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The History of the Britons (historía Priteni)
Antiquity@E-Books
Presented by Professor Elias Wallis and Utopia University
January, 2007
The History of the Britons (historía Priteni)
By Aristophanes of Byzantium
An Introduction
The Author. Aristophanes (Ἀριστοφάνης) of Byzantium was a Greek scholar, critic and grammarian, particularly renowned for his work in Homeric scholarship, but also for work on other classical authors such as Pindar and Hesiod. Born in Byzantium about 257 BC, he soon moved to Alexandria and studied under Zenodotus and Callimachus. He succeeded Eratosthenes as head librarian of the Library of Alexandria at the age of sixty.
Aristophanes chiefly devoted himself to the poets, especially Homer, who had already been edited by his master Zenodotus. He also edited Hesiod, the chief lyric, tragic and comic poets, arranged Plato's dialogues in trilogies, and abridged Aristotle's Nature of Animals. His arguments to the plays of Aristophanes and the tragedians are in great part preserved. His works on Athenian courtesans, masks and proverbs were the results of his study of Attic comedy. He further commented on the Ilivakes of Callimachus, a sort of history of Greek literature. As a lexicographer, Aristophanes compiled collections of foreign and unusual words and expressions, and special lists (words denoting relationship, modes of address). As a grammarian, he founded a scientific school, and in his Analogy systematically explained the various forms. He introduced critical signs - except the obelus; punctuation prosodiacal, and accentual marks were probably already in use. The foundation of the so-called Alexandrian "canon" was also due to his impulse.
This exceptional scholar of the Hellenistic period would have been well remembered for these achievements alone, but at the age of thirty he would receive an invitation that would add him to the ranks of the great historians of antiquity.
The Britons and the Epistle of Adnus. In the summer of 228, twelve men “dressed in utmost barbaric finery” arrived in Alexandria. After delivering gifts to Pharaoh Ptolomy III Euergetes, they requested on behalf of their master, Adnu, a Prince of the Casse, to go to the Great Library and select among the scholars for those willing to return to the West with them. The Prince had, in fact, written a letter in Greek as an open invitation to such men, in particular Aristophanes:
Greetings unto the learned men of Alexandria,
We, a humble Prince of the British race, do entreat you and the famed grammarian Aristophanes especially to come unto our city at Avaricum (which is in the midst of country of Gaul). Our race has built up a great realm in the matter of a few decades and it now engaged here in Gaul, bringing strength and peace to all the nations that border on the mighty Ocean. Yet, we have no writings of our own, but leave this knowledge in the heads of our learned priests. This we find desirable in one hand and dangerous in the other. Further, we are becoming learned in Greek and wish to extend this to the people, along with the writing down finally of the great achievements of our people from the Divine Caradog and Barae to our own present war against the free Gauls.
Any man that comes unto us shall receive payment yearly of a talent and if they decide to stay, a place in the court of ourselves or our High King at Camulosade in the Isles.
Good Health and the Blessing of the Gods be with you,
Adnus, Prince of the Casse and general of her armies in Gaul
Though Ptolemy III was somewhat displeased to lose any of his scholars, he finally allowed twenty, Aristophanes among them, to leave with the promise that they would return in ten years. The scholars left in three British ships, sailing first to Crete, then Sicily, and finally making landfall at Massalía (recently annexed by the Romans) in the later part of the year. From there, the party made its away overland to Avaricum, surprisingly unharmed even as Gaul was at the time the center of wars between five different powers.
The World at the Beginning of the History. Aristophanes began writing his work at a pivotal moment in world history, which, thanks to him, can be seen in full detail by events in both the West and the East. There, Ptolemy III Euergetes, despite the loss of Asia Minor, gathered allies in a final push against a shaken Seleucid kingdom. Egyptian armies swept through Syria while the Bactrians and their Parthian allies marched through Persia, soon laying siege to Babylon and Seleucia. The Pontiac kingdom, not wanting to “miss the bus,” joined the deluge, cutting off Seleucid forces in Asia Minor from the rest of the empire.
In Hellas, Epirus and Macedon continued their protracted struggle, even though the Macedonians had lost their homeland and their realm was divided between the northern “Thracian” and the southern “Greek” dominions. For their part, the Getai took advantage of the war, switching every decade between warring against the Epiroites and the Macedonians (at this time they were invading Macedonian Thrace).
In the central Mediterranean, Rome and Carthage remained allies in the face of the renewed power of Epirus. Thus, they renewed their ancient treaty of alliance (dating from c. 509) and clearly divided the West between themselves; Italy and Gaul would be Roman while Sicily, Sardinia, Corsica, and Spain were confirmed as Carthaginian. All other claims were dropped for the sake of “peace and brotherhood.” This also allow the Roman Senate, prodded by the Cornelii, to push north into modern day Switzerland and also into Transalpine Gaul in order to eliminate the ever present “Gallic threat.”
