[Multi-AAR] - History of men - EB part

[Fixiwee]

Battles of history with Patrick Goodwin

Second battle of Sabo 199 BC

Goodwin: The second Punic war is shaking the Mediterranean Sea in 200 BC. Like the first Punic war, the second started because of trivial causes and turned out to be a terrible war for both the Carthaginians and the Romans. The war started in 220 BC when Carthaginian ships raided a Greek colony in Spain that was allied with Rome. Trivial the cause may be, but the conflict roots back deep to the old rivalry for the Mediterranean Sea between the two forces.
By 200 BC, 20 years after the war started, hardly any progress was made on either side. Most fighting took place in Spain with high causalities on both sides. In 200 BC an elder senator by the name of Appius Aurelius Cotta remembered that his father, Caius Aurelius Cotta, ended the first war with Carthage by attacking the the helpless city itself. Appius Aurelius Cotta planed to live up to his fathers’ reputation and win the second Punic war by defeating the Carthaginians in Africa. In 199 BC he landed with a huge force of 3 legions, facing a strong enemy. In the first battle of Sabo he defeated the Carthaginian militia who were trying to win time for the arrival of Carthage best general coming from Egypt: Carthalo

[The scene is a larger army force marching by foot and horses in a wide column. Carthalo is sitting on his horse; his face is unwashed and dirty because of the marching. Next to him are three of his military advisors; he is delivering a long monolog to them.]

Carthalo [speaking calmly]: Milkherems attack on Cotta was not successful, but they probably bought us enough time to reach Cotta before he can advance on our city and mother. I have been thinking about the Romans a lot. These men from Italy are well trained and disciplined. Breaking their back won’t be easy. Hence I have been pondering how to defeat the Romans. 50 years ago there was a terrible battle that we fought against these men at a place called Mazana. There the great Carthaginian leader Hamalcar nearly defeated the Romans. How did he do that? He outflanked their flanking force, pushing mainly through the right side. This is a risking manoeuvre, but if we can hold our Phalanx against their line of infantry, our cavalry might defeat their mounted troops for good. I believe that is the key for victory.

[The scene moves away from Carthalo, fading to a view of the whole army marching to the north. Over 30.000 troops can be seen marching and producing a huge cloud of dust.]

Goodwin: The second battle of Sabo was located at the small hill of Sabo where Cotta placed his troops. On the 5th of June Carthalo reached the Roman encampment and both sides prepared for battle.



Cotta placed his cavalry for flanking duty on the left and right side of his army, while Carthalo placed his cavalry on the entire left flank to break through at that specific point



The Romans wait for Carthalo to make the first move.
Roman Soldier: This one is going to be the big one. This battle might decide everything. Mars be with us.
Other roman soldier: Mars be with us.



Carthalo moves his cavalry; Cotta reacts quickly throwing his reserve to the left flank. Meanwhile the Roman leader gives the sign to charge.





Charging against a phalanx is a deadly endeavour, but in this case it seems to be necessary to keep the enemy at bay while the cavalry wins the flanks.



All eyes lie on the left flank where heavy mounted troops from the Italian region Campania battle Carthaginian mercenaries.

Campanian rider to the military messenger: Too many of them, they are to fast. Send note to Cotta: “Cavalry is overwhelming us – Carthalo himself moving to the left flank as well – we need the Triarii to cover the left flank.”





While the cavalry was fighting on the left flank, Roman infantry was taking heavy casualties in the centre. It was clear that Cotta would loose the battle if the left flank would break away.
The messenger reached Cotta, but it was too late. Carthalo himself positioned him on the left flank, ready to attack the Roman force there. Both sides where ready to charge.

Campanian rider: Alright men. We don’t have enough time to talk this trough. But if we win this one, we can all go home to Rome. Trumpeter, give the sign to charge. The man who kills Carthalo will enter Rome as a rich man.

The battle on the left flank is about to be decided. Both sides charge.







The impact was terrible. Within minutes people get pierced by lances, fall of their horses and get trampled to death. War in antiquity is no less brutal then today.

Carthalo screaming in battle: Get those Roman pigs. Slay them all! For our city and mother.

Carthalos men cause heavy losses on the campanian cavalry. The Roman left flank is breaking away.



The result of this is devastating; the Roman left flank is getting hammered by heavy Carthaginian troops.



Cotta: This is not going well. Fortuna! Fortuna! Why? My name is in shame.

The tide is turning in favour of the Carthaginians. But Cotta remembers the old Roman tradition of devotion where a military commander would deliberately make a suicidal charge against the enemy to inspire the troops and restore the family name.

Cotta: The old roman man is about to die. The old roman spirit is about to live. For Rome! For Victory!



Cotta charges against the right flank, hoping to cause panic at the weaker side of the Carthaginians.
The number of his guards dwindled until he is all alone by himself.



He gets dragged of his horse and beaten to death on the battle field.



The Roman spirit is ignited once again. All troops charge and press against the overwhelming enemy. But is that enough to win the battle?



Meanwhile Roman cavalry rides to the right flank to retrieve Cottas body. Seeing that they are loosing the battle, they would not let Carthalo get the trophy of Cottas body.



Cottas devotion inspired the troops to fight like mad men and although they are able to inflict heavy causalities on the enemy, in doing so the Roman number of troops also grows dangerously thin.



Roman rider: There is his. Get his body and then let’s get out of this hell.



