The Buffed Historian

My twenty-ninth book, Soldier of Rome: Nova Era (Book 5 of the Artorian Dynasty) , has been released! A new age has dawned for Rome. Following the brief reign of Emperor Nerva, Marcus Ulpius Trajan inherits the mantle of Caesar. A revered general and statesman, the senate a people of Rome greet his rise with an optimism not seen since the reign of Vespasian. Tiberius Artorius Castus, whose tenure with the Vigiles of Rome is ending, is summoned by Trajan to the Rhine. The emperor offers him a return to active service with the newly raised Equites Singulares Augusti, more commonly known as the Imperial Horse Guards. Rome eagerly awaits the arrival of its new, charismatic Caesar, yet Trajan must first secure the Rhine and Danube frontiers. He musters a division for an expedition against the Marcomanni in retribution for their invasion in support of the Pannonia Revolt, six years prior. For Tiberius, the campaign offers a chance at redemption, as the Imperial Horse Guards accompany Trajan ...

Pumping Iron, pounding steel, lifting heavy things and then putting them down, whatever you call it, I love weight lifting. Road cycling is my preferred form of cardio, but there is just something so satisfying about chasing "the pump". While machines and bars are fantastic, I do prefer using dumbbells for the majority of working out. During the pandemic, I built up a fairly respectable collection, ranging from 10 to 70 pounds (4.5 to 32 kg). Between those and an adjustable bench, I didn't really need anything else. The only issue was when it came to squats. Dumbbells are not practical when it comes to performing squats with any sort of weight. Thankfully, I already had a strong foundation from years of training. Plus, have you ever seen the legs on most cyclists? 'Ridiculous' is a term I've heard used more than once. But where did dumbbells come from? Moreover, why the a silly name? It sounds like a term of derision used on the childhood playground. To answer...

  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...