The Field of Swords

The Field of Swords

The Field of Swords first edition cover.
Author	Conn Iggulden
Original title	translator =
Country	United Kingdom
Language	English
Subject	Julius Caesar
Genre	Historical novel
Publisher	HarperCollins
Publication date	3 January 2005
Media type	Print (Hardback & Paperback)
Pages	588 pp (first edition)
ISBN
OCLC	59183857

The Field of Swords is the third novel in the Emperor series, written by British author Conn Iggulden. The series is historical fiction following the life of Julius Caesar.

The book was released in the UK on 3 January 2005 and published by HarperCollins. The story follows Julius Caesar from his position as Governor in Spain, through the Gallic Wars, the invasion of Britannia, the defeat of Vercingetorix, and eventually crossing of the Rubicon signalling the beginning of the Roman Civil War.

Having defeated Spartacus in The Death of Kings, Caesar is serving a five-year term as Governor Of Spain (Hispania Ulterior) with his Tenth legion. Depressed with guilt still over the death of his wife in The Death of Kings, he has exhausted himself in conquering and expanding Spain. However, when his friend Marcus Brutus' mother (Servilia) arrives, she engages in a romance with him and re-awakens his desire for power.

Before his term ends he deserts his Governorship (a serious crime amongst Roman patricians) to challenge for the role of Consul. With the help of current Consul Crassus he manages, yet only just and by getting himself into unbelievable levels of debt (and by defeating a rebel army on the verge of attacking Rome), to obtain the rank. To allow himself unprecedented military control of a province after his first six months as Consul, Caesar forms the First Triumvirate with Crassus and Pompey, the old Consuls.