The Roman cavalry is able to retrieve Cottas body, but while returning to their post the moral of the Romans is breaking. After two hours of fighting they are exhausted and weakened. They retreat – they run like hell.



The whole roman army is fleeing, the battle is finally decided. Carthalo has won.





Kennard [sitting in his office]: Even though the Romans inflicted heavy casualties on their most hated enemy the second battle of Sabo was a complete defeat for the Rome. They did not achieve anything, the invasion was a failure, a consul was dead and a good deal of the 5.000 Roman survivors were captured and killed during the march towards the sea. Three legions plus auxiliary was lost. It was only a close victory for Carthage, but it was a total loss for Rome.

Rome had suffered a terrible defeat. But Carthage had only won a battle, not the war. This defeat gave younger and unknown people like Sulla the chance to prove their worth. And indeed, the ancient historian Fabius tells us, that Sulla shouted “By the gods! What a terrible defeat – we can finally win this war” when he heard about the outcome at Sabo, pointing out that his plan for defeating Carthage in Spain might work out after all.

Second battle of Sabo:

Romans:
Soldiers: 24.000 - Lost: 19.000

Carthaginians:
Soldiers: 33.000 - Lost: 22.000

[IrishHitman]

till the American domination of the 21th century.

20th Century.
I don't think I need to condescend and inform you on recent current events, but "American domination of the 21th century" is an amusing prophesy..

[Fixiwee]

I had to correct specific number in my AAR on multiple occasion because of my terrible skill with numbers but this one is quite embarrasing. Yeah you are right, I meant the 20th century.

[Roka]

nice last few chapters

[IrishHitman]

nice last few chapters

Yeah, they've been pretty damn good.

[Fixiwee]

Where do you run to now, Quintus?
by Sarah Buehler, 2007

Chapter Twelve

„I have killed Cotta!”
Quintus was running like mad through the bulky Macchia, he was thirsty beyond any means and his feet were bleeding because of the thorny bushes.
“This can’t be true! I have killed Cotta.”
He was still in his chain mail, his face was dirty and unshaven. The soldier and historian left the battle fleeing. He and his group were chased by a dozen heavy riders after the battle when they reached a small wood with thin trees where Quintus tripped, fell down from the edge of a cliff.
And then there was blackness.

“I have killed Appius Aurelius Cotta!” was the first thing when Quintus opened his eyes, regaining conciseness. It was late afternoon; Quintus got up and realized that he had led Cotta to certain death. “I could have said no back then” he mumbled to himself. He started to remember that it was some years back in Rome where this whole disaster started, when Cotta asked him to help him repeat history – simple and easy as he said to Quintus.

But now Cotta was dead. And with him thousand of Romans and their Italian allies. Quintus didn’t realise that he had a mental break down.
“…killed Cotta” he was repeating it over and over again.

While Quintus was moving through the lands of Carthage he started to dehydrate under the hot African summer sun. Being out of his mind, he didn’t realise the circumstance that his mouth and lips started to dry terribly. Being out of air he couldn’t run anymore, though his mind seemed to focus for a short moment and he thought if this would be the end of him.
He walked up a rise and noticed that he had reached the coastline. By the gods! There was a small village of eight houses too.
The Roman soldier thought he was running towards the village though in reality he was limping like a wounded man. Someone was shouting something and at first Quintus did not understand anything. He thought that some Carthaginian peasant was insulting him, but then he became aware that the voice was speaking in Greek. He stopped and looked up, a young man was standing a short distance away, with a thin beard that still had blank spots on the face. For a moment he wondered what Greeks did in the lands of Carthage, but then he remembered that these people use to flee from their homes because their women are so ugly and the food so horrible.

For a moment Quintus smiled. In this moment he remembered that he was still alive. Then he passed out. “So thirsty…”

Loosing consciousness had become quite the habit for Quintus. When he woke up from his dreamless slumber he heard several people talking, becoming aware that he was in one of the houses. They all spoke Greek with each other, guessing that a Roman soldier would not be able to understand them. But Quintus was a historian educated in Greek, enabling him to follow the conversation. They were arguing what to do with him. Roman slaves pay well on the bazaar of Carthage. On the other hand this man had not done any harm to the Greeks. For a moment Quintus became focused. His chain mail was gone, but his Gladius was on the table close to him. Then it struck him again: “Cotta. Dead. 20.000 mean. Dead. Why? Because of me. Because I promised to lead Cotta to Carthage. Because I promised to lead three legions to victory. Dead. All dead.”
His heartbeat increased.
He became terribly nervous.
His clear thoughts were overtaken by devils of madness again.
He was loosing control.

„I have killed Appius Aurelius Cotta!” Quintus screamed, leaping upwards from the bed, grabbing his Gladius. The Greeks, some five men and two women were arguing too much to react quickly on the furry of the Roman. Before they could overwhelm him by their sheer number Quintus had the blade in his hand. This short sword was excellent to thrust quickly at multiple enemies.
Quintus stabbed the first man in the shoulder.
The next men, an elderly man with a bushy beard got a very deep cut in his arm.
With the same swing he hit a dark haired woman in the stomach.
She went down screaming in terrible agony while her husband ducked down to cover her body trying to cover her from further harm.
The man with the thin beard that found Quintus quickly grabbed him by the wrist, blocking any further attacks with the Gladius. But a roman soldier was skilled in close combat.
Quintus used his whole weight to ram the young Greek against the wall with his bare shoulder. This move surprised the opponent who tumbled while his ribs broke with an unpleasant sound.

