Chapter LXXXVII: Ennui
(23 May 559/195 BC to 31 May 563/191 BC)
Foreword. The long post-war peace had continued into 559 AUC. Humphronius and Bernardius settled into their official roles, much as their family had for many decades now – apart from the one interruption. Eyes remained focused on barbarians, revolts and gradual expansion in the West and building forces and manpower reserves for the inevitable Third Eastern War that all knew was coming one day, but not when.
Maps showing the various battle locations and general dispositions by the end of this four-year period can be found at the end the chapter.
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23 May 559 – 30 June 560
Knowledge of construction techniques gradually developed, but no new breakthroughs were expected in that sphere for some years yet.
By early September 559, the Seleucid 5th Stratos garrisoning
Sparta numbered 36 regiments. Rome began to reorient its own border legions from central Greece to
Achaea and
Argolis to match it. They also started to recruit more men in Greece to ensure they could outnumber the Seleucids if it did come to war, with three
principes cohorts, and one each of cavalry and horse archers beginning training in early September.
In November, two more ships began construction, part of a gradual naval expansion program that would continue steadily over the coming few years. And in December, three more cohorts of
principes began training in Hispania, destined to reinforce the African Garrison in
Ikosim.
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The shipbuilding program gained a fortuitous boost in January 560 – an investment the now overflowing
Aerarium was easily able to afford.
Finally, after many months of waiting, the Triboci tribe rose in
Turones (on the Gallic-German border) on 2 February 560. G.C. Scipio, commanding the 5,000 legionaries of Legio III (Detachment II), lost only 59 men in wiping out the 2,000 tribesmen over three days. The colonists were sent for and would arrive on 5 June 560.
On 11 February, two more cohorts (
principes and archers) were raised in Greece to further bolster the legions guarding the border with
Sparta. Soon after, the recently claimed province of
Histri saw a barbarian uprising on 3 March, but only 1,000 Ligures warriors challenged the
in situ garrison of D.C. Maximus’ Legio XII (15,000 men). It was over in a single day, with no Roman soldiers lost.
At the end of March, Humphronius and Bernardius presented a summary of the political situation in Rome to Consul Drusus Cornelius Scipio, of the Military faction. It did not make happy reading for Scipio. The Populist faction continued to dominate the Senate, with polling showing its leader (L.A. Barbula) was the hot favourite for the next consulship and another Populist was also in the running.
Of the five Senatorial factions, the Military had the least current political attraction, so its prospects of growing were small. The one thing that tended to favour them in consular elections was their dominance of military commands. This meant their leading members were often very popular from battlefield victories and hence tended to garner good cross-party support, so their candidates were still able to get elected regularly, despite their small factional base.
In May, the next play in the
cursus honorum was made.
The outstanding young military prospect T.A Regulus was promoted from Pontifex to Censor, replaced by the charismatic Q.A. Papus (bearer of a famous name, but no military genius) as no more promising military talents were eligible for the top of priesthood at that time. This would free up A.I. Dives for the next key military appointment.
But despite the large persuasive bonus provided by Papus as the new Pontifex, the omen called that very day failed miserably. The guilty chicken ended up being eaten for its recalcitrance.
Soon after, Dives was given the command of Legio XI (16,000 men), currently deployed forward in Egyptian
Caria, in Asia Minor. And
Turones was duly settled and a new stockade commenced a few days later.
§§§§§§§
1 Jul 560 – 30 Jun 561
The consolidation of previously conquered lands went on, with
Thracia adopting Roman culture on 4 September 560. In the West, the next expansion project was begun with G.C. Scipio’s 5,000 man detachment heading to
Remi, to clear it of barbarians for later Roman settlement.
The ample gold reserves were used again on 12 November, when a temple fire was turned into an opportunity for more a more receptive climate for omens over the next two years.
The Consular election of 2 December 560 brought no surprise: The Populist L.A. Barbula (grandson of his namesake, the first Consul of this era) was elected.
His administrative finesse was mediocre and he was only mildly charismatic, while his non-existent military abilities would provide no bonus for the morale of the troops. This was compounded by his immediate ‘traditional’ populist repeal of professional soldiering further lowered the discipline of the
principes (by 10%).
Humphronius and Bernardius simply shared a glum and apprehensive look as they prepared to brief the incoming Consul on the issues of the day.
“Oh dear,” was all Bernardius could muster.
“Quite,” was the simple response, as Humphronius braced himself for the task at hand. “The Republic will survive … I hope.”
“We must expand the reach of the Republic,” announced Barbula grandly as they entered. “I have noticed Vettones in Hispania is now available for colonisation. Settling it will link our holdings on the peninsula and shut off further Egyptian expansion there. Send troops there at once to clear out any barbarian rabble.”
