Brennus Big Book (help needed)

[Brennus]

Hello all!

For a few years now, ever since I read Leo Tolstoy's work, I have wanted to try and write something even remotely similar to the epics "War and Peace" and "Anna Karenina" (if you have never read either of these books by the way it is an experience you should try at least once). However each time I began to seriously think about the idea something would invariably stop me; either I would lack the determination, start another round of education etc. Usually self doubt would simply set in and I would shelve the idea. However this morning I read this story in the news:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-18267716

This, coupled with my current lack of progress elsewhere in life, has finally made me commit to the idea of giving writing a shot.

"Brennus" Moros says "This is the EB forum, stop spamming"

Well, my idea is tied to EB. I want to try and write a social critique in the same way Tolstoy did, but instead of setting it in the Napoleonic Wars I want to set mine in the Gallic Wars. I want to try an present a critique of imperialism, capitalism, mis-guided nationalism and the consumerism (yes I am a lefty) through the eyes of the individuals involved. What I need help with is character names. I need names for Romans, Numidians, Germans and Celts and others, especially non-aristocratic names.

So far my main character list is as such ("" Indicates provisional name, yet formalised):

Julius Caesar: Little character development required here.

Vercingetorix: Who will be known by a different name until 52BC in an interesting plot twist.

Commios: Who I intend to paint as treacherous, pragmatic, determined, slightly psychotic and highly charismatic.

"Marcus": A Roman legionary and the main Roman protagonist who joins the army full of Roman ideology.

"Jugurtha": Numidian auxilliary who becomes disgusted by Roman greed.

"Cogidubnus": A self doubting failed Druid... much development needed here.

"Zalmoxis": A Dacian girl who marries "Marcus".

Dumnorix: Strong willed but badly organised Aedui chieftain.

"Titus": hardened veteran centurion... more development again.

"Cartimandua": Strong willed Gallic/British woman with oppressive, aristocratic family who rebels and eventually marries Commios.

Marc Anthony: Slightly dim, highly charismatic, extremely loyal, driven more by his loins than his brain.

Ambiorix: A practical joker and ferocious leader.

Ariovistus: Blissfully ignorant of Roman power

Cassivellaunus: I intend to portray as almost a parody of Churchill as a homage to the Asterix creators Goscinny and Uderzo.

Celtillus: Vercingetorix father, executed by the Arverni council for his pan-Celtic unity efforts, a major figure in the story of Vercingetorix

The Arverni elders: Like Celtillus, major figures in Vercingetorix story

This is all preliminary so far and I don't want to reveal too much detail yet, I also need to add a few more main characters. As I said what I need are names for Celts, Romans, Germans, Numidians, a female Dacian and Greeks in order to create a supporting cast of characters with whom the main protagonists can interact.

Any suggestions that do not come from Asterix or Monty Python''s Life of Brian would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks everyone!

[Moros]

Good luck with your attempt, should be interesting. :)

What about Sarkozix and Hollandix?

[Brennus]

Good luck with your attempt, should be interesting. :)

What about Sarkozix and Hollandix?

You mean in addition to Camerolinus and Merkallavistus?

[Ca Putt]

Sounds Great, I will give this some thought maybe I will find some things you might find usefull.

Good luck with this, I'll certainly read this when it is finished.

[Brennus]

Sounds Great, I will give this some thought maybe I will find some things you might find usefull.

Good luck with this, I'll certainly read this when it is finished.

Cheers! The provisional plan is to write it within a decade. Male Celtic names shouldn't prove too difficult to find (I just didn't want too many "rix" characters... not really believable to farmers and craftsmen called Dumnorix and Kingetorix). Female names will be tricky, and I will need to check with the EBII Semitic researchers to make sure names like Jugurtha or Gisgo are not too noble for humble Numidian auxilliaries. The main issue is simply having enough names to use for characters without having to recycle too many.

[Blxz]

Can't help you at all but, for what it's worth, I'd read your book when it comes out. Good luck, you are going to need it; writing is a big bad monster sometimes.

[Edorix]

Ello Brennus.

This resource is incredibly useful for British personal names, both male and female: http://www.asnc.cam.ac.uk/personalnames/

Gaulish names are basically identical; the two languages are usually indistinguishable because of the limitations of having purely written evidence.

This also has a fair few Gaulish names on it: http://www.s-gabriel.org/names/tangwystyl/gaulish/

Let me know if you want any of them translating or "orthographising". :)