“You can’t stop me you Carthaginian pigs.” Quintus screamed, triumphing over his captors. No one tried to oppose him anymore.
Having lost any sense of reality, Quintus ran out of the house where a few Greeks where staring at him without taking action. The Roman was running to the dock, entering a small fishing boat.
He turned his head back to the crowd where the Greeks gathered to look at the madman. “I have killed them. It was me! Don’t you understand? I didn’t mean to!”
They didn’t understand. He spoke in Latin. But they were too scared to approach an armed man.
He released the rope holding the small vessel, gave it a push and started to rudder with a paddle. Quintus left the village behind him. Turning his head westwards he saw the sun going down, the few clouds on the sky turned into a bright orange. He stopped paddling. The air smelled salty. “What point does it all make now?”
There he sat, in a small fishing boat without food or water. To Quintus it didn’t matter any more.
“I’m tired of running.”
Quintus closed his eyes.

End.

[Fixiwee]

“I firmly believe that any man's finest hour, the greatest fulfillment of all that he holds dear, is the moment when he has worked his heart out in a good cause and lies exhausted on the field of battle - victorious”
-Vince Lombardi

Second Punic war climax
(Part 1 of 2)

Silanos – Historiai
(written about 130 BC)

Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 

Silanos was a greek historian who lived from 200BC to 120 BC. He came to Rome [under reasons that have not happend yet - this will be edited]. His account on the Roman history are of high value since he followed the pragmatic histiography like Demosthnes of Ancyle.

Book VI

[…] The invasion to Africa turned out to be a complete disaster for the Romans. It clearly shows the weakness of the political system by electing an incompetent military leader just because of his legacy. At the same time the following years also show exactly the strength of the Roman system.
The Roman annual reports state that Spurius Cornelius Sulla returned to Spain as a proconsul in 556 AUC [198 BC] battling the Bastetani, another barbarian group under their king Ultu. The battle was small and probably didn’t exceed a total of 10.000 men, although no sources are specific on the numbers nor the exact location. This victory enabled Sulla to prepare further attacks on Romans biggest barbarian rival – the Carpentani. Having learnt important lessons from his campaigns against the Carpentani in 554 and 553 AUC [202/201 BC] he prepared for a longer and more daring attack on Carpentani soil, where Novantutas Carmacoi the son of the defeated Mutorke Carmacoi was still king. Little facts survive this campaign. But the remaining facts state that Sulla spent the winter in enemy territory fighting small skirmishes and promoting the Romans cause to local tribes. In 554 AUC [196 BC] he eventually conquered Baikor and captured the Carpentani king. The battle of Baikor cost the Romans a high amount of 10.000 men, but the barbarians threatening the Roman coastline of Spain were defeated. It is said that Sulla enslaved a great amount of people to Italy and plundering the Iberian cities.





But this victory came at a great cost. Meanwhile the Carthaginians moved a huge amount of troops to Iberia in Martius of the same year [March 196 BC]. Strengthened after the victory at Sabo, Carthage was planning to defeat the Romans in Iberia too. The Carthaginian army was lead by Carthalo Carales, the victor at Sabo and Hamalcar Aleria, a younger but talented military leader. Some Roman sources claim that Carthalo had an amount of 90.000 troops under his command, but my guess would be that he had about 65.000 troops under his command. Nevertheless the number of troops was a tremendous threat for Sulla.

The first move was made by Hamalcar, who lead 30.000 men towards Carthago Nova, once a Carthaginian city in the middle of Maius [May]. There he defeated a legion of 6.000 Romans under the command of Manius Spurius Turus and 25.000 Iberians, mostly Constetani and Edetani allies at the battle of Baria. Hamalcar was exploiting the absence of Sulla who had only recently defeated the Carpentani king. This attack came to a great surprise to the Romans who didn’t anticipate an attack by this magnitude.
Carthago Nova was once more in the hands of Carthaginians and this development was alarming the Senators in Rome. At the same time Sulla, realizing the threat of being cut off from his costal cities charged his military most talented legate Tiberius Cornelius Scipio Asina, the son of Tiberius Cornelius Scipio Asina triumphant at the battle of Ildum, to defend the coast in his absence.

That the Romans reinforced the Spanish coast with two additional legions within months can be seen as a crowning achievement to their logistic and military understanding. Whenever needed, Rome recruited huge amount of soldiers from their Italian allies and reinforced any losses.
After conquering Carthago Nova, Carthalo started to push northwards against the city of Arsé in late Qunitlis [July], while Tiberius Cornelius Scipio prepared to stop this offensive at the city of Akra Leuke [modern Alicante]. On the 5th of Sextilis [August] it came to the battle of Akra Leuke, where the young Scipio faced the elderly and seasoned Carthalo.



Both sides had about 20.000 troops, but Scipio wisely used a bridge as a chocking point to engage the superior enemy army. The victor of Sabo underestimated the cunning Scipio and tried to break through with full force. What happened next is till this day subject of great debate. I have travelled to Spain to listen the local accounts, I have spoken with Senators related to the Scipiones and I have researched various texts and letters stored in the libraries and found about 8 different versions of the battle. Some say that Scipio killed Carthalo with his own sword, another popular account is that Carthalo, seeing his man being slaughtered killed himself on the battlefield. For this matter we can only presume that the circumstances will for ever remain a myth. In the end we only know that the young Scipio defeated Rome’s greatest enemy, but didn’t defeat the enemy army. Most of the 20.000 Carthaginians retreated safely after Carthalo was killed.

