Anno Domini 433
In Mantua, a number of high-ranking officials and generals of the Empire meet with the still infant Augustus, and they finally agree to establish a council which will guide the Emperor with administrative matters until he reaches adult age. The members of the Imperial council are Comes Marcus Valerius Scaeva, Magister et Princeps Senatus Anicius Auchenius Bassus, Comes Bonifacius, Magister Militum Flavius Constantius Felix and Comes Diviticus Maximus. [+10 clout to each, -10,000 to Imperial Treasury ]
After a long period of civilian Consuls, Comes Illyrici Diviticus Maximus is made the Consul for 434 AD. In East, the general of Gothic origin, Flavius Areobindus, is made the consul. He is also elevated to the position of magister militum per Orientem and assumes command of Eastern Roman forces facing the Sassanid Empire. [+25 clout to Diviticus Maximus ]
Together with the military men convening in Mantua, Valentinian III starts to receive lessons of swordsmanship – and most importantly of military strategy. However it starts to seem that Valentinian III might not be of a military Emperor sort, as he is more and more interested in arts, wine, good food, statues and girls…
In close co-ordination with his most loyal advisers, Valentinian III however comes up with a brilliant plan, deciding to use most of the wealth he has acquired lately on a huge project in Noricum. Many abandoned mines are bought by the Emperor, and even new gold deposits found. This gold starts to flow into the Emperor’s treasury, much to the discontent of the Senate. Many however fear that such a sudden surge of gold might cause further inflation…
[-80,000 Solidii, +25,000 yearly income, +15 clout ]
Augusta Justa Grata Honoria decides to buy up some land around Mantua, but most of these lands are already owned by his brother, the Augustus. However, some potent farm land along the Po is acquired by her. [-35,000 Solidii, +10,000 Income ]
The Augusta also works hard to expand her investments into the arts, creating the Honoriae Academiae Artibus (Honoria’s Academy for the Arts), where talented and poor art students and potential artists are granted scholarships and wealthy students can pay to be under the tutelage of some of the greatest artists in the Roman Empire. This turns out to be highly successful, as new artworks and statues are sold to all parts of the Empire – and even beyond its borders.
[-20,000 Solidii, +25 clout, +10,000 Solidii ]
Honoria visiting the art academy and watching a painter do his work.
In Gaul, Aegidius hires a number of blacksmiths to work on a number of foundries in Augustunemetum. They mostly work on new weapons for the Gaul army, but these weapons are not even close in quality when compared to the ones manufactured by the Po valley workshops. However, producing everyday equipment for Gaul farmers and urban population is way more successful. However, the stables project is finally finished, which provides Aegidius with better horses for his cavalry, and extra income for selling horses to local populace. [-20,000 Solidii, +15,000 income, + 5 % efficiency, stables finished ]
Aegidius also sent some engineering units to Eastern Gaul, where they were supposed to construct the Limes Burgundionum. The Burgundians – who consider themselves loyal to Rome are of course annoyed by this, and their King demands a clarification on Roman intentions, and that all works are ceased. This is however unneeded as a harsh autumn storm destroys most of the foundations of the forts and towers. [-25,000 Solidii to Imperial Treasury ]
Comes Bonifacius hosts a grand celebration at Carthage in the name of the Emperor. Games are arranged for the plebeians and free bread – and even some meat – is distributed. Behind the scenes, Bonifacius holds a private feast with African administrators and nobles, with Vicarius Anicius Auchenius Symmachus being the most important guest. Bonifacius’ son Sebastianus also meets these various important people. [-20,000 Solidii, +25 clout ]
A lavish feast in Carthage.
Comes Bonifacius orders the construction of seawalls in the major coastal cities in Africa. Though nobody knows who the potential enemy could be, as Rome controls the Mediterranean, the construction work proceeds well, and will soon be able to defend Africa against any naval attacks. The Limes Tingitaniae is also finally finished, and stability and peace in Africa are secured. [Limes Tingitaniae finished, 1/3 Africa cities seawalls, -75,000 Solidii to Imperial Treasury]
Comes Bonifacius spends rest of the year touring military camps in Africa with his son. The army of Africa is trained to work together effectively, developing tactics utilizing the best qualities of this large multi-ethnic combined arms force. Vandal infantry and Berber cavalry remind many of the great army of one Hannibal Barca centuries ago...
[-25,000 to Imperial Treasury, +10 % efficiency to Army of Africa ]
Comes Diviticus Maximus starts building canals and systems of irrigation along the Danube river. This would improve Imperial agricultural income there and perhaps even reduce effectiveness of invading cavalry because of the now wet terrain.
[-25,000 to Imperial Treasury, ½ irrigation systems]
As Diviticus Maximus arrives to Mantua for the Council negotiations, he presents a wagonload of the finest Pannonian beer as a gift to the Augustus. To the Augusta he gives a beautiful vase from the East. Diviticus Maximus is also seen walking around in the palace grounds, hoping to find out what actually happened to Flavius Aëtius – and Augusta Galla Placidia. In late November joyous news arrives from the villa of Salona. Diviticus Maximus’ wife Maxentia has given birth to a healthy son who is yet to be named.
