Long story Might bore U!!!You were warned

my amateur attempt at telling my game story to certain extent; pls excuse my mistakes.

The Manuscript of an Emperor

I hope to pass this on to my sons and daughters and their children so that they may learn how this great empire was made, and the great men and women who molded this success;

The age of Free Rome

It is in the year known to men as 459 from the expulsion of the last of the Tarquinian king, Tarquinius Superbus; by Brutus, our famed forefather, founder of the Bruitii clan and the Republic of Rome(510 BC); I Placus the Killer as called by my subjects and Imperator of the Roman Empire write the following, from my eastern city of Jerusalem.

Jerusalem, 460 summer (50 BC)

The empire has grown so big; that it stretches from the deserts of Arabia to the green woodlands of mid Europa and the lands of the once mighty Carthaginian barbarians, and their allies the Numidians the people who came out of the great Sahara.

So much had come to pass since the days of Tiberius Brutus who passed away in the year 250 from the time of the last Tarquinian king (260 BC) and the last of the famed Bruitii, Tiberius the Cunning who was also the last Pontifex Maximus of the Old senate. There had been great generals, economists, art lovers, censors, praetors, aedile, quaestors and even gamblers among the Brutii clan. But what matters most is the turning point which occurred during the leadership of my predecessor and last of the direct Bruitii bloodline, Tiberius the cunning. According to his memos and correspondence with his long and close friend and able general Valerius Aemilius, of the eastern roman army:

“Larissa, 428(82 BC)

My Dear old friend Valerius,

The senate has betrayed us the faithful bruitii, who had served them to the fullest extent, and ordered me to take my own life since my popularity among the people has reached masse proportions. Those cunning old scheming men of the senate, they want my life.”

According to the memos of Tiberius he was ready to give up his life for the good of the Roman people, his people, whom he had defended shedding his blood on numerous rebel incursions, into the region of Attica. If he refused, it would be civil war, Romans killing Romans, many young men will have to be sacrificed on numerous battle fields, and many mothers will be mourning their sons. After all the leadership will fall into the competent hand of young Cornelius, of that he was glad, but also knew making Cornelius agree to his decision is making a son deny his own father; Tiberius was childless so he always thought of Cornelius as his son whom he never had.

But young Cornelius thought otherwise and so were all his generals, who had been with this living legend and served under him. Cornelius was the one favored to take up the reigns, of the house after Tiberius, and he was the most suited one too, a great general at the young age of 23, known to his men as Cornelius the Mighty, had the makings of the old legendary commander Amulius the Mighty, and the conqueror of the Greek world, in the year 271-275, died in 276. His young fearless blood could not see such a great man throw away his life in such a manner, he was defiant and persuaded the leader to go to war against the combined might of the senate and the other of houses; a new upstart but rising power the Julii, and the Mighty conquerors of Carthage and masters of the Mediterranean, the Scipii. Tiberius saw the fire which burned in Cornelius’s eyes, the same one which had lead him to many a victories, in his younger days. And so he refused and proclamation of betrayal and the civil war was made public through out the Bruitii Empire.

“….. I fear for the future of our people, in my heart I do not want to go without defiance, but in my mind I think it’ll only lead to increased bloodshed, among the roman houses, but young Cornelius and the other generals want me to wage war against our roman brothers. I’m torn apart between duty to Rome and my people, and it weighs more towards the later. So it shall be war, a red dawn of broken shields and bloodied swords, so whatever may happen let the Gods watch over us, so that we may not ashame them.
Fortis cadere, cedere non potest.”

Your friend and compatriot,
Tiberius.

According to the memos of Valerius Aemilius;

Mediolanium, 430.
Disaster struck the second year of the outbreak of civil war, Tiberius the Cunning passed away, and Cornelius the Mighty became the leader in spite of many older Generals. He blamed the S.P.Q.R for the death of Tiberius. His first and the last victory against fellow Romans came in the battle for the city of Mediolanium, in the Cisalpine Gaul region, held by the Senate, which was gifted to them by the Bruitii long ago. Cornelius had won many victories against the barbaric, blue painted, Britons. He had smashed home many a cavalry charges against their best infantry; the chosen swords men and came out a victor. But on the fateful day when he charged the last cohort of praetorian guardsmen, guarding the city square; between him and victory, a pilum struck him square on the face and was thrown off his steed. His men charged on and captured the square. Cornelius was taken immediately to chirugeon’s quarters but it was past the point of saving him, the skull was fractured, and he had lost a lot of blood. Many of his men wept for the first time in years for their fallen leader. But the battle of attrition has to go one if the Brutii clan is to survive. So I Valerius Aemilius became the leader of the great house of Bruitii.

And this was the year I became the faction heir. And the war raged both in Europa and in the Northern African provinces. And in the year 431(79 BC) the great port city of Alexandria was captured, without much resistance by a young captain, from Memphis. When I reached Alexandria I was amazed by the sight of the light house built in the year 220(290 BC) by Ptolemy Soter, a general of Alexander of Macedon. And Capua, the Scipii capital, fell, and in the winter Rome fell without much resistance, because the greater part of the senate army was destroyed in Mediolanium,430 by Cornelius the Mighty.
And later Thebes soon followed Alexandria, without much fight. And in 430 (78 BC) our army marched on to Siawa.

