[Multi-AAR] - History of men - EB part [Archive]

Fixiwee

08-13-2009, 19:47

Diplomacy is the art of saying "Nice doggie" until you can find a rock.

-Will Rogers

First punic war

The Roman Empire, by Wolfgang Schreier, Bonn 2003

With Pyrrhus gone from Italy, the Romans were exhausted from a century of war, after facing a total of five wars against the Samnites. But the war was not completely over yet, Pyrrhus left a small garrison at Tarrentum, but otherwise he did not support his Oscan allies. The Oscans raided the the southern Roman border, but that seemed to prove counterproductive. In 271 BC a consular army Lucius Quincitus Caudinus marched on Tarentum itself and stormed the city after a brief siege.

https://i583.photobucket.com/albums/ss273/Fixiwee/272.jpg
Rome in the winter 272 BC. A Oscan raiding band can be seen atacking Campania.

https://i583.photobucket.com/albums/ss273/Fixiwee/Tarentum1.jpg
Consul L. Quintus Caudinus is ready to take the city by force.

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Bruttian Infantry from Calabria played an important role in taking of the Tarentum.

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The fightings in the city were unlike for antiquity, but from time to time street fighting like here occured.

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Roman cavalry securing a small alley conecting two major routes. Much fighting took place in small groups in small alleys like this one.

A Roman envoy reached Epirus the next year and made a final peace treaty that settled the south Italy as a Roman sphere of influence. In conclusion the Romans lost most of the battles against Epirus, but nevertheless won the war.

The following year, 269 BC, the Romans had one last problem to deal with in south Italy. During the 4th Samnite war Rhegion, modern-day Reggio Calabria, was garrisoned with Campanian and Roman troops who declared their independence from Rome. The Roman senate did not respond well to that kind of mutiny and sent an army to the city which was besieged more then a year and starved to submission. While the city it self was preserved from looting and destruction some 300 captured Roman renegades were beheaded on the Roman forum.

https://i583.photobucket.com/albums/ss273/Fixiwee/Rhegion.jpg
Rome besieging Rhegion. The city was well fortified by experienced soldiers. It took the Romans over a year to take it, and that only by starving the city to submission

Now the Romans had all the land they could possibly use for their own needs and most Roman citizen and senators agreed that the last wars were long and bloody and that Rome needed some rest. But that would not happen.

The situation in Greece:
https://i583.photobucket.com/albums/ss273/Fixiwee/Greece1.jpg

In Greece the new Epirote king Alexander II defeated the Macedons under King Antigonos Argeades in 258BC and gained the city of Pella. In the meanwhile the Macedons, though weakend, were not idle and pressed against Athens and caputred it in 256 BC. Attempts to take Sparta failed.

Silanos – Historiai
(written about 130 BC)

Who is Silanos?
https://i583.photobucket.com/albums/ss273/Fixiwee/Silanos.jpg
Silanos was a greek historian who lived from 200BC to 120 BC. He came to Rome [under reasons that have not happend yet - this will be edited]. His account on the Roman history are of high value since he followed the pragmatic histiography like Demosthnes of Ancyle (https://forums.totalwar.org/vb/showpost.php?p=2241246&postcount=13).

Book IV
[…] In the year that M. Atilius Flaccus and D. Iunius Caudex were consuls [264BC] the Mamertine, which means “Son of Mars”, mercenary captain Ennychos from Messana in Sicily started raiding the Bruttium [modern Calabria] coast with small ships, ignoring the fact that there was still a consular army stationed in Rhegion. It is hard to reconstruct the reason for Ennychos brutal attacks. Possibly he was trying to achieve more wealth to fight of his main enemy, Hieros from Syracuse. Nevertheless it is very likely that Ennychos was looking for a quick way to get his hands on some booty, being unaware that he would start a war between two other nations.
The Romans on the other hand were hoping that the problem would go away by itself, doing nothing at first. The following year Ennychos repeated his attacks once more and the Roman senators grew weary by the raids. What happened then was changing history significantly so it is most important to describe the details in length here.
The Romans had a long history of a friendly relationship with the Carthaginians, both sides traded vividly with each other and in some cases Carthage even sent the Roman military aid, for example during the war with Pyrrhus (source: Kalisthos of Syrakousai). However the diplomatic contact of both city-states was rather weak and both powers missed the important chance to talk about the sphere of influence in Sicily. Not at one point either of the states declared a border to the other. From this perspective the Punic war might be seen as a simple mistake, but there is also something deeper then this.
Growing tired of Ennychos the Roman senate debated over the possible actions. But being stressed out from the numerous wars with the Samnites and the Oscans, and possibly also being aware of the danger about leading an army to Sicily many Senators under the lead of L. Cornelius Arvina, spoke out against taking action to Messana, but rather fortify Bruttium with Roman colonies to annihilate Ennychos. The senators could not agree on this matter so they decided to let the Comitia have a decision over the matter. The voters of popular assembly also showed hesitation for they also thought that Rome needed rest from the wars, but eventually the opinion was swayed by the idea to lead a consular army to Sicily and swiftly gain booty and wealth. This was seen as a simple military expedition without aim to gain permanent hold on the island itself, something Carthage didn't know. Next year the army was lead by the consul C. Fabius Caudex, with him was a man called L. Conerlius Scipio, who I will talk later in greater detail.

https://i583.photobucket.com/albums/ss273/Fixiwee/Rhegion2.jpg
Raids by Messana as described by Fabius.

A history of Rome, by Prof Alfred Kennard, 2002 New York

The consular army that crossed the strait of Messina in 262 was lead by Consul C. Fabius Caudex. This act would ultimately lead to war with Carthage, since a small band of Carthaginian troops were stationed close to Messina and violence broke out when Roman scouts reached the Carthaginian outpost. It is hard to tell if that event was intentionally used as a reason for both sides to wage war against each other or if the whole act was accidental. It is not unlikely though that a diplomatic solution could have been achieved. The Carthaginian could have had Messina, while the Romans would have controlled the straight of Messina which seemed to be the key of the conflict.

Ennychos was dealt quickly with. The citizen of Messina had enough of Ennychos reign of terror and opened the gates to the consular army. The mercenary captain did not surrender and barricaded himself in the inner city. It took two days of fighting after which about 2000 Roman troops and 800 Mamertines were killed in the struggle.
With the open conflict that emerged against Carthage the Roman senate decided to hold Messina, since they didn’t want to let the city fall into enemy hands.
Despite the open conflict both sides hesitated with attacking the other for the first few years and the first phase consisted of very minor skirmishes and mostly shadow boxing. Oddly enough there were no diplomatic talks; both Fabius and Silanos confirm that.
In 258 BC the Romans were able to gain the support of Syracuse, leaving Hieros in office, who joined an alliance with Rome, sending money and troops for their cause. Two years later, L. Cornelius Scipio was elected Praetor, which was significant for the war since he was sent to Sicily to organise Roman rule on the island.

https://i583.photobucket.com/albums/ss273/Fixiwee/256.jpg
Carthaginian troops land on Sicily in the winter of 256. The following year the Romans would also strenghten up their forces.

In the following year, 255 BC, both sides built up their forces and a massive clash of war seemed to become inevitable. The Carthaginians had two armies stationed on Sicily lead by Hamalcar the Elder and his son Hamalcar the Younger. The Roman consular army started campaigning in the west of Sicily, but Hamalcar the Elder tried to wear out Roman supply and resources, thus avoiding direct confrontation. It wasn’t until 254 BC when the consul L. Valerius Maximus marched on Lilibeo, the most important city on Sicily, so that Hamalcar the Elder decided to attack the Romans.

What followed was one of the bloodiest battles of the war. […]

Azathoth

08-13-2009, 20:53

Holy ****.

Olaf Blackeyes

08-14-2009, 04:17

Hmmmm.... it seems that Multi-game AARs are much more common than i thought. Yeah....crap.
But anyways AWESOME Alt His TL.:2thumbsup:

Fixiwee

08-14-2009, 10:39

Hmmmm.... it seems that Multi-game AARs are much more common than i thought. Yeah....crap.
But anyways AWESOME Alt His TL.:2thumbsup:

You said I should write an AAR about it way back:
https://forums.totalwar.org/vb/showthread.php?t=111244

;)

Horatius Flaccus

08-14-2009, 19:29

Great, I'll be following this one!

Fixiwee

08-20-2009, 18:03

“When soldiers have been baptized in the fire of a battle-field, they have all one rank in my eyes.”
-Napoleon

Battles of history with Patrick Goodwin

Battle of Mazana 254 BC

Who is Patrick Goodwin?
Patrick Goodwin is a renown BBC anchorman who has worked with the station for over 40 years. He is famous for his political and historic works. Goodwin currently works at a new series "Battles of history" which brings important and infamous engagements back to life.
https://i583.photobucket.com/albums/ss273/Fixiwee/old_man.jpg

Goodwin: In the middle of the 3rd century BC the Roman republic was at war with the Carthage. The reason for this war was a conflict for the Mediterranean Sea around Sicily. But when the war started in 262 BC nothing happened at first. The Romans did not use their superior land forces to secure the Island, and the Carthaginians at the same time did not use their fleet to cut the Roman supply from the mainland with their fleet. But a few years later both sides bolstered up their troops on Sicily. The Roman Senate decided to send a consul under the name Lucius Valerius Maximus in the year 254 BC with two consular armies and allies to secure the Island with a deceive blow against the Carthaginian army. We asked Alfred Kennard, a university professor from the University of New York about the reasons that lead to the Battle of Mazana.

Alfred Kennard

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Kennard [sitting in his office]: The first Punic war is actually quite a mystery for modern historians. We do not know the exact reasons why this war started. We have no clear aggressor; Rome had acquired all the land it needed to feed its population in the last wars. Land grabbing for reasons of trade cannot have been a reason either, Rome was no trading state and there were no merchants that influenced politics yet. Also Sicily was not the Mediterranean granary it would later become, so the strategic importance of Sicily was not a priority either. I personally believe this war was an accident and the lack of communication techniques, unlike today, made it impossible to find a compromise. As the war went on, for Rome this was simply a war to keep Carthage away from the mainland.

Goodwin: In the year 254 BC the Roman consul Lucius Valerius Maximus was campaigning in Sicily. The enemy army was commanded by two people, Hamalcar the Younger and Hamalcar the Elder, father and son. Both were Carthaginian generals that brought mercenary troops from Africa, Spain and Sicilian Greek. When Maximus reached Lilibeo, an important stronghold for Carthage, father and son decided to lay a trap for the Roman consul. Hamalcar the Elder was a seasoned and experienced military leader who had fought with much success on other Carthaginian borders and his soon showed much potential to reach his glory.

[Both father and sun sitting on a horse near a cliff that overlooks the area to Lilbeo and the sea.]
https://i583.photobucket.com/albums/ss273/Fixiwee/HamalcarY.jpg https://i583.photobucket.com/albums/ss273/Fixiwee/HamalcarE.jpg

From left to right: Hamalcar the Elder, Hamalcar the Younger

Father: We have evaded the Romans for long enough, Maximus troops are now close enough. The key to our victory is that we have a superior number of troops, elephants and a sacred band from our mother, the city of Carthage. Son, I know that you are eager to show your will to fight in battle, but I need you to stay in reserve and wait for my signal.
Son: But father, I need to show my troops that I am able to lead them to battle. I can’t go on like that for ever.
Father: Silence! I will not have you question my command. I will charge you with treason if you do not obey my orders to the point. Did I make myself clear?
Son: Yes my leader.

Goodwin: The following day Carthaginian troops marched against the Roman camp, Maximus orders them to order up in a tight formation.

https://i583.photobucket.com/albums/ss273/Fixiwee/Maximus.jpg
Maximus: Listen up my fellow Legates. My plan is to fight in a tight formation - let our army be a "Phalanx" so that Hamalcar will burst asunder with his troops . This way we can balance the large army the enemy has brought before us. Nothing can stop us now.

Goodwin: Both sides were ready and prepared for battle. The Romans had about 30.000 troops, while the Carthaginians had about 40.000 men.

https://i583.photobucket.com/albums/ss273/Fixiwee/Lill01.jpg

The roman troops were waiting eagerly for the Carthaginians to arrive. Maximus was hardly an experienced general, but the Romans feared the Carthaginian power and were willing to stick with Maximus. Ancient historian Fabius tells us:
The soldiers of every rank were looking at the troops marching towards them; they had brought many man and fierce elephants. Unlike Hamalcar the Elder - Maximus was not a really good leader. He had only achieved the office because his family connections with the Senate and he wanted prove his worth as a leader. But besides that the Romans were loyal to him, because nevertheless he was a kind and forgiving man.

https://i583.photobucket.com/albums/ss273/Fixiwee/Lill02.jpg

Goodwin: In the late morning the battle is a bout to begin, the mood is tense on both sides. This battle could determine the winner of Sicily.

https://i583.photobucket.com/albums/ss273/Fixiwee/Lill03.jpg

Goodwin: The Romans have formed up in a good position, but the Carthaginians have a terrible weapon that can strike fear into any soldier; the war-trained Elephant.

https://i583.photobucket.com/albums/ss273/Fixiwee/Lill04.jpg

Kennard: The Romans did not face Elephants for the first time. Pyrrhus, when he attacked Italy some 30 years earlier, he also brought Elephants with him. Nevertheless the sight of Elephants was a terrifying one, and the Romans had not yet developed any tactic to counter this ancient battle tank.

https://i583.photobucket.com/albums/ss273/Fixiwee/Lill05.jpg

Goodwin: When the scouts confirmed sighting of Elephants the Roman soldiers became worried. It takes a lot to bring down an African Elephant. The only hope was that the beasts would panic when wounded and run away.

https://i583.photobucket.com/albums/ss273/Fixiwee/Lill06.jpg

Goodwin: About 150 feet from the enemy, the Cartheginians start to charge with war cries, while the Romans throw their pila, a roman javelin onto the soldiers.

https://i583.photobucket.com/albums/ss273/Fixiwee/Lill07.jpg

Seconds later the Carthaginian cavalry also charges into the Roman line. The impact is overwhelming, the Romans get to feel all the military power of Carthage. But the most important attack happens on the left flank of the Roman side.

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The Elephants attack the left flank and are about to annihilate it. This is a dangerous moment for Maximus. He orders his most experienced soldiers to secure the left flank, the Triarii.

https://i583.photobucket.com/albums/ss273/Fixiwee/Lill10.jpg

But even with the Triarii trying to secure the situation the Carthaginians are about to crush the left flank and the Romans are endangered to be encircled.

https://i583.photobucket.com/albums/ss273/Fixiwee/Lill09.jpg

Meanwhile heavy fighting occurs in the centre and at the right flank. Cost of man is high on both sides and the battle proves to be a terribly acrimonious one.

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Moments later Hamalcar the Younger sends his troops to battle, after his father sent the signal. He hid his army, about 10,000 people in the nearby woods.

https://i583.photobucket.com/albums/ss273/Fixiwee/Lill14.jpg

In the centre the death toll rises, brutal hand to hand fighting that cost lives on both sides. Here Roman Hastati, the light infantry, faces the Sacred Band, a Carthaginian elite force.

https://i583.photobucket.com/albums/ss273/Fixiwee/Lill15.jpg

The Romans cannot break through such a well organized attacker, so they sent their cavalry to encircle the sacred band. But this move leads to a crack in the left roman flank. Allthough the Romans were able to panic the Elephants under severe costs of their own men, the left flank is finally about to break away.

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[Maximus sitting on his horse, a military legate is aproaching him.]

Sir, the enemy is outflanking us and we will most likely become encircled. What are your orders?
I… I don’t know?
Sir! The men need your orders least we all get slaughtered.
We… Prepare my man to charge the flanking enemy immediately.

Kennard: What Maximus intended next was called the devotion, a self-sacrifice or suicide for the greater cause of Rome. With this act he wanted to restore faith in his man to fight to the last man.

Maximus charges into the flanking enemy to the surprise of the Carthaginians. There he is lethally wounded by an enemy spear. Word of his suicide for the cause of Rome, restoring his name as a general inspired his troops who were about to loose heart.

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The Principes, the standard soldier of the Roman army, rally and form a line of defence to hold up the advancing enemy.

https://i583.photobucket.com/albums/ss273/Fixiwee/Lill20.jpg

The Carthaginians were not able to completely encircle the Romans and now faced a foe that was willing to make a final stand in this position. The hours went on, and the fighting was still grim and fierce. Dead bodies lying everywhere, wounded screaming for help and some thousand man on both sides still fighting and trying to win.
Hamalcar the Elder is now in a difficult position. He fears that the Romans are to determined to win, so he orders that he will personally attack with his unit of heavy horses and break the spirit.

Hamalcar the Elder: Our cavalry is the needs to break the Roman spirit. We need to push hard, constantly charging the enemy. We can break the spirit, I know it. Ba’al give me strength.

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Hamalcars charge did not have the effect he sought. The Romans still stand and fight. Fabius tells us about this particular moment:
But the Roman soldiers were enraged, willing to fight to the death. The spirit of Mars was firing up their will to give all and everything. When Hamalcar charged Roman soldiers were screaming everywhere: Kill that pig! Get him! It was that moment when Hamalcar realized what a terrible mistake he did.

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Hamalcar the Elder was quickly surrounded and dragged of his horse. He was dead minutes later. But now the Carthaginians were also furious by the death of the leader and fighting continued for hours. The whole field was filled with dead. In the afternoon about ¾ of each army was either dead or wounded.

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During the late afternoon the Carthaginian flanking force was stopped and routed, the centre-force was still fighting by all means necessary. The Sacred Band was fighting fiercely and the Romans were not able to break through their Phalanx formation.

https://i583.photobucket.com/albums/ss273/Fixiwee/Lill24.jpg

It was already becoming night and the troops ceased fighting because of the dark. Zones of battles disintegrated and both sides returned to their camps. The following morning both sides were utterly weakened and retreated. The battle of Mazana ended indecisively as a draw. The Romans brought about 30,000 troops and at the end of the day only 6,500 were left, thus loosing about 23,500 men. Carthage brought about 40,000 men to the battle, at the end of the day they only had 6,000 left, thus loosing 34,000 men.

One might think that the Romans won statistically, but that is not correct: The Romans had to retreat from western Sicily, while Carthage was able to hold their ground.

Kennard: This remarkable yet terribly brutal battle marked the beginning of a new phase in the battle of Sicily. One might think that the Romans won statistically, but that is not correct: The Romans had to retreat from western Sicily, while Carthage was able to hold their ground.
Now both sides had shown what they are worth in battle. From a military point of view this battle changed little. No tactics were changed afterwards, nor did the battle determine a shift of power. This bloody battle only cost a lot of lives and radicalized the Punic war.

Now it was clear, the battle for Sicily would need to be fought with any needs necessary.

penguinking

08-21-2009, 06:20

Very good update.

Rome should break the deadlock by building a fleet and invading North Africa. It never fails.

Minor nitpick:

The battle of Mazana ended indecisively as a draw. The Romans brought about 30,000 troops and at the end of the day only 6,500 were left, thus losing about 13,500 men. [/COLOR]Carthage brought about 40,000 men to the battle, at the end of the day they only had 6,000 left, thus losing 34,000 men.

That should be 23,500 Roman casualties.

Fixiwee

08-21-2009, 10:42

That should be 23,500 Roman casualties.
Oh, that's the reason I studied history and not mathematics. Cheers. ;)

gamegeek2

08-29-2009, 16:13

You should definitely mod your DMB to give the Carthies two-handed lance sacred band horsemen. It looks awesome. I can detail this if you're interested...

A Terribly Harmful Name

08-29-2009, 17:18

By the way, what battle formations mod you're using? I liked your Roman deployment.

Fixiwee

09-01-2009, 15:03

You should definitely mod your DMB to give the Carthies two-handed lance sacred band horsemen. It looks awesome. I can detail this if you're interested...
Well, sounds interessting, but is it realistic?

By the way, what battle formations mod you're using? I liked your Roman deployment.
Well I only use alex.exe, I manually set up my armies in a historical way. Hastati in the front, Triari in the back etc.

Fixiwee

09-06-2009, 15:59

In politics, strangely enough, the best way to play your cards is to lay them face upwards on the table.
- H. G. Wells

Scipios Gamble

The Roman Empire, by Wolfgang Schreier, Bonn 2003

https://i583.photobucket.com/albums/ss273/Fixiwee/Scipio.jpg
Lucius Cornelius Scipio

After the devastating Battle of Mazana the Romans were once more determined to turn the war to their odds in 251 BC. The people of Rome elected Lucius Cornelius Scipio as consul, a man who had had many dealings with Sicily already and therefore knew the land and people. Scipio tried to break the deadlock with a swift and decisive push against Lilibeo like Maximus before him. Hamalcar the Younger faced the consul in the Battle of Lilibeo 251 BC. Scipio was a talented military leader and unlike Maximus 3 years earlier, he used the flexibility of his troops to his advantage. He won a solid victory over Hamalcar without destroying his army though.

https://i583.photobucket.com/albums/ss273/Fixiwee/Hamabattle01.jpg
Heavy cavalry attacking the Roman line.

https://i583.photobucket.com/albums/ss273/Fixiwee/Hamabattle02.jpg
Carthage had high quality mercaneries from around the world, but Scipios military competence prevailed in the battle.

https://i583.photobucket.com/albums/ss273/Fixiwee/Hamabattle03.jpg
Scipio won the battle because he used his cavalry wisely despite the difficult terrain. Here Greek mercenaries get caught in between a Roman maneuver.

But fortune turned against Scipio when he started to lay siege against Lilibeo, in the hot summer days a devastating plague broke out among the Romans, Scipio had to break off the siege and retreat. Nevertheless the victory over Hamalcar added much prestige to the Scipio family.

https://i583.photobucket.com/albums/ss273/Fixiwee/250.jpg
250 BC - Scipio retreats back to Messana after the plague.

https://i583.photobucket.com/albums/ss273/Fixiwee/Sicilyskirmish01.jpg
Small skirmish, Roman Hastati facing spanish mercenaries fighting for Carthage.

For the next years the Punic war turned into small battles and skirmishes once again. Scipio remained head of the army in 250 BC as proconsul, when a year later he was elected censor and had to return to Rome for political duties. Hamalcar realised his chance and sent an army under his general Giscon to push for Messana. Giscon was a close friend of Hamalcar and the second in command of the Sicilian troops. When reinforcements under consul Caius Valerius Mas landed to support the troops in Messana, Giscon was outnumbered and decided to retreat to a safer position. The Punic war was still far from being over.

https://i583.photobucket.com/albums/ss273/Fixiwee/249.jpg
249 BC - Giscon attacking Messana

In 247 BC the Romans had not yet achieved any significant progress in Sicily. Both sides were equally strong and each offensive against the enemy stronghold was blighted by the fortunes of war. It was clear that the Romans had to do something more drastical to break the deadlock. Some Senators, among them was Lucius C. Scipio, spoke out for a landing in Africa.
Africa! Attacking a distant continent was something new to the Romans, who had mostly fought their wars on the Italian peninsula. But the people voted in favour for Scipio, who was elected consul a second time the following year. But to deceive the ambitious plans, Scipio went to Sicily to pretend another major push on Lilibeo. Meanwhile the second consul, Caius Aurius Cotta, a relative unknown plebeian with little military experience was charged with leading the fleet and the troops to Africa in 246 BC. This was quite a gamble, but Cotta was an ambitious man nevertheless, who wanted to live up to his duties.

https://i583.photobucket.com/albums/ss273/Fixiwee/247.jpg
247 BC - Cotta landing in Africa to the suprise of Carthage.

The fortune now turned in favour to the Romans, the Carthaginians had most of their troops in Sicily, since they feared Scipios attack. So when Cotta landed in Africa very little Carthaginian troops were stationed there. He quickly secured a port to get additional supplies and hasted to attack Carthage. The city was not prepared for a siege, despite its huge walls and enormous size. The council agreed to surrender, despite the fact that they were not beaten on the field. To defend Carthage the council would have had to order the troops in Sicily back, which would have left Sicily open for the taking anyway - plus the attack on the city of Carthage was a symbolic and military humiliation.

https://i583.photobucket.com/albums/ss273/Fixiwee/246.jpg
Cotta laying siege to Carthage - What a humiliation for the might Carthaginian Empire!

Carthage had to pay a large amount of money and agreed to give Sicily and Corsica to the Romans. Over all the war was won by a tricky yet successful military move. Carthage had to pay large quantities of money, but the military might was far from broken.

https://i583.photobucket.com/albums/ss273/Fixiwee/peacecarth.jpg
Rome dictates a harsh peace

For the Romans a peaceful and prosper time began with new trade routes to Sicily and Corsica. But Carthage was saw this peace as vile and shame – more conflict was bound to happen.

Jormungand

09-09-2009, 11:13

Awesome AAR - How are you going to go all the way up to 1500 AD though?

Roka

09-09-2009, 15:11

Good to see this is still going

Fixiwee

09-10-2009, 02:30

Awesome AAR - How are you going to go all the way up to 1500 AD though?

In my first test run I actually played untill 1500 AD, so it's possible. It just takes a lot of time and patience. :)

Fixiwee

09-12-2009, 16:17

Transcript of the college presentation during the lecture „The Roman Republic“ in 2003, University of Minnesota, USA

[Trevor Adams speaking]:
Dear colleges, dear professor, my presentation today is about the Roman peacetime period between 246 BC and 220 BC. In this presentation I will tell you about the events during this particular period and what actually lead to the series of devastating wars in 220 BC. First of all, 246 BC marks the beginning of a peacetime era for Rome. The first Punic war was over; Rome had endured many decades of war and thus tired of fighting. But the victory over the Carthaginians also brought new land, or provinces, which were governed by senators. That meant new taxes and trading posts for the growing “Roman Empire”. This era was also called the small golden age, since there was little foreign threat and Rome became a rich through trade.

But the peacetime period was not uneventful, there were even small wars which make the term “peacetime period” sound rather absurd. But nevertheless the conflicts were quite small compared to the first Punic war.

Well, the Romans made new allies in southern France and Spain. In those areas independent Greek colonies existed that were harassed by Gauls and Celtic tribes. The Romans allied themselves with the two major Greek cities Massalia, modern day Marseille and Empuries or also called Emporion. The deal was that the Romans sent troops for security while the Greek cities had to trade heavily with Rome. De jure those cities remained independent, but in reality the cities slowly became a part of Rome. Oh I forgot to mention, that deal was made around 235 BC. Well anyway…

Another important event happened in 238 BC, when the Carthaginian mercenary general Hipposander revolted in Sardinia, which was nominally under the rule of Carthage. Some Roman traders were killed in that revolt and Rome was quick to dispatch troops to Sardinia and killing Hipposander. Carthage feared another war with Rome and did not demand the control back over Sardinia. But this lead to much mischief with the Carthaginians and more and more people demanded revenge, which would eventually lead to another war with Rome in 220 BC.

In 225 BC the Boii Celts, situated in the Po valley in Italy, attacked the kingdom of Illyria and envoys came to Rome begging for help. The Romans had not much love for those Celts and agreed to snet assistance. The disciplined Roman army had no trouble defeating the small Celtic amry in modern day Slovenia and they placed the king Deutemirus back to power. There was no formal treaty, but the Romans were now “friends” – or amici as the Romans would say – with the Kingdom with Illyria. The link was a moral one, which arose from the “beneficium” of their liberation. They had to show Rome practical gratitude, while Rome was morally engaged to maintain their liberty.

The year 220 BC saw an end to the Roman peacetime period. Reason for this was a treaty made in 222 BC with the kingdom of Macedon. A year later the Epirotes, an old enemy of Rome, started a war with Macedon and the Romans decided to step in and solve the situation. But this, I think, is already the topic of the presentation next week by my college Mary.
My conclusion of this so called peacetime period is that it was a period of increasing wealth and expansion for the Romans. Rome was now a major player in the Mediterranean Sea and solved a few crises with military might. Thank you.

[The Professor speaking]:
Thank you mister Adams. Good presentation with many important details. One major flaw though, you could have used more maps for clarification. I think not everyone in this room knows exactly where the Illyrian kingdom was situated.

Fixiwee

09-12-2009, 16:19

Why is this only a small pictureless update? FRAPS did not take pictures during this period so I lost my data and information. Hence I decided to make a small update, since this period was rather uneventfull anyway. The text was written like someone would actually speak it. I hope it's not a pain to read that way. :)

Mediolanicus

09-12-2009, 16:44

It reads well!

Actually your AAR formed the inspiration to begin my AAR - although yours has more screens in a normal update....

Fixiwee

09-12-2009, 17:27

It reads well!

Actually your AAR formed the inspiration to begin my AAR - although yours has more screens in a normal update....

Wow. I am already an insperation to other people. And I am still quite the newbie with AARs.
But hey cheers for your nice words. :)

Fixiwee

09-21-2009, 13:25

"Zeus most glorious and most great, Thundercloud, throned in the heavens! Let not the sun go down and the darkness come, until I cast down headlong the citadel of Priam in flames, and burn his gates with blazing fire, and tear to rags the shirt upon Hectors breast! May many of his men fall about him prone in the dust and bite the earth! "
-Homer - The Illiad

534 Ab Urbe Condita

Silanos – Historiai
(written about 130 BC)

Who is Silanos?
https://i583.photobucket.com/albums/ss273/Fixiwee/Silanos.jpg
Silanos was a greek historian who lived from 200BC to 120 BC. He came to Rome [under reasons that have not happend yet - this will be edited]. His account on the Roman history are of high value since he followed the pragmatic histiography like Demosthnes of Ancyle (http://www.twcenter.net/forums/showthread.php?p=5220239#post5220239).

Book VI
[…] So it came that the year 534 ab urbe Condita [220 BC] saw the start of a series of conflicts. But before the reader is able to understand what lead to the second Epirus war and the second Punic war as well, the reader has to look at the political situation that preceded the war. To the west of Rome Carthage was expanding in Spain to compensate the losses of Sicily, Sardinia and Corsica. Carthage was a trading nation and the coast of Spain offered new possibilities for trade.
To the east the kingdom of Epirus was waging war against Macedon. In 536 AUC [222 BC] the Romans signed a formal treaty with the Macedon king Antigonus III Amynous to send money and supplies to the Macedon cause. A year later the Macedons lost another battle so that Antigonus III had abandoned most of the Macedon home land.
The Romans felt a moral obligation to aid their allies against the king of Epirus Polyanthes Aiakides and without much hesitation and trouble they sailed a full legion to the coast of Epirus in the year 534 AUC [220 BC]. At that time the king of Epirus, Polyanthes Aiakides, was residing in the capital Ambrakia with only his royal guard to his protection. His army was campaigning against Macedon out of his reach. When the Romans realized that Polyanthes was in the capital without any troops they quickly started laying siege against the city, closing every road in and out of Ambrakia. It is said that Polyanthes screamed “Bring me the man who taught those primitive Romans how to use a boat!” when he became aware that he was trapped.
Despite being a proud and brilliant military leader and king Polyanthes agreed, heading his advisors to negotiate with his enemy. The Roman consul Quintus Atilius Scaevola received the proud king in his army tent, greeting him with all military honours. There the consul made clear that the Roman people had no interest in killing Epirotes and plundering Polyanthes lands. What both man talked that day is not written down, so I cannot retell the story about it, but in the end the king of Epirus agreed to stop making war against the Macedons and restore their land to the status quo while the Romans would return to their land and make peace with Polyanthes. So in the autumn 534 AUC [220BC] the conflict seemed to be over already.
In the winter of the same year a group of Carthaginian ships landed in the port of Emporion, a Greek city-state situated in Spain and allied with Rome. The Carthaginian ships destroyed a few Greek ships and plundered some minor goods. It was by all means clear to the Carthaginians that this action against an ally of Rome was a direct threat to Rome itself. But it has puzzled many historians as well as myself as of why the Carthaginians were eager to battle the Romans again. Yet this small incident was the beginning of a long and bloody conflict in Spain. At the same time Polyanthes was already planning his next step against the Macedons and the Romans.
In this sense, the year 534 marks a new step in the history of Rome, as it was more and more drawn into the affairs of the Greeks.

Fixiwee

09-24-2009, 16:38

“Monarchy degenerates into tyranny, aristocracy into oligarchy, and democracy into savage violence and chaos”
- Polybius

Second war with Epirus 220 BC - 214 BC

The Roman Empire, by Wolfgang Schreier, Bonn 2003

Once the Romans left Polyanthes Aiakides, the king of Epirus, to do as he pleases, he immediately began preparing for a new offensive against Macedon. In late 219 BC he attacked and beat Antigonus Amynous once again in 218 BC at the battle of Berora much to the displeasure of the Romans. In the same year the Senators of Rome agreed to attack Polyanthes once again and a year later a Roman legion embarked over the sea to Epirus.

https://i583.photobucket.com/albums/ss273/Fixiwee/map210.jpg
The map shows the world in 220 BC and the Roman camapigns in Epirus. Note that the Romans only campaigned in the Epirus homeland.

Polyanthes had reinforced Epirus since he knew that the Romans might eventually attack, so in 217 BC it came to the battle of Epidamnos under the Roman consul L. Aurelius Cotta. Though the Romans suffered notable casualties the maniple system proved to be flexible enough to overcome the Greek phalanx.

https://i583.photobucket.com/albums/ss273/Fixiwee/Epid01.jpg
Roman Hastati outflanking a Phalanx, due to their better mobility.

At the same time the war with Carthage in Spain was making hardly any progress for the Romans until 217 BC Cn. Aurelius Cotta, the brother of the victor at Epidamnos seized the Carthaginian city of Arsé. Lucius Cotta was assassinated in the same year, while Cnaeus died of natural causes a year later. The war in Spain stalled again.

A history of Rome, by Prof Alfred Kennard, 2002 New York

In the year 216 BC the Romans won the important sea battle of Thiro against the Carthaginians, securing sea superiority in northern Mediterranean Sea. The battle actually consisted of three separate sea engagements in over two weeks. The Carthaginians tried to flank the Roman fleet with faster ships, but the Roman tactic of boarding enemy ships with ground troops proved to be superior. In total the Romans lost 45 ships, while the Carthaginians lost about 90 ships. This victory secured the vital sea trade and transportation of troops to Spain.

https://i583.photobucket.com/albums/ss273/Fixiwee/seathiro.jpg
This map shows a reconstruction of the Battle of Thiro. 1) The Roman fleet under Admiral Decimus Papirus Turdus gets attacked near the port of Thiro by the Carthaginian Admiral Bodinelquart. After his defeat Bodinelquart retreats and regroups to the west. A few days later Turdus gets attacked at 2) again by Admiral Tabnit with the main fleet, but this battle is indecissive. The Romans move further west where Tabnit atacks with his mainfleet at 3) again.Bodinelquart regrouped at 4) and moved to the battle trying to flank the Romans. Though the Romans suffer signifianct casualties, they are able to rout the enemy fleet.

Meanwhile the tide seemed to turn for the kingdom of Epirus. The assassinated Roman Consul Lucius Aurelius Cotta was replaced by the new consul Cnaeus Pomponius Titus. Apollodoros Aiakides, the brother of the King of Epirus Polyanthes Aiakides, destroyed a Roman army in the battle of Toryne. Unfortunately only fragments of the historical sources concerning this battle survived but it is clear that poor Roman leadership lead to the loss of 15.000 Roman lives.
This defeat led to a change in the Roman military system. Soldiers were now divided into the three existing military groups (Hastati, Principes, Triari) by age and experience rather then by wealth. While not a revolutionary reform, this change was an important step to ensure the necessary military strength needed to fight in foreign regions like Greece and Spain.

With the defeat at Toryne the Romans were caught off guard. But the RomanRepublic had access to a vast amount of military manpower and a year later another Roman legion landed at the shores of Epirus.

https://i583.photobucket.com/albums/ss273/Fixiwee/Epiruslanding.jpg

It is said that the Aiakides brothers had a dispute over the war with the Romans since the kinghimself, unlike his brother, had not yet won a single battle against them though he had beaten the Macedons time after time. King Polyanthes Aiakides feared loosing support to his brother who had smashed the Romans last year. So he decided for a swift and quick attack against the Roman legion under the command of Consul Publius Claudius Nero while they were still on the shore. As we have seen before the Romans lacked experienced and talented leaders during this period. Polyanthes moved with his troops against the Roman encampment where it came to the battle of Cassope in 215 BC

https://i583.photobucket.com/albums/ss273/Fixiwee/cassope1.jpg
Battle of Cassope 215 BC - A battle with poor leadership for the Romans

https://i583.photobucket.com/albums/ss273/Fixiwee/cassope2.jpg
Greek cavalry trying to punch through the Roman lines.

https://i583.photobucket.com/albums/ss273/Fixiwee/cassope3.jpg
The Romans had the high ground and the numbers to hold the line. Without outflanking this formation the Epirotes are not able to break through the enemy.

Polyanthes was one of the best military leaders of his times and his troops where experienced, but the Romans had the high ground and more troops. During the battle Polyanthes was killed trying to manoeuvre his troops around the Roman flank. With his demise the troops where unable to complete the manoeuvre, thus the Romans remained in advantage over the Epriotes and eventually won the battle. The Romans lost about 5.000 soldiers, while Polyanthes lost his own life and 15.000 soldiers. According to Silanos the victory at the battle of Cassope was a surprise to the Romans, since they did not believe they could win the war against Polyanthes in a single battle.

https://i583.photobucket.com/albums/ss273/Fixiwee/cassope4.jpg

https://i583.photobucket.com/albums/ss273/Fixiwee/cassope5.jpg
Despite the dangerous situation, the royal guard fought the Romans bitterly to the last men - a fact that the Romans were proud to defeat such a tough enemy.

With the destruction of the Epirote army the Romans quickly moved to the city of Epidamos where Apollodros Aiakades held out. In the same year the consular army stormed the city and took Apollodros prisoner.
The following year, 214 BC Polyanthes son, Xanthippos Aiakades, now legitimate heir to the throne, met with the Romans to discuss the term of peace. With the whole of Epirus in the hand of the Romans, the king being dead and his brother being shipped to Rome in chains Xanthippos did not have any trumps to come to reasonable terms with the Romans. Xanthippos went to exile to the Seleucid Empire to the east. Epirus became Roman province and the Macedon King Antigonus III was restored in Greece. Apollodros Aiakades, the victor over the Romans in the battle of Toryne, was publicly executed during the triumph of Publius Claudius Nero.

It can be questioned why the Romans bothered so much with Epirus in the first place. Land hunger and military expansion cannot be the reason, since they did not try to gain any land when they first landed in Epirus in 220 BC. If we are to believe Fabius, the Romans felt a moral obligation to help the Macedons since the Romans allied themselves with them. From their perspective Polyanthes was a problem that was troubling the Roman-Macedon agreement and they just wanted to solve this problem and goy away again. Since Polyanthes did not stand to his word and attacked the Macedons again he had to be removed completely. To ensure further aggression from the king Romans dissolved the throne and made it Epirus into a province so that no one else could take control over Epirus again. From the view of the Romans they were just making sure that peace would endure.
From the view of the Greeks the Romans were now a power factor bigger then themselves which could not be ignored any more.

But with the second Punic war still going on in Spain, peace in reality was a far goal for the Romans in 214 BC.

Olaf Blackeyes

09-25-2009, 04:35

You said I should write an AAR about it way back:
https://forums.totalwar.org/vb/showthread.php?t=111244

;)
.
..............wow im ***** stupid.:oops: This is still pretty awesome though.:laugh4:

EDIT: I also notice that the Averni are hurting my Germans. THIS ANGERS ME!

Fixiwee

09-25-2009, 11:15

Dont worry. A few decades from now a man will rise up to conquer those dirty gauls and save your beloved germanic tribes! :)

Fixiwee

10-05-2009, 14:14

A rey muerto, rey puesto
-Spanish proverb

The Iberians

Transcript of the college class lecture „The RomanRepublic“ in 2003, University of Minnesota, USA

[Prof. Saramotti speaking]:
Good day everyone to today’s class. Let me start right away with an announcement that Professor Marshal from Chicago will hold a special presentation about King Cambyses conquest of Anatolia and the impact to the Greek world. It’s certainly something you shouldn’t miss. Oh yes, the presentation itself is next Thursday at Coffman’s.
Alright, today’s topic is the second Punic war. As we look at the second Punic war and we notice something interesting: During the first ten years of the war hardly anything happened. We have already seen that an important war for the Romans started the same way… Right, the first Punic war. But we have to be more specific, because the first ten years of the war a man called Tiberius Cornelius Scipio Asina, the son of Lucius Cornelius Scipio who already fought in the first Punic war, conquered great parts of the Spanish coast up to Mastia in the south. From 220 BC to 210 BC most battles were just small skirmishes. The situation seemed to change in 210 BC when the Carthaginians under the military commander Mytonnes Neperis allied themselves with the strong Celtic tribe called Carpetani under the King Mutorke Carmocoi. This alliance with the Carpetani seemed to shift the balance for the Carthaginians. Hence Scipio Asina retreated back to Arsé in the north. The Roman Senate realized that Spain was now the battleground where the war with Carthage had to be fought and sent more troops to aid Scipio Asina
[Student asking]: Under what authority was Scipio in Spain for such a long time?
[Prof. Saramotti speaking]: Very good question. Scipio Asina became consul in - I think - 218 BC and went to Spain fighting Carthage like his father did. Once he finished his consulship he stayed there as a pro-consul. So he had complete command or “Imperium” over the troops there without actually being a consul. We will talk about this in more detail when we come to his son who was the first to bend the rules in that sense.
Anyway. In 209 BC it came to the first battle on a larger scale, the so called Battle of Ildum. But let’s take a break first.
[…]

The Roman Empire, by Wolfgang Schreier, Bonn 2003

The battle of Ildum in 209 BC marked the escalation of the second Punic war. Compared to the later battles it was still a small military clash, but it was an important one because the Romans won the battle and gained the initiative again. The Senate in Rome was also noticing Scipio Asinas effort in fighting the Carthaginians in mostly unknown lands.

https://i583.photobucket.com/albums/ss273/Fixiwee/asculum1.jpg
Roman Hastati throwing spears at the aproaching enemy.

https://i583.photobucket.com/albums/ss273/Fixiwee/asculum2.jpg
The Carthaginian army consited of numerous ethnic groups so that the Romans had to fight off different fighting techniques.

https://i583.photobucket.com/albums/ss273/Fixiwee/asculum3.jpg
Though relying on mercanaries the Carthaginians also had their own elite troops. Here elite Hoplites fight against te Romans. These troops were a tough opponent for the Scipio.

https://i583.photobucket.com/albums/ss273/Fixiwee/asculum4.jpg
Fabius mentioned the use of five African war elephants in the battle, but they did not have any major impact on the battle.

https://i583.photobucket.com/albums/ss273/Fixiwee/asculum5.jpg
Far more important was the Roman cavallry which was used as shook troops to break and route the enemy army.

