The Icenian

In the land of the vanquished Iceni in the Roman province of Britannia the life of newly-wed IENTUMAROS, the indomitable farmer’s son, is utterly devastated when merciless Batavian pirates led by the ruthless CHARIOVALDA and INDUS his callous henchman, employed in the service of GAIUS VINDEX, a haughty seditious governor, burn down his village, slay his parents, and enslave amber-haired UEBROMARA his spirited gravid wife and other children. In the care of the wise druid ARTOGNAWOS, the injured grief-stricken Ientumaros acquires the requisition for slaves with Vindex’s stamp, dropped by the pirates in their hasty departure. He appeals to CATARIGES, the overburdened tribal chief, but his fear of Roman retribution means he cannot help. Eager for revenge, he follows his heart; joins the reviled Roman army. The captives are taken to Vindex’s palace. VIBIA, Vindex’s cold wife, takes Uebromara for her handmaiden but lustful Vindex desires her for himself. MARCINIUS CRISPO, the battlehardened patriot, swears in Ientumaros and new friends the timorous ADIMINE and the poor CARATACEN. The long arduous training under the unyielding GAIUS FERRARIUS starts. Training over - the fighting begins. In bloody battles Ientumaros’s comrades perish. In quiet solitude he questions his actions but his talent for warfare is proven again. Defying orders, he saves Marcinius. A chance encounter reveals Vindex is in Gaul. He tells Marcinius his story. Marcinius denies him. In a rage, he deserts but is caught, and imprisoned. Marcinius repents. Uebromara is caught planning an escape. MANIUS OVIDIUS, Vindex’s loyal tribune, orders her and the children to be chained up in the basement every night. In Rome, en-route to Syria to help PETRONIUS GALLUS, the new inexperienced governor, quell a rebellion in Judea, a fretful Marcinius seeks spiritual help; Ientumaros slays the pirates in a brutal bar-room brawl. In Judea the army is ambushed. Marcinius rallies the troops, orders Ientumaros to lead Gallus to safety, and give all he’s earned to his family. Gallus rewards Ientumaros with citizenship, adoption and, at Marcinius’s prior recommendation, transfers him to the ambitious LUCIUS RUFUS to help put down Vindex’s revolt against Emperor NERO. Uebromara bears a son. Back in Rome, Ientumaros, betrayed by Gallus’s treacherous freedman, is intercepted by the Praetorian Guard and brought to the Emperor. Nero charges him with treason for failing to report Vindex’s plot to overthrow him, and sentences him to death. In a fight for his life, he escapes. In Gaul, with Rufus’s army, battle begins. He leads the attack on Vindex’s palace. Via an underground tunnel Vibia, taking Uebromara by force, attempts to escape. Ientumaros catches Vindex and Manius about to flee. In a fight to the death, Manius perishes. Uebromara escapes from her mistress’s grasp. The tunnel collapses. Vibia dies. Uebromara flees into Vindex’s clutches. Face-to-face, he begs for his life. Ientumaros shows the slave requisition. The humiliated Vindex tries to kill her. She struggles free. Against Rufus’ orders, Ientumaros slays him. In the dank cellar he meets his son. The war is over. The troops praise him. Rufus rages. With Nero also dead, he needs their loyalty to take the throne. Ientumaros assures their fidelity. Discharged, he honours Marcinius, who still lives, by naming his son after him and giving him much of his inherited wealth. No more the Icenian, he and his family are Romans.