Yea that's not the title.... their really isn't one. Any who!
Oppius Julius sat in his command tents in the sand made hills on the outskirts of Sidon; Sidon being one of the last areas of Egyptian resistance. He glanced at scrolls and census, reading information on the latest army that he would command. The army from the detailed reports he read was comprised of 7 cohorts of Legionaries, 4 cohorts of support Cavalry, 3 cohorts of archers, along with his own body guard unit and a group of hired mercenary elephants.Quote:
“For a war there is two chapters;
Preparation and Execution, each one with its own challenges.”
-Decius Julius
Decius Julius- in Rome’s Shadow
Oppius was heir to the throne, chosen by his late uncle Decimus Julius because of his talent of command. The Julii family determined its rulers through extensive military campaigns and not always politics. The line of Julii leaders was one filled with great heroes; each of which was responsible for the conquering of a nation and expanding Rome. Flavius Julius had vanquished the Gaulish enemies of the Julii. Flavius if anything was the hand that crafted the great Julii Empire. With poorly trained soldiers he battled and defeated vast hordes of Gaulish troops. Flavius was a supporter of development and because of this built up his cities. This left a strict budget for his military, the budget was noticeable during most battles where the Julii were greatly outnumbered.
Oppuis’ heart warmed; his great grandfather Flavius was truly a man any Roman could admire. For Flavius was known for kindess by Romans, and known by his enemies as a very powerful man. Flavius was also a political man, for he started diplomatic trade agreements and formed an alliance with the northern Briton tribes. The Romano-Britannian alliance as it was called left the Gauls stuck between a rock and a hard place. For the Britons had acquired Germanian territories through the art of war. The Gauls destruction would have been sooner, that is if not for outside interference by the tribes of Spain. The Spanish were pushed on to wreak havoc on the Romans by their Carthaginian allies.
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Before this Spain and Rome had mutual neutrality. After receiving threats of canceling trade agreements from Carthage, the Spainish quickly mobilized armies to lay siege to southern Gaulish provinces under Roman rule. Flavius was outraged by this and the recent events of the breaking of the Romano-Britannian alliance pact and reports of Macedonian troops pillaging Julii farms on the borders of Illyrian. Thus in the pages of history entered Marcus Julius, the next heir to the Julii throne. Marcus was the grandson of Flavius; Marcus’ father Lucius had plans for Marcus to be a great political figure in the senate, Flavius views differed as he wanted his grandson to be a daring leader. Instead of Diplomats, Flavius sent Marcus as his message to Spain. Marcus left Italy with the latest troop shipment heading to Spain. Marcus was only 16 serving with men who had seen war and were nearly twice his age.Quote:
“Go forth Marcus, go as my message to the rambling tribes of Spain.
Show them Roman Justice!”
-Flavuis Julius
Quotes of Julian Rulers by Remulas Carmonias
With his siege of Osca began the military expedition in Spain. Although Marcus wasn’t gaining any victories that could be deemed heroic he did eliminate Spanish and Carthaginian presence on the Iberian Peninsula in less than 5 years. During that time Flavius and his son Vibluis gained important ground against the Britons. Flavius soon died leaving a 25 year old Marcus as the new leader. Marcus turned his sights towards Macedon and Greece who were running rampant and attacking Segesta. The Brutii house was showing little progress in the capture of Greece and had lost an enormous amount of troops to gain Apollonia. Julii armies stormed into the lands of Thessalonica cutting off Macedon from its southern Greek provinces.
Of course the real threat against Macedon did not yet reach Greece, for Marcus was marching out of Spain with his veteran troops towards Thessalonica. Marcus’ goal was to capture the cities of the Peloponnesus where the Brutti, Greek, and Macedonian had fiercely fought and weakened themselves. Marcus and his young cousin Decuis destroyed and captured all of Greece and Macedon. Forced by the foreign presence that was the Julii the Greeks and the Macedonians were exiled from their homelands. The Greeks began fighting for a new homeland in Turkey, while the defeated Macedons remained along the coasts of North Africa.