Scipio Asina knew how to use his victory and pushed with the rest of his troops including Celt Iberians auxiliary to the south where he captured the city Mastia including the general he defeated at Ildum - Mytonnes Nepheris.
His pro-consulship ran out that year and he returned to Rome celebrating a triumph. Scipio Asina remained with the Senate but did not run for Consul anymore.

https://i583.photobucket.com/albums/ss273/Fixiwee/Asina_triumph.jpg

In the same year consul Titus Fabius Maximus won the battle of Segestia against the Ligures under the king Cador in North Italy. Now all of Italy was in control of Rome and this victory lead to the creation of a new province in North Italy called Gallia Cisalpina, which means “Gaul on this side of the Alps”.

The following years Carthage retreated to the southwest of Spain and reorganized their troops. The Romans had won a battle, but the war was not decided yet. Meanwhile the Carpentani tribe was keeping the Romans busy and small battles with some 5000 to 8.000 troops on both sides occurred every year. The situation seemed to change when a 26 year old Roman legate called Spurius Cornelius Sulla serving under pro-praetor Decimus Tullius Mes faced King Mutorke Carmocoi in battle.

Fabius - Ab Urbe Condita
(written at about 50 BC)

Book XIV

(4) In the winter of the year 550 ab urbe condita [204 BC] the Carpentani attacked roman lands in Spain under their King Mutorke Carmocoi. But before I will retell the story of the battle at Etovissa, I want to talk about both leaders.
Mutorke Carmocoi was a proud barbarian king of old age. He was loved by his people, he was a brave warrior, but also a brilliant leader. Among his people, it is said that he was the best hunter and no one could match his skills with the bow. Another legend says that since his birth Mutorke Carmocoi has never cried out of pain or fear. These kind of legends always surround famous leaders, nevertheless one thing can be said for sure; he was one of a proud barbarian king.
Spurius Cornelius Sulla came to Spain with the new pro-praetor Decimus Tullius Mes to Spain and. He served as a military tribune, queastor and military legate under his patron. Decimus Tullius Mes was not much of a fighter and let Sulla in command against the Iberians, despite Sulla being only in his 20ies. Sulla was born and educated in Rome, he was a smart man interested in politics and philosophy. He was a brilliant orator and many disputes were decided by his cunning and striking words. Nevertheless he was still young and inexperienced and of both Sulla was inferior to Carmocoi.

https://i583.photobucket.com/albums/ss273/Fixiwee/Carmocoi.jpg

https://i583.photobucket.com/albums/ss273/Fixiwee/Young_Sulla.jpg

A history of Rome, by Prof Alfred Kennard, 2002 New York

The battle of Etovissa in 204 was one of the largest during the Roman-Iberian wars. While the Carthaginians were still reforming their army, the Carpentani were keeping the Romans busy.
Both armies were equal in numbers and strength. Fabius account on the leaders and the battle itself is difficult to examine, since it is filled with stereotypical views about the educated dynamic Roman general fighting the brave and strong yet uncivilized Barbarian.

https://i583.photobucket.com/albums/ss273/Fixiwee/Etovissa01.jpg
The Iberians were renown fighters. Here an elite cavallry band gathers for battle.

https://i583.photobucket.com/albums/ss273/Fixiwee/Etovissa02.jpg
A Roman manipel charging a small hill while being harrased with spears by the enemy.

https://i583.photobucket.com/albums/ss273/Fixiwee/Etovissa03.jpg
The wise use of cavallry as a flanking unit won Sulla the advantage over the Iberian king.

https://i583.photobucket.com/albums/ss273/Fixiwee/Etovissa04.jpg
Roman cavallry trampeling the fleeing enemy to death. It was not a habit to take prisoners.

https://i583.photobucket.com/albums/ss273/Fixiwee/Etovissa05.jpg

In the end, the 26 year old Sulla won by using his cavalry to encircle the enemy and crushing the Carpentani completely. That the king Carmocoi was slain in battle added much prestige to Sullas name. It is no surprise that his career got a boost: the following year he was already elected as Curulian Aedile. Nevertheless the war was far from over, the Iberians and the Carthaginians were still strong enemies, but for now Rome had won the initiative.

Fixiwee

10-07-2009, 01:32

Where do you run to now, Quintus?
by Sarah Buehler, 2007

Chapter Nine

A ceramic bottle of wine and sour smell was the first thing he noticed when he entered the room. He looked around, but could not find the culprit of the foul stench. Quintus nose was starting to itch, his feelings about the offending smell was starting to bother him. “No, Appius Aurelius Cotta, the great roman senator is not here” Quintus said to himself after he decided that the smell was probably just part of the room. “Typical” he added as he noticed that he was really talking aloud. The slave, a young Spaniard called Modiac could not help himself but to grin. Slaves from Spain were en vogue since Scipio Asinas famous campaign in this wild and uncivilised land and a sophisticated man like Appius could not resist the exotic goods coming from the end of the world. As for the slave Modica, Quintus wasn’t mad at him for smirking, but rather surprised that he understood him. This young man mastered the Latin language so quickly, spotting the sarcasm that he implied when he referred to Cotta as a great roman senator. Appius Aurelius Cotta was not a brilliant politician, he was no man of great words or military exploits. But on the other hand he was not stupid. Appius knew how to keep friends, when to say yes when you actually mean no. In all those years, as Appius Aurelius Cotta was now in his 60ies, he became one of the oldest and most respected members of the senate. And he was a complete drunk.
The stench, there it was again. It seemed to come from the window, so Quintus decided to move in that direction. “Ah! What a great view” he remarked as he looked outside, noticing the cityscape around him. The mansion he stood in was situated at the top of the Caelian hill, a friendly and rich neighbourhood in Rome. He cold spot some hundred chimneys from up here with fumes rising up to the sky like grey pillars.
The smell seemed to worsen as he studied the view. He sniffed and realized that the stench was coming directly from the ground. “Oh gross” he shouted when he finally discovered that someone had vomited out of the window, covering the wall with disgusting puke.

“Don’t worry, it’s not going to be there forever.” A strong determined voice spoke to Quintus. “I tried to get someone to clean it up all morning, but imagine this. This household does not have any leaders. Not a single one.”
“Ah, Appius Aurelius Cotta” Quintus reacted and quickly tried to hide the disgust written in his face. “On behalf of my family…”
“No need for formalities Quintus, you have been my client for 15 years now. I think we can be more direct with each other.” The Senator said in a voice that was relaxing yet consisted a significant sound of authority while he was sitting down behind his desk. Usually a drunk like Appius would become fat over the time, but for some reason Appius stayed in perfect shape for his age.
“Alright, so why did you call for me?”
“Do you know my grandfather?”
“Uh, pardon me”?
“My grandfather! Caius Aurelius Cotta. As a lawyer and historian you should know him.”
“Of course I do. He was the one who laid siege to Carthage, thus ending the first war we had with that city” Quintus mentioned with a suddenly determined voice.
“Help me do the same thing.”
“I am sorry - what?”
Appius stood up in sudden eagerness shouting aloud: “Help me conquer Carthage. As a historian you can find out what he did and how, so I can do the same.”
“But… I mean… History does not work that way.”
“Why not? You can study exactly what happened and how he did that. History does work that way.” He suddenly leaped toward Quintus grabing him by his arms, passing by his desk. “You historians always say that people don’t want to learn from the past. Now you can prove yourself wrong.”
Quintus started to think this through. Indeed Appius Aurelius Cotta, his legal patron was just asking him a favour. But the way he spoke seemed to scare him, as if Appius had no idea of warfare so that Quintus had to come up with a magic formula written down by some old mysterious librarian 40 years ago.
“All right, all right! I just didn’t expect using my skills for war like that. I guess I can look into the books and the annual reports. Maybe we can indeed find a clue or two.”

After the usual small talk and the discussion of some minor legal issues Quintus left the manor. “Was he drunk or is he really planning to conquer Carthage?” he thought while going down a busy winter street. He pondered the situation, Rome and Carthage were both fighting a terrible and bloody war in Spain. Landing troops in Africa might solve the deadlock in this terrible war, just that no other Senator was speaking of this option for some reason. Was it possible? Or was it simply too dangerous with an enemy who might actually have learnt from its mistakes.
“I don’t like the idea. This is going to end bad for me.” Quintus said while he was walking down a busy street in the cold city of Rome.

Fixiwee

10-11-2009, 17:25

“Marta was watching the football game with me when she said, "You know, most of these sports are based on the idea of one group protecting its territory from invasion by another group." "Yeah," I said, trying not to laugh. Girls are funny.”
-Jack Handy

Invasion

A history of Rome, by Prof Alfred Kennard, 2002 New York

After his victory in the winter 204 BC Spurius Cornelius Sulla returned to Rome as a Curulian Aedile, using his position to get more attention for the situation in Spain. At the same time an elderly ex-consul by the name of Appius Aurelius Cotta, child of the victor at Carthage in 246 BC, was speaking against Sulla arguing that only an attack on Carthage would end the war for the Romans.
The following year Sulla returned to Spain with more troops, but not as much as he actually hoped to. His aim was to capture the most important Carpentani city of Baikor under the new king Novantutas Carmocoi. Sulla pushed for the city in 202 and 201 BC, but he was constantly harassed by the enemy, who knew the terrain better then him. Although he did not loose any battle, supply and troop where growing thin during both campagins so he decided to return to Mastia and stay on the defence.

https://i583.photobucket.com/albums/ss273/Fixiwee/Baikorcampmap.jpg
Sullas campaigns in 202 and 201 BC. Despite hard effort the unknown enemy territory seems to be impregnable.

In 200 BC C. Publius Sergius Orata, a close friend of Cotta, became consul who prepared troops, ships and supply for an attack on Africa. That implied that Cotta would run for consul again next year to take command over the invasion.

https://i583.photobucket.com/albums/ss273/Fixiwee/AppiusCotta.jpg
Appius Aurelius Cotta

On the side of Carthage a man called Carthalo Carales was charged with defending the city. Carthalo was an experienced military leader who fought against the Ptolemy dynasty in Egypt. He was a deep admirer of the Greek culture, their literature and philosophy, all in all a smart and seasoned opponent for the Romans.
Appius Aurelius Cotta landed in early 199 BC in Africa, after being elected as consul. Upon landing he was informed that Carthage was well prepared for a siege and troops in the south where waiting to fall in the back of Cotta. So he decided to attack the army to the south. At this time Cotta did not know though, that Carthalo was moving his troops as fast as he could from a campaign in Egypt.

https://i583.photobucket.com/albums/ss273/Fixiwee/CarMap1.jpg
The red line symbolizes Cottas advance against the small enemy camp to the south of Carthage. The longer white line symbolizes Carthalos troops marching towards the homecity Carthage.

The troops south of Carthage were commanded by Hiempsal Sabrata and were much smaller then Cotta originally estimated. Only a few thousand troops were situated in the camp.

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It is said that Sabrata fought bravley against the large quantity of Roman troops.

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In the end he and the survivours fleed from the Romans. Fabius quotes him saying: "You're victory here means nothing".

The battle turned out to be a small skirmish and eventually the Carthaginians benefited from winning more time for Carthalo. Carthage realized its chance to delay Cotta even more and decided to move out the troops in the city under the militia commander Milkherem to meet the Romans. The Carthaginian suffets knew, that even if Milkherem would loose, it would be impossible for Cotta to take the before Carthalo would reach the Romans. The first battle of Sabo was about to happen.

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After the small skirmish Cotta was eager to sieze Carthage. Moving northwards the Carthaginian militia leaves the city to face him on the field. Meanwhile Carthalo draws closer and closer to the Romans, marching with incredible speed with a large army.

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Roman Hastati, the usual front line infantry, wating for the enemy attack.

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Allthough mostly consisting of militia, Milkherems army consisted some well equiped Phalanx troops.

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The Carthaginians plan was to shock the enemy and break right through the main line where the Romans were actually the strongest.

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Cottas beast weapon were the heavy lancers. Having them placed well, he used them during the battle to fall in the back of the militia troops.

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The effect is devastating. Milkherem gets killed and the troops break away.

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Even the elite troops flee after the sucessfull Roman push.

In the end the first battle of Sabo was indeed a victory for the Romans. They had only lost 3000 men from 26.500, so they still had about 23.500 men left. Nevertheless Cotta was not making any progress against the enemy. Shortly after the battle he finally realized that Carthalo was marching against his position with 33.000 troops. The second battle of Sabo would decide the outcome of the invasion and possibly ending the second Punic war.

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The Romans finaly realized that Carthalo was marching against their position. Cotta choosed to use the same position at Sabo to anticipate Carthalos attack.

Where do you run to now, Quintus?
by Sarah Buehler, 2007

Chapter Thirteen

This was the very moment when Quintus, now centurion in Appius legion, was most scared during the war. It wasn’t the first or the second battle at Hadrumentum, where he faced death on one of the most brutal and bloodiest battles of his lifetime. No, it was this moment and it started with a “Screwed. I am so screwed!”
Appius was sitting on his chair in the middle of his tent, having a total fit. Once again Quntius smelled a rotten stench, but this time it was obvious that his glorious leader had spilled wine over his tunica. He decided to try helping the screaming old man.
“Sir, you better dress up your combat gear. Our scouts indicate that Carthalos army is 10 miles from our position. It’s best…”
“Don’t you tell me what I have to do. I have to do nothing. Absolutely nothing.” With a sudden move the old body of Appius leaped forward, catching Quintus off guard and pulling him to the ground. The closing fist moving towards his nose was the first thing he noticed when he realized what was going on and it was the last thing before he blacked out.

Quintus came to senses again, slowly standing up. At first he didn’t hear anything but his own heartbeat. The next thing that came to his mind was that his nose was hurting terribly. Appius was sitting in his chair again, crying pathetically and repeating himself over and over again.
“Screwed. I tell you.”
His nose was broken.
“I am so screwed”
But he figured that he had to see this through.
“Sir!”
Even with this pain.
“Sir!” Quintus said again. “Think this through. You cannot give up now.”
His superior replied: “Carthalo is ten times the commander then I am. He has more troops and supplies. This was supposed to be my victory. You said it so.”
“With all due respect, sir. You asked me about history and I told you that it does not work this way, remember?”
“Bah!” Appius grunted with as much disgust as he could.
“But the battle is not decided yet. If you give up yourself, that’s fine. But don’t you dare giving up on Rome.” For Quintus saying such a thing was quite the gamble. Appius could have easily beaten him to death this time.
But surprisingly and against all odds Appius actually said: “Well. I guess you are right. I don’t think it makes any difference. By Plutos hairy arse maybe we’ll even win this one.”

Quintus was delighted, yet surprised over the turn of the events. It was obvious to him that this mod swing was just temporary, but he did everything he could to get this strange old men going. He returned to his tent to get his armor and sword, for south of the camp the mighty Carthalo was coming.

Fixiwee

10-19-2009, 15:18

Battles of history with Patrick Goodwin

Second battle of Sabo 199 BC

Goodwin: The second Punic war is shaking the Mediterranean Sea in 200 BC. Like the first Punic war, the second started because of trivial causes and turned out to be a terrible war for both the Carthaginians and the Romans. The war started in 220 BC when Carthaginian ships raided a Greek colony in Spain that was allied with Rome. Trivial the cause may be, but the conflict roots back deep to the old rivalry for the Mediterranean Sea between the two forces.
By 200 BC, 20 years after the war started, hardly any progress was made on either side. Most fighting took place in Spain with high causalities on both sides. In 200 BC an elder senator by the name of Appius Aurelius Cotta remembered that his father, Caius Aurelius Cotta, ended the first war with Carthage by attacking the the helpless city itself. Appius Aurelius Cotta planed to live up to his fathers’ reputation and win the second Punic war by defeating the Carthaginians in Africa. In 199 BC he landed with a huge force of 3 legions, facing a strong enemy. In the first battle of Sabo he defeated the Carthaginian militia who were trying to win time for the arrival of Carthage best general coming from Egypt: Carthalo

[The scene is a larger army force marching by foot and horses in a wide column. Carthalo is sitting on his horse; his face is unwashed and dirty because of the marching. Next to him are three of his military advisors; he is delivering a long monolog to them.]

Carthalo [speaking calmly]: Milkherems attack on Cotta was not successful, but they probably bought us enough time to reach Cotta before he can advance on our city and mother. I have been thinking about the Romans a lot. These men from Italy are well trained and disciplined. Breaking their back won’t be easy. Hence I have been pondering how to defeat the Romans. 50 years ago there was a terrible battle that we fought against these men at a place called Mazana. There the great Carthaginian leader Hamalcar nearly defeated the Romans. How did he do that? He outflanked their flanking force, pushing mainly through the right side. This is a risking manoeuvre, but if we can hold our Phalanx against their line of infantry, our cavalry might defeat their mounted troops for good. I believe that is the key for victory.

[The scene moves away from Carthalo, fading to a view of the whole army marching to the north. Over 30.000 troops can be seen marching and producing a huge cloud of dust.]

Goodwin: The second battle of Sabo was located at the small hill of Sabo where Cotta placed his troops. On the 5th of June Carthalo reached the Roman encampment and both sides prepared for battle.

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Cotta placed his cavalry for flanking duty on the left and right side of his army, while Carthalo placed his cavalry on the entire left flank to break through at that specific point

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The Romans wait for Carthalo to make the first move.
Roman Soldier: This one is going to be the big one. This battle might decide everything. Mars be with us.
Other roman soldier: Mars be with us.

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Carthalo moves his cavalry; Cotta reacts quickly throwing his reserve to the left flank. Meanwhile the Roman leader gives the sign to charge.

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Charging against a phalanx is a deadly endeavour, but in this case it seems to be necessary to keep the enemy at bay while the cavalry wins the flanks.

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All eyes lie on the left flank where heavy mounted troops from the Italian region Campania battle Carthaginian mercenaries.

Campanian rider to the military messenger: Too many of them, they are to fast. Send note to Cotta: “Cavalry is overwhelming us – Carthalo himself moving to the left flank as well – we need the Triarii to cover the left flank.”

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While the cavalry was fighting on the left flank, Roman infantry was taking heavy casualties in the centre. It was clear that Cotta would loose the battle if the left flank would break away.
The messenger reached Cotta, but it was too late. Carthalo himself positioned him on the left flank, ready to attack the Roman force there. Both sides where ready to charge.

Campanian rider: Alright men. We don’t have enough time to talk this trough. But if we win this one, we can all go home to Rome. Trumpeter, give the sign to charge. The man who kills Carthalo will enter Rome as a rich man.

The battle on the left flank is about to be decided. Both sides charge.

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The impact was terrible. Within minutes people get pierced by lances, fall of their horses and get trampled to death. War in antiquity is no less brutal then today.

Carthalo screaming in battle: Get those Roman pigs. Slay them all! For our city and mother.

Carthalos men cause heavy losses on the campanian cavalry. The Roman left flank is breaking away.

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The result of this is devastating; the Roman left flank is getting hammered by heavy Carthaginian troops.

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Cotta: This is not going well. Fortuna! Fortuna! Why? My name is in shame.

The tide is turning in favour of the Carthaginians. But Cotta remembers the old Roman tradition of devotion where a military commander would deliberately make a suicidal charge against the enemy to inspire the troops and restore the family name.

Cotta: The old roman man is about to die. The old roman spirit is about to live. For Rome! For Victory!

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Cotta charges against the right flank, hoping to cause panic at the weaker side of the Carthaginians.
The number of his guards dwindled until he is all alone by himself.

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He gets dragged of his horse and beaten to death on the battle field.

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The Roman spirit is ignited once again. All troops charge and press against the overwhelming enemy. But is that enough to win the battle?

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Meanwhile Roman cavalry rides to the right flank to retrieve Cottas body. Seeing that they are loosing the battle, they would not let Carthalo get the trophy of Cottas body.

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Cottas devotion inspired the troops to fight like mad men and although they are able to inflict heavy causalities on the enemy, in doing so the Roman number of troops also grows dangerously thin.

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Roman rider: There is his. Get his body and then let’s get out of this hell.

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The Roman cavalry is able to retrieve Cottas body, but while returning to their post the moral of the Romans is breaking. After two hours of fighting they are exhausted and weakened. They retreat – they run like hell.

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The whole roman army is fleeing, the battle is finally decided. Carthalo has won.

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Kennard [sitting in his office]: Even though the Romans inflicted heavy casualties on their most hated enemy the second battle of Sabo was a complete defeat for the Rome. They did not achieve anything, the invasion was a failure, a consul was dead and a good deal of the 5.000 Roman survivors were captured and killed during the march towards the sea. Three legions plus auxiliary was lost. It was only a close victory for Carthage, but it was a total loss for Rome.

Rome had suffered a terrible defeat. But Carthage had only won a battle, not the war. This defeat gave younger and unknown people like Sulla the chance to prove their worth. And indeed, the ancient historian Fabius tells us, that Sulla shouted “By the gods! What a terrible defeat – we can finally win this war” when he heard about the outcome at Sabo, pointing out that his plan for defeating Carthage in Spain might work out after all.

Second battle of Sabo:
Romans:
Soldiers: 24.000 - Lost: 19.000

Carthaginians:
Soldiers: 33.000 - Lost: 22.000

IrishHitman

10-19-2009, 18:39

till the American domination of the 21th century.

20th Century.
I don't think I need to condescend and inform you on recent current events, but "American domination of the 21th century" is an amusing prophesy..

Fixiwee

10-19-2009, 18:54

I had to correct specific number in my AAR on multiple occasion because of my terrible skill with numbers but this one is quite embarrasing. Yeah you are right, I meant the 20th century.

Roka

10-20-2009, 01:11

nice last few chapters

IrishHitman

10-20-2009, 10:52

nice last few chapters

Yeah, they've been pretty damn good.

Fixiwee

10-24-2009, 23:22

Where do you run to now, Quintus?
by Sarah Buehler, 2007

Chapter Twelve

„I have killed Cotta!”
Quintus was running like mad through the bulky Macchia, he was thirsty beyond any means and his feet were bleeding because of the thorny bushes.
“This can’t be true! I have killed Cotta.”
He was still in his chain mail, his face was dirty and unshaven. The soldier and historian left the battle fleeing. He and his group were chased by a dozen heavy riders after the battle when they reached a small wood with thin trees where Quintus tripped, fell down from the edge of a cliff.
And then there was blackness.

“I have killed Appius Aurelius Cotta!” was the first thing when Quintus opened his eyes, regaining conciseness. It was late afternoon; Quintus got up and realized that he had led Cotta to certain death. “I could have said no back then” he mumbled to himself. He started to remember that it was some years back in Rome where this whole disaster started, when Cotta asked him to help him repeat history – simple and easy as he said to Quintus.

But now Cotta was dead. And with him thousand of Romans and their Italian allies. Quintus didn’t realise that he had a mental break down.
“…killed Cotta” he was repeating it over and over again.

While Quintus was moving through the lands of Carthage he started to dehydrate under the hot African summer sun. Being out of his mind, he didn’t realise the circumstance that his mouth and lips started to dry terribly. Being out of air he couldn’t run anymore, though his mind seemed to focus for a short moment and he thought if this would be the end of him.
He walked up a rise and noticed that he had reached the coastline. By the gods! There was a small village of eight houses too.
The Roman soldier thought he was running towards the village though in reality he was limping like a wounded man. Someone was shouting something and at first Quintus did not understand anything. He thought that some Carthaginian peasant was insulting him, but then he became aware that the voice was speaking in Greek. He stopped and looked up, a young man was standing a short distance away, with a thin beard that still had blank spots on the face. For a moment he wondered what Greeks did in the lands of Carthage, but then he remembered that these people use to flee from their homes because their women are so ugly and the food so horrible.

For a moment Quintus smiled. In this moment he remembered that he was still alive. Then he passed out. “So thirsty…”

Loosing consciousness had become quite the habit for Quintus. When he woke up from his dreamless slumber he heard several people talking, becoming aware that he was in one of the houses. They all spoke Greek with each other, guessing that a Roman soldier would not be able to understand them. But Quintus was a historian educated in Greek, enabling him to follow the conversation. They were arguing what to do with him. Roman slaves pay well on the bazaar of Carthage. On the other hand this man had not done any harm to the Greeks. For a moment Quintus became focused. His chain mail was gone, but his Gladius was on the table close to him. Then it struck him again: “Cotta. Dead. 20.000 mean. Dead. Why? Because of me. Because I promised to lead Cotta to Carthage. Because I promised to lead three legions to victory. Dead. All dead.”
His heartbeat increased.
He became terribly nervous.
His clear thoughts were overtaken by devils of madness again.
He was loosing control.

„I have killed Appius Aurelius Cotta!” Quintus screamed, leaping upwards from the bed, grabbing his Gladius. The Greeks, some five men and two women were arguing too much to react quickly on the furry of the Roman. Before they could overwhelm him by their sheer number Quintus had the blade in his hand. This short sword was excellent to thrust quickly at multiple enemies.
Quintus stabbed the first man in the shoulder.
The next men, an elderly man with a bushy beard got a very deep cut in his arm.
With the same swing he hit a dark haired woman in the stomach.
She went down screaming in terrible agony while her husband ducked down to cover her body trying to cover her from further harm.
The man with the thin beard that found Quintus quickly grabbed him by the wrist, blocking any further attacks with the Gladius. But a roman soldier was skilled in close combat.
Quintus used his whole weight to ram the young Greek against the wall with his bare shoulder. This move surprised the opponent who tumbled while his ribs broke with an unpleasant sound.

“You can’t stop me you Carthaginian pigs.” Quintus screamed, triumphing over his captors. No one tried to oppose him anymore.
Having lost any sense of reality, Quintus ran out of the house where a few Greeks where staring at him without taking action. The Roman was running to the dock, entering a small fishing boat.
He turned his head back to the crowd where the Greeks gathered to look at the madman. “I have killed them. It was me! Don’t you understand? I didn’t mean to!”
They didn’t understand. He spoke in Latin. But they were too scared to approach an armed man.
He released the rope holding the small vessel, gave it a push and started to rudder with a paddle. Quintus left the village behind him. Turning his head westwards he saw the sun going down, the few clouds on the sky turned into a bright orange. He stopped paddling. The air smelled salty. “What point does it all make now?”
There he sat, in a small fishing boat without food or water. To Quintus it didn’t matter any more.
“I’m tired of running.”
Quintus closed his eyes.

End.

Fixiwee

10-31-2009, 19:45

“I firmly believe that any man's finest hour, the greatest fulfillment of all that he holds dear, is the moment when he has worked his heart out in a good cause and lies exhausted on the field of battle - victorious”
-Vince Lombardi

Second Punic war climax
(Part 1 of 2)

Silanos – Historiai
(written about 130 BC)

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Silanos was a greek historian who lived from 200BC to 120 BC. He came to Rome [under reasons that have not happend yet - this will be edited]. His account on the Roman history are of high value since he followed the pragmatic histiography like Demosthnes of Ancyle (http://www.twcenter.net/forums/showthread.php?p=5220239#post5220239).

Book VI

[…] The invasion to Africa turned out to be a complete disaster for the Romans. It clearly shows the weakness of the political system by electing an incompetent military leader just because of his legacy. At the same time the following years also show exactly the strength of the Roman system.
The Roman annual reports state that Spurius Cornelius Sulla returned to Spain as a proconsul in 556 AUC [198 BC] battling the Bastetani, another barbarian group under their king Ultu. The battle was small and probably didn’t exceed a total of 10.000 men, although no sources are specific on the numbers nor the exact location. This victory enabled Sulla to prepare further attacks on Romans biggest barbarian rival – the Carpentani. Having learnt important lessons from his campaigns against the Carpentani in 554 and 553 AUC [202/201 BC] he prepared for a longer and more daring attack on Carpentani soil, where Novantutas Carmacoi the son of the defeated Mutorke Carmacoi was still king. Little facts survive this campaign. But the remaining facts state that Sulla spent the winter in enemy territory fighting small skirmishes and promoting the Romans cause to local tribes. In 554 AUC [196 BC] he eventually conquered Baikor and captured the Carpentani king. The battle of Baikor cost the Romans a high amount of 10.000 men, but the barbarians threatening the Roman coastline of Spain were defeated. It is said that Sulla enslaved a great amount of people to Italy and plundering the Iberian cities.

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But this victory came at a great cost. Meanwhile the Carthaginians moved a huge amount of troops to Iberia in Martius of the same year [March 196 BC]. Strengthened after the victory at Sabo, Carthage was planning to defeat the Romans in Iberia too. The Carthaginian army was lead by Carthalo Carales, the victor at Sabo and Hamalcar Aleria, a younger but talented military leader. Some Roman sources claim that Carthalo had an amount of 90.000 troops under his command, but my guess would be that he had about 65.000 troops under his command. Nevertheless the number of troops was a tremendous threat for Sulla.

The first move was made by Hamalcar, who lead 30.000 men towards Carthago Nova, once a Carthaginian city in the middle of Maius [May]. There he defeated a legion of 6.000 Romans under the command of Manius Spurius Turus and 25.000 Iberians, mostly Constetani and Edetani allies at the battle of Baria. Hamalcar was exploiting the absence of Sulla who had only recently defeated the Carpentani king. This attack came to a great surprise to the Romans who didn’t anticipate an attack by this magnitude.
Carthago Nova was once more in the hands of Carthaginians and this development was alarming the Senators in Rome. At the same time Sulla, realizing the threat of being cut off from his costal cities charged his military most talented legate Tiberius Cornelius Scipio Asina, the son of Tiberius Cornelius Scipio Asina triumphant at the battle of Ildum, to defend the coast in his absence.

That the Romans reinforced the Spanish coast with two additional legions within months can be seen as a crowning achievement to their logistic and military understanding. Whenever needed, Rome recruited huge amount of soldiers from their Italian allies and reinforced any losses.
After conquering Carthago Nova, Carthalo started to push northwards against the city of Arsé in late Qunitlis [July], while Tiberius Cornelius Scipio prepared to stop this offensive at the city of Akra Leuke [modern Alicante]. On the 5th of Sextilis [August] it came to the battle of Akra Leuke, where the young Scipio faced the elderly and seasoned Carthalo.

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Both sides had about 20.000 troops, but Scipio wisely used a bridge as a chocking point to engage the superior enemy army. The victor of Sabo underestimated the cunning Scipio and tried to break through with full force. What happened next is till this day subject of great debate. I have travelled to Spain to listen the local accounts, I have spoken with Senators related to the Scipiones and I have researched various texts and letters stored in the libraries and found about 8 different versions of the battle. Some say that Scipio killed Carthalo with his own sword, another popular account is that Carthalo, seeing his man being slaughtered killed himself on the battlefield. For this matter we can only presume that the circumstances will for ever remain a myth. In the end we only know that the young Scipio defeated Rome’s greatest enemy, but didn’t defeat the enemy army. Most of the 20.000 Carthaginians retreated safely after Carthalo was killed.

In fall of 554 AUC [196 BC] the remaining Carthaginian troops reorganised and prepared for winter in Carthago Nova. They still had some 60.000 troops, while the Romans steadily reinforced up to 45.000 men. Sullas next move was a bold and risky one.

Fixiwee

11-04-2009, 23:28

Second Punic war climax
(Part 2 of 2)

Fabius - Ab Urbe Condita
(written at about 50 BC)

Who was Lucius Fabius?

Lucius Fabius was a Roman historian who wrote a universal history of Rome. He started with the legendary myths of the founding of Rome up to his present day. Fabius portraits a lively version of the Roman history and he is more interested in various details rather then a critical approach on the matter. Reason for that is the time Fabius was living in, the Roman civil war is on going and Fabius experiences what he calls a "decline of morality". His work was to remind the Romans what virtues made the Rome strong and how they dealt with certain flaws in society. Besides that his work can be considered as very inaccurate with a lack of sources. The modern historian Brian Lewis said about Fabius "He is master of lies in history. But that does not mean his stories do not have a kernel of truth in it".

Book XVI

On the 24th of September Spurius Cornelius Sulla returned with his legions to Scipios camp. The young Scipion greeted his commander with all obligatory military procedures. Dismounting his brown stallion Sulla raised his hand to his victorious legate: “I salute you young Scipio. You really live up to your family name.”
“I did what was expected. If Rome would ask me to travel to the end of the world, I would” the young victor replied.
For now the two men would eat, drink and relax. The weather was still very warm and there was plenty of food for the whole army. After a few days Scipio asked his commander what his next move was. Hamalcar, who had taken over grand command over the troops, was still a big threat. Sulla thought about the situation for quite some time and then came up with another daring plan.
“If I was Hamalcar and had over 80.000 men at my command, what would I fear most? I would fear that my supplies grow thin and that my enemy, the Romans, would attack me in my most weakened state. So my good Scipio, I plan to attack them during the winter. During that time supply becomes rare while the climate here still allows me to attack the enemy. I have done the same thing against the Carpentani and I am also able to do so against the Carthaginian. This way we can easily use our smaller numbers against a larger, yet starving army.”
Scipio who always was up for a military challenge agreed to the plan, as did all the other legates under the propraetorian commander. Preparations were made in all of October, stocks filled and the soldier trained. Early November the weather was still warm enough when Sulla gave command to start moving south against Hamalcar in Mastia. Four Roman legions and several Iberian allies marched forth to face an enemy superior in number.
The first legion was commanded by Sulla, while the second was lead by his legate Tullius Cornelius Marcus. The other two legions took another route to maintain more supplies on the road and were lead by Tiberius Cornelius Scipio Asina and Decimus Papirus Pulcher.
The Carthaginian forces were separated into three armies lead Hamalcar Aleria, Abdeshmun and Asdroubas. When they realised that Sulla was forcing them into battle in November Hamalcar decided to counter the attack and launch his troops quickly against Scipios and Pulchers legions to separate them from Sullas army. The young legate was furious when he realized that Hamalcar was about to attack him on the 13th of November and that Sullas troops where out of reach. He ordered his best messenger to send word on the situation and prepared to defend the position until Sulla would come to help.

Scipio gave an important speech about one hour before the battle: “Men, I know that our surprise attack has failed and that a great number of troops is about to charge our position here. I know that they are great in numbers, but we can hold out here. They will find that a Roman legion is a hard nut to crack. Though we lack the numbers, we are the greater warriors, disciplined and trained in the arts of war. My grandfather defeated the Carthaginians in Sicily, my father did the same here in Spain and I already killed their most skilled leader. We can defeat this army here, we will stand, fight and we will win.”

Hamalcar rushed into the battle trusting that his great amount of troops would be enough to destroy a Roman legion. Scipios and Pulchers legions were lined up in a small valley where they hope to control the enemy movement.

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The Carthaginian leader knew that he had to strike fast and without mercy, because by now Sullas legions where already on the way to support Scipio in battle. He gave instructions to his military tribunes and signalled the attack. The troops started to charge 300 meters away from the Roman line.

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Immediately the battle changed into close quarter fighting and the huge number of troops turned this battle into a terribly bloody clash with men dying left and right.

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Scipio pressed hard against the enemy so he could not organise the encirclement of his own legion. By constantly pushing forward the enemy was not able to flank the bold young legate. Time was of the essence and for two hours Scipio pushed and pushed demanding the maximum of what a soldier can endure in battle.

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It started to look grim for Scipio, who had already killed about 15.000 enemy Carthaginians, but also lost 5.000 of his own men. Asdroubas brought another 20.000 men to make the final strike against Sulla when a messenger brought news: “Legate Scipio, Propraetor Sulla will be here within half an hour. Surely the gods are giving speed to the feet of his troops.” This news inspired the remaining Roman soldiers to hold their lines. “For the people and the senate of Rome! We fight or fall!” could be heard all over the grim battlefield.

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The vast and skilled legion of Sulla entered the battlefield, ready to relieve Scipios army and push back the Carthaginians. During the course of the battle the fighting shifted to the nearby woods making Roman cavalry moves impossible. Finaly the Carthaginians were defending.

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The fight was going on for hours, all the hatred between the two cities was unleashed in this engagement. The battle line dissolved into fighting of smaller and greater groupings.

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The struggle went on like this for some further three hours and no commander knew what was going on exactly. It was simply too many soldiers on both sides to maintain a clear chain of command. Although the Roman centurions remained a clear head and led their troops well by their best will. At the 8th hour [2PM] Asdroubas was killed in one of the pockets.

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An hour later Sulla and Scipio finally met on the battlefield. By now most of the Carthaginian troops were dead or have fled. Despite this Hamalcar and some 10.000 men were still fighting against the now larger Roman army. Sulla pushed his military tribunes to outflank Hamalcar and encircle then. The tenth hour [4 PM] finally brought the decision when the Pedites extraordinares [Italian elite troops] encircled Hamalcar, brought down his horse and killed the proud Carthaginian leader who said “It was not enough” while dieing.

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The rest of the Carthaginian troops fled. After nearly 6 hours of fighting no Roman soldier brave and bold had the power to chase any of the fleeing enemy. Sulla had won a decisive victory with Scipios help.

A history of Rome, by Prof Alfred Kennard, 2002 New York

Fabius account on the battle of Mastia tells us inaccurate numbers, but with Silanos version of the battle we are able to reconstruct the casualties of the battle.

Carthage:
Soldiers: 60.000 – Lost: 50.000

Rome:
Soldiers: 45.000 – Lost: 20.000

This battle was the largest and bloodiest battle in the second Punic war. Rome smashed the Carthaginian war effort to pieces. The young Scipio and the already popular Sulla became war heroes to end the second Punic war. And indeed, the next spring of 195 BC a delegation under Senator Lucius Cornelius Dolebella went to Carthage to meet with the Suffet Carpophorus to dictate their terms of peace.
Carthage had to give all the remaining outposts in Spain to Rome and pay a large sum of gold. The long second Punic war was over.
In a conclusion this war secured Rome’s position as a Mediterranean superpower. Both militarily and economically Rome established itself as a “global player” in a wider sense. While Carthage still remained strong it lost a prestigious and costly war against its arch enemy.

The second Punic war had long-lasting effects on the Roman society and it somehow connects with the later Roman civil war. Rome expanded its provinces in foreign parts of Europe that changed the political tradition (more Quaestors and Praetors) and rules of taxation (Stipendia). In a wider sense the first problems with ruler ship became apparent. The young generation of Sullas and Scipios lead and ultimately won the war, without being able to actually have leading positions. The Senate skipped the problems by assigning de facto leading positions like the Propraetor, but that did not actually solve the problem. This is one issue that would play a bigger part later on in the civil war.
The real heroes of this war were not Carthalo or Sulla, it was the Roman allies in Italy. Without them, the Roman Senate could not have build up such a large quantity of troops. The allies, for now, stood loyal to Rome.

Fixiwee

11-09-2009, 16:56

What a lovely day, yeah, we won the war.
May have lost a million men, but we've got a million more.
-Portugal. The man

Saneus gambles with Rome and looses

The Roman Empire, by Wolfgang Schreier, Bonn 2003

After the Second Punic war ended in 194 BC the Roman society wanted to recover from the high war effort. Despite this, the Romans still had to fight wars the following years, though those conflicts were much smaller in comparison to the war with Carthage.
Immediately after the peace with the Carthaginians was settled a border conflict occurred with a Celtic tribe called the Turduli. Their king Biurtilaur Alonicoi did not agree with the peace settlement between the two superpowers, thus having to give up some areas of his domain. The Roman presence in the centre of Spain was not big, so Sulla successfully convinced his former enemies, the Carpentani, to hold the Turdulis at bay. For the next years a single Roman legion and the Carpentani fought side by side against the Turdulis.

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Map showing the Turduli domain in Spain prior to the war.

In 191 BC the successful Sulla returned to Rome, celebrating his triumph and concentrating on his career. Lucius Iunus Brutus became the new Propraetor of Hispania Ulterior who charged the popular 25 year old Scipio as a Quaestor and as a military legate to deal with the Celtic tribes. Being so young and already leading a legion was only possible due to the legacy of his ancestors. In summer of the same year the young Scipio defeated the Turduli at the Battle of Contasti. The king Alonicoi fled to the north, while the Romans occupied the lands of the Turduli the following spring.

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Spain in 190 BC. A great deal is already conquered by Rome.

By 192 BC the Macedonians seemed to give up the treaty it had with Rome. The Macedonian kings had long lasting treaties with the Senate, but after the second Epirote war broke out in 220 BC the relationship seemed to worsen to a certain degree. By 192 BC the Macedon king Dionysianos Saneus publicly demanded to inherit the throne of Epirus, which had been vacant since the end of the second Epirote war in 214 BC. Silanos, the Greek historian, pointed out that this was a ridiculous and obsolete claim.

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But the Romans didn’t get to rest after stability was recovered in Spain for the time being. In 188 BC the king Saneus send emissaries to Rome stating that if the Romans would not leave Epirus he would take it by force. The Romans did not think that he would dare attacking a former ally and when Saneus marched into the Epirote city of Ambrakia in early 187 BC, the Roman legion stationed in Epirus stood down and did not prevent his actions, because the garrison commander had no specific orders to attack the Macedonians.

