Chapter 1 – Rome’s Heroes



262BCE – Spring – The consulship of Lvcivs Postvmivs Megellvs and Quintvs Mamilivs Vitvlvs

The year is 262 BCE, or 491 years since Romulus and Remus founded the glorious city of Rome. Rome has risen from being a fledgling city-state under Etruscan rule to greatness! She now owns the entire Italian Peninsula. She has come to achieve dominance over her former masters, the Etruscans, the Lucanian and even the troublesome Samnites, who until 28 years ago were in a state of open war against Rome.

Yet Italy herself is not enough.

What is there that could possibly stop Rome from achieving far more? Who is there that would dare to defy Roman strength at arms. We shall thrust our Gladius’s up to the hilt into those who would dare to openly fight us.

However, there is one who would see us fail. One who would see us die.

Carthage

The name comes off the tongue and leaves the taste of manure behind it.

They are strong, yet we are stronger.

Our armies have spent the last 10 years campaigning in Southern Italy, yet there was always one problem we had. We did not have enough grain. Then we look across from Rhegiom in our south and we see Sicily. Sicily, a land who is blessed by the Gods in her bountiful fertility.

We have it from the best of sources that Sicily openly aided our former foe Epiros. Pah! Even united these pathetic Greeks can not stand against our might! They were weak!

And they suffered for it

Our first 2 Legions crossed the straight. The 2nd Legion took a foothold in Messana, and as I write this the 1st Legion is besieging Syracuse, though that could go on for another year at least.

But what of Carthage? She did not sit idly by as she should have. No, she defied us; she declared war on us under the pretence that Sicily should remain “free”. These Greeks know nothing of freedom. Their petty tyrants war against one another and for what? So that Carthage may further expand her sphere of influence?

So now we were at war with Carthage, however both of our legions were occupied. The 1st was besieging Syracuse, and the 2nd was securing Messana and turning it into the first Roman province.

We needed more men, and the 3rd Legion was to answer that call.

We needed to punish the Carthaginians, and the 3rd Legion was to answer that call.

We needed heroes, and the 3rd Legion was to answer that call.

A new Legion was commissioned and raised immediately. They came from all the Latin colonies spread around the peninsula. Some even hailed from Roma herself, particularly the wealthier Triarii and Equites.

Yet this legion needed someone to command it, but who? Rome has few able commanders, many of them being off campaigning in Sicily as it was, yet there was one man who came forward. His name was Cnaevs Scipio Asina. He was an Optimate and a patrician. A man with True Roman blood in him. He had spent much of his wealth on many of the people, having purchased several parades, and more importantly, he was a great public speaker. He could out debate any other politician of his time.



So he got the job.

“But what to do with this new legion, what to do with the Carthaginians?” The Senatores pondered.

Then Scipio came forth and offered a daring plan. A plan that would bring a swift end to this war with complete victory for Rome.

He would take the Legion, His Legion, to Sardinia, and there he would strike the Carthaginians a blow. There he would teach them the price of defying Rome.

New ships were ordered to be constructed.

The 3rd was to set sail.