# Suetonius — Beric the Briton character guide

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

**Role:** supporting

**First appearance:** 0008-vii-defeat-of-the-britons

## Snapshot

The Roman general whose hard-won conquest of Britain leaves him in disgrace at Rome, where his captured rebel leader Beric is paraded before Nero.

## Who they are

Suetonius has subdued the British revolt but returns to Rome under a cloud, his victories overshadowed by court politics. Rather than grant terms to the rebels, he pursued them to destruction, a decision Beric recalls with bitterness when the captives are marched to Nero's palace. His fall from favor shapes the prisoners' fate: no public triumph, only the gladiator school or labor on the emperor's palaces. He is the hard hand of Rome that made Beric a fugitive and then a captive.

## Relationships

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

_rivalry_

Suetonius Paulinus is the Roman general who leads campaigns against the Britons, making him Beric's direct enemy.

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

_rivalry_

Suetonius Paulinus is the Roman general who leads campaigns against the Britons, making him Beric's direct enemy.

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

_rivalry_

Suetonius Paulinus is the Roman general who leads campaigns against the Britons, making him Beric's direct enemy.

## In the story

### [First Successes](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/beric_the_briton_se/chapters/vi-first-successes)

Roman commander marching east, gathering garrisons; the Britons seek to meet him in open battle.

### [The Struggle in the Swamp](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/beric_the_briton_se/chapters/ix-the-struggle-in-the-swamp)

Commands the Roman forces, personally leads the attack, and after assessing the Fenland's extent, orders a retreat and begins clearing the land to contain the Britons.

### [Betrayed](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/beric_the_briton_se/chapters/x-betrayed)

Roman general who captured Beric and his band, intending to take them to Rome as trophies.

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

Refuses to hand over Beric to Petronius, intending to use the captives to bolster his reputation in Rome.

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

Mentioned as the Roman commander who Beric resisted and who is a connection of Pollio's family.

## Links

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