It has been an eventful five years, the Gauls are virtually pacified and Romes authority south of the Alps is unquestioned. The Ligurians in Segesta sallied forth to attack us after nearly two years of seige.
They were led by a barbarian named Conan, he wasn't quite the pathetic specimen we faced at Bononia but he was nothing to be feared.
Blasio still led the armies, the consuls for the year seemingly had no interest in facing a horde of Gauls.
We outnumbered them about four to three but there was a less distinct advantage in training, arms and morale this time. It would be an actual battle, not a slaughter.
My unit fought as we had at Bononia, in front of the leves hurling our stones at the enemy until they got too close then withdrawing. This time Blasio used slightly different tactics in the battle, at Bononia there had been five long lines in the army. This time the lines had gaps within them, I was confused at first thinking this was suicide-surely the Gauls would fill these gaps and overwhelm us. It actually worked the other way, the gaps allowed the men behind to come forward and engage the enemy from either side. They were quickly routed and we took the city.
We didn't stay long in Segesta, just long enough to install a local loyal to Rome in charge. We marched under the shadow of the Alps to another Gallic town, this time called Patavium.
The enemy army here was smaller than those we had faced before, hopefully a sign of weakening Gallic resolve to defy us. It was also mainly levies, none of these men were to be feared.
Blasio led us still, his fame was growing and despite not yet being of consular rank he was probably the most influential man in Rome.
Tha result was inevitable and achieved with little tactical finesse. I was quite disappointed as I had hoped to see something like what had happened at Segesta, Blasio obviously thought such strategems were unnecessary here. We lost fewer men but that was due more to the level of opposition here than any failure on our part in Segesta.
My life has changed quite a lot over these past five years and conditions for my unit have greatly improved. When I called on the legates' clerk to discuss my units payments I was told I could either have the cash to distribute or some of it could go towards extra rations or supplies. I decided to use some of it for tents, we paid the same as the regular legionaries but got the tents they gave back when they got new one. We simply repaired them with rabbit skins and the like. I also arranged for slightly better rations. There was a small amount of money left over which I kept for myself. Why shouldn't I? The man previously responsible had done a lot less than I for my colleagues, so I had no reason to feel guilty. It wasn't a great deal of money, probably less than a single man in the Hastati got, but it was an income and built up.
We spent most of the past five years in the north as a deterence against any Gallic rebellion. When rebellion did come it came from a town in the south of Italy, a small Greek town had rebelled against Roman rule with the support of some Samnite nobles. Cotta marched south with one legion to face them. It was a battle even in numbers, training, arms and morale. It started as most battles did with my unit skirmishing and withdrawing before the heavier infantry clashed. This time, though, we were needed in hand to hand combat. A heavily armed Samnite noble was leading his unit against the Principes and a small detachment of Hastati. I was able to lead my men to their rear and we charged them. With our little knives we used for eating. If they hadn't been occupied on two other sides it would have been suicide, but we managed to shock them with our charge and killed quite a few. I killed the Samnite nobleman.
After the battle a Principe centurion came to me with a bundle wrapped in a cloak. "I saw what you did today. Here, the arms and armour of the man you killed. They are in good condition and will serve you well. You have earned them"
Re: Life of a Roman: An AAR
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