# Pollio — Beric the Briton character guide

> Pollio in Beric the Briton by G. A. Henty.

**Role:** supporting

**First appearance:** 0013-xii-a-school-for-gladiators

## Snapshot

A gladiator trainer at the ludus whose cruelty grinds men down, sharpening Beric's resolve to master the arena on his own terms.

## Who they are

Pollio drills recruits in the ludus, a hard hand whose discipline Beric must survive before he can command anyone. His harshness embodies the Roman machine that turns captives into spectacle, and every bruise he deals teaches Beric what he is fighting against. The trainer's petty tyranny is the first Roman authority Beric learns to outlast without breaking.

## Relationships

### [Beric](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/beric_the_briton_se/characters/beric)

_professional_

Pollio is a Roman officer who interacts with Beric in a professional capacity, often as a captor or overseer.

### [Aemilia](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/beric_the_briton_se/characters/aemilia)

_social_

Aemilia and Pollio have a social acquaintance, likely due to their connections in Roman society.

### [Beric](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/beric_the_briton_se/characters/beric)

_professional_

Pollio is a Roman officer who interacts with Beric in a professional capacity, often as a captor or overseer.

### [Beric](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/beric_the_briton_se/characters/beric)

_professional_

Pollio is a Roman officer who interacts with Beric in a professional capacity, often as a captor or overseer.

### [Aemilia](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/beric_the_briton_se/characters/aemilia)

_social_

Aemilia and Pollio have a social acquaintance, likely due to their connections in Roman society.

### [Aemilia](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/beric_the_briton_se/characters/aemilia)

_social_

Aemilia and Pollio have a social acquaintance, likely due to their connections in Roman society.

## In the story

### [A Prisoner](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/beric_the_briton_se/chapters/xi-a-prisoner)

Introduces Beric to his cousins Aemilia and Ennia, and describes his life in Britain.

### [A School for Gladiators](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/beric_the_briton_se/chapters/xii-a-school-for-gladiators)

Pollio visits Beric, discusses Nero's tyranny, and offers companionship and social introduction in Rome.

### [Mountain Warfare](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/beric_the_briton_se/chapters/xx-mountain-warfare)

Roman commander and son-in-law of Muro; recognizes Beric's tactics from the British campaign and discusses the difficulty of the mountain war.

### [Old Friends](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/beric_the_briton_se/chapters/xxi-old-friends)

Reunites with Beric at the farm, brings news of Nero's death, jokes about marriage.

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/beric_the_briton_se/characters/pollio
- Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/beric_the_briton_se
- All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/beric_the_briton_se/characters