Being a competent political wife, Aemilia covered for Cornelius in instances of scandal and maintained the family’s status by organizing prestigious marriages and holding public gatherings. Aemilia and Cornelius had four children, two sons and two daughters. Neither son followed in their father or grandfather’s footsteps as a General of the Republic.

  The Myth of an Eagle’s Scream

  For such a big bird of prey, the majestic eagle emits a surprisingly weak-sounding call. Typically described as a series of high-pitched whistling or piping noises. The piercing screech we associate with the eagle in films is actually the call of a red-tailed hawk. Years ago, filmmakers created the myth of an eagle’s scream by inserting the hawk’s call for effect.

  Baecula (Santo Tomé, Spain)

  With Hasdrubal Gisco at Ilipa, and Mango Barca camped at Carmona, just north of Seville, Cornelius feared an attack on his rear if he hesitated. Hurriedly, Cornelius ordered an attack on Hasdrubal Barca’s army at Baecula. He started the assault at the center of the plateau on a lower tier. Cornelius made it look like a skirmish by using his light infantrymen against Iberian spearmen placed there. During the fighting, Cornelius Scipio on one side, and Gaius Laelius on the other, snuck their heavy infantry into positions to advance uphill on the flanks. And, as described in the book, he won the battle.

  Cornelius, however, failed to totally defeat Hasdrubal’s army. During the rout, his forces stopped and plundered Hasdrubal Barca’s abandoned camp. This allowed two thirds of the enemy to escape. As happened often, the Senate of Rome blamed Cornelius Scipio for allowing Hasdrubal and his army to escape from Baecula.

  History reported that Hasdrubal Barca’s army crossed the Pyrenees, and later the Alps. In Italy, just south of San Marino on the Metauro River, Marcus Livius and Gaius Claudius Nero defeated the Carthaginian General. Hasdrubal was beheaded and his head carried in a sack to Hannibal’s camp. To show the victory of the Romans over Hannibal’s brother, the head was thrown over the wall. The delivery of the head seemed appropriate considering the treatment of Latin prisoners by Hannibal after earlier battles.

  The Battle of Carmona

  Historically, Cornelius faced a dilemma. Hanno and Mago Barca set up camp on the heights of Carmona while Hasdrubal Gisco camped not far away. No town was given for the second camp, so I used Fuentes de Andalucía. Fearing a fight on two fronts, Cornelius sent Junius Silanus to attack Carmona. Why he chose the more heavily fortified location for his second in command isn’t known. After the Legions ran off Mago and captured Hanno, Cornelius directed the attack on Hasdrubal Gisco’s camp. In an inconclusive battle, Gisco separated his army and sent them to cities with defensive walls around the area. Unable to lay siege at multiple locations, Cornelius withdrew his Legions.

  Rhodian Admiral Polemocles

  In 220 B.C., two powerful cities had forced every city on Crete to swear allegiance to them. But, the Spartan colony of Lyttos refused. To aid in bringing Lyttos into the alliance, the cities enlisted Polemocles, an Admiral from the Island of Rhodes. He arrived with six ships and began visiting the cities on Crete.

  On a tour of Eleutherna, the Admiral was accused of assassinating a citizen named Timarchus. I positioned the Kasia farm near Eleutherna and made Timarchus the Magistrate. His death became part of an emotional episode for Jace.

  We began Unlawful Kingdom in 209 B.C. and closed it out in late 207 B.C. Here’s hoping you enjoyed the story and the notes.

  ***

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  E-mail: GalacticCouncilRealm@gmail.com

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  Website: www.JCliftonSlater.com

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  I am J. Clifton Slater and I write historical military adventures.

  Other books by J. Clifton Slater :

  Historical Adventure of the 2nd Punic War

  A Legion Archer series

  #1 Journey from Exile

  #2 Pity the Rebellious

  #3 Heritage of Threat

  #4 A Legion Archer

  #5 Authority of Rome

  #6 Unlawful Kingdom

  #7 From Dawn to Death (Next in series)

  Historical Adventure of the 1st Punic War

  Clay Warrior Stories series

  #1 Clay Legionary

  #2 Spilled Blood

  #3 Bloody Water

  #4 Reluctant Siege

  #5 Brutal Diplomacy

  #6 Fortune Reigns

  #7 Fatal Obligation

  #8 Infinite Courage

  #9 Deceptive Valor

  #10 Neptune’s Fury

  #11 Unjust Sacrifice

  #12 Muted Implications

  #13 Death Caller

  #14 Rome’s Tribune

  #15 Deranged Sovereignty

  #16 Uncertain Honor

  #17 Tribune’s Oath

  #18 Savage Birthright

  #19 Abject Authority

 

 

  J. Clifton Slater, Unlawful Kingdom (A Legion Archer Book 6)

 

 

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