Chapter 8 – Tragedy Befalls
254BCE – Autumn to 252BCE – Spring – The consulship of Marcvs Aemilivs Pavllvs and Avlvs Atilivs Calatinvs

Father,

It has been a busy 18 months and I must say some of the saddest. Let me start at the beginning.

It all started with the besieging of Mastia, the Carthaginian headquarters in the area. Though we had defeated the army and the garrison previously, there were still some of them left.



Myself and my uit were put in charge of one of the three rams. We were to support the main thrust upon the gate from the flank.



Yet Scipio Africanvs had forgotten to put out sentries to look for the relieving army.

And they came up behind us.

Everyone except ourselves and Rorarii formed up in a crude, simple battleline to combat this threat. We watched on.



I am told that the fighting was almost as fierce as some of the fighting in our previous battle. These men were desperate to save their town and the beloved man inside it leading their garrison.



The fighting was over eventually over though and Scipio Africanvs ordered the attack on the city to begin. We pushed the ram up to the walls and knocked them down as fast as we were able.



We advanced through the town and the enemy general came out to meet us, accompanied by his loyal Sacred Band cavalry. He chased down the Accensi who went out to meet him.



They then charged the Samnite Spearmen, who quickly started to waver under the pressure. But our much loved Scipio Africanvs held them in line. He offered encouragement and even Roman citizenship to some of them. To think, Citizenship? That oversteps even his bounds.

I led my men through a couple of back streets and came up at the Sacred Band’s exposed behind. We charged them.



They held for a long time and many of my men were killed, but we gave as good as we got.



The result of the battle had never been in doubt. There could only be one result for the 3rd Legion, the pride of Rome.





So the town was ours! Yet, not everything would be simple. The next couple of season invoved us pacifying some of the more rebellious tribes and setting up a system of tribes allied and loyal to Rome. They were happy with this for the time being. However, as soon as Scipio even thought of leaving Mastia there was mutterings of rebellion and disloyalty to Rome.

Scipio came to be relied upon in the city. They needed him to be there to keep the peace and we needed him to lead us to victory once again. It was a dilemma, and I am afraid he made the wrong choice.

He chose to stay within the confines of the town, primarily within the palace.

One morning we found him in his bed, blood all around him and a dagger in his throat.

On his bedside table was a message, written in the foul letters of these Iberians.

We called for a slave, a slave who was what passed for “educated” here. He read the message to himself and laughed.

“It says, ‘Leave now or your men shall all die this death.’ I guess he didn’t get the message.” The Iberian just continued to chuckle to himself the whole time. I drew my sword and slew the insolent wretch where he stood.

So now we were without Scipio Africanvs.

Without hope.

The Tribunes and my fellow centurions all got together and called a council of war on what to do. We agreed to bring the legion into the town. The people would be uneasy and we had to be ready for them.

We did not have to wait long. They came two weeks later.

At the same time in several parts of the town beacons were lit. At least, what looked like beacons. In actua fact they were the tents of the legions being set alight by rioters.

A warning went out to all who were still alive. We were to meet in the palace of the former Governor.

Most of the men made it back in time and we held that for the remainder of the night, whilst the mobs burned our property and what men could not find safety.



We departed the following morning.



Now father, we look to return to Roma.

One man short.

Your loving son,
Spvrivs Cordivs