In fall of 554 AUC [196 BC] the remaining Carthaginian troops reorganised and prepared for winter in Carthago Nova. They still had some 60.000 troops, while the Romans steadily reinforced up to 45.000 men. Sullas next move was a bold and risky one.

[Celtic_Punk]

An interesting alternative could be the early destruction of rome, or the failure of Caesars' gallic conquest. Or a Victory to hannibal from a headstrong Rome willing to engage him in the field once more!

[Fixiwee]

An interesting alternative could be the early destruction of rome, or the failure of Caesars' gallic conquest. Or a Victory to hannibal from a headstrong Rome willing to engage him in the field once more!

Well I am limited to the possibilities. Since I will continue this AAR with Invasio Barbarorum it implies that Rome will not be destroyed early one. I also need a Caesar to bring down the republic for the sole reason of his name.
But somethings will be different, the roman civil war starts the same way as the historic one, but afterwards it seems to change the direction as of far. As for the conquest of gaul, nothing is written in stone yet. ;)

[Fixiwee]

"A nation can survive its fools and even the ambitious. But it cannot survive treason from within. An enemy at the gates is less formidable, for he is known and he carries his banners openly against the city. But the traitor moves among those within the gates freely, his sly whispers rustling through all alleys, heard in the very halls of government itself. For the traitor appears no traitor; he speaks in the accents familiar to his victim, and he wears their face and their garments and he appeals to the baseness that lies deep in the hearts of all men. He rots the soul of a nation; he works secretly and unknown in the night to undermine the pillars of a city; he infects the body politic so that it can no longer resist. A murderer is less to be feared. The traitor is the plague."
Cicero

The beginning of the end

The Roman Empire, by Wolfgang Schreier, Bonn 2003

For quite some time in the 2nd century BC already some insightful senators saw that the owners of large estates were rising and the certain problems were connected to that process. In 140 BC a Consul by the Name of Gaius Laelius was the first one to address the problem by reforming the public lands in Italy, but without success.
The problem was that the vast expansion of the Roman Republic was causing further issues. The steady income of foreign slaves enabled landowners to create large estates (Latifundia) run by these serfs. That also meant that small owner of estates became poor and went to the cities where they would serve as day-labourers. This had another effect that the Roman census, which determined the class in the army and the equipment one had to own, was running out of manpower.
In 123 BC a process started with the plebeian tribune Gaius Aurelius Cotta which effectively triggered the Roman civil war, even if at that time no one was aware of that. Cotta the Tribune (Cotta was not called like that until the French Revolution, when he became a popular figure) came from a prestigious Plebeian family, he shared the same name with the Cotta who failed conquering Carthage at the second battle of Sabo in 199 BC, but he was only distantly related to him. Far more important was that his father and his uncle were both Governors in Nearer Hispania and Further Hispania, so Cotta the Tribune was a respected and wealthy upcoming Senator.



Helenos – Bíos

(written about 100 AD)

631 ab urbe Condita [123 BC] began as a normal year for the Roman people. But in early Ianuarius [January] Metellus the Censor died of old age. He did not live to see what chaotic years followed his passage to the afterlife. It is also a strange coincidence that the following events occurred in the year of his death, but there seems to be no evidence that Gaius Aurelius Cotta planed to wait with his actions till the death of Metellus.
Gaius Aurelius Cotta’s tribuneship started out normally that year. The first months in office he worked with his plebeian clients about legal matters. But in April Gaius Aurelius Cotta presented his law “lex Aurelia” to the Peoples Assembly. This law saw the redistribution of the ager publicus Romanus [Roman public land in Italy] to the destitute peasants. Every peasant should 500 iugera for cultivation, with additional 250 iugera for one, or 500 iugera for two sons. Linked with the law was the proposal to establish a public commission to distribute the land to those who needed it.
Cotta did not present the law to the Senate which had been common for hundreds of years since he did not want to risk wealthy Senators speaking against it, which actually infuriated Senators in the first place.
These Senators spoke to a tribune called Quintus Octavius to make use of his power of intercession to stop the “lex Aurelia”. Cotta was mad that his college spoke out against such an important law, but he did nothing else for the moment. He tried again a few days later, but Quintus Octavius spoke against the law once more. Cotta replied that he would take any necessary step to serve the republic and called for a vote among the 10 tribunes to relieve Octavius from his office. Such thing had not happened since the foundation in Rome because the Plebeian Tribune was in fact a sacred office sworn to protect the Plebeians at all cost. Now this man destroyed the ancient tradition.
It came to a vote and Octavius was relieved from his office. Cotta went for another try with his law and this time no one tried to speak against it.
The Senates was mad when they heard about Cottas actions. Nevertheless they did not dare to take actions against the tribune since his sacral power protected him from those Patricians. A try to harm him would have put all the anger from the Roman people against the Senate, so for now they had to wait until the year was over when Cotta was released from his duties and privileges.
The agrarian commission was instituted under the leadership of Cotta himself. His two colleges were Tiberius Sempronius Gracchus and Titus Aemilius Mamercus. The commission began to work immediately, redistributing lands to the poor.
But Cotta was a smart Plebeian with insight for what was happening. He knew that once the year was over his political power would run out and his work could have been for nothing. All it took was another tribune to reverse the law and abolish the commission. Some Senators openly spoke about such a plan. Cotta, realising his desperate situation and fearing for his life, announced that he would run for tribune for the following year again. The witty Plebeian outsmarted the opposing Senators, who were shocked over his apparent arrogance. But people were already wondering if his law was simply too much and if Cotta had broken too many rules of the Mos Maiorum [Custom of the ancestors]. Nevertheless the commission continued the work in 630 AUC [122 BC] after Cotta was re-elected as Plebeian Tribune
On the 12th of Martius [March] of the same year Cotta made public that he would run for Tribune as long as the commission had work to be done. He saw the needs of the land hungry masses of Rome as his most important work in life and he, so he argued, could not be slowed down by any ancient traditions. But by doing so he alienated himself from the people, his supporters became fewer every day. And most important, his announcement that he would run for Tribune again infuriated the Senate to the highest point.
The next day the Senate met in session, but any sense for a calm discussion was lost. Turmoil and loud arguments flew through the air like javelins in war. Some supporters of Cotta were physically attacked and fled from the Senate. The remaining people discussed their options, but all talking was in vein when the consular Quintus Hostilius Manicus stood up and left the Senate with his followers.
Hostilius Manicus marched towards the Forum where Cotta was talking to the masses from the Rostra [political platform]. There on the late afternoon the Senators under Hostlius Manicus clashed with Cottas followers. Before anyone had any idea what was going on violence terrorized the Forum and people were severely injured. Citizens ran in all directions and chaos broke out among them. No one knew what happened exactly but in the end Cotta and a many of his followers lay dead, covered in blood on the ground of the Roman city. His followers fled, his body was covered in linen and dumped into the Tiber the following day. For now the problem for the Senators was solved, so it seemed to them. […]



