The Will of the Senate - First Consul reports

[Death the destroyer of worlds]

18. Autumn 256 BC

The Greek city and the kingdom of Thrace sign an alliance.
The Greek city and the Seleucid empire sign a ceasefire.

Ocelina is born, the daughter of Numerius Aureolus and his wife Lucilla.

Salona finished construction of paved roads. Delmatia finished construction of a Roman Auxilia I building. Kydonia finished construction of a minor temple to Mars. Gergovia finished construction of an occupation. Debeltos finished construction of a shrine to Jupiter.

Roma recruits a squadron of equites. Arretium recruits a cohort of Triarii. Arminium recruits a cohort of Italian swordsmen. Corfinium recruits a cohort of Italian spearmen. Paestum recruits a cohort of principi. Corinth and Athens both finish construction of a superior light aphract.

In spite of our dramatic setbacks, we are still the strongest faction. The continuous warfare is putting a dent in our population growth however, especially of the small troop producing cities. We need more slaves.

The Cartheginians land in Sardinia, but do not attack Caralis yet. Their battle fleet vanishes in the Mediterranean. Alerted by our spy in Carthage, Decius Curtius, we are aware of massive (and I mean REALLY massive) troop movements to the west of the city of Carthage. He spies another army that has just boarded a small fleet. Our battle fleet, commanded by admiral Appius, moves in and attacks.




The defeated enemy fleet, with nowhere to run, is stranded on the rocky coast and all remaining ships are sunk with all hands. In addition to their ships, the Cartheginians lose 720 hoplites. A great victory for our navy !

In the Aegean sea, a small battle fleet is ready to advance on the Bosporus. Reinforcements are also on the way. The Ptolemaic empire bars our way.



The ships of the defeated enemy fleet are so badly damaged they sink after the battle. Our small fleet moves on toward the Bosporus, which is guarded by a powerful Ptolemaic Heptares.

Tribune Flavius Pacuvius arrives at Comata and takes over command of the Legio III Sicilia Aemilia. Tribune Marcellus Aemilius departs for Roma, with the new standard of the Consular Army, the banner of the Legio II Sabina Quintia, which is transferred to him by tribune Quintus Naevius, who is himself transferred to take command of the Cispine Gaul Legion.
After a careful study of the candidates for this position, I nominate Manius Coruncanius to take temporary command of the Consular Army, which has finished its training and is ready to depart for Sicily. Unencumbered by troops, Marcellus Aemilius will easily overtake him before he arrives and take over command.
I send my faithful battle partner, tribune Gnaeus Hordeonius, who has meanwhile been entrusted with the banner of the Legio VI Phoenix, to meet up with the hodgepodge of reinforcements near Patavium and to lead them toward Oduba with all haste. I, praetor Lucius Aemilius, move on ahead so that tribune Cornelius Saturnius and the Legio I Italia Victrix can depart for Greece this season. This risky move will leave the troops around Oduba without a commander for one season.

Tribune Quintus Libo builds a watch tower at the river crossing north of Luvavum and, meeting no resistance, crosses the river and begins the march on the Thracian held town of Viberi. My intent is to capture it and to give this region back to its rightful owners, our allies the Germans.

The Seleucid empire has moved large forces into our territory. The Greeks have marched out of their last city, Nicomedia, with the clear intent to attack Byzantium. This is the final straw. I order tribune Numerius Aureolus and the Legio V Alaudae to depart Byzantium and to defeat and enslave the Greeks. Afterwards we will raze the Greek city to the ground and abandon it. With any luck, a rebel army will arise to provide us with a free defensive force to our south.
Our forces clash outside Nicomedia and the Greek King sallies forth from the city in support, but flees back to the city when he sees that we are winning the battle. The Legio V Alaudae achieved a heroic victory, killing 479 for the cost of 82.


The second battle was over the city itself, between 478 Romans and 131 Greeks. We lost 23, killing all our enemies and the Greek king, and achieving a clear victory.

Tribune Numerius Aureolus enslaved the town as ordered, bringing us 5345 slaves and 1029 denarii. He then destroyed every building in the settlement, bringing us a further 9129 denarii. The legion departs the ruined city to march back to Byzantium and tribune Numerius Aureolus moves on ahead to keep the recently conquered city in line. He is joined by the cavalry from Debeltos. His account of this campaign can be read here.

This means the end for the Greek Cities. Their nation has been destroyed. This avenges the Roman losses suffered by the legendary consul Quintus and the Legio IV Gallica at the defeat at Appolonia.

The Seleucid empire has sent a powerful army northward and I order praetor Tiberius Coruncanius and the Field Army I to abandon Tylis and to march towards Ratiaria, where they will meet up with tribune Cornelius Saturnius and the Legio I Italia Victrix. Then they will turn around and go on the offensive, while our small fleet hopefully blocks Seleucid reinforcements from crossing the Bosporus. He hires some mercenaries on the way.


Legate Titus Vatinius hires yet more mercenaries to enforce order in Segestica. Next season should see order restored hopefully, so he can engage the rebels to the south of town, which I suspect have a large role to play in these disturbances.

As winter sets in, Tribune Quintus Libo and his German Legion are attacked by a large force of Thracians, that have been hiding in the woods.