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But Saneus didn’t have the support of all the Greeks to fight against Rome. Some thought that attacking an old ally, who in fact helped the Macedonians against the Epirotes during the first Punic war, was a terrible crime. The first Macedon war ended the same year it started. A noble under the name Leocharis Eurypontidos revolted against Saneus, quickly won all the support and arrested Saneus. To show the good will of the Macedonians he turned Saneus over to the Romans. The Senate decided to put Saneus to exile to the Seleucid Empire in the east, where the old and bitter king spent the rest of his remaining years.
While not a long war, the first Macedon war utterly destroyed the once good relationship between the Senate and the Macedonian king.

Fixiwee

11-18-2009, 14:04

Transcript of the college presentation during the lecture „The Roman Republic“ in 2003, University of Minnesota, USA

[Anna Chow speaking]:
Dear colleges, dear professor, last week we heard about the end of the second Punic war and the first Macedonian war. What was following these wars was a rather calm period without many foreign conflicts for Rome. I will give a short summary for this period that lasted until 166 BC, when the infamous Metellus became consul.
The war hero Spurius Cornelius Sulla became consul in 184 BC. In the first half of the second century BC the Senate was ruled by rich and prestigious families like the Scipions and the Cornelii. Even though the rich families often fought each other for power in the Senate, disputes were – yet - bloodless and civilized. One problem was that young people, like for example Tiberius Cornelius Scipio, were already popular, yet they were to young to have real power in the Senate, despite their influence. Scipio was a good example for this. He led armies to victory at the age of 25 in Spain, when he returned to Rome he was nothing but a young Senator in Rome. Bitter he turned to the military again, going to Greece where tensions were still high after the first war with Saneus. The other problem was that these prestigious families had become quite rich through the second Punic war, corruption and miss governance in the provinces was an untreated issue.

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Rome in 180 BC.

Although a rather peaceful period, two smaller armed conflicts happened. At 179 BC the Taurisci, also called the Norici, invaded the northern border of Italy coming from the Alps. Although the numbers of people invading didn’t exceed some 8000 people it was the first barbarian invasion for over 100 years. In the same year consul Publius Denatus defeated the Norici at Ceneta and enslaved the saviours.
The following year the Macedonian king Leocharis Eurypontidos, who restored diplomatic relations with Rome, was murdered by Alexander IV a follower of Saneus, who declared himself king. Tiberius Scipio, always ready to go to war attacked Alexander IV in 178 BC after being provoked by the new king. In 176 BC he defeated the new king in the battle of Berora. Alexander IV had to agree to accept Roman governance in Epirus and disclaim hegemony over Greece. The Second Macedonian war only lasted for two years, but by now the Macedonian-Roman relationship was terribly hostile.
Scipio returned to Rome in 174 BC to finally become Consul, using this position to accumulate his fame and especially his wealth. His former friend and mentor Sulla, who also became consul in 172 and 170 BC, refrained from Scipio due to personal reasons.
The political situation in the Senate changed when the rather unknown former Praetor Caius Caecilius Metellus came to Rome in 167 BC.

Fixiwee

11-20-2009, 17:24

“Laws control the lesser man... Right conduct controls the greater one.”
-Marc Twain

The new Roman Nobility

A history of Rome, by Prof Alfred Kennard, 2002 New York

The Second Punic war brought a lot of wealth to the noble families in Rome. The Senate was populated by a few rich and prestigious families like the Aemilii, Cornelli, Fulvii and of course the Scipios. What we can gather from the ancient sources the wealth was not distributed equally between the Patricians and the Plebeians. The economical situation seemed to worsen for the Plebeians from 180 BC onwards, while people like the Scipios built luxury mansions around Rome. Speculations about corruption were daily topic, but unfortunately no one tried to challenge the rich families. Miss governance of the provinces seemed to increase as well, for example the rumour was that Numerius Cornelius Scipio, a cousin of the victor from the second Macedonian war, used his position as a governor in Sicily to put as much money in his pocket as possible.
But the corruption of the noble families was also a possibility for new Senators to reform the system. One of these men was a Plebeian called Gaius Caecilius Metellus. He was born in Rhegion in 207 BC to the Caecilian gens. This Plebeian gens was one of the richer and prestigious families in Rome who had already produced a few consuls. They were known for their rather conservative sense of politics. Metellus served as a soldier in the First Macedonian war and became a Quaestor in Sicily therafter. There he got to know Numerius Cornelius Scipio and became witness to the corruption, while at the same time the cousin of Numerius, Tiberius Cornelius Scipio Asina, came back from the second Macedonian war as a triumphant war hero. Afterwards he served as a Plebeian Tribune and Plebeian Aedile, both positions he used for architectural improvements to Rome (as we will see later). After serving as a Praetor in Sardinia in 168 BC he returned to Rome to fight against the widespread corruption.

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Fabius - Ab Urbe Condita
(written at about 50 BC)

Book XXVIII

At the end of the year 586 AUC [168 BC] Caius Caecilius Metellus returned to Rome after serving in Sardinia. His service was superb, he came to a rather troubled region and left with order and morality restored. Magistrates in Sardinia were said to work hard and efficient even 20 years after Metellus left.
When he returned to Rome the corrupt nobility did not take any notice of it at all, despite his public speeches against corruption throughout his years. It is remarkable that Metellus started to work the very first day he came back. For a man of his character, there was never an idle moment. Each day had to be used to work for the best of Rome and its people. He only took a day off to visit friends and relatives he had in Rome, but besides that he already dealt with his clients on the very first day.
Before Metellus could stand up against the widespread corruption and loss of morality by the Senate he had to work with his clients. Since he had been gone for over a year this work took over the first months and it wasn’t until the spring of the next year [167 BC] that he could go to the courts.
In late March Metellus decided that the time was right. The day before making his announcement he organized a small festivity in his house to invite friends and political allies. The next day Metellus publicly announced his actual endeavour with a small speech: “For too long the nobility in the Senate has stood and watched while some men with influence put their power to enrich them selves first before the needs of Rome. As a firm believer in the greatness of the Roman Senate and its people it is my obligation to bring those responsible to court and see them convicted. I therefore announce to put, among others, Caius Cornelius Sulla [Sullas son], Marcus Cornelius Lentulus and foremost Tiberius Cornelius Scipio Asina, victor in Spain and Macedon, before court.

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A history of Rome, by Prof Alfred Kennard, 2002 New York

Among the nobility the accusation from Metellus was quite the shock. Even though everyone seemed to know that Scipio was corrupt, his deeds to Rome, his ancestry of two great victors against the Carthaginians was enough to let him live with his flaws. Metellus was a calm man of principle, who wanted to see order and honesty restored to the Senate. But he also had the momentum at his side, his proclamation to bring the corrupt people to court was quite the news and made Metellus instantly popular among the masses. Resisting such a man could mean possible riots and disorder among the Plebeians and the Scipios knew that very well.
The only chance for them was to face Metellus in court and use his weapons against him. The Scipios tried to confront him directly in court and delayed the procedure wherever they could. The sessions went on till October of the same year, when Metellus got unexpected support. The youngest son of Sulla, Marcus Cornelius Sulla supported Metellus in court and spoke out against his older brother Gaius. Spurius Sulla had already withdrawn from daily politics in 169 BC and retired to a villa north to Rome. Fabius interprets that the popular Spurius Sulla, fearing that his name might be put to shame through his son Gaius, told Marcus Sulla to speak out against his brother. While the famous Sulla retired indeed as a rich man, it was said that he did so rather honestly and even if he made money by illegal means, at least he spent a good portion to the public cause.

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Eventually Metellus won the case and the convicted Senators, among them Numerius Cornelius Scipio and Tiberius Cornelius Scipio Asina, went into exile. Metellus had become the hero of Rome and immediately the next year he became consul. Within one year the Plebeian Senator became the most prominent member of the Senate and would guide Roman politics for the next years.

a completely inoffensive name

11-23-2009, 02:48

Cool story bro.

A Very Super Market

11-23-2009, 02:57

It's beautiful keep up the good work

Fixiwee

11-28-2009, 20:51

“He conquers who conquers himself”
Latin Proverb quotes

Macedonicus

A history of Rome, by Prof Alfred Kennard, 2002 New York

The consulship of Metellus was characterized by the lex orata, an anti luxury law that limited the wealth people could own without taxation. The law was well intended, but never actually used. Nevertheless it marked Metellus as a guardian of morality and as a fighter against corruption. Metellus tried to make a good example and used his own money on public buildings and infrastructure. He assigned his childhood friend Manius Claudius Sabinus during his consulship to build a network of roads in Spain, needed for the military and trade. Metellus always was interested in architecture and later in his life he wrote a book called “de architectura” in which he describes his work on roads in Sicily and the improvement of the existing Aqueducts in Rome.
After his consulship Metellus remained an important figure in the Senate and his opinion on political matters remained heavy, even with different consuls.

In 164 BC Spurius Cornelius Sulla died peacefully in his mansion with old age. The popular victor over the Celts and Carthaginians was mourned by a 2 week festival in Rome. Metellus publicly honoured his great skills in battle and the name Sulla remained valued, despite the fact that Metellus exiled one of his sons.

The next year, in fall of 163 BC, Alexander IV Idomeneus invaded Epirus once again. The Roman legion retreated to the south-west since the Macedonian army was too large. It had about 45.000 men, 25.000 attacking from the north and 20.000 from the south. The most important factor was that Alexander IV had reformed his army since the last defeat against the Romans in 176 BC. Now his Phalanx was filled with Illyrians to make up the low numbers of Macedonians in the army and the equipment was improved as well.
The Romans elected a Publius Valerius Maximus as of the two consuls, a disimpassioned and unimposing Senator with promising military skills. Already in February of 162 he sailed with a small fleet and an additional legion to Greece.
The Macedonians sent their large fleet under their admiral Astrabakos to prevent the Romans from landing troops. But Astrabakos was halted by rough days at the sea and arrived to late to prevent Maximus to land. Nevertheless it came to a sea battle at the gulf of Avlona (modern day Vlorë in Albania) where about 150 modern warships destroyed a great portion of the 50 Roman ships. For the time being, the Romans didn’t have an adequate fleet, so the superiority of the see remained with the Macedonians. Nevertheless Maximus landed his troops successful in Greece, ready to attack Alexander IV.
Two legions were situated in the south ready to attack Alexander’s forces, naturally Maximus task would have been to engage the larger northern army. But Maximus wanted to risk a strategic move to end the war quickly by concentrating all his troops to the south. Alexander was caught off guard and retreated east to the mountains, but had to face Maximus at the battle of Milea in the fall of 162 BC.

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Silanos – Historiai
(written about 130 BC)

Book X

[…] Alexander IV was indeed a strange yet fascinating man. Now being in his 60ies, he was still strong and vivid in everything he did. On the one side he was a brilliant political leader that united all the Macedonian and Greek factions with passionate speeches, he was inclined to philosophy but never lost sight for what was possible. On other side, however, he was that he was obsessed with his eponym Alexander the Great. The tale of a 30 year old young man conquering the whole Persian Empire fascinated him since he was young. It was his believe, that he had the spirit of Alexander the Great in him. Needless to say, the new Persian Empire was seen as the Roman Republic, who in his eyes sought to conquer all of Greece and Macedonia. By attacking the Romans he hoped to conquer all of Italy, Illyrian and Spain, creating a new Alexandrian Empire. After his defeat against Scipio he reformed his armies, filling ranks with Illyrians and Barbarians.
When Maximus attacked him with a large army he was surprised by the bold move of the Roman, as the Macedonians and the Greeks saw the Romans as untalented tactical leaders. Alexander used the terrain for his advantage, trying to split the legions apart, fighting one legion at a time. A victory at the valley of Milea could change everything for the Macedonian king.

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The battle was fought on the hill slopes on the left flank of the Romans

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Roman skirmisher (Velites) marching to position

Milea itself was an old settlement destroyed long ago by invading Barbarians, the ruins were still a landmark when the bold Maximus attacked Alexander.

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The Maceondian army consisted of a good deal of Thracian mercaneries.

Both leaders knew that the whole battle was to be decided by the slopes of the local hill. The best troops on both sides fought here for the control of the battle.

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Roman cavalry engaging Macedonian heavy skirmisher on the hill slopes.

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The fighting on the slopes were difficult and exhausting for both sides.

Both sides fought bravely and determined to win. Unfortunately for the Macedonians Alexander was stabbed during the battle in the stomach by a Roman equestrian, harming the Macedonian king. Alexander had to retreat from the battlefield to his camp since he was bleeding terribly. But unlike the battle of Berora against Scipio Alexander’s troops were disciplined and fought on for the cause of their king.

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Macedonian heavy infrantry regrouping on the battle field.

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Roman light Infrantry (Hastati) fighting though a Phalanx.

Alexander was successful in splitting Maximus’ troops apart since the reinforcements did not arrive to the battlefield that day. Nevertheless the wounded king was unable to lead his men from the bed of his camp. Maximus eventually won the flanks on the slope tearing the Macedonian Phalanx apart and thus wining the battle. When the disorientated Macedonians started to flee, the Roman cavalry hunted down many fleeing soldiers. When the surviving troops came back to the camp they were informed by the Greek doctors that Alexander was lethally and bled to death. This was the day the last Macedonian king died.

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Macedonians fleeing from the enemy.

A history of Rome, by Prof Alfred Kennard, 2002 New York

After the victory Maximus returned to Ambrakia, the rest of the northern army retreated to the Borders of Macedonia. Maximus spent the winter there, reorganising his troops. He sent word to the senate in Rome what to do with Macedoni. The answer came not from Rome but from a nephew of Alexander who was about to proclaim himself king: Lysanias Saneus.
For the Romans the position was clear, the Macedonians had betrayed them multiple times and not followed treaties, furthermore Alexander had illegally attacked the Achaean league prior to the war. For the Maximus the Macedonians could not be trusted anymore and had to be defeated. The following spring in 161 BC Maximus marched on the undefended city of Pella, the capital of Macedonia. Maximus made an offer to the inhabitants that he would not kill a single human being if they submitted to the Romans. The inhabitants of Pella agreed and were eventually sold to slavery. Maximus order his soldiers to plunder and burn down the city as a sign against the Macedonians. In the summer Maximus marched to the south hoping to face Lysanias Saneus in battle.

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In the battle of Demetrias Maximus faced a strong Macedonian army.

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Reformed Macedonian Phalanx fighting against the Roman legion

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Lysanias being killed in battle.

But Lysanias was too young and too inexperienced as a military leader. He lost his life and the battle as well. In the fall of 161 Maximus entered the city of Athens, making him the conqueror of one of the most prestigious city of antiquity. Maximus was welcomed as the liberator of Macedonian tyranny, and even though he did not like the Greeks at all he took part in a public welcoming.

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News quickly spread in Rome that the ancient city of Athens was in Roman hands – the popularity of Maximus was rising and for the people it looked like the Macedonians were already defeated. But a large Macedonian army was still located at Serdike (modern-day Sofia) threatening to conquer back the territory. It wasn’t until 159 BC that Maximus had his troops ready to attack to the north. There he met the military leader of the army Ptolemas Libethrios at the battle of Astibos.

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Thracians made up most of the army of Ptolemas

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Hastati waiting for the enemy attack.

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A centurion charging with his maniple against the Macedonians.

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Tense fighting on both sides.

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The aftermath.

Maximus won the third and last battle in his campaign by using his huge amount of cavalry to outflank the enemy and encircle the Macedonian Phalanx.
There was no one opposing Roman conquest in Macedonia anymore, Alexander IV was dead and all important cities in Roman hand. In late 159 Maximus declared victory over the Macedonians and returned to Rome in 158. His return to the city was celebrated with a large triumph. The senate was so pleased with Maximus’ success in Macedonia that they rewarded him with the title of Macedonicus to his surname. His full name was now Publius Valerius Maximus Macedonicus.

https://i583.photobucket.com/albums/ss273/Fixiwee/3mac21.jpg

https://i583.photobucket.com/albums/ss273/Fixiwee/3mac22.jpg

Fixiwee

12-07-2009, 18:12

The best executive is the one who has sense enough to pick good men to do what he wants done, and self-restraint to keep from meddling with them while they do it.
Theodore Roosevelt

A protagonist of his time

The Roman Empire, by Wolfgang Schreier, Bonn 2003

By 156 BC Caecilius Metellus started to propose waging war against Carthage. He argued that after the third Macedonian war the Roman army was disciplined enough to win against a war against its archrival. Metellus saw Carthage as a constant threat to the security of Rome which had to be dealt with, and his eyes, rather sooner then later. The senators were indifferent to this proposal, Rome had just been through war and Carthage did not threaten Rome right now. On the other hand Rome was waging war in Spain. The Celts from the city of Numantia were constantly harassing the Roman borders, which drew much military attention.

https://i583.photobucket.com/albums/ss273/Fixiwee/Mett01.jpg
Open battles against the Celts were rare. Whenever the Celts could they would rather raid trade routes and undefended Roman colonies. The Numantians were strong enough in numbers to face the Romans in open battle.

https://i583.photobucket.com/albums/ss273/Fixiwee/Mett02.jpg
Romes biggest advantage over the celts were a strong cavalry that outflanked the strong Celtic infantry. It is asthonishing that the followind decades the Romans would decrease their number of Equites.

https://i583.photobucket.com/albums/ss273/Fixiwee/Mett03.jpg
Celtic infantry were well equipped formidable foes.

https://i583.photobucket.com/albums/ss273/Fixiwee/Mett04.jpg
The battle of Numantia was a huge battle that saw the defeat of Celtic resistence in the center of Spain.

https://i583.photobucket.com/albums/ss273/Fixiwee/Mett05.jpg
Thousand of men fighting.

https://i583.photobucket.com/albums/ss273/Fixiwee/Mett06.jpg
Cavalry outflanking the Celts and crushing them from the rear.

But Metellus remained calm and waited for a better moment. Meanwhile he was appointed Censor in 154 BC, a crowning achievement for his career.

https://i583.photobucket.com/albums/ss273/Fixiwee/Mett07.jpg

In the same year a roman Legion defeated the Numantians before their city gates and thus more military stability was granted in Spain again. Metellus made a vow for war again and this time opinions in the Senate were swayed. Metellus was appointed Proconsul to defeat Carthage. In 153 a large fleet with about 60.000 Roman soldiers gathered in Sicily to embark against Carthage once again.

https://i583.photobucket.com/albums/ss273/Fixiwee/Mett08.jpg
The large Roman fleet landing in Africa.

https://i583.photobucket.com/albums/ss273/Fixiwee/Mett09.jpg
Metellus making his way to the city.

The overwhelming masses of Roman legionnaires landing in Africa took the Carthaginians completely by surprise. They had not rebuilt their army since the second Punic war and the current Suffet Abdesmnun only had some 10.000 men ready to defend the city.
Abdesmnuns actions already puzzled ancient historian Fabius, since the Romans thought that a long and exhausting siege was about to start. But Abdesmnun gathered his troops in front of the city and marched against the Romans. Perhaps he thought that he might win a surprise victory by attacking an enemy that was rather prepared for siege then an open battle. At the battle of Carthage in 152 BC he fought against 2 legions under the command of Metellus. Abdesmnuns timing was well enough since he only faced an army of 25.000 men.

https://i583.photobucket.com/albums/ss273/Fixiwee/Mett10.jpg
The battle of Carthage saw some small pokets of fierce fighting, but overall the Romans were baffled by the lack of resistance by the Carthaginians.

https://i583.photobucket.com/albums/ss273/Fixiwee/Mett11.jpg
The battle only lasted for two hours, afterwards the remaining Carthaginian troops retreated to the city.

https://i583.photobucket.com/albums/ss273/Fixiwee/Mett12.jpg
Romans love slaves. Oh yes, they do.

In the end Metellus was victorious. The supreme council in Carthage surrendered to the Romans and opened the gates to Metellus. He was the first one to enter the city as a conqueror and ordered the enslavement of all citizens and the destruction of the city. Carthage was looted and then burned to the grounds. The ancient and prestigious city now lay in complete ruins. Metellus returned to Rome as a victor and was granted a triumph for defeating Carthage. The conquered lands were formed to the province Africa. Carthage itself would lie in ruins for decades.

https://i583.photobucket.com/albums/ss273/Fixiwee/Mett13.jpg
The Roman Republic in 150 BC.

https://i583.photobucket.com/albums/ss273/Fixiwee/Mett14.jpg
Far to the east, but without relevance to the Romans as of yet, the Parthians were overrunning the Seuleukid Empire.

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Parthians overruning the Capital Seleukeia in 148 BC

https://i583.photobucket.com/albums/ss273/Fixiwee/Mett16.jpg
In the east a new empire was forming, the Parthian Empire. The map shows Parthian domain at 140 BC.

The borders of the Roman republic turned calm with the end of the third Punic war. To the start of the Roman civil war only a few conflicts arose now and then. A short summary is presented here:
In 154 BC Consul S. Aemilius Lepidus conquered the former Carthaginian colony of Leptis Magna and installed a Rome-friendly but politically independent client ruler.
In 138 BC a Greek envoy from Mytilene an island-state in the Aegean Sea sent by the ruler Archagathos asked for help in the struggle of a civil war. The city exiled Archagathos who went to Athens to maintain contacts with Roman politicians there. Archagathos had declared himself as a friend (amici) two decades earlier and now needed the Senates help. After some heated debates among the Senators the Senate eventually agreed to help Archagathos and sent the Roman consul K. Iunius Brutus to the island in 136 BC.

https://i583.photobucket.com/albums/ss273/Fixiwee/Mett17.jpg

The rebels were defeated and Archagathos returned to power. But Brutus did not return to Rome immediately. After he had learned that the campaign against Archagathos was sponsored by the Kingdom of Pergamon under their king Aristos, he decided to invade Pergamon without the Senates approval. The king did not suspect that this conflict would summon the Romans to his domain, after all the forces of Pergamon were no match for the Roman legions. Aristos was defeated in the battle of Cyme in 136 BC. Brutus returned to Rome and while the Senate had mixed feelings about Brutus decision it agreed to install the province of Asia in the old kingdom.

https://i583.photobucket.com/albums/ss273/Fixiwee/Mett18.jpg
The Roman Republic in 135 BC, after the Pergamon campaign.

In 133 BC the Lusitani in Spain, who had been conquered in 166 BC, rebelled against the Roman rule caused by miss governance and corruption. The rebellion was quelled by the military legate Publius Cornelius Sulla, a nephew of the famous Spurius Cornelius Sulla.

https://i583.photobucket.com/albums/ss273/Fixiwee/Mett19.jpg
The Lusitani rebellion. The small city of Oxtraca was the center of the Celtic rebellion.

The same Sulla attacked the Callaeci in 126 BC defeating them in a costly battle of Tyde in the same year. Now most of Spain was in the hands of the Romans, with only the Celtic tribes of the Austures and the Cantabri still being independent.

https://i583.photobucket.com/albums/ss273/Fixiwee/Mett20.jpg
The battle of Tyde saw great casualties for the Romans. Supply was rare far up in the north of Spain. The unknown terrain was a dangerous area.

https://i583.photobucket.com/albums/ss273/Fixiwee/Mett21.jpg
The battle of Tyde is a good example of superior Celtic infantrymen. While the Celts have less men then the Romans they are able to inflict tremendous casualties to the Romans who nearly lost the battle.

https://i583.photobucket.com/albums/ss273/Fixiwee/Mett22.jpg
Eventually Roman cavalry turned the tide of the battle once again. Here they are waiting to manuever against the enemy.

In 123 BC Caecilius Metellus died at the age of 84. For decades Metellus was the most prominent member of the Senate. He had conquered Carthage and influenced the outcome of the third Macedonian war. He was also a very conservative politician who fought against the widespread corruption and thus brought down the legacy of the Scipions. For generations to come Metellus was the example of the “good old Roman politican”.
It has been vividly debated whether Metellus prolonged the civil war by actions his against corruption or if his refusal for any political reforms actually accelerated it.

https://i583.photobucket.com/albums/ss273/Fixiwee/Mett23.jpg

https://i583.photobucket.com/albums/ss273/Fixiwee/Mett24.jpg

Celtic_Punk

12-11-2009, 00:52

Fixiwee

12-11-2009, 13:34

An interesting alternative could be the early destruction of rome, or the failure of Caesars' gallic conquest. Or a Victory to hannibal from a headstrong Rome willing to engage him in the field once more! :book:
Well I am limited to the possibilities. Since I will continue this AAR with Invasio Barbarorum it implies that Rome will not be destroyed early one. I also need a Caesar to bring down the republic for the sole reason of his name.
But somethings will be different, the roman civil war starts the same way as the historic one, but afterwards it seems to change the direction as of far. As for the conquest of gaul, nothing is written in stone yet. ;)

Fixiwee

12-15-2009, 14:09

"A nation can survive its fools and even the ambitious. But it cannot survive treason from within. An enemy at the gates is less formidable, for he is known and he carries his banners openly against the city. But the traitor moves among those within the gates freely, his sly whispers rustling through all alleys, heard in the very halls of government itself. For the traitor appears no traitor; he speaks in the accents familiar to his victim, and he wears their face and their garments and he appeals to the baseness that lies deep in the hearts of all men. He rots the soul of a nation; he works secretly and unknown in the night to undermine the pillars of a city; he infects the body politic so that it can no longer resist. A murderer is less to be feared. The traitor is the plague."
Cicero

The beginning of the end

The Roman Empire, by Wolfgang Schreier, Bonn 2003

For quite some time in the 2nd century BC already some insightful senators saw that the owners of large estates were rising and the certain problems were connected to that process. In 140 BC a Consul by the Name of Gaius Laelius was the first one to address the problem by reforming the public lands in Italy, but without success.
The problem was that the vast expansion of the Roman Republic was causing further issues. The steady income of foreign slaves enabled landowners to create large estates (Latifundia) run by these serfs. That also meant that small owner of estates became poor and went to the cities where they would serve as day-labourers. This had another effect that the Roman census, which determined the class in the army and the equipment one had to own, was running out of manpower.
In 123 BC a process started with the plebeian tribune Gaius Aurelius Cotta which effectively triggered the Roman civil war, even if at that time no one was aware of that. Cotta the Tribune (Cotta was not called like that until the French Revolution, when he became a popular figure) came from a prestigious Plebeian family, he shared the same name with the Cotta who failed conquering Carthage at the second battle of Sabo (https://forums.totalwar.org/vb/showpost.php?p=2357924&postcount=30) in 199 BC, but he was only distantly related to him. Far more important was that his father and his uncle were both Governors in Nearer Hispania and Further Hispania, so Cotta the Tribune was a respected and wealthy upcoming Senator.

https://i583.photobucket.com/albums/ss273/Fixiwee/paintingcotta2.jpg

Helenos – Bíos

(written about 100 AD)

631 ab urbe Condita [123 BC] began as a normal year for the Roman people. But in early Ianuarius [January] Metellus the Censor died of old age. He did not live to see what chaotic years followed his passage to the afterlife. It is also a strange coincidence that the following events occurred in the year of his death, but there seems to be no evidence that Gaius Aurelius Cotta planed to wait with his actions till the death of Metellus.
Gaius Aurelius Cotta’s tribuneship started out normally that year. The first months in office he worked with his plebeian clients about legal matters. But in April Gaius Aurelius Cotta presented his law “lex Aurelia” to the Peoples Assembly. This law saw the redistribution of the ager publicus Romanus [Roman public land in Italy] to the destitute peasants. Every peasant should 500 iugera for cultivation, with additional 250 iugera for one, or 500 iugera for two sons. Linked with the law was the proposal to establish a public commission to distribute the land to those who needed it.
Cotta did not present the law to the Senate which had been common for hundreds of years since he did not want to risk wealthy Senators speaking against it, which actually infuriated Senators in the first place.
These Senators spoke to a tribune called Quintus Octavius to make use of his power of intercession to stop the “lex Aurelia”. Cotta was mad that his college spoke out against such an important law, but he did nothing else for the moment. He tried again a few days later, but Quintus Octavius spoke against the law once more. Cotta replied that he would take any necessary step to serve the republic and called for a vote among the 10 tribunes to relieve Octavius from his office. Such thing had not happened since the foundation in Rome because the Plebeian Tribune was in fact a sacred office sworn to protect the Plebeians at all cost. Now this man destroyed the ancient tradition.
It came to a vote and Octavius was relieved from his office. Cotta went for another try with his law and this time no one tried to speak against it.
The Senates was mad when they heard about Cottas actions. Nevertheless they did not dare to take actions against the tribune since his sacral power protected him from those Patricians. A try to harm him would have put all the anger from the Roman people against the Senate, so for now they had to wait until the year was over when Cotta was released from his duties and privileges.
The agrarian commission was instituted under the leadership of Cotta himself. His two colleges were Tiberius Sempronius Gracchus and Titus Aemilius Mamercus. The commission began to work immediately, redistributing lands to the poor.
But Cotta was a smart Plebeian with insight for what was happening. He knew that once the year was over his political power would run out and his work could have been for nothing. All it took was another tribune to reverse the law and abolish the commission. Some Senators openly spoke about such a plan. Cotta, realising his desperate situation and fearing for his life, announced that he would run for tribune for the following year again. The witty Plebeian outsmarted the opposing Senators, who were shocked over his apparent arrogance. But people were already wondering if his law was simply too much and if Cotta had broken too many rules of the Mos Maiorum [Custom of the ancestors]. Nevertheless the commission continued the work in 630 AUC [122 BC] after Cotta was re-elected as Plebeian Tribune
On the 12th of Martius [March] of the same year Cotta made public that he would run for Tribune as long as the commission had work to be done. He saw the needs of the land hungry masses of Rome as his most important work in life and he, so he argued, could not be slowed down by any ancient traditions. But by doing so he alienated himself from the people, his supporters became fewer every day. And most important, his announcement that he would run for Tribune again infuriated the Senate to the highest point.
The next day the Senate met in session, but any sense for a calm discussion was lost. Turmoil and loud arguments flew through the air like javelins in war. Some supporters of Cotta were physically attacked and fled from the Senate. The remaining people discussed their options, but all talking was in vein when the consular Quintus Hostilius Manicus stood up and left the Senate with his followers.
Hostilius Manicus marched towards the Forum where Cotta was talking to the masses from the Rostra [political platform]. There on the late afternoon the Senators under Hostlius Manicus clashed with Cottas followers. Before anyone had any idea what was going on violence terrorized the Forum and people were severely injured. Citizens ran in all directions and chaos broke out among them. No one knew what happened exactly but in the end Cotta and a many of his followers lay dead, covered in blood on the ground of the Roman city. His followers fled, his body was covered in linen and dumped into the Tiber the following day. For now the problem for the Senators was solved, so it seemed to them. […]

https://i583.photobucket.com/albums/ss273/Fixiwee/paintingcotta.jpg

The Roman Empire, by Wolfgang Schreier, Bonn 2003

These events were a shock to the Roman people. 30 years ago Rome engaged in wars all over the known world and defeated Carthage and Macedonia, now the Romans were killing each other on the Forum Romanum. The supporters of Cotta were pursued and put before a legal tribunal appointed by Senators. Many people around Cotta were sentenced to death, among them his close friend and commissioner of the agrarian reform Aemilius Mamercus.
It could be argued that the rich prestigious Senators did not want to give away a piece of the big cake that was the public land in Italy. This is not exactly true however, because the Commission for agrarian reforms did not cease to work, their missing ranks filled with other Plebeians. Furthermore Cottas opponents like M. Popillius Leanas adorned their legislating in improving the situation for the have-nots through the commission. It seems that the ager publicus was not the essential issue. The root of the conflict lay in the process of ignoring the Senate as a well established political institution and the activation of the Plebeian Council as the sole lawgiving assembly.
This new way of making politics split the political positions in two, even though if the constraints were variable. The one claimed working for the well being of the people, which were called populares; the other ones represented the best, optimi, of people, hence their name optimates.
One should not however confuse either group as a modern political party with different agendas. Simply put the populares meant to rule through the popular assembly, while the other group acted through the Senate.

gamegeek2

12-16-2009, 05:22

:smash::smash::smash::smash::smash:

Fixiwee

12-19-2009, 21:46

A country can be judged by the quality of its proverbs.
German Proverb

The military crisis of the late 2nd century.

A history of Rome, by Prof Alfred Kennard, 2002 New York

After Cotta had been more or less accidentally killed and henceforth dealt with most Senators acted if nothing happened and continued their political work. For a few years this seemed to be plausible, the temple of the Roman goddess Concordia [goddess of harmony] was renewed in 120 BC as a symbol that order was restored.
But from 118 BC onward another process started that enhanced the Roman civil war, yet this time it started external. Within a few years multiple enemies, without consulting each other, started pressing against the boarders of the Roman Republic. This effect should lead to a serious military crisis. It all started in Africa.
The following chapters shall offer a short summary of these costly conflicts.

https://i583.photobucket.com/albums/ss273/Fixiwee/crisis.jpg
The map shows the Roman Empire in 120 BC and the military conflicts.

1. War against Bodmelquart

From around 118 BC it seemed like Numidian raiders started crossing the Roman borders and attacking trade posts that were part of the Roman province Africa. Each year the attack seemed to worsen, and in 116 BC the governor of the province decided to station mercenaries on the boarder to protect the trade trade. These raiders were actually led by a Numidian noble called Bodmelquart. Bodmelquart was a leading some 4000 men at the beginning of the conflict. But his reputation as a wise philosopher and fearless soldier made him famous in Africa and with the rising conflict against Rome warriors and mercenaries flocked to him.
When Roman auxiliary met the Raiders in open battle in the same year the Romans could stop the small raiding band.

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Raiders attacking the province.

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Numidian raiders advancing.

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Roman auxilliary troops defending Numidians. These troops may not be equipped well, but their fighting spirit was remarkable.

Bodmelquart decided to attack the Roman territory with some 1800 men. The Romans did not have any legion in Africa, only a few auxiliary troops at their disposal. Rome sent word to the Numidian king Bathyaes to call Bodmelquart back, but he denied any direct involvement with the Raiders. The Roman Senators did not quite believe those claims and decided it would be best to declare war on the Numidians. The following year a consular army by Servius Aemilius Lepidus was sent to Africa to deal with the Numidians and to defeat Bodmelquart. At first the Romans drove the Numidian raiders back and attacked the Numidian army on the northern coast of Africa. But Aemilius Lepidus took his time with his war. It took him two additional years (114 BC) to capture the important city of Ippone, even though Numidia didn’t have any serious forces stationed there.

https://i583.photobucket.com/albums/ss273/Fixiwee/crisis-africa04.jpg
Aemilius Lepidus taking Ippone in 114 BC.

The following year the Numidians retaliated and attacked the most important city in Africa, Atiqa, ultimately threatening to cut of the Aemilius Lepidus from vital supplies. At the battle of Cirthul in 112 BC some 29.000 Roman troops faced a smaller Numidian army of 20.000 men. There is no surviving account on what exactly happened during the battle, but according to Fabius, Aemilius Lepidus was killed and the Romans lost 18.000 men.

The Romans sent another two legions under the prêt or Servius Atilius Calatinus. Calatinus commanded the forces to destroy Bodmelquarts forces in the hinterlands, while he ordered his promising military legate Quintus Sergius Orata (who would play an important part later) to secure the coast of Africa.

https://i583.photobucket.com/albums/ss273/Fixiwee/crisis-africa05.jpg
Calatinus and Orata landing in Africa, prepearing to attack the Numidians.

In 111 BC it came to the battle of Sarpetas where Sergius Orata faced the prominent Numidian general Maharabal.

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Orata was not a brilliant tactician, but he sticked to the usual Roman tactics.

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The heavy infantry in the ranks of the Numidians were Greek mercanaries which had the equipement to fight against the Romans.

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Lacking heavy cavallry, the Numidians often lost fighting at the flanks and thus being encircled by the Roman legions.

https://i583.photobucket.com/albums/ss273/Fixiwee/crisis-africa10.jpg
Marahabal fleeing from the field. His future after the battle is unknown.

While Orata had won an important victory over the Numidians he returned to Rome after the battle, while it was rumoured that he had not a stomach for battle. Nevertheless the battle proved to be a gain in prestige for Orata.
Meanwhile Calatinus campaigned deeper in the African hinterlands without having to fear being cut off from supplies after the battle of Sarpetas. Yet it took him another two years until he could face a Numidian army at the battle of Turuth in 109 BC.

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Calatinus campaigning in the Numidian hinterlands.

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Battle of Turuth

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This battle was decided by the lack of heavy infantry of the Numidians. Being cut of the sea, the steady flow of Greek mercs ceased.

Despite winning the battle (there are no sources on the casualties) Calatinus mandate was running out that year and he had to return to Rome, being replaced with the inapt Spurius Sergius Esquilinus. Sergius Esquilinus directly attacked Bodmelquarts stronghold in the city of Kirtan, where he lost the battle of the Kirtan hills in 108 BC. He remained in Africa the following year without trying to confront Bodmelquart at all. The following year he was recalled to Rome because of the lack of progress.

https://i583.photobucket.com/albums/ss273/Fixiwee/Denatus.jpg

In 106 BC the praetor Kaeso Curius Denatus arrived in Africa. Like Sergius Esquilinus he attacked Bodmelquart directly. But Denatus was a great organiser and had a sense for logistics, so he knew how to move thousand of troops through mostly unknown terrain. In 106 BC it came to the battle of Kirtan (not to be confused with the battle of the Kirtan hills).

https://i583.photobucket.com/albums/ss273/Fixiwee/crisis-africa17.jpg

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Denatus facing Bodmelquart

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Despite not being forticated, Kirtan was build on a natural hill that made reaching the city extremly difficult.

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Roman Hastati moving up the hill.

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The Numidians immidiatley started engaging the Romans, trying to stop them before they could enter the city.

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Heavy Roman lancers moving into position.

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Fabius tells us, that at the look of the Numidians the Romans begann to laugh, but once engaged they were suprised over their steadiness and bravery.

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The Numidian nobles used Carthaginian equipment.

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The battle was going on for hours when...

https://i583.photobucket.com/albums/ss273/Fixiwee/crisis-africa25.jpg

https://i583.photobucket.com/albums/ss273/Fixiwee/crisis-africa26.jpg

https://i583.photobucket.com/albums/ss273/Fixiwee/crisis-africa27.jpg

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...when heavy Roman lancers destroyed the outer defence of Kirtan. Denatus knew how to trap the enemy in a pocket.

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Triari moving up to enter the city.

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Roman soldiers are about to enter the city.

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After some fierce fighting in the small city the Romans eventually slaid Bodmelquart and took the city. The Numidians were utterly defeated.

With Bodmelquart and a great deal of the Numidian army being dead the Numidian king had no other choice but to make peace with the Romans in 105 BC. Numidia became dependent of Rome and had to pay tribute. The king was removed from his throne and the lands were now open to Roman colonization. This was the end of Numidian rule in Africa.

https://i583.photobucket.com/albums/ss273/Fixiwee/crisis-africa32.jpg
Rome in 105 BC.

Denatus remained in Africa until 102 BC making sure that the situation in Africa was secure. When he returned to Rome he was celebrated as a war hero (much to his surprise) and awarded with a triumph.
The war lasted for over ten years and cost the Romans dearly with only little gain. It was the first time the Romans had problems recruiting soldiers after two important battles were lost during the campaign. The problem would not become apparent however until the Teutonic invasion.

2. War in Spain

The more or less stable political situation with the remaining northern Celtic tribes in Spain ended in 112 BC when the Astures under their King Kuintitaku Nertobricoi invaded Roman territory and raiding the country side.

https://i583.photobucket.com/albums/ss273/Fixiwee/crisis-spain01.jpg
Astures crossing the Roman border.

Being engaged in France and Africa at the same time, the Romans had little possibilities to deal with the problem. While not being strong enough to attack one of the important cities, the Astures fought a bitter guerrilla war against the Romans, raiding small villages and trade caravans. It took the Romans several years until they waged to attack the Asturian lands directly. But in 103 BC the praetorian army under Kaeso Calpurius Bestia engaged the King in the battle at the Pallantian forest.

https://i583.photobucket.com/albums/ss273/Fixiwee/crisis-spain02.jpg

https://i583.photobucket.com/albums/ss273/Fixiwee/crisis-gaul05.jpg
The battle was fought in difficult terrain.

https://i583.photobucket.com/albums/ss273/Fixiwee/crisis-gaul06.jpg
Asturian axemen were infamous and feared enemies.

https://i583.photobucket.com/albums/ss273/Fixiwee/crisis-gaul07.jpg
But the sheer number of Roman soldiers made the Asturians fall back to the woods.

https://i583.photobucket.com/albums/ss273/Fixiwee/crisis-gaul08.jpg
The Roman cavallry chasing skirmishers.

https://i583.photobucket.com/albums/ss273/Fixiwee/crisis-gaul09.jpg
During the battle, the Romans had to move up to the woods where the Astures reorganized. Romans were not used to fight in woods, so they did not know what would happen.

https://i583.photobucket.com/albums/ss273/Fixiwee/crisis-gaul10.jpg
The fighting in the wood was fierce and the Romans lost a good deal of men. But also in this case the Romans could drive the Astures off by their sheer number of force. But these victories came at a great cost.

With the defeat of the Astures at the Pallantian forest only the Celtic tribe of the Cantibri remained independent of Roman rule. The Asturian domain was added to the Roman provinces in Spain.

