Governing Britain the Roman way

Ever since Julius Caesar had a pop at the northern isles in 55/54BC as part of his Gallic Wars campaign (and didn’t get very far), Britain has been difficult to govern. Whether wars of succession or civil wars, barons or peasants v. kings, Saxons v. post-Romans, constitutional government v. chartists, Fenians, suffragists, unions or agitators, […]

Lupercalia – Not an ancestor of Valentine's Day

Lupercales, Andrea Camassei (1602-1649), Prado Museum

Mid February, the time of roses and chocolate when romance is in the air… And isn’t it the quaint descendant of the old Roman festival of Lupercalia?

Er, no. ‘Quaint’ is definitely not the word.

In AD 495, Christian bishop of Rome, Gelasius, finally managed to […]

Saturnalia surprise - a winter party tale

Whatever your take on midwinter, there’s always a celebration and authors love to party! Historical fiction author Helen Hollick has arranged a terrific bash.

When you’ve read my contribution below, hop over and take a virtual glass with some of the others – list and links below. But don’t hop off before you’ve read […]