The British part in this mosaic will be well covered by Aristophanes, but it suffices to say that by the 230's they had burst upon the world stage. The Casse (“handsome ones”) were a Belgae tribe pushed off the continent in the previous century by the Aedui. Under the leadership of Caradog (337 – 272) and his son Barae (296 – 235), the Casse solidified their rule in the southeast, and then in several bloody wars subdued their opposition until all the British isles were conquered (c. 238). It was at this point that Britons turned their eyes back to their homeland on the continent. The Aedui and Arverni continued their internecine conflict, both choosing to ignore the encroaching armies of Rome and the Suebi in favor of their struggle for hegemony. The rest of the states of Gaul were independent, but this made them all the more easy picking for foreign powers, as the annexation of Massalia showed. The Britons decided to strike first, having a great surplus of manpower and money, beginning with a reconquest of their homelands in the Low Countries.
Notes. For the sake of providing the reader with a better understanding and picture of the events recorded in the History, we have used the famous modification for the strategy game Rome:Total War, Europa Barbarorum. We thank them for allowing us to use their work in order illuminate this chapter of history for the modern reader.
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Re: The History of the Britons (historía Priteni)
I. The Arrival
Having come safely over the Great Sea and the southern lands of the Keltoi, Aristophanes and his fellows were glad to arrive at the city of Avaricum at the beginning of the month of Poseideon. Snow had yet to fall, but the air was breezy and far too cold for men used to the heat of the Sun, as it is close to the Earth in the southern and eastern regions. The city itself was not only a glad sight because of shelter, but also because it was far more than anything a Hellene would expect to seen in these barbaric lands.
The whole place was surrounded with wall of unhewn stones supported with timbers within and without. The battlements atop are built of thick wood and covered with a substance to prevent them from being set afire. Inside, the city was laid out thusly; there was an acropolis at the center with various habitations and inns surrounding it. These houses were well built of mud and timber, many being two-stories high. Upon the acropolis, as in the Hellenic cities of old, stood the temple under the god, the great market (a structure of great size and also two-stories in height), the barracks and armory, and the residence of the ruler.
The twelve gentlemen, had gathered the learned Greeks from Alexandria and guided them unto this land, straight away lead them unto the residence so that their Prince, Adnus, might greet them.
II. The Prince Adnus and his nature
The Prince was then ill with a fever, because of the coldness of the season, yet still rose from his bed to embrace his returning ambassadors and meet the Greeks they had brought with them. He surprised them when he began to speak to them in their own tongue, though it was heavily accented. Adnus said he learned Greek from his maid, comely young woman that had been sold to him by merchants from Massalia. After that, he briefly told the Greeks that there was much work to be done in Gaul and that he would accomplish it. Yet, for so large and great an empire as his people held, it was unfit for the administration of whole provinces to be in the hands of the druids, their priests, instead of the King’s own men. Though he was devout, he did not trust such men, but only those sworn unto himself and the royal house, as the Greeks did become that day, swearing so before the all the gods. With this done, the Prince retreated to his quarters while his servants found a house in the lower city for us to occupy.
Now, this Adnus was the son of the Great King of the Britons, Moug, who was the son of the Great King and conqueror, after his death proclaimed a god, Barae. At the time of the arrival of the Greeks, he was only twenty-two, yet he was a smart and energetic man. Some said he lacked charisma, but his selflessness, good cheer, and loyalty made up for that in good measure. Few at court in Camulosade trumpeted his military prowess, but his soldiers knew that he had not yet been defeated since landing in Gaul and that he conquered the greater part of the land (that which borders upon Ocean) in a matter of months. He also was not bloodthirsty like many of his countrymen, but was even hunted by the thought of putting rebels and brigands to the sword; only out of necessity did he ever do such things. Such was the nobility and virtue of the Prince that brought the learned Hellenes unto the Britons.
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Re: The History of the Britons (historía Priteni)
III. The Veneti
The Veneti, a people of the Keltoi, inhabit the part of Gaul that extends furthest into the Ocean. The name of their land, Aremorica, in fact means “Place by the Sea.” These men build their strongholds on coastal eminences, which are islands when the tide was in and peninsulas when the tide is out. Their most notable city and capital is Darioritum, which lies on the south at the head of a great bay. As a seafaring people, the Veneti build their ships of oak, with large transoms fixed by iron nails of a thumb's thickness, and navigate and power their ships through the use of leather sails. This leaves their ships strong, sturdy, and structurally sound, capable of resisting the winds and waves of the Ocean
Now, because of the swift conquest made by Adnus (along with the peaceful acquiesce of the Aquitani), this nation was the last free left in all of Gaul. Adnus was eager to put an end to this so that he might pursue greater goals, but being that he was not a man found of wanton bloodshed, he sent first an envoy unto the Veneti. This man, called Caratadoc, son of Cunovindos, was a very renowned ambassador. The previous year, he had convinced the Aquitani, a people of Gaul that are like unto the Iberians and ride horses well, to make themselves vassals of the Britons instead of being slaughtered by them. Yet, naturally, he did not only use speeches to accomplish this, but gave the leading men of those tribes about 15 talents to bend their knees to Adnu. This was good enough for the Prince, as it meant one less battle to fight, and he hoped that Caratadoc might accomplish the same with the Veneti.
