Chapter CXI: Sanguinary Effusions - Redux
(23 September 616 AUC/137 BC to 30 June 619 AUC/134BC)
(23 September 616 AUC/137 BC to 30 June 619 AUC/134BC)
The last four years saw the Republic conduct another successful expansionary war against the now terminally weakened Pontus, while forces were assembled to prepare for the anticipated next round with Egypt. The Religious faction still dominated the Senate, one of whose magnates – Gaius Fabius Pictor – had taken over in a special Consular election after the untimely (but natural) death of his predecessor Titus Fabius Gurges at the seemingly cursed age of 46.
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September-December 616 AUC
When the peace with Pontus was around a week old, Consul Pictor called for a comparative analysis of the Republic in a range of areas. Rome led in income, gold reserves and research (especially with Minerva’s favour currently in force). Humphronius delivered the information as the Consul and Bernardius reclined in the Consul's tablinum.
“And Consul, there is another missive from the Senate,” announced Bernardius with some disdain, after the briefing had ended. “Though their scribe seems barely literate – he writes that you should ‘make heretics removed from office.’”
“Yes, Consul.”
October passed peacefully enough, but on 2 November a popular uprising broke out in Caria. Legio II (C.A. Florus, 26 cohorts) was despatched from Paphlagonia to deal with the 10,000 malcontents. They would engage them on 5 December and destroy them a day later after a short and easy engagement (Rome 77/18,181; Rebels 10,000/10,000 killed). Florus would stay on, remaining in position to invade Egyptian Lycia if called upon and continue to recover manpower after the recent Pontic War.
Good news came on 28 December with Tyras becoming fully Roman in culture and religion.
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January-May 617 AUC
The year began with the long-awaited rising of the local barbarians in Bracara (north-west Hispania). The Autrigoni fielded only 3,000 warriors and were easily defeated by T.C. Maximus' half legion (Legio X, six cohorts) by 6 January (Rome 23/6,000; Autrigoni 1,270/3,000 killed).
In the east, the new colony in Iazyges (Danubian region) was founded on 21 January 617 AUC, with work on a stockade commenced immediately. On 4 February, Roman colonists could be despatched to Bracara after the Autrigoni finished their retreat north to Gallaicoi.
In mid-February, a fourth Egyptian army was spotted in Carthage, bring the total strength there to 88 regiments. This would vary in coming months, as one of the armies would be tasked elsewhere, including to take Malta back from the last Egyptian Rebel holdouts, but would settle back to the four army garrison eventually.
Rome assumed it must be costing them considerable attrition to keep such a large force there. Rome was able to distribute its own forces facing them over three provinces if necessary. On 20 March, one of those Egyptian armies did indeed begin storming ashore on Malta.
The Autrigoni did not make the usual futile return to attack Legio X in Bracara, instead turning up in Roman Brigantia on 2 April. Maximus soon had his legion marching towards the sound of the looting. The ‘battle’ was over in a day on 2 May, with slaves and loot taken (Rome 12/5,983; Autrigoni 1,730/1,730 killed). When he was done, Maximus was ordered to march south to Oretani – ready to advance directly on Egyptian Turduli if required to.
The same day, a herald from the Parisian client state announced a small civil war had broken out: "Nothing to worry about,” the ambassador reassured Humphronius, who received the news and passed it on to the Consul.
The culture of Panormus – one of the first provinces absorbed from Carthage into the Republic many decades before – finally became Roman on 10 May. And with the large Egyptian presence in Carthage once again established by mid-May, Legio III (Hamilcar Metallid, 29,000 men) began the long transit from Nassamones on the Egyptian border up to Hippo Regius.
May 26 brought an orderly transfer of Consular power with the election of Publius Valerius Falto – a member of the now second-placed Mercantile faction. He seemed a reasonable choice and old Bernardius and his maturing understudy Humphronius were well enough pleased with the turn of the wheel of fate. At first.
“Humphronius, I gather the Consul has been arranging unsupervised meetings for himself with junior members of the administration. This must stop at once.”
“But the Consul wants to get to know the civil servants, to understand what they do and why. He wants to run the administration better, as things are ‘now going pretty well’.”
