The Shame of Legio III – a Princeps on trial

[Dooz]

{Galerius Vatinius}

First, I will make an observation as to make a point about Manius' credibility, then ask my question, although perhaps pointless. Now, it has been confirmed by Manius Aemilius himself and his defender and son, Servius that he apparently has a habit of calling things by different names and misusing words. Keeping that in mind, how much can we take as fact when Senator Aemilius makes statements about Publius Laevinus' absence from the battlefield at the time of battle, or any other statement he might make for that matter? I don't even understand why he should be allowed to be here in the first place. One would think a nation such as Rome would have somewhere to put such people...

In any case, for the sake of the trial I will proceed with my question. Senator Aemilius, when and where was the last time and place you saw or heard from Senator Laevinus, and what were his orders?

[Lucjan]

Manius stares at the boy asking such silly questions and giggles. "I do not misuse words, I use them correctly. I use them quite correctly. The problem is the context. You don't understand the context. When put into context I *hoot!* my words quite correctly. You are like a bird..I see it in your eyes..a bird a bird, you are a bird. You nit and pick and caw at those who are different from you. You are a jay and I am a robin, and so you caw. And I *hoot!*. And so you caw...You would have me put away, but I would have you let astray, let you to the masses, let you to Rome. You would have me put away, but in letting you go free I would have you destroy yourself blue jay! The blue jay would pull it's feathers out. No more flying for the blue jay. *hoot!* The blue jay cannot tolerate what it perceives to be different, and that is the blue jay's flaw. And a temper..do not steal my worm blue jay..the robin bites back. *There is no hoot this time, rather a low, gurgling noise that turns into a watery, gargling laugh.* Too bad were you not so brave, too bad were you not so healthy as a Gaul..or you'd make too a nice owl for my spear. I nice place to put my prizes as I sleep, that the owl you might be if you were a gaul, could keep watch over it in the night..but you are no owl, you are a jay, a jealous, jealous jay."

*Manius's attention suddenly shifts back to the question at hand*.
Last time and place I saw the pigman...was a camp feast at the ford, few days before the battle, I do not know where the pigman marched his legion. I contested the seperation of the legions, but the pigman left anyway, providing me no reason. *Hoot* Pigman gave me two orders though..he said to guard the ford and do not leave the ford for any reason...this I did..this I did, and you took my legion from me for it! Pigman also told me to go get Sober, I looked as hard as I could, two times, but no man in my camp went by the name of Sober, so I stopped looking. *hoot!*

[econ21]

[SENATE SPEAKER]: I believe that concludes the cross-examination of the witness, although no doubt he could be recalled if required. We now await a statement of the prosecution case.

[Dooz]

{Galerius Vatinius}

Mm, wise words, wise words indeed Senator. Now as you were left officially in charge of the legion during the battle, the safety of the legionary eagle... or "fancy owl"... was in your hands. As you have expressed such affection and adulation for the legionary eagle, and understanding that it is a prized posession of this Senate, was it not a top priority for you to keep an eye on it and make sure no one harmed the fancy owl? Do you know what in fact happened to the eagle Senator Aemilius? Where was the last you saw it?

[Lucjan]

Manius, though fully understanding that his turn to speak is over, cannot resist the temptation to bark back, perhaps in a strange blink of sanity. "The legionary eagle was where it belonged, Cur! Resting in the able hands of the triarii! If the battle goes to the triarii than the situation is indeed quite dire, and when the commander of the damned legion dares not show his face then I must do what I must. The fight was a lost cause, my legion risked their very lives to defend that ford, and it cost them just that! I fought their general twice, the first time outnumbered more than a dozen to five, and the second with even worse odds, that I was dismounted by a blow and left incapacitated is by no fault of my own. I gave everything for the senate that day! *Manius slams his fist into the table as hard as he can, rising from his feet with a fire in his eyes* EVERYTHING! *And then..he slowly slips away from his moment, a cackle growing in his throat, his head twitching to the side and that wry smile returning to his face.* "Youu..little blue jay, you like to talk, you like to talk much." *He is now stepping down from the accused's dock and walking towards his son.* "I think you talk to the Gauls..I think you like that I lost my fancy owl...I think you took my fancy owl when my men chased away the gauls and forgot to come home...and the senate stole them from me, though I lost the fancy owl..I don't like how the blue jay watches the robin...blue jay better hope a hawk doesn't owe the robin a favor.."

[Dooz]

{Galerius Vatinius}

Uh, yes, well. Thank you for your... "testimony" and the amusing of this courtroom, no doubt. However, I would keep the death threats to a minimum were I you, I've had about enough of those from you and your son. As hated a man as I may be around the Senate, you Manius are a far more loathed creature around the country because of this fiasco and your unwholesome personality. A man who doesn't know reality from imagination could get hurt.

I yield the floor to the prosecution.

[TinCow]

Fathers, Citizens, Romans! We are here today to determine the guilt of Publius Laevinus, commander of Legio III Sicilia Aemilia at the time of its defeat at the Massilia crossing and the loss of the Roman Eagle. The gossip regarding this most severe of events has inundated the Republic from the very moment that it became known. Already there has been a much drama before this very court from various ‘interested’ parties and from colorful testimony. Members of the Jury, do not let these things distract you from the case at hand!

No matter what stories are told to you, no matter what antics the insane Senator Manius Aemilius engages in, no matter what excuses the defendant and his counsel give, you must remember that there are a great deal of indisputable facts before us. These facts cannot lie and the truth of the matter is plain to see, so long as you remember this. I shall lay these facts bare before you and you shall see, as must all the world, that there is only one conclusion that can be drawn: that Publius Laevinus was criminally negligent in his command of Legio III Sicilia Aemilia, that this negligence caused the loss of an Eagle of Rome, and that this negligence opened the entire Italian peninsula to Gallic invasion.

I will not lie to you; I will make a lengthy case. However, I urge you to listen to my words carefully and to consult the evidence I present in detail. I speak at length because I wish justice to be done. It must not be said that Publius Laevinus was given an unfair trial, that he was convicted without proper review of the facts. I wish to review all of the facts that are pertinent to that day, so that, when his guilt is inevitably determined, no one will say that justice was not done.

The Battle

We shall begin with the event that brought us here today, the battle at the Massilia ford in the winter of 261, in the consulship of Tiberius Coruncanius. The battle was fought between the 721 men of Legio III Sicilia Aemilia and the Gallic horde under Drustan of Decetia, 1,389 strong. The battle resulted in the defeat and rout of Legio III, whose survivors fled to Massilia, and the loss of the Legion’s Eagle. In this defeat, 541 Romans were killed at the price of some 446 Gauls, with an additional 100 or so only mildly wounded.



