RTW: Julii Take over the empire
Diary of Appius the Philosipher:
It is the summer of my 5th year (86 BC) as head of the family and much has happened since I've taken the reigns. Only a year ago on my command my nephew marched his army into Rome and dissolved the Senate. In his letters he tells of the magnificence of the capital city. I have ordered my administration to be moved into the Imperial Palace and hear that the process is nearly complete. My nephew writes that he rode into the city to an ovation for the ages. They lined the streets from the city gates all the way to the Imperial Senate. And they cheered our soldiers as they stormed the building and publicly dissolved the Senate. Reports say that they cheered his name and mine for hours into the evening when celebrations sprouted throughout the city. Ever the strategist my nephew held games the next day to celebrate our victory over the tyranny of the Senate! All exhibitions so all the gladiators would live to see the ceremony acknowledging my rule over the great Empire of Rome!!
All the news is not joyful however. The Egyptians continue to march on Nicomedia and Ancyra no matter how many times we repel their armies. They have even reached the city walls a few times! After more than 2 generations of fighting to a virtual stalemate we have finally managed to advance an army and have conquered Tarsus and now Sardis seems safely out of the Egyptian's grasp. Tarsus is still far from secure however as the Egyptians have several armies scattered in the area. None very big but the garrison in Tarsus has not yet been able to train enough new recruits to fill out the ranks and our army is vulnerable. I have faith that the gods will not abandon us now after they have favored us for so long.
What truly saddens me however is the civil war between Romans. In the west the Scipii have finally conquered Carthago Nova and have besieged Asturica. I fear it won't be long before Asturica falls to their army. Since we have no hope of moving troops into the Iberian Penninsula fast enough we will simply have to honor their memory when they fall and avenge them when we gather west to retake the Penninsula. These people really believe they have a chance to win this war now that they've taken these lands from us. But we hold the only river crossing out of the penninsula and Osca reinforces our units faster than they can be worn down. The Scipii however insist on trying to take the bridge!! Utter madness!! We have a full army waiting for them every time and everytime we send them running away with a small fraction of the army they bring, sometimes not even enough to organize a column for the march home in which case they disband.
We have fought to a standstill with the Scipii and Egyptians for many years but we did so with a clear goal in mind. To rid the empire of the Brutii once and for all!! These backstabbers have no right to exist!! We declared war on the Egyptians because they were too strong for the Brutii to fight alone so we used our navy to ferry several armies to the shores near Pergamum. Once we took the city we spread to Halicarnassus and Nicomedia driving a wedge between the bulk of the Egyptian army and the Brutii. And how are we rewarded for our loyalty? We are accused of conspiring against Rome by the very people we fought to defend! That was when hostilities broke out with the Brutii family. Since this time we have taken the old Greek cities all the way to Byzantium from the Brutii and spread north as far as Campus Scythii, Porolissum, Campus Lazyges and Aquincum. Now the Brutii have been reduced to a small family holding 8 provinces (Lovosice, Vicus Marcomanni, Vicus Gothii, Domus Dulcis Domus, Vicus Venedae, Campus Samartae, Tanais and Chersonisos). We have an army approaching the city walls at heavily defended Lovosice while the Brutii tried to sneak attack Aquincum I have moved 2 of my smaller armies to cut them off. While they have the much larger army in the field my men are better trained for war. Many of them veteran units. We will save the city yet. Our own armies prepare for the march north and should be ready in a year or 2.
Pressing matters await my attention. I must send my dispatches and prepare myself. I have waited all my life to see the city of Rome. My bodyguards and I leave tomorrow.
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