The Life and Career of Marcvs Cornelivs Scipio

Part one - The campaign against the Sweboz

I had years of my adolescent life spent in various academies in Rome and learnt of our history, our past, and our future. My father had told me when I was in my young teens that I would be the man to make the Res Pvblica great. Since then, Rome had grown strong. The south and eastern coasts of Iberia had been brought under Roman governance, and Cisalpine and transalpine Gaul to had come under our sphere; but trouble was brewing. I may have chuckled at him then, but now Rome needed a man to help them.

The Senate had long aided the Averni in their quest to unite Gaul under their flag. But all the money in the treasury was not enough. They were battered and bruised in their wars, and by the time I was born, they had been reduced to just the city of Gergovia and their old holdings had fell into the hands of the Aedui and the Sweboz. This was the problem. Without the Averni holding the border over the alps, the Germanic and Gallic tribes could push south, and in the summer of 223bc a legion led by Cnavs Octavivs was annihilated when attacking Viennos, a former Averni stronghold; and the Sweboz descended on Mediolanum and defeated 3 legions and enslaved the town. Panic spread through the Res Publica. Most of the army and generals were in Iberia fighting the Lussotann and that led to the appointment of a dictator for the first time in 30 years.

The Dictator was Titvs Papirvs Cvrsor. He wasn’t a skilled man, but he was the best we had in Italy, and he wanted my assistance.he appointed me as one of the military tribunes for the campaign, and we began our work. We assembled 10,000 men and horses and began the march north. We would be reinforced my the 3rd legion later in the campaign, but they first went to deal with some rebels near Patavium.

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As the sun rose in the 14th day in month of mars, we came across a German force. It was a small force compared to our legions, and when we attacked the result was never in doubt. I was deployed to the right flank, and I was terrified. The only experience of war I had were simple drills. The roar of the scum shred the air I breathed, and my spine shivered with fear, but I couldn‘t show fear in font of my men. It was time to become a man.

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We formed into a standard Quincunx and advanced. The germans soon laid down a hail of arrows, and our frontline was peppered with them. I then received the signal from Titvs to attack the archers and force them back. I charged the lowly rabble and they fled beneath my horse. The feeling of victory was soon replaced. The german infantry began to charge. I quickly withdrew back to the flank, but the germans were not intent on me escaping that easily. As they crashed into the right flank, I was left standing on the edge with more than a 100 German spearmen bearing down on me. If I left, I would expose the flank and doom the Hastati. I charged recklessly with my men, and it was not long before we began to lose numbers. I immediately withdrew but the spearmen followed, so I drew them backwards and brought in a maniple of Princepes to crush them. And soon they were routed, then I had to assist the hastati whom were being pushed with the full force of the German left. So I got the Princepes and ordered them to hit the Germans flank. All this while the Titvs watched and did nothing. As the Hastati and Princepes began to turn the tide, the rest of the line took to the offensive and charged the Germans. It was now that I took the princepes round the back and pinned down a group of German nobles. And then we moved to take out the general. By now his army had melted away, but he was surrounded. His bodyguard defended him to the last, but the weight of 2 legions was unstoppable by so few men no matter how brave. And as the sun set the Germans had had their best general and a large force crushed.

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That night however, I could not help but grieve. I had killed more than 120 of my cavalry detachment through rash charge and headstrong attack. Despite Titvs and others reassurances, I felt responsible. But I could not dwell for within the month, we would begin the battle for Mediolanum.

What do you think guys?:sweatdrop:

Wow thats awesome!! What a great story. Go Marcvus!! Looks like you got a huge fight on your hands. I hope you can stop the German Tide. Can you show a pic of the map so we can all see what you hold? you dont have to do FOW removed or anythinhg...just wanna see the size of your "republic" Great job! Alot of Roman AARS on the forums!

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Chirurgeon

Wow thats awesome!! What a great story. Go Marcvus!! Looks like you got a huge fight on your hands. I hope you can stop the German Tide. Can you show a pic of the map so we can all see what you hold? you dont have to do FOW removed or anythinhg...just wanna see the size of your "republic" Great job! Alot of Roman AARS on the forums!

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Coming from the guy who inspired me, among others, to write an AAR, I'm flattered.

And I'll include a map in the next update.

At the height of summer, we left our camp outside of Mediolanum for the last time. Today we went over the top, or to be more accurate, through the holes we would punch through the palisade. Since the last battle, I had been practicing day in, day out, and as we formed outside the gates, I was confident that I had learnt from the experiences of the last battle. Well, it was either confidence or arrogance.

The battle should be a walk through the park. The Germans could not muster the men, nor the quality to defend the town with any hope of success, and besieged by three legions, they were lambs to the slaughter, yet they kicked like a bull in it’s last fight in vain.

