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

**IrishHitman** · 10-19-2009, 18:39

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** · 10-19-2009, 18:54

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** · 10-20-2009, 01:11

nice last few chapters

**IrishHitman** · 10-20-2009, 10:52

Originally Posted by Roka

nice last few chapters

Yeah, they've been pretty damn good.

**Fixiwee** · 10-24-2009, 23:22

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** · 10-31-2009, 19:45

“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:

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.

**Fixiwee** · 11-04-2009, 23:28

Second Punic war climax
(Part 2 of 2)

Fabius - Ab Urbe Condita
(written at about 50 BC)

Who was Lucius Fabius?

Spoiler Alert, click show to read:

Book XVI

On the 24th of September Spurius Cornelius Sulla returned with his legions to Scipios camp. The young Scipion greeted his commander with all obligatory military procedures. Dismounting his brown stallion Sulla raised his hand to his victorious legate: “I salute you young Scipio. You really live up to your family name.”
“I did what was expected. If Rome would ask me to travel to the end of the world, I would” the young victor replied.
For now the two men would eat, drink and relax. The weather was still very warm and there was plenty of food for the whole army. After a few days Scipio asked his commander what his next move was. Hamalcar, who had taken over grand command over the troops, was still a big threat. Sulla thought about the situation for quite some time and then came up with another daring plan.
“If I was Hamalcar and had over 80.000 men at my command, what would I fear most? I would fear that my supplies grow thin and that my enemy, the Romans, would attack me in my most weakened state. So my good Scipio, I plan to attack them during the winter. During that time supply becomes rare while the climate here still allows me to attack the enemy. I have done the same thing against the Carpentani and I am also able to do so against the Carthaginian. This way we can easily use our smaller numbers against a larger, yet starving army.”
Scipio who always was up for a military challenge agreed to the plan, as did all the other legates under the propraetorian commander. Preparations were made in all of October, stocks filled and the soldier trained. Early November the weather was still warm enough when Sulla gave command to start moving south against Hamalcar in Mastia. Four Roman legions and several Iberian allies marched forth to face an enemy superior in number.
The first legion was commanded by Sulla, while the second was lead by his legate Tullius Cornelius Marcus. The other two legions took another route to maintain more supplies on the road and were lead by Tiberius Cornelius Scipio Asina and Decimus Papirus Pulcher.
The Carthaginian forces were separated into three armies lead Hamalcar Aleria, Abdeshmun and Asdroubas. When they realised that Sulla was forcing them into battle in November Hamalcar decided to counter the attack and launch his troops quickly against Scipios and Pulchers legions to separate them from Sullas army. The young legate was furious when he realized that Hamalcar was about to attack him on the 13th of November and that Sullas troops where out of reach. He ordered his best messenger to send word on the situation and prepared to defend the position until Sulla would come to help.

Scipio gave an important speech about one hour before the battle: “Men, I know that our surprise attack has failed and that a great number of troops is about to charge our position here. I know that they are great in numbers, but we can hold out here. They will find that a Roman legion is a hard nut to crack. Though we lack the numbers, we are the greater warriors, disciplined and trained in the arts of war. My grandfather defeated the Carthaginians in Sicily, my father did the same here in Spain and I already killed their most skilled leader. We can defeat this army here, we will stand, fight and we will win.”

Hamalcar rushed into the battle trusting that his great amount of troops would be enough to destroy a Roman legion. Scipios and Pulchers legions were lined up in a small valley where they hope to control the enemy movement.

The Carthaginian leader knew that he had to strike fast and without mercy, because by now Sullas legions where already on the way to support Scipio in battle. He gave instructions to his military tribunes and signalled the attack. The troops started to charge 300 meters away from the Roman line.

Immediately the battle changed into close quarter fighting and the huge number of troops turned this battle into a terribly bloody clash with men dying left and right.

Scipio pressed hard against the enemy so he could not organise the encirclement of his own legion. By constantly pushing forward the enemy was not able to flank the bold young legate. Time was of the essence and for two hours Scipio pushed and pushed demanding the maximum of what a soldier can endure in battle.

It started to look grim for Scipio, who had already killed about 15.000 enemy Carthaginians, but also lost 5.000 of his own men. Asdroubas brought another 20.000 men to make the final strike against Sulla when a messenger brought news: “Legate Scipio, Propraetor Sulla will be here within half an hour. Surely the gods are giving speed to the feet of his troops.” This news inspired the remaining Roman soldiers to hold their lines. “For the people and the senate of Rome! We fight or fall!” could be heard all over the grim battlefield.

The vast and skilled legion of Sulla entered the battlefield, ready to relieve Scipios army and push back the Carthaginians. During the course of the battle the fighting shifted to the nearby woods making Roman cavalry moves impossible. Finaly the Carthaginians were defending.

The fight was going on for hours, all the hatred between the two cities was unleashed in this engagement. The battle line dissolved into fighting of smaller and greater groupings.

The struggle went on like this for some further three hours and no commander knew what was going on exactly. It was simply too many soldiers on both sides to maintain a clear chain of command. Although the Roman centurions remained a clear head and led their troops well by their best will. At the 8th hour [2PM] Asdroubas was killed in one of the pockets.

An hour later Sulla and Scipio finally met on the battlefield. By now most of the Carthaginian troops were dead or have fled. Despite this Hamalcar and some 10.000 men were still fighting against the now larger Roman army. Sulla pushed his military tribunes to outflank Hamalcar and encircle then. The tenth hour [4 PM] finally brought the decision when the Pedites extraordinares [Italian elite troops] encircled Hamalcar, brought down his horse and killed the proud Carthaginian leader who said “It was not enough” while dieing.

The rest of the Carthaginian troops fled. After nearly 6 hours of fighting no Roman soldier brave and bold had the power to chase any of the fleeing enemy. Sulla had won a decisive victory with Scipios help.

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

Fabius account on the battle of Mastia tells us inaccurate numbers, but with Silanos version of the battle we are able to reconstruct the casualties of the battle.

Carthage:
Soldiers: 60.000 – Lost: 50.000

Rome:
Soldiers: 45.000 – Lost: 20.000

This battle was the largest and bloodiest battle in the second Punic war. Rome smashed the Carthaginian war effort to pieces. The young Scipio and the already popular Sulla became war heroes to end the second Punic war. And indeed, the next spring of 195 BC a delegation under Senator Lucius Cornelius Dolebella went to Carthage to meet with the Suffet Carpophorus to dictate their terms of peace.
Carthage had to give all the remaining outposts in Spain to Rome and pay a large sum of gold. The long second Punic war was over.
In a conclusion this war secured Rome’s position as a Mediterranean superpower. Both militarily and economically Rome established itself as a “global player” in a wider sense. While Carthage still remained strong it lost a prestigious and costly war against its arch enemy.

The second Punic war had long-lasting effects on the Roman society and it somehow connects with the later Roman civil war. Rome expanded its provinces in foreign parts of Europe that changed the political tradition (more Quaestors and Praetors) and rules of taxation (Stipendia). In a wider sense the first problems with ruler ship became apparent. The young generation of Sullas and Scipios lead and ultimately won the war, without being able to actually have leading positions. The Senate skipped the problems by assigning de facto leading positions like the Propraetor, but that did not actually solve the problem. This is one issue that would play a bigger part later on in the civil war.
The real heroes of this war were not Carthalo or Sulla, it was the Roman allies in Italy. Without them, the Roman Senate could not have build up such a large quantity of troops. The allies, for now, stood loyal to Rome.

**Fixiwee** · 11-09-2009, 16:56

What a lovely day, yeah, we won the war.
May have lost a million men, but we've got a million more.
-Portugal. The man

Saneus gambles with Rome and looses

The Roman Empire, by Wolfgang Schreier, Bonn 2003

After the Second Punic war ended in 194 BC the Roman society wanted to recover from the high war effort. Despite this, the Romans still had to fight wars the following years, though those conflicts were much smaller in comparison to the war with Carthage.
Immediately after the peace with the Carthaginians was settled a border conflict occurred with a Celtic tribe called the Turduli. Their king Biurtilaur Alonicoi did not agree with the peace settlement between the two superpowers, thus having to give up some areas of his domain. The Roman presence in the centre of Spain was not big, so Sulla successfully convinced his former enemies, the Carpentani, to hold the Turdulis at bay. For the next years a single Roman legion and the Carpentani fought side by side against the Turdulis.

Map showing the Turduli domain in Spain prior to the war.

In 191 BC the successful Sulla returned to Rome, celebrating his triumph and concentrating on his career. Lucius Iunus Brutus became the new Propraetor of Hispania Ulterior who charged the popular 25 year old Scipio as a Quaestor and as a military legate to deal with the Celtic tribes. Being so young and already leading a legion was only possible due to the legacy of his ancestors. In summer of the same year the young Scipio defeated the Turduli at the Battle of Contasti. The king Alonicoi fled to the north, while the Romans occupied the lands of the Turduli the following spring.

Spain in 190 BC. A great deal is already conquered by Rome.

By 192 BC the Macedonians seemed to give up the treaty it had with Rome. The Macedonian kings had long lasting treaties with the Senate, but after the second Epirote war broke out in 220 BC the relationship seemed to worsen to a certain degree. By 192 BC the Macedon king Dionysianos Saneus publicly demanded to inherit the throne of Epirus, which had been vacant since the end of the second Epirote war in 214 BC. Silanos, the Greek historian, pointed out that this was a ridiculous and obsolete claim.

But the Romans didn’t get to rest after stability was recovered in Spain for the time being. In 188 BC the king Saneus send emissaries to Rome stating that if the Romans would not leave Epirus he would take it by force. The Romans did not think that he would dare attacking a former ally and when Saneus marched into the Epirote city of Ambrakia in early 187 BC, the Roman legion stationed in Epirus stood down and did not prevent his actions, because the garrison commander had no specific orders to attack the Macedonians.

But Saneus didn’t have the support of all the Greeks to fight against Rome. Some thought that attacking an old ally, who in fact helped the Macedonians against the Epirotes during the first Punic war, was a terrible crime. The first Macedon war ended the same year it started. A noble under the name Leocharis Eurypontidos revolted against Saneus, quickly won all the support and arrested Saneus. To show the good will of the Macedonians he turned Saneus over to the Romans. The Senate decided to put Saneus to exile to the Seleucid Empire in the east, where the old and bitter king spent the rest of his remaining years.
While not a long war, the first Macedon war utterly destroyed the once good relationship between the Senate and the Macedonian king.

**Fixiwee** · 11-18-2009, 14:04

Transcript of the college presentation during the lecture „The Roman Republic“ in 2003, University of Minnesota, USA

[Anna Chow speaking]:
Dear colleges, dear professor, last week we heard about the end of the second Punic war and the first Macedonian war. What was following these wars was a rather calm period without many foreign conflicts for Rome. I will give a short summary for this period that lasted until 166 BC, when the infamous Metellus became consul.
The war hero Spurius Cornelius Sulla became consul in 184 BC. In the first half of the second century BC the Senate was ruled by rich and prestigious families like the Scipions and the Cornelii. Even though the rich families often fought each other for power in the Senate, disputes were – yet - bloodless and civilized. One problem was that young people, like for example Tiberius Cornelius Scipio, were already popular, yet they were to young to have real power in the Senate, despite their influence. Scipio was a good example for this. He led armies to victory at the age of 25 in Spain, when he returned to Rome he was nothing but a young Senator in Rome. Bitter he turned to the military again, going to Greece where tensions were still high after the first war with Saneus. The other problem was that these prestigious families had become quite rich through the second Punic war, corruption and miss governance in the provinces was an untreated issue.

Rome in 180 BC.

Although a rather peaceful period, two smaller armed conflicts happened. At 179 BC the Taurisci, also called the Norici, invaded the northern border of Italy coming from the Alps. Although the numbers of people invading didn’t exceed some 8000 people it was the first barbarian invasion for over 100 years. In the same year consul Publius Denatus defeated the Norici at Ceneta and enslaved the saviours.
The following year the Macedonian king Leocharis Eurypontidos, who restored diplomatic relations with Rome, was murdered by Alexander IV a follower of Saneus, who declared himself king. Tiberius Scipio, always ready to go to war attacked Alexander IV in 178 BC after being provoked by the new king. In 176 BC he defeated the new king in the battle of Berora. Alexander IV had to agree to accept Roman governance in Epirus and disclaim hegemony over Greece. The Second Macedonian war only lasted for two years, but by now the Macedonian-Roman relationship was terribly hostile.
Scipio returned to Rome in 174 BC to finally become Consul, using this position to accumulate his fame and especially his wealth. His former friend and mentor Sulla, who also became consul in 172 and 170 BC, refrained from Scipio due to personal reasons.
The political situation in the Senate changed when the rather unknown former Praetor Caius Caecilius Metellus came to Rome in 167 BC.

**Fixiwee** · 11-20-2009, 17:24

“Laws control the lesser man... Right conduct controls the greater one.”
-Marc Twain

The new Roman Nobility

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

The Second Punic war brought a lot of wealth to the noble families in Rome. The Senate was populated by a few rich and prestigious families like the Aemilii, Cornelli, Fulvii and of course the Scipios. What we can gather from the ancient sources the wealth was not distributed equally between the Patricians and the Plebeians. The economical situation seemed to worsen for the Plebeians from 180 BC onwards, while people like the Scipios built luxury mansions around Rome. Speculations about corruption were daily topic, but unfortunately no one tried to challenge the rich families. Miss governance of the provinces seemed to increase as well, for example the rumour was that Numerius Cornelius Scipio, a cousin of the victor from the second Macedonian war, used his position as a governor in Sicily to put as much money in his pocket as possible.
But the corruption of the noble families was also a possibility for new Senators to reform the system. One of these men was a Plebeian called Gaius Caecilius Metellus. He was born in Rhegion in 207 BC to the Caecilian gens. This Plebeian gens was one of the richer and prestigious families in Rome who had already produced a few consuls. They were known for their rather conservative sense of politics. Metellus served as a soldier in the First Macedonian war and became a Quaestor in Sicily therafter. There he got to know Numerius Cornelius Scipio and became witness to the corruption, while at the same time the cousin of Numerius, Tiberius Cornelius Scipio Asina, came back from the second Macedonian war as a triumphant war hero. Afterwards he served as a Plebeian Tribune and Plebeian Aedile, both positions he used for architectural improvements to Rome (as we will see later). After serving as a Praetor in Sardinia in 168 BC he returned to Rome to fight against the widespread corruption.

Fabius - Ab Urbe Condita
(written at about 50 BC)

Book XXVIII

At the end of the year 586 AUC [168 BC] Caius Caecilius Metellus returned to Rome after serving in Sardinia. His service was superb, he came to a rather troubled region and left with order and morality restored. Magistrates in Sardinia were said to work hard and efficient even 20 years after Metellus left.
When he returned to Rome the corrupt nobility did not take any notice of it at all, despite his public speeches against corruption throughout his years. It is remarkable that Metellus started to work the very first day he came back. For a man of his character, there was never an idle moment. Each day had to be used to work for the best of Rome and its people. He only took a day off to visit friends and relatives he had in Rome, but besides that he already dealt with his clients on the very first day.
Before Metellus could stand up against the widespread corruption and loss of morality by the Senate he had to work with his clients. Since he had been gone for over a year this work took over the first months and it wasn’t until the spring of the next year [167 BC] that he could go to the courts.
In late March Metellus decided that the time was right. The day before making his announcement he organized a small festivity in his house to invite friends and political allies. The next day Metellus publicly announced his actual endeavour with a small speech: “For too long the nobility in the Senate has stood and watched while some men with influence put their power to enrich them selves first before the needs of Rome. As a firm believer in the greatness of the Roman Senate and its people it is my obligation to bring those responsible to court and see them convicted. I therefore announce to put, among others, Caius Cornelius Sulla [Sullas son], Marcus Cornelius Lentulus and foremost Tiberius Cornelius Scipio Asina, victor in Spain and Macedon, before court.

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

Among the nobility the accusation from Metellus was quite the shock. Even though everyone seemed to know that Scipio was corrupt, his deeds to Rome, his ancestry of two great victors against the Carthaginians was enough to let him live with his flaws. Metellus was a calm man of principle, who wanted to see order and honesty restored to the Senate. But he also had the momentum at his side, his proclamation to bring the corrupt people to court was quite the news and made Metellus instantly popular among the masses. Resisting such a man could mean possible riots and disorder among the Plebeians and the Scipios knew that very well.
The only chance for them was to face Metellus in court and use his weapons against him. The Scipios tried to confront him directly in court and delayed the procedure wherever they could. The sessions went on till October of the same year, when Metellus got unexpected support. The youngest son of Sulla, Marcus Cornelius Sulla supported Metellus in court and spoke out against his older brother Gaius. Spurius Sulla had already withdrawn from daily politics in 169 BC and retired to a villa north to Rome. Fabius interprets that the popular Spurius Sulla, fearing that his name might be put to shame through his son Gaius, told Marcus Sulla to speak out against his brother. While the famous Sulla retired indeed as a rich man, it was said that he did so rather honestly and even if he made money by illegal means, at least he spent a good portion to the public cause.

