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Summer 183 BC - Sicily
The fleet landed our army here in Sicily much to the Surprise of the garrison of Lillybeo. In a few months when our seige equipment is ready we will break down the walls and charge the city. Our key is speed. It will only be a matter of time till Rome mobilizes her armies and comes for us. I want to have allies at our backs with the enemy in front. The more territory we capture the more it will hurt Rome. Corsica was pathetically defended and the paltry defenses fell quickly.
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The leader of the garrison was killed with a sling stone and many of the garrison fell to my forces with only a loss of 10 or so of my own men. Time again is crucial. In the north, Balshelik, is leading his army against Roman forces who have made progress against the Aeudi Clan. The last city of the Arverni have been plaguing the Aeudi forcing them to seperate their forces. I want Balshelik to best the Romans whenever the opportunity presents itself, but not to put significant risk to his army. The Romans sacked Gergovia and slaughtered the inhabitants. Dispicable bastards. I told him to make sure that Gergovia is freed from Rome's clutches.
Winter 183 BC - Besieging Syracuse
Once again we find our armies in front of this great city. Not being a patient man and not wishing to take undue risks is a bad combination for dealing with cities such as this. Rome has not sent a proper army to deal with the threat we are making to their holdings here. I think the best course of action would be to wait out the city. If a large army is spotted approaching our position I shall give permission to attack the walls. The Fleet is blockading their port denying the arrival of necessary goods. Guardon was quite impressed with the sheer size and seeming impregnable position. He said he never saw anything like it. I remember looking at him and telling him neither had I.
Spring 181 BC - Brettia
We did not have to capture Syrracuse directly. A small relief force engaged us and the garrison sallied out to fight as well. Both were destroyed. I used my light troops to overwhelm the numerically inferior forces of the Romans. The city seeing their garrison destroyed opened the gates and welcomed us. The populace was most relieved to see us apparently. The Romans had put many Syracuseans to the sword when they captured the city from us. We simply walked in.
Fall Of Syracuse:
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Massala was a similiar affair with another pathetic attempt by the Romans to break our seige. My army is swatting flies. I relish a large engagement that pits my men against the best Rome has to offer.
Fall Of Massalla:
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We crossed the straits between Sicily and Italy and now we have crossed into new territory. Although the land looks much like Sicily, the men know they are on Roman Ground. Not since Pyrrus of Epirus had anyone dared to do what we do now. As we march along this rough terrain the city of Rhegium has come into view. The first battle For Italy will be for this great Italian city. The camp is noteably quiet as the men know that Rome will surely come. Finally it is noteworthy that M. Castullo passed into the ancestral plains earlier this year. He died in peace at Numantia. The conquerer of Iberia will always know that he did many great things for the republic.
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Winter 180 BC - Kalabria
Come they did not. My light troops scattered any forces they sent. My slingers murdered them with lead balls and my cavalry, under Guardon and his famous Iberians, trampled them into the Earth. Rhegium fell rather easily and we quickly found ourselves in front of Taras in Kalabria.
This land is stunning. Most of the land we traveled through, the noteable exception being Sicily, contained little ground for growing crops. Upon entering Kalabria we found ourselves walking in what is surely the breadbasket of southern Italy. Large flat plains with only gentle hills extended around us. We arrived in the autumn and the golden grasses were swaying strongly in the wind.
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Laden with a seasons worth of grain they seemed to struggle to stay upright. The Grain never made it into the stores of Taras. Here we trapped One of the Consul's of the Roman Republic and I seized the grain and other foods for my army. I tasked my men with harvesting the crop. We set into surrounding the city and building our lines of circumvallation and waited. No more than six days into the seige an emmisary came out of the town and asked if I would be willing to join the Consul for dinner.
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"Yes I would be delighted but I must insist he be my guest." I remember saying.
Guardon and others in my retinue suspected a trap so I laid their fears to rest by making him my guest.