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So we formed the men and had Hastati on the rams with Princepes behind. Titvs had given me strict instructions to enter the town and progress street by street with the majority of the Hastati and Princepes all the way to the town square while he waited in reserve. So we moved against the walls, and as soon as we broke through attacked the Germans either side who lay in wait. To the left was some celtic warriors with the odd inclination to fight nude. Despite the unsettling effect it had on my men, it was they who fell victim to it’s limited protection and turned tail. On the right was a stubborn unit of alpine troops deployed in a Greek phalanx. The were duly surrounded and dealt with.

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From here the battle descended into chaos.

The men in reserve had relaxed and laid down their weapons when a small number of German charged into the unknowing men. I heard that it took the entire reservist force to fend of some 1200 men?1 and that were it not for the death of their leader, the entire force may have lost. In the city, there was also chaos. The men moved through streets with sporadic resistance and soon streets were choked with fighting men engaged in life and death struggles. The resistance however was collapsing. The allied legion had reached our position and the town square and most of the enemy were desperately holding on. But within minutes we smashed into the rear of the defenders and slaughtered everyman.

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Once again, however, the cost had been higher than necessary. Once again my cavalry had lost a great number of the Ordos Equestrius and were demoralised. But we had defeated the great menace in the north and throughout the night, men jovially drank wine “liberated” from the warehouses and celebrated throughout the night, but I was with Titvs in his tent, and upon hearing the news from the senate sobered immediately to the task at and.

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We were required to march further north. To conquer the Germanic lands beyond alps and grant them under the protectorship of the Averni. No Italian army had ever gone north past the alps. We don’t have maps, we don’t know what enemies we will face, yet we must walk into the dark lands to our north and bring to an end the Sweboz incursions that have scared the Senate and people to such lengths. It’s gonna be a long Campaign.

The State of the Republic
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Currently the Republic is waging war against a Lusotannan incursion in Iberia which has seen batle lines drawn and a stalemate ensue. Currently however, there are two new legions(one full stack) heading to assist the effort there.

We are also fighting Sweboz and the Aedui Confederacy, but fighting is sporadic against the Aedui. For now that is.

I wish you luck, I adore character AAR's. :thumbsup:

Nice job, Wode. I wonder how well the Romans will fight against the Sweboz when they enter the dark forests of Germania. :drama2:

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Originally Posted by Maxinius Scipio

Nice job, Wode. I wonder how well the Romans will fight against the Sweboz when they enter the dark forests of Germania. :drama2:

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Find out tonight!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Or tomorrow.

As we marched north, we did so through the territory of the Aedui, and part way through their lands, they sent a small but effective army to impede us. The Army consisted of Belgae spearmen from the north and many naked fanatics. The battle plan was simple deploy in a woods and when the Aedui approached the infantry would hold them in place while me and my cavalry advanced round the rear. The tactics was intended for use against Phalanxes which cannot turn around, but normal spearmen would turn and impale my men. I pleaded with Titvs to abandon the plan, but he was my Commander and disobedience wasn’t an option. So we fought to a stratagem of a deranged ruler whom believed that the tactics of the diadochi could apply to Gauls!

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The men formed and waited for the Aedui, and as they cam within range unleashed their pila and javelin into the Gallic ranks. The effect was pitiful and they crashed into the line with great force. And As I moved round, I was checked by Gauls, yet the signals from Titvs were still charge. And so we did, but it was costly. We were forced to repeatedly attack and withdraw, and the number began to diminish quickly.

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The line was beginning to crack and men began running, yet Titvs still signalled me to attack a prepared line. Soon however, I could not take it, I ordered my men to follow me off the battlefield. I found out later that we still managed to win the battle, but that the costs were higher than reasonable. For this, I was blamed and made to pay. 2 days later, we managed to return to camp. Upon arrival we were made to walk through the ranks of men and were spat upon as cowards. And then Titvs came out from his tent with his lash and whipped us for our cowardice. I was punished for putting the lives of my men above the lunacy of a damn idiotic bastard. I was however kept as commander of the cavalry under orders from the senate and pressure from my family within it.

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Soon after the battle we moved north to Aventicos. The town that the senate wanted dealt with. When we reached there, our spies opened the gates in preparation for our assault. I was given half of the army and told to take the northern gate, while Titvs would take the West. The north was lightly defended and my men broke through and soon began to attack the town square, but I did send to the west some Hastati to help as there was fierce resistance. Then came the moment that changed the day.