The Roman Empire, by Wolfgang Schreier, Bonn 2003

These events were a shock to the Roman people. 30 years ago Rome engaged in wars all over the known world and defeated Carthage and Macedonia, now the Romans were killing each other on the Forum Romanum. The supporters of Cotta were pursued and put before a legal tribunal appointed by Senators. Many people around Cotta were sentenced to death, among them his close friend and commissioner of the agrarian reform Aemilius Mamercus.
It could be argued that the rich prestigious Senators did not want to give away a piece of the big cake that was the public land in Italy. This is not exactly true however, because the Commission for agrarian reforms did not cease to work, their missing ranks filled with other Plebeians. Furthermore Cottas opponents like M. Popillius Leanas adorned their legislating in improving the situation for the have-nots through the commission. It seems that the ager publicus was not the essential issue. The root of the conflict lay in the process of ignoring the Senate as a well established political institution and the activation of the Plebeian Council as the sole lawgiving assembly.
This new way of making politics split the political positions in two, even though if the constraints were variable. The one claimed working for the well being of the people, which were called populares; the other ones represented the best, optimi, of people, hence their name optimates.
One should not however confuse either group as a modern political party with different agendas. Simply put the populares meant to rule through the popular assembly, while the other group acted through the Senate.

[gamegeek2]

[Fixiwee]

A country can be judged by the quality of its proverbs.
German Proverb

The military crisis of the late 2nd century.

A history of Rome, by Prof Alfred Kennard, 2002 New York

After Cotta had been more or less accidentally killed and henceforth dealt with most Senators acted if nothing happened and continued their political work. For a few years this seemed to be plausible, the temple of the Roman goddess Concordia [goddess of harmony] was renewed in 120 BC as a symbol that order was restored.
But from 118 BC onward another process started that enhanced the Roman civil war, yet this time it started external. Within a few years multiple enemies, without consulting each other, started pressing against the boarders of the Roman Republic. This effect should lead to a serious military crisis. It all started in Africa.
The following chapters shall offer a short summary of these costly conflicts.


The map shows the Roman Empire in 120 BC and the military conflicts.

1. War against Bodmelquart

From around 118 BC it seemed like Numidian raiders started crossing the Roman borders and attacking trade posts that were part of the Roman province Africa. Each year the attack seemed to worsen, and in 116 BC the governor of the province decided to station mercenaries on the boarder to protect the trade trade. These raiders were actually led by a Numidian noble called Bodmelquart. Bodmelquart was a leading some 4000 men at the beginning of the conflict. But his reputation as a wise philosopher and fearless soldier made him famous in Africa and with the rising conflict against Rome warriors and mercenaries flocked to him.
When Roman auxiliary met the Raiders in open battle in the same year the Romans could stop the small raiding band.


Raiders attacking the province.


Numidian raiders advancing.


Roman auxilliary troops defending Numidians. These troops may not be equipped well, but their fighting spirit was remarkable.

Bodmelquart decided to attack the Roman territory with some 1800 men. The Romans did not have any legion in Africa, only a few auxiliary troops at their disposal. Rome sent word to the Numidian king Bathyaes to call Bodmelquart back, but he denied any direct involvement with the Raiders. The Roman Senators did not quite believe those claims and decided it would be best to declare war on the Numidians. The following year a consular army by Servius Aemilius Lepidus was sent to Africa to deal with the Numidians and to defeat Bodmelquart. At first the Romans drove the Numidian raiders back and attacked the Numidian army on the northern coast of Africa. But Aemilius Lepidus took his time with his war. It took him two additional years (114 BC) to capture the important city of Ippone, even though Numidia didn’t have any serious forces stationed there.


Aemilius Lepidus taking Ippone in 114 BC.

The following year the Numidians retaliated and attacked the most important city in Africa, Atiqa, ultimately threatening to cut of the Aemilius Lepidus from vital supplies. At the battle of Cirthul in 112 BC some 29.000 Roman troops faced a smaller Numidian army of 20.000 men. There is no surviving account on what exactly happened during the battle, but according to Fabius, Aemilius Lepidus was killed and the Romans lost 18.000 men.