Late in the afternoon as the Sun came close to kissing the great sea, servants brought food from all over. Racks of lamb and whole ducks were laid out in my private quarters. Roasted pork with fresh eggs and some of the most amazing wine and bread I had ever tasted. I ate with my counterpart across from me. I found myself enjoying a lovely glass of wine from the northern reaches of Italy. Alas, having been satiated with the rich foods of the region Consul Augustus spoke.
"Your army is absolutely magnificent, Himilcar. I will no doubt have the honor of facing it soon."
I leaned in and looked closely at the Consul and told him, " Your garrison is hardly a force I would fear."
Smiling he continued, still picking at various morsels and washing it down with gulps of great red wine, "Indeed! They are brave but the rest of the forces the Senate is sending is just as impressive."
I stood silent for a moment. Perhaps it was the wine but after a moment I realized the man was being sarcastic.
"Rome is in chaos. The senate is sending men all over the place. They are divided as to reinforce the north or protect the South." He paused taking another drink from his goblet and neatly wiping his chin. Setting his napkin down gently next to the plate his tone changed. "To be honest Rome is terrified of the army you have brought on our lands. The fact that you swept through Corsica, Sicily and Rhegium in scarcely three years has convinced them that you are a juggernaught that cant be stopped."
I laughed lightly for a moment. "You realize how many people in Carthage would have loved to have heard what you said? It is incredulous to think that the arrogant Romans could stoop as low as this?"
Nodding in agreement and reaching for some bread he continued. "Who have we fought Himilcar?" Holding his hand up, "No need to answer, I will tell you. Lets see for starters we have fought the Barbarians in the north. The Celts and Aeudi and other heathens to our north are quite the fighters but they have never learned to be professional soldiers. They fight because they have too." He shrugged and held his hands up. "Who else you might ask? Well we have fought some rebels in and around our provinces. A hundred years ago we fought the Epirotes. A century ago!! Oh and how could I forget the tribes of Germania." I sat quietly as he was prepared to talk more. "All these men except the Epirotes of course have the same thing in common. They are not professional soldiers. How many of the men you command actually have other trades than warfare? Very few I would venture. Your men have known nothing but death and destruction. And I assure you they deliver it instead of receiving it." He ripped a hunk of bread off the piece he had on his plate and dipping in some leftover gravy continued. At this point the man was dizzy with wine and seemed to have little inhibitions left. I watched him devour the bread and wash it down with more wine. A servant gracefully appeared filling his glass again. Sometimes I wished servants did not do as they were asked. Focusing back on me he continued his interesting analysis. "Now lets see who you have fought. What warriors has mighty Carthage had to face in battle? First you had to contend with the Numidians. Graceful horsemen and deadly accurate javelins. Then you had to deal with the descendants of Alexander the Great. Hamalcar the Great defeated Egypt in 25 years and revolutionized the way war was fought. Then you moved to Iberia and fought the noble and resilient Iberians. The point is that you have fought a variety of armies and tactics while we have had to fight one dimensional foes." I did not agree with assessment of the Aeudi but it was better not to argue. "You see we have been fighting amateaurs. My men haven never seen a disciplined phalanx, or professional cavalry." He got up and ambled half stumbling towards the door.
"Consul Augustus surrender your city. You blood and your countrymen need not be spilt on this soil."
Glassy eyed and wobbly the man looked at me, surprised by my statement. He waved his finger at me as if to scold me.
"My relief forces will be arriving shortly and when they do I will face you on the battlefield, honorable Himilcar Barcino."
With that he left with his guards and I heard him talking loudly about the might of Rome.
I could not belief the stupidity of this man. His relief forces consisted of three maniples of allied troops and some hastati and principe. Combined with the garrison of Taras it was less than half the size of my army. His men bravely charged my light troops and after a significant period I withdrew them. The Roman infantry plunged headlong into my lines of phalynx. The result were a giant version of the skewers I had at dinner the other night with the drunken Consul. The Romans pushed and shoved but only managed to get impaled by the force of the men behind them pushing them on. I sent my sacred band and Iberian cavalry after the Consul who was alone on the battlefield behind his infantry. He did manage to destroy a group of my Belaric slingers, but facing our cavalry his resolve melted and his bodyguards fell to my own cavalry like snow in the desert. I did not see him fall but after the battle was over a part of me was glad he was not the Consul anymore. I couldnt bare to fight another poorly led group.
