The History of the Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire · Character
Arethas
Also known as Harith, chief of the tribe of Gassan
- Minor
- First seen · Book 1 · Ch. 185
There's a weight to his presence that speaks of authority earned through years of navigating between empires. His eyes hold the calculating patience of a man who has bargained with both Rome and the desert tribes.
- Gender
- male
- Age
- Adult
- First appears
- Book 1 · Ch. 185
- Books
- 1
Arethas began as the chief of the Ghassanid tribe, a confederate of the Roman Empire whose authority rested on both tribal loyalty and imperial recognition. His dispute with the Lakhmid leader Almondar over sovereignty rights along the strata highway drew him into the larger conflicts between Rome and Persia. When Belisarius detached him to ravage the harvests of Assyria, his fierce independence and unyielding spirit proved difficult for Roman commanders to control, making him both a valuable ally and an unpredictable force in the desert campaigns.
Description
Arethas is a mature Arab tribal chief with weathered olive-toned skin and dark, penetrating eyes. His thick black beard is streaked with gray, and he carries himself with the proud bearing of a man accustomed to command. He wears flowing robes of deep crimson and gold, secured with an ornate Roman-style brooch that marks his status as an imperial confederate.
Story so far
BOOK 1The History of the Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire / Table of Contents with links in the HTML file to the two Project Gutenberg editions (12 volumes)
Appearances
Meet Arethas in Bookworm
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