So this Caratadoc, along with Aristophanes, the hostage Erruki, young son of one of the chief men of the Aquitani called Vortigern by the Britons, and a translator who knew all the tongues of the Kelts, Iberians, Punics, and Hellenes went unto Darioritum to treat with the chief men of the Veneti at the beginning of spring. The city was well built and had over 30 myriads of fighting men to defend it, with the whole country being filled with 70 myriads of people. It was not surprise then that the Veneti were very haughty in their manner to Caratadoc, laughing at his speeches and throwing his money back in his face saying:
We have never been conquered by arms and we shall not be conquered by silver. Tell your Prince to come quickly and test us, for in the end we know it is his virtue that will be found lacking.
Caratadoc grew red in the face and would have caused much trouble if it had not been for Aristophanes, for the Hellene advised him that they should leave before the Veneti declared their lives forfeit, despite the diplomatic nature of their mission. The Gaul calmed himself and agreed, saying no more lest he enrage the chief men of the Veneti.
IV. Vortigern
Caratadoc went unto Lenmonum, capital of the Pictones which Adnus had lately subdued with few losses, and reported the response of the Veneti. Adnus was satisfied that they rejected his merciful option and prepared his men quickly for the new campaign. However it was to be delayed as the summer brought news from the south.
Vortigern, the chief who’s son was Caratadoc’s hostage, rose in rebellion with the soldiers of his household and other gentlemen that hated the idea servitude to the Britons. He led his men toward Burdigala, the capital of the Aquitani and the garrison of British soldiers, thinking to oust them and proclaim him king. At this news, Andus canceled the expedition against the Veneti and marched with all speed south.
Vortigern was slow and overconfident, so Adnus easily over took him before he reached Burdigala. The two armies formed up on a plain beside the road to the city like this; Vortigern’s men formed a rough square with Vortigern and his horsemen on the right flank of it while the Britons made a very good formation which requires some explanation. First or all, the Britons lack cavalry, having at most chariots upon which their generals are carried into battle, not for lacking horses or because horsemanship is unknown to them, but from a mere greater preference to fight on foot. Thus instead of cavalry on the flanks, Adnus always put his slingers there in order to harass the oncoming enemy. For the main body, he arranged it into two lines; the first being spearmen to pin the enemy and the second being his swordsmen. These would rush forward to break apart the enemy and usually force them to flee. Adnus rode behind this with his guard, mounted upon chariot, throwing javelins at the enemy, rushing from point to point, and dismounting to fight at other instances. In this way, the Britons had overcome all their enemies in the Isles and now in Gaul. Vortigern could do nothing against such tactics; his men soon broke and fled with him in the lead of it. He was not killed in the battle but found a few days thereafter, presented to the Prince and beheaded. This was the end of the rebellion among the Aquitani.
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Re: The History of the Britons (historía Priteni)
This is simply excellent reading :yes: Keep it up!:2thumbsup:
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Re: The History of the Britons (historía Priteni)
V. Camulosade and the House of Moug
After this, Adnus, as promised, sent Aristophanes and five other Greeks unto the royal court at Camulosade as the cold season came on again. After a three day crossing (as the sea is always very rough in this season), the Hellenes did land on the Isle and proceeded to the seat of the great barbarian empire of the West. This city exceeded still all others they had seen; it held at least 200 myriads as citizens. Its walls were of rough hewn stones supported by timbers, as was common with the cities of the Keltoi, and they ran about 2 stadia roundabout with three main gates with quays astride the river wall. As in other cities, there was an acropolis and a lower town; yet here in the capital, the buildings of the acropolis were of stone and timber, not of mud. Along with the great armory, the royal palace, and the great marketplace, there was a large upright stone in the center which they use as a sundial and calendar. Near to this was the temple of the favorite god of the royal house, Lleu (who name meaning “the shining one”). It was but a large circle of grand stand, but there is a sacrificial altar in the center along with a fire regularly attended by the priests.
When they arrived at the royal palace, they were greeted by the second son of the Great King, Fiddmun. Like his brother, he was a very learned and cosmopolitan man, though he was only 17 years old. He greeted the Greeks warmly and offered to take two, a geographer and a historian, immediately into his service, which they accepted. The Greeks were then brought into the great hall where they supped with the Prince, who said his father the Great king would soon come. This he did and the man presented himself with a visage one would akin to Nestor. He did bid the Greeks to be at ease and sit again, for the Keltoi treat men with respect and do not wish them to grovel in the dust as the Easterners do, lest they do some great evil. It was here that the history of the Britons was recited unto the Greek from the mouth of the Great King.
VI. The Rise of the Britons
About one hundred before this time, the Casse (being the ruling tribe of the Britons) had resided in the northern part of Gaul, bordering upon the Channel between Gaul and the Isles of the Britons. The Aeudi, however, displaced them in a war, forcing them into exile in Britain. When the Casse came to this land, it was not empty, but well inhabited. Among the inhabitant were peoples that they had formerly themselves driven from Gaul. Such is the nature of Fate. So, they made Caradog, a peerless warrior, their king and went to war with the inhabitants. Within twenty years, the southeast of the Isle was firmly in the hands of the Casse and their capital at Camulosade already well established. Yet, when Caradog passed away and his young son Barae was crowned, the enemies of the Casse conspired to drive them out for they said, “Now they had but a beardless boy for a king, we shall destroy them easily.” So began the White war which rage for about ten years; in the end Barae defeated them all, including a final invasion by an army of wild Caledonians. They had laid siege to Camulosade, but Barae sallied forth to fight them and slaughtered the barbarian host to a man. After this, the enemy kings made peace, but Barae knew this could only be temporary, setting on the idea of uniting the Isles under his rule. First he marched north against the Corinati commonwealth and the kingdom of the Brigantines, then west against the Dumnonii, the Silures, and the Ordovices. Though he was deified, the Britons admit that during the latter campaign he was repulsed during an attempt to take the isle called Ynys Môn. They say that this is only because the druids who ruled that isle used strong magic to defeat him. Barae later returned with a greater army and destroy them totally.