3. War in Southern France

In 114 BC the Celts from the Arverni tribe attacked the greek city Massalia [modern day Marseille] which was allied with Rome. Massalia and the Arverni Gauls had an uneasy history for decades, but this time the attack was more sincere and threatened the destruction of the city. Rome had important business interests with the city and decided to send an army to aid the Greeks. Gaius Curius Denatus, the younger brother of Kaeso lead an army against the Arverni in 113 BC where it came to the battle of Narbo.

https://i583.photobucket.com/albums/ss273/Fixiwee/crisis-gaul01.jpg

https://i583.photobucket.com/albums/ss273/Fixiwee/crisis-gaul02.jpg
The Arverni were known for producing sowrds and armor that exceeded the once from the Romans.

https://i583.photobucket.com/albums/ss273/Fixiwee/crisis-gaul03.jpg
In the battle of Narbo the Romans used another legion to outflank the Gauls. This caused massive panik amon them.

https://i583.photobucket.com/albums/ss273/Fixiwee/crisis-gaul04.jpg
According to Fabius, some Gauls were such fierce warriors that they did not flee and run for their life, but rather died in battle being greatly outnumbered.

Through the victory at Narbo the Romans now had the entire southern coast in modern-day France under their control, including the wealthy city of Tolosa [modern-day Toulouse]. The conquered area was made to the Roman province “Gallia Narbonensis”. But the victory also left an uneasy relationship with one of the most powerful Celtic tribe in Gaul.

4. Teutonic Invasion

The latest conflict of the late 2nd century crisis was caused by the Germanic tribe of the Teutons. This tribe moved from Jutland or Scandinavia due unknown reasons towards the Balkan and Italy. A small band of 5.000 raiders crossed the Alps in 109 BC scouting the wealthy Roman Republic. They were driven off the following year in 108 BC by the consul Servius Iunius Brutus who engaged the slow moving Teutons in the battle of the Karsian hills. The exact location of the battle is unknown, but we know that it was fought somewhere in the Swiss Alps.

https://i583.photobucket.com/albums/ss273/Fixiwee/crisis-german01.jpg
Teutonic Axemen charging against the Romans.

https://i583.photobucket.com/albums/ss273/Fixiwee/crisis-german02.jpg
Fighting in unknow terrain against an unknown enemy was tough and many soldiers fleed after being surrounded.

https://i583.photobucket.com/albums/ss273/Fixiwee/crisis-german03.jpg
Germans defending against an attack by the Romans.

https://i583.photobucket.com/albums/ss273/Fixiwee/crisis-german04.jpg

https://i583.photobucket.com/albums/ss273/Fixiwee/crisis-german05.jpg
Despite being an indecesive battle, the Romans lost many men. These casualties could not be replaced easily anymore.

The account on the battle is scares, only Fabius tells us that it was neither a victory for the Romans or the Teutons. Yet the battle cost the Romans many men. For another 6 years the Teutons moved through Gaul and returned in full force in the summer of 102 BC attacking the city Mediolanum [modernday Milan]. It was the same year when Denatus returned from Africa after he defeated Bodmelquart. The news of “Barbarians” invading Italy caused panic among the Romans.
[…]

Timeline of the events
(all dates are BC)

118 First Numidian Raiders attacking the Roman province Africa.
116 Romans win the first skirmish against the Numidian Raiders.
116 Bodmelqart starts a counter attack and defeats the Romanan auxilliary.
114 Aemilius Lepidus takes the costal city of Ippone in Africa.
114 The Gaul tribe of the Arveni attack Massalia in southern France.
113 Numidians attack the Atiqa in Africa.
113 Battle of Narbo - Gaius Curius Denatus defeats the Arverni. The area becomes the Roman province Gallia Narbonensis
112 The Celtic Astures start invading and raiding the Roman provinces in Spain.
112 Battle of Cirthul - The Romans lose against the Numidians and give up the city of Ippone.
111 Battle of Serpetas - Sergius Orata defeats the prominent Numidian general Maharabal. Ippone is back in Roman controll.
109 Battle of Turuth - Atilius Calatinus defeats the Numidians who are on the defence from now on.
109 First Teutons arrive in Italy.
108 Battle of the Kirtan hills - Sergius Esquilinus is not able to defeat Bodmelqart at his stronghold.
108 Battle of the Karsian hills - Iunius Brutus engages the Teutons. The battle is indecicive
106 Battle of Kirtan - Curius Denatus defeats Bodmelqart.
105 End of the war against Bodmelquart.
103 Battle at the Pallantian forest - The Romans under Calpurius Bestia defeat the Astures.
102 Denatus returns to Rome, celebrating his triumph.

Fixiwee

12-27-2009, 17:30

War is necessary - war brings peace - war brings pain
-Nas

An army of mules

The Roman Empire, by Wolfgang Schreier, Bonn 2003

In 102 BC the German tribe, the Teutons, returned to Italy, this time trying to conquered lands on the Italian Peninsula. By 101 BC the slow moving mass of people had conquered Mediolanum, present day Milan. A consular army under Iunus Pera attacked the Teutons at the battle of Vercella.

https://i583.photobucket.com/albums/ss273/Fixiwee/muli01.jpg
Mediolanum fell to the Teutons in 101 BC.

https://i583.photobucket.com/albums/ss273/Fixiwee/muli02.jpg

But Iunus was defeated and the Teutonic advance could not be stopped in 101 BC.

https://i583.photobucket.com/albums/ss273/Fixiwee/muli03.jpg
The Teutonic advance in the winter 101 BC. While small forces where already attacking the Italian coast, most of the army would head to Patavium in the following spring.

The situation turned out to be desperate. Barbarians were advancing on Rome, the Senate could not agree on any procedure against the Teutons and foremost there was a great lack of manpower due to the recruitment system. By this system, every Roman citizen had to provide his own equipment. This also meant that the richer one was, the higher his status and class in the Roman army. With the slave based system of great estates (Latifundia) there was a lack of financial potent men to recruit, due to lack of small estate farmers (see Cottas reforms in 123 BC). The wars of the late 2nd century depleted Roman manpower to the limit.
In such desperate times the Roman people elected Denatus, the hero from Africa as Consul. And Denatus recruited the landless people without any capital (capite censi), gave them a minimum of equipment out of the state pocket.
There were no laws, no reforms, no voting, the commander just took volunteers by the right of his imperium, the state had to pay for them and that was it. This was simple and effective, but it had consequences.
The general, Denatus, was now the patron and his soldier were his clients. The soldiers were his followers and a tight band between the leader and followers was bound. After all these soldiers were landless people who put their service to the commander and hoped to be rewarded with farmyards. Denatus took his soldiers, abolished the three main military ranks (Hastati, Principes and Triari) and replaced the old legionary standard (each old republican legion had its own symbol) with a general standard, the eagle (the Aquila). The soldiers had to carry their own equipement and were called muli Denati (Denatus’ mules)

In early spring 100 BC Denatus gathered his large troops and marched to the north against the Teutons. At the battle of Apponus he faced a great part of the large Germanic tribe.

https://i583.photobucket.com/albums/ss273/Fixiwee/muli04.jpg

https://i583.photobucket.com/albums/ss273/Fixiwee/muli05.jpg
The new Roman army getting tested for the very first time. Many of the soldiers are raw recruits.

https://i583.photobucket.com/albums/ss273/Fixiwee/muli06.jpg
But the new Roman soldiers have little to loose and much to gain. They are ready to show their worth.

https://i583.photobucket.com/albums/ss273/Fixiwee/muli07.jpg
Little detail survives on the battle itself, but the initial attack was hold off and ...

https://i583.photobucket.com/albums/ss273/Fixiwee/muli08.jpg
... the Romans advance to the main line of the Teutons.

https://i583.photobucket.com/albums/ss273/Fixiwee/muli09.jpg
The battle saw some fierce hand to hand fighting. The Teutons were said to be well equipped, their swords were superior to the Roman gladius.

https://i583.photobucket.com/albums/ss273/Fixiwee/muli10.jpg
Roman lancers traversing the battle field. In the background the famous Alps can be seen.

https://i583.photobucket.com/albums/ss273/Fixiwee/muli11.jpg
The muli Denati were well trained and the spirit was high. Eventually the Romans routed the Teutons.

https://i583.photobucket.com/albums/ss273/Fixiwee/muli12.jpg
Roman lancers persuing fleeing Teutons. A great deal of the Teutons were slaughtered in the battle.

This victory was important because it halted the Teutonic advance. The Germanic tribe retreated behind the river Po hoping to reorganise. But Denatus did not give the Teutons time to rebuild and attacked immediately in the Summer 100 BC, seeing that the Teutons were weakened and vulnerable. At the Aureolian fields he forced the Germanic leader Alugodas to battle.

https://i583.photobucket.com/albums/ss273/Fixiwee/muli13.jpg

https://i583.photobucket.com/albums/ss273/Fixiwee/muli14.jpg
The Aureolian fields were perfect for wide movments on both sides. Initially the Teutonic leader saw the potential for flanking movements.

https://i583.photobucket.com/albums/ss273/Fixiwee/muli15.jpg
Denatus lets the Teutons flank the Roman lines. This was risky because if the Roman flank would break the whole army was in danger.

https://i583.photobucket.com/albums/ss273/Fixiwee/muli16.jpg
It is said that Alugodas himself attacked the Roman lines with a loud warcry. Later Romans depict him as a brutish warrior charging the Roman lines, todays archeological evidence proves that Germanic nobles had among the finest war equipent in ancient Europe.

https://i583.photobucket.com/albums/ss273/Fixiwee/muli17.jpg
The battle plan: The Teutons try to outflank with their light cavalry (for which they were famous for) seen in dark colours. This movement succeeds, while the main army presses at the right side and flank. This put Denatus (Circle with a dot) in a dangerous situation, he moves in his cavalry to fight of the germanic riders (marked by the X). The german line gaps and Denatus orders his troops to retailiate (dotted line). The Roman lancers encircle the Germanic riders at the crossed V (in the center).

https://i583.photobucket.com/albums/ss273/Fixiwee/muli18.jpg
The gap in the Teutonic line proves as an excellent position to disrupte the enemy movement.

https://i583.photobucket.com/albums/ss273/Fixiwee/muli19.jpg
Denatus uses heavy lancers to haras the Teutonic flanking force. Constant hammering among this line makes the enemy move on the right flank futile.

https://i583.photobucket.com/albums/ss273/Fixiwee/muli20.jpg
The Teutonic lines grow thiner, their force is simply to widestreched to reorginise. Denatus is winning the upper hand after what seemed to be a certain loss.

https://i583.photobucket.com/albums/ss273/Fixiwee/muli21.jpg
Alugodas gives the signal to regroup, but not to retreat. But his men are slain, suddenly he is surrounded and wants to retreat to his troops. Seconds after starting to run a Roman lancer takes his sword and swings it behind Alugodas head.

https://i583.photobucket.com/albums/ss273/Fixiwee/muli22.jpg
The helmet splits in two and Alugodas is leathaly wounded. He drops to the ground and stops to move.

https://i583.photobucket.com/albums/ss273/Fixiwee/muli23.jpg
Without the brave leader to inspire the troops the Teutons lose their heart and start to flee. Denatus had saved Rome from yet another Barbaric invasion.

With Alugodas dead the Teutons gave up trying to conquer northern Italy. Some fled north to the Alps where we lose their tracks forever, some were captured and enslaved.

The following process after the Teutons has always been regarded as some sort of tragic events for Rome and even the rather biased historian Fabius is not sure who to point the finger at.
Let’s see what happened exactly. In 99 BC Denatus became Consul again and used his position to settle a colony in Africa, providing lands for his soldiers for the coming year. Denatus could have declared some spot in Africa as an important site for the new colonies, but he was fascinated with the old Punic wars so that he chose the site of Carthage for his new colony: Carthago Nova. Carthage! The most hated city being rebuilt? After the “good old Roman” Metellus had destroyed the city and made sure it was never to be a threat for the Romans again?

https://i583.photobucket.com/albums/ss273/Fixiwee/Denatus.jpg

Denatus actions alienated his supporters, among them his most important one being Sergius Orata (victor in Sarpetas, Africa in 111BC and political ally in the military reforms). He ran for Consul in 98 BC again, but wasn’t elected. His new policy was to reward the Italian allies with the Roman citizenship, another reform plan that was seen by the Senators with great awe. Nevertheless Denatus still had allies in politics; one of them was the young Titus Papirius Paetus, a Plebeian Tribune. Denatus used him to influence the politics of the Populares and in March 98 the Tribune presented his lex Papirii, which should give all the loyal Italian allies the Roman citizenship. Denatus hoped to win new allies and win more lands for the ager publicus feeding his veterans. But in the eyes of the Senate Denatus went too far. The people had not voted for him and his plans, they made clear that such thing would not pass the Senate and now he tried to push it through directly through the peoples assembly. The Senators felt threatened and urged to take action against Denatus.
20 years ago the Senator Hostilius Manicus stormed out of the Senate to kill Cotta by his own initiative, now the Senate instituted an emergency provisional measure, the senatus consultum ultimum, which declared Denatus an enemy of the State. Denatus tried to flee the city, possibly to reach his army, but was caught and killed by a mob of Senators just out side the walls of Rome.

https://i583.photobucket.com/albums/ss273/Fixiwee/muli24.jpg

Ancient historians argued already if Denatus went too far or if the Senate was stubborn. Either way, Denatus tried to reform the system and due to some of his extreme ideas he alienated himself from the moderate people in the Senate. This gave ground for the conservatives to push against Denatus and get rid off him like they did with Cotta. Nevertheless Denatus had not the necessary tactfulness to deal with the Optimates and his actions seem plump and crude, even to his supporters.
It was clear that the civil war was now one step closer to total conflict, with both sides drifting further away. A compromise seemed to be out of hand by now, even though peace and Concordia seemed to be secured by the Senate once more.

Fixiwee

01-08-2010, 21:46

Transcript of the college class lecture „The Roman Republic“ in 2003, University of Minnesota, USA

[Prof. Saramotti speaking]:
Good day. A short announcements before we start with today’s lecture. I will hand out the take-home exams next week. There will be two questions you can choose from. One will be about the early Iberian wars including the war against Mutorke Carmocoi and the other one will be about the early conflict of the orders. Both questions will rely heavily on the sources so make sure you have all the textbooks.
Anyhow, let’s start with today’s topic. We will talk about the Achaean war, the Italian wars and the relationship between Calatinus and Silanus.

After Denatus had been dealt with the Senate once again closed their eyes regarding all the difficult problems in politics and proceeded in doing business as usual.
The next phase of the Roman civil war started with the rebellion of the Achaean league under the leadership of Corinth. After the last war against Macedonia the Achaean league was guaranteed independence from the Roman Republic, they were free to trade with who ever they wanted and have their own diplomatic relationships. But the league had to ally with Rome. So it is clear that the Achaean league had a unique diplomatic status with Rome. In 96 BC suddenly the league quits its alliance and raids Athens.

https://i583.photobucket.com/albums/ss273/Fixiwee/1socii01.jpg
Greece in 100 BC befor the war.

Now this seems to be an odd move. The league had nothing to gain from fighting against the Athens, which was part of the Roman province Macedonia. The Romans had about 4 to 5 legions stationed in Greece. Many questions arise as of why the league would act this way and unfortunately the only source we have is Fabius inaccurate account. We would wish for Silanus version of the story, but unfortunately the Greek historian was dead for 20 years back then already.
Now the Romans did not waste time and elected Aulus Atilius Calatinus as consul, an extroverted dynamic Plebeian. In his staff was a military legate called Publius Iunius Silanus, an extravagant Patrician.

Now the next odd thing happens. Calatinus decided to move his forces to Sparta in the south, landing on the western coast of the Peloponnesus, while ordering Silanus to lay siege against Corinth. Corinth was definitely the stronger opponent and naturally it would have been Calatinus prestigious right to face the main army. But there seemed to be a friendly relationship between the older Calatinus and the younger Silanus. Calatinus had already fought against Iberians as a military tribune and against the Teutons as a military legate under Denatus. It seems like Calatinus saw Silanus as his protégé for whom he tried to help his career by letting him win a big victory.

https://i583.photobucket.com/albums/ss273/Fixiwee/Silanus.jpg

https://i583.photobucket.com/albums/ss273/Fixiwee/1socii02.jpg
Both leaders landing in Greece.

By late 95 Calatinus had conquered Sparta without much trouble and in October of the same year Silanus attacked Corinth.

https://i583.photobucket.com/albums/ss273/Fixiwee/1socii03.jpg
Roman infantry charging against the walls of Corinth. They had been opened by Roman enginers during the night.

https://i583.photobucket.com/albums/ss273/Fixiwee/1socii04.jpgThe Corinthians were cought by surpise, but the Townwatch fought vigiourisly against the enemy.

https://i583.photobucket.com/albums/ss273/Fixiwee/1socii05.jpg
The battle of Corinth was the last one that the famous Spartiads fought. But this was not the Persian Empire, this were Roman legions, disciplined and well equiped.

https://i583.photobucket.com/albums/ss273/Fixiwee/1socii06.jpg
Most fighting took place in narrow streets.

https://i583.photobucket.com/albums/ss273/Fixiwee/1socii07.jpg
Roman infantry moving up in the city.

https://i583.photobucket.com/albums/ss273/Fixiwee/1socii08.jpg
Besides the Spartiads the Romans face little resistance...

https://i583.photobucket.com/albums/ss273/Fixiwee/1socii09.jpg
... and even the Spartiads are defeated eventually. The Romans took great pride in defeating such a famous enemy.

https://i583.photobucket.com/albums/ss273/Fixiwee/1socii10.jpg
Corinthian cavalry trying to attack the Romans. In these narrow streets the horsemen can do little damage.

https://i583.photobucket.com/albums/ss273/Fixiwee/1socii11.jpg
Eventually the Romans secured the center of the town.

https://i583.photobucket.com/albums/ss273/Fixiwee/1socii12.jpg

https://i583.photobucket.com/albums/ss273/Fixiwee/1socii13.jpg

https://i583.photobucket.com/albums/ss273/Fixiwee/1socii14.jpg
Greece after Corinth had fallen.

Within one year the Achaean league was defeated and abolished. The last classical independent Greek state was gone. Fabius gives us the story that Silanus actually cried when he destroyed Corinth, when a tribune approached him and asked why he cried, he answered: “It is sad to see this city burn as the same fate awaits Rome some day too”. Once again you see the strong ties to morality in Fabius account.

Now we have to turn our eyes back to Italy, since the war against the Achaean League triggered an important event there. Since Denatus tried to give citizenship to all the Italian allies and was murdered therefore the Italian allies were in a very uneasy relationship with Rome. It was clear to the Roman Senators that the allies wanted a piece of the pie too, but they turned them down whenever they could. With the murder of Denatus they sealed the fate of the Italians. The Samnites openly spoke about leaving the alliance with Rome and during the Achaean war this movement gained momentum. Now the Roman armies were occupied elsewhere and in 95 BC political and military resistance gained the upper hand. In the winter most important cities were rebelling against Rome and in early 94 BC the Samnites, the Greeks to the south, the Umbrians in the north and the Brutii in Calabria declared their independence from Rome. They installed a Senate and two meddix (Samnite consuls) in Benevetum, an old Samnite city. The Samnites remembered times when the Samnites under Keliis Puntis defeated the Romans (http://www.twcenter.net/forums/showthread.php?p=5519182#post5519182) and now the rebelling Italians were inspired to do the same.

https://i583.photobucket.com/albums/ss273/Fixiwee/sociimap.jpg
The rebells in 95 BC.

Initially the Romans did not attack the Socii but waited for Calatinus to return from Greece.
In 93 BC the Roman consul Servius Julius Caesar, the father of Marcus Caesar started attacking the allies from the north, while to the south Calatinus landed with his battle hardened troops.

Caesar attacked the allies in the battle of Taenum…

https://i583.photobucket.com/albums/ss273/Fixiwee/1socii15.jpg

https://i583.photobucket.com/albums/ss273/Fixiwee/1socii16.jpg
This battle was one of the first where the Romans used siege artillery in large numbers.

https://i583.photobucket.com/albums/ss273/Fixiwee/1socii17.jpg
Samnite heavy soldiers moving up.

https://i583.photobucket.com/albums/ss273/Fixiwee/1socii18.jpg
The Italians had expirienced troops. Especially the Campanian horsemen were feared by the Romans.

https://i583.photobucket.com/albums/ss273/Fixiwee/1socii19.jpg
A Socii scout gathering intel on the enemy lines.

https://i583.photobucket.com/albums/ss273/Fixiwee/1socii20.jpg
The Roman legion is getting into position. This first battle is an important one for the Romans.

https://i583.photobucket.com/albums/ss273/Fixiwee/1socii21.jpg
Imidiatley the Socii cavalry was attacking the left Roman flank. Caesar lacked horsemen himself and could do little to attack the enemy.

https://i583.photobucket.com/albums/ss273/Fixiwee/1socii22.jpg
Servius Caesar decided to bring his elite troops to the left flank, since heavy losses were reported there.

https://i583.photobucket.com/albums/ss273/Fixiwee/1socii23.jpg
The enitre left flank was endangered and breaking away. This could mean defeat.

https://i583.photobucket.com/albums/ss273/Fixiwee/1socii24.jpg
The Romans were able to hold the center.

https://i583.photobucket.com/albums/ss273/Fixiwee/1socii25.jpg
But the the pressure on the left flank was too much. The Socii simply had too many cavalry units. The soldiers break and start to flee.

https://i583.photobucket.com/albums/ss273/Fixiwee/1socii26.jpg
Caesar watching the left flank breaking away. This mean the battle was not to win anymore. Facing total defeat he gave the sign to retreat.

https://i583.photobucket.com/albums/ss273/Fixiwee/1socii27.jpg
The Roman legion retreating from the Socii.

https://i583.photobucket.com/albums/ss273/Fixiwee/1socii28.jpg
One can only imagine the chaos under the Roman legion. The first battle was lost.

…where he got defeated by the meddix Titus Lundis.

So the Romans had a terrible start during the war. But Calatinus did not wait for long and attacked the Greek Socii in the south during the summer.

https://i583.photobucket.com/albums/ss273/Fixiwee/1socii29.jpg

https://i583.photobucket.com/albums/ss273/Fixiwee/1socii30.jpg
Calatinus had studied ancient Greek military tactics and experimented with the oblique order.

https://i583.photobucket.com/albums/ss273/Fixiwee/1socii31.jpg
The greek Socii attacking.

https://i583.photobucket.com/albums/ss273/Fixiwee/1socii32.jpg
Brutian soldiers preparing to launch spears while being under heaving fire themselves.

https://i583.photobucket.com/albums/ss273/Fixiwee/1socii33.jpg
The battle started like Taenum with the left flank being attacked by cavalry. But Calatinus had a trump hidden in the forest.

https://i583.photobucket.com/albums/ss273/Fixiwee/1socii34.jpg
Heavy Macedonian cavalry charge from the woods and surprise the Socii.

https://i583.photobucket.com/albums/ss273/Fixiwee/1socii35.jpg
The battle is bloody and tough. But Calatinus has the initiative.

https://i583.photobucket.com/albums/ss273/Fixiwee/1socii36.jpg
Some Socii start to flee after the cavalry attack.

https://i583.photobucket.com/albums/ss273/Fixiwee/1socii37.jpg
Those Macedonian soldiers are perfect for devestating the enemy line from behind.

https://i583.photobucket.com/albums/ss273/Fixiwee/1socii38.jpg
The left flank held out as long as they could, but eventually the pressure was to great...

https://i583.photobucket.com/albums/ss273/Fixiwee/1socii39.jpg
...the socii decide to retreat.

https://i583.photobucket.com/albums/ss273/Fixiwee/1socii40.jpg

Calatinus won an important victory that knocked out the Greeks of the war and captured the cities Tarentum and Brindisium. Servius Julius Caesar redeemed himself after the loss at Taenum when he defeated the Umbrians at Trebia in the fall of the same year [93 BC].
But the good news where quickly meaningless when news came from Spain that the Lusitanians under their new king Soustunos Lacobricoi were rebelling against Roman rule. This rebellion spread quickly around Spain and now the Romans were in deep dodo. The Socii were far then dealt with and in Spain a great rebellion swept away Roman rule. Even more alarming was that the Romans did not have enough troops in Spain to engage the Celts.

But for now, let’s take a 15 minute break and we will continue with the lecture afterwards.

Fixiwee

01-13-2010, 18:51

Transcript of the college class lecture „The Roman Republic“ in 2003, University of Minnesota, USA

[Prof. Saramotti speaking]:
So let’s continue with the lecture. I’ve been asked during the break what happened to Silanus during the Italian wars. He actually did not fight with Calatinus since he stayed in the province of Macedonia, assisting the proconsul there.

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Calatinus

Alright let’s go on with the Italian wars. As I mentioned before the break, during the conflict in Italy the Celt Iberians rebelled against Roman rule in 93 BC and for now Rome could only try to defend their position there. In Italy Calatinus started a campaign against the Bruttii in Calabria. He fought a battle at Sybaris in March 92 BC and drove the Socii there to the very south of Italy. In April Calatinus co-consul Marcus Iunius Bublucus brought through his law to give Roman citizenship to the Italian Socii still loyal to Rome, foremost the Etruscans. In May the same Bublucus attacked the Samnites and was defeated at the Battle at the Trinius River. This put the Samnites and the Campanians back in a strong position. Now it was Calatinus try to defeat the centre of the Italians. In July 92 BC he attacked the Campanians at the battle of Eburum. The Romans desperately needed a victory.

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The situation in 92 BC

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Battle of Eburum

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During the battle of Eburum the Socii tried to use their superior cavalry to crush the Roman lines. Calatinus used the woods for cover, where the cavarly could not manouver that well.

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Calatinus also had the high ground.

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And once again Calatinus used his heavy Macedon cavalry to crush the Socii

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Romans vs Campanians

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Despite being a war of different faction, the Italian war can be considered as part of the Roman civil war.

Calatinus victory was important, but in fact it gained little for the Romans. He had to return to Calabria in fall of the same year. The Bruttii staged yet another offensive and Calatinus met them at the battle of Heraclea. Calatinus won, but battle after battle his numbers in his armies were growing thin. So he promised the Apulians and the Greeks he had fought the year before the Roman citizenship if they would join his ranks. Calatinus was a charismatic and successful leader. The Apulians and the Greeks agreed and like nothing happened at all fought with their former enemy.

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Battle of Heraclea

Calatinus spent the winter in Tarentum and prepared a decisive attack against the Bruttii. In early 91 BC, Calatinus was elected for Consul, for the forth time by the way, and attacked Region, the most important city in the south. By now the Bruttii only had 3000 troops, while Calatinus, restocked and reorganized to a total of 35.000 troops. Needless to say, the siege didn’t last long and the Bruttii surrendered to the Romans. Calatinus remained in the south for the rest of the year, supervising the defeated enemy. Bublucus, elected consul for the second time defeated the Samnites in late 91 BC at Aecae, though both sides lost some 20.000 men in the battle. As you can see the whole Italian war was very bloody and ruthless.

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Calatinus attacking the Bruttii in the south, Bublucus campaigning against the Samnites.

In 90 BC Calatinus returned to face the Campanians and attacked the important city of Capua.

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Capua was well defended.

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The battle was mostly fought inside the city.

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Many of the first attempts to storm into the city failed misserably.

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After taking heavy casualties Calatinus decided to break off the attack after a week of fighting.

He tried to take the city by storming in. But this proved to be one of the biggest mistakes in the Italian wars. Calatinus lost 10.000 to 12.000 men during the fighting that took a week in front and inside the city. Nevertheless the commander of the city called Namus also lost some important 8.000 men. Calatinus recruited a great deal of young Romans to service and attacked the city Capua again 2 months later, in the summer of 90 BC. This time he had more luck and took the city in just one day.

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The second time Capua was weakend and wasn't difficult to take for Calatinus.

For a man like Calatinus this was a huge gamble. The terrible loss at the first battle nearly cost him his career, but with Capua in his hands Calatinus was back on track again. Now the Samnites were the only remaining enemy.
In early 89 BC the Bruttii started rebelling against the Romans again so the Senate decided to give citizenship to the Bruttii as swell. So step after step the Italian war was not decided by military conquest, but by giving away Roman citizenship. When we look at these events we could argue that the Romans fought for nothing and could have had it easier with the Socii, but remember this is a time of a very different sense of loyalty and morality.
In April 89 BC Calatinus, Consul again, attacked and defeated the Samnites at the battle of Arpi.

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Arpi was taken during the night, when Roman soldiers sneaked inside the city and opend the city gates. The Samnites were caught off guard and defeated within hours. Calatinus had become quite the brilliant military leader.

The Italian war was over in 88 BC when the last Samnites surrendered to the Romans. Every Socii was rewarded with the citizenship to settle the war, except for the Samnites who achieved the status only 6 years later.

Now let’s turn our eyes to Spain, where the Celtic revolt was still going on. Two pro-praetors there called Iunus Brutus and Publius Cornelius Sulla, descended of Spurius Sulla, who were quite successful in halting the Celtic expansion. But his military power was limited and they were only able to defend the position.

Now back in Rome things got complicated. Calatinus had 7 consulships in a row, which was quite unusual. He was the hero of the Italian wars and popular with the people. He was ambitious and that was what the Roman senators didn’t like at all. Why? Because whenever someone spoke of Calatinus the Senators heard Cotta and Denatus.
Now the new consuls were to go to Spain and clear the situation and the nobles didn’t want Calatinus have a 8th or even 9th consulship, even if he was the most able man for the job. So the Senators influenced the election of 87 and voted for Silanus and Lucius Perperna. Remember that in the Roman Republic the rich classes got to vote first and therefore they were able to influence the vote heavily. Silanus immediately prepared the Roman legions and sailed to the southern coast of Spain.

Calatinus was furious that the Senate chose his former protégé as consul over him, the saviour of Rome in the Italian wars.
Nevertheless Silanus sailed away and left the Senators to deal with Calatinus. Now Calatinus was not a man who accepted defeat like this. He called for the Plebeian assembly, and all ten tribunes nominated Calatinus for a special mandate to deal with the rebellion in Spain. This was a bit odd for the Roman standards but let’s not forget that Calatinus was a highly influential Plebeian who was willing to walk over the Senators dead bodies for his career. So two months after Silanus had left Rome Calatinus gathered his troops and sailed to the north eastern coast of Spain.
For Silanus this was quite the provocation, but he was willing to play along for the moment.

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Rough outlay of the campain in Spain. Silanus took the southern route. The northern route was the campaign of Calatinus.

In fall 87 BC Calatinus already started attacking the Cantabri and the Vascones under their leader Minuro Tacubicoi. Clearly, Calatinus was no man of idle moments. He defeated the Cantabri in two battles during the first year.

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Calatinus left his Macedon soldiers in Italy and recruited Celt Iberians as auxilia cavalry.

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These riders were equiped light enough to skirmish and harras the enemy but also tough enough excellent hand to hand combat.

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A Cantabrian warlord giving orders to his troops.

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Calatinus legions had fought in Greece and Italy already...

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... and now they were driving off the Celt Iberians.

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Eventually Calatinus drove off all his enemies.

Silanus attack didn’t start until late 87 BC. He attacked the Lusitanians and captured the important city of Lacuni Murgi where he also captured the Lusitanians rebel king Lacobricoi.

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Silanus [don't mind the Augustus name] attacking Lacobricoi

So by the end of the year Silanus already had the most valuable price, he had the Lusitanian king in chains.
Calatinus answered this with the crucification of 5000 celtic prisoners. This may sound cruel for our eyes, but for the masses of Rome this was exciting news. Some of you may know this event from Picassos painting “The crucifcation”.

As I see that time is running out of todays lection I’m gonna speed the campaign up a bit. Esentially in 86 BC both Silanus and Calatinus fought on two fronts against the rebels, reconquering the lost territory.

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Calatinus camapign against the Austures.

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Silanus secures the domains of the Turduli and the Callaeci in the north.

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Summary of both campaigns.

By early 85 BC all of Spain was reconquered, except for the Canatbri. The Cantabri were situated in the north so it was Calatinus area of interesst. But he feared that Silanus might return to Rome before him and reap all the fame for the war. So Calatinus paid tribute to the Cantabri and returned to Rome in 84 BC. This time Calatinus cought Silanus off guard who was left to stabilize the situation in Spain.

Calatinus returned to Rome, acclaimed by the masses and distrusted by the Senators. He enjoyed a triumph and made it public that he would not run for consulship for 83 BC to appease the tense situation in Rome. Silanus was also ready to make a step forward to his former mentor and proposed in 83 BC to meet in Massalia, modern day Marsailles, which was more or less neutral ground for both of them. Silanus was not ready to return to Rome as only the second junior victor and wanted a to make a deal with Calatinus that would secure his portion of fame.
But that year also saw an increase of pirates attack on the eastern and western shores of Italy. There were at least two major attacks and Calatinus stood up and said he would deal with the situation if he only would get another special command. The historian Fabius accuses Calatinus of being paranoid, since it seemed that he feared the meeting in Massalia in 82 BC.

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Massalia was allied to the Romans, but officialy not part of any province.

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Pirates destroying a Roman fleet.

Nevertheless Calatinus did get his special command with proconsular rights in 82 BC by the Senators, much to everyones surprise and off he went to Greece to attack the island of Creta, a large center for pirate attacks. He left the young Plebeian Tribune Titus Papirus Paetus to defend his interests.
What did Silanus do? Well we can guess that he was quite surprised that Calatinus did not want to shake hands with him afterall. So he sees an opportunity to get back to Rome as the true victor. In August 82 BC Silanus lands in Italy, with his legions and marches on Rome.

Now this was it. Rome was full with Calatinus supporters and everyone knew that Silanus would wage civil war if he walk towars Rome with troops. But Silanus thought it was simply too dangerous to march into the hornets nest without protection.

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Silanus marches on Rome with his legions!

In my opinion this is the moment the Republic fell. It is clear that the Republic continued to exist for a few decades, but it did not function anymore like it should. Silanus march on Rome was the high noon of the Roman republic. Like two cowboys duelling with each others, Silanus shot the republic and for a moment it still stood although the person was already dead.

Now I see that we already overdrew our time by ten minutes so I am gonna make a break for tonight. See you all next week.

Fixiwee

01-14-2010, 21:59

How Lucius Marcundus accidentally brought down the Roman Republic
(part I)

“By Mars hairy ****” Lucius came home from his school class and saw his father standing in the room cursing angrily. He looked at his father as he did not understand what was going on. Manius, Lucius father, noticed his child and started to smile, patting Lucius head. “Don’t worry Lucius. Everything is fine. It’s just stupid politics, that’s all.” He paused “How about we do our sculpting lesson tomorrow and instead you take the afternoon off and go see the parade?”

Lucius Marcundus was a twelve year old boy born to an aspiring Plebeian family. His father, Manius Marcundus, was a successful marble sculptor specialised in animal figures. Business was going well and Manius could even afford being a member of the ordo equester, a class of wealthy roman citizens. Lucius was able to go to school during the forenoon and during afternoons he took sculptor lessons with his father.
But on that particular day Publius Iunus Silanus returned to Rome from Spain with his troops and there was a welcoming parade planned. And this very day would change Lucius life, yet it had only little to do with Silanus.

Lucius agreed to his father’s proposal and left home to see the parade. This man, he didn’t even know much about him, entered the city with a parade displaying a real captured barbarian king. So Lucius went to the Via Flaminia, the road that arrives the city from the north. When he got there he noticed a tight crowd blocking his view in the narrow streets inside of Rome. Lucius would never see the Barbarian king that way.
“Hey, psst! Straw-head.”
Lucius looked around. He knew he was addressed, because he had blond hair.
“Hey you. Come here.”
Lucius spotted a boy in his age in a niche of a building. He made a few steps in his direction.
“Are you a barbarian? Do you speak Latin?”
“Jupiter! I’m not a barbarian. I’m just blond.” Lucius said with an irritated voice.
“Oh sorry, I didn’t mean to make you angry. It’s just that there are not many blond people in Rome. Hey my name is Tiberius.”

Tiberius was a strong looking boy with brown short hair and a determined looking face. But there was also something friendly about Tiberius, maybe it was the way he smiled, maybe it was the deep charismatic voice of him.

“My name is Lucius.”
“That’s an odd name for a barbarian. Ha-ha, I’m just kidding. Hey you want to see the parade? I know a perfect place for that. Follow me.”
Before Lucius could say anything Tiberius already ran off to the building across him. With a confused look Lucius followed him.

Tiberius ran inside a story apartment building, at the staircase he nearly ran over older woman with a large water pot. When Lucius came up running to the woman she shouted “You spoiled brats. Cerberus will eat both of you!” while trying to grab him. Lucius was quite agile and tumbled out of her grasp and caught up with Tiberius by climbing up a ladder onto the roof. Tiberius closed the wooden trap-door.

“Tiberius, hold on. The woman, isn’t she going to follow us?”
“That fat slag? I doubt she can climb a ladder.”
There were no sounds coming from down below. It seemed like the woman didn’t really care.
Lucius took a look around and notice that this was a perfect spot to oversee the Via Flaminia.

Tiberius also peeked down the road: “I can see a column moving in our direction. That’s got to be Silanus.”
“I just want to see that barbarian king.”
“Hey Lucius, how old are you?”
“I’m 12 years and 5 months old. You?”
“I’m 13. What’s your pa doing for a living?”
Lucius took a deep look at Tiberius.
“See, I don’t have a dad. I was born to two Greek lesbian prostitutes.”
Tiberius was flabbergasted.
“You are kidding me?” he replied.
The blond boy giggled. Lucius wasn’t good looking, he had wide standing ears and a long distinctive face, but he had a handsome and humorous way of dealing with people.
“Heh! Of course I am. My dad is a sculptor.”
“Oh that’s nice.”
“Yeah he sells a lot of goods to wealthy patricians. My dad always tells me how poor he started out and how he built up his own business just like that.”
“Well, my dad is a carpenter. We make all sorts of stuff. From furniture to working tools. You know, mostly stuff.” Tiberius peeked down to the streets.
A column of men in togas passed below them, in front of them was a thin man waving his hands to the crowd. Behind this column was an ox pulling an iron bared frame on two wooden wheels. A dirty naked man with an unshaven head and a bruised body was sitting inside. Some people were throwing rotten food at him and calling him obscene names.
“What’s the name of the barbarian king anyway?” Lucius asked.
“Something something Lacobricoi I think. It’s obvious that they have beaten him up. I wonder if these Barbarians are really all like that or if Silanus just likes to puts up a show. Hey Lucius, you want to be friends?”
“Sure why not.”
“Great. You know what? I know an abandoned building not far from here. You can find all kinds of funny stuff there. We could go there and play some games. Maybe some of my other friends will show up and we could play Athenians versus Spartans.”
“Sounds great.” Before Lucius could finish that sentence Tiberius already ran off.

This day was special one for Rome for it changed so many things the moment Lucius entered Rome. But it was also a special day for Silanus, who met a new friend that day.

Hax

01-15-2010, 00:26

This is incredible. It's been quite a while since there was this good an AAR. Man, you made me feel the writing bones again.

Fixiwee

01-15-2010, 02:12

This is incredible. It's been quite a while since there was this good an AAR. Man, you made me feel the writing bones again.
*blush*

glad you like it. really.
I don't get many replies/feedback at the org, so I am all the more happy.

vartan

01-15-2010, 05:20

This is incredible. It's been quite a while since there was this good an AAR. Man, you made me feel the writing bones again.

I agree with Hax. I just never commented cause nothing I say could express how great I really think your AAR is, and your writing in general. Really, REALLY good job. I've been reading and I absolutely love this text. I love it.

Jurdagat

01-15-2010, 21:50

One of the best AAR's in a long time.

Really amazing work!

Fixiwee

01-16-2010, 04:03

I agree with Hax. I just never commented cause nothing I say could express how great I really think your AAR is, and your writing in general. Really, REALLY good job. I've been reading and I absolutely love this text. I love it.
Thank you very much. Those comments mean a lot to me.

One of the best AAR's in a long time.

Really amazing work!
Thank you too. It's always nice when you put a lot of effort into something and people give you credit for your work.

That being said, some of my updates take up to 5 hours of work, and I still think they are incomplete. There is so much more that could be added, so much more ideas, but I guess it's never enough. So... Well.. Just thanks for being part of this AAR.

Fixiwee

01-17-2010, 17:49

“You cannot simultaneously prevent and prepare for war.”
-Albert Einstein

Spinning out of control

The Roman Empire, by Wolfgang Schreier, Bonn 2003

While Silanus entered Rome in late 82 BC Calatinus prepared his invasion of Crete from Greece. The following spring he landed on the island, faced little resistance and occupied the centre of pirate activities.

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Calatinus planed to continue his campaign in Anatolia in modern day Turkey, but the events in Rome forced him to act. He returned to the Greek mainland and started making business with two young but rich Romans, the Nero brothers. Both brothers were from the old Patrician Claudian gentes and looking for an opportunity to make new political allies. If Calatinus thought to find easy influenceable men with a lot of money he was wrong, because the Neros were strictly conservative and only made business with Calatinus because it suited their current situation.
In Rome Silanus was trying to denounce Calatinus in front of the Senate. But he did not count on Calatinus wife Aurelia. She was acting behind the curtain against Silanus, maintaining important support for her husband among the Senators. The ancient historian Fabius, who hardly has anything to say about women, speaks in the highest tone about Aurelia even though he is suspicious about Calatinus in his work. For the moment the Senate did not act against Calatinus.

But Calatinus returned in 80 BC and from there on things started to spin out of control. He landed with his troops in Brindisi, south Italy, but did not dare to go to Rome. If he marched against Rome with his troops he’d have seen as the tyrant Silanus was trying to make out of him and if he went without any troops he might have been completely defenceless against Silanus. So Calatinus decided to stay in Brindisi and act against his former protégé from there. Interestingly enough, when the Neros found out that Calatinus was acting against Silanus they broke up their connections with Calatinus. [This will be important later on].

