The Buffed Historian

Wars are fought by kids. We'll let that sink in for a moment. In every recorded conflict, at least from the Napoleonic Wars, when detailed records of armies began being kept en masse, to today, soldiers serving in combat have averaged around twenty-two years of age. Our brains are not fully mature until we reach twenty-five, yet nations send their young off to war, with many still in their late teens. This is an uncomfortable truth society still struggles with, and in many ways has remained oblivious to for decades, due in no small part to the film industry.  Thanks to war films, mostly from the 1950s and 60s, there has been an ongoing misconception about the age of soldiers in war. Watch any war flick prior to 2001's Black Hawk Down , and every soldier, even the low-ranking privates, are depicted as mature men in their thirties and even forties. Occasionally, you would see a young "newbie" in his late teens to early twenties, but these were always the exception. In ...

  #booksandbiceps  My thirty-first book,  Soldier of Rome: Kingdoms Fall  (Book 7 of the Artorian Dynasty), has been released! It is available on Kindle , paperback , and most eBook readers . *** The year is 104 A.D. Two years have passed since King Decebalus knelt in submission to Emperor Trajan. The recent war between Rome and Dacia was brutal and costly for both sides. The graves of many thousands lie between the River Danube and the gates of Sarmizegetusa. With peace finally come to the frontier, Trajan returns to Rome in triumph. Yet Decebalus’ feigned surrender was but a ruse. With echoes of the previous war, the spirits of vanquished warriors crying out for retribution, and the humiliation of kneeling before the Emperor of Rome, the King of Dacia renews the call to arms. Tiberius Artorius Castus’ tenure as Deputy Prefect of the Imperial Horse Guards is ending. But before he can begin the next chapter in his life, perhaps returning to his native Britannia, the...

  A Ride on Penny Farthing, by Joe Diamond  (Artist's page on DeviantArt ) I'm just going to say it, I love road cycling! It is fantastic cardiovascular exercise, great for the heart, lungs, and staying fit. It burns a lot of calories and avoids the jarring impact of running. Which is great for someone who in their early twenties snapped their ACL being stupid and required multiple knee surgeries (but we won't talk about that). There are drawbacks, of course. Cycling is very much seasonal, especially if, like me, you are averse to riding in the cold or rain (I admit, I'm a big baby when it comes to both). Bicycles also require maintenance and can be very expensive. Competitive triathletes and cyclists can spend upwards of $20,000 USD on their gallant steeds! My own Giant full-carbon road bicycle retails for around $3,000 USD. Thankfully, there are plenty of economic options available for the casual hobbyist who's not training for an Ironman. One can find a decent cr...

  "Hero of his country, and a vagabond reviled...for King and Queen and Country. For glory, gold, and fame. Through history he marches, Redcoat is his name!"  - from Redcoat by Forlorn Hope The year is 1879. Queen Victoria has reigned for forty-two years over the vast British Empire, the largest the world has ever seen. The Romans, Mongols, Hans, Spanish, and our longest-running nemeses, the French, paled in comparison. Covering a quarter of the world and encompassing a third of its population, the sun never sets. Rule Britannia, Britannia rule the waves  ... is more than mere patriotic verse. Since Trafalgar, seventy-four years ago, when Admiral Lord Nelson gave his life completely thrashing the combined French and Spanish fleets, the Royal Navy has been undisputed master of the seas. The Union Flag flies on every continent. (Note: The term Union Jack only applies when the flag is flown from the jackstaff of a ship) Admittedly, there has been a recent spot of trouble i...

It's been requested I compile a reading list of all my works. And since some get written out of sequence, or a stand-alone gets wedged in the middle, or I had to insert one series between volumes of another (i.e.  The Great Jewish Revolt  and  Year of the Four Emperors ), below are listed all my works chronologically. Think of it as reading one giant history. Links are included for each book's Amazon page, though you can find them in multiple formats, including audio. *Note: I will update this page with every new release.   Soldier of Rome: The Legionary   Soldier of Rome: The Sacrovir Revolt Soldier of Rome: Heir to Rebellion Soldier of Rome: The Centurion Empire Betrayed: The Fall of Sejanus Soldier of Rome: Journey to Judea Soldier of Rome: The Last Campaign Empress of Death Slaves of Fear: A Land Unconquered Soldier of Rome: Rebellion in Judea Soldier of Rome: Vespasian's Fury Soldier of Rome: Reign of the Tyrants Soldier of Rome: Rise of the Flavians Soldie...