Roman: Scipii

[Pontifex Rex]

Crisis of Empire

Report to the Senate - Spring 230 BC

The campaign in Asia against the Egyptians began much as had the one against Pontus, agents moved out in advance of the armies to gather information and assassinate any unwary army commanders and royal family members. A failed assassination attempt against the heir, much as had happened with Pontus, brought an Egyptian declaration in the spring of 235 BC. Unfortunately for the Egyptians their armies were not placed to advance against the Scipii holdings in Asia as they had just been defeated in Babylonia.

II Legion (Asinius Marcellus), having just finished refitting in Hatra, had planned on marching to our Parthian allies aid but instead moved southwest and took Palmyra, although at a heavy cost, after two field and one seige battle. Unfortuntely, while laying seige to Damascus, plague broke out in the city, and though an Egyptian attempt to raise the seige was easily destroyed but the II Legion could not escape the effects of the plague as the city fell in 231 BC. This once powerfull legion has been slowly decimated over the last year by the effects of the pestilence. Damscus is currently under Imperial Quarantine.

Meanwhile, V Legion (Decius Victor) closely followed by VI (Vibius Sejanus) wheeled inside of the march path of II Legion and struck for Tarsus and Antioch. By the time both legions had cleared the mountain passes three Egyptian armies had arrived to do battle. The could not save Tarsus but did pose a threat to V Legion as it marched through the narrows between Antioch and the mountains. Much of the pressure was relieved when the horse archer host of Scythian mercenaries attacked the Egyptian columns from the east and V Legion went on to take both Antioch and Sidon and has just finished refitting in southwestern Syria. VI Legion boarded ship in Cilicia and crossed over to Cyprus, quickly conquoring the island. VI Legion is now regrouping in northern Phoenicia, preparing to march on Jerusalem.

Lucius Scipio, the Scipii faction leader, was leading the I Legion in the campaign in Libya when, in the fall of 232 BC, a delegation from the Plebian class, posing as merchants, approached him outside of Siwa. They mentioned that the people of Rome and of the empire had grown to admire his miltary skills greatly and were growing restless under the thumb of the Senate and its corrupt ways. While stopping short of treason the delegates intimated that should Lucius make a bid for power he would find mind much support from the citizens of the city. Lucius replied carefully, as he feared a possible Senatorial trap, stating that he was a loyal citizen of the empire and that any changes in Rome would have to come through the legal means of senate reform, he would not consider military action. Using the excuse that he had a seige to run, Lucius thanked the delegates and sent them on their way with the promise to listen to their grievances in more detail on his return to Capua after the Egyptian campaign had been successfully concluded.

After the plotters had departed, Lucius send word to II, III and IV Legions to begin moving towards Italy. Unknown to Lucius at the time, II Legion was trapped in Damascus by the plague but III Legion immediately began to march from the borders of Thrace heading for Segestica and IV Legion withdrew from raiding rebel bands in Germania and is now camped in the Alpine passes leading from Noricum to Venetia. If the plague in Damascus contiunues, V Legion may be given orders to return to Campania in its place. Over in Iberia, the VII Legion (now under Captain Amulius) took the city of Corduba but young Servius Scipio fell in the battle when he was run through by a Carthaginian lance during a melee. Sextus Scipio is en route with Hoplite and Samnite reinforcements and will take command of the Legion and continue to attempt to block further Julii expansion.

With growing political instability within the empire it was decided to begin raising three new legions to cover both current Scipii holdings, fight the war against Egypt and be prepared for in case civil war broke out. Quintus Sextus is currently raising the VIII Legion from barbarian mercenaries up north in Germania and Scythia, Captain Augustus has begun training the IX Legion in Sicilia and Numerus Scipio has undertaken the raising of the X Legion in Campania.

Five Year Plan for the years 230 - 226 BC

Lucius Scipio, known as "The Killer" for his ruthlessness with enemies, is currently on the Libyan coast marching westward to rendezvous with a naval squadron that will carry him back to Campania where he will take command of the IX Legion when it arrives. Placus Nigidius is on his way to Siwa from Greece to take command of I Legion. In Asia, VI Legion along with II Legion will continue the campaign against Egypt. VII Legion will move north in Iberia and disrupt, as mush as possible, the plans of the Julii. VIII legion will back up the XI (Danube) and XII (Thrace) garrison legions. V Legion will board ship in Syria and sail for Italy where it will join with III, IV, IX and X legions and stand ready to ensure the survival of the empire and the dominance of Rome against all her enemies.
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