The problem with using the Caesarian era is that HBO's Rome pretty much covered that ground already - but it's a huge and fascinating period, with lots of dramatic incident, and a lot is known about what went on, so I wouldn't let that stop you. The problem with using X Equestris might be that people are liable to wave Stephen Dando-Collins in your face if you diverge from his fanciful reconstructions ( :roll: ) - your research could well be better than his, but many prefer to believe what they read in a non-fiction 'history' book, without checking the facts...
Antony's Praetorian Cohort could have included men from the tenth by the time of the proscriptions - he could easily have reformed the cohort anyway prior to his meeting with Octavian and the formation of the triumvirate, and the tenth had joined his army by then. You'd be missing out on Mutina and Forum Gallorum, and all the good dramatic stuff in Rome before this though. Could your character have been a legionary in the tenth, promoted to centurion in another legion around Pharsalus, in time to be 'retired' to Campania? Alternatively, there's no reason why a retiree in Narbo Martius should stay there - he could have got bored with 'civilian' life after a few months and headed back to Rome looking for fun/adventure/a chance to avenge the murder of Caesar/whatever - the great thing about fiction is that you don't have to provide footnotes or references! If what you're describing fits with the story and doesn't contradict historical facts, you can do it.
There are, however, a lot of Roman army novels and films around at the moment, and you'd have to make yours pretty distinctive if it's going to work. I'd say the 'cut off behind enemy lines' story idea might be getting a bit hackneyed now - very similar to a lot of other 'military fiction' novels from various eras. Be careful about confusing a good plot with a good story - a sequence of interesting historical events can make a plot, but stories are about characters and how they interact with the world they inhabit. The best idea might be to think of a really good, original story and a set of characters first, then consider which period they would fit best. Beyond that, though, just go with whatever excites you most!
Regards - Nathan
Antony's Praetorian Cohort could have included men from the tenth by the time of the proscriptions - he could easily have reformed the cohort anyway prior to his meeting with Octavian and the formation of the triumvirate, and the tenth had joined his army by then. You'd be missing out on Mutina and Forum Gallorum, and all the good dramatic stuff in Rome before this though. Could your character have been a legionary in the tenth, promoted to centurion in another legion around Pharsalus, in time to be 'retired' to Campania? Alternatively, there's no reason why a retiree in Narbo Martius should stay there - he could have got bored with 'civilian' life after a few months and headed back to Rome looking for fun/adventure/a chance to avenge the murder of Caesar/whatever - the great thing about fiction is that you don't have to provide footnotes or references! If what you're describing fits with the story and doesn't contradict historical facts, you can do it.
There are, however, a lot of Roman army novels and films around at the moment, and you'd have to make yours pretty distinctive if it's going to work. I'd say the 'cut off behind enemy lines' story idea might be getting a bit hackneyed now - very similar to a lot of other 'military fiction' novels from various eras. Be careful about confusing a good plot with a good story - a sequence of interesting historical events can make a plot, but stories are about characters and how they interact with the world they inhabit. The best idea might be to think of a really good, original story and a set of characters first, then consider which period they would fit best. Beyond that, though, just go with whatever excites you most!
Regards - Nathan
Nathan Ross
