Cleopatra's Kidnappers: How Caesars Sixth Legion Gave Egypt to Rome and Rome to Caesar

by Stephen Dando-Collins

Book Overview

A powerful tale of war, romance, and one of history's most desperate gambles

Julius Caesar was nothing if not bold. When, in the wake of his defeat of Pompey at Pharsalus his victorious legions refused to march another step under his command, he pursued his fleeing rival into Egypt with an impossibly small force of Gallic and German cavalry, raw Italian recruits, and nine hundred Spanish prisoners of war-tough veterans of Pompey's Sixth Legion...

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0471719331
• ISBN13: 9780471719335
• Release Date: October 2005
• Publisher: Trade Paper Press
• Length: 304 Pages
• Weight: 1.19 lbs.
• Dimensions: 1.1" x 6.4" x 9.5"

Customer Reviews

A Stunning Achievement

Stephen Dando-Collins weaves together a history of the 6th Ferrata Legion and Julius Caesar that reads as if it is a fascinating and suspenseful novel. Here you will find a view of the Roman World and the people who lived it, that will open your eyes to a largely hidden history that is much more intriguing than traditional accounts. It is a history that one can relate to from modern times, with its passions and political intrigue. Cleopatra's Kidnappers is one of the best volumes of Dando-Collins' four part saga of Rome's famous legions.

A very good work of non fiction that flows like a novel

This was my first Dando-Collins book and I must say I was quite impressed. A great fiction author like Margaret George "Memoirs of Cleopatra" can make subject matter like Caesar, Mark Antony and Cleopatra and all that is the Roman Empire flow like silk, becoming irresistable to put down for readers fixated with such material. Harder though for a non fiction work to do the same. Yet I found myself drawn to this work from chapter 1 and could hardly put it down as the pages flowed. Its a splendidly researched book that doesnt pretend to be a Cambridge History of the Times or the like. Its simply an easy to read, thought provoking fact filled and informative publication quintessentially about the 6th Legion (raised in Spain) and its contribution to the Gallic campaign, Civil War through its allegiance first to Pompey and then as an integral part of Caesars progress to claiming leadership of Rome via the pivotal events that occurred in Egypt. These were the days when he was neither guaranteed to become ruler of Rome and nor was a very young Cleopatra - encamped in Palestine - seeking to regain her place on the Egyptian throne - guaranteed to be ruler of Egypt over the badly advised and cynically cruel brother Ptolemy XIII. The famous and the infamous men and women of the times, and their lives are richly detailed in quick succession as well as their influence or role in the events going on upon the times in which the book is based. Its a veritable who's who. And not all are so well known that the author cant surprise. Caesars promotion following his victory at Pharsalus of a young tribune called Tiberius Claudius Nero, rejected by Cicero for betrothal to his daughter but eventually to marry Livia on her way to ultimately marrying Augustus. That pre Augustan union produced Tiberius (2nd Emperor or Rome) while son Drusus marrying a daughter of Mark Antony would lead to Claudius (4th Emperor of Rome) ---> not bad work by Tiberius Claudius Nero who couldnt have known his true influence as he organised the stacking of cavalry horses and provisions on one of Caesars barges bound for Egypt. This is the sort of thing the book is great at uncovering. And why its so absorbing. If only Cicero had said "yes" then there would not have been a Nero (Livia's great great grandson). The irony of Cicero - who forsaw in the destruction of the Republic the future reign of unaccountable tyrants - indirectly causing the reign of the ulimate tyrant in Nero is truly a gem. <br /> <br />More than this there are moments where the description is very ethereal. Like the description at the start of the chapter "Egyptian Resistance" of the scene and surroundings as Caesars warships slip into the Alexandrian harbour at night as the famous Lighthouse glows away - with troops on deck not sure of what reception awaits but prepared for all and sundry to come at them anyway. Its quite awe inspiring the way its all painted in words. <br /> <br />And oh poor Caesar...think you have t

Porcia swallows red hot coals... ouch!

The 6th legion, the FERRATA, was called the 'iron clad'. They fought for Pompey, were captured by Caesar and then turned into his weapon of mass destruction. The 6th were barracaded in Alexandria, fought on the edge of the Nile, fought in Spain, fought in Turkey and served 20 years in the Roman legions before ever laying eyes on the city of Rome. But what a homecoming! Three triumphs in a row. Unheard of, absolutely unheard of. Stephan Dando-Collins is on a roll. This is the third book of his that I have read and it was the best one. As a non-historian, all I can do is buy and read books that explain more and more at my level. Dando-Collins does not write novels, but they aren't exactly history books either. They are history told as a story. As the members of the VI Legion might see themselves, certainly. But also as sort of a newspaper account and chronology of an army unit that rises from the dead of 2000 years ago so we can know its' incredible story. And the story in the book is simply astounding. Dando-Collins sucks you into the world of ancient Rome in a chronology as might have been experienced by the very men who lived it. I admit to only having one college degree and a smattering of ancient history. But I am trying to teach myself this subject matter previously avoided because it might have been too dry. Was I ever wrong. Read RUBICON by Tom Holland, and then read this book. Together they will light your way into the Roman past. (See all my reviews if you like Greco-Roman history)

Caesar for the regular guy

This book was my first foray into ancient history so I can't say whether or not all the info is fact as one reviewer seems to question but I recommend it for anyone just starting to learn about this period. It is a non-imposing 250 pages and comes with both an index explaining the ranks of Roman soldiers and their modern day equivalents as well as a very helpful glossary containing definitions to all the old terms that novices like myself don't know. I picked this up after watching the History Channel to learn the story behind the Caesar-Cleopatra-Marc Anthony intrigue and am happy I did so. If you're an academic this might not be for you. But if you're just getting your feet wet check it out it will help you decide if you really want to read more or are content watching the History Channel.

Another must-read for Roman History fans...

I've read dozens of various books on the Roman Army(armies). Dando-Collins' 3-book (to-date) histories of the Legions are among my favorites. This book focuses on Caesar's 6th Legion. It's obvious from the reading that Dando-Collins is getting better and more knowledgeable as he goes. "Caesar's Legion", which is about his 10th Legion, is still my favorite of the three, but that's simply because I'm more into the Caesar's time period. The second book, "Nero's Killing Machine", focuses on the 14th Legion, and while it began in Caesar's time, the majority of the 14th's history takes place after Caesar's death and during the Imperial period. "Cleopatra's Kidnappers" will be a very interesting read for anyone interested in Rome, Caesar, or Cleopatra.