Crown of Thorns

Caractacus: Book Two

'The struggle against oppression had me rooting for Caractacus.' Alistair Forrest, author of Libertas

44AD.

Caractacus, the British war leader, has been beaten into a corner and his brother, the previous high king, has changed sides in despair.

The island of Albion is split down the middle, along the line of the old Fosse Way. If Caractacus engages the Romans on the battlefield, his people will be slaughtered. If not, then he will have to accept the enemy's increasing presence in his country.

So, what should the leader of the British nations do?

To add to his trials, the soldier's old enemy returns, Scapula. The Roman officer, who murdered his sister, is out for blood. The son of the new Roman governor has the will and means to hunt Caractacus down - to end his tribe and their peaceful, civilised way of life.

As Caractacus sets up his headquarters in Caer Leon, another factor comes in to play - the early Christians and relatives of Christ himself have begun to settle in southern Siluria. Are the Romans actually there to root them out?

Heavy is the head that wears the crown.

Caractacus and those other Britons determined to reject Roman domination find themselves forced into battle - on a distant, but well-defended hillfort - in Ordovicia.

The fate of a man - and his tribe - hang in the balance.

David Boyle is a British author and journalist who writes mainly about history and new ideas in economics, money, business, and culture.