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Fabius - Ab Urbe Condita
(written at about 20 BC)

Book XX

(5) From Brindisi Calatinus welcomed his clients on a daily basis. But to show his political intentions he still lived in his military camp. Some Senators came to show their support to Calatinus, some came trying to dissolve the situation by diplomatic talks. In Rome several rumours about Silanus started to make their rounds. Some people said that he was drunk heavily and neglecting his work for the Roman people, some said that he was taking part in strange foreign religious cults and some said he had a homosexual affair with his Greek slaves he brought from Corinth. And all those rumours came up so sudden that it was clear they were staged from Brindisi.
(6) Silanus had enough of it. He convinced a prominent member of the Senate, Numerius Aemilius Papus to support him politically. Papus agreed and in Sextilis 675 AUC [August 79 BC] he and the Senate voted for Calatinus to become a hostes publici [enemy of the state]. Once again the political problems of Rome could only be solved by military means. Both sides prepared for war. […]

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Fixiwee

01-19-2010, 20:27

Battles of history with Patrick Goodwin

The battle of Aeclanum 79 BC

[The scene is an army camp in South Italy during a later summer day. It’s noon. The weather is perfect. Most soldiers are relaxing. Some are gambling, some are sleeping under trees, some are eating. The mood is well, only a few soldiers are patrolling in full battle gear. The men look experienced and battle hardened. Suddenly a Roman soldier with a chain mail and a typical Roman helmet rides on a horse into the camp. He descends from the horse and enters a large guarded tent in the middle of the camp
Inside the tent three men are sitting around a table and discussing things. The man in charge is about 55 years old with a sharp look.]

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Calatinus: And then this Celtic boy asks me ‘Crusade me? But that’s not nice of you!’ and everyone bursts into laughter - only him standing there with a puzzled look. So I decided to spare his life. Heard he was killed back in his hill town for being a traitor. Bad luck, eh?

[All three men start to laugh. The soldier that just entered does not react and stands emotionless.]

Calatinus: Ah, soldier Verduncus.

[Verduncus quickly puts his right arm up, saluting his leader.]

Verduncus: Consular Calatinus. I bring news from Rome.

[He steps forward and gives him a leathern casket. Calatinus opens it, takes out a piece of paper and starts to read it.]

Calatinus: So what do we have here? More lies from Silanus? Well… Hmm… Interesting. [Pauses]
Gentlemen, Silanus has made me an enemy of the State. You have officially the right to kill me now.

[All three men laugh. Verduncus still stands emotionless.]

Calatinus: Dismissed soldier.

[Verduncus salutes Calatinus and leaves.]

Military legate: So what are you going to do? You can only go back to Greece or face Silanus in battle. And that would mean civil war.
Calatinus: I’m not going to take my legs and run away from that drunken son of whore, that’s for sure. Well…
[Sighs]
I guess Silanus really wants civil war. He shall have it.
[Pauses]
Alright, prepare the men. We leave the camp in three hours. Better not waste any time.

[Three hours later. All tents in the camp are gone. The soldiers, disciplined as they are, are standing in a perfect row. Calatinus and his legates are sitting on horses ready to address the soldiers.]

Calatinus: Soldiers! Men! Friends! Three hours ago I received a transcript from a senatorial resolution. This resolution says that we are trying to overthrow the Republic. Overthrow the Republic? Us? After all we have done serving the republic?
[Takes a deep breath]
A few of you were with me in Sparta, facing the mighty Spartiads. Some of you were with me in Spain testing our mettle against the Cantabrians. And most of you were with me on Crete, fighting off the pirates. And yet they dare to say we want to overthrow the Republic? Are those old men in the Senate mad? We safe their butts and they thank us by making us enemies?
[Looks around, starts to speak in a very loud voice.]
Let us teach this Silanus and the Senate a lesson.
Let them see that we will not step down from our righteous claim from the victories we have won.
Let us face Silanus to show what we are made off.
[The crowd cheers. Some draw their swords and swing them up in the air.]

[A day later. The scene is the Campus Martius, the large field with a few buildings. In the background Rome can be seen, with the Temple of Jupiter. Many soldiers run around gathering their equipment. Silanus, a thin man with a somewhat arrogant look stands in his breast plate among some Senators in their togas.]

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Silanus: My good friends. It has come this far – we are marching to war – against Calatinus. I have promised to protect the Senate and the people of Rome. Yet this tyrant refuses to return to Rome without his legions. Clearly this Calatinus is a power hungry man who wants to rule Rome by him self. You all know what brutal men he is. He lusts for blood, killing innocent people in war. What stops him to do the same to us?
This is why we have to face Calatinus and win. Farewell Senators. I will return when Rome is safe from this tyrant. And if that means chasing him to India, I will.

Goodwin: The year is 79 BC and the Roman Republic is in a deep crisis. The Senate is divided into two factions. One the one side, the Optimates, represent the aristocratic elite who has been ruling Rome through the Senate for centuries. On the other side the Populares represent politicians who make politics through the people’s assembly of Rome. Both factions want power in their hands and neither can be compared to a modern democratic party.
In 79 BC two men are about to wage civil war. The first one is the smart Publius Iunius Silanus, an Optimates from an insignificant patrician family. The second one is the charismatic Aulus Atilius Calatinus, a plebeian who rose to the political top through military success. Both men know each other very well, since Calatinus was once the mentor of Silanus. Now they are enemies.

[Later on the same day: Silanus legion is marching to the beautiful Italian landscape. Olive trees can be seen on both sides of the impressive ancient Roman road. On the front a column marches carrying the legionary eagle. Silanus is on a horse riding just a few paces behind them.]

Silanus [speaking to his legates]: This Calatinus is an experienced military leader. He has seen many battles and mastered many battle tactics. But so do I.
The key to success is to break his elite cavalry. This is why I brought Liguarian mercenaries to aid us. They fight with long spears that are perfect to counter his riders.
Military legate: We could deliberately give away the initiative by taking the high ground, let Calatinus flank us and use the Ligurians to counter the attack.
Silanus: Brilliant idea. We could even post ourselves close to a landmark like a large formation of rocks or a wood that would cover one flank entirely forcing Calatinus to use all his cavalry on one side only.

http://lh6.ggpht.com/_D-Vd5dCskSs/S1X-ldfjXkI/AAAAAAAAA8M/uJ-0OTcZTag/civplan02.jpg
The plan: Silanus main line is red, his mercanaries are grey. Calatinus main line is green, his elite cavarly blue.

Goodwin: A few days later, in early September of 79 BC both armies are in close reach in Campania, in the centre of Italy. Silanus, fearing Calatinus Spanish and Macedonian auxiliary cavalry takes the high ground on a hill near modern day Montemiletto. There he waits for Calatinus. On the 5th of September Calatinus reaches his position. The weather is terrible that day, it rains since the morning.

[The hill of Montemiletto can be seen in the background. It rains and fog clouds the mountains in the back. Calatinus stands in a field and musters the enemy.]

Calatinus: He is trying to lure me to attack, but why? This looks like a trap to me. But what is this boy planning exactly.
Military legate: He might be trying to ambush you from the trees.
Calatinus: Yes probably. If we attack him in this weather his line of sight will be weak. He probably wants me to force my cavalry over one flank. I guess we could disturb his plan by pushing through the forest with the foot soldiers.
Ha!
We will flank him at the one spot were he thinks we cannot. Brilliant. Order the military tribunes to prepare everyone for the attack.

http://lh5.ggpht.com/_D-Vd5dCskSs/S1X-ln0FV7I/AAAAAAAAA8U/MASwZYkpn2A/civplan03.jpg
Calatinus plan: Break through the forest with infantry.

Goodwin: Both sides prepare for battle. The soldiers control their equipment and make their prayers. Calatinus and Silanus both give last instructions to their legates and tribunes. They give the orders to the centurions who pass it to their soldiers. The battle is about to begin.

http://lh6.ggpht.com/_D-Vd5dCskSs/S1X-lYcnQhI/AAAAAAAAA8Q/dn0ja355fic/civplan01.jpg
The initial battle formation.

Calatinus: My fellow soldiers. I won’t bore you with long speeches now. The time for talking is over, now is the time for deeds. It’s time to chop down the enemy of the hill. Remember, they are not Romans, they are traitors! I’ll see you behind the enemy line.

http://lh6.ggpht.com/_D-Vd5dCskSs/S1X-M81VCQI/AAAAAAAAA6M/ox9FZ7sDyc4/s1152/civilbattle01.jpg

http://lh6.ggpht.com/_D-Vd5dCskSs/S1X-OJd8UxI/AAAAAAAAA6U/M01L29H7xHU/s1152/civilbattle03.jpg

[Calatinus rides ahead of his troops. He comes up to the enemy lines in attacking distance.]

http://lh6.ggpht.com/_D-Vd5dCskSs/S1X-PvkC_bI/AAAAAAAAA6Y/fbWQ-5o6fEc/s1152/civilbattle04.jpg

http://lh3.ggpht.com/_D-Vd5dCskSs/S1X-QOoZSLI/AAAAAAAAA6c/QyxlaL5rnGM/s1152/civilbattle05.jpg

Calatinus [shouting to the enemy infantry]: Romans! You are about to fight those men who went out to defend the Republic and the people of Rome. Don’t believe the lies of the Optimates. Disobey their orders. Despite what they tell you, we are not the enemy.

Silanus [to his bodyguard]: Calatinus may be a pig. But I’ll give him that he is one hell of a brave pig. Signal the attack. Order the Scorpions to fire at Calatinus.

[Low pitched trumpets signal Silanus troops to get ready. The artillery (Scorpions) begins to load its arrows]

http://lh5.ggpht.com/_D-Vd5dCskSs/S1X-QnqFL0I/AAAAAAAAA6g/6Q7muzmDvc8/s1152/civilbattle06.jpg

[The artillery fires their arrows. They hit two bodyguards of Calatinus.
Calatinus gives the signal to attack: Their trumpets sound as well. Suddenly his troops start to run up the hill with their throwing spears in hand. They stop and throw it. The battle has begun.]

http://lh6.ggpht.com/_D-Vd5dCskSs/S1X-RX7LGjI/AAAAAAAAA6k/OwF6rKGUimU/civilbattle07.jpg

http://lh4.ggpht.com/_D-Vd5dCskSs/S1X-SOIy1aI/AAAAAAAAA6o/lX9d_k9Z5HE/s1152/civilbattle08.jpg

[Calatinus soldiers start to charge Silanus line]

http://lh6.ggpht.com/_D-Vd5dCskSs/S1X-SxthQbI/AAAAAAAAA6s/Xdnqln_nESc/s1152/civilbattle09.jpg

Goodwin: Like planned Calatinus surprises Silanus by attacking the flank in the woods. It is in fact the flank that he thought well protected.

http://lh4.ggpht.com/_D-Vd5dCskSs/S1X-TqOMn9I/AAAAAAAAA6w/irc59aOpKXU/s1152/civilbattle10.jpg

[Fighting is happening all over the battle field. It is noisy and hectic. Some people scream caused by stabbing wounds, most people remain disciplined.]

http://lh4.ggpht.com/_D-Vd5dCskSs/S1X-UVXlktI/AAAAAAAAA60/rf6k8ooGRL0/s1152/civilbattle11.jpg

http://lh3.ggpht.com/_D-Vd5dCskSs/S1X-VAudNuI/AAAAAAAAA64/wglDoKuIWck/s1152/civilbattle12.jpg

http://lh6.ggpht.com/_D-Vd5dCskSs/S1X-V9XlUkI/AAAAAAAAA68/OVE9djibNYA/s1152/civilbattle13.jpg

http://lh4.ggpht.com/_D-Vd5dCskSs/S1X-Wwqv-UI/AAAAAAAAA7A/Ng0hfDTI3RU/s1152/civilbattle14.jpg

[On the open flank the Liguarians fight the Spanish cavalry]

http://lh6.ggpht.com/_D-Vd5dCskSs/S1X-XURveTI/AAAAAAAAA7E/kufcZwnRuG4/civilbattle15.jpg

http://lh5.ggpht.com/_D-Vd5dCskSs/S1X-YZxqDII/AAAAAAAAA7I/PZisrR5orEA/s1152/civilbattle16.jpg

[Calatinus is close behind his troops, shouting orders.]

Calatinus: Reinforce the centre. And for the sake of Mars, someone order the Spanish fools back from the flank. I’ll be d…

[Calatinus is suddenly pierced through his torso with a large Scorpio arrow. The impact immediately throws him off the horse. Lying on the ground he is mumbling breathless. A few seconds later he stops to move. His legates jump of the horse trying to help him.]

http://lh4.ggpht.com/_D-Vd5dCskSs/S1X-ZN7aYtI/AAAAAAAAA7M/7dadwSwxnfc/s1152/civilbattle17.jpg

Goodwin: The battle is about to turn. Calatinus is killed by the relatively new artillery weapon. Yet the body of the army continues to fight without its head. The battle is not decided yet. In the forest, where Calatinus ordered his attack, his soldiers make good progress.

http://lh6.ggpht.com/_D-Vd5dCskSs/S1X-aN04iTI/AAAAAAAAA7Q/MNRBpOyOIU0/civilbattle18.jpg

http://lh6.ggpht.com/_D-Vd5dCskSs/S1X-bYDLp3I/AAAAAAAAA7U/vK5fzQC3W9Y/s1152/civilbattle19.jpg

Goodwin: Silanus is unaware that Calatinus is dead. All of the sudden his Macedonian cavalry charges out of the nearby woods and kill all soldiers maintaining the Scorpio. Silanus himself attacks Calatinus elite riders.

http://lh4.ggpht.com/_D-Vd5dCskSs/S1X-cECC6YI/AAAAAAAAA7c/G-9S3BQKCSo/s1152/civilbattle20.jpg

[There is fighting between Macedonian lancers and Roman cavalry. The lancers are not suited for hand to hand combat and retreat. The Scorpio is unmanned.]

http://lh3.ggpht.com/_D-Vd5dCskSs/S1X-c6DOfeI/AAAAAAAAA7g/27D0o-PKH90/s1152/civilbattle21.jpg

http://lh6.ggpht.com/_D-Vd5dCskSs/S1X-dteicFI/AAAAAAAAA7k/2mqh6NyQh-M/s1152/civilbattle22.jpg

Goodwin: But alas, the battle turns. News spreads that Calatinus is dead and from the centre, where Calatinus was slain, people start to panic and flee.

[A soldier stands on the battle field with blood all over his chain shirt. He screams: ‘We can’t fight without our leader. Save yourself! Run! Run!’ A centurion tries to stop him and wrestle him to the ground, but more and more people start to flee.]

http://lh5.ggpht.com/_D-Vd5dCskSs/S1X-l3p8yAI/AAAAAAAAA8c/I9vZ7IuHaXg/civplan04.jpg
Silanus breaks through. The red X marks the positon of Calatinus death.

http://lh4.ggpht.com/_D-Vd5dCskSs/S1X-eXodQ3I/AAAAAAAAA7o/noFo7DL7L-A/civilbattle23.jpg

Goodwin: The panic spreads quickly among Calatinus troops.

http://lh3.ggpht.com/_D-Vd5dCskSs/S1X-ffCEKeI/AAAAAAAAA7s/SUCJyKUAslM/civilbattle24.jpg

Goodwin: A few groups hold out, but they are encircled by Silanus troops. Strangely enough, Silanus left flank, the flank he had his best troops, breaks away, even after most of Calatinus troops are on the run by now.

http://lh3.ggpht.com/_D-Vd5dCskSs/S1X-gIt1exI/AAAAAAAAA7w/HIDxYYzxY38/civilbattle25.jpg

http://lh3.ggpht.com/_D-Vd5dCskSs/S1X-gq8bjeI/AAAAAAAAA70/LSUCfs1I_Gc/civilbattle26.jpg

Goodwin: Silanus jumps into action once again and charges into his left flank…

http://lh4.ggpht.com/_D-Vd5dCskSs/S1X-hXKpAaI/AAAAAAAAA74/ISWw5Opubv8/civilbattle27.jpg

http://lh5.ggpht.com/_D-Vd5dCskSs/S1X-ioh5IlI/AAAAAAAAA78/zArfP1_jzwI/civilbattle28.jpg

Goodwin: … and moments later the last pocket of resistance breaks away as well.

http://lh5.ggpht.com/_D-Vd5dCskSs/S1X-jgAt8sI/AAAAAAAAA8A/AE5ujD1weZg/civilbattle29.jpg

http://lh5.ggpht.com/_D-Vd5dCskSs/S1X-lxYIGnI/AAAAAAAAA8Y/6KS9SbwiMfc/civplan05.jpg

http://lh4.ggpht.com/_D-Vd5dCskSs/S1X-kJZ-UiI/AAAAAAAAA8E/xw8-fV50MWo/civilbattle30.jpg

http://lh3.ggpht.com/_D-Vd5dCskSs/S1X-lNi50VI/AAAAAAAAA8I/AuYrj9riOsM/civilbattle31.jpg

Silanus [shouting to his remaining soldiers]: We did it! We defeated Calatinus. We did it! The Republic is saved.
[catches breath]
By the gods, we have defeated Calatinus.

Goodwin: Silanus had won the battle. Both sides had about 30.000 troops. Calatinus lost 27.000 men, while Silanus lost 18.000 men. The battle of Aeclanum was a dreadful battle with high costs on both sides. But the Optimates had won an important victory nonetheless.

But that was not the end of the story. Silanus returned to Rome. Not as a victor but as an avenger. After this victory the head of the Populares was defeated and Silanus saw his opportunity to destroy the Populares once and for all. He sought to end the civil war. Did it all end with Silanus victory at Aeclanum? Certainly not!

Fixiwee

01-23-2010, 14:26

A man of violence

A history of Rome, by Prof Alfred Kennard, 2002 New York

Silanus returned to Rome immediately after the battle of Aeclanum. Unlike his previous returns to the city after campaigning against the enemies of Rome, the return was most unwelcoming. The remaining followers of the Populares went out on the streets protesting and they clashed together with followers of the Optimates on the Forum. Soon the whole situation deteriorated to violence and at the end of the day hundreds of dead bodies covered the Forum. The following days Silanus retaliated for what he saw as an attack on the Optimates and more Populares were murdered on the streets.
After seeing that he was walking on dangerous terrain with this sort of disposal, he legitimated his action with the lex Iunus de proscritione that allowed the killing of everyone who was published on a list by the Senate. For the first weeks, Silanus took merciless revenge on his enemies and Rome sank into blood.

How Lucius Marcundus accidentally brought down the Roman Republic

By Eric Damon
(part II)

“There is no need to worry. We are absolutely safe.” The Marcundus family was sitting in the garden, eating dinner outside. The table was filled with olive oil, water and wine pitches. The family was eating pork enrolled in chards. Manius, the father, was talking, having baked pork ears in his hands. “I have had long lasting business with many patrician Optimates. I doubt that any one of them will put my name on the lists.”
Manius was referring to the new law that was being passed in the Senate. With the victory over Calatinus, Silanus had returned to Rome seeking to destroy the Populares forever. His enemies’ names were released on a list making them outlaws.
“I heard that there is fighting on the Forum again. When is this going to stop?” Lucius, now sixteen years old, seemed to be worried.
“I don’t know. This will probably delay the Populares. But it certainly won’t stop them. See, that is the reason why I don’t get into politics. Being a Senator, yes I could afford it. But then I would have to choose sides and the next morning I’ll get stabbed. Being a politician in Rome is more dangerous then being a gladiator these days. But let’s talk about something else while eating this delicious food.”
The expression in Manius face suddenly changed from serious to relaxed and the dining conversation did not mention politics again.

The following morning Lucius could sleep in because his rhetoric class was cancelled due to the violence on the streets. His younger sister Gaia entered the Room while he was still dozing. “Silly brother, you have guests. Tiberius is here.”
“Why am I the only person on earth who likes to sleep in?” Lucius was rather mumbling sleepily then talking clearly.
Tiberius suddenly stepped in and when Gaia noticed Lucius' friend she started to giggle and ran out of the room.
“Look at you. You are like a worthless old ox sleeping all day. Your father should sell you as cattle on the market.”
“Shut up and let me sleep.” Lucius pulled buried his head into his pillow.
“You are such a goober. Get up; I heard there's dead bodies and blood all over the Forum. They’ll dump the bodies into the Tiber. I want to see that.”
Naturally sensationalism was a part of the Romans life.
“Janus! Alright alright. You’re not going to let me sleep anyway. But get out of the room I have to get dressed first.”

An hour later the two friends were standing on the Capitoline hill looking down on the Forum. It was a nice September morning with a few clouds covering the sky. The two of them were observing people caring dead human bodies and piling them up on carts.
“It’s strange, isn’t it? The fascination of death. We all fear it but we all love to observe it, be a part of it from a safe distance”. Tiberius loved to talk like a Greek philosopher.
“I think its plain stupid: Both sides claim to fight for the people of Rome, yet all they do is to kill each other for power and money. I’m sick of this of this place.
“Since when are you being so critical? You always used to joke about politics. And now you are pissed off about everyone and everything? That’s not like you.”
“It’s just that killing each other is crossing the line.”
Lucius paused and for a while the both just observed how people were cleaning up the mess on the Forum.
“I have to tell you something. Next spring, when I’ll turn seventeen, I’ll be going to Greece studying sculpting.” He waited for Tiberius reaction.
“That sounds great.” Tiberius had a surprised yet happy expression in his face.
“You are not mad? After all I’m leaving my best friend here.”
“Nah boy. Of course it’ll be a bit boring without you, but hey – you’ve got to take the opportunity. I’ll still be here when you return, right?”
“Yeah sure.”
“Is your father paying for that?”
“Yeah.”
“Damn. Your family is really making a fortune with your animal sculptor business.”
“Well I have to do some business for my father in Greece too. That’ll pay the expenses.”
“Well that’s really great news. We should celebrate and go get drunk tonight.”
Lucius thought about it for a second.
“Sure why not. But let’s head over to Via Flaminia and watch some girls. We could pick up some salted dates at Maximus.”
Both left the miserable, yet not unusual scene with dead people lying dead on the Forum.

Lucius burst into laughter.
“He put the pork chops on his stomach, the lion comes up and starts to eat them. Hasalius giggles and says that lions are as hungry as he is. When Faustina comes into the house Hasalius wants to hide his lion in the basement. He immediately notices the cake in the kitchen. He looks at the lion, looks at the cake and looks at the lion again. He says something like: ‘How mad can my wife be just because I bought a lion instead of bread?’ and starts eating the cake.” Tiberius was on a rampage when telling funny stories. He was retelling the comedy play of a whacky fat Eastern Greek who comes to Rome marrying a rich but angry patrician woman. They play was quite popular in Rome these days for its subtle parody of Roman politics, but also for the blunt slapstick comedy.
Lucius could not stop to laugh. Both were quite drunk on that night.
“I haven’t heard about that one” Lucius replied while catching his breath again. “The last play I saw was with the Roman legionnaire. You know, the one were Hasalius gets mistaken for a Roman general and accidentally goes to Carthage, returns to the city riding in naked on an elephant.” Lucius took a napkin and tried his eyes.
“It’s funny that the real Hasalius actor gets invited to Silanus parties even though he makes fun of him all the time.” Tiberius was always well informed about politics.
“You know what they say about artists: Keep your friends close, keep your enemies closer.” Lucius took a sip of his wine and suddenly burst into laughter again, spitting the wine all over the street where they were sitting. “You remember the one where Hasalius became an artist and paints all the busts with those serious Roman faces?”
“Ha-ha that’s one of the earliest plays. Hilarious!”

Lucius and Tiberius were sitting on a wooden table in a small narrow street somewhere in Rome. The tavern they were visiting was called Carthalo, after the famous Carthaginian general. It was a place for young Romans to get wine and pay young prostitutes for sex.

The both noticed that a group of young Romans was about to walk past them. One of them suddenly turned at the laughing duo.
“Why are you laughing, you stupid *****?”
Lucius and Tiberius looked around. It seemed like the bunch was looking for a fight. The leader of the gang, a thin guy with very short hair and strange looking eyes was provoking the two.
“**** off. We are not looking for a fight ********.” Tiberius was first to react, while Lucius tried to be more subtle: “Hey guys, you want to sit down and drink some wine with us?”
Lucius' try to navigate through the situation with diplomatic measures was unheard.
“Who are you to tell me to **** off?” The leader leaped forward on Tiberius trying to push his fist into his opponents face, but missing due to a fast dodging reaction of Tiberius. Nevertheless the leader pushed his whole body against Tiberius pulling him down from the chair on the ground. Lucius always tried to use reason over action, but he was not afraid to act quickly. He jumped from his chair, ramming one of the gang members, using his shoulder to push against the soft belly. While Lucius used the momentum to surprise the attackers thus compensating for his lack of strength, Tiberius was pinned down by the leader and nearly helpless. Tiberius was strong enough to block a few hits from the aggressor, but one punches hit his nose, resulting in a cracking sound. Blood immediately started to spill out of the nostrils.
The rest of the gang reacted and grappled Lucius who was unable to defend against four attackers. They started to kick Lucius with their sandals, while he covered his face with his hands.
The whole situation didn’t even last for a minute when two bulky men from the tavern came up after being alerted by bystanders. These bouncers were used to breaking up fights. The first man kicked the attacker of Tiberius in the left arm, making him fall over from his attacking position. The other bouncer grabbed one of the four gang members at the neck from behind and brought him to the ground with a powerful thrust. The rest of the gang members immediately retreated after realising the bouncers. The gang leader stood up and yelled “you *********” while running away.
After a few seconds Tiberius and Lucius got up. Tiberius was bleeding out of his nose, it was obviously broken.
“****,” he swore. “My ******* nose. They broke it.”
“You two guys okay?” one of the bouncers asked with a Campanian dialect. They were about in their 40ies, but packed with muscles and scars in their face, an obvious mark for a veteran soldier.
“Yeah we are fine, mostly. These ******* pigs. Always looking for a fight.” Lucius replied, then suddenly shouted at the retreating gang: “Sign up for military service if you want to fight”.
“Don’t worry kids. When I was at your age fighting was totally normal at a bar.” The bouncer replied. “You should get your nose fixed at a doctor.”
“Thanks for helping us anyway.” Lucius replied while taking a look at Tiberius nose. “Doesn’t look that bad. I mean, it’s going hurt fixing this, but you should be fine.”
“I think I’m going home now and see what I can do about the nose. Hope the bleeding stops soon.”
Both friends left the scene with bruises and scratches. Such is the way of the male Roman adolescent they figured.

Fixiwee

02-08-2010, 16:48

A man of reforms

The Roman Empire, by Wolfgang Schreier, Bonn 2003

Besides getting rid of his enemies Silanus needed a legal basis for his reform plans and he remembered that there existed an ancient emergency magistrate which haven’t been used in a while. He let the Senate vote for him as a dictator legobus scribundis et rei publicae constituendae, a dictator who could pass laws and re-establish the Roman state. And Silanus passed laws and re-established the Roman state. Of course there was no end of term for Silanus in his new position.
After the terrifying proscription lists the weakened equites were strengthened again because 300 new Senators (to a total of 600) were drawn from this class. Strangely this process was elected publicly.

Silanus saw the Plebeian Tribune as a main reason for the disintegration of the Roman state. Therefore he tried to reduce its political power. The right of intercession (veto) remained, but Silanus ordered that it was impossible for the Tribunes to pass on laws by them self. Until Cotta in 123 BC it was the custom that the Tribunes would present the law before the Senate, now it was the law to do so. But what made the institution completely insignificant was the regulation that the Tribune was excluded from any further office in the cursus honorum. Silanus thought this would make the Tribune only interesting for Plebeian Do-Gooders.

The important ‘constant law court’ was filled with the new Senators coming from the Equestrians order. In this questiones perpetuae eight Praetors presided, and the Quaestors were raised to a number of twenty. Furthermore Silanus tried to put a lock on the military potential of the magistrates. Both Consulship and Praetorship were now civil position inside of Rome without imperium. Only after their term the Senators could go to the provinces as proconsul/propraetor having imperium. Finally the Censors were not allowed to use their right of lectio senatus, all magistrates, beginning with the Quaestor, were members of the Senate class.

All these reforms tried to conclude and reform the Roman state as a working machine with many different parts. It was not a constitutional revenge against the Populares, but rather a serious try to save the republic. Some historians argue that this was the vehicle to speed up the disintegration, some argue that these reforms were serious and prolonged the republic for a few more decades.
But there is the cynical observation that all this was build on murder and revenge. How was the reform to work if it was preceded by trail and fire which robbed the goods of many supporters of Calatinus. How was Silanus any better then Calatinus? He had become a dictator after claiming to have saved Rome from a tyrant. After two and half years of reform works people started to wonder if he would ever step down from his position as dictator.
Silanus stepped down to maintain his credibility, but remained a strong political figure in the Senate. His role model was Metellus the censor who was one of the highest regarded Senators of the Roman history. To the public Silanus tried to play the guardian of morality like Metellus did in his time. But rumours were spreading that Silanus spent most of his free time with festivals and parties in his estate outside Rome.

anubis88

02-08-2010, 18:58

I'm not gonna pretend i read through every part, but this is really EPIC!

Fixiwee

02-09-2010, 19:34

I'm not gonna pretend i read through every part, but this is really EPIC!
Thank you.
I try to please all sorts of readers. From the deep thought reader who reads all from the beginning to the guy/gal who just likes to watch some screenshots. That's why some updates are picture and some text heavy.

Fixiwee

02-09-2010, 21:17

How Lucius Marcundus accidentally brought down the Roman Republic

By Eric Damon
(part III)

“So un-roman like” he thought looking into the tiny glass mirror, inspecting himself. Lucius wore a white linen tunic and a Greek Chlamys (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chlamys) in exquisite and colourful yellow and red. With such an outfit and a full beard covering his face he could be mistaken for a Greek, if it wasn’t for Lucius blond hair.
The young sculptor was now 20 years old, living in Athens, dressing like a true Greek. It was the fashion of the young and idealistic Roman to dress like a Greek philosopher or artist. This is how they protested against the conservative moral standards propagated by old Senators like Silanus.
And there he was, dressed like a young rebel, going to a high society party. “Oh the people will look at me and shake their heads. Wonderful!”

He left his home near the Agora, the Athenian Forum, looking at the Acropolis. The sun was going down and orange light covered the ancient monuments on the hill. “Athens is so beautiful” he pondered while gazing at the colourful spectacle. “Athens has it all, the monuments, the people, the culture, the art. Rome cannot compare itself to this magnificent city.” After a while Lucius moved on, he couldn’t afford to be late at the event. After all the host was Aulus Claudius Nero, a young but very important character. In his days his father was governor of the Macedonian province, which made quite a lot of money and now his two sons owed all of it. Being that rich the Neros often held parties to keep their friends and more importantly his enemies close. Lucius was invited because he made business through with him- a lot of decorations in his house were made by him.

When he entered Neros house, an old Greek villa in the centre of the city, he noticed guests of all ages and genders. After being greeted by the sly host and talking to a few familiar faces Lucius headed to the table with the vine vases. He noticed a large assortment of different drinks.

“I would recommend the Massalian red wine. It’s not as sweet as the Italian wines, but not bitter by any means.”
Lucius looked around.
He saw a young man, maybe a few years older then him, in a classic and fashionable toga. He had a friendly face, thin hair and his voice had the sound of a charming gentleman.
“Believe me; I know a lot about expensive wines.”
“So you are a wine steward? If I knew rich people had people drinking their wine for money I wouldn’t have become a sculptor.” Lucius replied with a grin. As always he leaned quite far out of the window with his cheeky maner
“A wine steward? Ha! Hardly, I just love to drink.”
“Then we have something in common. My name is Lucius.”
“Marcus, what a pleasure to meet a fellow drinking comrade at such a dull party.”
They shook hands. Marcus definitely had this charming yet smart sound of a voice. Both continued to talk to each other for a quite a while, drinking wine while doing so.
“… And then the old men said ‘Nay nay nay. The dog can come in - but not my wife’.” Lucius was always firing jokes when drunk and in company. Marcus was laughing all the way, his eyes started to tear.
“That’s another good one. How do you come up with all that silly stories?”
“I guess it has something to do with the stuff the gods put into wine.”
“Oh that is so passionate of you to say. But you what? We can’t have wine without female company.”
Marcus looked around the crowd. He waved his finger to a group of young ladies. Soon three young women approached the more then tipsy duo.
Marcus whispered to his new drinking companion: “Some ladies I know. Well - I know one of them a bit too good.”
“Why hello good looking ladies. How are we tonight? Having a good time?” Marcus was obviously successful with women.
They were between sixteen and twenty years old, two of them wore a bit too much make-up, but their dresses were made out of powerful colours.
“Ladies, may I introduce you to Lucius, the man with an irresistible look and humour that will throw you out of your shoes.”
Lucius wondered if he was trying to set him up.
“Lucius, these fine young gals are Aula, Gnea and Vibia - friends of mine who love to games. And I am talking of all sorts of games.”
“Too bad you are quite bad at playing games. And I am talking of all sorts of games.” Vibia seemed to be devious enough to be quick at repartee.
“Am I missing something out? Are you sport or is that some subtle sexual reference?” Lucius stood there, glimpsing in confusion.
Vibia winked and came closer to him touching him at the hips. “Marcus, I didn’t know that you had such witty friends, Marcus. And he is kind of cute too.”
It seemed to him that this conversion going turning to something more quite fast.

The group continued to talk for a while, but they all started to feel the heavy impact of the alcoholic beverages. Marcus’ articulation was still perfect, but he started to talk nonsense.
“Well Lucius, you know what this high society parties always lack? It lacks someone who spices things up a bit.”
Suddenly Marcus jumped on a table and shouted: “Fellow party guests. May I borrow your ear for a minute?”
People ceased to talk, the music stopped as well.
Lucius examined the situation.
This could go terribly wrong.
“I wanted to take the chance and thank Nero for this wonderful party with such wonderful guests. I also wanted to thank Nero to have the guts to invite us to this party even though some of us were followers of Calatinus and are practically wanted dead in Rome. IT shows that you people here have no backbone and completely indifferent about politics.”
This was indeed going terribly wrong.
People looked at Marcus with a blank face as they could not quite grasp what was going on.
“This party will be remembered as the first party in the history of Rome since the civil war where the Optimates and the Populares can drink, dance and talk to each other again. I stand up here and you are all probably wondering why I am talking to you. I stand up here because I have a mission. I want to heal the Roman people. I want to end the civil war. No more Optimates. No more Populares. No more Calatinus. No more Silanus.”
Lucius was gazing at Marcus with a smile. ‘He is terrible. But he is brilliant in it.’
“And there is only one way in closing the fronts. Bacchus came to my dreams and told me how to do it.”
Marcus picked up a vase of wine and waved it around.
“He said; Marcus you have to end the civil war. You are probably wondering how he wants me to do that. And I will tell you.”
He paused.
He was drunk beyond reason.

“We have to get naked!”
He started to laugh unintentionally.
“All of you get naked. Now!”
No one laughed but Lucius.
“Let’s heal the Roman society by drinking and getting naked! Thank you; you’ve been a wonderful audience!”
Marcus jumped off the table. He went back to Lucius with a look in his face as if nothing had happened.
“You are probably asking yourself why I would do such a thing. Well, I just love to piss off these rich high society people. Did you see the look at Neros face? I’m not sure if he will invite me to a party next time.”
“Way to go. But you didn’t convince me with your mission.”
“What?”
“You’re not naked.”
“Are you challenging me?”
“Yes that’s exactly what I am doing Marcus”
“**** you. I’m better then you” Marcus said with a big smile.
“Screw this, I’m doing it” he added.
Marcus started to undress himself and a moment later Lucius did the same. The three girls started to giggle holding their hands before their mouth. And in the next moment both Lucius and Marcus were completely naked, dashing into the party crowd and screaming “Heal the Roman society!” and “Get naked everyone.”
Needless to say most people were shocked, but at least a few party guests started to clap in excitement.
The two ended up running outside, standing at on the street catching their breath again. The girls followed them outside carrying their cloths.
They burst into unstoppable laughter.
“Remember me not to drink so much at high society parties” said the naked Marcus to the naked Lucius while dressing up again. “Screw this party. I don’t think they’ll let us in anymore. Let’s go to my place with these young ladies here. I’m sure they are up for some deep religious prayers to Bacchus and Venus.”
“Sure why not. If it includes you two getting naked again I won’t mind.” Vibia replied to Marcus.
Lucius grinned.
As they started to move he turned to Marcus.
“You haven’t even told me your full name yet.”
“Names don’t mean much, but if you have to know I am known as Marcus Julius Caesar.”
“Well I think Marcus Julius Caesar and Lucius Marcundus will have fine evening with these stunning ladies”
Lucius grinned widely.

Fixiwee

02-16-2010, 15:04

A man of dubious action

The Roman Empire, by Wolfgang Schreier, Bonn 2003

After Silanus stepped down from his position as dictator in 75 BC he remained in the senate as a powerful member. In 74 BC he was elected as censor, following Metellus the Censor in his political legacy. Until his death in 70 BC the Roman Republic remained rather calm and stable. Three notable events took place during that time:
In 76 BC Getae war bands raided Roman territory in the Macedonian province which led the young Aulus Claudius Nero to retaliate successfully between 75 and 73 BC with his private army. This was much discussed in the Senate since it didn’t except a private man to deal with an official problem.
In 75 BC another problem arose in Gallia where the uneasy relationship between the Arverni and the Massalians resulted in open war once again. The Romans sent an elder proconsul under the name of Sextus Iunius Brutus who campaigned against the Arverni without any major success until his natural death in Massalia in 72 BC. The Arverni problem remained unsolved.
From 72 BC to 70 BC a plaegue spreaded in Greece which devastated certain towns. The outcome seemed to be rather mild, since the Greek towns recovered quickly.
Silanus started to withdraw from Roman politics around 73 BC and spent more and more time celebrating privately in his villa outside of Rome. There were rumours about homosexual orgies with Roman and Greek actors, but that was never proven.
When Silanus did not wake up after a celebration in his villa in 70 BC some wondered if he was poisoned of if he simply died of alcohol intoxication.
Silanus has been always looked upon with ambivalence. Was he a ruthless mass murder? A serious reformer? An exhausted politician? A hedonistic snob? Most historians agree he was a bit of everything.

Helenos – The life of Julius Caesar

(written about 100 AD)

When Calatinus marched against Silanus in 675 ab urbe Condita [79BC] Caesar was serving under the former as a military tribune. Caesar fought in the battle of Aeclanum, survived and fled to Greece like most the rest. Being only at the age of 20 his name was put on the Silanian proscription list like all of Calatinus men.
For the time being he lived in Athens and travelled through the Greek world where he got in touch with the Hellenistic world. When Silanus stepped down as dictator and things calmed down in Rome, Caesars friends and family asked him to return but he refused. He married the twelve year old daughter of Calatinus Matidia who was with Calatinus son Servius Atilius Calatinus. This was understood as a political marriage since Caesar was trying to claim the leadership under the Populares.
When Silanus died in 684 AUC [70 BC] Caesar prepared to return to Rome again. After being ten years away from the city he was delighted to be home again, but he was also puzzled because hardly anyone recognised him, nor did the Optimates care that he was married to the daughter of Calatinus.

podoh

02-17-2010, 17:20

I liked this chapter.
Should do some catching up though 'cause the last chapter I read was around the second punic war.

Fixiwee

03-02-2010, 22:52

I liked this chapter.
Should do some catching up though 'cause the last chapter I read was around the second punic war.
Thank you. I know it's quite a lot of reading. But I think it's easier to skip a fiew chapters in my AAR then in most others.

Fixiwee

03-02-2010, 22:55

“I hate war as only a soldier who has lived it can, only as one who has seen its brutality, its futility, its stupidity.”
-Dwight David Eisenhower

War in Southern Gaul
(67 BC - 63 BC)

Helenos – The life of Claudius Nero
(written about 100 AD)

http://imgur.com/WQNSH.jpg

Aulus Claudius Nero returned to Rome from Greece at the age of 34 in the year 686 ab urbe Condita [68 BC]. By then he owned a large sum of money that his father made during the years as proconsul in Macedonia. He also owned his own private army and used it against Getae tribes nearly ten years ago when Claudius Nero was only a bit over twenty years old. He had at first supported Calatinus but switched to Silanus after he realized that Calatinus was willing to act openly against his former protégé [Silanus]. After having accomplished so much by his young age Nero was popular with the masses and respected by the Senate. When he entered Rome that year he was greeted by many Senators personally by the Porta Capena. Claudius Nero enjoyed the dignitas of a proconsul.
But soon he realized that all his authority and respect meant little in the cursus honorum. Like everyone else he had to begin his political career as a Quaestor. But due to his fame and prestige he wanted to skip all of the magistrates and in the winter of the same year he ran for Consul, without having even started the cursus honorum and being too young for this office.
The Optimates, who at that time were running the Senate, were in a difficult position. After all Nero supported them, yet they were unable to control the young man. They sought a different solution to appease a man of his authority.