As we can plainly see, Legio III was outnumbered nearly two to one and caused nearly an equal number of casualties to their foes. Were this any other battle between any other nations, such a result might be considered acceptable. Yet, it is special because its result was tragic, dishonorable and most significantly unexpected. In order to determine what made this result unusual, we must seek answers beyond those that statistics can provide. There are five important elements that must be considered to discover the reality of the event: the history of Legio III Sicilia Aemilia, the battlefield itself, our knowledge of Gallic armies, our knowledge of Drustan of Decetia, and finally, the leadership of Legio III Sicilia Aemilia.

The History of Legio III Sicilia Aemilia

Legio III Sicilia Aemilia was formed in the winter of 274 in consulship of Lucius Aemilius, in whose honor it was named. Publius Laevinus was immediately given command of the Legion as a Legate. Legio III remained in Sicily for some time before attempting an invasion of Corsica, which was then controlled by Carthage. Faulty intelligence resulted in the Legion landing in a poor location and it had to be temporarily evacuated to Italy. In the winter of 273, the Legion once again landed in Corsica, this time successfully assaulting and taking Aleria from the Punic forces. In this battle, Legio III lost 10 men and destroyed the entire Punic garrison of 169 men.

After this first successful blooding, the Legion was transferred to Cisalpine Gaul where it secured and garrisoned Jenuensis until 272, when it marched west to take Massilia with Publius Pansa and Luca Mamilius serving as Tribunes to Legate Publius Laevinus. The Legion took the city of Massilia from its 250 local defenders at the cost of 76 men. Leaving Publius Pansa behind to oversee the province, the Legion immediately took up a defensive position at what has since become known as the Massilia Ford. Soon afterwards, the Legion, then composed of 530 men, was assaulted by 1,772 Gauls under the warchief Meriadoc. In what was to become a famous battle, Legio III won a heroic victory, killing 1,719 of the Gauls for the loss of only 138 Romans. In 270, the Legion took the war to the enemy, ambushing and killing 255 Gauls, including the warchief Virsuccius, for the loss of only 8 men.

In the summer of 270, under my own consulship, Tribune Luca Mamilius finished his time with the Legion, which was soon after assaulted once again by the Gauls. Legio III repeated its heroic defense of the ford, this time killing 1,519 Gauls for the loss of 160 Romans. That same winter, Legio III fought a third battle at the Massilia Ford. This one also became famous as 1,071 Gauls under Eporedorix were killed for the loss of but 8 men. After this battle, Legio III was sent back to Cisalpine Gaul to rest and refit. In the Summer of 268, with their numbers replenished, the Legion marched back across the Alps and once more took up their position at the Massilia Ford. For a short while, Vibius Pleminius served in the Legion as Tribune to Legate Publius Laevinus, before departing for the governorship of Tarentum.

In the summer of 265, under the consulship of Tiberius Coruncanius, Legio III was relieved by Legio I and moved to guard the Illyrian border. Here they remained until the war with Macedon began, at which point they returned west to once again guard the Massilia Ford. They stood this post until the winter of 261, when they were defeated by the Gauls.

This is the history of a glorious and decorated Legion. Prior to the defeat at the Massilia Ford, Legio III Sicilia Aemilia had slain 4,983 of the enemy for the loss of only 400 of their own. In their battles, the Legion had thrice defended the Massilia Ford against a horde of Gauls that sometimes outnumbered them three or four to one. Two of these battles have since become famous amongst the Roman people and the defeat of Meriadoc in 271 is known to be taught in the Scriptorium here in Rome as an example of proper river-crossing defense. Legio III was not a simple ill-trained, poorly equipped rabble. It was a proper Legion of Rome that gained renown in its bravery and success against the enemies of the Republic. At the time of the defeat, it was neither undermanned nor otherwise ill-disposed to fight a battle. Far from it, Legio III was actually supplemented by extra cohorts not normally allocated to a Legion, making it the largest single Legion in the entire Republic at the time of the battle.

Legio III Sicilia Aemilia at the time of the defeat at the Massilia Ford:


Citizens and jury members, my point in reciting all of this is to make one fact clear: the men of Legio III Sicilia Aemilia were not at fault for their defeat. At no point their entire history before that day had there ever been even the slightest cause to believe that the men of Legio III lacked in skill or bravery. These were the finest sons of Rome, worthy of service in any of Rome’s armies. I personally would have been proud to lead them in battle, if I had been given a chance. During the long days and endless marches of the Gallic Expedition, I would often spur the men of Consular I Army on to further successes by exhorting them to outdo their brothers in Legio III Sicilia Aemilia, the Legion which had inflicted great defeats on the Gauls time and time again. This was a glorious Legion.

It is possible for some men to fail even after a track record of glorious successes, but ask yourselves is it possible for 721 men to do so all at once after nearly 15 years of exemplary service? We all know the answer to that. The men themselves, those sons of Rome, were not at fault that day. Yet, if they were not at fault, then the cause must lie elsewhere.

The Battlefield

The Massilia Ford has likely become the best-known battlefield in the history of the Republic. No less than 7 battles have been fought on that exact same spot, with two of them being so well known to the Roman people that they are the subject of popular theatrical dramas. It addition to being supremely well-known, the site is arguable the single strongest defensible point in the entire Republic. It sits at the entrance to the only western pass through the Alpine Mountains. Though other passes exist to the north, they are difficult to traverse and rarely do enemy armies traffic them. For all essential purposes, this is the only efficient route from Gaul to the Cisalpine province and Italy itself.

The Massilia Ford is just that, a single ford across the boundary river north of Massilia. There is not a single other place to cross that can be used by an enemy force. All who wish to transit into Roman territory must cross through this narrow stretch of shallow water. A defense army here cannot be flanked, cannot be ambushed, cannot be out-maneuvered. At this spot, even force of numbers means little, as there is no broad front on which to deploy. There is one simple and effective tactic on this battlefield that has always worked and will always work. This well-known painting of the very first battle of Massilia ford, fought by Publius Laevinus and Legio III themselves, offers a classic view of such a tactic being employed in battle.



In the six battles fought here prior to the defeat, every single one was fought by a Roman Legion against a Gallic horde. In those battles, a total of 6,220 Gauls fell at a cost of only 322 Romans. The last four battles war particularly successful for the Republic with 2,982 Gauls dead for the cost of but 24 Romans. These ratios of nearly 125 to 1 in the final four battles and nearly 20 to 1 overall are unparalleled in the history of the Republic. Our generals regularly win battles with kill ratios of six or seven to one, with the great Lucius Aemilius achieving the impressive rate of twelve kills to every Roman loss. Yet not even his abilities on the field come close to matching the performance of all Roman Legions on this battlefield.