Now Valerius was a man who appreciated courage and honor greatly, he granted family title ships to many a great captains, who excelled in battles. And by this time Pontiac Empire also was trying to cripple us economically, by blockading the port of Nicomedia in the year Valerius assumed leadership, so he marched towards Hatra, a Pontiac city, to teach them a lesson in alliances. I accompanied him in this campaign. In the year 433 (77BC) we took Hatra from a decimated Pontiac army. Pontus was not strong on land as they were in the seas. They had huge fleets before 433 (77BC) but little by little our fleets won great victories against them after initial setbacks. So by this time we were fighting in 4 fronts; northern army was battling it out with the Britons, eastern army was taking on Pontus in the east and the Scipii in North Africa, and the army of Italy was fighting it out with the Senate, Julii and the Scipii.

And in the year we took Hatra, a Scipii army of 760 plus were nearing the besieged city of Siawa, under the leadership of one captain Appius. Now he was a true Roma no doubt, but he listened to his men, who were quite disheartened, since the Senate has been vanquished and it was pointless fighting for those old fools, they’ve also been used by the senate and been left out to dry on many occasions when they were unable to complete a Senate mission. The Scipii hated the Senate in short no love was lost to see its fall. But they have heard of Valerius the Orator who was just and honest, and liked his men and respected their courage and honor. So they decided to throw their lot with us!!!

And Captain Appius agreed to his men, and was granted command of the same men who served him for the house of Scipii. Many doubted his loyalties, but he proved them wrong in 433 (77 BC) when crushed another relief force far stronger than his coming to aid the besieged city of Siawa, in the region of Libya. Valerius saw potential in this young Scipii captain who had thrown his lot with him, and made him a General. It was said that the joy in the camp was overwhelming; the men who followed Appius were celebrating this new honor granted not only to their commander but also to them. They were willing to follow him to the ends of the earth if needed be, and more raw Scipii recruits, joined his ranks, and so they marched on to Cyrene now that Siawa was safe from the Scipii relief force.

After many skirmishes and a major historical victory in Cyrenicia, 435 (75 BC) loosing only 169 out of 1214, of his men to enemy’s 1202 out of 1427, it was a classic encirclement by his legionaries they formed up into double lines and met the enemy which came up in checkerboard formation, the general cavalry and the legionary cavalry encircled and hit the rear once the infantry were engaged, with flanking infantry also attacking the left and right flanks. This was the same way he won himself the General’s title, two years back in Libya.

The army under Appius reached Cyrene, and captured it in 438 (72 BC). Appius the Scipii captain as everybody referred to him, was now fondly called by his men as Appius the Infantryman. When Appius was sending the Scipii back packing, war was also going with intensity in the Italian peninsula. Captain Valerius, who was given generalship; captured Ariminum in 437 (73 BC) on his second attempt of seiging the city. And according to the laws of the New senate of the people one who holds Rome and 50 more provinces will be named Imperator of the Roman Empire, and so Valerius Aemilius, trusted friend of late Tiberius the Cunning ascended the throne as the Supreme Imperator, the ceremony was conducted in Hatra since the threat of Pontus was still at large.

According to the memos of Valerius Aemilius;

Today I take this title so that all Romans may rejoice and be as one. There maybe a time, when Romans will be defeated, and stand divided but it is not today or the in the years of my rightful reign. And this I promise you my old friend Tiberius, now in the halls of the Victorius dead. Be patient we’ll meet again, but not soon, there’re things to be done.

And I became heir to the throne of the Roman Empire. It was the winter of 437 (73 BC).

That very year there were numerous counter attacks by the Julii to re-capture Ariminum, and they were successfully repulsed by another great General Herenius Pansa, another captain promoted to General.

Now it was as if Romans fighting not as Bruitii but as one big family against the aggression of other rebellious Romans. After all we had an emperor whom we fought and died for. Whom did they have??? The long dead old men of the Senate??? I don’t think so.

Appius the Infantryman now known as the attacker took Lepcis Magna in winter 440 (70 BC). Finally peace was brokered with Pontus, so that now we had only two major fronts with small skirmishes with the occasionally invading Britons. But forts with string garrisons at strategic points put a stop to their raids on the frontier settlements. The recruitment was going well; Sarmation Mercenaries recruited in region of Bosphorous, supplemented to our light cavalry, and the Cretans archers in Aetolia were good missile troops.

In the summer of 441 (69 BC) the same Valerius who took Ariminum; occupied the Julii capital of Arretium. And Appius the attacker took Thapsus, the same year. While Valerius Fannius preferred to occupy or enslave the Roman cities, Appius the attacker, exterminated since the former Poiene cities were prone to revolt against their new masters. In 441 winter, (69 BC) Segesta fell to Valerius Fannius, now know as the mighty for uniting the Italian peninsula, under the rule of Emperor Valerius.

