The History of the Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire · Character
Bessas
Also known as Bessas the veteran
- Minor
- First seen · Book 1 · Ch. 186
There's something remarkable about the way age has not diminished his presence but rather concentrated it—like a blade that has been sharpened by decades of use until only the essential strength remains.
- Gender
- male
- Age
- Seventy years
- First appears
- Book 1 · Ch. 186
- Books
- 1
Bessas began as a veteran Roman commander of Gothic descent who had spent his life in military service, rising to become a trusted leader capable of defending Rome's ancient walls with a garrison of three thousand soldiers. His courage remained undiminished by age, as demonstrated when at seventy years old he was the first to mount the scaling-ladders during the assault on Petra, his example inspiring his troops to victory despite the extreme danger.
Description
A seventy-year-old military veteran whose weathered face and white hair and beard speak of decades spent in the harsh conditions of Roman frontier service, yet whose powerful build and confident bearing suggest that age has not diminished his essential strength. He wears the practical military equipment of a Roman commander, carrying himself with the quiet authority of someone who has commanded troops across the spacious circle of Rome's venerable walls, his presence embodying both the experience of age and the undiminished courage of a proven warrior.
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
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