The Will of the Senate - First Consul reports

[Death the destroyer of worlds]

10. Autumn 273 BC (continued)

Tribune Publius Pansa (Glaucus) was victorious ! In a devastating attack on Jenuensis the Gauls were utterly crushed. The Gaul force of 355 men was wiped out for the loss of just 23 romans.

Tribune Publius Pansa leading a charge into Jenuensis

I demolish the Gallic Auxilia II building and start construction of an occupation. Our diplomat Sextus Antio (Ignoramus) establishes trade with the Ptolemaic empire, but they want a fortune for their maps, which I refuse. I move him towards Thrace. Our diplomat Oppius Vintruvius (Wishazu) moves to scout out Massilia and encounters a powerful Gaul army, led by Caradog of Samarabriva, which might be about to cross the Alps. This is worrisome. I decide that tribune Augustus Verginius (TinCow) is ready for command of Legio I Italia and so I lend him my priest of jupiter and turn command of the Legio I Italia over to him and send him off towards the west where the danger lies. I move our spy Decius Curtius (Braden) to Jenuensis to scout for enemies. I move Amulius Coruncanius (Mount Suribachi), who has come of age, northwards with reinforcements. I also notice that the chieftain Bolgois of Garumna is not dead, as I reported earlier, but has managed to fool me and is now living in Mediolanium. We will make sure of his demise soon.

11. Winter 273 BC

An illyrian spy is detected in Patavium by our spy Quintis Classicianus (GeneralHankerchief), but he escapes his clutches. We will need to leave a praetorian legion here to guard over Patavium. The Sarmatians declare war on the kingdom of Armenia. The walls of Patavium have been repaired. Our spy Decius Curtius (Braden) spots the Gaul army led by Caradog of Samarabriva, which was last seen at Massilia. After spying on it he searches the valley to the north for additional reinforcements, but finds none. I send our diplomat Oppius Vintruvius (Wishazu) to see if there are any other suprises in the western valley, but find none and order him back to Massilia. Once legate Tiberius Coruncanius (FLYdude) has arrived at Patavium I return his priests to him, thanking them for their wise guidance and the legate for his forbearance, and leave him in command of a slightly battered Legio II Sabina Quintia in Patavium, while I move to the south with a few troops to meet Amulius Coruncanius (Mount Suribachi), who is coming northwards with reinforcements. I start the recruitement of three italian spearmen, one hastatii and one italian skirmishers unit. The tribune Valerius Paullus (YAKOBU) has arrived in Syracuse with additonal garrison units and immediately leaves northwards again to rush along the rest of the troops coming south. I send the Legio I Italia under tribune Augustus Verginius (TinCow) to meet up with tribune Publius Pansa (Glaucus), but the legion is ambushed just west of Bononia, just few miles away from my present location !
It seems that the powerful chieftain Lucco, who was earlier defeated by legate Tiberius Coruncanius (FLYdude), has been amassing a powerful army nearly twice the size of the unfortunate Legio I Italia. It was so cunningly hidden in the forest right under our noses that even I, well known for my skills in reconaissance, did not spot a tree branch out of place. In the distance I can hear the clash of arms and know that my death might be near. I make an offering to the gods, pray for divine assistance for Augustus Verginius (TinCow) and anxiously wait for the outcome of the battle.

The fate of Augustus Verginius and the Legio I Italia hang in the balance

Tribune Augustus Verginius (TinCow) and the Legio I Italia were victorious ! He has written a detailed account of the 'Battle for Bononia' for your perusal. In a dreadful pitched battle, in which even the funditores were pressed to serve in the frontline, he managed to slay the warchief Lucco with the help of his velites, upon which the Gaul force routed and were slain almost to a man. 1191 Gauls perished for the loss of just 201 of our troops, of which many later recovered from their wounds. This is a remarkable achievement and the tribune is the talk of Rome. Feeling has run so high that an unofficial declamation has been made to honour the Legio I Italia with the extra title Victrix, in memoration of this stunning victory. The senate will meet and probably bestow this honour officially on them in the next senate meeting, but in the meantime I will refer to that legion as Legio I Italia Victrix.
Following the victory the orginal strategy was continued. Tribune Publius Pansa (Glaucus) abandoned the recently conquered town of Jenuensis and merged his legion with the Legio I Italia Victrix. Now at close to consular army strength, and under tribune Augustus Verginius's (TinCow) command, this army marches west to confront the army of Caradog of Samarabriva.
Meanwhile the core of the Legio III Sicilia Aemilia, led by legate Publius Laevinus (Shifty157), has invaded Aleria by ship and is attacking the town of Aleria. The attack was a succes and 169 defenders were suprised in a night attack and slain for the loss of only 10 men of the Legio III Sicilia Aemilia. I left a small garrison and shipped Publius Laevinus (Shifty157) and the Legio III Sicilia Aemilia back to Italy to move toward Jenuensis, while picking up reinforcements on the way. I demolished the Cartheginian Auxilia I building and used this money to retrain the consular army in Roma (50% strength) which was nearly ready to invade Sardinia. I start construction of a market in Ancona and a colonization in Rhegium. A colonization effort will improve growth in this region. I also start the training of our first new spy in Syracuse.

