Aurthora Celtic Prince
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Why I wrote this book
I first started thinking about this book when an Archaeologist from Manchester University approached me to do some minor excavation work on the remains of a Roman checkpoint in the corner our field. This set me on a chain of thought of what happened in this area in the 5th century when the Romans left. It was only when we sold our farm and retired that I could concentrate on writing this book, previously I had been to busy earning a living. The check point was on the old salt trail where the Roman Auxiliaries would check that the pack ponies carrying salt from the mines at Northwich, had paid their taxes received the stamp from the local governor before proceeding to travel trade and barter further north. This book gives an insight into the life of the Celtic communities in the High Peak during that period in our countries history. The Roman Legions had left the shores of Britannica, the undefended country was under attack by the war like Angles. Saxons and Jute invaders, the practice of genocide was the norm, rather than the exception. The remnants of the Celtic tribes were forced to reform and bury their differences in an attempt to defend themselves against these aggressive invaders. The reader will find an insight into the Celtic way of life during this troubled period in our countries history and the seeds of a legend that was passed down from generation to generation of a great British warrior and his companions that fought a valiant campaign and helped to symbolise the impression of what is considered to be truly British.
Synopsis
The period in history is when the Roman Legions left Britannica after over 400 years of occupation, leaving a power vacuum and no army to defend its shores.
This novel is based on the legend of the British warrior Aurthora, the son of a noble, Prassat Ambrosius. He was a fervent supporter of Erion Aurelianus, the king of a small Celtic tribe, the Iceni. It was rumoured that this king was from the bloodline of the Great Queen Boudicca. King Erion had amalgamated several of the Celtic tribes to form a coalition to defend themselves against the ever growing threat of the Angles, Saxons and Jutes. These fierce warriors had been brought in and paid as mercenaries by a King of the far north of the country to defend his kingdom against the ever increasing raids by the Pictish tribes. Arriving in ever increasing numbers, the mercenaries had eventually laid claim to and taken by force large tracts of land in the far North West of the island. They then posed an ever-increasing threat to the Celtic coalition and the Kingdom of Elmet.
Aurthora is fortunate to be tutored by an ex Roman legionnaire, one of many who had taken up an offer made by King Erion for well paid employment in his army. Aurthora’s severe training under Orius is put to the test when at a coastal training camp he leads a group of novice soldiers and captures several Saxon pirate ships, bringing him to the attention of the Celtic Round Council of King Erion and winning their gratitude.
His various exploits and adventures against the Saxon, Angle and Jute armies move him quickly up the promotion ladder of the Celtic Commanders, but also puts him on a collision course with the evil chief druid priest Zanton, his followers and believers, and the conspirators and traitors that have infiltrated the Celtic Council.
Aurthora proves he is not only a master tactician on the battlefield, but is also a diplomat and clever politician, to such an extent that eventually even the King is jealous of the awe and loyalty that the Celtic army show to their newly promoted General.
He forms a close relationship with Katrina, the sister of his lifelong friend Ethellro and they become betrothed. He also finds a good friend in Myridyn, the King’s physician and alchemist who has improved a weapon called the Greek Fire, which Aurthora hopes to use against the much larger Saxon army that is forming on the borders of the kingdom of Elmet. But the greatest threat to Aurthora’s smaller army is the Thracian and Flavion cavalry who were once employed by the Roman Army, but now operate as mercenaries available to the highest bidder. The Saxon King Ealle has much gold available from the small northern Celtic kingdoms he has overrun and plundered.
Even after the battle, Aurthora’s problems are not over as he sets out on a quest to honour a promise made to his dying friend and tutor Orius.
About the Author
My father was a regular in the army; he was born in Edge Hill of Irish parents, which in the 1940s was a rough part of Liverpool. He met my mother when he came with several colleagues recruiting for his regiment in the Textile town of Macclesfield. One of h the recruits was my Uncle Arthur. He gave a false age so he could enlist, he eventually ended up in charge of a pack animal [mule] operating behind enemy lines with the Chindits in Burma, but that is another story. I wanted to join the forces like my father who eventually left the army as a Sergeant Major. But my mother had other ideas, and I was apprenticed to a building firm as a plumber heating engineer. I finished my apprenticeship at twenty one having taken and passed my Advanced City & Guilds exams at 19 years of age. [Youngest on record at the college where I studied] By twenty three I was running my own small building company. Purchasing and renovating for resale terraced cottages. Building bathroom kitchen extensions on the rear of properties that did not posses those facilities, of which in the northern industrial towns there were many. We eventually moved on at a later date to larger properties. My ambition was to own a small holding, this came available in 1983 with the purchase of a semi derelict property in the Peak National park.
This achievement did not come easy as my wife and I moved into; renovated and updated twelve properties beforehand in order to give us the funds to full fill my ambition. I was very fortunate that I was married for over forty six years to an unselfish woman that also shared my dream. Over the years as a business we specialised in the renovated of over eighty, mostly 16c properties. My wife Susan designed the interiors, myself and my team of two sometimes three workmen completing the internal alterations. My passion was working with English oak and natural stone, I was fortunate to have over forty years of mental therapy working with my hands, and creating using these materials, a luxury and enjoyable work that most people can only dream of, every working day was a joy!
Over the years we were in business we purchased, renovated, advertised and sold over eighty properties, plus a substantial amount of private work. One of my specialities was the installation of my renovated Victorian cast iron kitchen ranges, which I installed as working models all over the country, one of only two people in the UK still with the knowledge and capable of doing this kind of work. I got a buzz; I was preserving part of our industrial heritage.
On the corner of my field we discovered the remains of the Roman Check point, hence the seeds for the story of ‘Aurthora’ Celtic Prince.
Book info
Genres
Format
Paperback
400 pages pages
Author
R. W. Hughes
Publisher
Matador an imprint of Troubador Publishing
Publication date
14th April 2011
ISBN
9781848765542
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