The Eagle of the Ninth facts for kids
First edition
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| Author | Rosemary Sutcliff |
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| Illustrator | C. Walter Hodges |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Language | English |
| Genre | Historical novel |
| Publisher | Oxford University Press |
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Publication date
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1954 |
| Media type | Print (hardback) |
| Pages | 255 |
| Followed by | The Silver Branch |
The Eagle of the Ninth is an exciting adventure book. It was written by Rosemary Sutcliff and came out in 1954. The story happens in Roman Britain during the 100s AD. This was after the famous Hadrian's Wall was built.
Contents
What is The Eagle of the Ninth About?
The main character is a young Roman officer named Marcus Flavius Aquila. He gets hurt in a battle and can no longer serve in the army. His leg is injured, making him limp.
Marcus wants to find out what happened to his father's army group, called a legion. This legion disappeared in northern Britain a long time ago.
Marcus's Secret Mission
Marcus decides to go on a secret journey. He pretends to be a Greek eye doctor. He travels beyond Hadrian's Wall, which was the edge of the Roman Empire.
He is joined by his friend Esca. Esca used to be Marcus's slave but is now free. Esca is a native Briton and a skilled hunter.
Discovering the Truth
Marcus and Esca learn a sad truth. The Ninth Legion, also known as Legio IX Hispana, was not wiped out easily. They were defeated by a big uprising of northern tribes.
The legion was tired and many soldiers were ready to rebel. But a small group, including Marcus's father, fought bravely until the end. They protected their special eagle standard. This was a golden statue of an eagle that represented the legion's honor.
Bringing Back the Eagle
Marcus had hoped to see the Ninth Legion brought back to life. But he realizes this cannot happen. Instead, he finds the golden bronze eagle statue.
He brings it back so it can no longer be a sign of Roman defeat. This helps keep the border safe. Rome rewards Marcus for his brave actions.
He decides to stay in Britain. He becomes a farmer and landowner with his British wife, Cottia, and his freed friend, Esca.
How the Book Was Made
The Eagle of the Ninth is one of Rosemary Sutcliff's most famous books. It is the first in a series of novels. These books loosely follow a family through Roman times and later British history. They all have a special emerald ring with a dolphin on it.
Other Books in the Series
- The Silver Branch
- Frontier Wolf
- The Lantern Bearers (This book won a special award called the Carnegie Medal)
- Sword at Sunset
- Dawn Wind
- Sword Song
- The Shield Ring
The book has also been published with the shorter title The Eagle. It has been made into a movie and other shows. The 2011 film The Eagle is the most well-known adaptation.
Real History Behind the Story
Rosemary Sutcliff said she got the idea for the story from two things:
- The real disappearance of the Legio IX Hispana (Ninth Legion). This Roman army group vanished from history after going north in 117 AD. They were fighting tribes in a place called Caledonia (now Scotland).
- The discovery of a Roman eagle statue. This eagle was found during digs at a Roman town called Calleva Atrebatum (Silchester).
The Reading Museum, where the Silchester eagle is kept, says it was not a legion's eagle. It was probably part of a statue of the god Jupiter. But Rosemary Sutcliff made it famous as a legionary eagle in her book.
At the time Sutcliff wrote the book, many historians thought the Ninth Legion was destroyed in Britain. This happened during a time of trouble when Emperor Hadrian was ruling (117–138 AD).
Today, some experts think parts of the Ninth Legion were serving in other places later than 117 AD. They suggest the legion might have been destroyed in the eastern part of the Roman Empire. However, other historians still believe it was lost in northern Britain. More evidence is needed to know for sure.
The Eagle of the Ninth in Other Media
This popular book has been adapted into different forms for people to enjoy.
Radio Shows
- The BBC Home Service made a radio play of the book in 1957. It was broadcast in six parts for a show called Children's Hour. It was later made into a 90-minute play in 1963.
- The BBC made another full-cast radio drama in 1996.
Television Series
- A BBC television series based on the book was made in 1977. Anthony Higgins played Marcus Aquila.
Film Adaptation
- A movie called The Eagle was released in 2011. It was directed by Kevin Macdonald. Channing Tatum played Marcus Aquila, and Jamie Bell played Esca.
See also
In Spanish: El águila de la novena legión para niños
