|
'''Camp Shelby''' is a military post approximately 15 miles south of [[Hattiesburg, Mississippi]], on [[United States Highway 49]]. It is the largest state owned training site in the nation, has a long history of serving the country and is considered by many as “a national treasure.” During wartime, the camp's mission is to serve as a major, independent mobilization station of the [[U.S. Army Forces Command]] (FORSCOM). Camp Shelby Training Site is the largest reserve component training site, covering 136,000 acres, allowing up to battalion level maneuver training, Gunnery Table 8-12, excellent FA Firing Points and a wide range of support facilities. This is the normal Annual Training ___location for [[National Guard]] and Reserve units located in Mississippi, Alabama, and Tennesse. However, units from accross the country use its excellent assets to support a varity of missions. The 2nd BN, 114th FA conducts its gunnery and has the bulk of its combat equipment stored in the Mobilization and Annual Training Equipment Site (MATES) located there.
{{infobox television |
| show_name = Rome
| image = [[Image:Rome33.JPG|260px]]
| caption = Logo for HBO's Rome
| format = [[Drama]]
| runtime = approx. 52 min<br>(commercial free)
| creator = [[John Milius]]<br>[[William J. Macdonald]]<br>and [[Bruno Heller]]
| starring = [[Kevin McKidd]]<br>[[Ray Stevenson (actor)|Ray Stevenson]]<br>[[Polly Walker]]<br>[[Kenneth Cranham]]<br>[[Max Pirkis]]<br>[[Indira Varma]]<br>[[Kerry Condon]]<br>[[Lindsay Duncan]]<br>[[James Purefoy]]<br>and [[Ciarán Hinds]]
| country = [[United States|USA]] / [[United Kingdom|UK]]
| network = [[HBO]] / [[BBC]]
| first_aired = [[August 28]], [[2005]]
| last_aired = present
| num_episodes = 12
| imdb_id = 0384766
|}}
'''''Rome''''' is a [[television]] [[drama]] jointly produced by [[HBO]] and the [[BBC]]. It has aired in the [[United States]], the [[United Kingdom]] and [[Canada]], and premiered on [[August 28]], [[2005]].
Camp Shelby Training Site (CSTS), encompassing over 525 square kilometers, is located in portions of [[Perry County, Mississippi|Perry]] and [[Forrest County, Mississippi|Forrest]] Counties, in south Mississippi. The training site was established during [[World War I]] and it has served almost continuously since then as a training site, not only for the Reserve Components of the Army, but also for the Active Components of the Army, Navy, Marine Corps, and Air Force. The training site consists of a mix of State, [[Department of Defense]], and [[U.S. Forest Service]] lands in the [[DeSoto National Forest]].
The show is executive produced by [[Bruno Heller]], [[William J. Macdonald]], [[John Milius]] and [[Anne Thomopoulos]] for HBO, and [[Gareth Neame]] for the [[BBC]].
Encompassing more than 134,820 acres, Camp Shelby, Mississippi is the largest state-owned and operated field training site in the United States. It is a training ground for the [[M1 Abrams|Abrams M1 Tank]], [[Paladin Howitzers]] and home to the 3rd Brigade 87th Division Training Support. Camp Shelby serves as a training site for National Guardsmen and Reservists from throughout the country hosting as many as 100,000 personnel annually.
Writers for the series include [[Alexandra Cunningham]] ''([[Desperate Housewives]])'', [[David Frankel]] ''([[Sex and the City]])'', [[Bruno Heller]], [[Adrian Hodges]], [[William J. Macdonald]] and [[John Milius]].
Camp Shelby was established in 1917. The Post was named in honor of [[Isaac Shelby]], Indian fighter, Revolutionary War hero and 1st Governor of Kentucky, by the first troops to train here, the [[38th Division]].
Directors of the series include many veteran directors from other programs on [[HBO]] including [[Alan Poul]] (executive producer of ''[[Six Feet Under]]''), [[Allen Coulter]] (''[[The Sopranos]]''), [[Tim Van Patten]], ''([[The Sopranos]])'', [[Alan Taylor (II)|Alan Taylor]], (''[[Deadwood (television)|Deadwood]]''), [[Julian Farino]], (''[[Entourage (television series)|Entourage]]'') [[Jeremy Podeswa]], (''[[Six Feet Under]]''). Others include [[Michael Apted]], who directed the pilot episode, and [[Mikael Salomon]] (''[[Band of Brothers]]'').
In 1934, the State of Mississippi acquired the site for use as a summer camp by the National Guard. Because of Camp Shelby's natural advantages of climate, terrain and ___location, it was reopened in 1940 as a federal installation. Some of the divisions that have trained in Mississippi include the 31st, 37th, 38th, 43rd, 63rd, 65th, 69th, 85th, 94th, and the 99th Divisions.
