Re: Journey Of The Hellenes
LVIII - The Fall of Rome
Sostias, the nephew of Agis, had been meeting with Agis for some time now. With Agis in his twilight, it was expected that Sostias would take a more active role in ruling the rather large swath of land that our people now held sway over.
Sostias was still a young man but no so young to be lured by his inexperience. He had command experience and did much of the governing of Emporion before coming here.
***
After the last victory before winter, Agis had moved the army to the Via Flamina. This was one of the many famous roads the Romans had built. We built good roads but these were pure genius. The countryside here was littered with vast estates and fields full of grain and other things. Many orchards lined the roads and were crammed into every available space imaginable that could be used for agrarian purposes. Many of these orchards were in full bloom as the spring weather settled across the lands. The march south was quick. Mountains to our east and rolling hills to our west made for a gorgeous setting. There was no doubt why the Romans would choose such a place to live.
Late in the spring we made it to the outer reaches of the city itself. The walls were impressive and no doubt would cost many a man to breach. However Agis was still a patient man and knew the advantage was his. With his enemies dispatched behind him and virtually all of Sicily fallen to our recently freed brothers, the Romans were in a bind they could not get out of.
***
Agis laid siege to the great city. He controlled the entire region around the city and it would be pointless for the Romans to do anything other than surrender. For three months we waited outside the city. Most of the senate had abandoned the city and the populace that had remained was much smaller.
My son, Leodes, had joined me in the large camp that had grown outside of Rome. The vast grainfields and vineyards that surrounded the city offered a nice view while we waited for the city to capitulate. Leodes, and the rest of the young Noble cavalry had arrived in the camp. They had been called up as a reserveforce. My son was only 14 but he had changed much since I last saw him. I no longer saw him as a boy. His muscles had grown, he had the tracings of a beard, and he had grown tall. No doubt the ladies of Emporion would be seeking his hand in marriage. However for now he was all consumed with spending time with his hippias and their everyday drills and duties. He spent the bulk of the summer traveling back and forth from Arretium. He was escorting fresh men and overseeing the overall security of the Via Flamina. He was particulary fond of the man that helped him through the trauma of killing a man. This man Leonidas was several years older than Leodes but was like an older brother. They would wrestle together, race their horses through the fields, and get drunk on wine. Leodes had no interest in philosophy or other learned topics.
I felt somehow disconnected from my son, however I had some time with him over the last year that seemed to bring us back together. There was hope that this war with the Romani would be over soon.
***
A relief army finally came and attempted to dislodge us from the city. Agis had formed his lines and over the next several days destroyed or severely battered every force thrown at him. This was a long protracted battle that required great concentration but finally the Romans had exhausted themselves against us and the city was ours.
Quick work was made of the populace as they were sold into slavery. The mines of Iberia demanded great manpower and Agis had just done the mine owners a great service. I strolled around this grand city and marvelled at its greatness. It would have been interesting to see if this experiment of democracy could have flourished. They certainly had the tenacity. The high columns and beautiful reliefs could only be topped by the ones from the Aegean itself.
***
Massalia had once again been attacked by the Aeduii. Xenophanes had marched his army to the Rhone river out of Gaul to meet the threat. And apparently he did not want to stop there. Rumors abound that he would march to Mediolanum and sack that city. Of course Agis was opposed to this and could cause a great problem should the Arvernii take advantage of the absence of the army in Southern Gaul. I do not envy the king.
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Originally Posted by MarcusAureliusAntoninus
ing
and even bringing death and slavery to those Romans 
, is there something better? 
And then check out my 
by Pharnakles
I like it....
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