[-10,000 Solidii, +5 clout ]
Princeps Senatus Anicius Auchenius Bassus is again busy. First he recruits a number of elite bodyguards among his most trusted clients and they start receiving a very nice pay. Then he recruits 3000 bucelarii, who will be spread to his properties outside Rome, in Tuscia and Latium. They are also paid well (thus the name “biscuit eater”) and they receive arms from the foundries of the Po valley. Many of them are also veterans who have wanted to join for a more peaceful task.
[-10,000 Solidii, -25,000 Income for upkeep costs, +3,000 Bucellarii Infantry to A. A. Bassus ]
Bucellarii guarding one of the estates in Tuscia.
Anicius Auchenius names Valentinian III “pater patriae”, a honorable title granted by the Senate. The title had not been granted for over a century (last time it was granted to Constantine the Great). This means that the Senate has high expectations of the young Augustus. A commission of Agriculture is formed, with its task to further acquire information on better agricultural methods. Some of the council’s members depart for East to look for better ways… [+25 clout to Valentinian III, -25,000 to Imperial Treasury, Agriculture Council results next turn ]
Administrators are sent to main ports to oversee that foreign traders are properly taxed. This of course sparks discontent among the Berber, Vandal and Visigoth merchants, and they even lose some income that way. [-5,000 to Imperial Treasury, -5,000 Income to Sigeric, +25,000 Imperial trade income ]
Marcus Valerius Scaeva spends most of his year in Rome itself. He works hard in the senate, creates important business ties, and is able to make the urban administration a bit more efficient. He also generally meets with important administrators, and even the ones sent to ports by A. A. Bassus. Somehow the taxation of Scaeva’s goods turns to be a lot smaller by the end of the year… [-15,000 Solidii, +10,000 income, +15 clout, -5,000 Imperial adm. costs ]
Vicarius Galliae, Septimus Viridius Draco distributes some abandoned land in Northern Gaul to peasants, and they start setting up small farms which provide a marginal income increase for both him and the Empire [+10,000 Imperial taxation, +5,000 Income to S. V. Draco ]
After this distribution program, S. V. Draco departs for a long, long journey. He first travels to Italia, briefly attending several senate sessions, but then he soon takes a ship and travels towards Constantinople. However, a storm on the sea wrecks his ship, and he ends up in Athens at the end of the year. [-5,000 Solidii. +5 clout ]
S. V. Draco sailing the stormy seas.
Vicarius Aquitaniae, Agrippa Cloelius Felix decides to send his younger brother, Quintus Cloelius Siculus, to Rome, in order to become a Senator, who can defend the interests of his brother and the Cloelii in general. [-5,000 Solidii, +15 clout ]
Agrippa Cloelius also personally travels to Rome, asking the Pope Sixtus III for spiritual advice on how to ensure the piety of the Churches in Aquitaine. It seems that Felix is starting to befriend the Pope, and that some of his opinions of some teachings start to have an influence on the Pope… [+15 clout, -5,000 Solidii ]
Pope Sixtus III, now considered by some a patron of Agrippa Cloelius Felix.
Flavius Iulius Agricola decides to finally help his friend Diviticus Maximus in the upkeep of the Pannonian breweries. More money is funneled there, and both can enjoy the results. Construction work at the Sirmium fort continue well, and the project will be finished the next year. [-20,000 Solidii to Iulius Agricola, +5,000 Income to both, -10,000 Solidii to Imperial treasury, 2/3 Fortress of Sirmium]
Julia Cornelia is seen visiting churches in Rome. She also gives away money to the poor on the streets, and this pious act is not left unnoticed… Julia Cornelia is namely blessed with pregnancy and she is excepted to give birth in January of 434 AD… [-10,000 Solidii, +15 clout ]
Rex Theodoric of the Visigoths continues training his son in military matters. Thorismund will soon be as skillful with both sword and tactics as his father. Further money is also allocated to the improvement of the Visigoth capital of Carthago Nova, and the construction work keeps going on right as planned. [-15,000 Solidii to Rex Theodoric, 2/3 Carthago Nova ]
To further Romanize his administration, Rex Theodoric splits his realm into administrative provinces following the Roman province lines. He is yet to make appointments for governors, but taxation is already becoming more efficient. [-5,000 to Visigoth treasury, +15,000 tax income. ]
As Bannerlord Adalwulf has left for Mantua, Thane and Siegfried are tasked with completing the work on the important coastal project, which is finished. Construction of the Toletum Coliseum copy also proceeds well. [-15,000 Solidii, +X on the coast, 2/3 Toletum Coliseum ]
The Arian Church of Dertosa is completed, and even some of the Hispano-Roman citizens are starting to adopt Arian ways of thinking. This new Arian church becomes the meeting point for many Arians living secretly in the Empire, and many of those permanently move there. [Church completed, +15 clout, +5,000 income to Sigeric, +5,000 tax to Visigoths. ]
The Arian Church of Dertosa.
Sigeric also supplies his warband with the best horses he can get; from the stables of Adalwulf. He also acquires new swords and chainmail from the Roman foundries. This greatly increases the efficiency of his troops. [-25,000 Solidii, +10 % efficiency ]
North in Britannia, Rex Hermenric re-establishes the Suebi thing assembly there. He continues uplifting the position of the King, granting the position greater power by increasing his votes within the Thing itself. In general he is well liked by the Thing assembly (and all the Suebi) and they believe that the Suebi will have a great future in Britannia. [+15 clout ]
GM NOTE: Enjoy! Stats will be done tomorrow. Also, orders due Friday, 23:59 GMT as usual.