“Humphronius, I am most puzzled by your apparent blithe acceptance of this parlous state of affairs. The Consul may learn things we don’t know. Our whole position could be undermined. You must give urgent and active consideration to this matter. The consequences could be unfortunate, even regrettable.”
Humphronius blanched at this strong language. “I should be grateful for further advice, Master Bernardius.”
“If the Consul were allowed to run the administration we would have ideas, innovations, public debate and external scrutiny,” recited Bernardius with a grave look upon his face. “The Consul is supposed to be an advocate, providing plausible explanations to the Senate and the People. Steering our legislation through. Most of all, he must ensure the Aerarium secures our budget: the money we need to do our job.”
Thus warned, Humphronius endeavoured to apply this to his work as the Consul’s Principal Private Secretary. With mixed success.
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June-December 617 AUC
The term of Falto began nicely, with the establishment of the new colony in Bracara on 5 June, the settlers starting work on the obligatory stockade as their first priority. In mid-June the Roman manpower reserve stood at 76,052, with 5,428 replacements required for the legions and 2,983 men being recruited each month.
The Parisii were true to their word, their civil war won against the rebels by 15 July. And after seemingly pulling back out a few months before, the Egyptians were again seen landing an army on Malta on 26 July. That civil war would finally end in a loyalist victory by 2 October.
In the meantime, despite dubious odds, a successful invocation of Minerva was made on 7 September. The poultry were again spared from the cooking pot.
Legio III arrived in Theveste on 13 December, Legio IV (Consul Falto) having shuffled up to Hippo Regius and Legio VI (A.C. Caudex, recently installed with war beckoning) staying in Thapsus. By then, Rome had 106 full-strength cohorts facing just over 80 Egyptian regiments of unknown strength in Carthage. A few recently completed elephant regiments were making their way to the three front line legions outside Carthage: soon the board would be set for the next Roman-Egyptian War.
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January-February 618 AUC
As so it came on 11 January 618 AUC (135 BC) that with strong Senate support, the emissary Tiberius Junius Bubulcus delivered the declaration of war to the Egyptian Basileus Alexandria. With no valid casus belli, there was a significant drop in the Republic's stability, partly offset by an extravagant sacrifice to the Gods (and games for the popular masses, of course).
The first moves in Africa saw a concerted advance on Carthage from three directions, though the starting times for each legion were staggered to ensure they all arrived at about the same time (give or take a day). The Egyptians had only a light screening force in Corniclanum, which was why just the one legion under M.J. Bubulcus had been left to deal with them. The key would be gaining a decisive victory in Carthage and hopefully destroying all four enemy armies enclosed there.
But one surprise came when the declaration of war prompted the Senate to declare the heretic elimination mission to have failed three years in advance of the stated deadline! This prompted yet another drop in stability for the Republic. But another six months would have to elapse before another sacrifice could be made, which may lead to rebellion in some of the more restive Roman provinces. And the Senate soon issued a new demand – albeit one that should prove far easier to fulfil.
Also on 17 February, Legio V attacked and crushed the Egyptian 3rd Army in Corniclanum in a single day for few losses (Rome 312/30,000; Egypt 8,000/8,000 killed). This was more like it!
In Carthage, as the three Roman legions descended on them, by 20 February all four Egyptian armies were attempting to escape to Thapsus, but should be caught just a few days before they could get away.
The Egyptian galleys were chased to Sinus Tarentinus, where Rome ‘won’ a short battle from 23-27 February that was in fact more an efficient fighting withdrawal by the Egyptians, though one of their galleys was captured as a prize. The 12 most damaged Roman ships were sent off to Ager Bruttius for repairs.
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March-June 618 AUC
The Egyptians were exhausted when caught again by Dives, who this time managed to gain the tactical advantage. The enemy fleet was completely destroyed, bringing the serious naval war to an effective close.
As the tremendous fight for Carthage brought an unprecedented effusion of life’s blood, Florus destroyed the Egyptian armies that had fled to Caria in two murderous days from 22-23 March [Rome 7 v 1 Egypt die rolls] (Rome 271/24,545; Egypt 12,867/12,867 killed).
But in Carthage, Rome’s atrocious bad luck continued and it wasn’t until 16 April that a semblance of equality returned, giving Caudex some hope he might still win, despite the mounting losses.