[[HBO]] renewed the series for a second season shortly after the third episode aired on [[September 11]], [[2005]]. Production will begin in [[March]] [[2006]] with a premiere set for early [[2007]].
The famous [[Japanese American 442nd Regimental Combat Team]] and the [[100th Battalion]] trained here in preparation for [[World War II]]. [[Women's Army Corps]] (WAC) units also trained here. The Post contained a large convalescent hospital and had a prisoner of war camp which housed members of the German Afrika Corps.
The show was co-created by [[John Milius]], [[William J. Macdonald]] and [[Bruno Heller]].
The post closed shortly after the end of World War II. During the [[Korean Conflict]], Camp Shelby was established as an Emergency Railhead Facility.
== Plot ==
In the summer of 1954, non-divisional National Guard units trained at Camp Shelby and in 1956, it was designated a permanent training site by Continental Army Command (now Forces Command). Over 5,000 troops were processed through Camp Shelby during Desert Storm Operations.
{{spoiler}}
Camp Shelby is also home to the [[Youth Challenge Program]] (a boot camp for troubled youths)and the [[Mississippi Armed Forces Museum]].
The [[drama]] is set initially during the last years of [[Julius Caesar]]'s military and political dominance at the end of the [[Roman Republic]], and its downfall driven by the political conflict between the Roman upper-class (usually referred in literature as the [[patrician]]s, Lat. ''patricii'') and the lower-class ([[plebian]]s, Lat. ''plebeii''). The series begins in [[52 BC]] (701 ''[[ab urbe condita]]''), during the last year of the [[Gallic Wars]], and culminates in Caesar's [[monarchy]]. It is centered around the lives and fortunes of two Roman soldiers, Lucius Vorenus and Titus Pullo (who are mentioned briefly in Caesar's ''[[De Bello Gallico]]'' book V, 44), their families and acquaintances.
==Characters and Cast==
[[Image:Lucius titus rome tv series.jpg|thumb|210px|[[Kevin McKidd]] as Lucius Vorenus (left) and [[Ray Stevenson (actor)|Ray Stevenson]] as Titus Pullo (right)]]
{| {{prettytable}}
! # !! Principal cast !! Actor/Actress !! Role !! Years
|-
| 1 || Lucius Vorenus || [[Kevin McKidd]] || A professional, unmerciful centurion (''centurio secundi pili'') in the 13th Legion, friend of Pullo, becomes ''primi pili'' in ep. 2, and ''praefectus evocatorum'' in ep. 5 || 2005-present
|-
| 2 || Titus Pullo || [[Ray Stevenson (actor)|Ray Stevenson]] || Optimistic, Roman legionaire in the 13th Legion, friend of Vorenus || 2005-present
|-
| 3 || [[Gaius Julius Caesar]] || [[Ciarán Hinds]] || Energetic, dominating Roman general. A [[patrician]] who sides with the [[plebian]]s. || 2005-present
|-
| 4 || [[Pompey|Gnaeus Pompeius Magnus]] (Pompey) || [[Kenneth Cranham]] || Elderly soldier who in his younger years was a Spanish and Syrian conqueror. Interim leader of the Republic. A plebian who however shift sides to the patricians. || 2005-present
|-
| 5 || [[Atia Balba Caesonia|Atia of the Julii]] || [[Polly Walker]] || Niece of [[Julius Caesar]]; a shadow ruler of [[Rome]]. Mother to Octavian and Octavia. Lover of [[Mark Antony]] || 2005-present
|-
| 6 || [[Mark Antony|Marcus Antonius]] (Mark Antony) || [[James Purefoy]] || Arrogant, brave conqueror who is both honored and revered. || 2005-present
|-
| 7 || [[Marcus Junius Brutus]] (Brutus) || [[Tobias Menzies]] || A young patrician and descendant of the first republican [[consul]] [[Lucius Junius Brutus]]; friend of Caesar || 2005-present
|-
| 8 || [[Servilia Caepionis|Servilia of the Junii]] || [[Lindsay Duncan]] || Mother of Brutus; lover of [[Julius Caesar]]. || 2005-present
|-
| 9 || Niobe Vorenus || [[Indira Varma]] || Beautiful young wife of Vorenus, whom she has not seen in 8 years while he was off to war. Mother to Vorena the Elder, Vorena the Younger and Lucius. || 2005-present
|-
| 10 || [[Caesar Augustus|Gaius Octavianus Thurinus]] (Octavian) || [[Max Pirkis]] || Son of Atia; brother of Octavia; great-nephew of [[Julius Caesar]]|| 2005-present
|-
| 11 || [[Octavia Thurina Minor|Octavia of the Julii]] || [[Kerry Condon]] || Daughter of Atia; sister of Gaius Octavian. || 2005-present
|-
| 12 || [[Gnaeus Pompeius|Quintus Pompey]] || [[Rick Warden]] || Son of Pompey Magnus. || 2005-present
|-
| 13 || [[Cato the younger|Porcius Cato]] || [[Karl Johnson]] || Devoted leader of the [[Optimates|conservative division]] of the [[Roman Senate]]. || 2005-present
|-
| 14 || [[Marcus Tullius Cicero]] || [[David Bamber]] || Leader of the [[Populares|moderates]] in the Senate. || 2005-present
|-
