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

A man of violence

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

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

How Lucius Marcundus accidentally brought down the Roman Republic

By Eric Damon
(part II)

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

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

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

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

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

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

A man of reforms

The Roman Empire, by Wolfgang Schreier, Bonn 2003

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

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

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

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

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

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Originally Posted by anubis88

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

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Thank you.
I try to please all sorts of readers. From the deep thought reader who reads all from the beginning to the guy/gal who just likes to watch some screenshots. That's why some updates are picture and some text heavy.

How Lucius Marcundus accidentally brought down the Roman Republic

By Eric Damon
(part III)

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

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

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

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

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

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

A man of dubious action

The Roman Empire, by Wolfgang Schreier, Bonn 2003

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

Helenos – The life of Julius Caesar

(written about 100 AD)

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

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

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Originally Posted by podoh

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

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Thank you. I know it's quite a lot of reading. But I think it's easier to skip a fiew chapters in my AAR then in most others.

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

War in Southern Gaul
(67 BC - 63 BC)

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


http://imgur.com/WQNSH.jpg

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

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

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

http://imgur.com/GyN0j.jpg


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

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

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

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

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

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

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

http://imgur.com/HHavG.jpg

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

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

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

http://imgur.com/r8qjT.jpg

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


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

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

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

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

http://imgur.com/q3NCl.jpg


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

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

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

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

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

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


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

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

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

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

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

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

http://imgur.com/BCOyn.jpg


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

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

http://imgur.com/vyKCx.jpg

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

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Fixiwee

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

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This is true. Good choice of quote by Ike. Hope people can see past war and break down what has essentially become a normal, everyday, accepted institution in our lives.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by vartan

This is true. Good choice of quote by Ike. Hope people can see past war and break down what has essentially become a normal, everyday, accepted institution in our lives.

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Indeed. The quote is the contrast to the brutal war that is going on in the text. After all this first campaign already cost over 10.000 fictional men their lives.

How Lucius Marcundus accidentally brought down the Roman Republic

By Eric Damon

(part IV)

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

He sighted.

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

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

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

Galia est pacata

War in Southern Gaul
(67 BC - 63 BC)

The Roman Empire, by Wolfgang Schreier, Bonn 2003

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


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


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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

http://imgur.com/vd8bT.jpg

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

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

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

Before beginning, plan carefully.
-Marcus Tullius Cicero

The first triumvirate

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

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

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

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

http://imgur.com/s5TgH.jpg

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

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

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

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

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

http://imgur.com/O8T5x.jpg

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

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

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Hannibal Khan the Great

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

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

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Redolegna

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

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

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Hannibal Khan the Great

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

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

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Fixiwee

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

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Gotta love them butterflies...

Is it me or has this AAR died?

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Maximus of Phoenicia

Is it me or has this AAR died?

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April fools, right? I'm sure man's history goes beyond Rome; must be work in progress!

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

I just needed a short break from writing.

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

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Maximus of Phoenicia

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

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

Harsh times

The Roman Empire, by Wolfgang Schreier, Bonn 2003

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

How Lucius Marcundus accidentally brought down the Roman Republic

By Eric Damon

(Part IV)

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

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

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

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

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

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

The exotic East was calling him.

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

Caesar in the east

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

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

Commentarii de Bello Asiatico

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

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

The Roman Empire, by Wolfgang Schreier, Bonn 2003

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


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

Commentarii de Bello Asiatico

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

Haha. How do you get the enemy to control provinces that they controlled historically in that time period in which you write of? Also, howcome Pontus controls Ani? I'm continuing to enjoy the lectures by the way.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by vartan

Haha. How do you get the enemy to control provinces that they controlled historically in that time period in which you write of? Also, howcome Pontus controls Ani? I'm continuing to enjoy the lectures by the way.

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With Pontus it was a coincidence. I had to use FD with Seleucid and Parthia a lot. I always tend to thrive for semi historical borders for certain factions, though not all.

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

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