Simply put, the Massilia Ford is a fortress as strong as Rome itself. This is not a spot where Legio III was ambushed by the enemy. Publius Laevinus was not caught in the open with the enemy on higher ground. No, the commander of Legio III was in the strongest, most defensible position in the entire Republic, possibly in the known world. Clearly the terrain did not cause this defeat. Yet, if it was not at fault, then the cause must lie elsewhere.

The Gallic Armies

The Gauls are a fearsome and loathsome race whose entire existence is bent on war and destruction. The Republic was first exposed to their brutality in 387 when Brennus sacked the city, destroying all but the Capitoline hill. Yet, from that time until the defeat at the Massilia Ford, Rome prevailed in every single battle against this degenerate horde. While they are warlike and barbaric, their very incivility deprives them of tactical superiority and skill in battle. They rely on brute strength and massed numbers to carry the day, tactics which are ineffective against properly armed and trained men from civilized nations.

If you need proof, you need only consult the records of our battles. Roman Legions take far fewer casualties when facing Gallic hordes than when facing civilized armies of a similar size. Simply put, the individual Gaul is a fearsome and hideous creature that is dangerous in combat, but as en masse they lack the skill to prosecute a successful military campaign against an organized foe.

This is not to say that the Gauls have not fielded formidable armies against us. In the peak of their years, before the Gallic Expedition had ravaged their lands, hardened warriors who wielded swords and spears alike took the field against us. So too did the noble elite of the Gallic nation. While the whole remained a rabble, many Gallic armies contained a hardened core of dangerous warriors whose skill was never underestimated by those who fought them… and lived. Yet, despite all of this, their forces never prevailed against us. In the 20 years that passed between the consulship of the great Quintus and the defeat at the Massilia Ford, Roman armies fought and won 24 consecutive victories against the Gauls. Not once did our citizens waver, not once did our citizens fail. Even in the face of incredible odds and taken by surprise, as was the case during the Ambush of Legio I, Roman arms carried the day. Simply put, the Gallic race is inferior in the art of war to the sons of Romulus.

The Gallic armies are ferocious and they must be exterminated, but they can be readily defeated by a properly trained, properly equipped, and properly led Roman Legion. The force that broke Legio III that cursed day was no different from those that had preceded it. If anything, it was inferior to many that had come before it. They had superior numbers, but the odds have been far greater many times before. Their men were not even the elite ‘chosen’ warriors who have opposed us in the past. Our agents were able to survey the Gallic force during the battle and its composition is known to us.

The Gallic horde under Drustan of Decetia, at the time of the defeat at the Massilia Ford:


As you can plainly see, the Gallic army was not special, it was not unique, it was not elite. This was a force composed of raw levies of untrained warbands with a small number of swordsmen and slingers, far from a fearsome and unexpected foe. This was a below-average Gallic army and was in no way superior to anything the Republic had faced before, nor for that matter was it even remotely unusual. This was not an army capable of seizing a Roman Eagle held by a properly trained, properly equipped, and properly led Roman Legion. Yet, if this horde did not decide the matter through its sheer superiority, then the cause must lie elsewhere.

Drustan of Decetia

Perhaps then it was the Gallic commander who was supremely skilled in the arts of war. Perhaps that day Legio III faced not merely a man, but an Unwashed Alexander. *chuckles* I apologies for my jests, but it is difficult for me to make serious comparisons between Gauls and civilized heroes. Fortunately, there is no serious comparison to make. Our agents were able to observe Drustan for a great deal of time and his true nature was fully known to us.

Drustan of Decetia at the time of the defeat at the Massilia Ford:


As you can plainly see, he is a fearsome and bloodthirsty warrior who likes his drink and who thrives in the bloody assault. Yet nowhere do I see any indications of tactical genius beyond his years. Do not let the ‘stars’ on this man’s banners fool you, citizens. It is a well known fact that all barbarian nobles are gifted with a tendency towards battle from birth. A perusal of the histories of the Consuls will show many similarly ‘starred’ Gallic commanders who died feebly in battle with Roman arms. In any event, even measured by this one attribute alone, Drustan was not superior to Publius Laevinus in tactical affairs. Some would rank them equal in this regard, but let me ask you, citizens. Who is superior in tactical affairs, an unblooded Gallic youth who has yet to face battle or an experienced Roman commander who has never lost a battle and who has repeatedly defeated larger and more fearsome foes? The answer is obvious. Drustan of Decetia, may the Gods curse his name, is a beast and a barbarian, but he is neither unusually skilled in the arts of war nor superior to one of our foremost Legates. This was not a man who could single-handedly create victory over a properly trained, properly equipped, and properly led Roman Legion. Yet, if he did not decide the matter through personal abilities, then the cause must lie elsewhere.

The Leadership of Legio III Sicilia Aemilia

And so we find ourselves faced with the last aspect of the battle: those who led the Legion on that fateful day. This is the only abnormality in what would have been an otherwise unremarkable battle. When all else is conventional, that which is unconventional must be the cause. Let us begin with a biography of Publius Laevinus.

Publius Laevinus was born in 311 into an honorable patrician family. Early on, he gained great favor amongst the nobility of Rome and was granted the hand of the eldest daughter of the most honored Quintus himself. He had potential and it was clear he desired power and influence in the Republic. He was well known as a consummate politician and it showed in his actions.

Publius Laevinus in 280:


His ambitions were made clear when he ran for Consul in the elections of 280. Yet, despite his skill in politics, he tied for last place in the election and was never a true contender for leadership. He did not let this setback stifle him though, as it was his own father-in-law, the great Quintus, who was elected in his place, and none could fault that decision. He was appointed governor of Rome during the crisis of the Pyrrhic War. He saw service with Legio I during this time, but only as a defensive force which never saw combat. Eventually he was appointed governor of Syracuse, where Quintus believed his skills could successfully convert this Greek city into a prosperous Roman province. As such, the Consulship of Quintus ended with Publius Laevinus in positions of power, but of minor significance in the scope of Republican affairs, and most importantly, unproven in war.

None of us knows how Publius Laevinus conducted his private life during that time, but it was clear that he nurtured his personal pleasures and ambitions. His distain of alcohol, his unusually excessive indulgence in expensive pleasures, and his frugality in gubernatorial expenditures began to alienate those around him. It was clear that idleness brought out the worst in him, conflicting as it did with his lively nature.

Publis Laevinus in 275:


He was taken from this situation in 274, when Consul Lucius Aemilius gave him command of a few cohorts and a small detachment of auxilia to effect the conquest of the Punic island of Melite. The enemy garrison was tiny, a single cohort of Carthaginians, but Publius Laevinus performed admirably, losing but 2 men in the entire invasion; a praiseworthy achievement for a commander new to battle and a good prediction of his future abilities. Based on this success, he was given personal command of Legio III Sicilia Aemilia, which he was lead from that time until this very year. His time with the Legion was one of great successes and greater promise. As it turned out, Publius Laevinus was born to strategic and tactical command.