In the North the Britons had lost all of Gaul and Germania. With the Battle of Vicus Goth the Britons had lost their European foothold; they then spent a time in solitude in Britannia. The Britons would never again raise any other armies and their military before the Roman invasions was that of 1,000. By this time support grew for Marcus, he was viewed as a legendary hero by the people. Marcus over the years gained more virtues and victories that the Roman people adored.
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With the take over of Rome by Secundes the Great the houses of Rome went into turmoil. The civil war led to the rise of the next Roman leader, Decius Julius. As previously mentioned Decius and Marcus took Greece. The details I failed to speak were that Decius was a youth that was born to lead men. With no battle experience he easily surpassed Marcus. One might compare Marcus and Decius to Daedalus and Perdix; one man being a master of his craft and the other a young prodigy. But such a comparison would be with fault for Marcus and Decius had a mutual respect for each other. Marcus was pleased that he could count on his cousin to take charge on his own while Marcus dealt with other matters. The duo proved their skill outwitting and defeating Brutii legions preparing to take Greece through force. The aggressive Brutii sent wave after wave of men and were beaten by the two who both didn’t even have a full army.Quote:
“Rome burns along with the unity of the Roman Houses”
-Marcus Julius
Marcus Julius- The First Emperor; A retelling by Quintis Mementoius
Oppius pondered what it was like to fight an enemy that had equally trained men; when leadership and not numbers was the key to winning battles. For the Rome Oppius knew was in a new age where the Julii economy could easily afford more than 20 full armies to subdue an unready enemy such as Egypt. Oppius thoughts then concetrated back on the Brutii house. The Brutii family was the rival to the Julii when it came to the power of the Senate. The Julii and Brutii dreaded each other. The Julii idealogy concerning the Brutii was that they were spinless cowards who would take advantage of anything and everything to have their way. This was proved true when the Julii offered the olive branch of peace to the Brutii. The Brutti seemed to agree, that was until they blockaded and raided several Julii vessels. The Brutii also proved to be lazy slouchs, for during the fall of Macedon the Brutii lingered in Military action and did not even try to support Julii troops. Instead the Brutii leadership found it more important to grow fat off of revinue from its four cities than fight Roman enemies.
Of course the Brutii were not the only foes of the Julii, for the Scipii house also had a strong opposition to the Julii. The Scipii family was conducting naval blockades to the dismay of the Julii; The Julli were dismayed for the had the upmost respect for the Scipii. Infact the Julii lent aid to the Scipii during the decline of Carthage. Ironically it was the aid given that caused the Scipii to be angry with the Julii. For the Julii captured the weakend Carthage before the Scipii could mobalize and take the city themselves. During the last days of the Senate, the Scipii argued it was unjust that the Julii should occupy the city and reap the rewards of the city. The Julii defense was that they had weakend Carthage and deserved their capital through the hard fighting done to capture the city. The Senate afraid the Julii’s growing power decided against the Scipii and allowed the Julii to keep the city. Behind every Senator’s face during that meeting was a grin, for the overconifdent officals were relying on a plot that would weaken the Julii. That was to outlaw them when they were at their weakest, push north and leave the Julii with the scraps of money that they would earn in the barbarian lands. The plot never did come to frutition because the Julii, through an extensive spy network, was already aware that something devious was in the works. By weeks end Rome was udner siege and the senate would be forced to disband. All that was left was the houses and the Scipii and Brutii had already made a pact to destroy the power hungry Julii. The Scipii reliance on naval operations made them no real threat to the Julii; infact Marcus was able to reallocate an army to Britannia to finally vanquish the Briton tribes. By the time of Marcus’ death, all of Western Europe was captured and the Julii house controlled an empire rather than a nation.