| 15 || Timon || [[Lee Boardman]] || A horse trader who is one of Atia's several lovers. || 2005-present
|}
==Episodes==
=== Season 1 ([[2005]]) ===
{| {{prettytable}}
! # !! Episode Title !! Director !! Writer(s) !! Overview !! Original Airdate
|-
| 1 || The Stolen Eagle ([[Television pilot|Pilot]]) || [[Michael Apted]] || [[Bruno Heller]] || Eager to return to Rome after eight long years of war, Gaius Julius Caesar ends his campaign with a resounding triump in Gaul - and news of a shattering personal loss at home. In Rome, Caesar's old friend Pompey is counselled by the Senate, who worry about Caesar's growing popularity. Two soldiers are enlisted to find the army's stolen gold standard. Atia is careful to play both sides of an escalating power struggle. || [[August 28]], [[2005]] (HBO)
|-
| 2 || How Titus Pullo Brought Down the [[Roman Republic|Republic]] || [[Michael Apted]] || [[Bruno Heller]] || Anointed people's Tribune by Caesar, Mark Antony returns to Rome with Octavian's liberators, Vorenus and Pullo. After being feted by a grateful Atia, Vorenus heads home to his family, for the first time in eight years, while Pullo heads for the brothels. Pompey drafts an ultimatum stripping the general of his power. || [[September 4]], [[2005]] (HBO)
|-
| 3 || An Owl in a Thornbush || [[Michael Apted]] || [[Bruno Heller]] || Scouting for Caesar some 30 miles from Rome, Pullo, Vorenus and ubian soldiers meet minimal resistance from a green group of Pompey recruits. Alarmed at the speed with which Caesar's army has advanced and with few soldiers, Pompey makes an unusual tactical decision: leave Rome. Pompey's decision to temporarily abandon Rome to Caesar forces patrician families to choose sides. || [[September 11]], [[2005]] (HBO)
|-
| 4 || Stealing from Saturn || [[Julian Farino]] || [[Bruno Heller]] || As Pompey "maneuvers" outside the city, Caesar seeks to consolidate his hold on Rome. Atia throws a party to welcome Caesar home, while Vorenus throws one of his own to usher in his new life as a citizen businessman. Pullo's run of luck continues when he delivers Quintus Pompey to Caesar, who in turn returns Quintus to his father's camp--with an offer of truce he knows Pompey will never accept. || [[September 18]], [[2005]] (HBO)
|-
| 5 || The Ram Has Touched the Wall || [[Allen Coulter]] || [[Bruno Heller]] || Caesar weighs Pompey's counteroffer against Antony's recommendation to chase down Pompey's vulnerable army. Vorenus is forced to reconsider his career choices after a series of business setbacks leave him with little income to support his family. A jealous Atia concocts a clever scheme to separate Caesar from Servilia. Pullo is recruited to tutor Octavian in the art of soldiering, but ends up learning a lesson or two from the boy. || [[September 25]], [[2005]] (HBO)
|-
| 6 || [[Egeria (mythology)|Egeria]] || [[Alan Poul]] || [[John Milius]] and [[Bruno Heller]] || Mark Antony is running Rome while Caesar pursues Pompey in the East, but when news comes that the tide has turned and that Pompey now pursues Caesar, Antony must decide whether to stick by his old commander or turn against him as Atia and Pompey wish. Pullo takes Octavian to a brothel; Atia attempts to mend fences with Servilia; and Vorenus and Niobe rediscover their intimacy, albeit briefly. || [[October 2]], [[2005]] (HBO)
|-
| 7 || [[Battle of Pharsalus|Pharsalus]] || [[Tim Van Patten]] || [[David Frankel]] || Marooned in the Adriatic Sea, Vorenus and Pullo look to survive. In Greece, Pompey decides to attack Caesar's depleted forces, whose lack of options turns into their greatest strength; the result finds Pompey seeking reinforcements. In Rome, Octavia (Kerry Condon) is enlisted by Atia to ask another favor of Servilia. || [[October 9]], [[2005]] (HBO)
|-
| 8 || [[Caesarion]] || To Be Announced || To Be Announced || Plot to be announced. || [[October 16]], [[2005]] (HBO)
|-
| 9 || [[Utica, Tunisia|Utica]] || To Be Announced || To Be Announced || Plot to be announced. || [[October 30]], [[2005]] (HBO)
|-
| 10 || Triumph || [[Alan Taylor (II)|Alan Taylor]] || To Be Announced || Plot to be announced. || [[November 6]], [[2005]] (HBO)
|-
| 11 || The Spoils || [[Mikael Salomon]] || To Be Announced || Plot to be announced || [[November 13]], [[2005]] (HBO)
|-
| 12 || The Kalends of February || To Be Announced || To Be Announced || The Season 1 finale. || [[November 20]], [[2005]] (HBO)
|}
==Factual events==
{{spoiler}}
===''The Stolen Eagle'' ([[Television pilot|Pilot]])===
The episode is set in the year [[52 BC]]. After eight years of [[Gallic Wars|war in Gaul]], morale in [[Julius Caesar|Caesar]]'s army is low.