Battle of Taras:
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Spies in the north indicate a very large army marching south and that army, a mixture of Allied, mercenary and Citizen troops could be the first challenge my men would face. Before that however, in the spring I would charge the city of Taras. Sitting around a city with someone elses timeline dictating my actions is not my interpretation of warfare. Warfare is man to man, horse to horse, wits to wits, and honor to honor. May the best win.
Winter 179 BC - Apulia
A glorious year for Carthage. In the north Bashelik has written me a letter telling of a great battle he had with the Romans. He was beseiging Gergovia when a great relief force came to force him away. After some maneurvering Bashelik put himself in a prominent position and accepted battle:
"Dear honorable Himilcar:
We have given battle to the Romans and have carried the day. Our victory has stung their resolve and Gergovia will hopefully be recaptured. I used the Iberian and Gallic mercenaries in two lines. Half of my army now consists of these brave warriors. The Romans came with scores of infantry and some cavalry. They charged my lines and the Iberians and Gauls fought shoulder to shoulder. These Gauls are great men of strength and honor. They fight with a wondorous resolve. Watching the Iberians and Aeudi men fight and die next to each other as brothers gave me pause. It was a wonderful amalgam of men pressing and fighting each other to the death. For hourse the battle plowed on. The Romans lost their commander early in the battle and their brave Centurions continued the fight. My lines slowly drifted backwards until the first line melted into the second. The second melting into my Liby-Phonecians. We held them there. For what seemed an eternity the lines were relentless. Every space that could hold a man was occupied. When a man died another would step over the corpse and assume his place. I watched one particular Aeudian called Gerganto, a giant even among his own people, swing his sword taking down man after man.
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I watched him kill no less than ten Principe before being surrounded and brought down like a giant bear. A fierce race these men are. As daylight faded the Romans broke off the fight and fled the battlefield. I have many casualties and many more died but we have carried the day.
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I am returning to Emporian to recruit more men for my depleted ranks and will resume campaigning in the spring. I hope your fight in the south goes well. I look forward to embracing you again after this war is finished.
May the Gods keep you,
Bashelik"
Having read his letter after my own great battle also gave me pause. Two great victories and two great defeats for the enemy. A good year indeed. My own battle here in Apulia while approaching Arpi resulted in a horrific loss for the Romans. A great number of infantry approached my lines. My light infantry peppered the enemy with javelins and my slingers ruined limbs and spirit alike. Eventually the Romans engaged my light troops and they fared quite well. My Libyan spear men and Iberian troops along with some local rebellious Samnites, who joined our cause, held off the Roman tide for some time. Eventually I withdrew my first line and let the Romans poured into the prickly facade of my Sacred band. The Romans reach was limited and they tried to slip between the spears but few made it and the ones that did were brought down quickly. They tried to envelope the flanks of the phalynx and my Elite Africans broke all attempts. I employed the cavalry against the infantry and brought my Africans up from the rear and completely surrounded a giant pocket of Romans in front of my phalynx. Forming a cube I had them trapped and used the cavalry to push their men into the speartips of the Sacred band. This caused mass panic amongst the enemy and many died as they trampled each other trying to escape the mayhem. All three Praetors were killed and we captured 12 legionary standards. However if one thing is certain is the resilance of the Romans. They will return.
Battle of Arpi:
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Spring 177 BC - Governors Residence, Arpi
Another large but haphazard army attacked my forces while laying seige to Arpi. My battle hardened troops and their lack of comprable cavalry has enabled me to dominate the field of battle. I have complete reign with my Iberian and Sacred Band Cavalry and use it to its greatest potential.