Eventually Metellus won the case and the convicted Senators, among them Numerius Cornelius Scipio and Tiberius Cornelius Scipio Asina, went into exile. Metellus had become the hero of Rome and immediately the next year he became consul. Within one year the Plebeian Senator became the most prominent member of the Senate and would guide Roman politics for the next years.

**a completely inoffensive name** · 11-23-2009, 02:48

Cool story bro.

**A Very Super Market** · 11-23-2009, 02:57

It's beautiful keep up the good work

**Fixiwee** · 11-28-2009, 20:51

“He conquers who conquers himself”
Latin Proverb quotes

Macedonicus

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

The consulship of Metellus was characterized by the lex orata, an anti luxury law that limited the wealth people could own without taxation. The law was well intended, but never actually used. Nevertheless it marked Metellus as a guardian of morality and as a fighter against corruption. Metellus tried to make a good example and used his own money on public buildings and infrastructure. He assigned his childhood friend Manius Claudius Sabinus during his consulship to build a network of roads in Spain, needed for the military and trade. Metellus always was interested in architecture and later in his life he wrote a book called “de architectura” in which he describes his work on roads in Sicily and the improvement of the existing Aqueducts in Rome.
After his consulship Metellus remained an important figure in the Senate and his opinion on political matters remained heavy, even with different consuls.

In 164 BC Spurius Cornelius Sulla died peacefully in his mansion with old age. The popular victor over the Celts and Carthaginians was mourned by a 2 week festival in Rome. Metellus publicly honoured his great skills in battle and the name Sulla remained valued, despite the fact that Metellus exiled one of his sons.

The next year, in fall of 163 BC, Alexander IV Idomeneus invaded Epirus once again. The Roman legion retreated to the south-west since the Macedonian army was too large. It had about 45.000 men, 25.000 attacking from the north and 20.000 from the south. The most important factor was that Alexander IV had reformed his army since the last defeat against the Romans in 176 BC. Now his Phalanx was filled with Illyrians to make up the low numbers of Macedonians in the army and the equipment was improved as well.
The Romans elected a Publius Valerius Maximus as of the two consuls, a disimpassioned and unimposing Senator with promising military skills. Already in February of 162 he sailed with a small fleet and an additional legion to Greece.
The Macedonians sent their large fleet under their admiral Astrabakos to prevent the Romans from landing troops. But Astrabakos was halted by rough days at the sea and arrived to late to prevent Maximus to land. Nevertheless it came to a sea battle at the gulf of Avlona (modern day Vlorë in Albania) where about 150 modern warships destroyed a great portion of the 50 Roman ships. For the time being, the Romans didn’t have an adequate fleet, so the superiority of the see remained with the Macedonians. Nevertheless Maximus landed his troops successful in Greece, ready to attack Alexander IV.
Two legions were situated in the south ready to attack Alexander’s forces, naturally Maximus task would have been to engage the larger northern army. But Maximus wanted to risk a strategic move to end the war quickly by concentrating all his troops to the south. Alexander was caught off guard and retreated east to the mountains, but had to face Maximus at the battle of Milea in the fall of 162 BC.

Silanos – Historiai
(written about 130 BC)

Book X

[…] Alexander IV was indeed a strange yet fascinating man. Now being in his 60ies, he was still strong and vivid in everything he did. On the one side he was a brilliant political leader that united all the Macedonian and Greek factions with passionate speeches, he was inclined to philosophy but never lost sight for what was possible. On other side, however, he was that he was obsessed with his eponym Alexander the Great. The tale of a 30 year old young man conquering the whole Persian Empire fascinated him since he was young. It was his believe, that he had the spirit of Alexander the Great in him. Needless to say, the new Persian Empire was seen as the Roman Republic, who in his eyes sought to conquer all of Greece and Macedonia. By attacking the Romans he hoped to conquer all of Italy, Illyrian and Spain, creating a new Alexandrian Empire. After his defeat against Scipio he reformed his armies, filling ranks with Illyrians and Barbarians.
When Maximus attacked him with a large army he was surprised by the bold move of the Roman, as the Macedonians and the Greeks saw the Romans as untalented tactical leaders. Alexander used the terrain for his advantage, trying to split the legions apart, fighting one legion at a time. A victory at the valley of Milea could change everything for the Macedonian king.

The battle was fought on the hill slopes on the left flank of the Romans

Roman skirmisher (Velites) marching to position

Milea itself was an old settlement destroyed long ago by invading Barbarians, the ruins were still a landmark when the bold Maximus attacked Alexander.

The Maceondian army consisted of a good deal of Thracian mercaneries.

Both leaders knew that the whole battle was to be decided by the slopes of the local hill. The best troops on both sides fought here for the control of the battle.

Roman cavalry engaging Macedonian heavy skirmisher on the hill slopes.

The fighting on the slopes were difficult and exhausting for both sides.

Both sides fought bravely and determined to win. Unfortunately for the Macedonians Alexander was stabbed during the battle in the stomach by a Roman equestrian, harming the Macedonian king. Alexander had to retreat from the battlefield to his camp since he was bleeding terribly. But unlike the battle of Berora against Scipio Alexander’s troops were disciplined and fought on for the cause of their king.

Macedonian heavy infrantry regrouping on the battle field.

Roman light Infrantry (Hastati) fighting though a Phalanx.

Alexander was successful in splitting Maximus’ troops apart since the reinforcements did not arrive to the battlefield that day. Nevertheless the wounded king was unable to lead his men from the bed of his camp. Maximus eventually won the flanks on the slope tearing the Macedonian Phalanx apart and thus wining the battle. When the disorientated Macedonians started to flee, the Roman cavalry hunted down many fleeing soldiers. When the surviving troops came back to the camp they were informed by the Greek doctors that Alexander was lethally and bled to death. This was the day the last Macedonian king died.

Macedonians fleeing from the enemy.

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

After the victory Maximus returned to Ambrakia, the rest of the northern army retreated to the Borders of Macedonia. Maximus spent the winter there, reorganising his troops. He sent word to the senate in Rome what to do with Macedoni. The answer came not from Rome but from a nephew of Alexander who was about to proclaim himself king: Lysanias Saneus.
For the Romans the position was clear, the Macedonians had betrayed them multiple times and not followed treaties, furthermore Alexander had illegally attacked the Achaean league prior to the war. For the Maximus the Macedonians could not be trusted anymore and had to be defeated. The following spring in 161 BC Maximus marched on the undefended city of Pella, the capital of Macedonia. Maximus made an offer to the inhabitants that he would not kill a single human being if they submitted to the Romans. The inhabitants of Pella agreed and were eventually sold to slavery. Maximus order his soldiers to plunder and burn down the city as a sign against the Macedonians. In the summer Maximus marched to the south hoping to face Lysanias Saneus in battle.

In the battle of Demetrias Maximus faced a strong Macedonian army.

Reformed Macedonian Phalanx fighting against the Roman legion

Lysanias being killed in battle.

But Lysanias was too young and too inexperienced as a military leader. He lost his life and the battle as well. In the fall of 161 Maximus entered the city of Athens, making him the conqueror of one of the most prestigious city of antiquity. Maximus was welcomed as the liberator of Macedonian tyranny, and even though he did not like the Greeks at all he took part in a public welcoming.

News quickly spread in Rome that the ancient city of Athens was in Roman hands – the popularity of Maximus was rising and for the people it looked like the Macedonians were already defeated. But a large Macedonian army was still located at Serdike (modern-day Sofia) threatening to conquer back the territory. It wasn’t until 159 BC that Maximus had his troops ready to attack to the north. There he met the military leader of the army Ptolemas Libethrios at the battle of Astibos.

Thracians made up most of the army of Ptolemas

Hastati waiting for the enemy attack.

A centurion charging with his maniple against the Macedonians.

Tense fighting on both sides.

The aftermath.

Maximus won the third and last battle in his campaign by using his huge amount of cavalry to outflank the enemy and encircle the Macedonian Phalanx.
There was no one opposing Roman conquest in Macedonia anymore, Alexander IV was dead and all important cities in Roman hand. In late 159 Maximus declared victory over the Macedonians and returned to Rome in 158. His return to the city was celebrated with a large triumph. The senate was so pleased with Maximus’ success in Macedonia that they rewarded him with the title of Macedonicus to his surname. His full name was now Publius Valerius Maximus Macedonicus.