===''How Titus Pullo Brought Down the Republic''===
This second episode is based on events that took place in [[50 BC]] and [[49 BC]]. [[Julius Caesar|Caesar]]'s [[proconsul]]ship in [[Gaul]] is about to expire, which would mean a loss of the office's immunity against prosecution by his political enemies. He had faced the same situation five years prior, but at that time his command had been extended with the help of his allies [[Pompey|Pompey Magnus]] and [[Marcus Crassus]]. This time Caesar cannot count on his former allies, as Pompey has openly turned against him, and Crassus was killed in [[53 BC]]. Caesar instead has to rely on [[Mark Antony]] for his political maneuvering: newly elected to the office of [[Tribune|Tribune of the People]] (''tribunus plebis''), Mark Antony has [[veto]] power in the [[Roman Senate]].
Meanwhile, Lucius Vorenus, now a first spear centurion (''centurio primi pili''), and Titus Pullo return to Rome. After dropping off [[Caesar Augustus|Gaius Octavian]], Vorenus returns to his wife, who he hasn't seen in eight years since he left for Gaul, and Pullo to prostitution and gambling. Pullo loses a lot of money gambling, when he discovers that he is being cheated by the other gamblers. He kills the cheater, but is injured in the fight that breaks out. He manages to drag himself to Vorenus's home, where he receives medical care.
Caesar's political enemies, led by Pompey, plan to pass a motion in the Senate that would set an ultimatum for Caesar to surrender his command, or be declared a public enemy. Pompey enlists the help of [[Cato the Younger]], [[Metellus Scipio]] (Pompey's new father-in-law), and of the reluctant [[Cicero]]. Pompey wants the motion to pass by a large majority, so that Caesar would see that he is isolated and has no political supporters. On the other hand, Pompey also expects the motion to be vetoed by Caesar's ally Mark Antony, in which case the blame for any subsequent escalation would rest with Caesar. However, Mark Antony's veto is not recorded for procedural reasons. Pompey is taken by surprise, and arranges for the Senate session to be continued the next day, so that the tribune's veto can be recorded. He also gives orders that Mark Antony must not be harmed in any way.
Not knowing of Pompey's orders and fearing threatened because of his association with Caesar, Mark Antony calls on the soldiers from Caesar's [[Legio XIII Gemina|13th Legion]] (''Legio XIII''), including Vorenus and Pullo, for protection. With Vorenus and Pullo walking beside him, Mark Antony is on the way to the [[Roman Forum]] in order to properly record his veto in the Senate. Pullo is spotted and attacked by one of the gamblers who had been involved in the fight that broke out over Pullo being cheated. Mark Antony assumes that it is he who is being attacked, and fights a retreat out of Rome, in which Vorenus is wounded.
Antony, Pullo, and Vorenus return to Caesar's 13th Legion in [[Cisalpine Gaul]] (northern Italy). Upon hearing the news, Caesar marches his army south toward Rome, marking the beginning of the civil war. The episode ends with Caesar crossing the [[Rubicon]] – without uttering any memorable quotes – in [[January]] of [[49 BC]].
==External links==
*{{imdb title|id=0384766|title=Rome}}
*[http://www.hbo.com/rome ''Rome'' - Official HBO site]
*[http://www.romefans.com''Rome'' - Official Fansite]
*[http://www.independent.co.uk/incoming/article301393.ece "New $100m TV epic set to rewrite history"] - the Independent (UK), 25 July 2005
*[http://news.com.com/HBO+enlists+Mozilla+of+series+promotion/2100-1032_3-5833861.html "HBO enlists Firefox for series promotion"] - CNet News.com, August 15, 2005
[[Category:HBO network shows]]
[[Category:2000s TV shows in the United States]]
| 