“Yes, Consul.” But the task would prove more difficult and time consuming than even the cautious Humphronius anticipated.
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The first trouble in Gaul emerged on 22 January 561, when a horde of around 10,000 Orgonomesci barbarians rose in
Ruteni (southern Gaul). Their initial assault on the stockade there failed by 2 February, by which time Legio III ‘Nova’, commanded by Hiram Magoid, was marching south from
Bituriges (northern Gaul) with 10,000 men to relieve the siege.
As trouble simmered in southern Gaul, another barbarian uprising occurred on 17 March in
Breuci, south of the Danube. The Taurisci had 8,000 men besieging the town, while G.F. Licinus began marching south from his nearby border encampment in
Scordisci with the 8,000 men of Legio IV. Licinus engaged the Taurisci on 12 April and had defeated them comfortably by 25 April, losing only 187 men and killing 3,388 barbarians. He pursued them north to Roman
Scordisci.
While that pursuit continued, back in Gaul Magoid caught up with the Orgonomesci in
Ruteni on 26 April. The fight was tougher than anticipated, against an effective barbarian commander who played his limited hand well. The battle lasted until 11 May, when the Romans won a victory in which they lost more men than their less well-armed opponents. And there was no doubt the now unpopular Populist consul (after those two uprisings, with -20 popularity each) had a poor effect on Roman morale.
But a win was a win and Magoid pursued the barbarians when they fled to Roman
Cadurci. And the day the battle in
Ruteni ended, Licinus caught up with the Taurisci in
Scordisci, wiping out the remaining 4,452 warriors for only 13 Roman casualties.
Magoid then attacked the Orgonomesci in
Cadurci on 2 June, where an inconclusive victory was won and the bulk of the barbarian warband fled west. Magoid would await their return and take the opportunity to rebuild his numbers.
June ended with yet another failed omen, despite all the advantages the Pontifex brought to the invocation. Some succulent roast chicken was small compensation for a second successive year of slowed research.
1 Jul 561 – 30 Jun 562
The build-up in Greece continued, with three new cohorts of
principes and one of
equites (cavalry) beginning training on 24 July. But these were ultimately destined for the Roman force in Asia Minor.
In northern Gaul, the Insubres rose against Roman provocation in
Remi on 2 September. But G.C. Scipio fell upon them viciously, wiping all 3,000 tribesmen out in just four days, losing only 37 soldiers doing so. Once more, the settlers were called forward and were due early in the new year.
To the south, the Orgonomesci returned to
Cadurci on 9 September. Magoid had built Legio III back up to its current full strength of 10,000 men – but the barbarians seemed to have picked up some more followers while in
Aquitani. Though the Romans still outnumbered them, were better armed and started with better morale. Magoid started a little better than his opponent, but then Luxinus Mandonid took a slight edge.
As the battle dragged on through September, the Romans could never quite get the upper hand and their morale started to drain away, until the battle took a disastrous turn on 29 September.
Though inflicting more casualties than he lost, Magoid lost the bloody battle on 2 October and Legio III routed to
Ruteni in ignominy. They arrived there on 23 October and were ordered to
Arverni, where they would be joined by one of the legion’s returning detachments that had begun marching across from
Vindelicia as soon as the battle in
Cadurci was lost.
Another barbarian rising occurred along the Danube in
Scordisci on 2 December, but the 1,000 Senones warriors were wiped out by Legio IV within three days, for the loss of just 46 men. And these easy victories were making Licinus more popular than ever.
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As Magoid rebuilt his legion and awaited reinforcements in
Arverni,
Remi was settled on 5 January 562 and work on its stockade began immediately. The barbarian siege of
Cardurci inched forward (13% progress).
On 2 February, yet another potential barbarian invasion was detected. An Orniacos warband had risen in
Lusones (central Hispania). But instead of attacking Roman lands there, they began marching east instead – towards
Illergetes, neighbouring the recently settled Roman colony of
Volcae. But for now, Legio III was in no position to respond, following its defeat in
Cardurci and the need to lift the siege there first.
Just four days later, Legio III welcomed its Detachment I back into the ranks in
Arverni. Up to near its new full strength of 15,000, Legio III set out to smash the Orgonomesci siege of
Cardurci, after which Magoid hoped to pivot to
Volcae before the Orniacos could reduce its strong defences (a standard stockade with a 2,000 man garrison).
Arriving in
Cadurci on 15 March (where siege progress had risen to 50%), this time Magoid had more than double the enemy’s numbers. Legio III lost 567 of its 15,000 men, while 4,873 of the 6,606 remaining Orgonomesci warriors were killed, fleeing back once more in defeat to
Aquitani on 30 March.