In 273 he successfully conquered Aleria. In 272 he successful advocated the importance of Massilia in securing the borders of the Republic. Entirely won over by his strategic brilliance, the Senate voted in full accordance with his battle plans. He personally led the expedition and in 271 he took Massilia. Shortly after the conquest of the city he took up the first defense of the Massilia Ford, whose strategic importance he had been the first to realize and proclaim. His genius in this matter was proved when he beat off the first attack on the Massilia Ford later that year, and attack conducted by a force nearly four times the size of his own. It could truly be said after this time that Publius Laevinus single-handedly gave Transalpine Gaul to Rome. In the recent history of the Republic, no one man has been so important to one single territory. While his taste for personal pleasures continued to grow, he grained great renown during this time for his skill as a soldier, a tactician, and a strategist. It looked like the beginning of a career to rival the best the Republic had ever seen.

Publius Laevinus in 270:


It was on the back of these great successes that Publius Laevinus entered into the consular election of 270. Yet, for all his political skill and all his military successes, he once again polled dead last amongst the candidates. Again, we do not know how this affected him personally, but it could not have been easy to be beaten so heavily by his own son-in-law. Despite this, his command of Legio III remained exemplary and he led them to two more dramatic victories against the Gauls at Massilia Ford. It might be said that that year, 270, was the pinnacle of his career. For a time he was the most celebrated man in the Republic.

All glories must eventually fade however. As the Gallic Expedition moved west, Legio III was retired to Cisalpine Gaul to refit, removing him from the line of battle. As time went on, my successes with Consular I Army and Lucius Aemilius’ successes with Legio I Italia Victrix were the only ones spoken of in the streets. When the plight of Quintus and Legio IV Gallica became the supreme interest of the Senate and plebs alike, no mention was made of Legio III or its commander at all. Publius Laevinus had been forgotten, and it must have been a bitter taste in his mouth. His reputation as a commander had grown during this period, but his continued personal excesses, and his newly developed stern nature and strong language further alienated him from those whose respect he surely desired. To add to this misery, in 266, his son-in-law Vibius Pleminius, a promising young Senator, was killed in battle in Appolonia. This must have darkened his already depressed mood.

Publius Laevinus in 265:


When the election of 265 was held, he did not even bother to run. This was the beginning of his descent into the abyss of his own soul. As war in the east developed to a scale unexpected to all, with Greece, Macedon and even Illyria arrayed against us, Publius Laevinus and Legio III guarded Cisalpine Gaul and then Transalpine Gaul. He served in crucial positions, ensuring the security of Italy and even Rome itself from the barbaric hordes, but I suspect that was not how he saw it. There were no foes to be fought, not plunder to be taken, no glories to be had. To a man such as him, his posts may have been more like punishment for an underserved crime, and so this once great man deteriorated into a cesspool of jealousy and despair.

With no great conquests to occupy his lively nature, no public acclaim to satisfy the natural politician in him, he became a sad dichotomy. He loved the finer things in life, demanding the best of everything, yet was frugal and refused to pay for them. Furthermore he alternately indulged himself in luxuries and deprived himself of all but the necessities in emulation of the Spartans. His publicly proclaimed political ambitions grew to new heights, but he developed a truly foul mouth that betrayed his attempts at great oratory, a serious flaw for a prominent Senator. Finally and most tragically, his intellect itself began to deteriorate. Perhaps it was the brooding on opportunities missed, on successes denied, but he became totally ignorant of public affairs and even the world around him. However, this was not a natural-born trait which he was inflicted with against his own will. Make no mistake; his ignorance of affairs in the world around him was the result of his own actions. In the Spring of 261 came the event that must have finally broken this once proud Roman: the death of his youngest son Marcus Laevinus while leading the garrison of Scodra to battle against Macedon. I do not pretend to know the pain of the loss of a son, but it is surely great. The Senate has lost three members in recent years. Two of those members died violently and both were the heirs of Publius Laevinus.

It could not have been easy for this man to see his own ambitions fail while others succeeded. It must have been infinitely harder to see his own family die when the sons of all of his contemporaries continued to live. His descent into isolation and ignorance was certainly understandable, but it did not relieve him of the responsibility of command. He let his personal life overwhelm his duties to Rome and he began to neglect his daily work and make foolish decisions. It was this man that was in charge of Legio III Sicilia Aemilia when the Gauls attacked.

Publius Laevinus in the winter of 261:


We must not forget the other prominent figure who was in a position of leadership in Legio III at that time; though I scarcely believe that is possible after witnessing the most recent events. I do, of course, refer to Manius Aemilius. A recounting of his history is relatively unimportant to this matter, and a brief glimpse will suffice. Needless to say, the eldest son of our current Consul has always been a bit odd. Manius Aemilius developed a rather eccentric personality from the very beginning. Yet, despite his many… peculiarities… the boy became well liked amongst the people, due mainly to the entertaining nature of his own person and his followers. In this capacity he served Rome well as a student and then the governor of Syracuse for many years. Though he did not distinguish himself in any managerial aspect, his tendency to please the people made the Romanization of this large Greek city far smoother than it would otherwise have been.

Despite his flaws, which clearly made him unsuitable for command of a Legion, Manius Aemilius still deserved the right that all good citizens from prominent families have, namely to serve for a short period as a Tribune in a Legion. And so, in the consulship of Tiberius Coruncanius, Manius was transferred from Syracuse to serve in Legio III at the Gallic border. It is important to understand that Manius was sent there purely to gain the prestige that military service can offer to men later in life, and perhaps in the hope that the experience would cure his illnesses. Regardless, it was an insignificant assignment for the Republic and one purely given out of courtesy and propriety.

There was no danger to be had in placing such a man in Legio III. How could there be when the great Publius Laevinus, master of Massilia and guardian of the Ford, was there to oversee all affairs? As we all know, a Tribune serving in a Legion under a Legate does not command except at the will of his superior. Any leadership decisions given to the Tribune are given through the authority of the Legate himself, who assumes direct responsibility for his understudy’s actions.

To be certain, some Tribunes can prove themselves entirely worthy of great responsibilities. In my own experience, I found Amulius Coruncanius to be of exceptional value during the Gallic Expedition and during many a battle he led a force of full Legion strength, operating independently from the main body and out of communication with me. I gave him this great responsibility because I had judged that he was worthy of it. Yet, had Amulius failed in his leadership and had disaster befallen his men as a result, it would have been my own fault for improperly judging the worth of the man and it would have been right to summon me before a court.

