Re: Will of the Senate - Senate Deliberations II
[NUMERIUS AUREOLUS]: Legio V is en route to rendezvous with the fleet and sail to Byzantion. It would be a simple matter to call on Debeltos first. The aim of the expedition, to my mind, should be to eradicate forever the last vestiges of the Greek and Macedonian kingdoms. At the moment, this will require that we seize Debeltos from Macedon and Byzantion and Nicomedia from Greece.
We should certainly retain hold of Byzantion. Although it is isolated from the rest of the Republic, it is an important settlement of great potential. However, there is less benefit from trying to hold Debeltos and Greek held Nicomedia. Moreover, while Legio V could guard one isolated settlement, it could not credibly guard three.
I suspect Seleucia might refuse the gift of Debeltos on the grounds that it is indefensible; Egypt probably would not. I would not be averse to gifting the settlement to Egypt (and Nicomedia to either Egypt or Seleucia). But I suspect now that we are neighbours, war between us will break out sooner or later. It seems to be the way of the world: we are regarded as threatening upstarts, who must be strangled at birth.
Perhaps gifting Debeltos to Egypt will delay war. But regardless, it should be regarded only as a temporary measure. We have planned to take the Danube as our frontier. Logically, that dictates expelling Egypt from Europe. If war with Egypt comes, we must strike ruthlessly to that end. With Legate Coruncanius and pro-Consul Pansa to the west of Egypt's European provinces, and Legio V soon to be stationed to their east, I believe this could be swiftly accomplished
Bookmarks