Decimus took the throne and not sharing Marcus’ respect for the Scipii family launched a full scale invasion against the last remaining Scipii members located in Africa. They even managed to relieve the Legions that had been defending Carthage from Scipii armies for a decade. Massive landings put the Scipii into a corner, the Sahara Desert to the South stopped any further adcancements. It was during the battle of Rolling Hills in Gaetulia did the Scipii admit defeat. Oppius wondered if he could learn anything from the battle, for the Julii utilized Elephants aswell. As quickly as it came Oppius dismissed it realizing fighting a Roman army was different than fighting one of Egypt. One of many noticable differences between the Romans and The Egyptians was that the Egyptians used Chariots. Chariots had been a thorn in the side of all the Julii comanders, for they rendered Cavalry as very vunerable to attack. Cavalry was part of the Julii’s basic strategy, Cavalry offered a mobile and flexable force that coulid easily flank and attack the enemy. During most conflicts the Chariots’ blades would tear through the flesh of the lightly armored horses and sometimes they would trample the rider. Oppius found this ironic, for Darius planned to use sycthed chariots agaisnt Alexander’s slow phalanxes, but instead of being used on closely packed infantry they were being used against Cavalry. Unfortuantly a lack of ranged troops made it harder to take down the cavalry which led to numerous issues.
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All this thinking and remnesciting was taking its toll on Oppius, he thought about having a nice drink of- No! He would not dare think about drinking! That was the vice that made Decimus Julius into a senile old man. Decimus during a young age a military prodigy, it was he and Decius that forced Thrace into submission. Decimus was in his forties by the time Chersonesos was captured. He was next in line for the throne. Then when war was starting with Egypt, Decimus passed on. Pressure exerted itself on Decimusm he had so many subjects, provinces, soldeirs, and family to keep tabs on. Worse yet his lack of talent in government caused the people of Chersonesos to riot. His mind panicked, he had no one to rely on and started putting his trust more heavily in escapism. As his armies marched on Decimus grew into a being that was a fat drunkard of a man, a man who had everything but lost what mattered the most. He was an empty shell, most commanders would have rather face the enemy head on than listen to the orders of that incompetent fool.Quote:
“I bet 4000 denarii on the Gladiator Aleries”
“Exulted one! Aleries died last match.”
“He has already fought?! Good he needed the practice. Change my bet to 8,000! For if he is dead he surely cannot die again!”
“Yes sire…”
Conversations of Decimus
-The last days of Decimus Julius
Strangely enough recent reprts showed that Decimus had lead his own army against the areas of Colcais and Atropatene, which were under Egypt-Armenian controls. Decimus’ youth and awe inspiring leadership had seemed to return, atleast for the briefest of times. Decimus was no longer surronded by yes-men councilers and extoic women trying to double their pay through sweat talking him. He was back, but even the revival of an old legend could not calm Oppius. Oppius unnotably poured a drink into his ivory cup. As if by instinct he looked down at his hand and realised what he had just done. He reacted to what happened by becoming disgusted and angrily threw the cup across the tent, it nearly bounced back towards him if not for his bed. As the ivory cup rolled in the sand he felt satisfaction while watching the sand dye to a red hue.
