Civil War Stories, The Will of the Senate

[econ21]

The Eternal City

Jack loved Professor Muscatelli. Quite why a tall, handsome 25 year old research student pumped full of testosterone would love a short, balding, overweight middle-aged man was not something Jack wanted to delve into. But how could you not love a man who gave you assignments like this:

"Summarise the dispositions of the rival forces in the Roman Civil War at the end of Summer 250. Pay special attention to the battle of Ancrya."

Ok, thought Jack, let's look at my notes:

Right, Servius, let's start with him - the main man. He was ... on a fleet, sailing to Rome. Wow, he got quite far. Should make landfall in a season or two. And he's got Quintus Naevus heading to Rome via Massilia. Why didn't he march with Naevus? Well, no one could ever figure him out during his time, so what chance do I have? And poor Quintus Libo - he's stuck out in the wilds of Gaul, being hounded by Iberians. Um, he left his ford position - may not have been wise, with those strong Iberian armies around, but I guess there was no point trying to bleed the Iberians to death while Rome burned.

And the Senate forces in Greece and Thrace. Pah. They'd scarcely moved. Slowed down by hiring a few pathetic mercenaries. What a bunch of losers. Except that Decius Laevinus - the guy had a mind as sharp as a steel razor. Woefully under-appreciated by his peers. He nipped across the sea from Apollonia and frantically started trying to create an army to oppose Servius. That old bruiser, Luca Mamillus, he was doing the same in north Italy. Wait up - who's he roped in with him? What! Publius Laevinus! Crumbs, that's a name from the past. I thought he was dead by then or something? And what were they calling their hordes of Gallic mercenaries? "The Third Field Army"?!? Get out of here! Servius's veterans would carve them up like a hot knife through butter. Publius would have known that better than anyone. I guess the guy had a black sense of humour.

Umm, mustn't forget to report on Lucius Aemilius - his Second Field Army had just got ripped apart from within. Gnaius Hordeonius tried to break off those units with commanders loyal to the Consul. By the time the mutiny was over, Lucius had lost all his principes and two strong spear units. Ouch, that's gotta hurt. A few cowards refused to side with either the Consul or the Senate, so Lucius left them at Sarmisegetusa. All of them probably ended up getting squished by the Thracians. That's what happens when you stand in the middle of the road - you get run over. What happened to Gnaius? Lucius didn't want him executed, as the Senate were still trying to sweet talk his father, Titus Vatinus, into declaring for them. Well, that did not work out so well for them, did it? Anyway, let's see - Gnaius. Oh yes, Lucius left him imprisoned in Sarmisegetusa. Poor guy. I bet the Thracians had some fun with him when they overran the place.

OK, I think that's Europe covered. What about Afrika? Oppius Aemilius is sailing towards Carthage. Flavius Paucuvius is marching closeby - probably looking for some support facing down Marcellus Aemilius. But what's this? Flavius has gathered a bucket load of top class mercenaries - including elephants! His army numbers over 1700. Reckon he doesn't need Oppius's support now. So what's Marcellus up to? He's boarded his army on a fleet and is just off Carthage. What's his game? Is he going to land and take on Flavius? Or is he going to race Oppius for Italy? Well that's not exactly a hard choice - unless the dude liked being defecated on by pachyderms!

And so to Ancrya. That's why I love the old Prof. He really gets the blood and the gore. "Give me a battle report!" he likes to bellow. Umm, ok, but not yet. No, right now, he only wants to know the pre-battle numbers. So, what have we got? Numerius the Victor versus Manius the Victor. Not exactly a modest bunch, were they? Couldn't have happened to a better group of guys, I think. I mean, that Numerius - some reckon he was a great Republican, trying to stave off the rise of Empire. I hate him. He smashed the Republic. He could have waited one season. One lousy season and then Servius would have stepped down, and the Republic could have gone on from the great things Servius did for it. But no, that self-important jerk had to push it, didn't he? He had to push Servius in a corner - impeach him, when that fails, well, why not try it again? And then what? Demand he be dragged back to the Senate a prisoner by some lard-ass Senate bureaucrat. Yeah, right, like Servius would have agreed to that. I hate Numerius: he broke the Republic for nothing.

Anyway, enough of my love for ol' bushy eyebrows Numerius. No, actually, that's not enough. Why did he do it? Manius was coming for him. Why did Numerius turn around and go right back at Manius? He had no advantage in numbers or quality of men. Giving battle when you have no advantage was a big no-no in the ancient world. Real generals maneouvred for days to get the slightest edge. But not Numerius, no. He took the same subtle approach he used to smash the Republic. Bull in the proverbial China shop.

But why? I know him. That was not who he was. He might pretend to be the new "Alexander" but I've read his letters. He was a chicken - had no more confidence in his ability or that of his men than the Professor does with hot female grad students. Where's that letter he wrote to Marcellus Aemillus? There it is - he says it, right there. He wanted to skedaddle. Run right for Rome and blow "honour". All he cared about was Rome and Servius. He had no beef with Manius. So why didn't he run? He could have made it. He had a headstart on Manius. Was it because Titus Vatinus and Manius the Mad were blockading the straits? No, they could not have stopped Legio V, not after it had recruited all those mercenaries. Was it because he did not want to surrender the east to Servius? No, he did not care a damn for the east. He only cared for Rome. So why?

Hmm. Let's see - who's this? "Appius Barbatus"? I'm sure I heard that name before. Right - Numerius's ex-Tribune. Took over Legio V while Numerius went off the radar for a few years. Now, where did Appius come from? Whoa, he came from far to the east. Ah, I get it. Numerius could outrun Manius but Appius could not. So Numerius joined forces with his ex-Tribune and forced a showdown. Dumb, man, dumb. Who would have cared if Appius got squished? He was not important, Numerius - you said it yourself. Only Rome and Servius mattered. You knew that. Just like you knew you could have let Servius finish his term in office. You knew it and you blew it anyway. And that's why I hate you, you self-righteous prat.


The battle location and Numerius's Legio V:



Reinforced by Appius Barbatus:



Ranged against Manius's Legio II:



Reinforced by his adopted son, Placus Calvinus: