When we united Italy - AAR (long) by bmolsson 05-2002

[anguille]

The year is 367 BC and the spring have arrived. Our little proud nation has three cities in the heart of Italy, with a coastline to the Adriatic Sea. Roma, the flower of our proud nation, is the food store for our people. This year we have started to expand from a town to a city. The trade flourish and its people gladly get drafted to serve in our proud legions.
The town of Latins in the South forests provides the empire with high quality wood and its archers are famous through the land.
In the east, in the deep mountains we found our source of iron in the town of Hernici. The auxilia warriors are well equipped and known for their bravery.
South of our proud nation we have the Volscians. We have a fragile peace with them, but mutual respect has been the best so far. Our other South neighbor, the Samnites, has a more peaceful view on us as well as its other neighbors. In our west, on the other side of the mountains we have the North Oscans, Aequians and Sabines, They are not trustworthy and they have been warned of our brave armies.
In the North we have been trying to build up an alliance with the Caeretans and the Umbrians. They peace loving nations as our self and an alliance would benefit us all. The Faliscans are a neutral neighbor in between the evil Etruscans and us.
In the summer of 367 BC our negotiations with Caeretans and Umbrians gave fruits in an alliance between us. To our large disappointment the Faliscans declared war with us in fury over our alliance.
The autumn and winter passed without anything more than a few skirmishes. We decided to be careful and await our enemies move. We drafted armies in Latins and Hernici to be able to defend our selves.
In the spring of 366 BC, we ordered on an assembly of our forces close to Roma.
In the winter we had one of the largest armies our proud nation had seen. Even if it was only small squads, they where well motivated and with well equipped auxilia as the main stream.
We started to march towards the Faliscans to finally teach them a lesson. At the same time we tried to create an alliance with our southern neighbor the Volscians, but the demanded too much to ally up with us. We realized that our southern border needed to be watched as well.
In the winter of 365 BC our proud 8 squad army arrived close to the Faliscans City of Falerii. The only city a matter of fact and we could all feel that this was the time for Roma. Our scouts could only see some minor squads of archers and we prayed for being able to overcome a yet unknown enemy.
Our two velites and our elites cavalry unit was ordered to make a quick attack on the left flank while the three auxilia supported with a legion and an archer squad was moving towards the enemy on broad front. This was proven to are a very successful strategy and our brave auxilia took care of a squad of hoplites supported by cavalry. The rush force surprised the enemy archers and velites and the victory was a fact.
With pride our army entered the city of Falerii and the Faliscans was defeated. We immediately started to rebuild the fallen city to make them a part of our proud nation.
Our time of peace was used to let our nation prosper, but we could see that the evil Etruscans was moving towards our borders. The poor Caeretans was defeated in winter of 363 BC, we could not do anything about it due to diplomatic complications.
We heard news from the South in spring 354 BC that the Thurians had been defeated. Italy was becoming more and more unstable and we had to prepare our selves. We started to build forts, barracks and quartermasters for larger squads.
Then a morning in the spring 354 BC the evil Aequians attacked us over the hills. Our brave auxilia forces in the city of Hernici showed our force and defeated the hill tribe warriors coming over the mountains. We where now at war with the Aequians and our time of peace was broken.
Already in the summer they came crawling for peace. We demanded a large tribute to even consider a peace, and when their insulting offer arrived we rejected it flat.
In the spring 353 BC also the Sabines declared war against our brave nation and we mobilized an army of brave legions, this time in large squads.
Our whole nation was prepared for a long war.
The news of the defeat of the Fretanians reached us in autumn 352 BC and we understood that all Italy was in flames.
In the winter of 352 BC also the North Oscans declared war with us and we where at war with the whole eastern border.
In the winter of 352 BC our army reached Carsoli, the city of Aequians. At last we could get our revenge for their treacherous attack.
Our 3 large squads of cavalry attacked with rapid speed on their right flank and took out their javelins and archers, they never had a chance.
Our 5 large squads of legions met their 6 large squads of hill tribe warriors, but the higher moral, better discipline and also the fact that our cavalry came from their backs after the archers had broken, crushed all resistance and we had won a great victory once again.
