Customer Reviews

Cleopatra's Kidnappers: How Caesar's Sixth Legion Gave Egypt to Rome and Rome to Caesar

5 star:		(7)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

With this third text about Roman legions, Dando-Collins (D-C) has again produced a very good military history. His "Cleopatra's Kidnappers" (2006) is a riveting rendering of the legio VI Ferrata.

D-C begins his story with the 48 BC Battle of Farsala (Greece) where an outnumber Caesar defeats Pompey in his bid to take over the Roman Empire. Cornering the tough Legio VI veterans, as Pompey's other legions retreat mostly into death, Caesar offers a deal to these fearless Spaniards. Half agree and half withdraw with the Pompeians. Caesar's VI becomes his best troops through campaigns in Egypt, Greece and Spain. By the end, the VI appropriately earned its immortal name "Ferrata" ("Ironsides") marching into victory, wealth, and glory!

This book is an interesting read for students of Roman military history. D-C refernces several credible ancient sources (Caesar, Appian, Plutarch, Tacitus, Suetonius, Polybus, Cassius Dio, Josephus, Cicero, Pliny the Younger, Seneca, Livy, and Arrian). When necessary he fills in history's gaps with well-reasoned guesses. It is unfortunate that D-C doesn't offer footnotes. A brief 8-page sources appendix is presented.

D-C's novelistic style made "Cleopatra's Kidnappers" a quick read. I read the 286 (hardback) pages leisurely in a few days. The author does his best work while describing battle (i.e. pages 140-44 for a spectacular portrayal of the Battle of the Nile, and pages 163-65 the exciting Battle of Zela). The book witnesses the mighty VI's power in warfare even at half its original size (Caesar never commanded more than 900 legionaires in the VI). The Ferrata was small but formidable.

Curiously, there are only three Mediterranean and city maps (D-C's first two legion books proffer pages and pages informative battle maps). Also, it would have been helpful to hear more of the VI's pre-Caesarian history(a deficiency that allows the book to earn only four stars).

This book is recommendable. It is hopeful that D-C will continue to march, for us, with Rome's legions.

This book was my first foray into ancient history so I can't say whether or not all the info is fact as one reviewer seems to question but I recommend it for anyone just starting to learn about this period. It is a non-imposing 250 pages and comes with both an index explaining the ranks of Roman soldiers and their modern day equivalents as well as a very helpful glossary containing definitions to all the old terms that novices like myself don't know. I picked this up after watching the History Channel to learn the story behind the Caesar-Cleopatra-Marc Anthony intrigue and am happy I did so. If you're an academic this might not be for you. But if you're just getting your feet wet check it out it will help you decide if you really want to read more or are content watching the History Channel.

I admit that I bought Cleopatra's Kidnappers: How Caesar's Sixth Legion Gave Egypt to Rome and Rome to Caesar because of the cleverly chosen title. Having read it now though, I feel it would've been better served by a more straightforward title - and premise - that would've made it a slightly shorter book but allowed it a more focused scope and a tidier ending. As it was it went on somewhat longer than it should have, far beyond the central events which make up the best part of the book. For me, Dando-Collins tries too hard to make it a history of the Sixth Legion and of their role in Cleopatra's kidnapping (which in itself is a sensationalization of events to allow the book a gimmicky title - it was more an act of protective custody than anything else). The actual kidnapping as such is only a single fourteen-page chapter. And in trying to make it a history of the sixth legion, the book extends past the conclusion of the events of real interest and past the deaths of all involved into what should have been no more than a footnote detailing what happened to the Sixth Legion in the three centuries afterwards. It would have been a better book if it had concluded with the end of the civil wars and of all the principal figures who were a part of them.

That said, however, I found Cleopatra's Kidnappers a highly readable and enjoyable history of a very interesting - and important - episode in Roman history. The inside jacket describes it quite well:

"Cleopatra's Kidnappers tells the gripping true story of the momentous events of 48-47 BC, during which, according to most history books, Caesar 'dallied in Egypt.' What those books don't mention is that his 'dalliance' was a bitter seven-month life-or-death struggle; that Caesar was opposed by a well-equipped and determined Egyptian army that had just murdered Pompey and was now after him and that without the Sixth Legion, Caesar never would have made it out of Egypt alive."