**Fixiwee** · 12-07-2009, 18:12

The best executive is the one who has sense enough to pick good men to do what he wants done, and self-restraint to keep from meddling with them while they do it.
Theodore Roosevelt

A protagonist of his time

The Roman Empire, by Wolfgang Schreier, Bonn 2003

By 156 BC Caecilius Metellus started to propose waging war against Carthage. He argued that after the third Macedonian war the Roman army was disciplined enough to win against a war against its archrival. Metellus saw Carthage as a constant threat to the security of Rome which had to be dealt with, and his eyes, rather sooner then later. The senators were indifferent to this proposal, Rome had just been through war and Carthage did not threaten Rome right now. On the other hand Rome was waging war in Spain. The Celts from the city of Numantia were constantly harassing the Roman borders, which drew much military attention.

Open battles against the Celts were rare. Whenever the Celts could they would rather raid trade routes and undefended Roman colonies. The Numantians were strong enough in numbers to face the Romans in open battle.

Romes biggest advantage over the celts were a strong cavalry that outflanked the strong Celtic infantry. It is asthonishing that the followind decades the Romans would decrease their number of Equites.

Celtic infantry were well equipped formidable foes.

The battle of Numantia was a huge battle that saw the defeat of Celtic resistence in the center of Spain.

Thousand of men fighting.

Cavalry outflanking the Celts and crushing them from the rear.

But Metellus remained calm and waited for a better moment. Meanwhile he was appointed Censor in 154 BC, a crowning achievement for his career.

In the same year a roman Legion defeated the Numantians before their city gates and thus more military stability was granted in Spain again. Metellus made a vow for war again and this time opinions in the Senate were swayed. Metellus was appointed Proconsul to defeat Carthage. In 153 a large fleet with about 60.000 Roman soldiers gathered in Sicily to embark against Carthage once again.

The large Roman fleet landing in Africa.

Metellus making his way to the city.

The overwhelming masses of Roman legionnaires landing in Africa took the Carthaginians completely by surprise. They had not rebuilt their army since the second Punic war and the current Suffet Abdesmnun only had some 10.000 men ready to defend the city.
Abdesmnuns actions already puzzled ancient historian Fabius, since the Romans thought that a long and exhausting siege was about to start. But Abdesmnun gathered his troops in front of the city and marched against the Romans. Perhaps he thought that he might win a surprise victory by attacking an enemy that was rather prepared for siege then an open battle. At the battle of Carthage in 152 BC he fought against 2 legions under the command of Metellus. Abdesmnuns timing was well enough since he only faced an army of 25.000 men.

The battle of Carthage saw some small pokets of fierce fighting, but overall the Romans were baffled by the lack of resistance by the Carthaginians.

The battle only lasted for two hours, afterwards the remaining Carthaginian troops retreated to the city.

Romans love slaves. Oh yes, they do.

In the end Metellus was victorious. The supreme council in Carthage surrendered to the Romans and opened the gates to Metellus. He was the first one to enter the city as a conqueror and ordered the enslavement of all citizens and the destruction of the city. Carthage was looted and then burned to the grounds. The ancient and prestigious city now lay in complete ruins. Metellus returned to Rome as a victor and was granted a triumph for defeating Carthage. The conquered lands were formed to the province Africa. Carthage itself would lie in ruins for decades.

The Roman Republic in 150 BC.

Far to the east, but without relevance to the Romans as of yet, the Parthians were overrunning the Seuleukid Empire.

Parthians overruning the Capital Seleukeia in 148 BC

In the east a new empire was forming, the Parthian Empire. The map shows Parthian domain at 140 BC.

The borders of the Roman republic turned calm with the end of the third Punic war. To the start of the Roman civil war only a few conflicts arose now and then. A short summary is presented here:
In 154 BC Consul S. Aemilius Lepidus conquered the former Carthaginian colony of Leptis Magna and installed a Rome-friendly but politically independent client ruler.
In 138 BC a Greek envoy from Mytilene an island-state in the Aegean Sea sent by the ruler Archagathos asked for help in the struggle of a civil war. The city exiled Archagathos who went to Athens to maintain contacts with Roman politicians there. Archagathos had declared himself as a friend (amici) two decades earlier and now needed the Senates help. After some heated debates among the Senators the Senate eventually agreed to help Archagathos and sent the Roman consul K. Iunius Brutus to the island in 136 BC.

The rebels were defeated and Archagathos returned to power. But Brutus did not return to Rome immediately. After he had learned that the campaign against Archagathos was sponsored by the Kingdom of Pergamon under their king Aristos, he decided to invade Pergamon without the Senates approval. The king did not suspect that this conflict would summon the Romans to his domain, after all the forces of Pergamon were no match for the Roman legions. Aristos was defeated in the battle of Cyme in 136 BC. Brutus returned to Rome and while the Senate had mixed feelings about Brutus decision it agreed to install the province of Asia in the old kingdom.

The Roman Republic in 135 BC, after the Pergamon campaign.

In 133 BC the Lusitani in Spain, who had been conquered in 166 BC, rebelled against the Roman rule caused by miss governance and corruption. The rebellion was quelled by the military legate Publius Cornelius Sulla, a nephew of the famous Spurius Cornelius Sulla.

The Lusitani rebellion. The small city of Oxtraca was the center of the Celtic rebellion.

The same Sulla attacked the Callaeci in 126 BC defeating them in a costly battle of Tyde in the same year. Now most of Spain was in the hands of the Romans, with only the Celtic tribes of the Austures and the Cantabri still being independent.

The battle of Tyde saw great casualties for the Romans. Supply was rare far up in the north of Spain. The unknown terrain was a dangerous area.

The battle of Tyde is a good example of superior Celtic infantrymen. While the Celts have less men then the Romans they are able to inflict tremendous casualties to the Romans who nearly lost the battle.

Eventually Roman cavalry turned the tide of the battle once again. Here they are waiting to manuever against the enemy.

In 123 BC Caecilius Metellus died at the age of 84. For decades Metellus was the most prominent member of the Senate. He had conquered Carthage and influenced the outcome of the third Macedonian war. He was also a very conservative politician who fought against the widespread corruption and thus brought down the legacy of the Scipions. For generations to come Metellus was the example of the “good old Roman politican”.
It has been vividly debated whether Metellus prolonged the civil war by actions his against corruption or if his refusal for any political reforms actually accelerated it.

**Celtic_Punk** · 12-11-2009, 00:52

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** · 12-11-2009, 13:34

Originally Posted by 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!

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** · 12-15-2009, 14:09

"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** · 12-16-2009, 05:22

**Fixiwee** · 12-19-2009, 21:46

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** · 12-27-2009, 17:30

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.

**Fixiwee** · 01-08-2010, 21:46

Transcript of the college class lecture „The Roman Republic“ in 2003, University of Minnesota, USA

[Prof. Saramotti speaking]:
Good day. A short announcements before we start with today’s lecture. I will hand out the take-home exams next week. There will be two questions you can choose from. One will be about the early Iberian wars including the war against Mutorke Carmocoi and the other one will be about the early conflict of the orders. Both questions will rely heavily on the sources so make sure you have all the textbooks.
Anyhow, let’s start with today’s topic. We will talk about the Achaean war, the Italian wars and the relationship between Calatinus and Silanus.

After Denatus had been dealt with the Senate once again closed their eyes regarding all the difficult problems in politics and proceeded in doing business as usual.
The next phase of the Roman civil war started with the rebellion of the Achaean league under the leadership of Corinth. After the last war against Macedonia the Achaean league was guaranteed independence from the Roman Republic, they were free to trade with who ever they wanted and have their own diplomatic relationships. But the league had to ally with Rome. So it is clear that the Achaean league had a unique diplomatic status with Rome. In 96 BC suddenly the league quits its alliance and raids Athens.

Greece in 100 BC befor the war.

Now this seems to be an odd move. The league had nothing to gain from fighting against the Athens, which was part of the Roman province Macedonia. The Romans had about 4 to 5 legions stationed in Greece. Many questions arise as of why the league would act this way and unfortunately the only source we have is Fabius inaccurate account. We would wish for Silanus version of the story, but unfortunately the Greek historian was dead for 20 years back then already.
Now the Romans did not waste time and elected Aulus Atilius Calatinus as consul, an extroverted dynamic Plebeian. In his staff was a military legate called Publius Iunius Silanus, an extravagant Patrician.

Now the next odd thing happens. Calatinus decided to move his forces to Sparta in the south, landing on the western coast of the Peloponnesus, while ordering Silanus to lay siege against Corinth. Corinth was definitely the stronger opponent and naturally it would have been Calatinus prestigious right to face the main army. But there seemed to be a friendly relationship between the older Calatinus and the younger Silanus. Calatinus had already fought against Iberians as a military tribune and against the Teutons as a military legate under Denatus. It seems like Calatinus saw Silanus as his protégé for whom he tried to help his career by letting him win a big victory.