Barae stayed along time at Ynys Môn along time after that and left the capital under his son Moug, for the young man was a good governor. Barae learned the arts of the ancient druids that remained there and also wrote poems that remain famous to this day. The only break in this virtual retirement of the great conquer was to campaign against the Caledonians, subduing their entire, barren country before return to Ynys Môn. On a whim, he sent his son-in-law, an untrustworthy, seditious man, to conquer Hibernia (the isle to the west of Britain, quite near unto the coast of Caledonia) and, to the Great King’s surprise, he succeeded. Thus, all the isles of Britain came under the rule of one house and were for the first time made one kingdom.
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Re: The History of the Britons (historía Priteni)
Wow. Great AAR.
Last week we had 8 AARs on this forum. Now we have (yes, I counted) 13! That means 6 AARs have been added! (I didn't count BerkeleyBoi's Saba AAR since it's done) Not only that, but all the AARs I've read so far have been well written, too. If this board gets any more AARs, I think it might asplode!
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Re: The History of the Britons (historía Priteni)
VII. The Romans in Gaul
At the time when the Britons returned to Gaul, they noticed the Romans were becoming heavily involved in the affairs of the states there. For the Romans, being a prudent people, once they had ejected the Epiroites from Taras and conquered the rest of Megálē Hellás, turned their attention to the north; they set themselves the Gauls who has so often caused trouble for the people of Italy. This was one of the reasons peace continued between Rome and Carthage, so that they divide the western part of the world between whereas in other times there certainly would have been war between the two states over Sicily or Spain.
The Romans marched their army then into the Valley of the River Po under their strategoi, the elected men called consuls, in order to subdue the strong city of the Gauls at Mediolanium. That city took many years to take and the Romans lost many men in the effort, but in the meantime they sent armies into Liguria and conquered it. Then they annexed the Hellenic colony of Massalia so that they might “protect it from the barbarians.” Such is the pride of the Romans that they would think that citizens of a Greek city would need their protection. Nevertheless, the Romans finally took Mediolanium by storm from the defenders, starved mad as they were. All from the Rhone to the border of the Illyrians was in their power, but still they were not pleased.
The Romans at this time sent ambassadors into Gaul and made allies of the Arverni, giving them gold to allow Roman merchants and armies to freely traverse in their lands. Many in Gaul were disgusted by this, calling it a sale of their freedom, and the Britons saw it as a threat to their power if so mighty and ruthless a nation as the Romans were to become their neighbors because of the foolish act of the Arverni. Thus, the Great King had ordered Adnus and Erbin, son of his brother Massorias, to make speed in their wars against the free states of Gaul. He also sent forth men trained in the art of dark doings and put bounties upon the head of every Roman envoy north of the Alps. Many were killed, but more always arrived the next season to sow more intrigue among the Gauls.
Now when Aristophanes crossed back over the Channel to return to the court of Adnus at Lemonum that spring (it having been one year since his arrival), there came news which surprised all the nations of the Keltoi. A young noble of Rome, Quintus Cornelius Scipio, led to two small armies north from the Po, over the Alps and through the lands of Arverni. He said he was in search of Aeudi brigands that had killed envoys of Rome, but he actually was looking for a path to glory. He defeated a few small Aeudi war bands, “for the benefit of Rome's allies,” and then led a full legion into the lands of the Helvetii. This tribe, weakened by war with the Arverni and the Suebi, easily fell to the Romans.
VIII. Events of the Royal House
That summer, as Adnus prepared to crush the insolent Veneti, much news concerning members of the royal house came from across the waters. In Hibernia, Gwalladir, son of Dogros, High King of the Gaels passed on. This man had been the untrustworthy son-in-law of Barae. This was because when Gwalladir married Barae’s daughter and was made king of the Dumnonii by him, he went unto that land and began to rise a strong, well armed guard. It was said he spoke openly against his wife’s father and made strong the walls of Ictis, his capital, in case his plans for usurping the realm were discovered. At length, Barae tired for worrying about Gwalladir’s treachery and so he ordered him and his army to invade Hibernia. Gwalladir followed the order firstly out of fear of the Great King, thinking his plots uncovered, and secondly out of greed, for he reasoned that if he did succeed in conquering the western isle he would have all the greater a kingdom. So it was that in a matter of four years, he made himself master of the isle, making the southern Gaels his allies and having the northern under his own rule. From then on, he lived in relative peace, except for the few attempts of the natives to oust him, and was loyal unto Barae and Moug after him until his death.
