The Curia

[SwissBarbar]

[I]
I fear that Avlvs Aemilivs Mamercvs may still have much to learn should he think that we can tackle the greatest naval power this world has to offer without a single ship and hope to win. Superior on land our armies may be. However, the Carthaginians employ vast swathes of mercenaries, horsemen and giant beasts. They are one of the greatest powers in the Mediterrainian. An attack on them now would be fruitless, unjustified, and shortsited.

You may be right. I am young and I am eager to learn from you and any older and wiser senator. I have no experience, that is true. But how shall I learn, if not by bringing forward my thoughts, so wiser senators can think about them and correct brash youths as I am?

Now hear, what my thoughts areand think about it without prejudice, before you answer, dear senatores. Would 1 oder maybe 2 legions not be more than enough to hold the Celts back? You see, the league of the Arverni and the league of the Aedui are not best friends. If we attack - well, "free" - Celtic cities, we may unify them. Let them kill each other if they want to.

You are right, friend Cotta, Carthage is strong. But what can they do with their ships, block our ports? This would be not half as effectively as us taking their cities. Could we not establish a strong legion and march south, would that not be enough to beat those Carthaginians IN SICILY - please note, that I do not say, we should march towards the other islands or even Africa. That'd be the case we needed ships for. Its too early for that.

But that is not even the point. I would like to bring forward another sentiment. Messana and especially Syrakousai are very rich cities, and are not under Carthaginian command, are they? Maybe I really have to check the actual maps. Anyhow, Syrakousai is Greek and supports our Greek enemies. If we took those cities - we have good reason - they would be ours by right, not the Carthaginians. We would not start a war with them. If they don't give us the right to extinguish our adversaries, then let them attack. Then they would have started the war, and show, that they never were our friends.


With that, Avlvs sat himself and listened what would be responded.