The Roman Conquest and Consolidation of Italy

[cmacq]

Book I: Commentaries on the Conquest of Italy

The Battle for Calabria and Insubria
Year 1 (turns 1 through 4) 272 BC

In the spring of the year that L Papirius Cursor and S Carvilius Maximus were Consuls, M Curius Dentatus was made Censor, and L Cornelius Scipio brought order to Arpi, then sent the southern levy against the governor of Taras, an ally of Pyrrhus king of Epirus, whom had refused to comply with the Senate's demands. The Greek army withdrew within the city which Scipio’s forces quickly invested. Fearing a long seige, in the fall Scipio led an assault on Taras, where the commander of city’s garrison was killed resisting the Roman breach and subsequently this fight quickly ended. Although losses were without consequence, Scipio refitted the southern levy and garrisoned Taras for the remainder of the year. By winter the Senate had directed him to advance to Rhegion, and there destroy the mutinous Roman army, then arrest and execute their leader, one A Decius Jubellius.

Meanwhile, C Cornelius Blasio refitted the northern levy in Etruria, at Arretium, in preparation for a campaign against the Aedui's ally Insubria, of whom Rome remained at war. The Aedui of Gaul had caused trouble in Liguria and Insubria, as well as incited the Cenomani, Lingones, Boii, and Senones to oppose Rome; and the Senate had decided to remove this menace for all time. Initially, Blasio sent C Fabius Licinus to Gaul and through great effort secured peace and an end of war with the Arverni. Following this Roman spies informed Blasio that the Cisalpine Gauls were otherwise preoccupied. Finally, by the harvest preparations were complete and he proceeded, by forced march with the northern levy, to besiege the Insubres capital.

However, Catamantaloedis the king, refused battle and sat idle within his fortress at Mediolanum. Thus, to forestall the depravations of a winter exposed, Blasio attacked this town in the ninth month. In this endeavour, his auxiliaries quickly breached the walls as the levy captured the main gate of the town. The missiles and stone flew so thick that although the Gauls struggled, they could not stem the Roman advance. For a moment Catamantaloedis rallied his haggard army and countered, yet he was cast from this horse and trampled by Blasio’s bodyguard. When the remaining Gauls saw that Catamantaloedis was killed they offered no further resistance.

In this same year Rome, the Senate, and the Roman people prospered. Thus, at the request of the Senate, M Curius Dentatus, a steadfast and incorruptible New Man who was first among equals, built an aqueduct from the flowing Anio to provide water for Rome. Thereafter with similar enthusiasm, C Cornelius Scipio Asina continued to work tirelessly in Ariminum to establish Picenum as a Roman possession. Furthermore, in the fall of this year Poppaea, the wife of Blasio, gave birth to a son who was called Lucius. Altogether, by these events effected in a fashion pleasing to the Roman people, these men of distinction brought great and lasting honour unto themselves and their families.