The Will of the Senate - First Consul reports

[Lucjan]

August, 499AUD

I have been kept quite busy by the affairs of state recently but have once again set sail for lands across the sea. I cannot write much now, there is a storm approaching, but I will be sure to report the most pressing facts. The senate can determine their importance for themselves.









As well as this, Carthage has managed to bribe away some of our Italian alae outside of Thapsus. Marcellus has been given the order to deal with this problem. http://www.totalwar.org/patrons/pbm/...-marcellus.zip

In nomini Roma, et pro totus doxa deum.
Servius

[Lucjan]

((Spring, 251 BC))

My consulship nears its end, and time is becoming hard to come by, but I feel confident that much can still be accomplished before my rule is over, and that I will leave this Republic in a stronger position than it has ever enjoyed.
To date, under my rule the Republic has repelled the Seleucids and made vast advances against both them and the Ptolemeics in the east. The majority of Asia Minor is ours, and what has not fallen cannot contend with the might of our legions there. Stability is quickly coming to that region, and I hope to have Prusa and Heracleia before the next elections, but only time can tell. We have reorganised the navy and are uncontested on the seas. Our heavy garrisons are being phased out in favor of lighter troops capable of performing the same job at a much lesser cost. The dire monetary situation of the Republic has been significantly alleviated, we know accrue 32,000 denarii a season, and will be making even more before my consulship ends. There are still a number of naval trading projects yet to be finished, a few more conquests in Afrika, and the garrisoning reorganisation. All of these will aid our coffers significantly. Our borders are secure in the east, in the west, at the Danube, and in Afrika. There is no place for enemies of Rome to strike without having to step within arms reach of our legions. Palma fell to us this season as well, and when my consulship ends, I will retire there until such a time that I am needed in Iberia.

The plan I shall leave the Republic off with for dealing with Iberia will have the following troops ready for deployment.
1 - Consular legion at Gergovia.
5 - Praetorian legions in Comata, Luvavum, Tingi, and Palma (2).
3 - Praetorian Fleets at Tingi and Palma (2).

The Roman hammer that would descend upon Iberia simultaneously through the advance of these forces would be enough to break Iberia before they even knew what had hit them, and the war would be over before it began.

Time will tell the fate of the Republic, but I have faith that we are entering our golden age, and for as long as I survive, I will not let that go.


Our construction the last two seasons was extensive, finishing some serious projects throughout the Republic.










And our recruitment focused on reinforcements for Marcellus Aemilius's legion, the creation of another small fleet in the east to maintain control while the main fleet heads back to Tarentum for transportation duties, and the regarrisoning efforts.







Yet another Coruncanii has come into the world. Congratulations to that family, and to Galerius Vatinius as well on his well deserved marriage.


A battle report will be posted tomorrow in the library detailing the events at Palma, but nevertheless, the island is ours.

I hereby submit this report for senatorial review.

In nomini Roma, et pro totus doxa deum.

Servius Aemilius

[Lucjan]

Once again I write my consular reports from far afield. My time is Rome was well appreciated, at least in an environmental sense. But I see now that the blind will of old men whose sight has gone astray from the true purpose of the senate must once again be properly fixed. Their gaze turned away from proper enemies to those who already cannot contend with us, whose lands would spread us unnecessarily thin in the wrong direction, whose wealth would inspire the senate's greed to break our own backs on an expedition doomed to failure before its own beginnings. I have fixed this. As I have fixed every mistake in judgement and error of thought that the senate has made during my consulship, it frightens me to wonder what will happen of the Republic when my consulship ends. I will be safe, this I know. My legion and I will return to the safety of my estate on Palma. But outside that island I fear the foolishness the men of this senate will bring to the Republic. But I can no longer control this. I have done for Rome all that I can do. I have brought the Greek colonies under control. I have given Rome Asia Minor, I have given Rome Carthage, I have given Rome a defensible eastern frontier...and I will leave Rome giving her one more gift. I will leave Rome giving her the foothold in Iberia she so strongly needs and desires. Let these barbarians break themselves on Roman arms. Hopefully by the end of the war, the senators in Rome will have broken themselves on old age, and the senate will be filled with younger minds less dilluded with age and old rivalries. Men born from war, men of logic, men of intellect, men of honor.

Word has reached me that Cornelius Saturninus's ship was attacked by pirates and sunk off the coast of Sicily, but even with the unforetunate loss of this general we must press on, the campaign ensues. The senate almost unanimously pushed for eastward expansion recently....I would laugh to see such a poor decision wrought upon this Republic, so it must be shown with the most undeniable facts that I will not let this occur. With Iberia, THERE SHALL BE WAR! All the men on the lines have been given there orders, but while we are weakest near Gergova, I fear not for whatever may occur there, for I will arrive there shortly. Emporiai will fall this season to my men, and the subsequent push north will wrest Gaul from Iberia without fail.

Rome is a nation that was born in war. But half the art of winning a war is knowing what battles to fight and when. We must strike at Iberia now, while the iron is hot. If the senate contests this, then let them take their contest to the gods.

Because the gods have looked upon me at the dusk of battle and smiled, and said aloud. "This is our son." And they have bid me slake Rome's thirst on the world, that Rome herself may be the daughter of the gods, and I, the man who gave her the beginnings of her golden age.



This image is a blatant ripoff from the "300" movie trailor.