Both leaders landing in Greece.

By late 95 Calatinus had conquered Sparta without much trouble and in October of the same year Silanus attacked Corinth.

Roman infantry charging against the walls of Corinth. They had been opened by Roman enginers during the night.

The Corinthians were cought by surpise, but the Townwatch fought vigiourisly against the enemy.

The battle of Corinth was the last one that the famous Spartiads fought. But this was not the Persian Empire, this were Roman legions, disciplined and well equiped.

Most fighting took place in narrow streets.

Roman infantry moving up in the city.

Besides the Spartiads the Romans face little resistance...

... and even the Spartiads are defeated eventually. The Romans took great pride in defeating such a famous enemy.

Corinthian cavalry trying to attack the Romans. In these narrow streets the horsemen can do little damage.

Eventually the Romans secured the center of the town.

Greece after Corinth had fallen.

Within one year the Achaean league was defeated and abolished. The last classical independent Greek state was gone. Fabius gives us the story that Silanus actually cried when he destroyed Corinth, when a tribune approached him and asked why he cried, he answered: “It is sad to see this city burn as the same fate awaits Rome some day too”. Once again you see the strong ties to morality in Fabius account.

Now we have to turn our eyes back to Italy, since the war against the Achaean League triggered an important event there. Since Denatus tried to give citizenship to all the Italian allies and was murdered therefore the Italian allies were in a very uneasy relationship with Rome. It was clear to the Roman Senators that the allies wanted a piece of the pie too, but they turned them down whenever they could. With the murder of Denatus they sealed the fate of the Italians. The Samnites openly spoke about leaving the alliance with Rome and during the Achaean war this movement gained momentum. Now the Roman armies were occupied elsewhere and in 95 BC political and military resistance gained the upper hand. In the winter most important cities were rebelling against Rome and in early 94 BC the Samnites, the Greeks to the south, the Umbrians in the north and the Brutii in Calabria declared their independence from Rome. They installed a Senate and two meddix (Samnite consuls) in Benevetum, an old Samnite city. The Samnites remembered times when the Samnites under Keliis Puntis defeated the Romans and now the rebelling Italians were inspired to do the same.

The rebells in 95 BC.

Initially the Romans did not attack the Socii but waited for Calatinus to return from Greece.
In 93 BC the Roman consul Servius Julius Caesar, the father of Marcus Caesar started attacking the allies from the north, while to the south Calatinus landed with his battle hardened troops.

Caesar attacked the allies in the battle of Taenum…

This battle was one of the first where the Romans used siege artillery in large numbers.

Samnite heavy soldiers moving up.

The Italians had expirienced troops. Especially the Campanian horsemen were feared by the Romans.

A Socii scout gathering intel on the enemy lines.

The Roman legion is getting into position. This first battle is an important one for the Romans.

Imidiatley the Socii cavalry was attacking the left Roman flank. Caesar lacked horsemen himself and could do little to attack the enemy.

Servius Caesar decided to bring his elite troops to the left flank, since heavy losses were reported there.

The enitre left flank was endangered and breaking away. This could mean defeat.

The Romans were able to hold the center.

But the the pressure on the left flank was too much. The Socii simply had too many cavalry units. The soldiers break and start to flee.

Caesar watching the left flank breaking away. This mean the battle was not to win anymore. Facing total defeat he gave the sign to retreat.

The Roman legion retreating from the Socii.

One can only imagine the chaos under the Roman legion. The first battle was lost.

…where he got defeated by the meddix Titus Lundis.

So the Romans had a terrible start during the war. But Calatinus did not wait for long and attacked the Greek Socii in the south during the summer.

Calatinus had studied ancient Greek military tactics and experimented with the oblique order.

The greek Socii attacking.

Brutian soldiers preparing to launch spears while being under heaving fire themselves.

The battle started like Taenum with the left flank being attacked by cavalry. But Calatinus had a trump hidden in the forest.

Heavy Macedonian cavalry charge from the woods and surprise the Socii.

The battle is bloody and tough. But Calatinus has the initiative.

Some Socii start to flee after the cavalry attack.

Those Macedonian soldiers are perfect for devestating the enemy line from behind.

The left flank held out as long as they could, but eventually the pressure was to great...

...the socii decide to retreat.

Calatinus won an important victory that knocked out the Greeks of the war and captured the cities Tarentum and Brindisium. Servius Julius Caesar redeemed himself after the loss at Taenum when he defeated the Umbrians at Trebia in the fall of the same year [93 BC].
But the good news where quickly meaningless when news came from Spain that the Lusitanians under their new king Soustunos Lacobricoi were rebelling against Roman rule. This rebellion spread quickly around Spain and now the Romans were in deep dodo. The Socii were far then dealt with and in Spain a great rebellion swept away Roman rule. Even more alarming was that the Romans did not have enough troops in Spain to engage the Celts.

But for now, let’s take a 15 minute break and we will continue with the lecture afterwards.

**Fixiwee** · 01-13-2010, 18:51

Transcript of the college class lecture „The Roman Republic“ in 2003, University of Minnesota, USA

[Prof. Saramotti speaking]:
So let’s continue with the lecture. I’ve been asked during the break what happened to Silanus during the Italian wars. He actually did not fight with Calatinus since he stayed in the province of Macedonia, assisting the proconsul there.

Calatinus

Alright let’s go on with the Italian wars. As I mentioned before the break, during the conflict in Italy the Celt Iberians rebelled against Roman rule in 93 BC and for now Rome could only try to defend their position there. In Italy Calatinus started a campaign against the Bruttii in Calabria. He fought a battle at Sybaris in March 92 BC and drove the Socii there to the very south of Italy. In April Calatinus co-consul Marcus Iunius Bublucus brought through his law to give Roman citizenship to the Italian Socii still loyal to Rome, foremost the Etruscans. In May the same Bublucus attacked the Samnites and was defeated at the Battle at the Trinius River. This put the Samnites and the Campanians back in a strong position. Now it was Calatinus try to defeat the centre of the Italians. In July 92 BC he attacked the Campanians at the battle of Eburum. The Romans desperately needed a victory.

The situation in 92 BC

Battle of Eburum

During the battle of Eburum the Socii tried to use their superior cavalry to crush the Roman lines. Calatinus used the woods for cover, where the cavarly could not manouver that well.

Calatinus also had the high ground.

And once again Calatinus used his heavy Macedon cavalry to crush the Socii

Romans vs Campanians

Despite being a war of different faction, the Italian war can be considered as part of the Roman civil war.

Calatinus victory was important, but in fact it gained little for the Romans. He had to return to Calabria in fall of the same year. The Bruttii staged yet another offensive and Calatinus met them at the battle of Heraclea. Calatinus won, but battle after battle his numbers in his armies were growing thin. So he promised the Apulians and the Greeks he had fought the year before the Roman citizenship if they would join his ranks. Calatinus was a charismatic and successful leader. The Apulians and the Greeks agreed and like nothing happened at all fought with their former enemy.

Battle of Heraclea

Calatinus spent the winter in Tarentum and prepared a decisive attack against the Bruttii. In early 91 BC, Calatinus was elected for Consul, for the forth time by the way, and attacked Region, the most important city in the south. By now the Bruttii only had 3000 troops, while Calatinus, restocked and reorganized to a total of 35.000 troops. Needless to say, the siege didn’t last long and the Bruttii surrendered to the Romans. Calatinus remained in the south for the rest of the year, supervising the defeated enemy. Bublucus, elected consul for the second time defeated the Samnites in late 91 BC at Aecae, though both sides lost some 20.000 men in the battle. As you can see the whole Italian war was very bloody and ruthless.

Calatinus attacking the Bruttii in the south, Bublucus campaigning against the Samnites.

In 90 BC Calatinus returned to face the Campanians and attacked the important city of Capua.

Capua was well defended.

The battle was mostly fought inside the city.

Many of the first attempts to storm into the city failed misserably.

After taking heavy casualties Calatinus decided to break off the attack after a week of fighting.

He tried to take the city by storming in. But this proved to be one of the biggest mistakes in the Italian wars. Calatinus lost 10.000 to 12.000 men during the fighting that took a week in front and inside the city. Nevertheless the commander of the city called Namus also lost some important 8.000 men. Calatinus recruited a great deal of young Romans to service and attacked the city Capua again 2 months later, in the summer of 90 BC. This time he had more luck and took the city in just one day.

The second time Capua was weakend and wasn't difficult to take for Calatinus.