The other news concerned the marriage of Barrivendos, the second son of Massorias, unto his cousin Gwalladra (a daughter of the late Gwalladir). Interestingly, Barrivendos is reported to be a man much like his deceased father-in-law, except he is a more worthless man. He often lacks sense, complains of small things, and wishes for power that he would most likely not know what to do with. He has governed the cities of the Brigantines for some years now; they are less prosperous than ever before. Adnus withdrew at hearing this news for three days. He had hoped to marry Gwalladra, but she has been wedded to a far lesser man instead.
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Re: The History of the Britons (historía Priteni)
Absolutely great angle. :2thumbsup:
Makes me want to enroll in the Utopia University.
:)
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Re: The History of the Britons (historía Priteni)
IX. The Veneti War
After this, about the beginning of Metageitnion, Adnus gathered his army and crossed the great river that drains westward into the Ocean. All had thought they would easily march upon the Veneti and besiege them in their cities, but the Veneti were more cunning. 2,400 warriors under the chief Berdic advanced by land and up the river, attacking the Britons head on. Adnu was not shaken; he simply formed his army in its usual formation and proceeded to destroy the enemy. Only 260 of the Veneti escaped, Berdic not among them. Though it was a victory, one must say it was not decisive, for Adnus’ army, being twice the size of Berdic’s, was not in danger of being destroyed, neither were the Veneti disarmed by the action, for the greater part of their men had remained at the capital.
So the Britons marched on to Darioritum and lay siege to the city by the sea. It happened at this time that the Veneti fleet and that of the Britons clashed by accident to the north, and the British fleet was victorious, despite being greatly outnumbered. This helped the siege and Adnus ordered an assault in the midst of the month of Pyanepsion. The assault went like this; two great rams were moved against the walls at the low tide to break the front gate and the walls. In the meantime, the sling men came forward and unleaded a hail of bullets upon the defenders, who ran back toward the acropolis for protection until they realize the gate was broken open. By the time they returned, however, the Gallic swordsmen in Adnus’ service were already charging down the street. The Veneti king was riding in his chariot there, trying to rally his men, only to be cut down by the naked spearmen of the Prince. The rest of the Veneti men lost all hope and fled to the acropolis, but the Britons followed and slaughtered them all to a man. The people were spared further death and destruction, but those who had mocked the embassy of Caratadoc were sold into slavery along with their families.
X. The Embassy to Belenos
The Prince had completed his first mission now, which had been the subduing of the free states of Gaul, and prepared to strike the ancient enemy of his family, the Aeudi. Aristophanes asked him why and he smiled, “With the destroying the Aeudi, I will at once avenge my ancestors and make my father’s kingdom strong for the time when war with the Romans or the Suebi... or both comes.” Still, Adnus would not rush the campaign with winter coming so soon. Instead he sent an embassy unto Belenos, the president of that confederacy, which in fact was meant only to spy. At the head of the mission was Conan, son of Brennos, a native of that province now in the Prince’s service, and Aristophanes the Hellene, who was by this time his closest adviser and confidant.
Cenabum, the city wherein Belenos resided, was smaller than Camulosade only by a quarter myriad of people and was just as well built. One of the special things about the city was that upon the acropolis, instead of a palace or the dining hall of a warlord, there was a great round building with a high thatch cover roof in which the chiefs, magistrates of the cities, and the druids would have an assembly every year. It reminds one of the old pan-Hellenic councils; however this one has been far more long lasting.
Belenos gave us an audience in front of this august building, with his bard and his priestly adviser, chief of the worship of the god Teutatis, attending. Conan was a very direct man, not made for diplomatic speeches, and plainly asked the Speaker (as the Aeudi president was called) if he had given aid to the Veneti and if not why then were his men so close to the border of those lands. The druid almost raised his hands to end the audience, but Aristophanes put out the fire that near burned them, changed to other subjects. The Greek praised the Aeudi condemnation of the Arverni alliance with Rome, something all present could agree on. This lighter conversation continued for awhile, but then Belenos became bored and rose from his bench to address his final words to them:
Let us put this at an end, for your kind words are wasted on me, Greek. Your master plans to come against our lands next year, but warn him not to. The gods have protected me for forty summers and will for forty more, but your Prince shall not be so lucky if he turns against the Aeudi. Warn him, Greek. Remind him of the fate of oath-breakers. It is an unseemly thing. May the gods have mercy on the Britons!
With that he left. Conan was happy for he had already arranged for the gate to be opened when the time came and that Belenos only had a company of spearmen with him in the entire city. Aristophanes was not sure this bid good fortune for the war and he thought on the words of the Speaker for a long time after that.
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Re: The History of the Britons (historía Priteni)
Thanks for the praise and support! :2thumbsup:
@
CirdanDharix - Thanks. BTW, your aar helped inspire the style here. Plus, I like the way classical historians and philosophers wrote, along with the wit some of them interjected in their works.
Chaotix27 - Thanks. Glad I could add something to the aar feast.
keravnos - Thanks. The best thing about Utopia is that its free, unlike my time at college. :yes:
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Re: The History of the Britons (historía Priteni)
This AAR Is wonderful. It also helps that your using my favourite celtic faction. Kudos to you! :2thumbsup:
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Re: The History of the Britons (historía Priteni)
I request--nay, demand--another update.
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Re: The History of the Britons (historía Priteni)
Excellent job my friend. I love the perspective. What a great way to tell the stories of a people. Continue your work!