Senator Aemilius Lepidus proposed to let Nero deal with the Arverni problem in Southern Gaul. They gave him an imperium maius, a special command over Gallia Narbonensis. He was allowed to wage war and administrate diplomacy at his own decision. In early 687 AUC [67 BC] Nero left Rome and for the moment the Senate was glad to have this ambitious and powerful young Roman out of the city.
From Gallia Narbonensis he inspected the legions and trained his men for the upcoming war against the Arverni. Their young king, Viridovix moc Erbin continued his aggressions against the Massalians and the Roman allies since he became king four years ago. By autumn of the same year Nero started his campaign against the Arverni. The goal was the Arverni capital Georgivina. On the 15th of September he faced Viridovix in the first battle of Brivas where the Arverni used the surrounding woods as cover. The Romans were not used of fighting at the woods so Nero took extra precautions not to run into a trap. According to Nero the Arverni king had about 30.000 men, though some sources claim that the number was about 25.000. Nero describes the fighting in his written account to the Senate.

http://imgur.com/qYoMV.jpg
Neros account to the Senate:
I ordered the soldiers to wait in front of the woods, letting scouts advance and gather information about the barbarians.*
*Nero had quite the disliking for Gauls. He hardly used the proper names of the tribes, but simply calling them barbarians.

http://imgur.com/GyN0j.jpg

http://imgur.com/KrKpq.jpg
I cautiosly led them through the thick wood by relying on the competence of my centurions. Hardly any of the soldiers has ever fought in the woods so everything dependend on the Roman centurios.

http://imgur.com/TZNWj.jpg
The key to victory was not to advance hasitly to the enemy line but to draw them to us. So I made sure the Barbarians could not use any tricks and traps on the men. By giving the soldier more Pila to carry the Barbarians were harrased to attack.

http://imgur.com/weYaK.jpg
As soon as possible I let the heavily equiped Arverni be drawn outside the woods again. There they would be no match for a brave Roman soldier.

http://imgur.com/IN0Ju.jpg
[...] As soon as the Kings encampent was discovered I led more troops to the glade.

http://imgur.com/S85uS.jpg
The king decided to attack the battle hardy Antesignani. Being equipped with spears they stood a good chance against the heavy horses.

http://imgur.com/MyfYO.jpg
More and more the fighting took place in the glade as the king called his soldiers to defend their master. This was the biggest mistake of the leader.

http://imgur.com/Zrvuf.jpg
The huge number of Roman troops split up the warbands and encircled them. By sheer Roman discipline we broke their spirits and killed a many thousand of the barbarians.

http://imgur.com/HHavG.jpg

The overwhelming number of 37.000 Roman troops eventually forced Viridovix to retreat and reorganise his troops. Less then 8.000 Gauls survived the battle.

Facing a sudden onset of winter in October Nero set up a camp at Brivas since he didn’t want to give up what he won in the battle one month ago. Viridovix saw his chance to fight against the Romans in the woods and in snow at the same time. Even for the Arverni that is a tough task, but since their lands have more snow than Italy the barbarians are much more accustomed to it. So it came to the second battle of Brivas. Viridovix now had rallied some 30.000 troops, which was about as much as Nero had by now.

http://imgur.com/75PoU.jpg
Again we looked at the same woods where the Barbarians tried to defeat us. But our spirit was stronger then ever. We defeated the Barbarians once so we knew we could again.

http://imgur.com/r8qjT.jpg

http://imgur.com/YV4I3.jpg
Again the enemy was unable to draw us deeply into the woods. Being in reach of the clearing we engaged the Barbarians. This time the men were told not to take any prisoners and kill everyone who surrendered at spot.

http://imgur.com/r03aD.jpg
The enemy fought bravly but undisciplined. Virdovix seemed to be too young, too inexperienced to learn from the way Romans fought. Having the woods as the biggest advantage he never used it to the full possibility. Being drawn out of the woods once again the barbarians stood no chance.

http://imgur.com/ac3TF.jpg
Trying to retreat to the woods again the soldiers killed many barbarians.

http://imgur.com/2vRjS.jpg
Even though many, including the king, escaped we had won a great victory. After killing thousand over thousand of Barbarians I wondered what could stop us defeating the Arverni.

Nero was a cunning and experienced military commander. He quickly adapted to the surroundings and made sure that his men learnt how to fight in wood and snow. By adapting to the Arvernis tactics he turned around the odds and defeated the proud young king. The blow he dealt to Virdovix was severe. Over 20.000 Gauls lay dead on the field and the Arverni king now faced a Roman General with superior number of troops. He called for help at the Bituriges tribe located north to him. Meanwhile Nero started laying siege against Gergovia in the following spring. Because the Bituriges did send help Nero was unable to wait outside the walls and let Virdovix starve to death. He realised that with additional troops waiting on the other side of the hill-town he had to take the city by force and drive the Arverni allies away from the prey.

http://imgur.com/q3NCl.jpg

In early Maius 688 AUC [May 66 BC] Nero used all his military wit to take the well fortified town.

http://imgur.com/Z6pH3.jpg
The barbarian capital was situated on a well defended hill. Taking the town by force was a risky task which could lead to the utter destruction of the Roman legions.

http://imgur.com/3LggU.jpg
The barbarians were trained in shooting bows. Vital to the siege was protection by using the shields for cover.

http://imgur.com/j4M0A.jpg
[...]But the Arverni did not have enough men to defend every spot of the same time. By attacking from multiple direction I effecivly weakend the barbarian town.

http://imgur.com/Ehvwf.jpg
The siege came with some costs since taking a town is never an easy thing to do. Ruined debris lay all around the walls since the barbarians were witty in disturbing our attacks. [...]

http://imgur.com/741jh.jpg

http://imgur.com/mm789.jpg
After the walls were taken I took extra precautions to reorganise the men.

http://imgur.com/um7O3.jpg
The bituriges advanced to the city trying to protect it since the Arverni king didn't have any men to defend it.

http://imgur.com/h9zZA.jpg
So the Roman troops had to fight additional men coming to the city from the nothern gate.

http://imgur.com/8XSYG.jpg
This proved to be difficult and the battle for the town went on for hours. Both sides suffered loss of men and blood...

http://imgur.com/AWkdm.jpg
...but in defending the town and his people Viridovix gave his life.

http://imgur.com/B9Laq.jpg
Yet the enemy bitterly tried to defend what he had left. So the fighting went on till the evening. Rain came and rain went away and both sides fought to exhaustion.

http://imgur.com/BCOyn.jpg

http://imgur.com/L0I4z.jpg
By the 20th hour the men cleared up the last pockets of resitance in the town. No barbarian carrying a weapon that day lived to see the next morning.

With Virdovix killed in battle and the Bituriges driven off Nero had utterly destroyed his foes and accomplished the war goals. But by subduing one of the strongest Gallic tribes the Romans also destabilized the Region and it would take some more years until Nero could return to Rome.

http://imgur.com/vyKCx.jpg

Fixiwee

03-02-2010, 22:56

Is it just me or is the new forum template killing the screenshots?

vartan

03-03-2010, 20:38

Is it just me or is the new forum template killing the screenshots?
This is true. Good choice of quote by Ike. Hope people can see past war and break down what has essentially become a normal, everyday, accepted institution in our lives.

Fixiwee

03-03-2010, 22:17

This is true. Good choice of quote by Ike. Hope people can see past war and break down what has essentially become a normal, everyday, accepted institution in our lives.
Indeed. The quote is the contrast to the brutal war that is going on in the text. After all this first campaign already cost over 10.000 fictional men their lives.

Fixiwee

03-03-2010, 22:18

How Lucius Marcundus accidentally brought down the Roman Republic

By Eric Damon

(part IV)

When Lucius woke early that morning he saw the naked breasts of his wife Tullia. She lay next to him and the blanket only covered little of her body. “What a beautiful thing she is” Lucius thought.
When he returned back to Rome from Athens some years ago his father Manius Marcundus had organised the marriage with Tullia. She was a tall woman with brown hair and a friendly face. She came from a rich family in the order of the knights with some relatives being even being senators; she was also unusually well educated and stunningly good with numbers (which was an immense help to the Marcundus family business). The whole marriage was a gain of prestige to the family and a sign of their growing wealth. They came along well, both enjoyed their lives and often both made fun about each others in quite the absurd way. Their crowning achievement so far was Servillia, their two year old daughter.
Feeling thirsty Lucius stood up fetching a mug of water. While pouring the drink into a cup he noticed that a necklace on his bed table. The centre piece was made out of stone and had the profile of a young woman on it. He knew all to well who she was for he had actually carved the face into stone. Lucius silently took the necklace and went out to the garden where he could feel the sun rise onto this young day. Standing in the fresh spring grass he mumbled “Vibia”.
He and Vibia met at a party in Athens some ten years ago. It was the same place where he first met Caesar. After that fateful night he started having a sexual affair with Vibia which went on for a few months. Those were the most passionate nights with a woman he had ever had. She had a unique look with black long hair and he used to say that making love to her was like dancing naked with a goddess. Looking at her face carved in stone Lucius memory brought back her wonderful smell, something he recalled being between dark grapes and resins dripped in honey.

He sighted.

Lucius realised that he loved both women in his life, his wife Tullia and his long gone affair Vibia. But the latter he loved with a passion that he could not describe, nor could he tell anyone, except for his old childhood friend Tiberius who was far too pragmatic to really understand his feelings.

Lucius was 22 when he last saw her. Next week he would turn 30. And even after all this years he could not get her out of his head. How was she doing? Was she married? Did she have children? Was she still alive?
He could hear Tiberius speaking in his head: ‘Better get her out of your mind. You have everything you want: A lovely smart wife, a healthy child and a business that earns you a lot of money’.
But Lucius heart was filled with agony. He wanted something else. It was the call of the wild, the lust for adventure. To leave everything behind, he thought, maybe only for a year or two. Feel freedom for a while - Maybe in Northern Gaul for example. Seeing the large dangerous woods and the wild animals he heard so much lately with Claudius Nero fighting Gallic tribes there.

“Maybe Tiberius is right” he thought, “I’m better of this way.”
Lucius went back to bed and kissed his wife on the neck, trying his luck for some pleasant good morning sex.

Fixiwee

03-10-2010, 17:01

Galia est pacata

War in Southern Gaul
(67 BC - 63 BC)

The Roman Empire, by Wolfgang Schreier, Bonn 2003

The decisive victory over the Arverni king changed the political situations among the Gallic tribes. In 66 BC Nero was visited by Aedui [Haedui] emissaries who wanted to discuss an alliance between Rome and their tribes. Being ignorant about the political stability of Gaul Nero sent them away. The reason of the Aedui push for external security was another Gallic tribe that threatened to attack them: the warlike Allobroges. The Aedui emissaries travelled to Rome asking the Senate for help. The Roman consul Dollabella saw his opportunity to limit Nero’s ever rising prestige. He brought the Senate to agree to an alliance with the Aedui despite Nero’s special task authority in Gaul. The young general could do nothing but to accept the meddling of the Senate in his affairs.

http://imgur.com/FxVPC.jpg
The Roman Republic are in red, the Allobroges in green, the Aedui in dark green and the Bituriges in yellow.

The Allobroges actually saw the alliance as a threat to their security and being a warlike tribe they attacked the Aedui in the winter of 65 BC. Now Nero saw his opportunity to go to war again, so he was lucky that the Senate dragged his legions to a legal position for war and in early spring he marched against his new foe. The Allobroges didn’t prove a match for the experienced Roman troops. Their king, Maglocunos Moc Casticos soon saw him self besieged in his town Viennos. Nevertheless he received back up from another Roman enemy, the Bituriges who already fought with the Arverni against Nero only a few years ago.

https://i.imgur.com/2YhPo.jpg
The town Viennos

http://imgur.com/fEOPy.jpg
Roman soldiers storming the wall. Viennos put up less resistance then the camaign against the Arverni.

http://imgur.com/FZVtI.jpg
Viennos put up less resistance then the camaign against the Arverni.

http://imgur.com/zhyEp.jpg
After only three weeks the walls were broken and storming the city only took one day.

http://imgur.com/HK82H.jpg
King Casticos soon saw himself overwhelmed by Roman forces.

Nero defeated the Allobroges in the battle of Viennos in the summer of 64 BC adding the conquered area to the Roman province of Gallia Narbonensis. The following year he turned against the Bituriges and faced them in the battle of Cenocorii.

http://imgur.com/Ssw3e.jpg
In the battle of Cenocorii the Romans adapted wood fighting against the Gauls.

http://imgur.com/Au1MG.jpg
That way Nero was able to hide his vast number of troops and lure the Bituriges into a trap.

http://imgur.com/6aeVM.jpg
Roman troops marching to battle once again. The many victories of Nero made him popular with soldiers and moral was very high. (Fighting against Gauls was still something the Romans had mixed feelings about. The history of Brenus sacking Rome was still popular.)

http://imgur.com/tDVdn.jpg
The Romans also relied on Gallic cavalry, since they had none of their own.

http://imgur.com/2vId2.jpg
Gallic slingers fleeing from Roman auxillian cavallry.

http://imgur.com/5X1or.jpg
The Bituriges were not in a proper formation to fight the large Roman army. Despite this, they were even more flexible and mobile then the Roman troops so they started to retreat and regroup to the woods.

http://imgur.com/vd8bT.jpg

http://imgur.com/uDbwp.jpg
Neros legions were rolling over the enemy.

http://imgur.com/CML5B.jpg
Due to their mobility the Celts regrouped near the woods. But the manouver costed time and men and eventually the Romans surrounded the Bituriges and eventually destroyed them.

After their loss the southern Bituriges tribe surrendered to Nero. He installed a new province called Aquitania and for now Roman rule was stable in southern Gallia. Nero did not rush back to Rome; instead he secured the new provinces and stayed a few more months in Massallia. In 62 BC he returned to Rome, disbanded his troops like was expected from him. Nero was rewarded with a triumph that he celebrated in winter 62 BC. All seemed to be going well for the Optimates in Rome, until the moment Nero started to press for a new land-law that would supply his veterans in early 61 BC […]

Fixiwee

03-14-2010, 14:36

Before beginning, plan carefully.
-Marcus Tullius Cicero

The first triumvirate

A history of Rome, by Prof Alfred Kennard, 2002 New York

In 61 BC Nero presented his law regarding his veterans before the Senate. He didn’t expect any troubles considering the rather modest version of the law. But Nero was looked with scepticism from his own people – the Optimates. And now the disintegration process of the Roman Republic started in full effect. The most prominent members of the Senate, Iunius Brutus and Sergius Orata, blocked the law. Ancient historians already wondered why the elder Iunius Brutus acted totally irreproducible in handling Nero. The successful general then tried to push his law through the people’s assembly but fights on the Forum prevented the any further actions. Nero realised that he was rejected by his own people. Frustrated he had to look for new allies. In that sense the Optimates played Nero right into the hands of Marcus Julius Caesar.

http://imgur.com/S1bFD.jpg
The elderly Brutus. His irresponsible actions played Nero into the arms of Caesar.

Caesar had served as Propraetor in Illyria from 65 to 63 BC. In those years he campaigned against Illyrians and Pannonians in modern-day Slovenia. According to Helenos biography of Caesar he defeated armies over 15.000 men in both battles.

http://imgur.com/s5TgH.jpg

When he returned to Rome in 62 BC the Senate refused to award the leader of the Populares a Triumph. Angered by the Senates decision he set for a more aggressive rhetoric against the Optimates. In 61 BC he staged a spectacle to the surprise of both the Roman people and the senate. Caesar brought the exiled son of Aulus Atilius Calatinus – Servius Atilius Calatinus (or Calatinus the younger) to Rome. While Servius Calatinus did not have any political significance at the time being, this action was seen as a provocation against the Senate.

http://imgur.com/BgIwn.jpg
Calatinus the younger.

While Nero had been a supporter of Silanus back in the day he recognised Caesars daring move against the Senate and that was exactly what he was looking for. The following details and the exact timeline are unclear but eventually (probably in the winter of 61 BC) Caesar and Nero started a political alliance to support each other in the Senate. A third man soon joined the Alliance: the wealthy Lucius Papirius Crassus, a ruthless politician who failed becoming Consul over the past years. It was already rumoured back then that Crassus had connections with criminal groups in Rome (which will turn out to be significant later). Finally the triumvirate was born, not more then a private agreement, though it was kept secret from the Senate for the time being.

http://imgur.com/WQNSH.jpg
A young Nero. At the time of the triumvirate he was already 41.

http://imgur.com/cGgJL.jpg
A young Caesar. He was 39 at the beginning of the triumvirate.

http://imgur.com/O8T5x.jpg

In 60 BC it was agreed that Nero and Crassus would run for the consulship in 59 BC so that Nero could finally pass his veteran law. Caesar would run for consul the following year to protect Neros the laws. In return Nero would support Caesar to become Proconsul in one of the rich eastern provinces.
The Roman elections in spring 60 BC were accompanied with new turmoil and violence in the Senate and on the Forum but at last the motives became of the triumvirate became clear. Inius Brutus and Sergius Orata faced a new danger, yet they were ultimately helpless and could do nothing but watch Nero and Crassus become elected for consul.

Hannibal Khan the Great

03-15-2010, 06:47

You should change Clavdivs's name to Pompeivs....

Fixiwee

03-15-2010, 16:08

You should change Clavdivs's name to Pompeivs....

Thank you for your comment.
If you mean that you Nero is heavily inspired by Pomeius you are right.
But the fact that I am playing a alternative history means that Nero is Nero in this story. He comes from one of the most presitgious and ancient families from Rome and early fame hindered his career more then helping him. I really want to stress out that there are some huge differences between my fictious Nero and the historic Pompeius. Maybe it will become more apperent when the Republic will come down. In the TWC forum someone sumed up really good what this AAR (especially the Roman civil war) is about:

Then it would be Marius instead of Calatinus, Sulla instead of Silanus, Cato instead of Metellus and so on and so forth. It's a partial reenactment of history with slight differences. I tend to see it as what would happen if a butterfly flew a bit differently... it would probably alter the actors of the great drama that is history but maybe not the events or at least the pattern of events that much.

Hannibal Khan the Great

03-15-2010, 19:48

I know, just the fact that Caesar and (a realistically useless!) Crassus were there got me thinking "Arrgh, he was so close!"

Fixiwee

03-15-2010, 20:45

I know, just the fact that Caesar and (a realistically useless!) Crassus were there got me thinking "Arrgh, he was so close!"
You'll see that my Crassus is a totaly different character compared to the historic Crassus. :)

vartan

03-16-2010, 04:25

You'll see that my Crassus is a totaly different character compared to the historic Crassus. :)
Gotta love them butterflies...

Maximus of Phoenicia

04-02-2010, 17:09

Is it me or has this AAR died?

vartan

04-02-2010, 18:12

Is it me or has this AAR died?
April fools, right? I'm sure man's history goes beyond Rome; must be work in progress!

Fixiwee

04-03-2010, 11:43

This AAR is not dead. The next update should be up within the next few days.

I just needed a short break from writing.

Maximus of Phoenicia

04-03-2010, 19:40

Well you have earned it,awesome AAR,sorry i was sort of complaining.

Fixiwee

04-03-2010, 20:41

Well you have earned it,awesome AAR,sorry i was sort of complaining.

No offense taken. I'm aware that I was neglecting the AAR, but two updates should be up tomorrow. :)

Fixiwee

04-04-2010, 17:45

Harsh times

The Roman Empire, by Wolfgang Schreier, Bonn 2003

With Nero and Crassus being consuls in 59 BC the Optimates were in a serious crisis. Not only had they lost political control to a private agreement of three men, they also made Nero abandon their cause. The man behind the fiasco, Iunus Brutus, died already in early 59 BC of natural causes.
Nero then brought his veteran laws through, Crassus backed him and for the moment the triumvirate got what it wanted. As agreed Nero strongly supported Caesar for the following election with the Populares backing them. The Optimates, now under the leadership of Sergius Orata could not prevent Caesar from being elected, nor could they get any competent men of their own to become his college. With their narrow minded politics over the last decades the Optimates were now completely helpless.
Caesar became consul in 58 BC and made sure that Neros laws were untouched and their common interest protected. Besides the Optimates trying to hinder their political actions the triumvirate was in complete control. Caesar tried to become proconsul in either the province of Macedonia or Asia. He did achieve the latter, with his term starting in 57 BC.

Fixiwee

04-04-2010, 17:46

How Lucius Marcundus accidentally brought down the Roman Republic

By Eric Damon

(Part IV)

Dry was the best way to describe Tiberius humour, Lucius’ long-term friend. Lucius on the other side was usually absurd when joking. For decades now they have been best friends and often their families would spend time together. That was also the case on the fateful day that would change their lives. Tiberius visited Lucius with his wife and children on the Dies Saturni, the Day of Saturn, for breakfast and recreation. White bread, olives and fruits were on the table and the families relaxed to the singing of the birds.
“Master, Consul Marcus Julius Caesar is here to see you.” Lucius looked up and saw Hesiodos, his Greek slave and co-sculptor.
“What? Marcus is in my home?” The blond man jumped up from his seat.
Lucius wife Tullia gasped and looked at her husband. “Lucius you are not dressed up for such an event.”
“Don’t worry wife, I know Marcus quite well.” He never told her about his drinking days with Caesar in Athens, when he was young and vigour and he never told her about his affair with Vibia he had back then.
He rushed to the Atrium of his house where Consul Marcus Julius Caesar was standing. Much to his surprise Caesar had no one with him, no slaves, no private bodyguards, not even his lectors were by his side.
“Lucius, it has been a while.” Caesar had not lost his unique sound of his voice, the older he became the more charming he looked, even though he was practically bald by now.
“Marcus. It’s been a few years. What are you up to these days? Do you need help? Do you need a job? I could always use an extra hand here.”
Caesar chuckled.
“You haven’t changed - still the comedian, just like fifteen years ago.”
“And you have become consul. While I am all honoured that a consul visits my home; the last one was Tiberius the lame and he only came to use the bathroom; I’m not sure how I can help you. You want to join us to breakfast?”
“Lucius I’d love to. But I have a lot of places I have to be at the same time. I came to invite you to a party tomorrow at my house.”
Lucius was surprised. Caesar easily could have sent a slave to invite him to his party.
“And Lucius; I really want you to come. I have a unique proposition for you.”
For a few seconds they both looked at each other waiting for a reaction from the man in front of them.
“Do you want me to come naked?”
Marcus smiled, but didn’t laugh.
“It’ll start at nightfall. And please bring your lovely wife too.”
Eventually they both shook hands and Caesar left. Lucius stood there and wondered what Caesar meant when he talked about this proposition, but there was only one way to find out.

Tullia was quite exited about going to a high society party. For all her intelligence and wit she had this thing for rumours about patrician families (mostly adultery) and fancy festivities. She even prevented him of dressing his old extravagant Greek Chlamys. “Lucius, you are 37 now, time to stop being a rebellious teenager.”

Tullia, once they joined Caesars party, fitted in perfectly. Even though she was just a Plebeian she made friends quickly with her witty charisma and her exquisite appearance. Lucius for his part stood at near the vine and enjoyed it drinking it. “Damn, I wish Tiberius was here.”

“Look who we have here. An old familiar face I haven’t seen in a while.”
Lucius looked up, trying to place the familiar sound of the voice.
The man who stood in front of him was a tall man with a sleek hair cut. He looked smart and had a humble way of talking. Lucius glared at him for a second or two then he realised that this was the one party host who witnessed Lucius striking with Caesar during his party many years ago. Aulus Claudius Nero, the former Consul and college of Caesar and Crassus.
“You want me to return the favour to Caesar? Shall I undress now and shock the guests?” Lucius quickly tried to adapt to the unconformable situation.
Nero started to laugh in a way that can only be described as a silly laud chuckle. He suddenly stop laughing and spoke in a very sober voice: “I find it amusing that my political ally ran around naked on a party trying to get me angry for being a snob. And now look at this party. See what Caesar has become.”
Lucius looked around and realised that this was the exact same party he visited in Athens, but now Caesar was the host.

After roughly two hours Caesar approached Lucius and asked him to join him for a talk in his private working room. The statesman looked at Lucius with a serious impaling look.
“Dear Lucius, I hope this party does not bore you too much, but I can’t intoxicate myself as a consul in front of all the guests.”
“Thought as much… So how is it being a Consul? I never imagined back then that a friend called Marcus would one day achieve the highest political position in Rome.”
“It’s actually quite tough I tell you. As you no doubt know a few politicians see me as a ruthless man. Is it ruthless to go for the first place during the Olympic games if you are know that you are the best? I don’t think so.”
While Lucius thought that his old friend Marcus Caesar had changed in certain ways, he still saw in him the young energetic man he met in Athens so many years ago.
“I guess you didn’t summon me to talk about hard politics?”
“My dear friend Lucius, in my position everything is connected to politics.” He paused. “I wanted to offer you a business deal to you.” He paused again, he continued to speak slowly with a low tone, using all his convincing charm.
“What I am going to tell you is going to be the opportunity of a lifetime Lucius. In half a year my term as Consul is ending and as you know I will go to the far province of Asia to serve as a Proconsul. And as you know as well Asia is the richest and most prestigious province together with Macedonia.”
“So?”
“So I will work and live there and come back as a very rich and powerful man.”
“What has this to do with me?”
“I want you to come with me. As a friend.”
“As a friend?”
“And as my personal advisor to the Greek arts. I know it sounds a bit cheesy.”
“What?”
“I want you to become my personal sculptor. I want to govern Asia unlike any Roman before. And frankly I need someone to make a lot of statues of me. People are easy to control with simple symbols of power.”
Lucius was quite confused.
“I… I don’t know why you’d pick me.”
“Because I know you and I know that I can trust you. Because you are one of a kind and I could use a friend in a place far away.”
“I see, but…”
“Think about this. You’ll make a lot of money. And I mean it – a lot. You’ll probably make enough money to live the rest of your life carefree. Your children could enjoy the best education; you could buy a lovely villa in the bay of Naples and enjoy the very best food you can buy in Italy.”
Lucius was disillusioned, but attracted to the idea.
“I have to think about it. I can’t say anything.”
And then it struck him. He saw the one face, bright and shimmering, beautiful and irresistible.
“Vibia” he mumbled when he left the room with Caesar.

“You are doing what?”
Tullia didn’t like the news at first. They were sitting at home, it was past midnight and everyone except them was already sleeping in their house.
“You are going to Asia? What for? Why? What about the children? What about me?”
Lucius tried to do the same way of talking that Caesar had used to convince him.
“My dear, it’s the opportunity of a lifetime. Asia is rich, there is so much money to make and Caesar promised to pay me a huge sum.”
“How much?” Tullia looked up.
“He said that I’ll earn my current years payment in one month. Think about it, we could move out of the city and have a nice place in the countryside. Think what we could offer our children. This is the one opportunity everyone is looking for.”
Lucius was surprised how easily Tullias objection was swayed by the argument of money and it made him wonder at the time being what kind of a shallow person he had married. The next morning he was absolutely sure that he needed to go away for a year or two.

The exotic East was calling him.

Fixiwee

04-11-2010, 17:54

Gallia est omnis divisa in partes tres
-Historic Gaius Julius Caesar

Caesar in the east

https://i.imgur.com/yIH74.jpg

Asia at the begin of Caesars Pro-Consulship. Red represents the Roman Pronvinces in Anatolia. White represents the varrious de facto independent Seleucid Empire. Purple represents the Kingdom of Potuns. Green represents the Kingdom of Armenia and Pink represents the Parthian Empire.

Commentarii de Bello Asiatico

I. All of Asia is divided multiple parts. The Roman territories consist of Pergamon and Lydia in the west. The Kingdom of Pontus lies to the north. In the centre one finds Cappadocia and Galatia, to the South Syria and Cilicia. In the east the Armenians and Parthians inhabit the former Persian Empire. All these differ from each other in language, custom and law. Nominally under the rule of the Seleucid King these regions enjoy de facto independence, except for Pontus, Armenia and Parthia, which represent their own kingdoms. Of all these the people from Pontus are the bravest, since their warriors enjoy rigorous discipline and training, while the Syrians and Cilicians are the finest traders. The Armenians to the east live under their king and enjoy a high civilisation and fight a tough struggle against the Parthians throughout the last decades. The region of Syria is the most decadent one. Once a region of commerce and culture the old kings of the Seleucids and Ptolemaists have constantly waged war here and decreased economical and political stability. Yet another plague disturbs the stability of Asia, since pirates control most of the Cilician coast.
[…]

https://i.imgur.com/PQUXM.jpg

The Roman Empire, by Wolfgang Schreier, Bonn 2003

Once again the further fate of the Republic was decided by a man not being in Rome. Caesar had high ambitions for his term, he reinforced the infrastructure and strengthened his legions. His aim was to increase his wealth and clients through war; his book de bello asiatico is an important document to this. The fact that the conquest of a whole region is described with an impressing soberness and not always euphemistically written makes this document a unique example of Latin literature.
There was a complex situation in the east that led to Caesars wars. For centuries the Seleucid Empire has been crumbling and by the first century BC it only existed nominally. Most regions under the Seleucid Empire were independent. Rome itself had a good relationship with the Empire and shared a border peacefully for nearly a century. Starting from 80 BC the Seleucid Empire was in turmoil and politically instable, with most regions fighting against the Seleucid king. Pirates were a great problem for commerce on the southern coast of Anatolia.
As stated above the main reason for Caesar to go to war was to gather more clients and thus gaining more political power. The actual war was triggered by a call for help of the Phrygians, a people from the centre of Anatolia. They asked Caesar to aid them in their struggle for independence from the Seleucids. Was this event staged? The Senate in Rome asked the same question and did not come to a conclusion. Nevertheless Caesar saw this as the opportunity he had been preparing and decided to go to war without asking the Senate in Rome for permission.

https://i.imgur.com/UdZ0c.jpg

Commentarii de Bello Asiatico

VI. When Caesar was informed that Seleucid king Helenos Koilesyriakos transferred troops from Syria through the Cilician Gate into central Anatolia he feared that the Galatians and the Phrygians would oppose him. That could have brought chaos into the already political instable region. Caesar decided to gather his troops in early May and march to Ipsos where the capital of the Phrygians was located, for he had promised to protect them over aggression. When he arrived at Ipsos the Phrygians gladly opened their gates to the Romans. Their ruler Adestus greeted Caesar with a huge military ceremony and he told Caesar all he knew about Koilesyriakos army. Not all were glad to have the Romans protect their region. Some Phrygians openly protested against Caesar and stated that all Adestus did was to exchange Roman over Seleucid rule. Nevertheless in late May the Roman legions were set and ready to march against the remnants of the once great Seleucid army.

vartan

04-12-2010, 01:31

Fixiwee

04-12-2010, 17:03

Haha. How do you get the enemy to control provinces that they controlled historically in that time period in which you write of? Also, howcome Pontus controls Ani? I'm continuing to enjoy the lectures by the way.
With Pontus it was a coincidence. I had to use FD with Seleucid and Parthia a lot. I always tend to thrive for semi historical borders for certain factions, though not all.

And I'm not sure what Ani is and why Pontus controls it. :S

Thanks, though I would not consider it as lecture, just as playing around with history. :)

Fixiwee

04-17-2010, 20:03

In preparing for battle I have always found that plans are useless, but planning is indispensable.
-Dwight D. Eisenhower

Battle of Agosa 57 BC

A history of Rome, by Prof Alfred Kennard, 2002 New York

From the Seleucid king Koilesyriakos point of view things turned out differently then he planed, when Caesar invaded his territory. He passed the Cicilian Gates in the Taurus Mountains with only some 10.000 men. Clearly he did not count to fight against Caesar. Why should he? There was no reason for Caesar to intervene. Politically the Phrygians were still part of the Seleucid Empire and Koilesyriakos only intention was to quell the rebellion. When he heard that the Romans “invaded” his Empire he was left with no option but to go to war. The main problem was that Caesars legion consisted of some 30.000 men, thrice the number he had. Koilesyriakos asked the Galatians and the Cappadocians for help and they sent mercenary captain Lagoras Babas Lydikes with some additional 12.000 troops. In all, Koilesyriakos was underpowered, but he was more experienced then Caesar. The Seleucid King had served in many battles during the Syrian wars against the powerful Ptolemaic dynasty. The Seleucid king also hoped to win the battle by the use of early Cataphracts, heavy cavalry with Parthian origin.

Commentarii de Bello Asiatico

XXV.

Caesar set up his legions some miles east of Ipsos, waiting and studying the movement of the enemy. For that he ordered Spurius Tullus, his centurion with praetorian powers to ascend the nearby mountains and guard the old Persian road that leads to the east. With the excellent weather provided the scouts would alert Caesar early enough to prepare the right measures for battle. Furthermore the Romans made good use of the helpful Phrygians who would also scout the terrain and tell them all the secrets of the nearby hills.

XXVI.

In early July local peasants sent news to Caesar that Syrian scouts were sent in the name of Koilesyriakos, while most of them were sent away, some Phrygians claimed to have killed a few of the horse riders. But this news was warning Caesar that despite the summer heat the Seleucid King was marching westwards towards the Romans. The news was sent to Phrygians and preparation for battle started. The corn supply was secured secretly at the foot of a local hill, so that in defeat it would not fall into enemy hands. Centurion Spurius Tullus was sent to scout for a good position to face the enemy army. Caesar told Tullus: “Be aware that the enemy might bring formidable cavalry, something our legions lack. Therefore it would be to our benefit to draw the Seleucid king into steep terrain, something Anatolia provides for us.”

XXVII.

Two days later it was reported to the Romans that the Seleucids were camping in the woods eastwards, several miles from Caesars camp. Either Koilesyriakos was not aware of the Roman presence or the King was trying to win more time. The Seleucids did not take the initiative to strike.

XXVIII.

The next day Caesar made the troops ready and marched eastwards to a valley along the old Persian road that the Phrygians call Agosa. Two legions were sent on the open field to bait the Seleucid king out of the nearby woods, while Caesar positioned him with another legion further up the hill, overlooking the whole Agosa valley. While the Seleucid king had strong cavalry, he lacked the necessary numbers of troops to outflank Caesar. The latter was aware of Koilesyriakos weakness, therefore he tried to draw the whole bulk into close combat. The small amount of auxiliary Phrygians was ordered to protect the flank on the lowest point of the hill.

XXIX.

The Seleucids joined the sight of battle and formed a large phalanx in the first line and impressive looking heavy cavalry on the second line. Their flanks were protected with Galatian light infantry. The Roman legionaries became insecure at the sight of the Seleucid heavy cavalry, which the Greeks called Kataphraktos. Their heavy armoured coats and the protections of the horses glittered in the hot summer sun. Caesar also acknowledged the impressing sight of the enemy force despite their numerical inferiority.

http://imgur.com/S1BsX.jpg

http://imgur.com/MX5tZ.jpg

XXX.

Much to surprise of the Romans Koilesyriakos quickly changed their formation, putting his most impressive Kataphraktos in front, suddenly charging on to the Roman line. The soldiers began throwing javelins at the armoured riders, but there was little penetration and very few Seleucids fell before the first contact. The impact of heavy cavalry clashing against Roman men was severe, but the line held their position, much to the credit of the centurions who kept the moral of the soldiers high.

http://imgur.com/v8LZr.jpg

http://imgur.com/nYqoM.jpg

XXXI.

Koilesyriakos was quite surprised how well the Romans held their line and ordered to withdraw from battle and reform.

http://imgur.com/duhGj.jpg

Once again they charged, but this time the much slower Phalanx formed infantry attacked with the Kataphraktos. Caesar himself had to move up to the front rows to secure the spirit of his men, for he knew that if one Cohort (Roman tactical unit) would break away, the whole army would be on the run. Thus he took danger of all equal, encouraging his men joining him in battle.

http://imgur.com/8ENHq.jpg

http://imgur.com/SRa5C.jpg

http://imgur.com/oM7ez.jpg

As the fighting went on the slow Seleucid Phalanx was not able to protect their mobile cavalry and the numerous Roman soldiers pinned down the enemy infantry in hand to hand combat. Koilesyriakos and his men were pushed down the hill southwards, while the northern flank was breaking away. The mercenary captain Lagoras Babas Lydikes tried to move around the southern flank and slay down more vulnerable Roman targets from the back, but soon Caesars Praetorians (tent guards/body guards) secured the rear and made Lagoras attack in vain.

http://imgur.com/ubrvZ.jpg

http://imgur.com/X6gRA.jpg

http://imgur.com/NvnkR.jpg

Having achieved high ground Caesar and his men were in no doubt that they would eventually win the battle. At length, worn out with wounds, the Seleucids began to give away choosing to flee. Seeing his whole army turn around and run towards the valley behind them Koilesyriakos, beaten and wounded, joined his men running from the battlefield.

http://imgur.com/JMgWw.jpg

http://imgur.com/Kemms.jpg

http://imgur.com/ePazF.jpg

http://imgur.com/p72NQ.jpg

Fixiwee

04-22-2010, 11:32

Siege of Tarsos 55 BC

The Roman Empire, by Wolfgang Schreier, Bonn 2003

After the battle of Agosa Koilesyriakos fled to Syria, hoping to reform his troops. Caesar secured the newly won terrain, negotiating a treaty with the Bithynians in the north west of Anatolia.

http://imgur.com/2YnYb.jpg
Caesar in Anatolia winter 57 BC

In early spring 56 BC Caesar reached the city Ankyra which opened the gates to him without any resistance. He marched on to the Taurus Mountains during the summer where he defeated a small contingent of the still resisting Cappadocians under their general Zariadis at Lasana. After the battle the Zariadis made a truce with Caesar. The Cappadocians had to stop hostility against the Romans but where granted independence in return. Caesar now only faced minor opposition in Anatolia and was free to cross the Cilician Gates in autumn 56 BC. Entering Cicilia in the same year Caesar was halted due to a sudden onset of winter.

http://imgur.com/tRoJQ.jpg
The Tarsos Campaign was very costly to Caesar

In early spring 55 BC Caesar then started to besiege the city of Tarsos and its master Phanias Labraundon Karikos. The siege lasted for 4 months and used nearly all the resources Caesar had. Furthermore he lost some 9.000 men during the siege, but eventually the Cicilians surrendered to the Romans. The Roman general speared the city since he needed every bit of resource. He now faced severe difficulties with supplies and men. The sea route was unstable because Cicilian pirates still terrorised the southern coast of Asia Minor and in the very summer Galatians and Cappadocians started to raid the supply routes by land despite the agreement after the battle of Lasana. To add even more problems, the city of Ankyra was protesting against Roman rule, demanding independence.

The rest of the year Caesar tried to reorganise his troops with little resources he got.

http://imgur.com/ZeUV8.jpg
Caesar campaign in the East so far. The yellow cross symbolises the Battle of Agosa and the orange cross the much smaller Battle of Lasana. The Cappadocians were situated around the city of Mazaka.

Commentarii de Bello Asiatico by Marcus Julius Caesar

XL.

At the beginning of the new year [54 BC] Caesar got news that his protégée Calatinus the younger had failed to attack the Pirates main base at Side. What was set to be an all easy attack with 2 legions on a mostly undefended city, turned out to be a fortress guarded by the mercenary captain Lagoras Babas Lydikes who Caesar defeated at the battle of Agosa three years ago. The inexperienced Calatinus failed the attack loosing 17.000 Romans and allies alike. Caesar then began a council with his centurions of all companies discussing to march back to defeat the Cappadocians or to advance onto Syria. He reprimanded that “particularly for supposing that it belonged to them to inquire or conjecture, either in what direction they were marching, or with what object. That Zariadis Eupator [Cappadocian King] had most anxiously sought after the friendship of the Roman people after the battle at Lasana. Betraying the Romans, by madness or rage, should be rewarded by making war on them. And, by fortune or gods will Koilesyriakos would still be in Syria after the legions would be done with Zariadis.”

XLI.

Upon the delivery of this speech, the minds of all were changed in a surprising, manner, and the highest ardour and eagerness for prosecuting the war were engendered; and the sixth legion was the first to return thanks to him, through their military tribunes, for his having expressed this most favourable opinion of them; and assured him that they were quite ready to prosecute the war.

Fixiwee

05-06-2010, 18:51

Heaven cannot brook two suns, nor earth two masters.
~Alexander the Great
A new Alexander?

The Roman Empire, by Wolfgang Schreier, Bonn 2003

The campaign against the Cappadocian king Zaradis Eupator began in early 54 BC. Caesars aim was to capture Mazaka and dispose the king for his dishonesty. In March he reached the Cappadocian lands and met Zaradis in the battle of Mazaka. While Caesar still suffered from supply problems, the Cappadocians were disorganized and could not face the larger disciplined legions.

http://imgur.com/RrAlG.jpg
Zaradis Eupator

http://imgur.com/cTz3K.jpg
Caesar in the Cappadocian lands.

http://imgur.com/1ezqx.jpg
The Cappadocians tried to use their fast light horse riders against the Roman infantry.

http://imgur.com/RKwi7.jpg

http://imgur.com/2S3xa.jpg
Caesar was prepared, for he brought medium Greek cavalry from Tarsos.

http://imgur.com/0b6jm.jpg
Zaradis Eupator in meele fighting against the Romans.

http://imgur.com/TCcRf.jpg

After Zaradis was killed in the battle, his successor Dareios Aparnikos took on the fight from the palace inside the city. But it was too late, the Cappadocians only had some 20.000 men left and the city had a weak fortification. Caesar took Dareios Aparnikos by surprise and stormed the city during the night. Confusion among the Cappadocians hindered any form of resistance. Dareios Aparnikos committed suicide and central Anatolia was now in Caesars hands.

The campaign went surprisingly well for Caesar and his popularity among the soldiers was ever growing. Some went even so far to see a reborn Alexander the Great in him, since both successfully campaigned in the east. When some centurions started calling their leader “Caesar Magnus” the Roman general was surely flattered, but he did not wanted to be compared with Alexander. He did not tolerate the use of “Caesar Magnus” even though people in the east, friends and foes, occasionally referred to him as such from 54 BC onwards. Cappadocia came under Roman influence, not a Roman province, but rather an allied state.

http://imgur.com/6svuP.jpg
Asia Minor in 54 BC.

Commentarii de Bello Asiatico
by Marcus Julius Caesar

LII.

The deeds of a man can only be measured in what one has accomplished. When Caesar was compared to Alexander he would answer that by these four years that have passed, he had conquered Asia Minor, while Alexander the Great had captured most of Asia: Egypt, Babylon, Susa and Persepolis. Yet there was no doubt among the people in Asia, including Caesars own men, that the aim of his campaign was not to conquer Asia, but to restore political balance and grant peace among the friends of the Roman people.