For a man like Calatinus this was a huge gamble. The terrible loss at the first battle nearly cost him his career, but with Capua in his hands Calatinus was back on track again. Now the Samnites were the only remaining enemy.
In early 89 BC the Bruttii started rebelling against the Romans again so the Senate decided to give citizenship to the Bruttii as swell. So step after step the Italian war was not decided by military conquest, but by giving away Roman citizenship. When we look at these events we could argue that the Romans fought for nothing and could have had it easier with the Socii, but remember this is a time of a very different sense of loyalty and morality.
In April 89 BC Calatinus, Consul again, attacked and defeated the Samnites at the battle of Arpi.

Arpi was taken during the night, when Roman soldiers sneaked inside the city and opend the city gates. The Samnites were caught off guard and defeated within hours. Calatinus had become quite the brilliant military leader.

The Italian war was over in 88 BC when the last Samnites surrendered to the Romans. Every Socii was rewarded with the citizenship to settle the war, except for the Samnites who achieved the status only 6 years later.

Now let’s turn our eyes to Spain, where the Celtic revolt was still going on. Two pro-praetors there called Iunus Brutus and Publius Cornelius Sulla, descended of Spurius Sulla, who were quite successful in halting the Celtic expansion. But his military power was limited and they were only able to defend the position.

Now back in Rome things got complicated. Calatinus had 7 consulships in a row, which was quite unusual. He was the hero of the Italian wars and popular with the people. He was ambitious and that was what the Roman senators didn’t like at all. Why? Because whenever someone spoke of Calatinus the Senators heard Cotta and Denatus.
Now the new consuls were to go to Spain and clear the situation and the nobles didn’t want Calatinus have a 8th or even 9th consulship, even if he was the most able man for the job. So the Senators influenced the election of 87 and voted for Silanus and Lucius Perperna. Remember that in the Roman Republic the rich classes got to vote first and therefore they were able to influence the vote heavily. Silanus immediately prepared the Roman legions and sailed to the southern coast of Spain.

Calatinus was furious that the Senate chose his former protégé as consul over him, the saviour of Rome in the Italian wars.
Nevertheless Silanus sailed away and left the Senators to deal with Calatinus. Now Calatinus was not a man who accepted defeat like this. He called for the Plebeian assembly, and all ten tribunes nominated Calatinus for a special mandate to deal with the rebellion in Spain. This was a bit odd for the Roman standards but let’s not forget that Calatinus was a highly influential Plebeian who was willing to walk over the Senators dead bodies for his career. So two months after Silanus had left Rome Calatinus gathered his troops and sailed to the north eastern coast of Spain.
For Silanus this was quite the provocation, but he was willing to play along for the moment.

Rough outlay of the campain in Spain. Silanus took the southern route. The northern route was the campaign of Calatinus.

In fall 87 BC Calatinus already started attacking the Cantabri and the Vascones under their leader Minuro Tacubicoi. Clearly, Calatinus was no man of idle moments. He defeated the Cantabri in two battles during the first year.

Calatinus left his Macedon soldiers in Italy and recruited Celt Iberians as auxilia cavalry.

These riders were equiped light enough to skirmish and harras the enemy but also tough enough excellent hand to hand combat.

A Cantabrian warlord giving orders to his troops.

Calatinus legions had fought in Greece and Italy already...

... and now they were driving off the Celt Iberians.

Eventually Calatinus drove off all his enemies.

Silanus attack didn’t start until late 87 BC. He attacked the Lusitanians and captured the important city of Lacuni Murgi where he also captured the Lusitanians rebel king Lacobricoi.

Silanus [don't mind the Augustus name] attacking Lacobricoi

So by the end of the year Silanus already had the most valuable price, he had the Lusitanian king in chains.
Calatinus answered this with the crucification of 5000 celtic prisoners. This may sound cruel for our eyes, but for the masses of Rome this was exciting news. Some of you may know this event from Picassos painting “The crucifcation”.

As I see that time is running out of todays lection I’m gonna speed the campaign up a bit. Esentially in 86 BC both Silanus and Calatinus fought on two fronts against the rebels, reconquering the lost territory.

Calatinus camapign against the Austures.

Silanus secures the domains of the Turduli and the Callaeci in the north.

Summary of both campaigns.

By early 85 BC all of Spain was reconquered, except for the Canatbri. The Cantabri were situated in the north so it was Calatinus area of interesst. But he feared that Silanus might return to Rome before him and reap all the fame for the war. So Calatinus paid tribute to the Cantabri and returned to Rome in 84 BC. This time Calatinus cought Silanus off guard who was left to stabilize the situation in Spain.

Calatinus returned to Rome, acclaimed by the masses and distrusted by the Senators. He enjoyed a triumph and made it public that he would not run for consulship for 83 BC to appease the tense situation in Rome. Silanus was also ready to make a step forward to his former mentor and proposed in 83 BC to meet in Massalia, modern day Marsailles, which was more or less neutral ground for both of them. Silanus was not ready to return to Rome as only the second junior victor and wanted a to make a deal with Calatinus that would secure his portion of fame.
But that year also saw an increase of pirates attack on the eastern and western shores of Italy. There were at least two major attacks and Calatinus stood up and said he would deal with the situation if he only would get another special command. The historian Fabius accuses Calatinus of being paranoid, since it seemed that he feared the meeting in Massalia in 82 BC.

Massalia was allied to the Romans, but officialy not part of any province.

Pirates destroying a Roman fleet.

Nevertheless Calatinus did get his special command with proconsular rights in 82 BC by the Senators, much to everyones surprise and off he went to Greece to attack the island of Creta, a large center for pirate attacks. He left the young Plebeian Tribune Titus Papirus Paetus to defend his interests.
What did Silanus do? Well we can guess that he was quite surprised that Calatinus did not want to shake hands with him afterall. So he sees an opportunity to get back to Rome as the true victor. In August 82 BC Silanus lands in Italy, with his legions and marches on Rome.

Now this was it. Rome was full with Calatinus supporters and everyone knew that Silanus would wage civil war if he walk towars Rome with troops. But Silanus thought it was simply too dangerous to march into the hornets nest without protection.

Silanus marches on Rome with his legions!

In my opinion this is the moment the Republic fell. It is clear that the Republic continued to exist for a few decades, but it did not function anymore like it should. Silanus march on Rome was the high noon of the Roman republic. Like two cowboys duelling with each others, Silanus shot the republic and for a moment it still stood although the person was already dead.

Now I see that we already overdrew our time by ten minutes so I am gonna make a break for tonight. See you all next week.

**Fixiwee** · 01-14-2010, 21:59

How Lucius Marcundus accidentally brought down the Roman Republic
(part I)

“By Mars hairy ****” Lucius came home from his school class and saw his father standing in the room cursing angrily. He looked at his father as he did not understand what was going on. Manius, Lucius father, noticed his child and started to smile, patting Lucius head. “Don’t worry Lucius. Everything is fine. It’s just stupid politics, that’s all.” He paused “How about we do our sculpting lesson tomorrow and instead you take the afternoon off and go see the parade?”

Lucius Marcundus was a twelve year old boy born to an aspiring Plebeian family. His father, Manius Marcundus, was a successful marble sculptor specialised in animal figures. Business was going well and Manius could even afford being a member of the ordo equester, a class of wealthy roman citizens. Lucius was able to go to school during the forenoon and during afternoons he took sculptor lessons with his father.
But on that particular day Publius Iunus Silanus returned to Rome from Spain with his troops and there was a welcoming parade planned. And this very day would change Lucius life, yet it had only little to do with Silanus.

Lucius agreed to his father’s proposal and left home to see the parade. This man, he didn’t even know much about him, entered the city with a parade displaying a real captured barbarian king. So Lucius went to the Via Flaminia, the road that arrives the city from the north. When he got there he noticed a tight crowd blocking his view in the narrow streets inside of Rome. Lucius would never see the Barbarian king that way.
“Hey, psst! Straw-head.”
Lucius looked around. He knew he was addressed, because he had blond hair.
“Hey you. Come here.”
Lucius spotted a boy in his age in a niche of a building. He made a few steps in his direction.
“Are you a barbarian? Do you speak Latin?”
“Jupiter! I’m not a barbarian. I’m just blond.” Lucius said with an irritated voice.
“Oh sorry, I didn’t mean to make you angry. It’s just that there are not many blond people in Rome. Hey my name is Tiberius.”

Tiberius was a strong looking boy with brown short hair and a determined looking face. But there was also something friendly about Tiberius, maybe it was the way he smiled, maybe it was the deep charismatic voice of him.

“My name is Lucius.”
“That’s an odd name for a barbarian. Ha-ha, I’m just kidding. Hey you want to see the parade? I know a perfect place for that. Follow me.”
Before Lucius could say anything Tiberius already ran off to the building across him. With a confused look Lucius followed him.

