As the Western Roman Empire is fractured by barbarian invasion, ambitious rivals battle for control of Britannia in this sweeping historical novel.
Britain, 405 AD. As they push through the continent, the barbarian hordes have all but separated Britannia from Rome. As treasurer of the region, Felix struggles to maintain Roman supremacy at a time when every penny is needed to fight the invading barbarians. Having served at the Imperial Court itself, he has always been loyal to the central power. But around him, dissent is quietly brewing.
Preoccupied with status and finances, Felix barely notices that his wily father-in-law is engineering a coup—one which forces Felix to flee for his life. As “little emperors” spring up across the British Isles, ready to rule in Caesar’s stead, everyone must choose sides in a deadly game of power.
Historian, archaeologist and novelist Alfred Duggan's first novel, Knight in Armour, was published in 1950, after which he published at least a book every year until his death in 1964. His fictional works were bestselling page-turners, but thoroughly grounded in meticulous research informed by Duggan’s experience as an archaeologist and historian.
'An extremely gifted writer who can move into an unknown period and give it life and immediacy' The New York Times