The Roman Empire, by Wolfgang Schreier, Bonn 2003

Meanwhile in Rome Caesar was still backed by Nero and Crassus, while the Optimates were trying to denounce Caesars campaigns fearing his ever gaining influence. When news of the battle of Mazaka came to Rome, yet another of Caesars victories, the peoples assembly, among them a young tribune called Marcus Anthony, staged an event to give Caesar an extraordinary honorary title. The Senate was ever divided between the Optimates and the Populares, but with Nero and Crassus supporting the Populares the Senate passed the vote to give Caesar an honourable name: Asiaticus. From now on Caesar was called Marcus Julius Caesar Asiaticus. That infuriated the Optimates who still wanted Caesar to be charged for illegal warfare and turmoil broke out in the Senate. The political situation in Rome started to change yet again.

Fixiwee

05-11-2010, 12:09

Syria awaits

The Roman Empire, by Wolfgang Schreier, Bonn 2003

After the Cappadocians had been dealt with Caesar returned to Tarsos in early 53 BC to plan his next actions. Helenos Koilesyriakos had been disposed of his throne in Syria by his brother Artemon Koilesyriakos in the winter 54 BC, being supported by a powerful military general called Aratos Sardikos.

https://i.imgur.com/UdZ0c.jpg
The old Seleucid king Caesar defeated in the battle of Agosa 57 BC.

http://imgur.com/uM2LJ.jpg
The new Seleucid king and brother of Helenos with his powerful military advisor.

Artemon showed no sign of subduing to Caesar, so the end of the campaign was not yet in sight. But first Caesar had to help his protégé Calatinus the younger. Calatinus was still trying to conquer the town of Side, the main base of operation for the Pirates. For the last years Calatinus tried to fight the infamous mercenary captain Lagoras Babas Lydikes, whom we have met in this campaign already. In 53 BC Caesar was finally able to send the necessary support, and in the summer Calatinus the younger stormed the city and killed Lydikes.

http://imgur.com/J3LS2.jpg
Calatinus the younger finaly defeating Lydikes.

How Lucius Marcundus accidentally brought down the Roman Republic

By Eric Damon

(Part V)

Lucius arrived at Caesars military camp in early October. He hadn’t seen his master in one and a half years, since the sculptor didn’t work closely with the military and hence did not participate in the campaign against Eupator. Lucius worked in a large art workshop, designing and sculpting busts as well as statues depicting his master, who conquered most of Asia Minor in the meantime.

The artist enjoyed quite the reputation, he was somewhat Caesars secretary to all art and cultural questions. No coin could be issued and smelted without Lucius’ approval of the image carved onto it. No mosaic could be crafted without Lucius granting his blessing. Lucius himself had mixed feelings about this, but at least he became the richest artist in the Roman Republic. The money Caesar paid for his work was tremendous.

As for Vibia, Lucius was still searching for her. When he came to Athens five years ago, he heard that Vibia ran a successful trading company in Tarsos dealing with silk coming from mysterious lands in the east. When he arrived there a few years later he learnt from a crude merchant that Vibia worked with Jewish people in Syria, but unfortunately he could not enter the lands because Caesar was still at war with the Koilesyriakos dynasty. Yet he still felt this urgent need to meet Vibia again. After all she was the only love he had ever had in all his life, even though all that was so very long ago. And that was why he had to talk to his master and friend, whom they now called Caesar Asiaticus.

The Praetorian guarding Caesars tent recognised Lucius and let him enter the generals’ huge and colourful tent (Praetorians were for the most part smarter then the usual legionary). Inside the tent Lucius found himself in something he would call a palace within a tent: A large ebony desk, exquisite furniture and fine marble busts, some of which Lucius had made himself.
Caesar was standing in front of a large map depicting Asia Minor, Syria and Egypt gazing at it with deep thoughts.
He looked older now, Lucius thought, his hair was beginning to grey. After all, Caesar was nearly 50 now. But there he still had this remarkable look of an eagle waiting to attack his enemy from above the sky. All these battles hadn’t worn him out- to the contrary - he looked fresh as ever. He recognized that Caesar definitely enjoyed his wars.

“Master” he said.
“Lucius, friend, it’s been a while”. Caesar came up and heartily shook his hands. “Have you received the letter and my present?”
“Yes I did; the peaches where delicious. I heard it’s quite difficult to get them.”
“Well, being on good terms with the Parthians is vital. They send a lot of gifts and I thought I share them with my best friends. Now tell me, what brings you to my camp? You certainly don’t want to join the military I recon?”
“Actually - yes and no. In the letter you told me that you plan to march into Syria. I want to come too, see you in battle and be there when you defeat your opponents. What a glorious statue I could produce!”
Caesar glimpsed at him, slightly turning his head.
“Lucius, you don’t have to fool me. You are still after Vibia.”
The sculptor realized that he shouldn’t have told Caesar about his feelings. But after all he introduced her to Lucius in Athens over 20 years ago.

“Well…” he replied heavily, being caught on the wrong foot.
“You are chasing the tail of a dogma here, Lucius. She is probably married to some fat and rich slob. Plus she is old. You have all the money to enjoy younger women as much as you want. Just go to the next brothel and **** a whore. That’s what we call ‘soldiers treatment for the homesick’.”
“You don’t understand. It’s is not that I’ll ride to rescue her and ask her to marry me. Not after all these years. I already have a wife. But you know what? There are certain things, certain actions in your life you have to simply have to do, even if you can’t explain it to anyone else. I just don’t want to die without having talked to her one more time. It’s not like I can open up a window in my humble home in Rome and magically talk to her when ever I want. It’s been a ******* lifetime since I last saw her.
All I want is to look at her and say: ‘I cared for you’, so I can go home, let it rest and live the rest of my life with a piece of mind. I need to do this to let go.”
Caesar smiled after Lucius gave his emotional speech, much to his surprised.
“Fine, you’re coming to Syria with me” he said, “and I hope you find what you are looking for. I really do.”

V.T. Marvin

05-11-2010, 12:44

gamegeek2

05-11-2010, 15:56

A. Maze. Ing!

Fixiwee

05-11-2010, 16:34

Another excellent update. I realy like and admire your colourful mosaic of diferent styles and points of view. This AAR will never grow old. Keep on doing this great job. A piece of art actually. :thumbsup:
This is one of the most heartwarming feedbacks I have recieved for my work. Thank you.

I think that the semi-canonical fiction updates add a lot of colour to the rather sober historical updates. Though I find it quite tough to write a cohesive fictional story because of the quick progress in time.

A. Maze. Ing!
Tha. Nk. U. ;)

Fixiwee

05-25-2010, 17:11

When the wolf comes for the sheep, the dog goes to defecate.
~Estern Proverb
Invasion of Syria

The Roman Empire, by Wolfgang Schreier, Bonn 2003

While Caesar was preparing his invasion of Syria in 53 BC, the situation in Rome worsened. Turmoil and violence were the order of the day, the citizens and senators were no longer safe and the few Senate meetings were hardly attended by their members. Slowly but steady Rome was declining into chaos and anarchy with it’s climax reaching in 52 and 51 BC, as we will discuss later.

Meanwhile Caesar was prepared for his attack on the Koilesyriakos dynasty, refreshing his legions to troop strength of 35.000 including auxiliary troops.

http://imgur.com/8OztL.jpg

Commentarii de Bello Asiatico
by Marcus Julius Caesar

XXIII. (Book 4)

The Roman armies entered Syria from the north trying to threaten the most important city going by the name of Antiocheia [Antioch]. This ancient city was considered to be the gateway to Syria, without it Caesar would not be able to win the war. Artemon Koilesyriakos realised this as well and ordered his general Sardikos to protect the northern fields of Antiocheia. Sardikos positioned himself on a plateau on the fields of Pagrae. When Caesar was informed of that he became aware that his swift attack on the Syrian lands had been in vane and the element of surprise was lost. Furthermore Sardikos made good use of some 10 war elephants, well equipped Phalanx and heavy cavalry Cataphracts. There was some serious doubt if the invasion of Syria wasn’t doomed from the start. Yet Caesar did not accept premature defeat and told his men that 250 years ago Alexander the Great did not fear to loose at the battle of Issus.

http://imgur.com/39Amo.jpg

XXIV.

No Roman soldier had ever entered the lands of the Far East and a feeling of uncertainty could be read from their faces. While some soldiers expressed their insecurity openly, most of the men were held together by rigorous discipline and, to some extend, harsh punishment. Caesar then entered the fields of Pagrae with his men on the 14th of March 52 BC. Knowing that this might be one of the most decisive battles in his campaign he approached each single cohort, giving a personalised speech to them. This gave the men a special feeling that made them understand that each cohort was part of a greater unit and if one cohort would break, so would the other.

http://imgur.com/VxfbO.jpg

XXV.

Meanwhile the enemy was approaching the Roman line. The Syrians brought a mix of light infantry, Phalanx, heavy infantry, light ballistae and about ten heavy war elephants.

http://imgur.com/ZC9qn.jpg

Sardikos gave order to charge against the Roman line with full power. Caesar realised the possibility to seize momentum by nullifying the attack with a counter charge. He gave order and immediately the legion began to run against the charging infantry.

http://imgur.com/vBpST.jpg

http://imgur.com/hGo2C.jpg

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This bold move was a risky one and could have ended with a terrible blow against the Roman cause. But luck was on Caesars side and Sardikos troops were caught by surprise inflicting some damage to the enemy line. Immediately the battle turned into hand to hand fighting, and as it turned out later, one of the bloodiest in the entire campaign. The enemy was determined to defeat the Romans and their spirit was formidable. Sardikos made sure that his Elephants ravaged through the Roman infantry and already after 20 minutes of fighting it looked like they would break through the centre of the Roman army.

http://imgur.com/tiDqj.jpg

Now the favour was on Sardikos side, the Elephants smashed their way through the Romans while their flanks were engaged with the Syrian Cataphracts.

http://imgur.com/eRXE5.jpg

Fearing that the centre of the battle would break away Caesar spoke to his legate: “Gnaeus Manius, I give you the command of the entire legions. Meanwhile I have to join the centre of the battle to ensure that the men do not lose heart against the beasts they are fighting with.”And while Caesar did join the ranks of the fifth and second cohort that was fighting against the Elephants, he did not join the fight directly, knowing that his death would mean utter defeat for the Roman people. Nevertheless his appearance ensured that the moral would not break, giving direct commands to the unit engaged.

http://imgur.com/dSuA0.jpg

http://imgur.com/USdLX.jpg

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The Roman general now realised that the soldiers equipped with the Gladius was not enough to penetrate the thick hide of the beasts. It was during the first hour of the battle when Caesar ordered Anatolian auxiliary troops to join the centre of the battle

http://imgur.com/U3xn0.jpg

Usually Roman and Greek historian credit the combat spirit of the simple Roman soldier, which is true for the most, but on this day the Anatolian troops saved the Romans. These Anatolian-Greek spear throwers had long javelins perfectly equipped to hurt and hunt down war elephants.

http://imgur.com/rZT20.jpg

http://imgur.com/qBn59.jpg

http://imgur.com/W0n2N.jpg

Now the momentum was shifting to Caesar again and it looked like a total disaster was turning to a complete victory. The Elephants fell or fled, and with these colossal monsters falling, the spirit of the Syrians was veining. The Roman elite infantry was now able to gain ground against the heavy Syrian cavalry inflicting heavy casualties after two hours of fighting.

http://imgur.com/DV7oa.jpg

http://imgur.com/lkFxf.jpg

The Syrians were severely decimated when Caesar got news that Sardikos had fallen to a Roman sword. The rest of the men caught the news as well and the battle ran out with many Syrians surrendering and some fleeing the battlefield. [...]

http://imgur.com/H1J2a.jpg

The Roman Empire, by Wolfgang Schreier, Bonn 2003

The battle of Pagrae proved to be the last and decisive battle in the Asian campaign. Caesar’s legions killed 10.000 men and some 11.000 surrendered to him. The able military general Sardikos was dead; Artemon Koilesyriakos was on the run and captured soon after. The cities Antioch, Sidon and Damascus were now in Roman hands. In the end Caesars campaign effectively destroyed the Seleucid Empire.

http://imgur.com/n6DMj.jpg

Caesar ensured peace with the Parthians and the Ptolemaists before returning to West-Anatolia, where he started his campaign, in the winter 52 BC. Just in time as we will see later, since a new conflict was brewing in Rome.

Fixiwee

05-27-2010, 21:59

How Lucius Marcundus accidentally brought down the Roman Republic

By Eric Damon

(Part VI)

He was standing on a simple road, staring at the sun. He had made it this far and still he wasn’t sure what he was trying to achieve. Lucius was standing at the edge of a small village called Natzrat. The houses here were made out of greyish and white coloured clay and people were living more simple lives. From what Lucius gathered the people of these lands believed that all life was created by a single god and that they were in some way a chosen people. But since Lucius religious believes were never very strong he didn’t judge these people called the Jews.
He passed a small hut and approached a middle aged man with a bushy beard and grey linen cloths. The artist asked in Greek, which he spoke fluently, if the man knew where he could find Vibia. The man didn’t understand him, but when Lucius spoke about Vibia he smiled and pointed on a clay building up the road. The sculptor approached the building finding himself between a carpenter and a cloth workshop. Vibia was sitting outside tailoring cloth. Lucius came closer while staring at her. She realised that she was being watched and looked up at Lucius. Then she gasped. “She looks old” the sculptor thought.

“Lucius?” she stood up and asked again: “Lucius?” Her eyes were wide open. “What in Gods name are you doing here?” Her hair was partly grey, her face looked older then she actually was and her hands had scars all over it.
“I came to see you.” Lucius replied with a voice that was trembling with fear. His hands were shaking. Suddenly he thought that coming here wasn’t a good idea at all.
“Why would you do such a stupid thing?”
“Well I was around the corner conquering the world with Caesar Asiaticus and I thought I dropped by.” He tried to grin.
Vibia didn’t laugh, she didn’t even smile. Her face was plain empty. Was this the women Lucius fell in love so long ago?
“What are you doing here?” he asked. “I heard that you run a trading company in Jerusalem. But when I got there I only found a trace leading to this small village.”
“Lucius my dear, sit down and let me offer you a glass of wine.”

When they sat down they looked at each other deeply, but without any passion. Lucius didn’t like the way this was going.
“Lucius, when you left Athens I was devastated for a while. But I moved on and sized new opportunities. I met a man called Karasthos, a Greek who dealt business with the Jewish people. I married him and we moved to Jerusalem. We had a daughter together and things seemed to be fine. One day Karasthos simply vanished, leaving a small bag of money. I soon found out that the company was in heavy debts and then things went terrible. Thugs came a few days later, plundered our home and took my daughter…” she sighted “they took my daughter and me to a slave market outside of the town where Romans and Greek clients came to barter.” She paused. “I want to spare you what happened after that but I tell you that my life wasn’t pretty at all. Once I grew too old I was put on the slave market as cheap ware and it was then when an old pious widowed Jew came up and bought me. Nathaniel freed me, brought me here and I thanked him by married him. Ever since I pray to God that my daughter is okay and I’m simply trying to live my life till I die.”
“I don’t know what to say. This wasn’t how I expected things to happen.”
“You’re now about 40 years old and you still don’t realise that you are responsible for everything you do in your life. Lucius, we could have had a happy life together”. He was impressed how well she read him. “We could have had a family, kids and a house together. But you were only twenty years old. You were a rebellious kid trying to experience the youth. And I don’t blame you. I feel no anger for the fact that you ran away from me. But I spent too many years in question until I realised that I had to let go. Maybe, after over two decades, you should too.”

Lucius just sat there, looking at her. Then she suddenly stood up and kissed him.
Lucius still looked at her.
Then he stood up, touched her hair and said: “Thank you.”

He left Vibia and never looked back.

Fixiwee

05-29-2010, 11:43

“Politics is the art of postponing decisions until they are no longer relevant.”
~ Henri Queuille quotes
Fall of the first Triumvirate

A history of Rome, by Prof Alfred Kennard, 2002 New York

The year 51 BC saw a new outbreak of violence and anarchy in Rome. While the Triumvirate was still intact the stability of the agreement was shifting. Nero started to realize the possibility that Crassus was using the Triumvirate for his own good. Rumours were rising that Crassus secretly supported the anarchy in Rome with large sums of gold. The motivations of Crassus were not clear, some said he tried to obtain more power, some argued that he tried to gain financial interest through the chaos.

http://imgur.com/GWKa3.jpg

http://imgur.com/R9YWK.jpg

http://imgur.com/cPlM5.jpg

But Crassus schemes were uncovered and the Senate realized that the Republic was in serious peril. The Optimates voted Nero as a sole consul (consule sine collega) and mandated him to safe the republic. Nero then tried to trail Crassus, failed to bring him before court and declared him a public enemy in the winter of 51 BC. Street violence and chaos was now on a climax with Crassus trying to hide within the city. In early 50 BC Crassus realized that his position was hopeless and his allies were dwindling. He fled from Rome in April, trying to reach Spain by boat. Luckily for Nero, Crassus died on the way to Spain. Some rumoured that Crassus had been murdered, but ancient historian Helenos argued that he simply died of a heart attack.
While order was restored in Rome the breaking of Crassus from the Triumvirate effectively ended the private agreement. Caesar was still in sitting in Asia, seeing Neros sole consul and the destruction of the Triumvirate as betrayal. Now in the year 50 BC the conflict between the two men was sharpening.

Helenos – The life of Claudius Nero
(written about 100 AD)

About the character of Aulus Claudius Nero.
It is a difficult task to describe Neros character. Above all he was a great general and in his youth an ambitious man. But over the years the stubborn Roman politics tired him out. His alliance with Crassus and Caesar was only temporarily. Politically he changed direction many times, most notably in 704 Ab Urbe Condita [50BC] when he was being approached by Tiberius Sergius Orata and Numerius Cornelius Dollabella and asked to save the republic from what they called the tyrant from the east. Nero had troubles finding his own political position and for a man of his prestige his stance was easily swayed. The Claudian didn’t have the charismatic way of Caesar, nor the administrative talent of Matellus.

For all the negative aspects of Neros character there is yet enough room to say good about him. Foremost Nero was a humble and honest man. He refused to use the corrupt political system in Rome to enrich himself. His house in Rome wasn’t pompous, nor did it contain any luxuries. By these actions he sought to set a standard to the ancient Roman families, much like Metellus the Censor did a century earlier.
Another aspect was that Nero was immensely popular with his soldiers. His strict but down to earth way to deal with his men was favoured throughout the ranks. Nero also didn’t like to hastily throw people into certain death. While this made him a hesitant attacker, it was well regarded by the soldiers that their lives were valued.
When the Optimates approached Nero they saw the lesser evil between him and Caesar and his military ability should be able to deal with the pro-consul of Asia.

Fixiwee

05-31-2010, 19:36

The quiet before the storm

The Roman Empire, by Wolfgang Schreier, Bonn 2003

After Crassus vanished from the political scene in 50 BC, Neros and the Senates last problem was Caesar in the east. Some die hard republicans wanted to see Caesar before court for his illegal warfare against the Koilesyriakos dynasty in Anatolia and Syria. Caesar on the other hand wanted to return to Rome without fearing political persecution. The only way to get political immunity was to become Consul again. But since one had to be in Rome to run for office, Caesar had no possibility to make himself a candidate. He then tried to solve the problem by trying to run for Consul in abstinent, after all he many supporters that would deal with his political campaign while he would remain in the east. The Senate disagreed due the Optimates, including the senators Orata and Dolabella. Nero sent his brother to Caesar trying to negotiate terms that would lead to a solution without bloodshed.

But Dolabella pressed hard against Nero, urging him to safe the republic from certain destruction. Nero hesitated at first but agreed after heavy debates with his new allies to bring the second legion from northern Italy to Rome for protection. When the legion crossed the Rubicon in the summer of 50 BC the die was as good as cast.

http://imgur.com/LXylL.jpg
The second legion marching to Rome to protect the Senate.

This double minded strategy puzzled Caesar who had to react on either Neros brother or the armament of Rome. He decided to bring his troops to Athens in autumn; this way he showed that he was serious without declaring war against Nero and at the same time he was closer to Rome, which made dealings in politics easier. For the moment it seemed like both sides were in a deadlock situation.

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Caesars fleet landing in Athens.

How Lucius Marcundus accidentally brought down the Roman Republic

By Eric Damon

(Part VII)

The villa stood before him just like it did twenty years ago. It was still inhabited, but it lost much of its former glance. Lucius was standing in Athens at the villa where he attended a party so many years ago. It was the party of Aulus Claudius Nero and it was there where he met Caesar and Vibia. Now the two statesmen were enemies and civil war was at hand yet again. But Lucius spent most of his thoughts on Vibia and the night he got to know her. Her words were still ringing in his ears and even though Lucius was a happy and humorous person, he could not get these dark thoughts out of his head.

He finally left the villa, went down the road, left Athens moving on a good while until he reached the sea. The harbour was full of Roman ships these days, after all Caesar was preparing for the possibility of war.

There he sat at the beach for a while, staring at the sea. He tried to clear his mind, but Lucius simply couldn’t think of anything at all. Suddenly he heard someone approaching him, he looked back and there was Caesar standing behind him.

“Marcus?” he said.

“Is the spot next to you still free?” the general said.

Caesar sat down. They hadn’t seen each other since Lucius left for Jerusalem.

“You want to talk about your trip?”

Lucius looked Marcus deep in the eyes and said “No.”

He sighted.

“No I think it’s better if I leave that behind me. But I’ve been thinking about life, how short it is and all the possibilities we never take. See, I came with you to see the world, to see Asia, explore places and meet new people. I’m quite rich because of my contract to you, when I’ll come back to Rome I’m going to be a made man. I could probably even buy a Villa in the Bay of Naples.”

Caesar for once, was listening deeply. He knew very well when he had to take the initiative to talk and influence people, but he also knew there was a time where one simply had to shut up and listen.

Lucius continued: “I’m just sick that everything in this life happens without me being able to influence it. So many things go wrong, and when there is this one chance to do something right I hesitated. But in the end you have to size the opportunity and do what you are supposed to do, no matter the cost. No matter what other people think of you. If you are right, then do it. No compromise.”

Marcus Julius Caesar understood that he was talking about his former love.

He stood up, patted Lucius blond hair and said: “Lucius Marcundus, you never size to amaze me. Thank you, you just helped me make a decision.”

Caesar smiled and left.

Lucius was confused, but didn’t pay much attention. A day later Caesar made his big decision that would change the Roman Republic forever. And Lucius always wondered if it was because of what he said.

anubis88

06-03-2010, 14:39

I would congratulate you after every post, but that would be useless... So i'll do it just this time

Great Work... I wish i had the patience to write such an AAR

Fixiwee

06-03-2010, 19:24

I would congratulate you after every post, but that would be useless... So i'll do it just this time

Great Work... I wish i had the patience to write such an AAR
Thank you. I'm still wondering after one year of doing this AAR how the hell I manage to have the patience to work on it. I normaly give up projects like that pretty fast.

Btw, next update is nearly ready.

Fixiwee

06-03-2010, 21:14

"Let the die be tossed"
(Historic) Gaius Julius Caesar quoting Menander, reported by Plutarch
Alea iacta est

The Roman Empire, by Wolfgang Schreier, Bonn 2003

In the winter of 50 BC Nero still had not decided how to deal with his former ally. Either try to work out a peaceful solution by a joint disarmament or declare him a public enemy of the state. But Nero was pushed by the die-hard republicans to act openly against Caesar Asiaticus. In the first days of January 49 BC the Roman Senate declared the state of emergency, putting the complete leadership to the consuls, which effectively meant Nero. Caesar was commanded to disarm and return to Rome.
A few days later Caesar was presented the news. He withdrew in solitude for a few hours pondering his options. Declaring that he was hurt in his “dignitas” he told his legions that he would march against Rome. After fighting for nearly a decade in Asia the Roman soldiers and Caesar were bound by a tight band of military friendship unlike any other. Thus they were willing to march with Caesar, even if that meant the biggest constitutional crime they could commit.

On the 27th of January Caesar landed with two legions in Cannae in Italy. The great civil war had begun. Nero was caught by surprised at the speed and amount of troops Caesar landed close to Rome. This military invasion was a logistical masterstroke of it’s time and “landing at Cannae” had become a proverb for a point of no return.

http://imgur.com/XcAVw.jpg
Caesar (on the right) landing in Cannae, starting the great civil war

At the same time when Caesar landed in Italy, grim news came from the east. The Parthians had started to invade the Roman province of Syria, which started the Roman-Parthian wars, which would last for centuries. But we will discuss this conflict in another chapter of this book.

Meanwhile Caesar immediately started to move his troops to Rome and the speed of the attacker was something Nero had not counted on. Against heavy protests by the Senate he decided to take his 2nd legion and flee to Gaul, where he still had many allies. While Dolabella was protesting that they presented Rome as a gift to Caesar, Nero was fully aware that Caesars legions were better trained and experienced, making it unlikely to defeat him on Italian ground. Nero had to find allies in Gaul and potentially in Spain.

http://imgur.com/7zDdQ.jpg
An uncertain attacker.

On the the 6th of February Caesar entered Rome without meeting any resistance. Most of the Senate had flown to Gaul, leaving only a few Senators inside the city. But when Caesar started to deal in politics, many were surprised that he didn’t do the same like Silanus. There were no prosecution, no violence and no lex Iunus de proscreptione like in 79 BC. Caesar immediately let the Senate appoint him with dictatorial powers, he declared snap elections and got elected as consul. A day later he gave up his position as dictator. Caesar had achieved without shedding blood what the civil war was all about in the first place.

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Caesar in Rome. It was the first time after 10 years he had entered the city.

For the rest of the year the new consul remained in Italy and reorganised his troops. Nero in the meantime reached Massalia in southern Gaul, preparing for the inevitable battle.
In early 48 BC Caesar finally left Rome with his legions to pursue Nero. In the meantime Nero withdrew further to the north to the Aedui tribe, hoping to gain help from his allies he made in 66 BC during his campaign against the Arverni. Caesar had now reached Massalia and for assisting Nero he stripped its status as an independed allied state which it had since 235 BC. The city was now part of the Roman province Galia Narbonensis.

http://imgur.com/rHGLz.jpg
Nero(left) withdrawing from Massalia, Caesar (right) chasing after him.

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Massalia looses its independence.

For the moment it seemed that Neros tactic of withdrawing from Italy was actually paying off. The Aedui accepted the call for help, and all in all Nero could muster nearly 60.000 men, which was twice as much Caesar had.

http://imgur.com/rxYf2.jpg
Deadlock. Nero fortifies his position near Gergovia.

This put Caesar in a difficult position, as the governors in Spain declared their support for Nero. If Caesar would attack Nero now his chances of wining were not the best, if he would wait for more reinforcements the troops from Spain might reach Nero and he would be heavily outnumbered and returning to Rome would undermine Caesars authority. Once again Caesar had to make a tough decision.

Roka

06-04-2010, 19:50

finally managed to catch up with this, excellent work as usual :2thumbsup:

Fixiwee

06-12-2010, 18:43

finally managed to catch up with this, excellent work as usual :2thumbsup:
Thank you. Glad you like it. :)

Fixiwee

06-12-2010, 18:44

How Lucius Marcundus accidentally brought down the Roman Republic

By Eric Damon

(Part VIII)

„Gaul looks so different compared to Italy“ Lucius thought, riding slowly on a horse through a newly built Roman road through a hillside terrain in southern Gaul. He was now rich enough have his own guide, a Gaul who spoke Latin and Celtic, and eight Roman veterans serving as his body guards. The whole group on horses included a large carriage, carrying something hidden from the public eye.
Later that day the group reached a few Roman soldiers working on the new stretch of the road. The centurion, a man called Sura, approached them and asked them where they were heading.
With a strong voice of determination Lucius answered: “The camp of Aulus Claudius Nero. I’m here on private business.”
The centurion pointed out the way and at dawn they reached the tremendous large camp that contained Nero, the Roman Senate, two Roman legions and a large army of Gauls. But Lucius was unimpressed since he was used to such a sight. He had seen countless soldiers, countless battles and he was tired of these things. Especially if it was Romans killing Romans.

The Praefectus Castrorum welcomed the Roman sculptor who had to state his business with Nero. Afterwards he was admitted to a small house were important visitors would wait until Nero could see them. It was already close to midnight when a senior officer approached Lucius in his room and told him that the general was ready to see him. The senior officer escorted him to a large building that already stood here before Nero and the Senate encamped here.

The senior officer saluted his master with the Roman Salute and announced the visitor.
Nero was sitting relaxed on a bench with simple cloths and a glass wine in his hand.
“I’m surprised to see you here. After all you are one of Caesars clients and therefore my enemy. But my officers told me that you had some urgent offer with me that help me could end the civil war.”
“Senator Nero…”
“No need for formalities. Sit down and drink with me.”
“With great pleasure. I’m thirsty after all this travelling.”
Lucius grabbed a glass of wine and started to drink.
“These southern Gaul wines aren’t too bad, don’t you think?”
Lucius looked up and mustered Nero. He couldn’t say what it was, but Nero somewhat lost his glance since the last time they met. But they said that Nero had become a simple man who slowed down and was unfortunate enough to be caught between Caesar and the Senate.
“Yeah, they are pretty good, I guess.”
“So why are you here?”
“I have to repent for my mistakes I committed against the Roman people.”
Nero gasped.
“Is this some religious nonsense? If so, I have no time for it.”
“No. It’s not like that.”
“So?”
Lucius took a deep breath.

“I think I am the reason that the Republic is falling apart.”
Nero didn’t say anything.
“I talked to Caesar about my life, my mistakes and everything. I said that I should have acted when I had the chance to. And I think my speech about these things made him make his own decision to invade Italy.”
“You are ridiculous, are you aware of that?”
“Listen to me” Lucius said with a strong voice. “I told him to act, because one cannot hesitate about important decision. That was the day when Caesar received the news ordering him to disarm and return to Italy. Yet I was talking about love and life, not about bringing down thee Roman Republic.”
“I find that hard to believe. Yet I am interested how you want to atone for what you said you did.”
“I brought all my money that I made during Caesars campaigns. Well not all of it, but a lot. You can have it. I made the money working for a tyrant. And I don’t support that, I am a firm believer in the Republic.”
“Well to be honest, I think you are delusional. But I will not say no to any money if you mean to save the republic.”
Nero had the reputation to be an honest man.

Suddenly a soldier entered the Room.
“Senator Nero, I have urgent news”
“Speak.”
“Caesar started marching against your position. He will reach us in two days.”

Lucius realised that he was more or less caught in the spot. His master was about to attack Nero and the Senate.

Fixiwee

06-16-2010, 13:23

Battles of history with Patrick Goodwin

The Battle of Cabalum 48 BC

[The scene is a hastily built Roman military camp. It is night, yet a small strip of dawn can be seen behind the mountains. The soldiers are on their feet, preparing for war, yet they make no sound at all and furthermore everyone knows exactly what to do. Marcus Julius Caesar Asiaticus is standing in the open field by a small fire with a group of centurions.]

http://imgur.com/rK36X.jpg

Caesar: My good officers. We have met here to discuss this early and merry morning-party we will have with Nero today. As you are well aware we are outnumbered by about one to two. Yet there are three important factors that will ensure victory. But you have to listen closely to what I say.

[The scene pauses]

Goodwin: The year is 48 BC and the Great Civil War is at its climax. A year ago Caesar had landed at Cannae, Italy, and started the war against the Senate and Aulus Claudius Nero, his former ally. In the last civil war Calatinus also landed in Italy and his enemy, Silanus, marched out to defeat him at the Battle of Aeclanum in 79 BC (http://www.twcenter.net/forums/showthread.php?p=6623936#post6623936). Yet this time the man in charge of the Senate, Nero, avoided a fight and retreated to Gaul to reform his army and gather new allies. Nero knew that his troops were mostly inexperienced soldiers just recruited recently. Caesars troops on the other hand were battle hardened men who had conquered Anatolia and Syria a few years ago.
The Senate frowned at the idea of giving Caesar Rome without a fight, yet Neros idea seemed to pay off. In early 48 BC Nero had convinced the Gaulish Aedui tribe to join his fight. The reason for that was because decade earlier Nero had helped the Aedui with a struggle against other tribes in Gaul.
As for Caesar his time was running out. He had to strike quickly despite his disadvantage in numbers, since more and more legions were joining Neros cause. So Caesar decided to strike at Nero quick and ruthless, trying to snap victory before Nero had enough men.

[Back at the Caesars camp fire.]

Caesar: Our most obvious advantage is that we have seen our deal of war. We are a tight band which knows how to function in battle. Despite that, our enemy still fields more enough manpower. The plan is to attack as early as possible, to catch Nero of guard. It is possible that he might not be able to reach his Gaul allies and it may take some time until they reach the fight.
Yet the most important observation is that we will fight along a wide stretched front. It is impossible for me to direct the whole battle. So I decided that in this battle I’ll give you, the centurions, a free hand. If you are able to penetrate the line somewhere you are allowed to act on your own judgment. Pushing hard and swift will change the chances to our advantage.
Military Legate: I thought we were going to a festival with Nero?
[Laughter among the officers.]

Caesar (chuckling): In that case, just make sure you party hard.

Goodwin: Caesars plan is a daring one. He knows he has to make a leap of faith if he plans to stand a chance of winning against all odd.
On Neros side the attack is viewed as the perfect opportunity to defeat Caesar and put the Roman Republic back in the hands of the Senate. But Nero is not stupid. He knows that Caesar is the most cunning foe he has to face and even with a superior amount of troops his chances of winning is about fifty-fifty at best. His troops are inexperienced and the Gauls are looked at with mistrust by his own officers. All in all Neros vast army does not function that well like Caesars smaller and mobile army.

[Inside of Neros house. Nero is standing on a map studying the era. He has not slept and looks tired.]

http://imgur.com/ArwAV.jpg

Nero [speaking to himself]: What are you up to Marcus? What the bloody hell are you up to? Will you try to drive a wedge through our combined army? Or will you try the impossible and outflank one side of the battle? One thing is for sure. My legions are the heart of the army, and this is where the hammer will fall hardest.

Goodwin: Nero has a plan of his own. He wants to counter Caesars advance by putting his best men on the front and break through the main line, exploit the gap and try to kill Caesar. Without him his troops would soon fall.

[A soldier enters the house and gives Nero the news that Caesar is already marching on their position.]

Nero: Damn it. He is trying to sneak upon us and make a surprise attack. Get the men ready, sent a messenger to the Aedui king that he should join us in battle as fast as he can. Move!

Goodwin: The battle is about to begin. At the earliest morning light Caesars troops take position as Neros troops pour out of the camp.

http://imgur.com/RVYlb.jpg

Caesar had brought archers from Syria to the battle. The Romans traditionally did not rely on archers, but in his Syrian campaign he had learnt to make good use of them.

http://imgur.com/pAcax.jpg

http://imgur.com/JNEBv.jpg

He had also trained his own men in the use of bows. This was something revolutionary to the Roman army.
Yet his most important weapon was the use of Praetorians. These cohorts were used by generals before Caesar as body guards. Caesar was the first one to increase their numbers as hand picked elite soldiers. In this battle they would play an essential role for their first time.

http://imgur.com/cviSv.jpg

http://imgur.com/DUFV3.jpg

Neros troops are assembled and marching to their position.

http://imgur.com/KUq4p.jpg

http://imgur.com/YieRM.jpg

Caesars troops take position as well.

http://imgur.com/YzcB7.jpg

Yet there is some bad news from his Aedui allies. While they are marching to battle they are lagging a bit behind. Caesar plan to attack as early as possible seems to work.

http://imgur.com/OeZ0x.jpg

Yet their support is important to Nero. While the Gauls had been portrayed as uncivilized brute barbarians through history they actually had better weapons and equipment and were reliable warriors. They added a much needed punch to Neros army.

http://imgur.com/NloIT.jpg

http://imgur.com/45nO4.jpg

On the map we see the general plan of the battle. Caesars army is coloured in red, with his praetorian cavalry marked with the X on the right flank.
Neros army (purple) is trying to punch through one line directly, while the Gauls (orange) harass the left flank.

Caesar [ordering the Praetorians]: Secure the left flank. By Mars, let no Barbarian get through.

http://imgur.com/n7kh2.jpg

Caesar puts his Praetorian Infantry on the left of the battle. They are the main defence against the Aedui. The Praetorian cavalry is put on the right.

[The Syrian archers give order in a foreign language. They aim…]

http://imgur.com/Qbvgn.jpg

[…and shoot]

http://imgur.com/ln1LF.jpg

http://imgur.com/VbNOY.jpg

Both armies get close. Nero is still waiting for his allies from Gaul. But by harassing the enemy with Archers, Caesar draws Nero into battle who simply can’t loose too many men in a reign of arrows.

http://imgur.com/NBguI.jpg

Nero[talking to his marching men]: Keep up with your man in front, mark your target and take heart. [Now shouting] Remember you fight against a tyrant who wants to destroy our sacred Republic!

http://imgur.com/BMkya.jpg

Caesar[shouting too]: Get these traitors who call us criminals. For the glory of Rome!

http://imgur.com/MYpNf.jpg

The battle of Cabalum has begun. Once again Romans fight against Romans in a conflict that had been going on for decades.

[The fighting is fierce and both sides show an expression of hatred and anger towards another. There is no remorse; who ever stumbles or looses their defence gets stabbed. The first line takes the hardest blow; the second one already gets ready to fight. The third one holds their shield up to protect the first two lines from arrows.]

http://imgur.com/F7wmx.jpg

Caesar: Praetorians! Now is the time. Make a fast dash to the right. Don’t stop for any fight and charge into the back of Neros army. Try to take down Nero himself.

http://imgur.com/5NA8J.jpg

The battle is already going for an hour and both commanders run about giving orders. It is one of the fiercest fought battles in the history of Rome.

http://imgur.com/VneHy.jpg

Caesars Praetorian Cavalry manages to exploit a gap in the right flank marked by the Xs. While some of his infantry manages to break through, Neros plan to pierce the enemy line of defence fails. Yet Nero still has twice the amount of troops.

http://imgur.com/zQn1D.jpg

http://imgur.com/Q869f.jpg

Now Caesar has his most devastating unit, the Praetorian cavalry, just where he needs them – in the back of Neros army. The plan is to stage a large attack on the entire right side of the hostile army.

http://imgur.com/2tpbJ.jpg

Praetorian Officer: Men, this is it. Let’s not waste too much time and just kill some of these swine. For Rome, for Mars!
[Pauses]
Charge!

http://imgur.com/T2fP3.jpg

http://imgur.com/yNGhb.jpg

http://imgur.com/I0pKp.jpg

At the third hour of the battle the cavalry charge falls into the whole right side of Neros army. Nero himself gets caught in the spot. He is trapped.

Nero: No! It should not end like this. Not now.

[A Praetorian rides up to Nero, getting past his own body guard and pinches his spear in the chest of the general. He mumbles a few words in utter pain and falls down from his horse. Instantly a horn is blown by the Praetorians signalising their break through.]

http://imgur.com/HHri8.jpg

Fixiwee

06-16-2010, 13:24

Nero has fallen. This event was seen by his own soldiers on the entire battlefield. For them it seems that all is lost.

http://imgur.com/RpJuO.jpg

http://imgur.com/rQUKn.jpg

Yet the battle on the left flank is still going on. The Barbarians don’t loose their will to fight with Neros demise.

http://imgur.com/VlDAC.jpg

http://imgur.com/CGSPN.jpg

They try to break through their line with Chariots, but Caesar placed strong elite troops on the left of his army who quickly deal with them.

http://imgur.com/mqUB8.jpg

http://imgur.com/KHYI0.jpg

Caesar [sweaty and out of breath]: This is starting to look good. By the gods, I can’t believe it. Push harder, take em’ down.

More and more of Neros soldiers start to turn tail and run. After four hours of fighting the odds are swinging for Caesar.

http://imgur.com/kBaGI.jpg

With the Roman enemy is fleeing the battle field, Caesar puts his whole army on the left flank to deal with the Barbarians.

http://imgur.com/KHfb3.jpg

Here Caesar fails to encircle his enemy, for the Gauls are wise enough to stay in the woods.

http://imgur.com/41IDQ.jpg

[The Aedui noblemen fight professionally and manage to kill many Roman soldiers. A centurion cries for reinforcements.]

Quite late the Aedui put their elite force on the field, trying to turn the battle to their favour. And what Caesars men saw was beyond anything they had encountered in their previous campaigns.

http://imgur.com/PLYTp.jpg

Naked Aedui infantry - these fierce warriors are drugged and in frenzy, fighting like wild madmen. They fight with such determination that some of Caesars men loose their nerve and flee.

http://imgur.com/8YaG5.jpg

http://imgur.com/hwOd8.jpg

The Aedui chieftain, King Barrivendos, is slain. More and more Aedui fall, slain by Caesars troops.

http://imgur.com/bnZgK.jpg

[The Roman soldiers fighting the naked infantry catch their breath again and under heavy casualties slowly take down these warriors one by one.]

http://imgur.com/zVZav.jpg

After six hours of fighting the battle is very much in Caesars favour. While the Gauls still hold their position, there doesn’t seem a possibility to change the course of battle.

http://imgur.com/UdzsI.jpg

Still the Aedui fight and the seemingly endless battle goes on.

http://imgur.com/EgUOe.jpg

[Most of the Romans have to fight standing on dead bodies; some of the soldiers have to step on the dead horses to get to their enemy. On both sides some warriors vomit over the disgusting scene.]

http://imgur.com/fgH8x.jpg

http://imgur.com/lJr0v.jpg

Yet after seven hours of fighting the rest of the Aedui army looses their will to fight and flees. Caesars victory is secured. Yet the battlefield is full of dead bodies.

http://imgur.com/ksWwJ.jpg

http://imgur.com/j9aeL.jpg

http://imgur.com/zr15z.jpg

http://imgur.com/hQXtk.jpg

It is already getting dark when the last pockets of resistance had been cleared by Caesars troops.

http://imgur.com/SkPkU.jpg

Caesar had attacked his enemy against all rules of warfare. And yet he had won. It was his most important victory in his life. With his 30.000 soldiers he had killed over 50.000 men. Yet his victory was not flawless. Nero and his allies had inflicted 15.000 casualties, that means half of Caesars troops.

http://imgur.com/Um8kW.jpg

The battle of Cabalum was on of the most important battles of antiquity – and one of the bloodiest of all.

http://imgur.com/FDd83.jpg

The Battle of Cabalum has been seen as the moment where the Roman Republic transformed into the Roman Monarchy. Caesars name would even become the title for later monarchs. He was the sole victor; his nemesis Nero and the Roman Republic were utterly defeated, despite the strange path history would take after the battle. Cabalum was the most impressive event, because of the two Titans who faced each other – former allies and friends. This clash of the Titans would remain as a legendary battle through the entire history.

