On the last day of December 406, the Alans, Vandals, and Suebi living east of Gaul crossed the frozen Rhine River and began widespread devastation.
As there was no effective Roman response, the remaining Roman military in Britainia feared that a Germanic crossing of the Channel into Britainia was next, and dispensed with imperial authority – an action perhaps made easier by the high probability that their legions had not been paid for some time. Their intent was to choose a commander who would lead them in securing their future but their first two choices, Marcus and Gratian, did not meet their expectations and were killed. Their third choice was the soldier Constantine III.
In the year 407 Constantine rallied the remaining troops in Britainia, led them across the Channel into Gaul, rallied support there, and set himself up as Western Roman Emperor. The Roman Empire south of the Alps was preoccupied with fending off the Visigoths and was unable to put down the rebellion, giving Constantine the opportunity to extend his new empire to include Hispainia.
As Constantine withdrew from Britainia, it fell to a trusted General, Claudius Decimus Meridius to transport The Empire’s treasure back to Rome. The most important treasure was the solid gold Eagle Standard of the Caesar’s XIII Army, Meridius trusted it’s safety to his most loyal soldier; Centurion Biggus Diccus.
Biggus Diccus left Wales and headed south on entering England, heading toward Ilchester and the Fosse Way, his aim to reach London and the safety of the Roman Garrison there. Unfortunately Biggus Diccus came under attack and had to flee, evading his pursuers and taking refuge outside the town of Sceaptun. In this market town he came upon a cross from which he was able to get his bearings. He made a note of the following distances from said cross to:
I.Londinium
II.Brycgston
III.Aquae Sulis
IV.Briuuetone
V.Gifle
VI.Lindinis
VII.Sumertone
VIII.Glestingaburg
IX.Scirburne
X.Fontanetum
With this information he was able to plot a route to London and safety. Unfortunately less than 5 miles from Sceapton, Biggus Diccus once again came under attack. He decided his best option was to hide the treasure of Caesar and escape to London, planning to return to retrieve the Eagle Standard with a large force.
History tells us he did not make it to London as his remains and a diary were discovered in the excavation of the Tadley Acres housing estate in 2014. Historians have tried in vain to find the Standard of the XIII, can you discover its final hiding place?
The final note in the diary was a rushed scribble:
N 51 (IX-VIII).VIII(II-IX)(VI-IV)
W 002 (VI+VII).(V-III)(IX-III)I-((VixX)+(IV+VIII)+VII)
Rather than change the formula, the cache is opposite the original location up the embankment.