In the second HEROICA story, Honoria Mitela is a Pretorian Guard soldier in 17th century Roma Nova. She’s achieved the rank of prefect (praefectus), a senior commander. Grades and ranks still reflect the classic Roman Empire ones, something that will change in the 19th century to a mixture of classic and the equivalents of other Western army ranks. But for now, there are legates, prefects and tribunes.
Brought up in one of the ancient, established families, she knows Germanic (from her tutors) and Ottoman Turkish (from her nursemaid/maid). We learn that away from her military duties, she lives on a farm and estate at Castra Lucilla in the south and enjoys breeding horses.
Castra Lucilla, named after one of Roma Nova founder’s daughters and mentioned in the epilogue of EXSILIUM, will still belong to the Mitela family in future centuries.
Honoria is an experienced soldier in an elite unit – intelligent, competent and loyal. Although I haven’t specifically given her age in the story, she’s in her late twenties. Like other Roma Novan military, she prefers chain mail armour to plate armour, not only for reasons of tradition, but for its practical flexibility. Tough as she is, she does experience moments of what here legate calls ‘softness’.
The 17th century of Honoria’s Battle was a dangerous, violent time – an inheritance from the medieval period’s constant wars over land and religion. However, by 1683 the Enlightenment was dawning, characterised by an emphasis on reason, empirical evidence and the scientific method. Its thinkers were promoting ideals of individual liberty, religious tolerance, progress and natural rights along with constitutional government, the separation of church and state and the application of rational principles to social and political reform. An exciting period, but one of transition when changes are only beginning.
Honoria’s role in the Battle of Vienna may have been pivotal – or not. Her story takes place in an alternative timeline after all. Some historians consider the battle marked a turning point in the 300-year struggle between the Christian Holy Roman Empire and the Muslim Ottoman Empire. It was the final conflict in a hundred and fifty years of bitter military tension following the failure of the previous siege of Vienna by the Ottomans in 1529. After the second siege and battle in 1683, the Ottomans would gain no further ground in Europe and never again challenge Vienna.
For Honoria, the battle turns out to be a pivot in her personal life.
Discover much more about Honoria’s story in HEROICA
Alison Morton is the author of Roma Nova thrillers – INCEPTIO, CARINA (novella), PERFIDITAS, SUCCESSIO, AURELIA, NEXUS (novella), INSURRECTIO and RETALIO, and ROMA NOVA EXTRA, a collection of short stories. JULIA PRIMA and EXSILIUM, set in the late 4th century, tell the story of Roma Nova’s foundation. Audiobooks are available for four of the series. Double Identity and Double Pursuit start a new contemporary thriller series. The third, Double Stakes is now out.
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