Dando-Collins does good history. His style is smooth and highly readable, he's done his research well, and he manages to to lay out the chronology of events in such a way that the reader can follow Caesar - and the Sixth Legion - through all of their movements and actions in the empire in an as-it-happens style during the period under examination. I liked the fact that Dando-Collins was very scrupulous in sticking to the known facts (with his various sources cited), not putting words in the mouths of his historical figures that weren't actual quotations. When something is not known, he simply says that it is not known. When he engages in conjecture, it is always made clear and is based on his intimate familiarity with the customs and procedures of the times:

"Many historians have assumed that from that first night, Cleopatra made herself at home there at Caesar's guesthouse, within the royal compound south of the Canopic Way. Later outcomes point to a different turn of events. After ordering a strong guard to be provided for Cleopatra, it seems that in the early hours of the morning Caesar sent her across the Canopic Way to take up residence one more in the wing of the palace that had been her home prior to her ejection by Ptolemy's people. As she settled into her old quarters, a guard of Roman troops took up positions outside, with orders to let no one make contact with her without Caesar's permission. Almost certainly, Caesar chose the 6th Legion to provide Cleopatra's guard. The youths of the 28th Legion were too callow and unworldly for such a delicate task. The German troopers of Caesar's bodyguard were too coarse; besides, they weren't Roman citizens, so to place them over Cleopatra would have been a rank insult to the young queen. The tough, no-nonsense veterans of the 6th would have been the ideal men for the job."

I found the book highly informative, changing the way I viewed these events and this period. As brilliant and lucky a general as he was, Caesar did come perilously close to disaster on a number of occasions, any one of which could have changed history dramatically. As could have the deaths of seemingly minor characters at the time whose descendants were destined to play major roles in subsequent Roman history. The various key battles were laid out in extremely clear fashion, allowing the reader to follow the ebb and flow of the action with ease. And the details Dando-Collins brings out, in everything from how legions were organized and how they served to what triumphs consisted of and what actions did or did not merit a triumph, did much to bring the reality of that ancient time to brilliant life in the book. Highly recommended.

The 6th legion, the FERRATA, was called the 'iron clad'. They fought for Pompey, were captured by Caesar and then turned into his weapon of mass destruction. The 6th were barracaded in Alexandria, fought on the edge of the Nile, fought in Spain, fought in Turkey and served 20 years in the Roman legions before ever laying eyes on the city of Rome. But what a homecoming! Three triumphs in a row. Unheard of, absolutely unheard of.

Stephan Dando-Collins is on a roll. This is the third book of his that I have read and it was the best one. As a non-historian, all I can do is buy and read books that explain more and more at my level. Dando-Collins does not write novels, but they aren't exactly history books either. They are history told as a story. As the members of the VI Legion might see themselves, certainly. But also as sort of a newspaper account and chronology of an army unit that rises from the dead of 2000 years ago so we can know its' incredible story. And the story in the book is simply astounding. Dando-Collins sucks you into the world of ancient Rome in a chronology as might have been experienced by the very men who lived it. I admit to only having one college degree and a smattering of ancient history. But I am trying to teach myself this subject matter previously avoided because it might have been too dry. Was I ever wrong. Read RUBICON by Tom Holland, and then read this book. Together they will light your way into the Roman past. (See all my reviews if you like Greco-Roman history)

This was my first Dando-Collins book and I must say I was quite impressed. A great fiction author like Margaret George "Memoirs of Cleopatra" can make subject matter like Caesar, Mark Antony and Cleopatra and all that is the Roman Empire flow like silk, becoming irresistable to put down for readers fixated with such material. Harder though for a non fiction work to do the same. Yet I found myself drawn to this work from chapter 1 and could hardly put it down as the pages flowed.

Its a splendidly researched book that doesnt pretend to be a Cambridge History of the Times or the like. Its simply an easy to read, thought provoking fact filled and informative publication quintessentially about the 6th Legion (raised in Spain) and its contribution to the Gallic campaign, Civil War through its allegiance first to Pompey and then as an integral part of Caesars progress to claiming leadership of Rome via the pivotal events that occurred in Egypt. These were the days when he was neither guaranteed to become ruler of Rome and nor was a very young Cleopatra - encamped in Palestine - seeking to regain her place on the Egyptian throne - guaranteed to be ruler of Egypt over the badly advised and cynically cruel brother Ptolemy XIII.

The famous and the infamous men and women of the times, and their lives are richly detailed in quick succession as well as their influence or role in the events going on upon the times in which the book is based. Its a veritable who's who. And not all are so well known that the author cant surprise. Caesars promotion following his victory at Pharsalus of a young tribune called Tiberius Claudius Nero, rejected by Cicero for betrothal to his daughter but eventually to marry Livia on her way to ultimately marrying Augustus. That pre Augustan union produced Tiberius (2nd Emperor or Rome) while son Drusus marrying a daughter of Mark Antony would lead to Claudius (4th Emperor of Rome) ---> not bad work by Tiberius Claudius Nero who couldnt have known his true influence as he organised the stacking of cavalry horses and provisions on one of Caesars barges bound for Egypt. This is the sort of thing the book is great at uncovering. And why its so absorbing. If only Cicero had said "yes" then there would not have been a Nero (Livia's great great grandson). The irony of Cicero - who forsaw in the destruction of the Republic the future reign of unaccountable tyrants - indirectly causing the reign of the ulimate tyrant in Nero is truly a gem.

More than this there are moments where the description is very ethereal. Like the description at the start of the chapter "Egyptian Resistance" of the scene and surroundings as Caesars warships slip into the Alexandrian harbour at night as the famous Lighthouse glows away - with troops on deck not sure of what reception awaits but prepared for all and sundry to come at them anyway. Its quite awe inspiring the way its all painted in words.