But as that battle was won, scouts reported that the Orniacos had picked up another 5,000 recruits along the way and would arrive in
Volcae on 28 April with 16,000 warriors. What had appeared a comfortable equation previously was now looking a little more dangerous.
In the East, the four new cohorts for Legio XI in
Caria embarked from
Argolis on 7 April – it would bring Dives’ expeditionary force up to 20,000 strong by 21 April 562. While they were in transit, an audacious foreign plot to foment rebellion in
Thessaly was uncovered. It was headed by the Chief Torturer of Pontus.
“They have a Chief Torturer!?” was Barbula’s incredulous initial response.
“Alas yes, Consul,” came Humphronius’ doleful reply.
“And they’ve caught him, Consul,” interjected Bernardius excitedly. “Red handed!”
“Really?” said Barbula, a small smile forming on his lips. “What are the options?”
“The Fetial Priests say we can let him go, put him in irons – he is 77 years old and would presumably not last much longer anyway – or, ah, actively render him into a state one might ostensibly describe as having shuffled off the mortal coil and travelled to the afterlife to sing with the Choir Invisible, Consul,” was Humphronius obscure reply.
“You mean, lop his head off?”
“Ah, yes, Consul, though it would disturb both domestic and foreign opinion to make such a tyrannical and bloodthirsty demonstration.”
“I
like bloodthirsty, Humphronius,” said a grinning Barbula, extending the dreaded turned thumb. “This Timoleon Omirid can try singing in that choir without a head! Send it back in a box of ice to the Basileus of Pontus, with my regards.”
Bernardius went white in the face and Humphronius mumbled a quiet “Yes, Consul,” before beating a hasty retreat.
Populists, he though to himself derisively.
When the Orniacos arrived in
Volcae on 28 April, their charismatic but militarily incompetent leader began an assault of the walls. Magoid was on his way, hoping the garrison would beat off this initial attack before he arrived to crush the exhausted barbarians, trusting
Cadurci could hold out against a later eventual return of the Orgonomesci from
Aquitani.
But things did not work out that way. The barbarian assault on
Volcae’s walls eventually succeeded just two weeks before Legio III was due to arrive. And – repeating previous such disasters when barbarians sacked colonies that were not yet full provinces – the whole Roman settlement was destroyed. A nasty setback to the drive to settle Hispania from the north as well.
The barbarians, their numbers swelled a little more from local recruits, then tried to make for
Ruteni, but would not escape before a vengeful Magoid arrived on 30 May. In six days of fighting, he lost just 71 of his 14,981 legionaries, while the Orniacos had 4,229 of their 17,223 warriors killed, before fleeing south-west to
Bassetani.
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1 Jul 562 – 31 May 563
The wave of barbarian activity in the West continued, with a large rising by the Autrigoni in
Saguntum breaking out on 8 July – making Consul Barbula even more unpopular than he already was. This caused A.C. Caudex to break off his provocation in
Vettones and march to rendezvous with the rest of Legio X in
Carpetani. Once more, they would hope an incompetent barbarian warband leader would not be able to overcome the Roman garrison before it could be relieved.
Less than a week later, on 14 July, Magoid was back in
Cadurci, where the last Orgonomesci stragglers were lurking, having returned while Legio III was in doomed
Volcae. The last 1,493 tribesmen put up a stiff fight, but were wiped out by 26 July, after taking another 354 of Magoid’s 14,160 troops with them to the underworld. While that was happening,
Sequani finally adopted Roman culture and was therefore incorporated as a full province of the Roman Republic on 20 July.
Perhaps that was a sign from the Gods that they were once again willing to turn a favourable eye on Rome: this year’s invocation of Minerva was successful. Happy chickens, happy Pontifex, happy Republic!
Soon after, there was more good news: despite being under siege from barbarians,
Saguntum accepted Roman culture and became a full province on 31 July. At least now, should the worst happen and their walls fell, the province should survive any sacking.
Legio X was reunited in
Carpetani on 29 August and Caudex set forth with 13,000 men to relieve
Saguntum, via an approach through
Belli. There, an earlier assault had reduced the garrison to 1,166 men but the town had stood strong. As a result, enemy numbers and morale had been damaged and they continued to suffer attrition.
The cultural conversion of the West continued on 3 September, with
Helvetii being the next to adopt Roman culture. In southern Gaul, the bothersome Orniacos tribe had returned via
Volcae to
Ruteni, but had soon been met by Legio III, who caught them while they were in the process of assaulting the town walls! Magoid’s attack was fierce, catching the incompetent barbarian general Caros Tautalid (Martial 0) in the worst possible position. From 7 to 12 October, Legio III suffered 162 casualties out of 15,000 men, while 6,734 of the 12,222 Orniacos warriors were slain.