G. Septimus

06-16-2010, 16:50

This is the most amazing AAR I ever read....

Fixiwee

06-16-2010, 17:06

This is the most amazing AAR I ever read....
Yaaaay Thank you! :)

Fixiwee

06-20-2010, 13:22

How Lucius Marcundus accidentally brought down the Roman Republic

By Eric Damon

(Part IX)

„I just want back to my family and Tiberius. I’m sick of all this Civil War ****. I want to laugh again.”
Lucius was carried by two rough Praetorians to the same house where Nero had accepted his offer of money. Only that by now the villa was in the hands of his former master, Marcus Julius Caesar Asiaticus.
Of course it wasn’t a comforting situation that his master found out that one of his most important clients and friends was found in the camp of his arch enemy. Lucius thought that this was the end of his life: A life as an artist and a traitor.

“Bring him in.”
Lucius could hear Caesar from inside.
And there he stood: the victor of Cabalum. He had defeated them all: The Senate, Dollabella, Orata and of course Nero.
“Am I surprised to see you. Good thing you are well.”
Lucius thought that he was even cynical after his greatest victory.

“Now what Marcus?” Lucius asked with disgust.
“What do you mean Lucius?”
“I guess you’ll crucify me for betrayal. Fine! Just leave my family alone.”
Caesar smiled, yet he somehow looked empty and hollow.

“My dear Lucius, how could I do such a thing? I’m no monster.”
“But I am a traitor. I helped your enemy Aulus Claudius Nero.”
“You forget that he was also my friend. And as for you; you were a traitor. We had our differences and I forgive you. You are free as of now.”

Lucius couldn’t believe it.

“Why are you looking at me like that?” Caesar said.

The artist wasn’t sure if he really misjudged Caesar or if he was became presumptuous. Lucius opened his mouth.

“I… I Just want to see my wife again.”
“And you shall. You can go at any time. I hold no grudge against you. You just did what you thought best, such as I did. Who am I to judge or strike you down?”
“You marched on Rome and stroke all down who stood before you.”
“That is not entirely true and you know that. The Senate forced me to act.”
Suddenly Caesars voice was strong and full of power.
“I have my dignity. And you made me realise that.”

Lucius paused. So it was true. It was all his fault.

“So I made you a tyrant. Oh the irony…”

“Lucius Marcundus. I am no tyrant. I want to save the Republic from certain death. Learn the history. I am just trying to stop what Gaius Cotta and Silanus started so many years ago.”
His voice became normal again.
“Please believe me. I am no tyrant. But the Roman people need reforms or this civil war will go on and on.”

Lucius sighted. He could not win against an eloquent man like Caesar.

“I should have stayed with my lovely wife. I shouldn’t have run away into Asia with you.”
“Lucius, I am glad you did. I enjoyed your company and I always will. Go to Rome, love your wife and watch your children become adults. And when I return you can still work for me, just like you did all these years.”

Marcus stepped towards Lucius and embraced him. He then whispered in his ear: “And we will have a large festival with us two old men running around naked – just like we did in your youth.”

Lucius smiled. He wasn’t sure what he should do. He disliked the men infront him yet somehow he was completely in the hands of Caesar.

“Thank you.” he mumbled.

Lucius turned around and went home to Rome.

Fixiwee

06-23-2010, 12:34

War gives the right of the conquerors to impose any conditions they please upon the vanquished.
Gaius Julius Caesar

War in Northern Gaul

The Roman Empire, by Wolfgang Schreier, Bonn 2003

After the Battle of Cabalum, Caesar started to pardon the surrendering Senators. Among them were Dollabella, the leader of the Senatorial faction, Orata the most influential Senator, the young Brutus and Lepidus. Clementia Caesaris (forgiveness of Caesar) became the effective catchphrase.
Of course all this had a catch too: First of all Caesar had to undermine the rhetoric of his enemies; as the attacker on the Roman Republic he was in a difficult position. Many refrained of resisting him from now own, which saved a lot of energy. On the other hand there was a subtle form of arrogance in Caesars actions: One who is mild also signalises that he could be cruel. It is in his hand to deal with his antagonists, which effectively makes on a tyrant after all.

Caesars former enemies returned to Spain and Italy, while he stayed in Gaul preparing a punitive expedition against the Aedui. He knew his campaign had to be swift and decisive, after all he still had a lot of work to do in Rome.
After Neros war in Southern Gaul a decade earlier, the Aedui had the leading position of the remaining Gauls. Their king Vertiscos was in a union with Ligones, and the rest of Gaul was tributary to the Aedui king.

Caesars campaign started in early 47 BC with a surprise attack on the Aedui town Avaricum. He then forced the Aedui king into battle in April at the Battle of Decetia.

http://imgur.com/aM5QU.jpg

http://imgur.com/HMhUk.jpg
Roman troops marching into battle.

http://imgur.com/Jrw9Z.jpg

http://imgur.com/sISH0.jpg
While the Roman troops have no trouble defeating the Gauls in open fields...

http://imgur.com/G5EAc.jpg
...some stiff resistance is encountered in the woods. These small pockets get defeated nontheless.

http://imgur.com/5Mkhm.jpg
Gaul in 47 BC. The Venetii still resist Roman ocupation, which will serve as the basis for the later Asterix comics.

With the defeat of the Aedui at Decetia most of Gaul submitted to Caesar. In winter 47 Caesar reached the river Seine where he received the lords of the Aulerici tribe. The only Gauls who still resisted Caesar where the Venetii, a small tribe in modern Brittany. Caesar had pressing issues to deal in Rome, so he conveniently left his second in command, Sextus Fabius Ambustus to deal with the remaining forces in Gaul. In early spring 46 Caesar returned to Rome again. Nevertheless it took Ambustus until 44 BC to finally defeat the Venetii.

http://imgur.com/eKoWW.jpg
Ambustus faced strong Ventii troops in 44 BC at the Battle of Radones.

http://imgur.com/L9sJY.jpg

http://imgur.com/jKJiZ.jpg
Venti infantry trying to break through Roman lines.

http://imgur.com/GkfOT.jpg
Fighting was tough and the battle lasted for several hours.

http://imgur.com/0Fq5X.jpg
But Ambustus won an important victory for Caesar: All Gaul was now in Roman hands.

Caesar celebrated his second triumph in 46 BC and announced that the civil war was over. In the last decade Caesar had spent hardly any time in Rome, now he sought to bring his power to a political basis. In his work many contemporaries saw the reforming energy of a great statesman, who drew the consequences of the limping Roman state.
The most important change was to the Senate itself. The numbers of Senators was increased to 900. Some Greeks and even a few Syrians and Gauls were among them. The Quaestors were increased to 40, the plebeian Aediles to four and Praetors to 16. The pro-consulship was increased from one to two years. The lex Iulia municipalis uniformly organised all towns in Italy, all Itialians north to the river Po received Roman citizenship.
The most long ranging reform was the changes to the calendar: the year now had 365 and a quarter days. This Julian calendar was very accurate and was only slightly altered during Medieval times.
Caesar also initiated many new colonies: five in Africa, including the rebirth of a (Roman) Carthage, three in Greece, in Anatolia eight and thirteen in Spain, increasing Romanisation in Spain.

Caesar gave himself new political powers. Starting from 46 BC he became Dictator for ten years. He was now the only one to command the armies and he could declare war to anyone without having to ask the Senate for approval. Furthermore he also had the power to appoint the magistrates of his choice. He also had the sacrosanctias of a tribune and the praefectura morum; the watch over morals and therefore the possibility to remove Senators from the Senate.

He achieved multiple honours: pater patriae – father of the fatherland and liberator – the liberator who protected Rome from all dangers. The title imperator was incorporated to his name and he could always wear the cloths of the triumphant.
Yet Caesar avoided any divinisation, fearing that it could be too much. When some Senators offered him the title deo invicto (the invincible god) he refused it. Also he avoided anything that would put him close to the old monarchical title rex. When Marc Antony offered Caesar the diadem of the Hellenistic Kings he infuriately refused – but not without being flattered somehow.
Nevertheless Caesar assigned many statues to be built all over the Roman Republic, among them one in the Temple of Jupiter and one on the Forum Romanum.

Some resistance started to form against Caesar, but his politics were clever enough not to overstretch the patience of his opposition.
After the first years of reforming the Roman state, Caesar started to prepare for his next campaign against the Parthians. In mid 44 BC he left for Asia again.

Fixiwee

07-08-2010, 13:29

I came, I saw, I won.
Gaius Julius Caesar

Caesars return to the East

A history of Rome, by Prof Alfred Kennard, 2002 New York

The first Roman-Parthian war started in 49 BC shortly after Caesar travelled to Greece to deal with the Nero and the Senate. He left his protégée Calatinus the younger in command of the Syrian province. Calatinus was an able man with good understanding of military matters. Yet he can’t be compared to his father or Caesar in that matter.
Unfortunately we don’t have any Parthian sources for the reason of their attack. Greek historian Helenos tells us that the war was a pre-emptive attack on the Roman province Syria. He tells us that the Parthian king wanted to throw the Romans out of Asia as long as they were still weak there. The Parthian commander in chief called Pishdad waited until Caesar left Asia and immediately attacked thereafter, knowing the Roman civil war would weaken their military strength. In summer 49 it came to the Battle at the Daras woods.

http://imgur.com/CfboD.jpg
The battle was one of the first where the Romans faced larger masses of Cataphracts.

http://imgur.com/CD4BC.jpg
Parthian infantry advancing.

http://imgur.com/BEjf4.jpg
Calatinus was smart enough to use the woods against the strong Parthian cavalry.

http://imgur.com/SchDd.jpg
Fighting close combat.

http://imgur.com/jNSHW.jpg
The Romans also held high ground against the overwhelming Parthian forces.

http://imgur.com/ucu2k.jpg

http://imgur.com/eP5jH.jpg
Eventually the Parthians ran out of troops against the well positioned Roman forces.

The first clash of troops in Syria resulted in a surprising victory for Calatinus. But his victory was not complete, Pishdad survived and with him a great deal of his army. The loss at Daras triggered a revolt in the Parthian town of Edessa against Parthian rule and for the moment the Romans had time to rebuild their forces.

In 47 BC Calatinus tried to move into Edessa at the Parthian border, but was halted by Pishdad. It didn’t come to a military battle at first, yet the Parthian general successfully halted the advance of the Romans.

In early November 47 BC Pishdad finally crushed the rebellion and was able to ambush Calatinus at the Battle of Batanae and inflict heavy casualties that forced him to move back to his province. Nevertheless the Parthians were not able to use their victory to march into Syria.

So far both sides were exhausted. Calatinus tried to rebuild his troops after his loss and Pishdad was forced to station troops in Edessa to prevent another rebellion. Good news came from Rome, after Caesar had ended his civil war he announced that he would start a campaign against the Parthians.

Caesar then landed with his troops at Pergamon in Anatolia in early 43 BC. There was some quarrel with the king of Nikaia and Caesar decided to attack the small state and incorporate into the Roman Empire.

http://imgur.com/GQGzS.jpg
The East in 43 BC.

http://imgur.com/88e61.jpg
Caesar attacking the independend Nikaia (Nicaea).

The campaign took the whole year, which wasn’t the way Caesar had planned it. In the meanwhile Pishdad tried to win a decisive victory over the Romans before Caesar would arrive with his troops. The Parthian general attacked Antioch directly and forced Calatinus into a battle.

http://imgur.com/cEhSt.jpg
Parthians pushing against Antioch again.

http://imgur.com/yBlBG.jpg
Once again Calatinus lured the Parthians into the woods, limiting their mobility.

http://imgur.com/NK6JN.jpg

http://imgur.com/Ekpmg.jpg
Ancient historian Helenos tells us that Pishdad even brought troops from the far east India.

http://imgur.com/uK6v2.jpg
The mighty Cataphracts.

http://imgur.com/kC3SP.jpg
The Parthians brought more troops to the battlefield.

http://imgur.com/gzOfB.jpg
Fighting against strong Parthian cavalry.

http://imgur.com/8PIPD.jpg
Calatinus the younger once again routed the enemy army but without being able to destroying it.

Once again Pishdad was not able to break the deadlock in Syria and Calatinus won important time for Caesar.

In winter 43 BC Caesar had finally captured Nikaia. At the same time an envoy from the Egyptian king Ladamos Ptolemiates arrived at Caesar asking for help in the civil war against his brother. Caesar knew that this was a good opportunity to get more influence over Egypt and agreed. He sent his master of horses, Marc Anthony to Egypt to watch over the new alliance.

http://imgur.com/wMoSD.jpg

Caesar knew that he needed all his troops for the upcoming campaigns. Instead of marching to Syria Caesar decided to wage a campaign against the Pontic king, who had been siding with the Parthians in the last two decades. If he could defeat them, Caesar would have his hands free to deal with the Parthians.

In 42 BC Caesar launched a surprise attack against Pontus and overwhelmed the unprepared enemy at the first battle of Amaseia. The battle was a sneak attack on the enemy army camp during the night. The enemy was completely destroyed while Caesar had only suffered minor casualties. But the Pontic king Menophilos Dionysos was not defeated. He gathered his last troops from the eastern part of his kingdom and tried to face Caesar at the second battle of Amaseia.

http://imgur.com/Qc3Gy.jpg
Caesar is said to have visited the Royal pontic tombs.

http://imgur.com/G5OY5.jpg
Seasoned veteran against a green general.

http://imgur.com/CDoIE.jpg

http://imgur.com/0vGyD.jpg
Caesars troops were superior in numbers, equipment and experience.

http://imgur.com/ZSKaR.jpg

http://imgur.com/M79yM.jpg
Closing in.

http://imgur.com/EqO2s.jpg
Throwing...

http://imgur.com/GgquK.jpg
..and fighting.

http://imgur.com/F85dM.jpg
Caesar had no problem to outflank the young unexperienced king.

http://imgur.com/sdQOT.jpg
The troops are encircled.

http://imgur.com/5h1l4.jpg
In such a situation even the veteran soldiers became weary and began to loose their moral.

http://imgur.com/tzTyC.jpg
Caesar pushed from all sides.

http://imgur.com/CmXY6.jpg
With the their king dead...

http://imgur.com/PKGHD.jpg
the pontic army looses their will to fight.

http://imgur.com/BhizN.jpg
Caesar utterly destroyed the pontic royal army. There was no one left to fight against Caesar anymore.

With the defeat of the Pontic army and the king dead the rest of the Pontic kingdom surrendered to Caesar. This campaign went on so smoothly that Caesar is said to have stated: “I came, I saw and I won”.

Finally in 41 BC Caesar had his hands free to march against the Parthians.

anubis88

07-14-2010, 11:33

Haha... This continues to be epic :thumbsup:

Fixiwee

07-18-2010, 18:27

Of all the wonders that I yet have heard,

It seems to me most strange that men should fear;
Seeing that death, a necessary end,
Will come when it will come.

Julius Caesar in Shakespeare's Julius Caesar, 2.2.34.

A necessary end

The Roman Empire, by Wolfgang Schreier, Bonn 2003

Caesar travelled from Pontus to Syria by the land route, passing the Cicilian gate in early 41 BC. While he moved with his troops Pishdad managed to drive Calatinus out of Antioch. While loosing the important city, Calatinus managed to fully preserve his legions, withdrawing to Tarsos and waiting for Caesars arrival. In April 41 BC Calatinus and Caesar met for the first time in nearly ten years. Caesar took over his troops, sent him home to Rome with the instructions to have him celebrate a triumph.

http://imgur.com/7PGnx.jpg

Calatinus the younger handing over command to Caesar.

http://imgur.com/4kmOO.jpg
Pishdad, an able general

The Roman general continued to march against Antioch trying to face Pishdad in battle. The Parthian commander became cautious, knowing that the enemy he faced was much more able then Calatinus.

http://imgur.com/3Fhdk.jpg

Pisdhads army withdrawing from battle. The Romans refered to the Parthians as 'girls pretending to fight'.

With Pishdads withdrawal in August 41 BC Antioch was back in Roman hands again, but was severely damaged by battle and plundering. Caesar immediately started to march to the Parthian border where he spent the winter. His plan was to finally invade the Parthian lands and defeat Pishdad.

http://imgur.com/0Nl2c.jpg

Caesar invading Parthia.

On the 2nd of May 40 BC it finally came to the Battle of Birtha: Caesar was facing Pishdad

http://imgur.com/ZmdX4.jpg

The Battle of Birthia.

http://imgur.com/o6Qnt.jpg

Caesar, being in unknown terrain, had unfavourable starting position.

http://imgur.com/WV6De.jpg

The Romans imidiatley started moving upwards to get into a better position.

http://imgur.com/bqiBe.jpg
The battle itself started to be tense and fighting took place for several hours.

http://imgur.com/aUnpJ.jpg

Roman soldiers bracing for the impact of the infamous Cataphracts...

http://imgur.com/tAQG6.jpg

...and the line holds.

http://imgur.com/4nfaW.jpg

With Pishdads main army engaged in close battle Caesar still had enough reserves to manouver at his will.

http://imgur.com/qzPwA.jpg

Once again the Macedonian cavallry encircled the enemy and charged into the back.

http://imgur.com/VporH.jpg

Pishdad was killed after several hours of fighting. That tipped the battle in favour of the Romans...

http://imgur.com/qJlKl.jpg

...since most Parthians lost their will to fight.

http://imgur.com/fIgBR.jpg

Caesar ordered to chase the Parthian army and destroy it as a whole.

http://imgur.com/qFrZL.jpg

And his plan worked, Pishdads army was utterly vanquished.

The Parthians were defeated and the road to Edessa was open. Immediately after the battle Caesars officers approached the victor and offered him the title ‘Magnus – the great’ and the title Basileus (king) referring to Alexander the Great. Caesar refused again – much like he did during his Anatolian and Syrian campaign. But something changed this time; Caesar actually hesitated accepting the title of Alexander the Great. He still wanted to defeat the Parthians, but his plan was to return to Alexandria after his campaign and visit the grave of the famous Greek. His intentions are unclear, but it seems that Caesar was trying to get on the same level as Alexander.

Helenos – The life of Julius Caesar

(written about 100 AD)

After his great victory the Parthian king Phraates immediately sent an envoy to Caesar Asiaticus to limit the damage at hand. Phraates knew that with Pishdad gone the whole western part of his empire was defenceless.

For the moment Caesar did not think about making peace with the Parthians. He left his army and rode with a small envoy to Edessa. When he entered the city on the 18th of June 714 ab urbe Condita [40BC] everyone was celebrating their liberator. A tremendous parade was staged and Caesar was greeted like the Hellenic kings of old. He prepared a much anticipated speech to the population: “My dear citizens of Edessa, friends to the Roman people, I have come to liberate this jewel of a city from the Parthian tyranny. Phraates is helpless and there is nothing standing in your way of freedom. Just as we Romans protect our liberty and freedom, so do the citizens of this city. And you shall have it.”

Caesar remained two weeks in Edessa, planning his future campaign against the rest of the Parthian empire. He returned to his army on the 7th of July preparing to march into Edessa with his legions peacefully.

Everything seemed to go well for Caesar Asiaticus, when he suddenly fell ill on the 9th of July. Confide to bed he ordered his master of horses and second in command Marcus Antonius to gather the best doctors around. A day later a group of Greeks were studying and treating the illness of the great general. It seemed that Caesar had inhaled bad air during his travels, which was causing sever fever.

The doctors tried to treat their patient with leeches, bleeding and bathing him in cold water. But Caesars condition did not improve, his fever made it nearly impossible to walk or talk. Yet Caesar battled hard against his illness and like in battle, did not accept defeat. On the 4th day Caesar realised that he might loose the battle against his own body. On the morning of the 14th of July his body was devastated and his face pale his time drew close. Caesar mumbled his last words with what power he had: ‘It should have not ended like this’. Not even an hour later Marcus Julius Caesar Asiaticus drew his last breath and passed on to the after life.

The Roman Empire, by Wolfgang Schreier, Bonn 2003

Ceasars unexpected death could not have come at a worse time. His campaign was close to be a stunning victory over the Parthians, yet it would turn out to be a return to the status quo. His reforms of the Roman state were far from complete and that would lead Rome to another civil war.

Yet the sheer power and determination of Caesar had captured the minds of following generations. No man had changed the constitution the way like he did; no man pursued the path to supreme power like Caesar and hardly any Roman general was as successful as he was. Starting with his successor the name alone was a title of power and honour. That would even go so far that later emperors would use his name; like the German Kaiser and the Russian Tsar.

http://imgur.com/EWEZi.jpg
Caesar at his death.

Fixiwee

08-06-2010, 21:00

Moriendum est - It is time to die

Augustus (then Octavian)

Transcript of the college class lecture „The Roman Empire“ in 2003, University of Minnesota, USA

[Prof. Saramotti speaking]:
Hello for today’s lecture. We will discuss the rise of Augustus to supreme power today. If there are no questions about the last few lectures we will start right ahead since we have a lot to talk about.

Last week we closed with the sudden death of Caesar during his Parthian campaign. His second in command, Marc Anthony immediately seized control over Caesars troops. With the death of the supreme ruler of the Roman Republic the political situation had become unstable once again and Anthony feared that the republican forces might return to the pre-caesarean constitution re-establishing the old republic. Anthony could not continue his campaign and ended the war with a return to the status quo in August 40 BC after some disputes with the Parthians.
Meanwhile the news of Caesars death had reached Rome. Turmoil broke out and rumours spread that Calatinus the younger might size Rome with his veterans. The sources are a bit vague to what Calatinus really planned, but it certainly was not to take Rome by force, since Calatinus was not driven by political ambition. Fearing another period of bloodshed and terror – let’s not forget his father did try to take Rome by force against Silanus in 79 BC. So the Senators quickly took the opportunity to invade the home of Calatinus the younger and kill him on the 5th of August. That ultimately ended the line of the Atilius Calatinus family.

With one potential danger to the Senate solved the Senators still had to deal with Marc Anthony, who was the larger threat of the two. They wanted him to concede with the Senate to limit his power. Certainly the Senate did not want another man with supreme powers like Caesars. While Marc Anthony was marching back to Rome he did in fact show signs that he would not claim Caesars supreme power.
But then a young Quaestor returned from Spain claiming he was the sole heir to his uncle Marcus Julius Caesar. This man was Gaius Octavian Thurinus, a young man who was in fact adopted by his uncle in his testament. Henceforth Octavian changed his name to Gaius Julius Caesar Octavius claiming the political and military power of his uncle. And that was something no one could have excepted at all.

The Senate and Marc Anthony could have simply ignored the 23 year old lad and no one would have bothered with him. But by using the name of Caesars he spread unbelievable charm to the old veterans and the tenth legion which had returned with Calatinus.
So the Senate thought: ‘Okay – we have a young inexperienced man with hardly any political support and on the other hand a powerful general returning from the East with a couple of legions who probably will take Rome by force. Shouldn’t we try to manipulate the young lad and use the magic of his new name to stop Anthony?’
So the old Senator Dollabella supported the young new Caesar by acknowledging Caesars last will. Indeed Marc Anthony came to Rome without his troops – but rather to gather support with the population rather because he feared Octavian. For him the new Caesar was an annoying impostor with no political backing. By ignoring him, he hoped the young lad would disappear sooner or later. Octavian visited Marc Anthony and requested parts of Caesars fortune, but Anthony simply sent the boy away.
Anthony’s next move was to win the support of the people. He had brought Caesars dead body back to Rome and in September he staged a large burring ceremony and spoke the eulogy. Anthony won the support of the people with his empathic ways.
Of course that made the Senate sceptic, fearing that Anthony would now start to rise to supreme power like Caesar, so they started giving more and more support to Octavian, hoping to install a counterweight to the rising imbalance of the Roman State.
But for now Anthony had the power in the Senate and he brought a law through that would give him proconsular power over the Asian provinces for five years. While Dollabella and Orata still held speeches against Anthony, they where helpless seeing Anthony go to the east, where he could reap all the fame and fortune he needed to be the real successor to Caesar.

In the meanwhile Octavian made his legion swear an oath to his name – that is Caesars name and the Senate gave him legal imperium over the legion. Everything seemed like Octavian was becoming a puppet easy to be manipulated. But in February 39 BC one of the two consuls of Rome, consul Plankus, died of old age and Octavian immediately requested the vacant seat. This was an outrage to Dollabella and Orata who had supported him at first. The young lad wasn’t even 24 and he wanted to become the next consul. Of course they had to refuse. But Octavian simply went to his legion and marched with his men into Rome in March 39 BC.
Now this is one of the many coup d’etats we have seen in the last fifty years of the Roman Republic. But this one was especially bold since the man in command came out of nowhere, had no political allies or back up by the people of Rome. Octavian showed to be shrewd and ruthless, rather and inexperienced and manipulable. With Rome under military control he installed himself as consul and now the young Caesar had a political power that even Anthony could not ignore. Everyone feared that Anthony might declare war on Octavian and no one knew who the actual good guy in this case was.
With everyone keeping eyes on Octavian and Anthony we nearly forgot that there was a third man with a couple of legions in Gaul. Sextus Fabius Ambustus, the man Caesar left to conquer the rest of Gaul when he had to return to Rome from his campaign against Aedui. Octavian brought Ambustus to Rome and sent message for diplomatic talks to Anthony. Suprisingly to the public and the senate the three men met in Brundisium to talk about their sphere of influences. Anthony would get the east including Greece, Octavian Spain and Africa and Gaul for Ambustus. The three returned to Rome together, celebrating that they had averted another civil war. The people cheered, the Senate was helpless. The three men established the Lex Titia which install and legalised a second triumvirate as a official institution to reorganise the Roman State. By putting the Roman constitution upside down Octavian and Anthony had defacto ended the Roman Republic.
The first move of the Triumvirate was to confiscate money. The three men released proscription lists, banned a handful of Senators to exile and confiscated their goods. Among them was one of the Senatorial leaders, Sergius Orata.
With his position secured, Marc Anthony returned to the east. He seemed to be the winner of the conference at Brundisium. He had secured his position in the east, had more money, more troops and was hailed as the saviour of Rome by the general population.
Ambustus returned to Gaul, but failed to play any important part in the triumvirate.
Octavian remained in Rome, but his new land reforms saw tremendous resettlements in Italy for his troops which made him rather unpopular.

Back in the east Anthony met the Egyptian king Ladamos Ptolemiates, who he had met some five years ago when he was sent to Egypt by Caesar to watch the alliance between Rome and Egypt. The two were on amiable terms and Ladamos, who had no son, saw in Anthony a potential successor to the throne in Egypt. The both agreed that Anthony would marry his daughter Cleopatra in the coming year. On a side note Anthony also installed Herodes as the king of Judea during the same time.

In the meanwhile Octavian was starting his armament. He commanded his second in command Agrippa to build up a fleet, since Caesars fleet was still in the hands of Anthony. At the end of the year he met Ambustus at the conference of Bononia and brought him under his direct control. Octavian now effectively controlled the whole western part of the Roman Empire.
That led the remaining senators to believe that their young pupil had ultimately turned to a tyrant. On the 18th of November Octavian became the target of an assassination attempt that didn’t succeed. Full of anger he returned to Rome and released new prospricion lists that marked many Senators as enemy of the state. In the following days many Senators were executed in Rome, among them the leader of the Senate Dollabella, while Orata was assassinated in his exile in northern Italy. These ruthless executions were applauded by Anthony who greeted Octavian’s determined actions.
Alright, we will have a 15 minute break and after that we will talk about the breakdown of the triumvirate.

TuCoT

08-07-2010, 13:46

A very good AAR. ;)

Fixiwee

08-07-2010, 14:52

Thank you very much. :)

Fixiwee

08-10-2010, 12:11

Transcript of the college class lecture „The Roman Empire“ in 2003, University of Minnesota, USA

[Prof. Saramotti speaking]

Alright, welcome back from our break. Let’s continue right ahead – we have little time left.

The year 38 BC started with difficulties for Octavian. Marc Anthony’s brother Quintus had become one of the two consuls and started to act against Octavian, trying to gain his power. Octavian wasn’t too flattered about a rival trying to humiliate a triumvir and after turmoil broke out in Rome once again, the young Caesar brought his troops to Rome. Marc Anthony was actually pretty angered that one of his siblings operated against his legal political partner. Octavian chased Quintus to the town Luca with Anthony’s blessings and there he laid siege against him. In May it became clear that Quintus had overstretched his authority and he had no chance of winning against Octavian’s legion, so he eventually committed suicide. Ancient historians portrait Quintus as a tragic figure who tried to set a warning for his brother against the ruthless Octavian. I personally believe that they just wanted to add some tension to the events. Quintus was just as ruthless and opportunistic as his brother or his enemy Octavian. He gambled that he could defeat Octavian and replace him, making himself and his brother Marc Anthony the sole rulers of the Roman Republic. But Quintus lost and Octavian emerged ever more powerful out of the conflict.
While Octavian defeated Quintus, Marc Anthony married Cleopatra in a large ceremony in Alexandria. We will talk about Cleopatra a little bit later. After the marriage Marc Anthony immediately returned to Rome once again, after hearing numerous reports that Octavian was building a large naval fleet that could threaten his superiority at sea. In July the two triumvirs met in Tarent. Octavian took the initiative and immediately proposed a joint disarmament. Of course Octavian wasn’t after a permanent peace settlement, but tried to use the effects of propaganda to his cause. Octavian was trying to get the people of Rome behind him, after all he was still rather unpopular with the masses. Nevertheless Marc Anthony agreed, announcing that he planned another campaign against the Parthians that would continue where Caesars sudden death had put a stop. For Anthony the backing in Tarent was important because he could take additional troops from Greece to the east. For Octavian this conference was a huge propaganda effort, he returned to Rome and was cheered as the new peace saviour who had prevented civil war. Of course much of this image was staged by Octavian, but for now it did the trick.
And indeed after the conference the situation seemed to stabilise. Octavian was gaining more support; Anthony had the powerful riches of the east at his disposal and an army ready to invade Parthia.
And in 37 BC Anthony did start his campaign. After immediate smaller victories he marched into the Parthian lands and met the enemy army at Dabane on the forth of May.

The battle of Dabane - 37 BC

http://imgur.com/ooNhb.jpg
Anthony's army facing the Parthians.

http://imgur.com/ZHjNS.jpg
Anthony had brought strong cavallry from Gaul to counter the Parthian Cataphracts.

http://imgur.com/Oqhve.jpg

http://imgur.com/D7lvT.jpg
Syrian elite archers firing at the enemy.

http://imgur.com/THSts.jpg
The left flank saw a massive Parthian cavalry build up.

http://imgur.com/uTlXD.jpg
Parthian archers getting into position.

http://imgur.com/AqEDT.jpg
The Roman auxiliary troops had become uneasy over the massive cavarly build up.

http://imgur.com/JjK2F.jpg
Anthony did not attack the enemy line and gave away the initiative to the enemy.

http://imgur.com/lLr9E.jpg
The feared Cataphracts punching against the Roman main line.

http://imgur.com/65Pdo.jpg
Roman elite troops getting ready to support the centre of the battle.

http://imgur.com/FtGU5.jpg
The Cataphracts are doing the trick; the center of the Roman line is getting completley pierced through.

http://imgur.com/sJfH4.jpg
Meanwhile the right flank saw a massive Parthian charge and the defense broke away. The right flank was completley open.

http://imgur.com/EzGf0.jpg
Anthony realises that he has lost the battle and orders to withdraw.

http://imgur.com/lvtfD.jpg
Anthony did not wait with his troops to withdraw, but rode away leaving his troops to die.

http://imgur.com/gF3VQ.jpg

http://imgur.com/hj6aA.jpg
The rest of the Roman army is cut down by the Parthians.

http://imgur.com/03ihI.jpg
The Roman eagle shortly before it gets into Parthian hands.

http://imgur.com/kbwbz.jpg
The battle of Dabane is lost.

The loss at Dabane changed the political course of Anthony. He returned to Alexandria and despite his loss he celebrated a Roman triumph in the Egyptian city. The message to the masses was that Anthony had prevented another Parthian invasion.
The curious thing about this triumph was that both he and his wife Cleopatra were dressed as the old Egyptian gods Isis and Osiris. All of the sudden Anthony started to embrace ancient, let’s call it un-roman, traditions and install his reign in the form of a Hellenistic monarchy. His first son was given the Name of Caesarion with the title King of Kings to underline the defacto heritage of Caesar. If that was not enough to anger Octavian Anthony also pronounced that he received an oracle which told him that the two parts of the Roman Empire would soon re-unite.
Now it’s really hard to judge for us historian what really happened here. Before Dabane we have an able, intelligent and charismatic Anthony and after his loss he suddenly falls for weird customs that provoke Octavian to the limits. What is wrong here? Let’s not forget that the sources we have were written after Octavian won the last civil war so it should be obvious that there is a lot of anti-Anthony propaganda added to it. But as historians we have to subtract the propaganda details, and if we do that we still see that Anthony was embracing an eastern Hellenistic monarchy and it was obvious that Cleopatra influenced him.

Anyway, how did Octavian react to this? He set for total confrontation by exiling about a hundred Senators out of Rome who supported Anthony. Then he did something unheard of, he forced the Vestalines to publish Anthony’s last-will. This text actually only said that Anthony wished to be buried next to Cleopatra in Alexandria and that Caesarion was his sole successor. But rumour had it, partly staged by Octavian’s propaganda, that Anthony planned to make Cleopatra the queen of Rome and that their sons would get large portions of the east. While these rumours may sound absurd to us, it did the trick with the masses. In a rare event for antiquity there was something like a national outrage against Anthony.
This enabled Octavian to rise to supreme power, he was elected as a consul sine collega, which means that he would become sole consul. The young Caesar now set all flags for war. And with the first January 36 BC Octavian had become consul and dictator, gathering troops all over Italy. In the meanwhile Anthony and Cleopatra had arrived in Greece preparing their side for the upcoming civil war. All over the year both sides gathered large masses of troops and set their fleets to patrol the sea. It became clear that Octavian’s troops where not ready for battle yet so he extended his consul- and dictatorship for another year without anyone objecting it.
In 35 BC it finally came to it. In the most ancient tradition Octavian declared war against Cleopatra – notably not against Anthony – by throwing a spear against her fictional territory in the Temple of the war goddess Bellona. He let all Italy swear an oath to his person. We do not know the exact oath but in his auto-biography he tells us: iuravit in mea verba tota Italia – which means “all of Italy swore an oath of allegiance to me.”

Alright people, looks like we ran out of time already. Prepare for next week, we got the high noon grand finale of the civil war upon us, so don’t miss out on that one. See you all next week.

Fixiwee

08-29-2010, 19:45

Give me a safe commander, not a rash one
-Augustus
The Battle of Cassopia, 35 BC

The Roman Empire, by Wolfgang Schreier, Bonn 2003

http://imgur.com/RhV83.jpg

http://imgur.com/rXi2K.jpg

The Roman civil war had seen battles its big battles. The first one was the Battle of Aeclanum in Italy in 79 BC where the Optimate Silanus had defeated and killed the Popular Calatinus. Then Caesar and Nero stood ground in Cabalum, Gaul in 48 BC. And now the last battle of the Great Civil War was happening in Greece: The Battle of Cassopia in 35 BC between Octavian and Marc Anthony. It is no coincidence that Octavian revived old legends and history, publicly talking about the good old Publius Valerius Maximus Macedonicus, who invaded and conquered most of Greece some 150 years ago. Now Octavian sailed from Italy to Greece as well and he tried to use Macedonicus name to his propaganda effort.

http://imgur.com/FDZ29.jpg
Octavian preparing to embark against Marc Anthony.

http://imgur.com/dTQDD.jpg
The fleet landing in Greece.

Octavian appointed Agrippa as his commander in chief who was also in charge in landing the troops in Greece. Soon after Octavian landed Marc Anthony started moving against his position and on the 13th of April the two triumvirs met in combat.

http://imgur.com/GRLKC.jpg
Octavian and Agrippa landed their troops without difficulties.

http://imgur.com/TzNBC.jpg
The battle.

http://imgur.com/RwExE.jpg
Roman troops getting ready for battle.

http://imgur.com/0HHMf.jpg
As soon as Anthony moved in, Octavian used his light cavarly to harras the enemy, forcing him to attack.

http://imgur.com/NcWFJ.jpg

http://imgur.com/46FkI.jpg
Marc Anthonys praetorians tried to break through the line.

http://imgur.com/QKw40.jpg
But Octavians inexperienced troops stood their ground.

http://imgur.com/07O9R.jpg
More and more troops are enganged into battle.

http://imgur.com/yFaGi.jpg

http://imgur.com/14ZvY.jpg
Marc Anthony gets dragged from the horse and killed during the battle.

http://imgur.com/kxlmV.jpg
Octavians rival is dead.

http://imgur.com/jO1Sl.jpg
Marc Anthonys troops start to withdraw...

http://imgur.com/KLQT3.jpg
...and Octavians troops are cheering.

http://imgur.com/ixLrL.jpg
Even Anthonys Egyptian elite Phalanx fled from the battlefield.

http://imgur.com/UjU0n.jpg
Octavian had won the battle. He was now the sole ruler of the Roman Empire.

Octavian’s win in Cassopia concluded the Roman civil war. Marc Anthony was dead and Cleopatra fled to Egypt. He continued to march to the East but province after province subdued to Octavian. In 34 BC Cleopatra tried to negotiate with Octavian trying to save her Empire. But Octavian refused and prepared to march into Egypt. Cleopatra did not want to be captured and strangled in Octavian’s triumph so she committed suicide. Egypt was now in the hand of the Roman empire, de jure but didn’t become a Roman province.

Octavian now controlled the east, where he remained for the time being establishing himself as the new ruler after Marc Anthony. The eastern provinces started to worship him divius filli – the son of God (Caesar). After another year of work in the eastern provinces Octavian then returned to Rome in 32 BC and announced that the civil war was over. And unlike Caesar who had said the same, Octavian was right.

Fixiwee

09-10-2010, 12:24

Don't tell people how to do things, tell them what to do and let them surprise you with their results.
-George S. Patton

Princeps Augustus

Res gestae divi Augisti, written by Augustus

[10]
It was the year 725 ab urbe condita [28 BC] when it became obvious that the Roman State was safe and no one threatened to destroy the Senate and the people of Rome. Therefore it was my honest desire to give back my special powers given to me by the people of Rome. It was agreed in the Senate that in the following year [27 BC] I would give up this position.
After this had happened I was now one among many senators, but no one would doubt that I surpassed them all in my prestige. It came to me as a honour when the Senate asked me to continue my exceptional work for the Roman Republic. The Senators stepped up as a whole, started to applaud and announced that I would be granted the name ‘revered one’. […]

The Roman Empire, by Wolfgang Schreier, Bonn 2003

After Octavian Caesar had returned to Rome in 32 BC he would confirm his dominion on the basis of the Roman constitution. At first he celebrated a triple triumph: Over Illyria (that means Marc Anthony, but without naming him), over Egypt and over Cleopatra. The Senate swore to acknowledge all actions done by him and in 30 BC the temple of Janus was closed.
Now he was the sole ruler in the Roman state.
But that meant he stood before the same problem like Silanus, Nero and his adoptive father Caesar: How do you bring the personal power and prestige into an enduring and legal form?
Octavian was more cautiously then any other of his predecessors. His position as a triumvir was obsolete, and for the time being he was content as a consul, a position he held until 23 BC.

Something strange happened on the 13 January 27 BC. Augustus laid down his potestas, some sort of special power he had. He does not tell us what sort of potestas, probably because of the constitutional issue he had with it, but it is most likely that he still had the power of a triumvir given by the lex titia. He gave up this power in a great act of state, in which the state would be put up on a new basis.
What happened in January 27 BC? The ex-triumvir and holder of triumviral power laid down his position and integrated himself back into the political system. He was now a senator, one among many, but the one thing that divided him from the others was his extraordinary prestige, his actoritas.
The Senate then asked him to continue ruling the troubling provinces for a ‘limited’ time. These provinces where the Spanish and Gaulish provinces, as well as Kilikia, Syria and the somewhat special Egypt: For these provinces Octavian received the imperium proconsulare which was a normal republican position. He only received it for a limited time, but each time this position was prolonged: In 27 BC for 10 years, 18 BC for five, 8 BC and 2 AD for ten years and finally in 12 AD for five years.

Octavian had become the Princeps Civitas, the leader of the Roman State. His resignation in 27 BC only became a believable political move, because it had some sort of seriousness in it. Of course we don’t know what was real and what was staged. But the Roman society had become so weary of civil wars that it wanted peace.
Besides that Octavian was honoured by the Senate in numerous ways: his house was decorated with laurel, he received the corona civica (civil crown) and a golden shield where his virtues where noted: virtus (virtue), Clementia (mercy), iustitia (just) and pietas (devotion).
Octavian also received an honorary title and it is something he mentions above of all: The Senate awarded him the name Augustus, the revered one – and finally we can call him the way history got to know him: as the first Emperor of the Roman Empire.