And oh poor Caesar...think you have trouble balancing your bank account...just read and you will realise that the great man had to be as much a great banker as a statesman and leader of fighting men. There were times he had to call on the overdraft, negotiate with the creditors, manipulate the self interest of others to donate money to the cause, flog his enemies to get it or call in his own loans just to keep the campaign from collapsing around him. Amazing stuff.

THe bad? Well it wont please research purists. The prose is a mix of easy flowing fiction writers style with non fiction material. But to my mind it just takes the dryness out of learning. Then there is that annoying Dando-Collins trademark of modernising the place names, instead of just giving the original name and placing its modern equivalent in parentheses. And if you like me - love the terms Tribune, Legate, Consul, Praetor etc etc rather than lietenant general, major general, etc being substituted (which to my mind makes things more confusing than helpful) then it can be distracting. If only the author stuck to the ranks and postions as they were known at the time and listed at the beginning a chart of comparison then so much more would have been the joy of reading this work.

But all-in-all a very impressive and enjoyable read about a great Roman Legion fighting in perhaps the most fascinating time in Ancient Romes past.

I originally posted this review with a 4 star rating but after reading it again I couldnt help but to delete that review and give it 5 given it is such an entertaining and informative read.

I've read dozens of various books on the Roman Army(armies). Dando-Collins' 3-book (to-date) histories of the Legions are among my favorites.
This book focuses on Caesar's 6th Legion. It's obvious from the reading that Dando-Collins is getting better and more knowledgeable as he goes. "Caesar's Legion", which is about his 10th Legion, is still my favorite of the three, but that's simply because I'm more into the Caesar's time period. The second book, "Nero's Killing Machine", focuses on the 14th Legion, and while it began in Caesar's time, the majority of the 14th's history takes place after Caesar's death and during the Imperial period.
"Cleopatra's Kidnappers" will be a very interesting read for anyone interested in Rome, Caesar, or Cleopatra.

I have read the trilogy from Stephen Dando-Collins and I enjoy his writing style. He understands how to bring history alive. I would definitely recommend this book to anyone interested in this time period.

This book is an excellent read. The author, Stephen Dando-Collins does a fine job of describing the 6th Ferrata Legion and Caesar's activities in Egypt. Although this is non-fiction, it reads like an adventure novel.

The 6th Legion was split in half at the Battle of Pharsalus. Half the men escaped with the Republican forces and eventually evolved into the 6th Victrix Legion. The 6th Ferrata, however, started out as those 6th Legion cohorts that surrendered to Mark Antony. They switched sides to Caesar after he spared their lives. History describes Caesar's time in Egypt as a "dalliance." Dando-Collins describes this dalliance as nothing short of a life and death struggle against the Egyptians.

The final chapters of the book provide a condensed history of the years following the civil war; the most significant event being Caesar's assassination. The author also covers the battles of Actium, Thapsus, and Munda. These engagements are only given a cursory description as they did not include the 6th Ferrata Legion. The author, however, occasionally references the 6th Victrix Legion.

The book is well researched and draws on many primary and secondary sources. That said, the author skips over recent research surrounding Cleopatra's demise. He describes her death as a suicide even though many historians now think she was assassinated on the orders of Augustus / Octavian.

Bottom line: this is an enjoyable and well written history of Caesar's time in Egypt. The author effectively describes all major events such as the sea battles, street battles, and the kidnapping of Cleopatra. In the end, the reader will gain a clear understanding of the events that made Egypt a province of Rome.

Stephen Dando-Collins weaves together a history of the 6th Ferrata Legion and Julius Caesar that reads as if it is a fascinating and suspenseful novel. Here you will find a view of the Roman World and the people who lived it, that will open your eyes to a largely hidden history that is much more intriguing than traditional accounts. It is a history that one can relate to from modern times, with its passions and political intrigue. Cleopatra's Kidnappers is one of the best volumes of Dando-Collins' four part saga of Rome's famous legions.

Well, overall, the book was enjoyable. Dando-Collins definitely knows his history, and made it seem more like an adventure story than a dry history text. Still, I found it hard to get through a lot of the time. Mr. Collins sometimes goes off on ridiculous tangents that really have nothing to do with the story, and really don't need to be explained. I often got lost while in the middle of some random general's story, and then was thrown back into the real plot with an, "Okay, what just happened?" The author could have made the book shorter and more enjoyable without explaining odd tidbits that didn't need to be explained. I also thought the ending came a little too late. HE could have ended the story about 5 chapters earlier than he did, and have it make perfect sense and have a satisfying ending. Instead, he recounted the tale of a few extra, completely random battles. These didn't even have the original 6th Legion in them! These were the battles of completely new recruits and were unnecessary to the central plot. Anyway, maybe I'm just not understanding it fully. I read this for my World History Honors Class, so maybe I just can't appreciate it fully. I'm more of a fantasy kind of girl anyway.