Aurelius and his companions are the last survivors of their legion and bend to protect their emperor. The last legion the last legion is a fantasy actionadventure in the vein of the sword and the stone set against the fall of rome and its last emperor, 12 yearold romulus augustus, the boy who would rule for a day before losing all that he loved. Mar 29, 2005 the roman world is in the throes of death, but a new myth, destined to span the centuries, is waiting to be born. In fact, he was a usurper and puppet not recognized as a legitimate ruler by the eastern emperor. This book is essentially about the end of the roman empire, and the events that led to it. Aurelius and three men are all that remain of their legion. His reign lasts for one day and ends with rome being run over by the savage goths. The story begins the day that the roman empire collapses and the eternal city itself is being overrun. The last legion by valerio massimo manfredi book cover, description, publication. The last legion 2007 thomas brodiesangster as romulus augustus. He ruled for under a year and then he was deposed, and thats pretty much all that we know about him. On the eve of the coronation of the 12yearold romulus augustus, his mentor, the shaman ambrosinus ben kingsley, predicts disaster. In 2002, valerio manfredi wrote what seems to be a fanfictionlike novel where romulus augustus escapes to britain, is saved by the remnants of the 12th legion, finds julius caesars sword, and becomes the father of king arthur.
Romulus augustus was a 16yearold minor at the time. Also romulus is the last emperor of the western roman empire. Where to find a comic book version of valerio manfredis. His only safety is to be found in the hands of his bodyguard and an enigmatic byzantine warrior. Romulus augustus born perhaps around 461 died after 476, possibly alive around 500, was a usurper reigning over the western roman empire from 31 october 475 until 4 september 476. Forces loyal to the empire were destroyed and the emperor romulus augustus, a child at the age of, was arrested, deposed, and exiled to the island of capri. The empire is being held to ransom by the barbarians. Many historians have remarked that it is ironic that the last roman emperor was coincidentally named after the first roman ruler, augustus, who reigned from 27 bcad 14. Reliable information about the coronavirus covid19 is available from the world health organization current situation, international travel. The last legion reveals the fall of rome and the birth of king arthurs mighty sword excalibur. As the western roman empire begins to collapse in 470 ad, a small band of british roman soldiers, make a long journey to rome. His worst fears are realised as the goths sack the oncegreat city of rome and capture the last. Romulus was the son of the western empires master of soldiers orestes. The last legion in the novel is a fictional twelfth legion legio xii draco, not the ninth.
Odoacers deposition of romulus augustus, occurring in 476 ad, was a coup that marked the end of the reign of the western roman emperor last approved by the western roman senate and the creation of the kingdom of italy, although julius nepos exercised control over dalmatia until 480. As the roman empire crumbles, young romulus augustus flees the city and embarks on a perilous voyage to britain to track down a legion of supporters. His deposition by odoacer traditionally marks the end of the western roman empire, the fall of ancient rome, and the beginning of the middle ages. It stars colin firth, ben kingsley, aishwarya rai, thomas brodiesangster, peter mullan, kevin mckidd, jo. The last legion is a fantasy actionadventure in the vein of the sword and the stone set against the fall of rome and its last emperor, 12 yearold romulus augustus, the boy who would rule for a day before losing all that he loved. Aurelius, battlehardened commander of romes 4th legion. The sun has long since set on the roman empires glory days in 460 a. The last legion is a fantasy actionadventure in the vein of the sword and the stone set against the fall of rome and its last emperor.
Meanwhile, in dertona, where stands the castrum of the last legion, the nova invicta, the battle rages against the heruli and skyrian horsemen. After the fall of rome, its last emperor, 12yearold romulus augustus, becomes a prisoner on the island of capri. I really liked the book over all, but the writing was not great. The last legion by valerio massimo manfredi fantastic fiction. His reign lasts for one day and ends with rome being run. On the eve of twelveyearold romulus augustus crowning ceremony to become the new emperor, barbarian. While the ninth is called the dragon legion as in the novel, it was the hispanic legion legio ix hispana in real life. In this work of fiction, romulus survives his fall from power and finds a strange.
They arrive to find the city in chaos but they hope to save the spirit of the empire by rescuing the young son of the last emperor, romulus augustus. Romulus and remus were born in alba longa, one of the ancient latin cities near the future site of rome. The last legion 2007 as the roman empire crumbles, young romulus augustus flees the city and embarks on a perilous voyage to britain to track down a legion of supporters. Their mother, rhea silvia was a vestal virgin and the daughter of the former king, numitor, who had been displaced by his brother amulius. His only sanctuary lies in the farflung western outpost of britannia, it is a perilous trek across a continent in search of a long forgotten elite legion of roman. Aurelius antonius finds himself recalled to rome and is assigned the commander of new caesar, romulus augustus retinue of personal bodyguards. I got almost halfway through and came upon this gem.
The last legion by valerio manfredi, paperback barnes. The last legion in the novel is a fictional twelfth legion. The last roman, a much more condensed survey of the same period. The last legion is an epic adventure following the events surrounding the capture of romes last emperor, 12 year old romulus augustus, and his imprisonment on the island of capri. In the resulting invasion, most of aureliuss men are killed and the. However, the style of writing was not great, possibly due to translationbut i am not sure. The leaps of faith in the last legion are many, but once youve made one or two, bollywood superstar aishwarya rai seems as likely a superlethal fighter as mr. As a kind of postscript, murdoch even goes into depictions of romulus and his father orestes in films including they totally unhistorical, the last legion.