The Aequians was defeated and we added another city to our growing empire.
While we had been busy with the Aequinan war, the Sabines had an army approaching our city of Falerii. The defense was prepared for an attack and 4 large squads of cavalry were send to their rescue.
The Sabines entered a battle with our brave defenders and the enemy peasant army showed to be an easy target for our defending cavalry combined with auxilia and legions.
In the summer of 350 BC our 4 large cavalry squads arrived to the Sabine City of Reate and they entered a fierce battle. Our brave warriors where badly outnumbered and they could not deliver another victory for us. The whole nation admired their sacrifice for our glory.
In the autumn of 350 BC the evil North Oscans attacked our city of Hernici and despite the defenders great sacrifice, the city was lost to an overwhelming force of hill tribe warriors. We rushed a 5 large squad large army towards for their rescue and in winter 350 BC the weak hill tribe army was easily overrun and the city retaken. Our soldiers where greeted as liberators and the whole nations was terrified over the damages and cruelty the North Oscans had done to our sons and daughters of Hernici.
In spring of 348 BC and army set have from Hernici to take revenge on the North Oscans. At the same time the Etruscans declared war with us, which we of course was expecting. A large Etruscan army attacked our proud city of Roma in the autumn of 348 BC, but the army was only javelin men. Our Roma had at that time already a quartermaster and our huge squads of legions shred the Etruscans to pieces.
In the winter of 348 BC our great army reached the city of Marsi and the North Oscan defenders had prepared them self. This time we marched our legions with the archers behind towards the enemy hill tribe warriors and the cavalry was rushing on their left flank. We run over their left flank and despite a very close battle, our archers finally drove the hill tribe's running back in to the mountains. The city of Marsi was now a part of our growing empire.
In the winter of 347 BC we got the message that the Picentines had been defeated and a few large players started to emerge on the Italian map. Our scouts told us that the Etruscans and Umbrians where the powerful players in the North, while Iapygians and Samnites where the larger powers in the South.
In the summer of 345 BC a Volscian army marched towards our city of Latins. We where still at peace, but we feared that also the Southern border would be stricken by war and hostility.
Our diplomats tried too easy a bit on our pressure and we succeeded to get a very favorable peace with the Sabines in the winter of 345 BC. A large tribute was given to our coffers as well as our armies could concentrate on the other enemies.
In the summer of 344 BC a large legion army with huge squads left for march to the North and expand our territory and win the war with the Etruscans.
At the same time we was proposed a peace with the North Oscans. After some thoughts we decided to ask for a tribute first. The following season the North Oscans offered us a generous tribute and we accepted peace. Our fronts where now considerable smaller and we could concentrate on the Etruscans.
In the spring 343 BC our army reached the city of Caere, Once a proud city with lot of trade with Roma, before the horrible Etruscans captured it. We attacked for liberating the city. Our legions marched in boxes towards the enemy hoplites and javelin men. Our huge squads were superior in strength and honor. After a few hour the city was ours and the people joyed.
At the same time an Etruscan force attacked our city of Falerii. Our huge squads of cavalry in the city totally run over the 2 small squads of javelin men attacking. Our brave warriors did not even break a sweat.
Another wave arrived in the autumn the same year. This time it was a huge peasant army with some cavalry. It was not a pretty sight. The Etruscans where slaughtered.
In the autumn of 342 BC an Etruscan force of peasants and hoplites was trying on Caere, but our defenses was now far more than they could anticipate. Our legions once again taught those evil Etruscans that they should keep them away from us.
In the spring 339 BC our brave legions had reached next Etruscan city. The city of Volsini was an attractive city and the army protecting was not large enough to challenge our huge squads. We entered the battlefield to the drums. But our corrupt general did not follow orders and with both armies routed, we lost our glorious victory to the enemy.
Our friends the Umbrians finally took the city of Reate and defeated the Sabines in the autumn 339 BC.
Later in the winter that year our more experienced general Maximus finally took the city of Volsini from the Etruscans. Our legions were marched towards the enemy in squares supported by archers and the victory was like a walk in the park. In the spring a small army went out of hiding from the vast forest and was slaughtered by the superior legions of Roma.