Falto was incensed. With Bernardius and Humphronius visiting at the time for Consular business, Falto confronted the head of his administrative department.
“Why was I not briefed on the full facts here before this catastrophe transpired?” All present knew he was not referring specifically to the loss of the battle, but the fact that he was being blamed for it, rather than Caudex, who had commanded in the field.
“Consul, on occasion there are some things it is better for the Consul not to know,” was Bernardius' bland response.
Falto could hardly believe his ears. “It is absolutely monstrous that I, the Peoples’ chief representative, be kept in ignorance.”
Falto undertook to get involved in day-to-day happenings within the administration and asked for reports ‘on everything’.
Humphronius, who had made an effort to take on Bernardius’ advice, responded with a classic bureaucratic digression.
“Consul, the traditional allocation of executive responsibilities has always been so determined as to liberate the Consular incumbent from the administrative minutiae by devolving the managerial functions to those whose experience and qualifications have better formed them for the performance of such humble offices, thereby releasing their political overlords for the more onerous duties and profound deliberations that are the inevitable concomitant of their exalted position.” Bernardius nodded approvingly. Falto's eyes glazed.
“I may have been upset by that had I understood a word of it, Humphronius. Can’t you express yourself in plain Latin?”
“I thought I had, Consul,” replied Humphronius, looking a little hurt.
Bernardius stepped in. “Consul, you are not in office to run this department.”
Falto was shocked – as much for the plain speech as its content. “I think I am, and the People think so too.”
“With respect,” said Bernardius, almost provoking Falto to draw his gladius against him, “you are wrong and they are wrong. I run the department. You get legislation passed, run the war and most importantly get us our budget. Without that, we will end up with a department so small even a Consul could run it!”
“Rubbish, Bernardius. I want action. Now. Direct access to all information. I never again want to hear the phrase ‘there are some things it is better for a Consul not to know'. See to it!”
“Yes, Consul,” was the frosty reply. He will learn, thought Bernardius to himself.
As the disaster at Carthage unfolded, on 4 May a large rebellion broke out in Argolis, with 18,000 militia besieging the fortress. Legio XIII, under (yet another) T.A. Barbula, was sent from Asia Minor to relieve Argolis, but it would take them months to get there, Rome not wishing to suffer the attrition of a far quicker sea transit.
The four Egyptian armies, which had a head start, reached Thapsus on 8 May, with one of them immediately heading to Theveste. By this time, Roman manpower stood at 106,000 but the legions now needed 51,464 replacements after the bloodbath in Carthage.
Battered but not undaunted, Caudex attacked his counterpart Philocrates Omirid in Thapsus on 31 May. This time he had no river crossing to deal with and found a modest early advantage. Furthermore, now he was on friendly territory again attrition would be reduced somewhat and replacements easier to draft in.
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July-September 618 AUC
The Second Battle of Carthage began on 6 July. As it happened, Caudex managed to get into position first that day and it was Philocrates Omirid who had to attack across the river. This was just as well, because the Egyptian had the better initial dispositions.
But on the basis that all good news must be accompanied by some bad news, a slave uprising struck Taladusii on 9 July, with 4,000 rebels besieging the town. The nearest Roman legions were either still conducting their sieges in Hispania or engaged in the desperate battle against the main Egyptian army in and around Carthage.
By 12 July, the Roman manpower reserve was down to 102,000 with 58,908 replacements needed. Though enough time had passed to allow another sacrifice to be made to the Gods, thus alleviating the relative instability that seemed to have touched off quite some provincial unrest of late.
“Publius, how did you ever get to be Consul? You’re such a clot! Don’t you see, you’ve played right into his hands. He must be utterly delighted. You’ve given him an open invitation to swamp you with useless information.”
And she was right. Feasibility studies, technical reports, past papers of assorted committees, grain requisitions … junk! Those bastards, he thought to himself. Either they give you so little information that you don’t know the facts, or so much that you can’t find them! In a later era, this would be called a Catch-22.
As Falto tried to figure out the best way ahead in the war back in Carthage, Caudex was out pursuing the Egyptians. On 11 August he slipped into Thapsus first but was surprised by an Egyptian attack, which only increased in intensity on the 16th. But this time, taking a leaf out of the Egyptian book, Caudex retreated back to Carthage as soon as this became clear, to minimise further casualties.