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With the outnumbered Germans in the centre of the town with little hope of escape or victory, Titvs galloped headlong in and was quickly killed. The men began to lose heart and flee. I rode frantically trying to raise spirits and will them on to victory and even claimed the scalp of their commander, but the men disintegrated. We had to retreat, but the cost was enormous. A dictator and almost 2 whole legions with nothing to show for it.

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We ran southwards to reach Italy once more, but we were attacked by more Germans. These people were intent on making our humiliation total and complete. I had not the men to fight hem, and despite a valiant effort, the men simply could not hold against them. We were crushed and fled further managing to reach the edge of Mediolanum. That was when I realised that 10,000 men had died for nothing. The legion left to protect Italy was crushed and the Sweboz were once again besieging Mediolanum. While the Legion was retrained, supplied and equipped and levied; I was summoned to the senate to explain the events.

No pics of last bate sorry. Also, I believe that I may have some pictures blocked becuase I don't use the modesty pathc and Photobucket is gay.

Wow that was intense. Nice to see an AAR actually lose battles. Much more realistic that way. Marcus has had alot of turmoil as of late. Looks like the Legions are being thrown into the German meatgrinder. Great Job!!!

I wanted to lose the battle so I put half the army, including the idiot Titvs, under AI control! It made it more interesting to have to fight for his life, I've never cared so much about a computer sprite!

I entered guarded by dozens of Lictors, the few friendly senators and soldiers. And I needed them. The crowds followed me from the minute I entered the gates, I doubt so many would have shown if I had taken all of Germania. They threw rotting food, stones, the lot. I had to wear armour walking into my home! This I could survive, but the next part was stomach churning.

I eventually reached the forvm and entered the great doors of the Cvria Hostilia and stood before a senate with seemingly thousands of angry wolves baying for my blood. Their culprit was dead, but they could not let such humiliation go without action. They tore into, accused me of negligence, incompetence, cowardice, and of treason. Then my father rose to them. “My son has done naught but fight for his people, under a man YOU ELECTED!” he bellowed, “His only crime is to follow orders, and yet you will throw him to the bloodthirsty crowds to appear men? Is this Rome of Germania? He is a citizen, whom have committed no crime!” and in a lower volume, but filled with anger and power, “he should be let to live like any man who has suffered defeat.”

My father had calmed the lust inside the Cvria, but outside, they would not forget so quickly. It was decided I would govern Corsica and Sardinia for 5 years. That night, In disguise, I was smuggled to Ostia and boarded a Trireme and sailed through the night. I reached my new home and began my work, but I would fight again. I must fight again!

OOC: i know it's short, but the start of part two shouldn't be more than a day away!

Banished for five years...that sucks. I have a feeling the Republic will need him again.

Wow, really nice story. But I´ve got a strange feeling that he won´t spend those 5 years sitting calmly in a nice Sardinian villa.

Sorry about no part 2 yet, some RL issues have come to prominence recently, should be back to writing soon!

I'm afraid friends, that coursework and revision has killed the AAR, it just takes too much of my free time to prepare a report, and the amount of work I need to do during my spring break when I'm off college is killing me. It's only gonna be harder when I go back; but all is not lost if you wish. I will post the save at an interesting time, with Marcvs a few turns march from Oxtraca or whatever the northwestern city in iberia. If anyone wishs to take over, they have my blessing.

http://files.filefront.com/SPQRsav/;.../fileinfo.html

I will however post the last thing I wrote,

Changes in the Republic.
In the years preceding Marcvs’s return to war, The Germans were beaten back and The Helveti confederacy was established with Rome’s blessing and protection. Indeed, it was little more than a client state, and Rome gave it significant aid, and It was hoped that soon the land under their control would be doubled, and that they would have the infrastructure to protect themselves.

There were also gains in Iberia, but only of a handful of towns which lacked a central government. In this time, attempts had been made to take the lands of the lusotann, but all attempts were crushed. Hopefully this would change!


PART 2
I spent 5 long years in Alalia. They were however fruitful ones. It was a simple job and the islands managed themselves. It gave me time to prepare, and learn. It also gave me time so that the fickle mob would forget their quarrel with me. Upon my return, I was appointed as a Quaestor, and after my term as Quaestor, became Tribvnis Plebivs. My time had now come. In 212 bc, I was appointed Praetor and dispatched to Iberia the senate had had enough with the stalemate that operated there. When Rome didn’t attack, the Lusotannan deployed many men to the border, yet refused to be enticed into aggression on Rome’s favour, and when Rome attacked, they were crushed by the number that the Lusotannan deployed. The Senate wanted Iberia secure so that men could be sent to deal with more important issues. I boarded the fleet at Ostia and set sail.

PS:For anyone who takes over and accidently kills Marcvs, he has a namesake who is only a few years younger in Massilia. It helps to keep a spare!