Tiberius ran inside a story apartment building, at the staircase he nearly ran over older woman with a large water pot. When Lucius came up running to the woman she shouted “You spoiled brats. Cerberus will eat both of you!” while trying to grab him. Lucius was quite agile and tumbled out of her grasp and caught up with Tiberius by climbing up a ladder onto the roof. Tiberius closed the wooden trap-door.

“Tiberius, hold on. The woman, isn’t she going to follow us?”
“That fat slag? I doubt she can climb a ladder.”
There were no sounds coming from down below. It seemed like the woman didn’t really care.
Lucius took a look around and notice that this was a perfect spot to oversee the Via Flaminia.

Tiberius also peeked down the road: “I can see a column moving in our direction. That’s got to be Silanus.”
“I just want to see that barbarian king.”
“Hey Lucius, how old are you?”
“I’m 12 years and 5 months old. You?”
“I’m 13. What’s your pa doing for a living?”
Lucius took a deep look at Tiberius.
“See, I don’t have a dad. I was born to two Greek lesbian prostitutes.”
Tiberius was flabbergasted.
“You are kidding me?” he replied.
The blond boy giggled. Lucius wasn’t good looking, he had wide standing ears and a long distinctive face, but he had a handsome and humorous way of dealing with people.
“Heh! Of course I am. My dad is a sculptor.”
“Oh that’s nice.”
“Yeah he sells a lot of goods to wealthy patricians. My dad always tells me how poor he started out and how he built up his own business just like that.”
“Well, my dad is a carpenter. We make all sorts of stuff. From furniture to working tools. You know, mostly stuff.” Tiberius peeked down to the streets.
A column of men in togas passed below them, in front of them was a thin man waving his hands to the crowd. Behind this column was an ox pulling an iron bared frame on two wooden wheels. A dirty naked man with an unshaven head and a bruised body was sitting inside. Some people were throwing rotten food at him and calling him obscene names.
“What’s the name of the barbarian king anyway?” Lucius asked.
“Something something Lacobricoi I think. It’s obvious that they have beaten him up. I wonder if these Barbarians are really all like that or if Silanus just likes to puts up a show. Hey Lucius, you want to be friends?”
“Sure why not.”
“Great. You know what? I know an abandoned building not far from here. You can find all kinds of funny stuff there. We could go there and play some games. Maybe some of my other friends will show up and we could play Athenians versus Spartans.”
“Sounds great.” Before Lucius could finish that sentence Tiberius already ran off.

This day was special one for Rome for it changed so many things the moment Lucius entered Rome. But it was also a special day for Silanus, who met a new friend that day.

**Hax** · 01-15-2010, 00:26

This is incredible. It's been quite a while since there was this good an AAR. Man, you made me feel the writing bones again.

**Fixiwee** · 01-15-2010, 02:12

Originally Posted by Hax

This is incredible. It's been quite a while since there was this good an AAR. Man, you made me feel the writing bones again.

*blush*

glad you like it. really.
I don't get many replies/feedback at the org, so I am all the more happy.

**vartan** · 01-15-2010, 05:20

Originally Posted by Hax

This is incredible. It's been quite a while since there was this good an AAR. Man, you made me feel the writing bones again.

I agree with Hax. I just never commented cause nothing I say could express how great I really think your AAR is, and your writing in general. Really, REALLY good job. I've been reading and I absolutely love this text. I love it.

**Jurdagat** · 01-15-2010, 21:50

One of the best AAR's in a long time.

Really amazing work!

**Fixiwee** · 01-16-2010, 04:03

Originally Posted by vartan

I agree with Hax. I just never commented cause nothing I say could express how great I really think your AAR is, and your writing in general. Really, REALLY good job. I've been reading and I absolutely love this text. I love it.

Thank you very much. Those comments mean a lot to me.

Originally Posted by Jurdagat

One of the best AAR's in a long time.

Really amazing work!

Thank you too. It's always nice when you put a lot of effort into something and people give you credit for your work.

That being said, some of my updates take up to 5 hours of work, and I still think they are incomplete. There is so much more that could be added, so much more ideas, but I guess it's never enough. So... Well.. Just thanks for being part of this AAR.

**Fixiwee** · 01-17-2010, 17:49

“You cannot simultaneously prevent and prepare for war.”
-Albert Einstein

Spinning out of control

The Roman Empire, by Wolfgang Schreier, Bonn 2003

While Silanus entered Rome in late 82 BC Calatinus prepared his invasion of Crete from Greece. The following spring he landed on the island, faced little resistance and occupied the centre of pirate activities.

Calatinus planed to continue his campaign in Anatolia in modern day Turkey, but the events in Rome forced him to act. He returned to the Greek mainland and started making business with two young but rich Romans, the Nero brothers. Both brothers were from the old Patrician Claudian gentes and looking for an opportunity to make new political allies. If Calatinus thought to find easy influenceable men with a lot of money he was wrong, because the Neros were strictly conservative and only made business with Calatinus because it suited their current situation.
In Rome Silanus was trying to denounce Calatinus in front of the Senate. But he did not count on Calatinus wife Aurelia. She was acting behind the curtain against Silanus, maintaining important support for her husband among the Senators. The ancient historian Fabius, who hardly has anything to say about women, speaks in the highest tone about Aurelia even though he is suspicious about Calatinus in his work. For the moment the Senate did not act against Calatinus.

But Calatinus returned in 80 BC and from there on things started to spin out of control. He landed with his troops in Brindisi, south Italy, but did not dare to go to Rome. If he marched against Rome with his troops he’d have seen as the tyrant Silanus was trying to make out of him and if he went without any troops he might have been completely defenceless against Silanus. So Calatinus decided to stay in Brindisi and act against his former protégé from there. Interestingly enough, when the Neros found out that Calatinus was acting against Silanus they broke up their connections with Calatinus. [This will be important later on].

Fabius - Ab Urbe Condita
(written at about 20 BC)

Book XX

(5) From Brindisi Calatinus welcomed his clients on a daily basis. But to show his political intentions he still lived in his military camp. Some Senators came to show their support to Calatinus, some came trying to dissolve the situation by diplomatic talks. In Rome several rumours about Silanus started to make their rounds. Some people said that he was drunk heavily and neglecting his work for the Roman people, some said that he was taking part in strange foreign religious cults and some said he had a homosexual affair with his Greek slaves he brought from Corinth. And all those rumours came up so sudden that it was clear they were staged from Brindisi.
(6) Silanus had enough of it. He convinced a prominent member of the Senate, Numerius Aemilius Papus to support him politically. Papus agreed and in Sextilis 675 AUC [August 79 BC] he and the Senate voted for Calatinus to become a hostes publici [enemy of the state]. Once again the political problems of Rome could only be solved by military means. Both sides prepared for war. […]

**Fixiwee** · 01-19-2010, 20:27

Battles of history with Patrick Goodwin

The battle of Aeclanum 79 BC

[The scene is an army camp in South Italy during a later summer day. It’s noon. The weather is perfect. Most soldiers are relaxing. Some are gambling, some are sleeping under trees, some are eating. The mood is well, only a few soldiers are patrolling in full battle gear. The men look experienced and battle hardened. Suddenly a Roman soldier with a chain mail and a typical Roman helmet rides on a horse into the camp. He descends from the horse and enters a large guarded tent in the middle of the camp
Inside the tent three men are sitting around a table and discussing things. The man in charge is about 55 years old with a sharp look.]

Calatinus: And then this Celtic boy asks me ‘Crusade me? But that’s not nice of you!’ and everyone bursts into laughter - only him standing there with a puzzled look. So I decided to spare his life. Heard he was killed back in his hill town for being a traitor. Bad luck, eh?

[All three men start to laugh. The soldier that just entered does not react and stands emotionless.]

Calatinus: Ah, soldier Verduncus.

[Verduncus quickly puts his right arm up, saluting his leader.]

Verduncus: Consular Calatinus. I bring news from Rome.

[He steps forward and gives him a leathern casket. Calatinus opens it, takes out a piece of paper and starts to read it.]

Calatinus: So what do we have here? More lies from Silanus? Well… Hmm… Interesting. [Pauses]
Gentlemen, Silanus has made me an enemy of the State. You have officially the right to kill me now.

[All three men laugh. Verduncus still stands emotionless.]

Calatinus: Dismissed soldier.

[Verduncus salutes Calatinus and leaves.]

Military legate: So what are you going to do? You can only go back to Greece or face Silanus in battle. And that would mean civil war.
Calatinus: I’m not going to take my legs and run away from that drunken son of whore, that’s for sure. Well…
[Sighs]
I guess Silanus really wants civil war. He shall have it.
[Pauses]
Alright, prepare the men. We leave the camp in three hours. Better not waste any time.