12. Spring 272 BC
There is rioting in Jenuensis as our troops have left the town, costing 99 civilians their lives and damaging the warrior hold building. Croton completed the construction of silver mines +1. Syracuse completed the construction of a naval I building, allowing us to construct warships. I am the lucky father of a new son, Oppius Aemilius. Decius Laevinius (Tiberius) comes of age in Arretium. I send him to Roma for his education.



A new spy has been trained in Syracuse. His name is Servius Alimentus. He starts off for our northern front. I immediately start the training of another spy in Syracuse.



An Illyrian spy is spotted in Patavium, but manages to escape the town alive. I send our spy Decius Curtius (Braden) to scout the valley which leades trough the nortwest of the Alps where I suspect Caradog of Samarabriva and his army have gone. They are found in the valley. I send tribune Amulius Coruncanius (Mount Suribachi) to join his father in Patavium with reinforcements. He takes over the governorship while legate Tiberius Coruncanius (FLYdude) constructs a fort outside the town which will be the temporary home of the Legio II Sabina Quintia. I send Publius Laevinus (Shifty157) and the Legio III Sicilia Aemilia to Jenuensis. He restores order and restarts the construction of an occupation and orders the repair of the warrior hold. I rejoin the Legio I Italia Victrix and resume command (and recover my priest of Jupiter). Together with tribunes Publius Pansa (Glaucus) and Augustus Verginius (TinCow) and a force almost the size of a consular army I start off in pursuit of Caradog of Samarabriva. Consul Quintus (econ21), accompanied by tribune Titus Vatinius (Tricky_Lady), takes ship for Aleria. From there he will invade Sardinia. Tribune Valerius Paullus (YAKOBU) has constructed a new fort in Southern Italy, where a praetorian legion will be housed in the near future. I start construction of a market in Tarentum.

13. Summer 272 BC

Caradog of Samarabriva and his army turn around and march back into Cispine Gaul. The Legio I Italia Victrix ambushes him, but the ambush fails and a massive battle ensues. We are outnumbered, but our cavalry advantage is decisive and the Gauls are quickly disorganized and demotivated. I manage to islolate Caradog of Samarabriva himself and he is slain after which the Gauls quickly rout and it becomes a massacre. 1482 Gauls are killed for the loss of only 48 men of the Legio I Italia Victrix

The Seleucid empire allies itself with the kingdom of Armenia and signs a ceasefire with the kingdom of Pontus and the Ptolemaic empire. Our newly trained spy in Syracuse immediately spots a Greek spy, but he escapes ! A good start for Cassius Paulinus nonetheless.



Corfinium completed the construction of copper mines +1. Paestum completed the construction of roads. Jenuensis finished the repairs on the warrior hold.
In accordance with the wishes of the senate our diplomat Sextus Antio (Ignoramus) tries to negotiate an alliance with the Seleucid empire, but he fails. They are still not willing to trade maps as well. He continues his journey to Thrace. Our diplomat Oppius Vintruvius (Wishazu) spots a tiny Gaul army that is guarding the bridge at Massilia. I take this as a good sign. The Gauls are beginning to think of defense instead of offense. He will continue to observe the bridge for the time being. Tribune Valerius Paullus (YAKOBU) has taken up the governorship of Tarentum, on of our most important towns and in dire need of a governor. I start construction of roads in Syracuse. Consul Quintus (econ21), accompanied by tribune Titus Vatinius (Tricky_Lady), lands in Sardinia and begins the journey south. The victorious Legio I Italia Victrix, under my personal command and accompanied by tribunes Publius Pansa (Glaucus) and Augustus Verginius (TinCow), attacks the last Gaul town in Cispine Gaul, Mediolanium. We outnumber the defenders massively and it is an easy victory. I use this occasion to make sure that Bolgois of Garumna really dies this time, and just to be on the safe side, decapitate his lifeless body. 376 Gauls are slain for the loss of 17 romans.

The tribunes Augustus Verginius and Publius Pansa delivering the killing blow to Gauls outside Mediolanium


Legate Lucius Aemilius charging the last defenders

I demolish the Gallic Auxialia II building and order the construction of an occupation. Our spy Quintis Classicianus (GeneralHankerchief) is now free to scout the valley to our north for enemies, but only finds some single Gaul units. Our spy Decius Curtius (Braden) is now free to begin his hazardous mission to spy out Afrika and begins the journey south. I've decided to train an assassin to accompany him as a bodyguard and begin his training in Roma. I also start the training of our third new spy in Syracuse. I split the troops and move toward Jenuensis with the Legio I Italia Victrix, accompanied by tribune Augustus Verginius (TinCow). Tribune Publius Pansa (Glaucus) builds a watch tower in the valley to his north and returns to Mediolanium. I start the recruitement of one italian spearmen and two italian swordsmen units.

14. Autumn 272 BC

Consul Quintus (econ21) tries to ambush a Carthagian army, led by general Ashtzaph, almost three times the size of his half-strength consular army, but fails...what will he do ?