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In the year later known to the Christians as Anno Domminus 49, in the newly conquered province of Britannia, a Tiberius Tarius Maximus, a Senior Centurion in the Legions and a minor noble of the Empire, sired a child by a woman of the Dumnonii tribe. The screaming whelp, was raised by his mother in both the Latin culture of his Father and in the celtic ways of her people.
At the age of 16, being of noble birth, though not possessing the sophisticated education of a citizen native to Rome, the young man Tiberius Tarius Britannicus (as he was of Britannia), was dispatched to the Imperial Legions so that he might fight for the glory of the Empire. His training began in the usual way that a nobleman's son does; weapons drills, theory, tactics, logistics, supply, terrain, geography, and of course a detailed study of the enemy.
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By his twentieth year, through perseverance and distinction, Tarius Britannicus was given a commanding officers rank in the singulares of Britannia, as a junior Centurion. Before he would celebrate his twenty first year, Tarius Britannicus, received a notice of transferal, from the Governors Guards of Britannia, to no less than the Praetorian Guards in the Imperial City of Rome. The revolts, and executions of several Emperors in this year, some at the hands of their own guardsmen, had created wide openings within the Imperial Bodyguard’s ranks.
The transferal itself was only notable insofar as traditionally the officers of the guard had come from the Latium, Umbria and Etruria. A few exceptions had taken place, but the purge of guardsmen caused the need to draw further a field. As a Centurion in the Emperor’s bodyguard, Tarius Britannicus wanted for few of the niceties that the Imperial city could provide. Within months of arriving, he found himself with considerable wealth (pay among the Officers of the Guard often being three to six times that of the legions) and a certain amount of decoration and prestige (more than the son of minor noble could often hope for).
His contacts were many thanks to his rotation of duties, frequently coming into contact with delegations and representatives from all over the Empire. With such ready access to merchants and diplomats, his wealth continued to grow at a speedy rate. As a trusted advisor to his superiors and an apt cohort commander, Tarius Britannicus would soon be looking at his next promotion.
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