The Romans sent another two legions under the prêt or Servius Atilius Calatinus. Calatinus commanded the forces to destroy Bodmelquarts forces in the hinterlands, while he ordered his promising military legate Quintus Sergius Orata (who would play an important part later) to secure the coast of Africa.


Calatinus and Orata landing in Africa, prepearing to attack the Numidians.

In 111 BC it came to the battle of Sarpetas where Sergius Orata faced the prominent Numidian general Maharabal.




Orata was not a brilliant tactician, but he sticked to the usual Roman tactics.


The heavy infantry in the ranks of the Numidians were Greek mercanaries which had the equipement to fight against the Romans.


Lacking heavy cavallry, the Numidians often lost fighting at the flanks and thus being encircled by the Roman legions.


Marahabal fleeing from the field. His future after the battle is unknown.


While Orata had won an important victory over the Numidians he returned to Rome after the battle, while it was rumoured that he had not a stomach for battle. Nevertheless the battle proved to be a gain in prestige for Orata.
Meanwhile Calatinus campaigned deeper in the African hinterlands without having to fear being cut off from supplies after the battle of Sarpetas. Yet it took him another two years until he could face a Numidian army at the battle of Turuth in 109 BC.


Calatinus campaigning in the Numidian hinterlands.




Battle of Turuth


This battle was decided by the lack of heavy infantry of the Numidians. Being cut of the sea, the steady flow of Greek mercs ceased.

Despite winning the battle (there are no sources on the casualties) Calatinus mandate was running out that year and he had to return to Rome, being replaced with the inapt Spurius Sergius Esquilinus. Sergius Esquilinus directly attacked Bodmelquarts stronghold in the city of Kirtan, where he lost the battle of the Kirtan hills in 108 BC. He remained in Africa the following year without trying to confront Bodmelquart at all. The following year he was recalled to Rome because of the lack of progress.



In 106 BC the praetor Kaeso Curius Denatus arrived in Africa. Like Sergius Esquilinus he attacked Bodmelquart directly. But Denatus was a great organiser and had a sense for logistics, so he knew how to move thousand of troops through mostly unknown terrain. In 106 BC it came to the battle of Kirtan (not to be confused with the battle of the Kirtan hills).




Denatus facing Bodmelquart


Despite not being forticated, Kirtan was build on a natural hill that made reaching the city extremly difficult.


Roman Hastati moving up the hill.


The Numidians immidiatley started engaging the Romans, trying to stop them before they could enter the city.


Heavy Roman lancers moving into position.


Fabius tells us, that at the look of the Numidians the Romans begann to laugh, but once engaged they were suprised over their steadiness and bravery.


The Numidian nobles used Carthaginian equipment.


The battle was going on for hours when...








...when heavy Roman lancers destroyed the outer defence of Kirtan. Denatus knew how to trap the enemy in a pocket.


Triari moving up to enter the city.


Roman soldiers are about to enter the city.


After some fierce fighting in the small city the Romans eventually slaid Bodmelquart and took the city. The Numidians were utterly defeated.

With Bodmelquart and a great deal of the Numidian army being dead the Numidian king had no other choice but to make peace with the Romans in 105 BC. Numidia became dependent of Rome and had to pay tribute. The king was removed from his throne and the lands were now open to Roman colonization. This was the end of Numidian rule in Africa.


Rome in 105 BC.

Denatus remained in Africa until 102 BC making sure that the situation in Africa was secure. When he returned to Rome he was celebrated as a war hero (much to his surprise) and awarded with a triumph.
The war lasted for over ten years and cost the Romans dearly with only little gain. It was the first time the Romans had problems recruiting soldiers after two important battles were lost during the campaign. The problem would not become apparent however until the Teutonic invasion.

2. War in Spain

The more or less stable political situation with the remaining northern Celtic tribes in Spain ended in 112 BC when the Astures under their King Kuintitaku Nertobricoi invaded Roman territory and raiding the country side.


Astures crossing the Roman border.

Being engaged in France and Africa at the same time, the Romans had little possibilities to deal with the problem. While not being strong enough to attack one of the important cities, the Astures fought a bitter guerrilla war against the Romans, raiding small villages and trade caravans. It took the Romans several years until they waged to attack the Asturian lands directly. But in 103 BC the praetorian army under Kaeso Calpurius Bestia engaged the King in the battle at the Pallantian forest.




The battle was fought in difficult terrain.


Asturian axemen were infamous and feared enemies.


But the sheer number of Roman soldiers made the Asturians fall back to the woods.


The Roman cavallry chasing skirmishers.


During the battle, the Romans had to move up to the woods where the Astures reorganized. Romans were not used to fight in woods, so they did not know what would happen.


The fighting in the wood was fierce and the Romans lost a good deal of men. But also in this case the Romans could drive the Astures off by their sheer number of force. But these victories came at a great cost.

With the defeat of the Astures at the Pallantian forest only the Celtic tribe of the Cantibri remained independent of Roman rule. The Asturian domain was added to the Roman provinces in Spain.

3. War in Southern France

In 114 BC the Celts from the Arverni tribe attacked the greek city Massalia [modern day Marseille] which was allied with Rome. Massalia and the Arverni Gauls had an uneasy history for decades, but this time the attack was more sincere and threatened the destruction of the city. Rome had important business interests with the city and decided to send an army to aid the Greeks. Gaius Curius Denatus, the younger brother of Kaeso lead an army against the Arverni in 113 BC where it came to the battle of Narbo.




