The Generals of Rome: A Romani AAR

**julius_caesar_the_first** · 01-20-2008, 19:52

Well I am proud to present my first ever AAR (and for that matter my first ever written work).

I would first like to congratulate Chirurgeon for two of the best AAR's on the: "The Indomitable Nile" and "The Sands Of Africa", and for providing a writing style that I could feel comfortable writing in.

I realize that there are about 6 or 7 AAR's about the Romani but none (as far as I know) are in the Journal Format. I hope it turns out well.

Some notes about the rules I will be using:
The difficulty level is Medium (I don'y know if it is the case for EB but in RTW having a border with a faction was enough to guarantee a war even on easy) for the campaign and Hard for battles with large units (my computer can't work with anything bigger).
Also the historical consular system of the Republic is something that is impossible
to truly recreate within the limits of the RTW engine AND write in the Journal Format. I tried to find what Konny's "house rules" were and found a post by him talking specifically about the Romani. But those rules would not permit me to follow a single character over several years.
No cheats will be used.

Since I am sure anyone reading this is tired by now of my opening speech I present:

The Generals of Rome:

**julius_caesar_the_first** · 01-20-2008, 19:56

Chapter One – Caius Aurelius Cotta

Part I – Unfinished Buisness

Spring, 482 AUC

At last I have come of age and am ready to fight in the armies of Rome. For now I am the governor of Arpi but I hope the Senate will give me a military assignment soon.

Summer, 482 AUC

Good news! The Senate has decided to grant me my wish. I am going to be the one who will finish the war with the Epirotes. My assignment is to capture Taras. My first task was to intercept a small army heading to besiege Capua.

It consisted of just Hellenic Levy Phalanx. I simply used my Triarii to hold them in place and attacked the flanks and from behind with the rest of my infantry and my Equites Consulares.

It was an easy victory.

I have made may camp in the mountain pass and await some reinforcements from the north. The Senate probably wants to do more with this army than just capture Taras.

Winter, 482 AUC

Disaster has struck. I spent the rest of the summer and autumn preparing and resting the reinforcements from the north. At the beginning of winter we set out for Taras and arrived a month later.
I thought Fortuna had truly smiled upon us when I heard that our spies had managed to get the gates of the town open. Overconfident from my victory six months earlier I decided to attack the town and end this quickly. We had the enemy outnumbered two to one so I thought it would be easy.

I tried to enter from the north, west and east gates. My forcees in the west were the first to enter but were pinned down by Hoplites and Tarantine Cavalry.

Next was the east gate where the enemy general was waiting. My forces tried to break through but were soon routed and the enemy cavalry left the town to finish off my soldiers.

I came in through the north gate that was guarded just by a unit of Toxotai and pushed to the center of the town.

We then began to kill the troops defending the central square. We were joined by the forces from the west gate. We took the square and killed everyone but the general, who was still outside the town hunting the routing soldiers. When he returned he realized that the battle was lost and decided to surrender.

In the end it was a costly victory that had more to do with luck than my skill.

I had no choice but to then put the people to the sword, else they also rebel and make my humiliation complete.

When the senators heard what happened they were furious that I lost half of my men to a much weaker foe. This is a bad start to my career. I just hope I get a second chance.

Winter, 483 AUC

I have been named governor of Taras, but I suspect that it is only because there is no one better available right now. I have also received some good news. My “victory” at Taras and their other problems in Greece have convinced the Epirotes that a war with Rome cannot be won. We are now at peace and trading from the port of Taras can begin. Also our diplomat seems to have obtained some new trade agreements with Makedonia and the Koion Heleion.

Winter, 484 AUC

A tragedy has struck. Manius Curius Dentatus has died at the age of 67. We have lost a great man, a hero of the wars with the Samnites, and with all the virtues of a true Roman.
The title of Princeps has passed to Cneus Cornelis Blasio.

Summer, 485 AUC

The Gods have listened to my prayers! Good news arrived today from Rome. The Senate has grudgingly agreed to give me a second chance. Next year, when all of the units have been retrained I will be leaving for Reghion to deal with the traitor Aulus Decius Iubelius. I have my father to thank for this as much as I do the Gods. He has paid in part for the retraining of the army. We are not as wealthy as others in Rome so this has been hard. I will not disappoint my father this time. I can’t!
.

Autumn, 486 AUC

The camp lies just outside of Rhegion. No one can get in or out of this town. After the disaster that was the battle of Taras I am going to do this carefully.
After setting up the camp I sent an envoy to try to convince Aulus to surrender. He would not even meet with him. For now all I can do is wait. They have food for about a year and a half so it won’t be a long siege. At the end I shall win.
Still no matter how happy I am that I have been given this second chance I cannot help but feel unwanted. Most of the men under my command were at Taras as well. When they look at me I see only hate and disgust in the veterans and fear in the new recruits. They think I am incompetent, and not without reason. I intend to prove them wrong.

Late autumn, 487 AUC

VICTORY! The traitor tried to break the siege but could not beat me.

When we saw that they where coming out every one in the camp became tense. The soldiers waited for my orders with fear and apprehension. When they came I think they considered me mad.

I told them to use the battering rams we had as obstacles. Two units of Histati were to stay between the three rams, two of Principes were to protect the flanks and the Triarii on their flanks in a semicircle. The Leves and Accensi would be behind them. The Equites Romani were in the back on the left and right flanks. I was in the back at the center with a unit of Rorarii to coordinate this odd formation.

At first they tried to attack the right flank Principes but I sent the Triarii behind them and they routed.

Next Aulus came with two units of Principes and attacked the Histati on the right. I sent the entire right wing of the formation to attack them from behind and the Rorarii to replace them just in case. This trapped the enemy between the rams, the Histati and my former right flank troops.

Surrounded they panicked and tried to run but I, along with all of my cavalry immediately attacked them and the archers and skirmishers that were raining missiles on my troops.

We entered the town with no resistance.

Aulus fought desperately but was eventually captured.

The battle ended with fewer casualties than last time. I still think the men doubt my abilities as a general but that will change with time.

I was not kind to the survivors. I executed all but Aulus himself. I had him blinded and sent to Rome for a public execution.

For now I wait to see what the senators will ask of me. Still this victory will no doubt help me create a better reputation for myself.

**Chirurgeon** · 01-20-2008, 20:28

So you control all of southern Italy. Congratulations. Looks good so far. Your battle pics looks more like paintings than pictures? How did you do that? I like how you post using the AUC instead of BC. I might do that for my next AAR. Good job so far.