The Gates of Rome first edition cover.
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Author | Conn Iggulden |
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Country | United Kingdom |
Language | English |
Series | Emperor (novel series) |
Genre | Historical novel |
Publisher | HarperCollins |
Publication date
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6 January 2003 |
Media type | Print (Hardback & Paperback) |
Pages | 416 pp (first edition) |
ISBN | |
OCLC | 59467668 |
Followed by | The Death of Kings |
The Gates Of Rome is the first novel in the Emperor series, written by author Conn Iggulden. The series is historical fiction following the life of Julius Caesar.
The first book in the series introduces two young Romans: Gaius (Gaius Julius Caesar), son of a senator and born of noble-blood, and blood-friend Marcus (Marcus Junius Brutus), son of a high-class courtesan (Servilia).
The novel tells of the harsh realities of life in Ancient Rome, not only for the nobilitas but also for the slave population, who revolt and kill Gaius's father during a siege of the Caesar estate.
As the two boys begin their careers (Gaius as a senator and Brutus as a legionary), a political war is being played out in the senate between two powerful Generals: Cornelius Sulla and Gaius's uncle, Gaius Marius.
Julius and Marcus grow up as close as brothers, forming a deep and long-lasting friendship. Marcus is adopted by Gaius's parents, and is trained alongside Gaius by a famous, retired and unbeaten gladiator named Renius. In preparation for a life in the legions serving the Republic, Renius teaches them not only swordsmanship, but also how to become weapons themselves. However, Renius's training techniques sometimes have near fatal results; both Julius and Marcus nearly drown on one occasion. As the boys grow up, both start coveting the attention of Alexandria, a slave on their home estate.
At the end of their training, Renius seriously wounds Gaius in a training accident; in retaliation Marcus proves his skill with a sword, severely injuring Renius's arm.
In order to survive in the complex and ever-shifting world of Roman politics, Gaius casts his lot in with his uncle Marius, who agrees to take both Gaius and Marcus under his wing. Marius is a Consul and one of the two most powerful men in Rome, the other being his great rival Sulla. After Marius secures a Triumph for his legion Primigenia ("the First-Born") through the streets of Rome, Marcus uses a recommendation from Marius to gain a position in a legion guarding the Roman province of Macedon. After leaving with Renius (who has his injured arm amputated by his brother along the way), Marcus begins to make a name for himself in the Fourth Macedonia Legion's centuria:"Bronze Fist".