Nero's Killing Machine cover art

Nero's Killing Machine

The True Story of Rome's Remarkable 14th Legion

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About this listen

Audie Award Finalist, History, 2014

The 14th Gemina Martia Victrix Legion was the most celebrated unit of the early Roman Empire - a force that had been wiped out under Julius Caesar, reformed, and almost wiped out again. After participating in the a.d. 43 invasion of Britain, the 14th Legion achieved its greatest glory when it put down the famous rebellion of the Britons under Boudicca. Numbering less than 10,000 men, the disciplined Roman killing machine defeated 230,000 rampaging rebels, slaughtering 80,000 with only 400 Roman losses - an accomplishment that led the emperor Nero to honor the legion with the title "Conqueror of Britain."

In this gripping book, second in the author’s definitive histories of the legions of ancient Rome, Stephen Dando-Collins brings the 14th Legion to life, offering military history aficionados a unique soldier’s-eye view of their tactics, campaigns, and battles.

©2005 Stephen Dando-Collins (P)2012 Audible, Inc. Ancient Ancient Rome Middle Ages Rome Italy
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Most relevant
Solid history following the path of a single Legion. Well worth a listen. This Legion was at so many critical junctures in history.

Continued performance by Dando-Collins

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The whole history of Nero’s famous juggernaut, hearing the curving rollercoaster from its origins, its actions under Caesar and the Civil Wars, its downfall, its rise, its miraculous victory in England, and its actions during the early Empire and their first handful of rulers.
You understand why they were the superstars of their time.

The famous 14th legion.

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Really interesting story following the 14th Legion throughout it's life. I had some issues with the fact the author kept using modern military ranks for the Roman commanders when really all he needed to do was explain once. Small point but takes away from what is a good listen.

Great story with a few flaws

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If you could sum up Nero's Killing Machine in three words, what would they be?

Veni Vedi Vici

Who was your favorite character and why?

Caligula

What about Robert Fass’s performance did you like?

Excellent reading, voice quality, speed and tempo, pronunciation .

If you made a film of this book, what would be the tag line be?

I think Romes Killing Machine is accurate enough.

Any additional comments?

The 14th functioned through a series of emperors , in fact all of them so not sure why Nero was chosen. But the story does give a very good account of the daily life and the organisation of the legions and of Rome. Well worth the listen.

Not sure why Nero was in the title

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