It is true that all men are responsible for their own actions and must reap the consequences of their failures. Yet we must not forget the responsibilities of a teacher to a student, of a father to a son. These are the responsibilities which also exist between a Legate and a Tribune when operating in the field. If a boy of 5 years steals a coin from a passerby, do we put him on trial for his crime? No, of course not. We punish the father for failing in his duties to his son. When positions of responsibility over others are taken, the failings of the subordinates are the crimes of their masters. So it has always been and so it was in Legio III at the Massilia Ford.

This brings us at last to the inevitable conclusion. The events that day are clouded with uncertainty. Manius Aemilius has given us an account of things, but Galerius Vatinius has rightly pointed out that his illness makes his statements inconsistent and unreliable. Undoubtedly we will hear a different version of things from Publius Laevinus himself, should he choose to testify and further versions from any other witnesses that are produced. Yet, I assert to you that what occurred there that day, who did what and when, matters not to these proceedings.

As we have discovered by reviewing the pure facts, that evidence known to us to be an absolute truth, there was only unusual aspect in that day’s battle. The Legion itself was in fine condition, the battlefield was well-known and advantageous to the Republic, the Gallic force that opposed them was numerous but below even their meager quality standards, and Drustan of Decetia was no different than any other Gallic general. Citizens, jurors, the only thing that was unusual about that day was the leadership of Legio III Sicilia Aemilia.

It matters not whether Publius Laevinus or Manius Aemilius was in command during the battle. If Publius Laevinus was in command, then he was responsible for his own failures, and thus he is guilty of the charges brought against him. If Manius Aemilius was in command, then Publius Laevinus was responsible for putting a man not fit for leadership of a Legion in charge of the most strategically important spot in the entire Republic. Thus, he is again guilty of the charges brought against him.

That day those sons of Rome found themselves commanded by a bitter, insular man. A man who believed he had missed his opportunity for greatness. His defeats in the Senate, the fading of his brilliance from the public eye and the success of others ate at him. While wars raged elsewhere, he fought a battle within his soul, and lost. That day Legio III Sicilia Aemilia was commanded by a man who had become ignorant of the ways of society and the world. His personal issues clouded his judgment and prevented him from fulfilling his duties to the Republic. Perhaps he retired to Massilia to spend the day brooding on the past or perhaps he commanded the Legion himself. Regardless, he was negligent in his command. His negligence resulted in the near destruction of his Legion. His negligence resulted in the loss of an Eagle of Rome. His negligence opened all of Cisalpine Gaul and even Italy itself to barbarian invasion.

It matters not what form this negligence took. That day at the Massilia Ford, the leadership of Legio III failed in its duties. Publius Laevinus was responsible for all decisions made by all the leaders of Legio III. Therefore it was Publius Laevinus who failed in his duties.

[Braden]

{Decius} - We are clearly seeking to what "Level" of Guilt resides and with whom Senator.

Manius, you may now be seated, we have finished asking you questions at this time. Please refrain from interrupting.

Whilst we await the account of Publius Laevinus, I will submit the testimony of one Marcus Arettius, a Centurion in the....(refers to notes)....Third Cohort of the Legion, who was also the Legions Encampment Centurion on duty.
Baliff, be so good as to usher the officer in please.

A man leaves by a side door and shortly returns with a clearly wounded man. Dour of expression, clearly in physical pain, he still tries to walk at a steady pace. He takes the centre of the room as directed and faces Decius.

{Decius} - You are Marcus Arettius, formally, Centurion of the Third Cohort...Legio III, are you not? I will remind you that you have taken an oath to uphold the laws of the Republic when you took the coin of the Legion...

{Marcus} - Aye, I am him.

{Decius} - Centurion Arettius, please, in your own words, tell the Senators present of the events immediately leading up to and during the fateful day?

{Marcus} - *cough* Sir, yes sir, I will. Twas about half past the hour of three in the afternoon Sir. I was about a quart way into my shift as Encampment Centurion, our perimeter scouts reported in through the gate house....Gatehouse West Sir as I recall. They reported to me as is proceedure but, as dictated any reports or news had to be reported directly to the Tribune so I sent them on their way.

{Decius} - At this time, did anything appear abnormal? I mean, were they aggitated at all?

{Marcus} - Oh, greatly Sir. Hence I sent them off to the Tribune with a guide as fast as possible Sir.

{Decius} - Very good...(makes a note).....do continue.

{Marcus} - (nervously} Ah, yes, well I guess it was but an hour later that I saw the Tribune himself, on horse, leave the camp. Face of fury he had sir, red as Mars himself and just as wrathfull.

{Decius} - did you see the scouts again?

{Marcus} - Sorry, nay sir, they would have had no need or requirement to report to me again after seeing the Tribune.

{Decius} - and you are sure they reported to the Tribune then?

{Marcus} - Aye Sir, the guide reported back to me for re-assignment not 10 minutes after I sent him off with them. He took them direct to the Tribunes tent Sir and saw them enter.

{Decius} - and where is this guide now?

{Marcus} - Sorry to say sir, dead sir.

{Decius} - (almost absently) Pity........erm, do go on.

{Marcus} - so, twas 'bout another 2 hour sir when we heard the Gallic beasts. I was nearing the end of my stag but went to rouse the Tribune but he was not to be found. I set up pickets though and awaited orders...it was then that we managed to alert, as would be for the battle, acting Tribune Aemilius. He told us to....erm....he told, well, I'm afraid he told us that we were not to worry as the wings we had would save us if anything went wrong......beg ya' pard'n Sir but those where the words he used. We was alone Sir, not something we're used to, but tribute to the Legion we got busy and soon got into the automatic routine of fighting.

Pickets were recalled and we broke camp, sorry to report though that the Gauls had reached the river and we were sorely pressed. Still we remembered what we'd done to those scum years back so we just marched in our recognised formations into battle. (laughs to himself) Old Aemilius rode up and down the lines on 'is horse, spouting insults at the Gauls....some that even us vets 'addn't heard of.....did give us some cheer that did....

{Decius} - yesss....so, what column were you in Centurion?

{Marcus} - forth column, left flank. We're 2nd wave in Sir. Anyway, the Gauls had started to cross the river Sir so we did battle. Terrible it was sir, the centre was hit hard and outnumbered and then we went in......(drifts off slightly)....terrible bloody it was....the water was as red as a roof tile with blood sir, we fought on but we was outnumbered and wondered where the third line was.....seems they hadn't moved up yet, being without a Tribune to direct them an 'all, still I did see the acting Tribune charge into combat 'imself with the Gaul heavy cavalry sir, they were flanking us sorely is for sure sir an' he stopped them. Shame was he was outnumbered.

Still we fought on but I could see we was collapsing, I then saw the old guys move in...Eagle raised high....the Triari it was....they waded in with such vigour and courage I was sure they'd turn the fight....but it seems they was too late.