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Oppius was found by his sentries sprawled out over the floor of the tent. He must have succumbed to sleep before even managing to reach his bed. It took a bucket of precious water ( precious in the desert mind you) to awaken him. Two men were present, his lieutenants, Quintus Verius and Gauis Auvias sons of wealthly Lafitundia owners or whatever profession allowed them to but there way to such ranks. Each word in their story produced a different note of expression on Oppius’s face. For they played him like an instrument hitting the right notes for the right responses. It seemed that the Egyptians a month previous had dispatched an army from Alexandria north to fority Sidon. They were for a time stalled longer than expected and finally reached Sidon today. In other words the force garrisoned at Sidon would attempt to “break out” with the aid of the new coming army. That as usual was not the worst of the news.Quote:
“To overestimate is the only good mistake”
-Decius Julius Decius Julius- Collective Sayings
“Sir, it is with upmost displeasure that I inform you that the Egyptians were hauling with them a large object that was covered in some heavy tapestry” Oppius knew exactly what was underneath, heavy artillery…Onagers perhaps, The fabric was most likely used to keep sand from stroms from clogging the intruments and render it useless. Oppius realised the danger, but if he withdrew he might be branded a coward and cost him his title as heir to the Julii throne. But the risk involved could cost rome an army of experienced men. He felt withdrawing would disrupt the eloborate plan set forth by Decius and inherited by Decimus, that plan being the downfall of Egypt, it was a plan that was his and everyone elses burden to bear. But this new addition to the equation was the Egyptian prodcution of Onagers, which unknown to Oppius were seeing action in Nabataea and northern Pontus. He dismessed Gauis and Quintis and procedded to panic. He sat rocking back and forth on his bed trying to comprehend a way to overcome onagers while still perserving his cavalry. If he seperated the cavalry from his legionnares they could be picked off by archers or consumed in the storm of roaring chariots. He could sacrifice a units of cavalry to elimate the onager’s crew. He questioned why he had to be the one to take Sidon. He realised the stupidity of that question… for it all had began years before…..
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Antronicus sat on the floor of his tent. Armor and spear layed out before him. He with discontent heard the rumors about another approaching Egyptian force. Antronicus was the son of two Greek nobles who had been conformists and welcomed their Roman conqueres. This caused them to make many enemies amongst the Greek loyalists who chose to defy Rome. Of course his parents made up with a lack of Greek friends through the gaining of Roman trust. His parents were no fools and knew that no revolution would rid the Roman presence in Greece, atleast not for a long time. When Atronicus was a youth he always wished to serve in a revivied Delian league as a hoplite. Partly true were his dreams for Greece was united, but it was impossiable for him to be a hoplite. That was unless he wanted to fight alongside rag tag Greek radicals who chose to defy Roman way.Quote:
“Earned me a medal in Gaul
Had to make 10 men fall
Earned me a promotion at Samaorbria
Bribed my commander 100 Denarii
Earned me a loss of a leg at Athens
That one was free of Charge”
Soldier’s hymns
Soldiers on the March- The 11th Legion Rexuis Dontia
His Parents enrolled him into the thebian militia alteast that’s what they told him. Obviously it was a lie and he found himself heading towards becoming a Roman cavalier. Through his parents warm welcomes to the Roman delegates (Hospitality, Gifts, Bribes, and things his mother would deny doing) he was on his way to becoming a Roman citizen. His service in a Roman military operation would as his parents would say “Seal the Deal”. He could envision them discussing their sons future while enjoying luxury. Both would be denying the harsh reality of service and would calm themsleves using optimisitic “what-if” scenarios, “What if he prospered in the military?”, “What if he made it back alive”, “He might gain riches from his journey”, “What if , What if, What if.”. After Antronicus’ rigorous training he found himself along with other Greek and Roman youths traveling to die for the greed of the Roman wealthy. Dying so they could affored them more illustrious parties, to afford more exotic furniture, slaves, booze, and women. He would probably die in this desert land where a bucket of water could be more valuable then him. He could die here under the command of this, this Oppius Julius. Oppius was an enigma at times to his men. Tales were spun on what motivated a man willingly spend time in the desert with no comforts of life and fighting an enemy, that would most likely without his interference die out and disappear in time. When reviewing the news with a fellow Soldier Patriclies they discussed Oppius.
