The Soldier
An orphan goat-herder joins the Legion Gemina and learns the wily crafts of war and politics. Courage on the battlefield carries him from the ranks to Centurion, Tribune and Legate, and into the orbit of emperors.
A Roman saga in six novels
Vialegio
Via — the road. Legio — the legion.
One soldier's road through a century of Empire, from Trajan's Dacian Wars to the madness of Commodus.
4.2 average across 130+ Amazon ratings · All six books on Kindle Unlimited
4.2 · 130+ ratings · Kindle Unlimited
The complete series
The Shelf
Six novels, in reading order. Choose a cover to jump to that book.
Swipe, drag, or use the arrows to browse all six.
I could visualize the scenes and kept on thinking what a great TV show it would make.
98 – 192 CE
One road. Five emperors. A century of Rome.
The Vialegio novels follow the Legion Gemina through the greatest expansion of the Roman Empire and its slow, dangerous turn inward. Read through the eyes of the soldiers who marched it: a young recruit called Cletus who rises from the ranks to Legate, the merchant Draco whose fortunes are bound to the legions, and finally Bassam and Ana on the frozen northern frontier.
The Empire
Trajan's revenge on Dacia. Hadrian's walls and the curse of Sekhmet. Marcus Aurelius on the Germanic anvil. Commodus descending into madness. History as it was lived, not as it was written down.
The Road
Every book is a milestone on the road of the Legion. Start with The Dacian Enigma and read in order, or step in with Blood Oath, a standalone tale on the northern frontier.
Trajan98 – 117I · II
Hadrian117 – 138III · IV
Antoninus Pius138 – 161V
Marcus Aurelius161 – 180V
Commodus180 – 192VI
Reading order
The Milestones
Roman roads were measured in milliaria, stone markers every thousand paces. These are the six that mark the road of the Legion.
Book I · Trajan · The Dacian Wars, 101 – 106 CE
The Dacian Enigma
The sly deceit and deception of the Dacian King unleashes an Emperor's revenge. A soldier learns the wily crafts of war and politics as he rises through the ranks of the legendary Legion of Gemina. Overreaching ambition lays the framework for fissures within the Roman Empire.
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"I could visualize the scenes and kept on thinking what a great TV show it would make." — Raymond, Amazon reviewer
Book II · Trajan · The Parthian campaign, 113 – 117 CE
The Arc of Dacicus
Years of provocation and deception have incited the Emperor Trajan to restore the honour of Rome on the eastern frontiers of the empire. Shameful memories of broken treaties and the dishonourable losses of Roman legions compel the emperor to subdue the frontier territories and impose Roman hegemony. Senior Tribune Cletus, steadily elevated through the Legion Gemina ranks, finds his allegiances tested as he climbs the ladder of power during the arc of the expansionary campaign.
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"The vignettes describing methods of warfare against the Parthians, deadly crocodiles and hippopotamuses, were fascinating." — Jan, Amazon reviewer
Book III · Hadrian · Germania & Britannia, 117 – 128 CE
The Aelian Crescent
A new emperor rises and steadily withdraws from the conquered eastern borders. A sinister and treasonous plot is unveiled amongst the elite members of the Senate with dire consequences. The restless emperor disciplines the border legions of Germania and Britannia and erects formidable barriers. Legate Cletus suffers a devastating personal loss.
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"Hadrian pulls Cletus to Britannia, off to subdue the disloyal and build the famous Hadrian's Wall." — Jan, Amazon reviewer
Book IV · Hadrian · Hispania, Judea & the Nile, 128 – 138 CE
The Wrath of Sekhmet
Under the hot sun of his native Hispania, the restless Emperor Hadrian plots his next steps. The Judean zealots continue to cause unrest, and the unstable threat of Jerusalem beckons for subjugation. The Senate roils with discontent and seethes with suspicion. In the rich and placid waters of the Nile the ancient Egyptian goddess Sekhmet casts her terrifying wrath and exacts her savage revenge. In the twilight of his imperium, Hadrian shudders as he recalls the curse of Sekhmet.
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"Seeing Hadrian through the eyes of a soldier was an interesting point of view. I would recommend this to those just getting into Rome." — Cathy, Amazon reviewer
Book V · Antoninus Pius & Marcus Aurelius · The Germanic frontier, 161 – 180 CE
Blood Anvil
After a period of calm and peace within the vast empire under the wise guidance of the emperor Antoninus Pius, the fractious Germanic borders again simmer with resentment against Roman hegemony. The new emperor Marcus Aurelius views the growing aggression in Germania with trepidation. Restoration of obeisance to Rome can only be achieved through the swords of the legions.
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New for 2026 Book VI · Commodus · Rome's frozen frontier, 180 – 192 CE
Blood Oath
A tale of Ana: Roxolani warrior, huntress, killer
On Rome's frozen frontier, a covert mission to capture a deserter becomes the spark that ignites a deadly game of loyalty, power and forbidden desire. Bassam, an elite Roman operative, crosses into Roxolani lands to retrieve a traitor who knows the location of stolen Dacian gold. Ambushed by Ana, a feared huntress who kills Roman soldiers without mercy, Bassam expects death. Instead, she spares him.
As Rome hunts for the missing gold, Bassam is drawn into a smuggling conspiracy that reaches from the Dacian mines to the heart of the Empire. Far away, Commodus continues his descent into madness, while his wrestling master, Narcissus, plots in secret to save Rome from a tyrant.
Two worlds. Two enemies. One oath that could change the fate of an Empire.
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From Amazon & Goodreads
What readers say
4.2Amazon average
131 ratings
131 ratings
4.3Goodreads average
81 ratings
81 ratings
5.0Blood Anvil
on Amazon
on Amazon
The Dacian Enigma is an enjoyable and easy read. The tale of a Roman soldier will take you back in time to the life and days of a typical Roman. Intelligent and truly outstanding imagery, superbly articulated. It's a great read with complexities and depth.
A deep, detailed, and daring take on the Roman Empire and its glory and gore. Mr. Williams has highlighted the price of power quite vividly. Highly recommend this book!
We're given intimate portraits from the lowest on the Roman totem pole and on up the chain of society, to the highest levels. Cletus defines the dedicated-to-duty Roman soldier. Great start!
Being somewhat new to reading about ancient Rome, I found this book very easy to read and follow. The time period was vividly described and I could see it in my mind. I checked facts and timelines and found it to be accurate.
Good storytelling that adheres to the history of Roman antiquity. Engaging characters that move various plot lines. Looking forward to the next book in this series.
I loved the detail that went into the book. Very well written.
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Get in touch
Write to the Legion
To contact the author, or to communicate directly with one of the characters from the books, send an email.
vialegiovm@gmail.com