[Three hours later. All tents in the camp are gone. The soldiers, disciplined as they are, are standing in a perfect row. Calatinus and his legates are sitting on horses ready to address the soldiers.]

Calatinus: Soldiers! Men! Friends! Three hours ago I received a transcript from a senatorial resolution. This resolution says that we are trying to overthrow the Republic. Overthrow the Republic? Us? After all we have done serving the republic?
[Takes a deep breath]
A few of you were with me in Sparta, facing the mighty Spartiads. Some of you were with me in Spain testing our mettle against the Cantabrians. And most of you were with me on Crete, fighting off the pirates. And yet they dare to say we want to overthrow the Republic? Are those old men in the Senate mad? We safe their butts and they thank us by making us enemies?
[Looks around, starts to speak in a very loud voice.]
Let us teach this Silanus and the Senate a lesson.
Let them see that we will not step down from our righteous claim from the victories we have won.
Let us face Silanus to show what we are made off.
[The crowd cheers. Some draw their swords and swing them up in the air.]

[A day later. The scene is the Campus Martius, the large field with a few buildings. In the background Rome can be seen, with the Temple of Jupiter. Many soldiers run around gathering their equipment. Silanus, a thin man with a somewhat arrogant look stands in his breast plate among some Senators in their togas.]

Silanus: My good friends. It has come this far – we are marching to war – against Calatinus. I have promised to protect the Senate and the people of Rome. Yet this tyrant refuses to return to Rome without his legions. Clearly this Calatinus is a power hungry man who wants to rule Rome by him self. You all know what brutal men he is. He lusts for blood, killing innocent people in war. What stops him to do the same to us?
This is why we have to face Calatinus and win. Farewell Senators. I will return when Rome is safe from this tyrant. And if that means chasing him to India, I will.

Goodwin: The year is 79 BC and the Roman Republic is in a deep crisis. The Senate is divided into two factions. One the one side, the Optimates, represent the aristocratic elite who has been ruling Rome through the Senate for centuries. On the other side the Populares represent politicians who make politics through the people’s assembly of Rome. Both factions want power in their hands and neither can be compared to a modern democratic party.
In 79 BC two men are about to wage civil war. The first one is the smart Publius Iunius Silanus, an Optimates from an insignificant patrician family. The second one is the charismatic Aulus Atilius Calatinus, a plebeian who rose to the political top through military success. Both men know each other very well, since Calatinus was once the mentor of Silanus. Now they are enemies.

[Later on the same day: Silanus legion is marching to the beautiful Italian landscape. Olive trees can be seen on both sides of the impressive ancient Roman road. On the front a column marches carrying the legionary eagle. Silanus is on a horse riding just a few paces behind them.]

Silanus [speaking to his legates]: This Calatinus is an experienced military leader. He has seen many battles and mastered many battle tactics. But so do I.
The key to success is to break his elite cavalry. This is why I brought Liguarian mercenaries to aid us. They fight with long spears that are perfect to counter his riders.
Military legate: We could deliberately give away the initiative by taking the high ground, let Calatinus flank us and use the Ligurians to counter the attack.
Silanus: Brilliant idea. We could even post ourselves close to a landmark like a large formation of rocks or a wood that would cover one flank entirely forcing Calatinus to use all his cavalry on one side only.

The plan: Silanus main line is red, his mercanaries are grey. Calatinus main line is green, his elite cavarly blue.

Goodwin: A few days later, in early September of 79 BC both armies are in close reach in Campania, in the centre of Italy. Silanus, fearing Calatinus Spanish and Macedonian auxiliary cavalry takes the high ground on a hill near modern day Montemiletto. There he waits for Calatinus. On the 5th of September Calatinus reaches his position. The weather is terrible that day, it rains since the morning.

[The hill of Montemiletto can be seen in the background. It rains and fog clouds the mountains in the back. Calatinus stands in a field and musters the enemy.]

Calatinus: He is trying to lure me to attack, but why? This looks like a trap to me. But what is this boy planning exactly.
Military legate: He might be trying to ambush you from the trees.
Calatinus: Yes probably. If we attack him in this weather his line of sight will be weak. He probably wants me to force my cavalry over one flank. I guess we could disturb his plan by pushing through the forest with the foot soldiers.
Ha!
We will flank him at the one spot were he thinks we cannot. Brilliant. Order the military tribunes to prepare everyone for the attack.

Calatinus plan: Break through the forest with infantry.

Goodwin: Both sides prepare for battle. The soldiers control their equipment and make their prayers. Calatinus and Silanus both give last instructions to their legates and tribunes. They give the orders to the centurions who pass it to their soldiers. The battle is about to begin.

The initial battle formation.

Calatinus: My fellow soldiers. I won’t bore you with long speeches now. The time for talking is over, now is the time for deeds. It’s time to chop down the enemy of the hill. Remember, they are not Romans, they are traitors! I’ll see you behind the enemy line.

[Calatinus rides ahead of his troops. He comes up to the enemy lines in attacking distance.]

Calatinus [shouting to the enemy infantry]: Romans! You are about to fight those men who went out to defend the Republic and the people of Rome. Don’t believe the lies of the Optimates. Disobey their orders. Despite what they tell you, we are not the enemy.

Silanus [to his bodyguard]: Calatinus may be a pig. But I’ll give him that he is one hell of a brave pig. Signal the attack. Order the Scorpions to fire at Calatinus.

[Low pitched trumpets signal Silanus troops to get ready. The artillery (Scorpions) begins to load its arrows]

[The artillery fires their arrows. They hit two bodyguards of Calatinus.
Calatinus gives the signal to attack: Their trumpets sound as well. Suddenly his troops start to run up the hill with their throwing spears in hand. They stop and throw it. The battle has begun.]

[Calatinus soldiers start to charge Silanus line]

Goodwin: Like planned Calatinus surprises Silanus by attacking the flank in the woods. It is in fact the flank that he thought well protected.

[Fighting is happening all over the battle field. It is noisy and hectic. Some people scream caused by stabbing wounds, most people remain disciplined.]

[On the open flank the Liguarians fight the Spanish cavalry]

[Calatinus is close behind his troops, shouting orders.]

Calatinus: Reinforce the centre. And for the sake of Mars, someone order the Spanish fools back from the flank. I’ll be d…

[Calatinus is suddenly pierced through his torso with a large Scorpio arrow. The impact immediately throws him off the horse. Lying on the ground he is mumbling breathless. A few seconds later he stops to move. His legates jump of the horse trying to help him.]

Goodwin: The battle is about to turn. Calatinus is killed by the relatively new artillery weapon. Yet the body of the army continues to fight without its head. The battle is not decided yet. In the forest, where Calatinus ordered his attack, his soldiers make good progress.

Goodwin: Silanus is unaware that Calatinus is dead. All of the sudden his Macedonian cavalry charges out of the nearby woods and kill all soldiers maintaining the Scorpio. Silanus himself attacks Calatinus elite riders.

[There is fighting between Macedonian lancers and Roman cavalry. The lancers are not suited for hand to hand combat and retreat. The Scorpio is unmanned.]

Goodwin: But alas, the battle turns. News spreads that Calatinus is dead and from the centre, where Calatinus was slain, people start to panic and flee.

[A soldier stands on the battle field with blood all over his chain shirt. He screams: ‘We can’t fight without our leader. Save yourself! Run! Run!’ A centurion tries to stop him and wrestle him to the ground, but more and more people start to flee.]

Silanus breaks through. The red X marks the positon of Calatinus death.

Goodwin: The panic spreads quickly among Calatinus troops.

Goodwin: A few groups hold out, but they are encircled by Silanus troops. Strangely enough, Silanus left flank, the flank he had his best troops, breaks away, even after most of Calatinus troops are on the run by now.

Goodwin: Silanus jumps into action once again and charges into his left flank…

Goodwin: … and moments later the last pocket of resistance breaks away as well.

Silanus [shouting to his remaining soldiers]: We did it! We defeated Calatinus. We did it! The Republic is saved.
[catches breath]
By the gods, we have defeated Calatinus.

Goodwin: Silanus had won the battle. Both sides had about 30.000 troops. Calatinus lost 27.000 men, while Silanus lost 18.000 men. The battle of Aeclanum was a dreadful battle with high costs on both sides. But the Optimates had won an important victory nonetheless.

But that was not the end of the story. Silanus returned to Rome. Not as a victor but as an avenger. After this victory the head of the Populares was defeated and Silanus saw his opportunity to destroy the Populares once and for all. He sought to end the civil war. Did it all end with Silanus victory at Aeclanum? Certainly not!

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