The Arverni were known for producing sowrds and armor that exceeded the once from the Romans.


In the battle of Narbo the Romans used another legion to outflank the Gauls. This caused massive panik amon them.


According to Fabius, some Gauls were such fierce warriors that they did not flee and run for their life, but rather died in battle being greatly outnumbered.

Through the victory at Narbo the Romans now had the entire southern coast in modern-day France under their control, including the wealthy city of Tolosa [modern-day Toulouse]. The conquered area was made to the Roman province “Gallia Narbonensis”. But the victory also left an uneasy relationship with one of the most powerful Celtic tribe in Gaul.

4. Teutonic Invasion

The latest conflict of the late 2nd century crisis was caused by the Germanic tribe of the Teutons. This tribe moved from Jutland or Scandinavia due unknown reasons towards the Balkan and Italy. A small band of 5.000 raiders crossed the Alps in 109 BC scouting the wealthy Roman Republic. They were driven off the following year in 108 BC by the consul Servius Iunius Brutus who engaged the slow moving Teutons in the battle of the Karsian hills. The exact location of the battle is unknown, but we know that it was fought somewhere in the Swiss Alps.


Teutonic Axemen charging against the Romans.


Fighting in unknow terrain against an unknown enemy was tough and many soldiers fleed after being surrounded.


Germans defending against an attack by the Romans.




Despite being an indecesive battle, the Romans lost many men. These casualties could not be replaced easily anymore.

The account on the battle is scares, only Fabius tells us that it was neither a victory for the Romans or the Teutons. Yet the battle cost the Romans many men. For another 6 years the Teutons moved through Gaul and returned in full force in the summer of 102 BC attacking the city Mediolanum [modernday Milan]. It was the same year when Denatus returned from Africa after he defeated Bodmelquart. The news of “Barbarians” invading Italy caused panic among the Romans.
[…]

Timeline of the events
(all dates are BC)

118 First Numidian Raiders attacking the Roman province Africa.
116 Romans win the first skirmish against the Numidian Raiders.
116 Bodmelqart starts a counter attack and defeats the Romanan auxilliary.
114 Aemilius Lepidus takes the costal city of Ippone in Africa.
114 The Gaul tribe of the Arveni attack Massalia in southern France.
113 Numidians attack the Atiqa in Africa.
113 Battle of Narbo - Gaius Curius Denatus defeats the Arverni. The area becomes the Roman province Gallia Narbonensis
112 The Celtic Astures start invading and raiding the Roman provinces in Spain.
112 Battle of Cirthul - The Romans lose against the Numidians and give up the city of Ippone.
111 Battle of Serpetas - Sergius Orata defeats the prominent Numidian general Maharabal. Ippone is back in Roman controll.
109 Battle of Turuth - Atilius Calatinus defeats the Numidians who are on the defence from now on.
109 First Teutons arrive in Italy.
108 Battle of the Kirtan hills - Sergius Esquilinus is not able to defeat Bodmelqart at his stronghold.
108 Battle of the Karsian hills - Iunius Brutus engages the Teutons. The battle is indecicive
106 Battle of Kirtan - Curius Denatus defeats Bodmelqart.
105 End of the war against Bodmelquart.
103 Battle at the Pallantian forest - The Romans under Calpurius Bestia defeat the Astures.
102 Denatus returns to Rome, celebrating his triumph.

[Fixiwee]

War is necessary - war brings peace - war brings pain
-Nas

An army of mules

The Roman Empire, by Wolfgang Schreier, Bonn 2003

In 102 BC the German tribe, the Teutons, returned to Italy, this time trying to conquered lands on the Italian Peninsula. By 101 BC the slow moving mass of people had conquered Mediolanum, present day Milan. A consular army under Iunus Pera attacked the Teutons at the battle of Vercella.


Mediolanum fell to the Teutons in 101 BC.



But Iunus was defeated and the Teutonic advance could not be stopped in 101 BC.


The Teutonic advance in the winter 101 BC. While small forces where already attacking the Italian coast, most of the army would head to Patavium in the following spring.

The situation turned out to be desperate. Barbarians were advancing on Rome, the Senate could not agree on any procedure against the Teutons and foremost there was a great lack of manpower due to the recruitment system. By this system, every Roman citizen had to provide his own equipment. This also meant that the richer one was, the higher his status and class in the Roman army. With the slave based system of great estates (Latifundia) there was a lack of financial potent men to recruit, due to lack of small estate farmers (see Cottas reforms in 123 BC). The wars of the late 2nd century depleted Roman manpower to the limit.
In such desperate times the Roman people elected Denatus, the hero from Africa as Consul. And Denatus recruited the landless people without any capital (capite censi), gave them a minimum of equipment out of the state pocket.
There were no laws, no reforms, no voting, the commander just took volunteers by the right of his imperium, the state had to pay for them and that was it. This was simple and effective, but it had consequences.
The general, Denatus, was now the patron and his soldier were his clients. The soldiers were his followers and a tight band between the leader and followers was bound. After all these soldiers were landless people who put their service to the commander and hoped to be rewarded with farmyards. Denatus took his soldiers, abolished the three main military ranks (Hastati, Principes and Triari) and replaced the old legionary standard (each old republican legion had its own symbol) with a general standard, the eagle (the Aquila). The soldiers had to carry their own equipement and were called muli Denati (Denatus’ mules)

In early spring 100 BC Denatus gathered his large troops and marched to the north against the Teutons. At the battle of Apponus he faced a great part of the large Germanic tribe.




