James Mace
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legionarybooks.bsky.social
James Mace
@legionarybooks.bsky.social
Author, historian, traveller, athlete, gamer geek

American Born - British at Heart!

Latest Book: Soldier of Rome: Hadrian Ascending
Work in Progress: Soldier of Rome: The Restless Emperor
Battle of Culloden, by David Rowlands. Commissioned by the Lancaster Regiment, this shows their forbears in the 4th King's Own facing the Highland Charge. This is just a taste of what's to come in Crimson Empire. Look for the first book's release in January!
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#britishhistory #BritishEmpire
November 21, 2025 at 4:42 PM
Admiring a rather impressive cannon (oh my!) at Alnwick Castle in Northumberland. From our History Nerd Odyssey road trip this past summer. It was overcast early on, but by lunchtime it was sunny, blue skies, and about 70 degrees out! 🏰
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#britishhistory #englishhistory #medievalhistory
November 17, 2025 at 4:57 PM
November 12, 2025 at 12:41 AM
Roman milestone in Chester, England. Dedicated to Emperor Hadrian, possibly to commemorate his third consulship, which was in the year 119.
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#ancientrome #AncientHistory #romanempire #britishhistory #englishhistory
November 4, 2025 at 2:45 PM
Got this from a friend and fellow author. Rest assured, everything about my books, from the writing, all artwork, audio narration, and editing will also continue to be done by real people, and not soulless bots.
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#AI #writingcommunity #author #authorlife #authorsofinstagram
November 3, 2025 at 3:14 PM
Hadrian's Wall under construction, near Planetrees, by Peter Urmston (from English Heritage). You can read more about Hadrian's Wall and its relation to Planetrees, along the eastern edge of the North Tyne valley on English Heritage. @followers
www.english-heritage.org.uk/visit/places...
October 28, 2025 at 4:19 PM
Memorial to Wojtek, the brown bear adopted by Polish soldiers during the Second World War. After the war, he spent the rest of his life in Edinburgh Zoo, where he lived out the rest of his life as a minor celebrity. He died in December 1963.
October 27, 2025 at 3:44 PM
Moon over Loch Ness. The skies across the Highlands were surprisingly clear during our trek. While one of my favourite pics, it doesn't do the view justice. Still, I should maybe have a canvas print of it made. 🤔
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#scotland #lochness #britain
October 23, 2025 at 4:52 PM
Hougoumont, by Robert Gibb (National War Museum, Edinburgh Castle). During the Battle of Waterloo, British Foot Guards defended Hougoumont farmhouse against waves of French soldiers, who outnumbered them at least 7-to-1.
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#britishhistory #BritishEmpire #frenchhistory #napoleonicwars #waterloo
October 21, 2025 at 4:41 PM
A few more pics from my trek of Hadrian's Wall in 2012. Since I only had four books out at the time, and was still in the early 1st century, I had no idea I'd eventually write about the origins of Hadrian's Wall
#romanempire #AncientHistory #ancientrome #britishhistory #englishheritage #HadriansWall
October 20, 2025 at 3:26 PM
*Writing Update*
Broadswords over England: Part One of the Jacobite Uprising (Crimson Empire, Book One) is now at 30,000 words and roughly a hundred pages. So, roughly 25-30% finished.
(Artist credit: Peter Dennis)
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#britishhistory #BritishEmpire #britisharmy #EnglishHistory#scottishhistory
October 17, 2025 at 4:41 PM
I have no idea who Deborah Lovin is, though she may be my new best friend! Never had my books referred to as "like dining in a 5-star restaurant" before, but I'll take it! 😊

www.amazon.com/Soldier-Rome...
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#author #authorlife #amazonreviews #AncientHistory #romanempire #writer #writerlife
October 16, 2025 at 4:17 PM
From the 2024 History Nerd Odyssey, when we visited Edinburgh and I first became interested in covering the Jacobite Uprising. Edinburgh is a magnificent city and is on a mountain, so don't be skipping cardio or legs day if you plan on visiting!
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#britishhistory #BritishEmpire #scotland #edinburgh
October 15, 2025 at 3:48 PM
The Poison Gardens at Alnwick Castle. A fascinating and macabre display within the castle gardens, which you can only visit when accompanied by a guide.
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#britishhistory #EnglishHistory #englishheritage
October 14, 2025 at 3:29 PM
Digitial reconstruction of Ruthven Barracks, by Bob Marshall. A British outpost in the Highlands, twice besieged during the 1745 Jacobite Uprising. All will be told in my upcoming novel, Broadswords over England.
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#britishhistory #BritishEmpire #britisharmy #scottishhistory #scottishhighlands
October 13, 2025 at 2:46 PM
Lieutenant Colonel Robert Rich, 4th King's Own Regiment, by Arthur Devis (1756). Rich commanded the Regiment during the Jacobite Uprising losing his left hand at Culloden.
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#britishhistory #BritishEmpire #britisharmy #englishhistory #scottishhistory #jacobite #Culloden
October 10, 2025 at 3:17 PM
The Long Walk, south of Windsor Castle. Another of my personal Meccas, I do the trek every time I hope over to England.
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#britishhistory #BritishEmpire #windsor #WindsorCastle #englishhistory #england #longwalk
October 9, 2025 at 2:01 PM
These are from my visit to Apsley House, one of my personal Meccas whenever I visit London, plus the Wellington Arch. The Arch was closed, so I could not go inside and climb up to the balcony for a selfie.
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#britishhistory #BritishEmpire #London #apsleyhouse #englishhistory #englishheritage
October 8, 2025 at 3:39 PM
From the "Gladiators: Heroes of the Colosseum" exhibition at the Royal Armouries in Leeds, England.
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#ancientrome #AncientHistory #britishhistory #romanempire #gladiator #colosseum
October 6, 2025 at 2:08 PM
Corgarff Castle in Aberdeenshire, northeast Scotland. I know the weather does NOT look "Scottish" at all! In 1748, it was attained by the British Army, who added the outer walls and converted into a barracks.
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#britishhistory #BritishEmpire #britisharmy #englishhistory #scottishhistory #jacobite
October 2, 2025 at 2:48 PM
At Carlisle Castle in northern England. First constructed of wood in 1092, thirty years later it was rebuilt in stone during the reign of King Henry I. It was twice besieged during "The '45."
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#britishhistory #BritishEmpire #englishhistory #scottishhistory #jacobite #britisharmy
September 30, 2025 at 3:54 PM
The 1745 Memorial, near Prestonpans Battlefield, dedicated to those who lost their lives during the 1745-46 Jacobite Uprising. @followers
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#britishhistory #BritishEmpire #britisharmy #jacobite #englishhistory #scottishhistory
September 29, 2025 at 2:35 PM
Ruins of Ruthven Barracks, Badenoch, Scotland. A British garrison in the Highlands, it was besieged twice during the Jacobite Uprising of 1745. A tiny garrison of just fourteen Redcoats held for six months.
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#britishhistory #BritishEmpire #scottishhistory #britisharmy #18thcentury
September 25, 2025 at 3:10 PM
Remains of Highbridge, over the River Spean. The site of the first shots of the Jacobite Uprising of 1745, this is where "Broadswords over England" begins.
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#britishhistory #britishempire #scottishhighland #scottishhistory #englishhistory #britisharmy
September 22, 2025 at 5:34 PM
Remains of a small shrine to Nemesis at the ruins of the Roman amphitheatre in Chester, England. The Goddess of Retribution was a favourite amongst gladiators.
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#romanempire #ancientrome #AncientHistory #gladiator
September 19, 2025 at 4:07 PM