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Re: The History of the Britons (historía Priteni)
XI. War Preparations
So it can to past after this that Adnus spent the winter in preparation for war against the Aeudi with the advent of spring. The plan for the first actions was typical of the Prince, as he always sought to strike quickly and destroy his enemies within the space of less than a year. Thus, he gathered all the strength of the Britons in Gaul against the Aeudi. From the lands of the Veneti, he would lead his own army against Cenabum, in the process looking to wipe out the army of which stood on the road to that city, while his cousin, the prince Erbin, would come from the north towards the city to besiege it. In the south, Adnus’ captain, Morganoros, was to lead the majority of the fighting men from Avaricum against the Aeudi warbands already roving the country and threatening the Confederacy’s capital at Bibracte. Lastly, the fleet was soon to arrive upon the coast with fresh soldiers from Hibernia. These were to march from there and join the Prince at Cenabum. All was made ready to this effect for the advent of war, victory in the minds of the people never in doubt.
XII. The battle against Togodumnos
This army of the Aeudi which stood against the Prince on the road unto Cenabum was not different than the normal armies raise among the Gauls, neither in size nor composition. Yet, it is noteworthy in three things; its commander, his cavalry, and the warriors called by the name Gastease. Togodumnos, the commander, was the chief war leader under Belenos. He was a veteran of many wars and a cunning tactician. With him he had his guard, who were renowned as the best horsemen in all of Gaul, while the Britons had no cavalry at all. Further, let us speak of the Gastease.
The name of these warriors translated simply means “spearmen” but they are no wise related in fact to what must be a title of ancient use. They fight stripped bare but for armor which they put upon their neck and sometimes their shoes or boots. They fight with long swords, but are named for their incredible skill with javelins; they can hurl them an unnaturally long distance and deal great damage with them. Their charge is most ferocious though, causing many lines to simply fold and flee. This is not all solely due to skill and strength, though they are experienced and huge, muscular men. They imbibe a plant of a strong nature before battle making them impervious to pain. They will fight to the very end, and are very destructive when employed properly.
Their skill is a source of terror, and their frightful appearance shakes even the most battle hardened warriors. Most horrifying, even beyond their size and skill and terrifying cries, is their seeming invincibility. They have been known to do things such as rip javelins that had struck them free from their bodies, and hurl them back, and continue to fight with gashes and wounds tat would have surely fell a normal man. They are also devoted and trustworthy, as well as brave and skilled, thus make the best part of any army in this part of the world. Such a company of men Togodumnos brought with him to this battle.
The Prince Adnus had the service of no such men, but only the regular warriors of Gaul (for he had left his Britons as garrisons of the conquered cities). With him he had four units of spearmen levied from amongst the Veneti, two units of young spearmen from the Belgae, two units of slingers, and a company of hired swordsmen who were veterans of these bloody Gallic wars. Be confident, despite the evenness of numbers with the enemy and their reported superiority in valor, the Prince advanced and challenged the Aeudi to battle.
Togodumnos accepted and brought forth his men with great shouts and paeans while Adnus patiently formed his battle lines and prepared for the excited enemy to charge. Now, despite his lack of horse, he put the slingers on the flanks on unguarded so as to fire upon the flanks of the adversary and placed all his infantry in a central block of two lines. Togodumnos did as the Prince knew he would, for he sent the Gastease and his other fighting men to break the center, ignoring the flanks. In this way the Aeudi broke themselves upon the spears of the Britons, after many hours being force to flee with the death of their captain. Yet, if it had not been for the wisdom of the Prince, the army of Togodumnos would have otherwise triumphed that day by virtue of its warriors.
After this, the way to Cenabum was opened and that city was soon laid siege to while Erbin neared from the north and the Britons made moves to threaten the capital of the Aeudi. All was going to the plans of the Prince, but Fortune, being as it is, never allows the plans of men to go undone.
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Re: The History of the Britons (historía Priteni)
It's strange how there are so few comments for this AAR, I think the writing is the best of all the AARs currently going... no, it is the best writing of all the AARs that I have read! Please keep it going!
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Re: The History of the Britons (historía Priteni)
This is a great AAR hope you will continue soon.
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Re: The History of the Britons (historía Priteni)
I have been hoping for an update for this AAR as well. It is really one of the great, along with Chirugeons, Berkeley Boys and MAAs.
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Re: The History of the Britons (historía Priteni)
A fascinating take on writing an AAR - third party historian :2thumbsup:
I demand an update!
Edit: Very well written too. Your grammatical skills are quite outstanding.
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Re: The History of the Britons (historía Priteni)
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Re: The History of the Britons (historía Priteni)
XIII. The Unraveling
The men from Avaricum advanced toward the Gauls at Bibracte, but halted at the main bridge over the river so that they might have rest before battle. It was then that the Prince of the Aedui, Viridovix moc Togodumnos, seeking to avenge the shameful defeat of his father, came up from the south. He gathered men from Bibracte, in addition to the warriors of his household, and marched swiftly to the bridge. The Britons, under their captain Morganoros, drew up their spearmen in two lines to defend the crossing with slingers to fire from behind them upon the enemy. They numbered three myriads of valorous men, even with the numbers of the Gauls, yet the result seemed in doubt even at the beginning. For the men of Viridovix waxed strong and sought to destroy those would had brought such inglorious defeats upon their nation.
