I had the same thing once as the Julii with bandits in my territory.

Most of my forces were away from home and some bandtis appeared right next to my Capital. I tried to kill them but I lost. (for some reason the bandits were three units of Hastati, two velites and one unit of cavalry, all against my town watch and general's bodyguard) To make matters worse the bulk of my forces were in Gaul, fighting away.

Anyways I sat in my Capital building up a force to take out the bandits. I had equalled them in the number of Hastatai, when the big SPQR Army left Rome came marching over and demanded that I help them fight the bandits in MY Territory!!

Needless to say I was surprised when this formal request for aid came through and before long I was riding into battle alongside the Senate army. Boy it felt good.