Sorry to say that's all I recall in much detail seeing as I was wounded then and fell in the water.

{Decius} - and, for the Senators benefit, how did you survive?

{Marcus} - seems Jupiter loves me sir, I fell into deep water and was somehow carried downstream a'ways sir. Then a farmer found me and took me to the town where you're man tracked me down, he.......

{Decius} - That is sufficient! Centurion, the Senate need not know futher details of your trip here. Please, you may now return to the infirmary, I see your wounds trouble you greatly.

*the centurion leaves, visibly limping and blood seeping from his new wounds*

{Decius} - Senators, there you have a first hand account, granted a far from complete account but some of what was said is clear and I am greatly interested to hear Publius Laevinus' own account now.

[Lucjan]

Manius seems pleased with himself, a somewhat cocky grin spread from ear to ear. He whispers to the centurion as he passes. "If the pigman was there, we'd have slaughtered those buzzards!"

[econ21]

The testimony of Publius Laevinus

I will not identify myself. This court is full of Romans. They know their Princeps Senatus.

I do not recognise the authority of this court. How can the Princeps Senatus be judged by a lowly spy? I know you, Decius Curtius: you are a deceiver, a manipulator, a man of the shadows. I can think of no one less well qualified to bring light on an important matter of state.

As to the prosecutor, Augustus Verginius: you too, my adopted son, turn against me? After promising on the Senate floor to defend me? You cannot imagine how that hurts, Augustus. Almost as much as my being passed over for First Consul in favour of my own son - and an adopted one at that! I see your ambition has once again got the better of you. Do you wish to receive favours from First Consul Aemilius? Perhaps you plan to run for First Consul after him and he has promised his support in return for wielding the knife against his old rival? Or is this a coup d’etat and you are impatient being designated the future Princeps Senatus and wish to usurp my position now?

The court has seen fit to appoint Galerius Vatinus as my lawyer. He is still but a child! How can he possibly defend a man like me? He is a good child and one I feel some affection for given his wish to aid me, but a child nonetheless. He can no more defend me than a mouse can defend a lion.

On the substance of the charges against me, I was reading an old transcript of Senate proceedings and came across the following words that seem pertinent here:

We are no longer fighting to keep our country alive. Even if we lose a major battle then what? We lose a province or two in Africa or Gaul at most. Oh no. Pyrrhus is no longer at our doorstep. A defeat is now only a minor setback instead of a death sentence. We as a whole must learn to accept that military defeats will occure because we have reached a point in our growth where a defeat is not nearly so serious as it once was.

These words, which I spoke to the Senate over a decade ago, now seem prophetic. Listen to the prosecutor: he does not need to know what happened at the ford, I am guilty regardless. Whether traitors led the Gauls across the ford at the night or whether I slept through the battle, it matters not to him. Merely to lose a battle is a crime in itself.

Romans, this is a witch hunt, an outrage! We lose a single battle and suddenly prominent Romans are thrown on trial. Gentlemen - this is war. In war, sometimes you may lose a battle! Have we become so complacent that we have forgotten that truth?! What was the outcome of our defeat at Masilia ford? Nothing. We did not even lose the settlement. Indeed, the Gauls did not cross - they retired. The Iberians then helpfully assumed our duty of guarding the ford and prevented the Gauls from crossing even if they ever intended to.

Gentlemen of the court, you act as if a Roman defeat is unprecedented. Under our present First Consul, Lucius Aemilius, we lost an entire settlement, Aleria, to the Carthaginians. Was he put on trial? Was he censored? Was even an angry voice raised against him in the Senate? No, he was elected for an unprecedented second term! And rightly so, because such things happen in war and the loss of Aleria was not his fault. Even my prosecutor, Augustus Verginius, presided over the debacle at Apollonia, where Quintus was trapped and defeated by Greeks.

Romans, you know me! You know my worth - what I have done for Rome. The prosecutor has laid out my record well enough. At the very Massilia ford in the Autumn of 270, I defeated an army of 1800 Gauls with a mere 500 Romans. We killed nearly every last Gaul for the loss of only 100 of our own. I challenge any man in the Senate to match that achievement! Can I man not make one mistake? Not err once without being thrown in the dock?

Senators, look at yourselves! Have you no shame? Put an end to this absurd trial now!

[econ21]

[SENATE SPEAKER]: The prosecution may now submit any questions it has for the defendant. The defendant has asked for a brief recess due to fatigure and will return tomorrow to address any matters arising from his testimony.

[TinCow]

I certainly felt guilt at the notion of becoming Prosecutor, but I did it in the name of the Republic, setting aside my own personal feelings. What I have heard here today makes me glad I chose as I did. Publius Laevinus has shown us who he truly is, a paranoid, self-pitying man who is ignorant of the world. He believes the event which brought us here was nothing more than a simple mistake of no importance to the Republic.

Yes, I have questions.

1) Considering that Legio III was fully manned, the battlefield entirely in your favor, the Gallic army unremarkable, the Gallic general an unimpressive foe, and the SIX previous Roman victories under those exact same conditions, what excuse do you believe makes your loss as justifiable as those of Aleria and Apollonia?

2) Were you aware that, following your defeat, the Gauls could have easily slaughtered the remanants of your Legion, taken Massilia and crossed the Alps unopposed?

3) Do you always trust that Rome's enemies will not exploit their successes?

4) Are you aware that your defeat has stretched the Republic's armies so thin that a Student is now the only general capable of defending Cisalpine Gaul and all of Italy and that all of Legio II is being transferred from Macedon to ensure the safety of Rome itself?

5) Do you consider the near total destruction of a Legion to be a minor defeat?

6) Do you consider the loss of an Eagle to be an insignificant matter?

7) Do you believe that Manius Aemilius is fit to command a Legion?

[Dooz]

{Galerius Vatinius}

Senators, I... resign my duties as defense counsil for Publius Laevinus in light of recent statements. My apologies for an inadequate showing... I suppose this Republic still believes that age is the ultimate divider. Or perhaps I just misjudged Publius based of his former glory. I didn't think such change was possible in such a short amount of time, but prosecutor Verginius has compelled me otherwise. I thank you for this opportunity as a young student I was given.

[econ21]

[Publius Laevinus]: Yes, run along, little Vatinius, I think I hear your tutor calling you in for lessons. Your break time must have ended. And don't forget to blow raspberries in the Senate and shout "I told you so!" as you go. This is a fine set-up: the man who volunteers for my defence becomes the prosecutor and the child assigned to replace him becomes his monkey!

To address the prosecutor's questions:

1) Considering that Legio III was fully manned, the battlefield entirely in your favor, the Gallic army unremarkable, the Gallic general an unimpressive foe, and the SIX previous Roman victories under those exact same conditions, what excuse do you believe makes your loss as justifiable as those of Aleria and Apollonia?