The new Roman army getting tested for the very first time. Many of the soldiers are raw recruits.


But the new Roman soldiers have little to loose and much to gain. They are ready to show their worth.


Little detail survives on the battle itself, but the initial attack was hold off and ...


... the Romans advance to the main line of the Teutons.


The battle saw some fierce hand to hand fighting. The Teutons were said to be well equipped, their swords were superior to the Roman gladius.


Roman lancers traversing the battle field. In the background the famous Alps can be seen.


The muli Denati were well trained and the spirit was high. Eventually the Romans routed the Teutons.


Roman lancers persuing fleeing Teutons. A great deal of the Teutons were slaughtered in the battle.

This victory was important because it halted the Teutonic advance. The Germanic tribe retreated behind the river Po hoping to reorganise. But Denatus did not give the Teutons time to rebuild and attacked immediately in the Summer 100 BC, seeing that the Teutons were weakened and vulnerable. At the Aureolian fields he forced the Germanic leader Alugodas to battle.




The Aureolian fields were perfect for wide movments on both sides. Initially the Teutonic leader saw the potential for flanking movements.


Denatus lets the Teutons flank the Roman lines. This was risky because if the Roman flank would break the whole army was in danger.


It is said that Alugodas himself attacked the Roman lines with a loud warcry. Later Romans depict him as a brutish warrior charging the Roman lines, todays archeological evidence proves that Germanic nobles had among the finest war equipent in ancient Europe.


The battle plan: The Teutons try to outflank with their light cavalry (for which they were famous for) seen in dark colours. This movement succeeds, while the main army presses at the right side and flank. This put Denatus (Circle with a dot) in a dangerous situation, he moves in his cavalry to fight of the germanic riders (marked by the X). The german line gaps and Denatus orders his troops to retailiate (dotted line). The Roman lancers encircle the Germanic riders at the crossed V (in the center).


The gap in the Teutonic line proves as an excellent position to disrupte the enemy movement.


Denatus uses heavy lancers to haras the Teutonic flanking force. Constant hammering among this line makes the enemy move on the right flank futile.


The Teutonic lines grow thiner, their force is simply to widestreched to reorginise. Denatus is winning the upper hand after what seemed to be a certain loss.


Alugodas gives the signal to regroup, but not to retreat. But his men are slain, suddenly he is surrounded and wants to retreat to his troops. Seconds after starting to run a Roman lancer takes his sword and swings it behind Alugodas head.


The helmet splits in two and Alugodas is leathaly wounded. He drops to the ground and stops to move.


Without the brave leader to inspire the troops the Teutons lose their heart and start to flee. Denatus had saved Rome from yet another Barbaric invasion.

With Alugodas dead the Teutons gave up trying to conquer northern Italy. Some fled north to the Alps where we lose their tracks forever, some were captured and enslaved.

The following process after the Teutons has always been regarded as some sort of tragic events for Rome and even the rather biased historian Fabius is not sure who to point the finger at.
Let’s see what happened exactly. In 99 BC Denatus became Consul again and used his position to settle a colony in Africa, providing lands for his soldiers for the coming year. Denatus could have declared some spot in Africa as an important site for the new colonies, but he was fascinated with the old Punic wars so that he chose the site of Carthage for his new colony: Carthago Nova. Carthage! The most hated city being rebuilt? After the “good old Roman” Metellus had destroyed the city and made sure it was never to be a threat for the Romans again?



Denatus actions alienated his supporters, among them his most important one being Sergius Orata (victor in Sarpetas, Africa in 111BC and political ally in the military reforms). He ran for Consul in 98 BC again, but wasn’t elected. His new policy was to reward the Italian allies with the Roman citizenship, another reform plan that was seen by the Senators with great awe. Nevertheless Denatus still had allies in politics; one of them was the young Titus Papirius Paetus, a Plebeian Tribune. Denatus used him to influence the politics of the Populares and in March 98 the Tribune presented his lex Papirii, which should give all the loyal Italian allies the Roman citizenship. Denatus hoped to win new allies and win more lands for the ager publicus feeding his veterans. But in the eyes of the Senate Denatus went too far. The people had not voted for him and his plans, they made clear that such thing would not pass the Senate and now he tried to push it through directly through the peoples assembly. The Senators felt threatened and urged to take action against Denatus.
20 years ago the Senator Hostilius Manicus stormed out of the Senate to kill Cotta by his own initiative, now the Senate instituted an emergency provisional measure, the senatus consultum ultimum, which declared Denatus an enemy of the State. Denatus tried to flee the city, possibly to reach his army, but was caught and killed by a mob of Senators just out side the walls of Rome.



Ancient historians argued already if Denatus went too far or if the Senate was stubborn. Either way, Denatus tried to reform the system and due to some of his extreme ideas he alienated himself from the moderate people in the Senate. This gave ground for the conservatives to push against Denatus and get rid off him like they did with Cotta. Nevertheless Denatus had not the necessary tactfulness to deal with the Optimates and his actions seem plump and crude, even to his supporters.
It was clear that the civil war was now one step closer to total conflict, with both sides drifting further away. A compromise seemed to be out of hand by now, even though peace and Concordia seemed to be secured by the Senate once more.