Romulus augustulus and the decline of the west is a short book of less than 200 pages but it is a compact and fascinating account of a period that most scholars have little interest in studying. New york whether or not you appreciated the graphic comic book aesthetic of 300, theres no doubt that it took a. Ad 461 died after ad 476, and was apparently still alive as late as 507 was an emperor alleged usurper reigning over the western roman empire from 31 october ad 475 until 4 september ad 476. Trailer as the roman empire crumbles, young romulus augustus flees the city and embarks on a perilous voyage to britain to track down a legion of supporters. The story is gripping and held my attention totally till i finished it. As its stewards ponder the growing potency of the goths, 12yearold romulus augustus ascends to the throne. The last legion is a great tale of the fall of the roman empire to the barbarians in 470 ad.
Manfredis the last legion has a pretty solid story in broad strokes it paints a picture of the very last days of the western roman empire, the kidnapping of the last emperor romulus agustus, and his rescue. Part fact, part legend, the last legion is an action adventure story surround the fall of the roman empire and its last emperor, 12yearold romulus augustus, who would rule for a day before losing all that he loved. Sep 30, 2015 the new emperor, who was around 14 years old, was proclaimed as romulus augustus to the western empire. The last legion rnib supporting blind and partially. Posts about the last legion written by childrenofarthur. I cant tell you more of the plot because i couldnt finish the book. With the help of his wise teacher ambrosinus ben kingsley and his legionnaire aurelius colin firth, romulus escapes from capri. Numerous and frequentlyupdated resource results are available from this search.
On the eve of the ceremony to crown twelveyearold romulus augustus as the. Romulus augustulus project gutenberg selfpublishing. Aurelius soon finds orestes fatally wounded and can only receive the last request of orestes dying breath to save and protect romulus augustus, his son, the. In that respect, it did not disappoint, and while i think the eagle was a more intelligent film. The 2004 antoine fuquadirected film king arthur and the 2007 doug leffler film the last legion both have explicitly late roman themes, the latter a fantasy on romulus himself they are both discussed in the final chapter of this book, while the latest addition to the immensely successful rome.
Aurelius has been called back to rome from his war campaign in africa to be the personal guard of the new caesar. His deposition by odoacer traditionally marks the end of the western empire, the fall of ancient rome, and the beginning of the middle ages in western europe he is mostly known by his nickname romulus. In the weeks before the final collapse some british romano soldiers have reached the city with the express task of rescuing the young son of the last emperor romulus augustus, these are the men of the last legion. He is often described as the last western roman emperor. The roman empire, a mighty force for almost 500 years, is being threatened.
Mist shrouded the plains and the nova invicta legion, the legendary warriors charged with protecting the last emperor of rome, settled in for another cold and bitter night. Thomas sangster as romulus augustus clip 3 duration. Aug 17, 2007 the last legion the last legion is a fantasy actionadventure in the vein of the sword and the stone set against the fall of rome and its last emperor, 12 yearold romulus augustus, the boy who would rule for a day before losing all that he loved. In 476, the western roman empire is under attack by the barbarian armies under the heruli general odoacer. The last legion 2007 thomas brodiesangster as romulus. Please practice handwashing and social distancing, and check out our resources for adapting to these times. It is based on the 2002 novel of the same name by valerio massimo manfredi. Being set during the final days of the western roman empire, the novel does a good. Jan 24, 2018 portrayal of romulus augustus in the last legion stay safe and healthy. His father orestes, the commanding general of the roman army, installed romulus on the throne after deposing the emperor julius nepos.
The last legion by valerio massimo manfredi goodreads. Of the three recent films about the ninth legion in britain that mysteriously disappeared in the second century, the last legion 2007 was the film i was most interested in watching because it took place just prior to the time of king arthur and was said to provide a link to the arthurian legend. Orosius, livia prisca, romulus augustulus, ambrosinus. Where to find a comic book version of valerio manfredis the. Be the first to ask a question about the last legion. The last legion wikimili, the best wikipedia reader. Oclcs webjunction has pulled together information and resources to assist library staff as they consider how to handle coronavirus. Portrayal of romulus augustus in the last legion hair. He is often described as the last western roman emperor, though some historians consider this to be julius nepos. Posts about romulus augustus written by childrenofarthur. It tells of how arthurs father was originally ceasar romulus augustus, who was. The roman empire is crumbling and the last emperor, romulus, is fleeing for his life. The last legion dvd austin public library bibliocommons.
With colin firth, ben kingsley, aishwarya rai bachchan, peter mullan. Thomas sangster as romulus augustus clip 2 duration. Romulus is also one of the characters in valerio massimo manfredis book, the last legion. Dec 15, 2006 what the book does do is give a concise chronological history of the later decades of the empire and what happened under both odovacar and theoderic.
Thomas sangster plays the leading role of the last emperor of rome romulus augustus. The 2007 film the last legion, and the novel on which it is based, includes a heavily fictionalized account of the reign and subsequent life of romulus augustus. Every scrap of information about him is included in this book and it isnt much. Romulus is destined to be crowned the last emperor of rome. Romulus augustus mcgill school of computer science. Coadapted by tom butterworth and jez butterworth from valerio massimo manfredis bestselling historical adventure novel, doug leflers period epic the last legion unfurls in 470 a. Christine feddersenmanfredi follows the meeting between arthur pendragon and the wizard merlin, during which a small band of british roman soldiers embarks on a daring rescue mission across northern europe to save the son of. The last legion, based on valerio massimo mandredis novel of the same. Imprisoned on the islandfortress of capri, romulus searches for a. In some sources, rhea silvia conceived them when their father, the god mars, visited her in a sacred grove dedicated to him. Romulus augustulus, known to history as the last of the western roman emperors 475476. Legion is based on valerio massimo manfredis book of the same name which tries to tie the king arthur legend to romulus augustus, a 14yearold child who holds the inauspicious title of. The last legion could have been a magnet for adventurehungry tweens if it had been made. Romulus was emperor for ten months, not a single day as in the film.