And in 442 (68 BC) it happened, Emperor Valerius parted with us all to join his ancestors and his friend Tiberius. This sad news reached me when I was stationed in Jerusalem.

And I Placus Mamilius, became the Imperator of The Roman Empire. And I took the oath with Honor, in the city of Jerusalem. And as my first order as Emperor I made Appius the Attacker the heir to the throne, after my passing. Many raised their eyes to this decision, since he was once a Scipii, but to me the day Emperor Valerius made him a general he became one of us. Brutii, Scipii no matter what he has served our cause with the greatest courage, strength and honor and isn’t that what we Romans cherish. And when I sent my messenger Appius was already besieging the Great city of Carthage, the second capital of the Scipii, what more can you ask a man??? My wife was overjoyed at the ceremony, but was sad that I didn’t name either Kaeso or Amulius as my successor.

That night when I was alone with my wife Magna gazing out into the vast desert lands, from the open balcony of the imperial palace, I explained to her that, people say that Placus will lead the empire to greater glory, but really, I don’t think that Placus the Bruitii is the one who has lead them to greater glory so far. My sons are young, so let them earn the title of the Emperor, rather than inherit it. I was also happy to see my two daughters Domitia and Livia, looking very beautiful. Many a Captains eyes turned when they entered the Imperial palace. I think they have more courage to face any Briton hordes rather than ask for their hands in marriage. I have really made my reputation as the Killer, since the moment I took the chair my assassins have been busy chopping off potential Julii generals, with eager. That might be quite disturbing for some of my men and subjects, but as Tacitus said “Great empires are not maintained by timidity.”

As a gift to me; Appius captured Carthage and lived up to his name as the Attacker. And then in 444 (66 BC) he not only captured Cirta, but also decimated a relief force scrambled up from the outer Saharan desert city of Dimmidi, under the command of the Scipii Leader Kaeso Paulinus. They were all put to rout in Numidia some leagues from Cirta. Then in 446 (64 BC) he defeated a superior Scipii force to capture Dimmidi. His legionaries had to fight a mercenary war elephant unit of the Scipii to capture the city centre and many perished, but Appius lead the attack from the front and rallied his troops, and with some risky piece of skirmishing from the Legionary cohorts and the cavalry auxiliaries, they won the day for Rome. But lost 424 out of 1476 of his trusted elite. Three of his original legionary cohorts since Libya, were annihilated, in the charge.

After resting and training up new cohorts he marched on to the city of Tingi, the western end of North Africa. He reached it in the winter of 448 (62 BC), and laid siege, his sapping troops started digging the foundation of the walls immediately and the following year he attacked and captured it with complete ease loosing only 138 of his own men. All his victories whether outnumbered or not were with minimum casualties except the one in Dimmidi, which will haunt him for many years to come. He wrote to me sometimes that he could hear the screams of his men as they were trampled and tossed by the elephants.

In the year 454 (56 BC) under the command of the son of a Rogue Pontiac General who came to our side; Quintus the Handsome, a force of 1060 men seiged and captured the city of Nepete, which resisted with 1273 men. Once the city centre was captured the rest surrendered and were put to the sword without any mercy, since they had already killed 271 of the attackers. Quintus was awarded a decorated hero, for his achievement.

The rebellious Romans; the left over of the clans of the Julii and the Scipii still hold much of the Iberian Peninsula and the whole of Sicily respectively. But that’s soon to be changed.

The Scipii plan of counter offensive to take Croton in summer 459 (51 BC) was shattered, when a young captain ordered his 3 archer auxiliaries to the wall and showered the enemy with arrows until all but their 3 Legionary 2 Urban cohort units were left in some what depleted condition and then took up the spear and shield and charged the remaining assault force, with his 3 town watch and legionary cavalry unit. Some repeated but costly charges into the rear of the urban cohorts and the Legionaries saw them showing their swift heels, the victory was an immense one but the defenders also paid their price in human loss. Immediately messengers were sent to Tarentum to replenish the battered garrison at Croton. Some more of the Scipii landing ships were sunk off the coast of Croton the following winter, and some with the full compliment of troops and general.

All this while the steppe barbarians; the Dacian and the Scythians had been fighting over what’s left of their lands, and the Scythians, seems to be taking the upper hand. But Campus Getae in Tribus Getae and Chersonesos in Bosphorous has been fortified with out lying border forts and watch towers, in case of any signs of aggression.

There had been some unrest in the past few years in the Egyptian regions, I changed the capital from Athens to Sparta, maybe this could have had some effects or the temple cities that were not destroyed when the cities were captured might be the problem, but I must look into them in detail.

And as I write this manuscript in the safety of my palace, Appius my brother is laying siege to Coduba, the second capital of the Julii. His urge for the greater good of the empire is so great that he hadn’t even thought of taking a lady into his life. May he be successful as ever. My vision is clouding now and I feel weak all of a sudden…….. I need to rest now.