“Aye it is one of two things that will make Oppius take a stand. His want of being the next drunkard Roman leader. The other reason is because he is in love with his own legend” Antronicus’ comrade told him. Antronicus thought back to when Oppius was ordered to capture Tarsus, a city located on southern Pontus. Unkown to the Julii high command was that four Egyptian armies were ordered from Jerusalem, Damascus, Antonich, and Sidon to defend the rocky passes on the borders of Tarsus and if possible recapture lost settlements on western Pontus. Oppius at the time had never led any military force before; until that time he was confined to a life of wealth and love in Northern Italy (He only traveled to southern Italy to do business because the south Italian Men and Woman still had loyalty to the old houses and at first chance kill a Julii man) The army under him was as Green as him, but did consist of eager men that were properly trained and equipped, they also had visions of wealth that awaited them after victory. Oppius was one of the second waves of attackers unleashed against Egypt. The first wave established a foot hold in Egypt controlled lands in Pontus and Libya. The second wave in daring naval landings would capture and raid coastal cities and push forward into the heart of the Middle East. The plan was properly executed and was in preparation years before the Egyptian navy blockaded all naval trade from Rhodes. Which of course broke treaties and started this feud.
As mentioned Decius, like Flavius, was a smart man and thought always of the future; so he began an extensive recruitment campaign in Greece and in the Latin Peninsula. Those two areas were chosen because of the naval mobility in the Mediterranean. Anyway while approaching Tarsus Oppius faced four consecutive armies leaving each battle with less men but leaving only handfuls of Egyptian survivors. In addition Oppius overcame two more armies to gain control of Tarsus. His once vast army of 14,000 raw men became an 8,000 man army of veterans. The thing that worried Antronicus was the stories told by the older soldiers who had fought in those battles. When Antronicus and the “raw meat” arrived from Greece and Italy they were greeted by veterans grinning and jeering. Some told stories of fortune; those sweet stories dropped off of their tongues like golden dew. Other stories were bitter and told of enormous casualties to Oppius’ cavalry cohorts which were eaten alive by Egyptian spearmen. Yes it was true a good portion of the cavalry were KIA or MIA by the capturing of Tarsus. The myth was supported by the dew anti-social cavalry men who felt they had better things to do than make friends and watch them die again.
Antronicus finally snapped out of his endless cycle of thoughts and readied himself for battle. He could hear trumpets and horns echoing along the camp grounds.
“It’s almost time……..”
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Oppius on horseback was accompanied by his experienced body guard. Battle was drawing close. He examined the incoming army. As always it had in front a row of spears and behind the spears were Egyptian men ready to die in order to protect their homeland. Oppius snorted; the only real thing the Egyptians were protecting was the money to be added to Decimus’ treasury. Behind the row of spearmen were 4 long wooden objects, giving shade to the men under them. “Onagers..” Oppius bitterly realized. He then examined his own ranks. He watched swords raise high as he wandered past his men. The look on Oppius’ face made his men shiver, the look was a man that was ready to die. Death was and is a fact of life; and it was something Oppius had avoided many times in battle. Oppius steadily rode to the end of the first line and while inspecting the second the first sheathed their swords and readied their pilla. Oppius’ men were prepared to fling their pilla against the enemy chariots and the lightly armored axe men in order to induce greater casualties. Oppius formation was two lines the first contained 3 cohorts, the 2nd 4. On the flanks were the cavalry and elephants and finally his archers were grouped in between the two lines of legionaries.Quote:
“Must I validate my existence by making men die?”
-Secendus the Ugly
The fall of the Scipii by Decius Julius
As the enemy began closing in Oppius realized that until the enemy attacked, his men would be harassed by onager fire. He would have little time for an uplifting speech, but he knew that any boost in morale would be needed in order for the ranks to hold against the prospects of a fiery death. He began
“My soldiers, some of you have fought with me, we have overcome bigger armies and challenges. If we win today I promise you all a feast and riches for they lie within the city, eat plenty and take many for it is yours! If you men would follow a crazed general, then follow me!”
He could hear cheers and roars for a brief moment until the soldiers hushed from onager fire flying over head. The men loosened formation as the first barrage missed miserably the second as always would be more accurate, Oppius issued the order and the men moved forward. Oppius filled with exhilaration, he enjoyed the power to send mountains of men to clash with others; producing the music of war, filled with the clashing of arms and the roar and quake of charging men, charging to glory and death. Then as always the music would draw to a close with the cries of the snivels of the maimed and dying.