Sorry, was that a question? I thought it was another of your interminable speeches. Is this how you brought down the Gauls, Augustus, by making them listen to you talk?

2) Were you aware that, following your defeat, the Gauls could have easily slaughtered the remanants of your Legion, taken Massilia and crossed the Alps unopposed?

Could have being the operative word. Just as the Carthagainians could return in force to Sicily or any of the outlying islands and seize them virtually unopposed. You cannot convict a man for a "could have"...

3) Do you always trust that Rome's enemies will not exploit their successes?

Rome's enemies sometimes seem predictable by comparison with her so-called servants. But no, in war, one never trusts the enemy to do anything. One makes contingencies and is prepared.

4) Are you aware that your defeat has stretched the Republic's armies so thin that a Student is now the only general capable of defending Cisalpine Gaul and all of Italy and that all of Legio II is being transferred from Macedon to ensure the safety of Rome itself?

No, that is not I, Verginius, that is successive First Consuls who have wished to wage war on the cheap, using light forces and instead accumulate wasteful surpluses. Surpluses that you applaud, Augustus, and indeed legislated for. This tendency was particularly marked under the last First Consul and I fear we are seeing the chickens come home to roost under the present one.

5) Do you consider the near total destruction of a Legion to be a minor defeat?

When the history of the Republic is finished, that episode will register as little more than a blip. I would have said that, if nothing worse happens, the Republic would indeed be blessed. But I have heard the sad news of the destruction of the First Consular Army and do not need to make the point.

6) Do you consider the loss of an Eagle to be an insignificant matter?

It is but a symbol. And one might even say that, since such symbols mean so much to the common folk, they will fight all the more enthusiastically to retrieve it.

7) Do you believe that Manius Aemilius is fit to command a Legion?

Any tribune must be fit to command a Legion in the absence of his Legate. If that man is unfit, the fault lies with the First Consuls who assigned him to darken my tent in the first place.

[Death the destroyer of worlds]

Senators,

I did not intend to interfere with this trial unless asked, but I feel forced to speak.

I am frankly horrified by the attitude displayed by my old friend Publius Laevinius. His comments about the legionary eagle

It is but a symbol. And one might even say that, since such symbols mean so much to the common folk, they will fight all the more enthusiastically to retrieve it.

fill me with revulsion of this heinous blasphemer ! *Spits on the senate floor in front of Publius Laevinius*

No wonder we were defeated at Massilia ! With his disrespective attitude to the Gods, it is no wonder our nation is now cursed by ill fortune due to loss of the sacred legionary eagle. I lay the defeat of our Consular Army I and the loss of so many men, including my good friend, the co-consul Amulius Coruncanius, at your doorstep !

As one of few men, I had volunteered to speak up in your defense, because of friendship earned in battle long ago. I now declare our friendship void and my support withdrawn. Furthermore, as long as I have the power to do so, you will not have command of a military force ever again.

* points finger at Publius Laevinius *

I can see the way this is going. You will try to pin your guilt on my son, Manius Aemilius, who is not so mentally skilled as to be able to withstand your thin-veiled allegations. Beware, I say, the Aemilii are watching. Acknowledge your guilt or may the Gods send down their furies on you !

* Angryly storms out of the senate to return to his command staff *

[TinCow]

With the destruction of Consular I Army and the death of the Pro-Consul, it is clear that Publius Laevinus has brought down the wrath of Romulus himself upon us. Let us continue this trial with haste, that justice may be done and at least some measure of appeasement may be given to the Divine Founder. We cannot wipe away the stain which he has inflicted upon us until the Eagle is restored, but perhaps this action will at least grant us the favor of time before yet another demonstration of the Gods displeasure is required!

[Lucjan]

*Servius stands, a long stare given to senator Laevinius*

I stand firm with my grandfather's opinion in this matter senator...whatever the outcome of this case, you will forever be condemned in my eyes. The Aemilii will always be watching senator. If it is the last honorable deed you ever do, admit your guilt and accept your punishment for such blatant negligence of your legion.

[econ21]

A finely dressed woman walks purposefully into the court room. Eyebrows are raised and mutters heard - a Senate hearing is no place for a woman! But she looks straight ahead and makes for the centre of the court, in front of the judge. Court ushers move to intercept her, but she ignores their guestures and they are reluctant to lay a hand on a woman of such high breeding.

POPPAEA LAEVINUS: Stop this now! I will tell you everything you wish to know! The fall of Jenuensis to the Gauls is the end. The Laevinus family can take no more shame. I will make a full accounting for its misdeeds, I swear by all the gods. The prosecutor, Augustus Verginius, is away doing battle at Jenuensis. When he is done, I will give my testimony and the court may pass its verdict on my husband. And may Rome have mercy upon my family.

[econ21]

The testimony of Poppaea Laevinus

Now that the prosecutor, Augustus Verginius, has brought some partial redemption of Roman honour by retaking Jenuensis, I can lift my head up enough to make this testimony.

Manius was not always mad, you know. As a younger man, his extravagant lifestyle appeared rake-ish and carefree. His volubility and loquaciousness added to his charm. Where Publius was stern and unyielding in his discipline and his ambition, Manius took the time to enjoy life and the company of others.

The dishonour the fall of Massilia brought Rome is not primarily Manius's or that of my husband Publius, it is mine. As a young woman, I strayed. Even though I was married to Publius, my heart wandered and for a time I believe I loved Manius. This shameful secret had to be concealed at all costs. Manius was Publius's Tribune - and even his supposed friend. I sometimes wonder if the burden of keeping the secret helped push Manius over the edge.

But when Manius did descend into the strange darkness of his current state of mind, the secret was not safe. For all his ravings, Manius could sometimes let slip truths that were plain for all to see, if only they could look past his hootings and his deranged demeanour. Indeed, much of the testimony he has given you in this court is the truth. He fought bravely at Massilia Ford. He slew many Gauls in hand to hand combat and fell, badly wounded, being left for dead on the field. He led the Legion to the best of his, limited, abilities and cannot be faulted for what he did that day.

Yes, Manius can tell the truth. And it was only a matter of time before the truth about our past liaison came to light in front of my austere husband. But it was in the timing of that revelation that the gods were most cruel. Just as the Gauls were stealthily approaching the Massilia ford, Manius and Publius got into a bitter argument. Manius now despised his old friend. Although insanity had robbed him both of his feelings for me and even his memory of them, they still left him with a lurking distaste for and resentment towards my husband. For his part, Publius could not cope with Manius's insanity. Publius he is not a man to bear fools lightly at the best of times. Being assigned such a Tribune was something he took as yet another slight against him by the men who had repeatedly defeated him in elections for First Consul. On that fateful day, in the heat of their argument, my past relationship with Manius was revealed. Manius fled our villa and rode to the camp, while Publius sought me out and confronted me.