Viridovix, though a younger man, was a master of battle, even more renowned than his late father among the Aeudi. So, upon seeing the Britons ready in defense, he would not despair as most of his captains were, but instead spoke to them like this:
Men of Gaul, how is it that in this place, when Gods have put Victory and Vengeance before us, you now are filled with doubt and despise glorious battle. Do not fear the enemy because of their renown, for that is fleeting as most things on this earth are! Look to the Gods and their constant favor of our arms, look to the glory of victory and the happiness of our ancestors when they look see us in this battle. The blood of our brothers cries from the ground, screams for us go forth and slay the invaders. Who are we to deny them because of petty frets and unmanly fear? Go forward and destroy them!
After this Viridovix drew his sword and personally lead the charge of the horse across the bridge, not fearing the spear for the Britons had only short ones and not the pike as Hellenes and Suebi equip even their levies with. The first line held for while, yet they became sore tried, then the second line came forth to bolster them while the slingers fired from the rear upon the enemy. Still, the Gauls would not break and retreat because of brave example of their general and, for the simple matter, because they could not for the multitude of their fellows pouring over the bridge, hoping to slay the enemy before the battle came to an end. In the end, against such determination, the Britons could no longer stand. They tried to retreat in could order, but the cavalry of Viridovix prevented this, and the army scatted to the four winds.
The fall of the first snows could not stop the plans of Prince Adnus. With the news from the south, he made the decision to assault Cenabum as it seemed Fortune had delivered the chance for a quick and glorious victory. As arranged, traitors opened the gates early one morning and the Britons with the Prince at their head entered. There, like Achilles, Adnus was shot down in the street by a cowardly archer in the towers of the city, but the army drove on toward the acropolis, seeking to complete their master’s goal. There, Belenos, with only his personal guard of horse, charged the advancing Britons and did break the entire body there; the army fled from before the city. On the other side, Erbin was delayed various traps and his ram being burnt, thus he was prevented from helping his cousin before disaster struck. So it was that the words of Belenos proved true. Adnus had brought destruction upon himself and the Britons by attacking Cenabum.
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Re: The History of the Britons (historía Priteni)
XIV. A Bloody Winter
Prince Erbin led his men to the south, seeking to reach the safety of Avaricum, but the victorious Viridovix met him before this. Erbin had only about 400 men with him, but he stood still in order to break though. Even in this desperate situation, the Britons could not break the Gallic line, and they were forced to fly. The Britons finally reached Avaricum that season by a roundabout route.
In the meantime, at the coast, the fleet arrived with the men from Hibernia with a myriad of men to strengthen the army in Gaul. These did not go unopposed as expected, but were attacked but an army half it size and beaten even unto their ships.
XV. Prince Erbin
As was said before, Erbin was the son of the Great King’s brother, Massorias, and was sent with Adnus to Gaul with equal command to subdue the entire country. Yet, he was a man lacking the martial virtues of his cousin, so the Prince was left to govern the Belgae while Adnus went about the conquest of Gaul. With the death of the aforementioned, the governorship was left in the hands of Erbin, much to his secret joy.
At this time, he was in his 27th year and full of vigor. Though the reverses of the previous year made many doubt ultimate victory, Erbin kept an optimistic view of the war, as he was wont to do, and told the men not to doubt the power of their country over the “feminine” men of Gaul. His only fault was a hidden, burning disloyalty to the Great king and the royal house for their supposed abuses against the line of his father; he said they are always put aside and made fun of by those of the direct line. Now he aimed not only to finish the conquest of Gaul but also to bring glory upon the house of his father and himself.
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Re: The History of the Britons (historía Priteni)
ouch :no:
Good luck in avenging Adnus! Aristophanes can't go home yet, can he?
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Re: The History of the Britons (historía Priteni)
And so fell mighty Adnus to a cowards shaft:shame:. Great Update by the way!
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Re: The History of the Britons (historía Priteni)
This is a fine AAR, you have successfully captured the form of the dark-ages saga in the heroic tradition. I never would have thought of applying this to the era of EB, but it seems to fit very well.
I am very impressed with eloquence and poetry of the text, I do hope that there is more to come. I particularly enjoyed the use of Greek equivalent terms for in your first-person descriptions from Aristophanes.
Perhaps you might want to try your hand at Arthurian Total War as it fits this style even better?
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Re: The History of the Britons (historía Priteni)
XVI. The second attack upon Cenabum
By the coming of spring, the army had rested and renewed its numbers at Avaricum. Erbin then lead the men up before Cenabum again, to final take the chief city of the Gauls and get revenge upon them for spilling so much valorous British blood. The Britons numbered about 4 myriads and the defenders about a fourth of that, so that the attackers were now confident, as their prince had always been, of victory. Before the assault, Erbin spake unto the army like this:
We Britons are the beloved of the Gods and most feared of all men upon the earth. What have we to fear from the sick and impotent men of long-haired Gaul; only that they will become the slaves of the Romans or the Suebi before they can bow before us. So with the eyes of the gods and the ancestors upon us, let us make a quick end to this bloody work and repay these bastards ten times the blood of our blessed men shed here in the past year.
