Agricola[]
Agricola is a Warlord of Gwent who served King Tewdric, then his son King Meurig. He is described as follows:
'Agricola spoke next. His was a Roman name and he was famous for his adhesion to Roman ways. Agricola was Tewdric’s commander and, though an old man now, he was still feared for his skill in battle. Age had not stooped his tall figure, though it had turned his close-cropped hair as grey as a sword blade. His scarred face was clean-shaven and he wore Roman uniform, but far grander than the outfits of his men. His tunic was scarlet, his breastplate and leg-greaves silver, and under his arm was a silver helmet plumed with dyed horsehair cut into a stiff scarlet comb.' - The Winter King, page 73.
He is an advocate of the bastard son of Uther Pendragon and proposes him as a guardian of the infant king Mordred.
" ‘Arthur,’ Agricola said. ‘I propose Arthur.’ " - The Winter King, Page 78.
Throughout the series, he serves as the primary commander of Gwentish forces and often co-operates with Dumnonia, whilst remaining loyal to his own country. He is well regarded by the main characters of the series as such and is an advotee of the cult of Mithras.
" Agricola grunted. ‘I pray he does. Someone needs to talk sense into this army. All commanders are summoned to Magnis tonight. A council of war.’ He said it bitterly, as though he knew that such councils produced more quarrels than comradeship. ‘Be there by sunset.’ " - The Winter King, Page 377.
" ‘Agricola won’t let us fight alone, whatever that Christian King and his gutless son might want,’ Morfans said, then he led his five horsemen back through the shield–wall. ‘Give us a few minutes to rest the horses,’ he called. " - The Winter King, Page 435.
" At Corinium,’ I confirmed. Agricola, unlike his master Tewdric, was a pagan, though Agricola had no time for the British Gods, only for Mithras. " - Enemy of God, Page 140.
He dies in the battle of Mynydd Baddon, leading his men.
" Too many spearmen of Gwent had already died, good old Agricola among them, and the survivors did not want to push forward into the Saxon shields another time. " - Excalibur, Page 289.