In the summer 337 BC, it was time for the North Oscans to try their luck on us again. In the spring 336 BC two armies attacked the city of Marsi, but the brave defenders succeeded to hold the city despite huge losses. This will be remembered in our nations glorious history as something heroic done by people loving their nation more than they are own life.
At the same time our northern war was going towards it's end. Our brave legions entered the last Etruscan City, the city of Populonia, which was barely defended. Our legions run over a medium squad of peltast and a small squad of archers. The Etruscans had finally been defeated.
In autumn 335 BC the Volscians declared war on us. We have had the feeling it was coming with their troops snooping around in our border villages. A lot of complaints had been given on small raid parties operating inside our territory.
In the winter 334 BC we attacked the city of Paeligni and the North Oscans. Both armies routed after a long battle, but the win went to the North Oscans. We all prepared our selves for another round and all young men were drafted to serve their country.
Our southern army at the city of Anxur had it easier and defeated a peasant army with ease at the same time. But the season after a guerilla army appeared, and our weakened brothers could not hold, the city was lost again
The North Oscans tried again with two armies at our city of Marsi. Their compositions with only javelin men and archers don't stand a chance against our balanced legion armies. Both their armies where defeated.
In spring 331 BC the Samnites declared war, they had decided to team up with the North Oscans in fear for our huge squads of legions.
In summer 331 BC we finally beat the Volscians, and by that had an enemy less to worry about. Our power was now feared around all of Italy.
In the winter 331 BC a huge Samnite force caught a small legion army in the forests outside Hernici. Even if they where beaten the enemy losses was huge and the city of Hernici got time to prepare the defense. The Samnite army continued travel through the woods towards Hernici. Our nation followed the news with their breath hold.
At the same time our southern army reached the city of Aurunci. Hill tribe warriors and cavalry defended the city. Our army, mostly auxilia, lined up with infantry on line with archers behind. The enemy cavalry and hill tribe warriors rushed in to our auxilia, while our archers pounded them with arrows. Heavy losses among our brave men, but our well disciplined archers took the victory, when the weakened enemy broke though the enemy line, they where an easy pray for our archers.
The city of Aurunci was liberated and we went even closer to a united Italy.
Our new southern neighbor, the Campanians, seemed pressured by the Samnites and we offered them an alliance to with joined forces get rid of the evil Samnites.
In the summer of 330 BC, they rejected our proposed alliance and our diplomats was confused over their positions towards our peace loving people.
At the same time a separatist movement under Samnite flag attacked the newly liberated city of Aurunci, which our brave warriors, together with 2 local medium squads of hill tribe warriors crushed within minutes.
The Samnite cavalry army also reached the city of Hernici. Their 4 squads of cavalry were no matches for our 3 huge squads of legions and we send a message to our enemy that we are not to be taken lightly.
In the winter of 330 BC another separatist army attacked the city of Aurunci, we understood that the Samnites now have problem with the food supply, since the city of Aurunci has been their main supply of food. The separatist army was 5 large squads of peasants, but our archers killed them of before they reached our lines. To not take this threat lightly an army was sent from Latins to support the defenders in case any other separatist army emerged.
In the spring of 329 BC, a message reached us that the Lucanians had been defeated.
In autumn 329 BC our army reached Aurunci and once again a Samnite separatist army was sighted. The defenses were looked over and the tired defending army was exchanged. Let them come, was the happy civilian population's slogan. In the winter the same year they attacked. An all peasant army with 6 huge squads of peasant warriors against our 10 huge squad army. The battle was over before it begun.
In the spring 328 BC also the Ligurians declared war against our empire. The North border had been safe for many years, but our friends the Umbrians had not been very successful and we felt that this war was not only expected, but also a must for us to show our support of our only ally.
At the same day our city of Aurunci drafted their first army. A proud army of 6 huge squads of praetorians. They marched immediately towards the Samnite front, it was time for payback.
In the winter of 328 BC our army against the North Oscans reached the city of Paeligni and prepared for an attack. Once again the harsh terrain made it to difficult for our brave legions to take the city. Both army routed, but the win went to the defenders.