Back in Rome, the Pontifex Maximus presided over another successful omen, Minerva once again being invoked.
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October-December 618 AUC
An Egyptian proposal for a white peace was received on 2 October: it didn’t even merit enough support in the Senate (28/99) to be considered. Falto would have rejected it anyway. Especially given Turdetani soon fell, satisfying the last Senatorial mission and bringing up a new one the next day. But before the now freed Legio XII would be able to relieve Taladusii, they would have to make their way through the barbarians besieging Massaesyli.
And while that was happening, Corniclanum fell after a 241 day Roman siege. But M.J. Bubulcus held where he was – there would be no isolated adventure into the deserts of Egypt for now, anyway.
Caudex duly caught up with the four Egyptian armies in Theveste on 15 November, finding their morale still dire, but having to attack across a river obstacle. The fighting was even and the Egyptians withdrew after five days of fighting, though leaving behind another army commander to become a Roman prisoner. The pursuit continued to Tritonis.
Legio XII had still not made the laborious crossing of the Pillars of Hercules by the time Massaesyli fell after 301 days of barbarian siege on 26 November. Soon after, the rebels in Argolis took that city after just 211 days – just one day before the relieving Legio XIII attacked them! A great pity. T.A. Barbula had the measure of the rabble, though it took 11 days to defeat and disperse the 18,000 rebels.
The beginning of December saw the Seleucids launch a lightning war against the one remaining province held by the Bosporan Kingdom.
When Caudex caught up with the Egyptians in Tritonis on 19 December, it was essentially no contest, the exhausted enemy killed to the last man in a single day of fighting. This marked the final revenge for that earlier huge defeat in Carthage.
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January-June 619 AUC
In early January 619 AUC, the reinforcements were starting to flow more quickly out of the reserve and into the cohorts: the reserve was down to 85,336 with 61,511 replacements needed. There was no battle fought that month.
But on 3 February, the ten units of the Massyli arrived in Taldusii from Massaesyli: and attacked the four units of rebels there! Consul Falto was most pleased. The rebels would eventually win, sending the Massyli back to where they’d come from.
In early March, Bubulcus (still recovering from the attrition suffered while besieging Corniclanum) got word that a large body of Egyptian troops was approaching from the east. There was no desire for a possibly expensive stand before Roman reinforcements had arrived from the victorious Carthage campaign, to Legio V was withdrawn. Legio V would arrive safely in Leptis Magna on 8 April, before the Egyptians made it into Corniclanum.
To the east, Caudex fell upon the unfortunate rebel band in Taladusii on 4 May, before the siege could be completed, slaughtering the lot of them. It also meant the province was regained without any more need for an assault or siege, satisfying the Senate’s mission and leading to a new one. And a very easy one too, given the siege of Turduli was already nearing its end.
Omirid killed the remaining 6,566 Massyli in Massaesyli on 11 May, regaining 80 plundered gold talents and only losing 14 men in the process.
Down in Laguatan, the Censor Hamilcar Metallid was given a new command on 24 May, as the detachment sent there weeks before had recovered much of its strength (almost 25,000 troops). The Egyptian siege of Corniclanum had begun by that time.
But the next phase of the war would only concern Falto as a Proconsul and legate: the election on 25 May saw he Religious faction return to power, with the Mercantile party the only other with more than ten members.
But Maximus did know religion, with another generous sacrifice to the Gods made the day he assumed office. The Consul, Senate and People of Rome may have been happy, but Bernardius looked askance at the dwindling reserves of the Aerarium all these ‘wasteful extravagances’ had caused.
In the Egyptian war to date, a busy 618 had seen no new battles fought between the two great foes so far in 619. For Rome, only a few battles against barbarians and rebels had been fought in the last six months.
Battles of the Second Egyptian War, January 618 to June 619 AUC.
Consul Maximus would need to determine ‘where next’ for this latest Egyptian War. While the trauma of the horrendous effusion of blood in the last Egyptian war still haunted the memories of the Roman commanders. As did the desire for revenge against the foe who had now killed so many Roman soldiers over recent years.
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Finis
Finis
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