Habitus Herod Barbadus (Ætas ab Brian)
From Alternative History
History of Rome-After Ætas ab Brian
| Gender: | Male |
| Born: | 1747(994) |
| Died: | 1806(1053) |
| Aged | 59 |
| Place of birth: | Britannia Inf. |
| Known relatives: | |
| Legal status: | Citizen of the Roman Empire |
| Occupation: | Naval Commander (1773-1806), Project Hadrian, Northern Attack Squadron |
The son of a Britannic minister (gov.), Habitus Herod Barbadus joined the Legions at 16 and transferred to the Classis Romanus at 18. In 1765(1012), he was posted to Navarch Nebulus Horatius’ ship, Laur.
In 1770(1017), Barbadus was transferred to the fleet being built for Project Hadrian, where he served as a centurio classiarii on the Boreae. In 1773(1020) he was appointed pronavarch and given the command of the Northern Attack Squadron to sail from Leptis Magna. Barbadus hadn't been Praefectus Classis Loukas Lacomus Yanis' first choice for the northern attack post. Yanis had offered the position to trierarch Olcinius Marcus Trebonianus, who promptly turned it down. Trebonianus had good reason to decline the post: The northern campaign for Terranova was clearly considered expendable by the High Command for Project Hadrian, which was saving most of their resources for the Calusa Campaigns. In a letter from Flavius Georgios Parviz, the military governor of Nova Scandia-in-waiting back in Europe, to both Barbadus and the Nova Scandia army commander, Procurator Maelius Frigidian, Parviz wrote that "-much of the supplies and even men and ships you require must be taken from the enemy, whose resources on the coasts must become yours."
Despite his limited resources, Barbadus managed to strengthen his fleet by calling in a favour of an admiral-friend serving in India. The quinquereme Jamaran. The force comparison between the Novan and Roman fleets was still very close. Barbadus was given no other choice and invaded Nova Hortonium(~Halifax) and other major ports in Sinus Varius. By September of 1782(1029) cities which were conquered or had surrendered were so short of supplies that Barbadus’ sailors were on half-rations. On September 10, the day the Roman and Novan fleets fought the Battle of Fluminis Canitona(St. Lawrence), the Northern Attack Squadron had only enough provisions to last another week. Barbadus needed, if not a decisive victory, evidence that his strategies were promising in order to secure additional men, ships, and supplies from the fleets and crews still being raised in Europe.
The battle itself was a Pyrrhic victory for the Romans. Although the Novan fleet was utterly destroyed, allowing for swift Roman invasions from Rullus Island to the Mare Gichnnibi, the Roman fleet, vital for those landings and the set up of Roman administration in the region was heavily damaged, including the loss of the Jamaran. Barbadus was badly wounded and lost full movement in his right arm through several severed tendons.
It was only through the genious logistics of Frigidian and his work with Novan collaborators that the Roman presence in Nova Scandia was maintained. Barbadus’ naval successes were a disappointment to the High Command for Project Hadrian. Thankfully they proved worthy enough of additional supply and support after nearly a month of the northern armies and navy having to raid for supplies. Barbadus would have to wait another ten years to be promoted to the rank of full navarch.