Our southern army now on it's way to the Samnite city of Caercini, meet a hill tribe warrior army in the mountains. It was no match for the praetorians and some valuable training was given for their further conquest.
In the autumn they reached the city and 3 medium squads of hill tribe warriors only defended it. A march victory and the city of Caercini were not a part of our great empire.
With our 11 cities, we where now the largest nation on the Italian peninsula. With the new strategic balance it was decided for us to once more try to reach the east cost and one army from Marsi and one army from Carsioli started to march towards Paeligni.
In spring 325 BC our armies in the north reached Clusium and our first army of three direct attacked and took the city. Several Ligurian armies where approaching and our 2 remaining armies prepared them to try to intercept before they reached Clusium.
At the same time our two armies reached Paeligni. One of our armies intercepted a 3 medium squad army of archers that tried to break through to the now undefended Marsi. It was a short battle there our legions rushed and killed of the archers. The attack on Paeligni was using the same tactics; legions rushed down the enemy, mostly archers. Finally we had reached the east coast of Italy. We could feel that a united Italy was not far away now.
Summer 325 BC was full of wars. The fighting around Clusium was fierce. Most Ligurian armies were 3-4 large squads and no match for our 8 huge squad armies. 4 battles in our favor proved our superiority. The Senones in the north rushed to their allied Ligurians help, but did not feel that would be any problems at all. We continued to draft armies around the country and our army production was now the largest in Italy.
A small separatist army in Paeligni tried to break the city defense, but the 2 small squads of archers where nothing more than target practice for our city defenders.
In the winter of 324 BC the war around Clusium was intensified when 3 armies from the Senones arrived supported by 2 armies of the Ligurians. Our defending city managed to hold all five attacks in one season. Direct after a new fresh army took over the defense from the remaining single legion. Never before has so many had so much to thank so few for. Our nation was proud over the warfare and it was of course our famous general Maximus that once again showed our enemy our superiority.
In the city of Pisae the Ligurians was showed our force when our northern army took the city through a rapid attack which run down their archer army with ease.
The Ligurians answered with attacks on Pisae and Populonia the following season, but in vein. The peasant armies attacked did no damage what so ever and gave us an indication that the Ligurians was now having trouble with resources as well as brave men.
In the autumn 323 BC our fighting at Clusium took a nasty turn for our armies. We where attacked by several huge squads of naked fanatics. Our troops were surprised of this strange tactics and the city of Clusium was over run by 3 armies from Senones. Maximus was called back to straighten out the problems in the region and three armies was drafted and gathered around Falerii.
We also send two armies of Praetorians to crush the last city the North Oscans kept, namely the city of Marrucini.
In the winter of 323 BC the news of the defeat of the Calabrians reached us.
In the summer of 322 BC our first battle at the city of Marrucini started. Our first army took the city after very hard fighting from street to street. Our praetorians kept their huge amount of cavalry at bay while the archers kept decimating them with their arrows.
The next season a large army of cavalry of them took the city back, but immediately our reinforcement reached the city and took it back from them again. This large cavalry only army showed to be their last and their leader surrendered unconditionally and the North Oscans was defeated. Our people greeted our emperor.
The situation at Clusium got worse for the enemy. We had 5 huge squad armies in the area with 3 more on the way. Our nation prayed for our men in battle.
Our strategy was simple, place infantry in a long row, and support them with archers and javelin. The strategy proved to be superior. 4 Senone armies and one Ligurian army were defeated in one season, no defeats or our armies. The city of Clusium was now to be liberated.
At the same time in the south the city of Histonium was liberated from the evil Samnites. Same tactics and also the fact that the defense was not as strong. The Samnites had been taking a lot of losses in their two front war against the Iapygians and us. The following season a small separatist peasant army tried to take the city back but in vain.
In the Clusium the fighting continued. It took two large armies to defeat the defenders. The fearsome Celtic Fanatics their where difficult to take, but in the end the archers took the best of them. The battles around Clusium were to its end, the city was liberated and we immediately started to build forts for defense. We where pretty sure that the Senones would try to make a comeback.