The warriors, thusly roused, advance upon the main gate in two columns. The first, bringing up the ram, came within moments to the gate and broke it open so that the cavalry could rush in and capture it, while the second, armed with ladders, climbed up of the wall near unto to gate in order to slay the guards there and keep the gate open so that the army would not be trapped within the city as it had been the previous time.
Despite the bloodiness of the assault upon the wall, the columns did secure the gate and the wall round it. After that, the rest of the Britons rushed into the city to slay all they could lay a hand upon and storm the citadel. The Gaul Belenos again retreated to his citadel with chosen horseman and a band of heavy armed druids, acclaimed even more fearsome fighters than the naked spearmen. Even with such warriors as his faithful companions, Belenos found death at British hands and the entire city was overrun, the defenders all slain except one boy, the nephew of Belenos, which begged for his life (he became the slave of Ebrin’s master of horse).
The Fates remained fickle unto the royal house in this hour of victory, however. Before the end of the assault upon the citadel, a druid perched in a high tree saw the Prince riding up the avenue in his chariot. The wicked man had darts with him and did throw them all at the Prince and his fellows as it was clear all was lost for the Gaul. Two hit Erbin, piercing his neck and stomach, and another hit his driver in the chest. The death of the Prince, another of royal blood slain in the same city as Adnus the year previous, sent the army into a great frenzy that would not abate for four days. Cenabum was ruined, her men slain, her people sent off to Britain as bondsmen, and those that remained wished that they had been sent off or slain for the tortures and the famine they suffered for a long time after because of the vengeance wrecked by the Britons.
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Re: The History of the Britons (historía Priteni)
XVII. Events in Britain
At this time, the Greek and the captains of the late Erbin went across the water to Camulosade, for there was no prince left in Gaul to command the armies or govern the sanguine people of that country. Yet, in the great city, all were in mourning again and business of state put aside for the better part of the month because of the death of Erbin, so soon after noble Adnus.
Finally, Massorias, brother of the Great King and heir (despite his advanced age), came unto the delegation from Gaul, but told the men that he could not afford to send another royal prince unto the continent. He had but one son left, the incompetent Barrivendos spoken of before, and nearly came to tears when thinking of the dreadful fate of the young scions of the royal house. He blamed the Gaulish gods and sent forth an edict to destroy their temples so that the curse then he suppose had been put upon the house would be broken. At last, after another month, he chose Orriagh as the new governor and general of all Gaul.
This Orriagh was the son of the chief Vindex, a great man among that clan of the Belgae called by the Romans Bellovaci for their love of war and its goddess. Only that past winter, he had come unto the capital and courted Massorias’s youngest daughter, Navi. Not only was she taken with him, but so was the entire court. During this time, he was a very lively fellow and the center of all attention; once he was married and give the command of Gaul, he showed his true manner, cold, proud, and a hater of luxury. He had only acted the part of a dandy in order to gain the honor he thought he deserved.
Finally, the Great King had dreams of the future fall of his realm before a wolf covered in blood at this time. When he went unto the learned druids of the academy, they told him plainly the meaning of the vision; that within the space of hundred years the Casse would driven to the ends of the earth by the Romans. The Great King was driven to grief by this news, but protested against what Heaven seemed to have clearly ordained. Thus he raised up a new army made of two parts; heavy armed swordsmen and misslemen. Before this, the Britons had often scorned armour, but now with the prospect of fighting the Romans, the King forced the warriors to take it up so that they would not be slaughtered easily like the Gauls.
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Re: The History of the Britons (historía Priteni)
XVIII. The Assassination of the Roman ambassador Serranus
Soon after this, the Romans sent the senator Caius Atilius Serranus unto Gaul as ambassador. This Serranus was a famous man of Rome and held great sway in the Senate. When he came unto Avaricum, the Britons gave him a cold welcome and Orriagh refused to see him, feigning illness, for they supposed he had come to spy upon the condition of the Britons or incite the natives. More than this, Orriagh was convinced by one of his captains, a Gaul named Aneroeste, to slay the noble Roman, saying nothing would come of it and that the country would be saved.
So it was in the month of Metageitnion, in the fourth year of the sojourn of the Greeks among the barbarians, Orriagh and his captains invited the senator Serranus to a dinner. At first, poison was set before the Roman in his wine, but it had no effect on him. Then upon his meal was put a deadly herb, but this also slew him not. By this time Aneroeste lost all patience and rose in anger, cursing the Roman for daring to come upon British soil. The Gaul grabbed a sword and after a short struggle with the agile Serranus, cleaved his head in half. Of the rest of the Romans, only a scribe and a slave escaped, the others slain to a man in their sleep. It was by those two alone that the tidings of what happened to the noble Serranus reached Rome.
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Re: The History of the Britons (historía Priteni)
ahhhh I like this...good to have you back :bow:
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Re: The History of the Britons (historía Priteni)
:Cackles Maniacally and screams: "It is Alive!!!!" Good to see you up and running again AC. Interesting turn of events. It seems that in trying to disprove the devine mandate of heaven the Casse are making it more likely to happen.
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Re: The History of the Britons (historía Priteni)
yes please do keep this one alive, it's really good:yes:
