Veni, Vidi, Vici
"War..." Aeneas shook his head. Glorious it my be but bloody too. It had already claimed a minister and his chief general to boot, thank the gods he'd produced an heir. And now, staring out on the field from the city walls he could see his dead warriors laying in the field outside. No matter how quick he worked to retrieve the bodies, the crows and vultures still came and feasted. Human scavengers too though his men discouraged the worst of it. And in the city... The Ostrogoths had been truly outmatched and the stink of their bloating corpses and his presence in the city showed the results.
"Yes, my Emperor," the man beside him said gloomily. Aeneas looked over, the man was looking back, a low ranking officer, he didn't know the man's name. The officer continued, "The poets and songwriters make a big deal of it. By the gods victory is all they claim it to be but the poems and song never tell of the cost. How can they, they don't do the fighting. And defeat... Last stands aren't nearly as much fun as they like to claim, they, " the officer pointed down at the street below where men worked piling up the bodies of the Ostrogothic defenders, "can attest to that." The officer shaked his head, a look bordering on pity on his face.
"Indeed. But it is a cost that must be paid, solder... What is your name?"
"Gaius, my Emperor," Gaius answered, a look of pleased shock on his face at such a question by the Emperor himself.
Aeneas nodded, "Well Gaius, it's nice to see a legionary that can temper their therst for glory with realism. Less likely to get yourself killed."
Gaius nodded in understanding, "A good soldier knows the importance of living to fight another day. Seeking a 'glorious' death in battle or not retreating when the fight is clearly lost is how wars get lost." Gaius looked thoughtful for a moment, "It's how solders don't return to their families, too."
Aeneas looked back to the field outside the city walls, "War..."
***
Aeneas looked at the men around him, locking eyes with each before moving on to the next. After looking at Martinus he continued, "So we are all in agreement?"
As everyone nodded in agreement, Marcellinus spoke, "Small risk of the Ostrogoths attacking our rear considering how thoroughly we've routed them. Making the killing blow is the right move." There was murmuring of agreement as Marcellinus continued, "That said, our bypassing of tragets won't go unnoticed. The Ostrogoths will know our intent and our primary targets will likely flee the city. We should send out detachments to cut off their lines of retreat."
Aeneas shook his head, "In later campaigns that would make sense. As it stands we lack the forces to pursue that strategy safely. We aren't the Empire we once were and the Ostrogoths still have fight in them. If we split our forces, we would have to do so in a way that wouldn't leave the main force vulnerable. This would leave the screening forces easy targets if the Italian Army found them. By the gods, the bodyguards for the royal family could probably defeat any screening force they encountered. I'm not going to throw away lives on a mission that likely will fail." Marcellinus looked rebellious. "I'm sorry, I am in total agreement in principle but we simply lask the manpower to pull it off without risking the war. This is final."
"Yes, my Emperor."
"If that is all, you have your orders."
"Yes, my Emperor," the gathered ministers chorused.
The army had gathered outside the walls of Ravenna, former capital of the Empire before the Ostrogoths came. Aeneas could see the banners on the walls, Italia of course but also the noble houses that had sent their levies to aid in the defence of the capital, even the royal banners could be seen. "It would seem that your fears were misplaced," remarked Aeneas.
Marcellinus nodded. "Brave or stupid, I can't tell. Either way, the royals didn't flee, at least not the principles, I doubt the children and queen remain."
"Agreed. The walls also look weak, your doing, Trajan?"
Trajan looked over to Aeneas, a sly grin on his face. "Indeed. My sappers have weakened the walls."
"Yet they still stand," Marcellinus remarked.
"Indeed. The walls were well built but it was only a diversion." Trajan paused for dramatic effect before continuing, "Our way into the city is a group of traitors I've bought who will open the gates for us. As the sappers weaken the walls, the barbarians redeploy their forces to defend any breaches. As important as this city is, they will no doubt be ready to use the ruble to contain any force that tried to enter the breach. Once the barbarians have redeployed a sufficient number of their forces, the traitors will set a fire to the city's stables. Not only will this draw away more forces from the gates to fight the fire but the smoke will be our signal. We advance of the gates, the traitors kill the guards and open said gates and we're in the city before the barbarians know what's happening."
Aeneas nodded in approval, "Clever."
"Thank you, my Emperor."
***
Aeneas swung his sword and another Ostrogothic warrior fell. Trajan's plan had worked brilliantly and the Romans had entered the city thru 3 different gates secured by the men he'd bought. To their credit the Ostrogoths had been quick to react but with 3 unopposed breaches, the Romans were able to flood the city with men before the Ostrogoths could mount a meaningful response. Even still the Romans found their advanced into the city slowed to a crawl. The Ostrogoths hadn't committed all of their forces to the walls and had been able to set up roadblocks while the Ostrogoths on the walls, once the Romans advanced beyond the gatehouses, rained arrows and rocks down on the Romans below. The Romans fought hard to push past the roadblocks and harder still trying to take the walls beyond the gatehouses. The walls between the 3 gates they'd taken had fallen quickly but the Ostrogoths on the remaining wall proved an unmoving wall themselves. Another swing and another Ostrogothic warrior fell. His sword arm was growing tired and the ground beneath him, slippery with blood and gore, didn't help matters. He reflexively flinched as an arrow flew by just missing his exposed head head, his helmet had been lost in the fight, where and when was a mystery. An Ostrogothic warrior rushed him, swung wildly and grunted as the swing was parried and Aeneas' hilt into found itself shoved into the warrior's gut. The sword came down and the warrior's head came off. Suddenly the Roman line surged forward as the roadblock ahead fell and the Ostrogoths warriors defending it fled.
A cheer went up and after a moment rumors started flying. Some said that the Italian king had been killed, others that the man leading the city's defence was in chains. The truth proved to be in the middle. After a few minutes Aeneas had made his way forward to find an ornately armored warrior, obviously an officer, in chains. He ordered the officer taken into a nearby building and, save for a single guard, ordered everyone to leave. The officer refused to speak Latin to frustrate his questioning but by chance the guard he'd ordered to remain soplex the language and translated the officer's defiant words. Realizing he could be understood, the officer switched to Latin and the interrogation truly began.
"Your name."
"Prince Onoulphun."
Aeneas stood silent for a moment, taken aback, could it be? "You lead the defence of this city?"
"Indeed, this city and the kingdom it leads."
More questions followed, while Onoulphun proved uncooperative regarding state secrets, he did reveal that, save himself, the royal family had fled the city and that his father, the king, had gone to take command of the Italian Army. He claimed to not know where the rest of his family was hiding or the exact location of the Italian Army. Lies to be sure but with him hostage and the capital taken it didn't matter. The war was soon to be won. More questions followed, the answers hit and miss until after a few hours Aeneas ordered Onoulphun placed under house arrest, to be held at the palace.
With the fall of Ravenna, the local lords quickly surrendered. A week later an envoy from the king arrived in the city with terms, Italy would remain independent however Dalmatian (the Ostrogoths would refuse to recognize Roman authority) seizure of northern Italia would be recognized and Italia would offer a payment of tribute in reparations for the war which the Romans were made to understand consisted of the entirety of the Italian treasury as it stood. The terms were agreed to and Revena was proclaimed capital of Rome once more.
Alas the fighting was not truly ended. As Aeneas worked to removed the upstart Ostrogoths from the nobility, some resisted. Most were local lords but 1 was of wealth and power and took command of the rebel forces.
Aeneas moved quickly to remobilize the army he'd disbanded after he thought he'd claimed victory. Most, well on their way home and dispersed, didn't return while the rebels used the delay to consolidate their own forces.
***
Aeneas sighed, he'd just heard Trajan give an annoying true commentary on the state of affairs he was currently dealing with. "All true. But what to
do about it, simply complaining won't resolve the issue."
Marcellinus answered, "What we do is kill the bastards." Murmurs of agreement, among them Aeneas, were offered as response. "Reports indicate that, few as they our, our forces far surpass the rebels. Even if this proves false, our forces have proven themselves superior in battle."
"And it's not as if we have much choice in the matter," said Carinus. "As Minister Trajan has told us, the rebels move on targets weakened by our recent conquest and filled with bitter Ostrogoths. If we delay, even for a short time, we're liable to have rebel forces rampaging across Dalmatia, the only part of our Empire untouched by war and so the strong point of our economy and primary source of recruits."
Aeneas sighed again, "Very well, issue the order. I'd hoped we'd have more men but it can't be helped."
The battle proved a decisive victory for the Romans. The rebels had been killed to the man, with them most of the rebel leaders. Alas the leader of the rebellion had remained at home to recruit a 2nd army to march on Rvena.
The decision to not wait for the army to return to full strength proved wise and the Romans were on the march for the rebel stronghold before a 2nd army could be raised.
The remaining rebels were dealt with in short order.
With the war finally, truly won, Aeneas set about establishing a new Roman administration in the newly reconquered lands. He gathered his court as he'd done after sizing the throne and began calling forward those he wished to elevate.
Marcellinus was called forward. Promoted in the field, he lacked a power base and so this was rectified by naming him Doux of Liguria. He fell to his knees in gratitude and offered the necessary oaths. Several other ministers looked on excitedly in expectation promotion themselves now that the Empire held more meaningful lands to hand out.
Such hopes were dashed when Aeneus called not a minister but a mere general, Joannes. He was named Komes of Aquila. It was quickly made clear that this lower title was a mere technicality as additional titles were named. He gave the necessary oaths then asked confused, "Why withhold the title of Doux, my Emperor? I mean no disrespect and am honored by what you have given but..."
Aeneus smiled and finished, "But what I have given is the authority of doux. I understand your confusion. If I gave you official dominion over Aquila as a whole, you would claim authority over Parentium and Emona, titles currently held by 2 ministers. I, as I'm sure you can understand, wouldn't want them to have split loyalties. These lands and the title of doux will come to you or your heirs as the case may be when this is no longer an issue."
"As you command, my Emperor."
Julius was called forward to great murmuring. Aeneus called for order then spoke to Julius directly, "I took your title not out of malus but for the sake of the Empire and the results have confirmed the rightness of my actions. You did not resist when I did this, you have kept to your own affairs and taken up business, you are, as your genus suggests, nephew by marriage to the Eastern Emperor and have, by your own accord, taken the Olympians as your gods. For your loyalty and in recognition of your legacy, I name you Doux of Andautonia and bid you return home in well deserved glory."
Julius gave the necessary oaths then said, "Thank you, my Emperor. I thank you for your justice."
The Western Roman Empire in 483.