Suddenly the Iapygians declared war. The real battle about Italy was about to begin. Our southern border was now towards them, Samnites and the Campanians. Campanians had managed to be outside the war for a while, but we thought it was best to keep an eye on them.
In the summer of 321 BC we had not less than 16 cities. The Iapygians had 9 and was the second strongest nation in Italy.
In the winter 321 BC a army started marching towards Apuani, the north west city of the Ligurian. Reinforcement was on the way from the south. The only chance to get peace with the Ligurian was to defeat them. More troops were drafted and send to the southern front. We needed to make sure that the nation was not surprised from the south, even if the main war was in the north at this time.
In the summer of 320 BC the city of Apuani was liberated. Poorly defended it was no match for our well-balanced legion based army.
The city of Faesula was better defended with archers and hoplites. With heavy losses we succeeded to take this city in the central northern mountains as well. The Ligurians was left with one single city, which our army was marching on after the good news of the two cities getting in to our hands
The Senones and one of our cavalry armies run over their Celtic war bands left in the city left the city of Sentinum open. We tried to dig in for meeting 2 large armies marching towards the city.
In the autumn a separatist army from the Ligurian attacked Pisae, but it was no match for the stationed army there. The first wave of Senones arrived and was fought of. Reinforcements for the city of Sentinum were sent. We also decided to move our defense lines closer to the border and release the city armies.
Winter 320 BC our armies in the south reached the Samnite city of Pentri. Poorly defended our praetorians made the battle short. Still no movement from the Iapygians. We hoped we should be able to finish of the Samnites first, so we avoided any confrontation with the Iapygians at the moment. Our efforts to reach peace had failed several times so a future fight seemed closer than ever.
In the spring 319 BC some Ligurian armies was captured trying to evade the battle for the city of Friniates, the last city of the Ligurians. Our armies closed in from all directions. In the summer 319 BC the city of Friniates fell after two of our armies had assaulted the hill tribe warriors defending it. The Ligurians was defeated and we had peace on the north west front at last. Direct all armies were ordered to march towards the Senones in the east.
In the winter the same year the city of Sena fell in to our hands. Some javelin defender did their best but our legion army over runs them totally.
The remaining of the year was smaller attacks in the new territories of Samnites. The last city was now in reach for an large praetorian army. The activities in the Iapygian camp were increased. More armies were drafter and sent to the southern front.
In the summer 318 our praetorian army took BC the city of Caudini. The hill tribe warriors were outnumbered and the fate of the Samnites was sealed.
In the autumn the attack from the Iapyginas came. The city of Pentri was lost in a strange battle. Our archers did not succeed to keep the peasants away. A large legion army retook the city the same season, but the suffering on the civilian population was large. Our nation anger did not know any limits. Despite this we decided to offer a peace so we could concentrate on the war in the north. The peace offer was flatly rejected.
In the north a small cavalry party of ours tried to invade the city Ariminum, but was faced by this strange naked men again. The horses got so scared that the attack failed.
5 huge armies approached our city of Caudini and in spring 317 BC it fall in to the hands of the Iapyginas forces. Our reinforcement did not arrive in time.
Our armies were on the march through out the country. In autumn 316 BC 3 armies arrived to the city of Boii. We know new how to handle the naked men and an legion archer army teared the defense of Celtic fanatics to pieces.
In the winter the same year our first legion army reached the city of Apulians in the south. The legion army took the city and the first city of the Ipyginas was ours.
In the winter of 315 BC we liberated the city of Caudini and the initiative was our again. The fighting around the city was hard. Iapyginas send 4 armies, which was beaten by our legion armies. The heart of Iapyginas was open for us.
In the north two armies took the city of Lingones. The defenders were a well-balanced army of archers, cavalry and war band. Despite the heavy losses our nations celebrated the victory in the north. Only one city remained with the Senones and the final battle was coming soon.
In the autumn of 314 BC the city of Ariminum fall in to our proud armies hands and the Senones surrendered.
All hostile forces of the north were defeated.
With our 28 cities (of 45) in Italy the remaining forces including the Iapyginans decided to put them selves under our pride emperor. Italy was united and Roma was the capital. We now started to look for other areas to expand in??¦??¦.