"The Count of the Saxon Shore" is a historical novel that takes place in the fourth century, the period when the Roman Empire withdrew its legions from Britain. The Count of the Saxon Shore was a military title of that time. His task was to protect the coasts of Roman Provinces from the attacks of the Saxon pirates. A Roman nobleman appointed for this position gets in the middle of the political turmoil: he has to protect the territory from pirates while getting involved in the political intrigues started by a new emperor.
Set during the departure of the Romans from Britain, "The Count of the Saxon Shore" is a historical fiction novel that delves into the Roman period in Great Britain (55 B.C.-449 A.D.). Written by Alfred John Church and Ruth Putnam, the story revolves around the challenges faced by the Romans and the native Britons during this tumultuous period. The narrative provides a rich blend of history, culture, and fiction, making it a captivating read for history enthusiasts and fans of historical fiction.
All three books in 'The Saxon Shore', a series of historical fiction by John Broughton, now available in one volume. The Saxon Shore: After Valdor's friend kills a centurion, they escape from Roman justice in a fishing boat. It's the third century, and General Carausius has proclaimed himself Emperor of both Britannia and Northern Gaul. Valdor befriends Carausius and, installed as Count of the Saxon Shore, must face the Saxon and Frankish raiders. With barbarian tribes on its frontiers, the Roman army has to enlist former enemies, no matter the cost. Will Britannia ever regain peaceful prosperity? The Great Conspiracy: In the fourth century AD, Britannia is under attack by barbarians and lurches towards inevitable doom. Leo and Valdor, grandson and great-grandson of a famous warrior, are rising in rank against the Picts and Scots. Valdor finally gets his chance for promotion after helping the usurper, Magnus Maximus, in his campaign against the Western Emperor. But as the province is left exposed to barbarian incursions, will Valdor become just another local chieftain amid the anarchy left by the Romans? The Woken Talisman: An officer of sub-Roman Britain, Valdor accepts the kingship of Logres, meets Myrddin, and changes his name to Arthur. He's preparing for the battle of Mons Badonicus which, according to the seer, will usher in a golden age for the Britons. Arthur is ‘the past and future king’, but what does the future hold for him?
“Hail! Cæsar Emperor, the starving salute thee!” and the speaker made a military salute to a silver coin, evidently brand-new from the mint (which did not seem, by the way, to turn out very good work), and bearing the superscription, “Gratianus Cæsar Imperator Felicissimus.” He was a soldier of middle age, whose jovial face did not show any sign of the fate which he professed to have so narrowly escaped, and formed one of a group which was lounging about the Quæstorium, or, as we may put it, the paymaster’s office of the camp at the head of the Great Harbour. A very curious medley of nationalities was that group. There were Gauls; there were Germans from the Rhine bank, some of them of the pure Teuton type, with fair complexions, bright blue eyes, and reddish golden hair, and remarkably tall of stature, others showing an admixture of the Celtic blood of their Gallic neighbours in their dark hair and hazel eyes; there were swarthy Spaniards, fierce-looking men from the Eastern Adriatic, showing some signs of Greek parentage in their regular features and graceful figures; there were two or three who seemed to have an admixture of Asian or even African blood in them; it might be said, in fact, there were representatives of every province of the Empire, Italy only excepted. They had been just receiving their pay, long in arrear, and now considerably short of the proper amount, and containing not a few coins which the receivers seemed to think of doubtful value. “Let me look at his Imperial Majesty,” said another speaker; and he scanned the features of the new Cæsar—features never very dignified, and certainly not flattered by the rude coinage—with something like contempt. “Well, he does not look exactly as a Cæsar should; but what does it matter? This will go down with Rufus at the wine-shop and Priscus the sausage-seller, as well as the head of the great Augustus himself.” “Ah!” said a third speaker, picking out from a handful of silver a coin which bore the head of Theodosius, “this was an Emperor worth fighting under. I made my first campaign with him against Maximus, another British Cæsar, by the way; and he was every inch a soldier. If his son were like him things would be smoother than they are.” “Do you think,” said the second speaker, after first throwing a cautious glance to see whether any officer of rank was in hearing—“do you think we have made a change for the better from Marcus? He at all events used to be more liberal with his money than his present majesty. You remember he gave us ten silver pieces each. Now we don’t even get our proper pay.” “Marcus, my dear fellow,” said the other speaker, “had a full military chest to draw upon, and it was not difficult to be generous. Gratianus has to squeeze every denarius out of the citizens. I heard them say, when the money came into the camp yesterday, that it was a loan from the Londinium merchants. I wonder what interest they will get, and when they will see the principal again.” “Hang the fat rascals!” said the other. “Why should they sleep soft, and eat and drink the best of everything, while we poor soldiers, who keep them and their money-bags safe, have to go bare and hungry?”
The Saxon Shore tells the story of Valdor, a young Batavian. After his friend kills a centurion, they escape from Roman justice in a fishing boat. It's the third century, when leadership conflicts proliferate. General Carausius has proclaimed himself Emperor of both Britannia and Northern Gaul. Valdor befriends Carausius and, installed as Count of the Saxon Shore, must complete the coastal defences against Saxon and Frankish raiders. Faced with barbarian tribes on its frontiers, the Roman army has to enlist former enemies, no matter the cost. Will Britannia ever regain peaceful prosperity, and what will happen to the usurper now that Diocletian is persecuting Christians? THE SAXON SHORE is a riveting historical adventure set in late 3rd century Britannia and Europe.
Although the exact dates of construction of the so-called Saxon Shore forts are uncertain, the development of the frontier system that ran form the Wash to the Solent on the south-east coast of Roman Britain was spread over at least a century and a half. Many of the new forts were notable for the superior strength of their defences, with thicker stone walls bristling with projecting curved bastions. These and other features were clearly designed to them more difficult to storm than old-style frontier forts with their classic playing-card shape and internal towers. Defense earlier in the Roman era had meant aggressive response in the open field or even offensive pre-emptive strikes into enemy territory. The new trend was to build stronger, the emphasis being on solid, more static defense, anticipating attack and absorbing it rather than going out to meet it. Most of the major harbours and estuaries of the east and south-east coasts of Britain were fortified in this manner. There was a similar series of military installations across the Channel in Gaul, extending along the northern coast as far as what is now Brittany. Whatever their precise tactical and strategic function, a continuing debate to which this book contributes, the construction of these stone forts represented a huge outlay of money, and commitment of manpower and materials. The Saxon Shore Forts are among the most impressive surviving monuments of Roman Britain. This book addresses a number ofthe fascinating questions they provoke - Who built these Forts? When and for what purposes? How were they built? How did they operate? Who garrisoned them, and for how long?