So it came to be that when messengers arrived at the camp, bringing news of the arrival of the Gauls at Massilia ford, it was Manius who was there to respond to them. He did not send word to Publius and under his desultory command, the men were only slowly organised for battle. By the time, they arrived at the ford, the Gauls were already across. Instead of a simple river defence, the battle became a confused meeting engagement, with the balance of advantage swinging this way and that, until the superior numbers of the Gauls finally told and my disgrace became Rome's.

And so I come to my husband's guilt. Publius is a proud man, but an honest one. In his testimony, he sought to distract and frustrate the court so that our private shame would not come to light. But things have gone too far and I speak now with his blessing. He heard the call of battle. He knew Manius was in command of the legion and probably in far over his head. But in his anger and in his fury, he refused to ride to the ford. Perhaps in his rage, he even hoped Manius would fall to the Gauls. The shame of this inaction has haunted him ever since. By my confessing it fully, we hope to atone by accepting whatever punishment the Senate deems fit.

[Death the destroyer of worlds]

It pleases me greatly to see my son Manius Aemilius publicly acquitted of wrongdoing. What he might be lacking in leadership skills, which Publius Laevinius failed to provide to his everlasting shame, he makes up for in bravery on the field. I therefore ask our praetor, Decius Curtius, to release him from prosecution or giving further evidence (to all our relief) so he can resume his military career.

[Lucjan]

This is what we have been trying to say to the senate all along, clearly, with Publius's own wife testifying that he refused to ride to the ford and take command, my father's innocence is proven.

[TinCow]

This is a sad set of circumstances which brings a wife to testify against her husband. A woman publicly declares that her husband is a cuckold, of a madman no less, and simultaneously betrays him in a court of law. Were she not my own mother-in-law, I would be sorely tempted to flog her and banish her from the Republic. These are the acts of a traitorous dog which cares nothing for family honor nor Roman duty.

Regardless, she is not on trial here, though I would willingly support such an act if someone chose to bring it. The fact that Publius Laevinus was overcome with emotion does not excuse the negligent decisions that have brought us here! There are certain standards of Roman manhood that are expected of all citizens. Higher still are those of patrician families. Foremost amongst the patricians, the Senators are held to an exceptional level of conduct in public affairs. Yet, for all of this, the Princeps Senatus is the man who should be the symbol to us all of proper Roman behavior. Perhaps the circumstances could excuse Publius Laevinus if he were a plebian, but it only makes his crime more serious due to his supreme position.

Let the jury decide the verdict. Let the Praetor determine the punishment. Let this disgrace to the Republic be over so that we may cleanse ourselves of this filth.

[Braden]

Decius enters the chambers, accompanied by his “shady” retainer. He carries several scrolls.

“Senators of this hearing, it now falls to me to summarise what has occurred here, to shed light on what happed at the fateful battle and to recommend punishments for those involved.

To this end I present to you this thesis on the battle, after which I will summarise my findings against each defendant.

It is clear from our findings that the Legion was effectively leaderless and did not deploy in sufficient time to meet the Gauls.

The Gauls attacked in primary two waves. Whilst the Legion could not hope to reach the first wave in time it appears that Manius plunged forward alone and unsupported.

His infantry far behind him he engaged and broke the first few units of the enemy. However, he was swiftly surrounded and deep within the Gallic warriors, but for the timely intervention of the infantry would have fallen there. With their aid the first wave was sent back across the ford. We must note that this was a rash act though essential in order to prevent a much earlier loss.

During this, a full half of the Gallic forces remains on the opposite side of the bank awaiting the result of this initial clash.

The Legio does not pursue the routing first wave and stoutly remains in place to receive the now advancing second wave. The full mass of Gauls throw themselves against the Legio’s centre whilst the Gallic General attempts to outflank them.

To his credit, Manius again throws his own men into the fray but this time outnumbered against the Gallic General. The battle hangs in the balance at this point and the Legio’s centre is heavily pressed.

A unit of mercenary slingers rush to support Manius in his struggle but shortly afterwards Manius retreats from the Gallic General leaving the slingers to perish. There is no escape for Manius this time however as his remaining few horses are chased down and Manius himself is unseated and left for dead.

The Gallic general now turns his attention to the Legio’s hard pressed centre and charges in. I have noted that at this juncture in the battle there was a full Cohort of Princeps who had not been committed into combat. Perhaps their earlier intervention could have swung the balance significantly.

Soon the remaining forces engaged are the brave and seasoned Triarii but as they also guard the Legio’s Eagle they finally decided to try and save this icon. At this point is when the Princeps join battle in order to buy time for the Triarii to make good their retreat. However, the Princeps are vastly outnumbered and have no chance. Their obvious bravery leads to the remainder of the Legio to re-group and re-enter the battle……in hindsight a quite inept tactical move but understandable given the circumstances.

They are outnumbered and shaken and when finally the Princeps are destroyed they take flight. The remaining Triarii are cut down by the Gallic General himself and the Eagle taken.

Senators, I have surmised that IF there had been effective leadership that day we would have certainly had victory and it is on this basis that I file the following summary to the Senate on the defendants.

Manius. I officially find him utterly insane by any standards and certainly unfit for any positions or tasks that require rational judgement, also due to this I can only fail to apportion blame to him for the loss of the Legio Eagle. From this point I strongly recommend that he is removed of any military command, I would also recommend he spend a sojourn in our best Academies in the hope that the rigour and teaching thereof can calm his confused mind and steady his sensibilities.

On Senator Publius Laevinus; I cannot fail to reach the following judgement….he is Guilty of Gross Misconduct and Dereliction of Duty to the Republic of Roma. I must ignore any personal reasons he might have had to leave a Legion, his Legion, in the hands of a mad-man for any period of time for when someone is a serving member of the Republics armed forces it is their Duty to the Republic that comes first. Beyond anything, including self and family. I will appraise the Senate of my recommended punishments separately and leave it to the Senate to finally decide his fate.

Now, I find it comes to me of the sad duty of passing a judgement against a woman. Poppaea Laevinus. I have no option but to find her conduct implicit in the fate of the Legio Eagle, though she could not have forseen this. Such conduct is utterly unfitting of a woman of nobility! Yet, my options for punishing her heinous transgressions are limited. Ultimately, such punishments are the prerogative of the husband and do not exclude Poppaea’s putting to death by Publius. Suffice to say that any punishment meated out to Publius will also be granted to Poppaea, should Publius choose not to divorce her."

Decius, rises, bows to the Senate and leaves.