Later that month,
Santones became available for colonisation and the other Legio III detachment, under G.C. Scipio, was sent to try to sweep it clear of local barbarians.
Caudex attacked the Autrigoni in
Saguntum on 20 November, sending the enemy running after five days (246/15,000 Roman and 1,736/12,322 barbarian casualties). Legio X would remain in place for what would be a succession of barbarian return sorties in coming months.
But none of the subsequent battles would be fought under the overall stewardship of the Populist Consul L.A. Barbula. His discredited administration was swept out of power on 2 December 562, replaced by none other than G.F. Licinus, accomplished commander of Legio IV and leader of the Military faction.
The positive effect on the morale and organisation of the legions was immediate. So too on the discipline of the backbone of the Roman legions, the
principes, when his first act as Consul was to restore the national idea of professional soldiering.
This was just as well, given yet another rising – this time by 28,000 malcontents in
Epirus – broke out on the day of his election. Two legions (both well-armed and -led) were directed to close on the rebels from both the north and south. Whichever was first to arrive would have the honour of slaughtering the rebellious upstarts.
The now thoroughly motivated Roman troops of Legio III in
Ruteni were more than ready when the remnants of the Orniacos warband arrived for a final showdown on 26 December 562. All 5,208 of them were dead by 30 December, for only seven Romans lost. This ended the ‘twin invasions’ of southern Gaul that had done so much damage since the Orgonomesci had first risen in
Ruteni almost two years before, in January 561.
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The new year began with yet more news of discontent in the far provinces. Bernardius brought news of a local rising in
Cantabri on 1 January 563, even as Legio X was occupied in
Saguntum as they awaited the return of the Autrigoni and therefore unable to respond as yet. Once more, the barbarians had picked up reinforcements as they marched back from
Sedetani, attacking vigorously with almost as many men as the Romans on 15 January. The fight was therefore bloodier and less conclusive than it might have been, the barbarians fleeing on 25 January with over 10,000 warriors still under arms.
The brilliant T.A. Barbula was first to arrive in
Epirus with Legio I, also on 25 January. A vicious ten-day fight ensued, and though the rebels were mown down like wheat at harvest time, over 2,400 Romans died achieving the victory and subsequent dispersal of the rebellion.
The next battle in
Saguntum took place from 8 to 16 March: another Roman victory resulted (630/14,957 Roman v 3,156/10,367 barbarian casualties), but a substantial number of the Autrigoni would return yet again in a few months’ time. The rebel siege of
Cantabri had by then progressed somewhat (to 13%). When the
Third Battle of Saguntum was fought and won by 8 May (184/14,859 Roman v 1,604/7,021 barbarian casualties), the siege of
Cantabri was gaining further ground (50%).
As May 563 came to a close, the situation in Gaul was calmer than it had been in the two previous years, but was still unsettled in Hispania. Two new colonies had been founded, but one had been lost.
Battles and territorial changes in the West, May 559 to May 563 AUC.
The East had only seen a few barbarian incursions and revolts, with no wars reported between
any countries in the last four years.
Battles in the East, May 559 to May 563 AUC.
A report from the Fetial Priests showed the estimated comparative power of the top countries of the known world by manpower reserves, income and research capacity. Rome led in the first two by a considerable margin, but was third behind the Seleucids and Egypt in research, even with a favourable omen in force.
Over the last four years, the Roman army had grown from 188 out of a ‘troop support limit’ of 316 to 205/322 cohorts. The naval expansion program had seen it grow from 115 to 129 ships in strength, from construction and one or two triremes captured from pirates (I’m not bothering to report them any more, same with most building construction events). Despite recruiting and battle casualties, reserve manpower had grown from 125,000 to 193,000.
The treasury had just under 2,946 gold talents saved, with monthly net income after expenses of 28.38 gold. Should war in the East again come into the equation, another mass auxiliary hiring program could be contemplated, allowing a large and relatively rapid build-up without eating into the growing manpower reserve – which would be needed to support another large war.
The next consular election was (barring unforeseen circumstances) still well over a year away (December 564). The last four consulships had seen the top office switching back and forth between Populists and Militarists. Enough to make Humphronius and Bernardius shake their heads with weary sorrow.
The Senate remained roughly similar in composition since the last review, with the Civic faction now shrunk to a very small cadre, the Populists still dominant but the Religious faction also strong and having the leading candidate for the next consulship.