Book 2 – Chapter 3 – Going North
236 – Summer to 234 – Summer – The Consulship of Lvcivs Postvmivs Albinvs and Spvurivs Carvilivs Maximvs Rvga

Dear Brother,

Much has happened, and there is much to tell you of. As you know, we have been in the stinking north amongst these Barbarians.

The first year that we were within Segesta showed us many things about Fravcvs. He is a strange man, and has many unusual customs, even considered unusual amongst these Romans.

Every morning he insists on waking at five, well before the sun is up. He spends the next hour making offerings to the Gods. Not only does he do that, but he expects that one maniple of troops are there to protect him against what he calls “The Vengeful Spirits”. An unusual man to be sure.

When it came to our turn (Of course being Samnites, the Romans had to appoint other troops to watch over us), it was the most bizarre things I have seen in many years. By the torches held by his slaves, he would offer supplications and would prostrate himself. He said such things as, “Oh Gods, give me the strength to get through the day!”, “Grant my army the strength to fight those who would oppose them!”, and most interesting of all, “Gods! Grant me the finest wenches of the land if it would so please you!”

Not only that, but there is a harsh side to him I have no seen before. Upon him making this last comment, the man two to my left, a large man from Southern Samnium who I have not met, started snickering and whispered to the man to my left. Both started snickering.

Fravcvs heard this noise and turned to them. He got up from the prostrated position he was in, and walked up into their face.

“You would dare to laugh in the face of one who is blessed by the Gods?” He spat.

The Large man could not help himself, and as such he commented, “Who?” He swiveled his head, “I don’t see one here.”

Some of the men behind him started laughing. I knew better.

“Guards,” He said, summoning the Centurion of the Principes Maniple watching over us, “Have this man stoned. I want everyone to see what the price of insolence is.”

Sure enough the Centurion, after saluting to Fravcvs, called on four of his men. He ordered two of them to pick up as many large rocks as they could find, and the other two to strip the large man down, and tie him to a post.

The men came back with their shields piled high with rocks. We were forced to watch on as they threw stone after stone at this Samnite man, who had simply made a joke.

Afterwards we were forced to go on a five mile run. This was punishment for the laughter that some men made.

Anyway, I digress. You wish to know what has been happening with our legion, surely.

The events of these last couple of years have been a frightening experience. We continue to fight these barbarians. Our first action was to pacify those people around Segesta, thought that was easy.

Then we discovered that the Aedui, a large confederation of tribes in Gaul, had besieged Massalia. This has for many years been considered an ally of Rome. They have been granted their freedom to live life as they wish, under Rome’s protection.



As far as the Romans and Fravcvs, who needed to make a name for himself, were concerned, this was a good enough reason for war, or Casus Belli as they call it. So we marched north into the wild unknown.

We marched towards the settlement of Mediolanum, which we were told had a garrison of similar size to us. Unfortunately, our intelligence was wrong. They had another small army just outside the town, waiting in ambush in a forest. Our spies had not reported this. Thing were going to get really bad, really quickly.



Within three days of us besieging Mediolanum, these Barbarians attacked our unprotected flank. The combined strength of the armies was two to one against us.



Fravcvs decided that we must prepare to fight both armies simultaneously, so he deployed us at an angle. This brought both armies into our front arc, meaning we could face any threat.



The Accensii started to bombard the men coming out of the fort with their stones, and killed several in the tight-packed mass.



However, they could not deter enough of the men, and a fight started on our left flank. Fortunately, we were placed on the right flank, where we could expect to fight the relief force.



However, instead of fighting the relief force, the enemy general and his bodyguard charged into the Hastati infront of us. They were being pushed very hard, and could break at any moment.

Fravcvs ordered us and the Triarii forward.



Meanwhile, as we charged in, Fravcvs circled around the back and charged the Barbarians in the rear. The melee that developed was both frightening and exciting.





Having some experience against these men (if you will remember we had fought similar cavalrymen to get into Segesta), we now knew what we had to do. We stabbed at some of the horses and kept our shields high to protect our faces and chests.

The fighting went on for many minutes. Both sides slowly became exhausted, yet we fought on knowing that the battle hung on the outcome of this combat.

Unfortunately Fravcvs, the spiritual man that he is, saw ten ravens circling over his head. He saw this as a sign that the God’s had abandoned him.

He ran away.



With him fleeing, all hope of the battle being won was lost. Everyone started to run and protect themselves. It was mayhem.

Fortunately I got away, and avoided death at the tip of an enemy spear.

Many of my friends were not so lucky.





Shortly afterwards, we regrouped and found that we had only a third of a legion remaining. We took refuge in a forest, and awaited our enemy’s response. We did not have to wait long.

The enemy sent a force that outnumbered our new army four to one. We stood no hope and everyone knew that.



We fought against some of the Gaesate this time, however our hearts were not in it, and nor were our heads. We were just trying to avoid being skewered by their javelins or sliced by their swords.

So we ran away, as any sane man would.

Unfortunately, as we turned to run, the man I was fighting against knocked me down with the hilt of his sword.

I fell to my knees and blacked out.





I awoke in the enemy’s encampment.

They are going to be reading this, so I can not tell you more now. Just do not worry.

Your brother,
Vibivs Postvmivs

PS. Here brother are the latest maps I could find:

Gaul


The Roman Republic