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I am now preparing for another spring offensive. The senate is sending my Protege via ship from Kyrenia. The son of the governor he has led several successful campaigns against resistant Numidians along the coast between Kyrenia and Lepki. Showing great promise he should be here during the year and I will put him in charge of the cavalry and see how he performs under a larger command.
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I turned 50 and although I feel good, I want nothing to comprimise what we have gained here in Italy. Guardon and I have drawn up plans to lay siege to Capua. My protege will hopefully be able to command this highly disciplined army. He must gain respect, and respect will be gained with the cavalry first. Success there will lead to confidence with the rest of the men. Walking through the camp outside the city walls the men know that each one of them is contributing to our history.
Winter 177 BC - Encamped in southern Latium
Bashelik's success in the north has caused the Romans to abandon the city of Gergovia.
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This was their last stronghold West of the Rhone river. In several glorious battles in which he was facing a sea of levied Celts and other men he prevailed. In a letter he described his battles in detail. Bashelik has turned himself into quite the strategist and I am honored that he leads our great allies in the north. Bashelik is using his army as a shield to check the Romans West of the Rhone and I am the spear. Even now I continue the ardorous climb up the Italian Peninsula. The citizenry flee before my army. Whole villages are deserted. We set about beseiging Capua and another poorly led attempt to dislodge us ended in total disaster for Rome and her Allies.
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We walked into the city after just one season of waiting. The fall of Capua caused mass panic in the north. The capital of the Roman republic was moved to Mediolanum far in the north. The senate abandoned their great city for fear of me. Even now we are encamped within an easy march of their capital. Deprived of men from her south the Romans are conscripting poorer and poorer quality troops. Bashelik has told me that the armies of recent memory are mostly levied spearmen coming from lands occupied by the Romans. These levied troops already despise the Romans and have very little desire to kill their Aeudi brothers or even the mighty Iberians that make up the Northern Army. "They rout quickly and attack half-heartedly" According to Bashelik.
I am perplexed as to the absence of Consuls or senators commanding the Armies of Rome. Praetors and Centurians are leading the defense and it is ill-planned. Consisting of just infantry my cavalry continue to exert horrific tolls on the men of Italy. With the Senate fleeing the great city itself perhaps they are trying to consolidate themselves in the north.
Summer, 176 BC, Roma
Carthage is awash in celebration. From The sand of Africa, of Egypt, to Mauretania, to Iberia and the Land of the Aeudi a great festival encompasses our success. Rome has fallen! It is true that there is still much fighting to the north but for now we celebrate. The men have sacrificed much, as have I. Bashelik has congratulated me and the Senate is prepared to come to Rome to see the great city for themselves. It is a majestic city with great temples and forums, fountains, and gardens. We ride in triumphant after the garrison sallied out to try and help the relief force. After some hard fighting my mercenaries and allied troops broke the defense of Rome and the city, losing her defenders, had no choice but to surrender.
Last Defense of Rome:
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My men looted and destroyed and many valuable things have been lost. I have kept most of the documents from the Republican Library under the great Forum. These will be of interest to later generations. The coffers overflow with the riches of these brutal people.
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Sitting in the palace of this great city I overlook the huge sprawling mass of houses and other structures. I cant help but think of how history will remember Carthage. I think we are just and fair. Will the people of the future feel the same? How will the ill-fated Romans be remembered? Will they be remembered as victims of conquest? Or will they be remembered as a brutal civilization that was bent on ruling the world. How has the world changed? What would the world look like had Carthage never existed? I drink deeply from the cup in my hand. The rich beans of Africa, grown from her robust soil, the stout liquid flows through my veins. There are many questions with little to offer for answers. I look into the cup and I see my reflection. At the same time I see the lands of my ancestors. The beans having taken the soil of the land into itself. The very flavors of Africa. Looking at the shimmering reflection amongst the ripples of the brew I can't help but think how will history remember me?
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