Glory for Roma By Julius 08-2002

[anguille]

368BC ??“Legus Farius, king of Roma dies in battle against the Etruscans.
The war was lost but the city of Caere revolted against the Etruscans and form a small country. Now that my father is dead, I must take the faih of Roma.

367BC ??“It is a beatiful day, the sun is shining, the birds are singing and I was crowned Romulus the first. My advisor, Gladum For, told me about the urgent business of my country. The war against the Etruscans had lowered all of our ressources. I spent every denari to the building of farms, mines and lumbermills. Also, I enterd in an alliance whit the Caeretans, the Umbrians, the Picentines and the Faliscans.

366BC ??“Whitin the first month of the new year, a farmer came to me saying that he had found an invasion plan. As I read the papers, I discovered that Gorio Busacko, king of Reate, wanted to take Roma and by doing so, conquer all the roman lands. I imidiatly ordered the creation of an army but had not many ressources for an army. I managed to put togheter 6units of Auxilia. I took a secret route north of Carsioli, the capital of the Aequians and took another, more direct route north until I arrived at a village. The inhabitants were good too us. Contrary to the Aequians, they were pro-romans and ofered food and shelter for a nigth. They knew that I would need more than 4500 men(1 unit = 750men)to conquer Raete so, many villagers enrolled and sent messages to other friendly villages to send men. Before long(5days), I had 1500 ligth infantry added to my army. The stange thing was that the villagers were equiped whit javlins that, when thrown into the air made a strange sounds. I decided to call my ligth infantry, the Velites because of the sound that made the javlins. I also realized that I should send the velites first, make them engage the battle, retreat behind the Auxilia and then, cover our advance. Arriving in front of Reate, I ordered my men to form position. The Sabines, seing that we were outnumbered(10000Sabines) came out of the city and charged unorganized. The velites did there work and when the Sabines came into contact whit my Auxilia, I ordered(trumpet) the 2000 men I had hidden on both flanks of the enemy to come out. Befor long, the sabines were trapped and panick broke into their ranks. Smaller soldiers were pushed to the ground by taller and stronger comrades. Many a Sabine soldier was trampled by a friend or fellow soldier. After 2 hours of fighting, they had had enough. 2900 Sabine soldiers surrendered to us and the rest, dead or dying. One of my commanders, came to me whit the head of Busacko. The city, which was happy to be relieved of it??™s tyranical leader opened it??™s door to us. I had conquered a powerfull enemy. But there was still a threath, the Aequians....................

365BC ??“When I read the invasion plans of the Sabines, there was the mention of the Aequians taking part in the fight. I knew that they could not be trusted and I created the first real army of Roma: LegioI in honor of my father. Many young men came and the army was formed but their experience was low but I decided to go anyway. I took the most direct route from Roma to Carsioli. After about 2months, we arrived in front of the gates. I decided to establish a siege. Two days later, in the morning, the Aequians tried to get out. They took all the men they had. 3units of Hill tribe warriors and 1unit of tribal javlinmen. The battle was quickly over and they had lost nearly all of their soldiers. Of the 3000men they had lauch against me, 2490 had perished. The others went rushing back to their city. That nigth, me and a couple of men climbed the walls. Upon reaching the top, we killed the sentries and opened the doors to the rest of the Legio. My legionaries rused the palace and executed the guards and the king. In one night, I had taken control of an entire nation. I thought the wars could be over but, 3weeks later, a small border patrol came to my palace and told me that they had spotted Volscians scout roaming south of Latins. I took that like a war declaration. Meanwhile, in the north, my allies were waging war against each other. The Umbrians had vanquished the Picentines and the Faliscans had tried to take Caere. But most importantly, the Etruscans were also waging war, against the Ligurians.

364BC ??“I created LegioII composed of 6units of Legionaries and 2units of Archers. I took my army south. I attacked whit much surprise the Volscian army. They were camping near our border when I attacked them early in the morning. It was a dificult battle. Their cavalry was strong but my archers managed to pick many of them. After 3hours of fighting, there was no more Volscians. I had lost 560 men and my enemy, 5000. I dressed a couple of my soldiers like Volscians scout and told them to enter the city and at night, to open the gates of the city and we would do the rest. The plan worked perfectly. Anxur fell in one night.

363BC ??“The Volscians pleaded for peace and I granted them peace for a large ammount of food and ore. But in the north, the Etruscans had taken Caere but in the process, lost 2other citys. They were weak. The Ligurians offered an alliance and I took it. The Ligurians took the 2 remaining cities of the Etruscans and I took back Caere. I had created LegioIII composed of 7units of Legionaries and 1unit of cavalry. The battle was hard because of the hoplites but I managed to win the day. There was only one Etruscan army left and it was near Caere. They attacked us the next day but, whit auxiliary Hoplites helping us, it was easier to win than saying hello. The Etruscan nation was no more. Now, one nation was left to complete my revenge: The North Oscans.........................................

362BC ??“During my fight whit the Etruscans, the Volscians had been defeated by the Campaignians and the North Oscans had taken Histonium. The North Oscans were sending scouting parties near Carsioli. As I prepared an invasion of the North Oscans, the Campagnians declared war on me. Anxur could surely hold for a year or two. I gathered ressources to attack the North Oscans but in the meantime, they had captured Pentri. The nex month, the North Oscans declared war on me and while declaring this to me, they were taking Apulians, the last stronghold of the Lapygians. I created a mercenary army(1 unit of germans, 2units of Archers and 5units of Spanish mercenaries) that I sent to attack Marsi.

361BC -As my mercenaries were at midway between Carsioli and Marsi, the North Oscans lauched a surprise attack on Carsioli. As a wounded told me:???It was sudden and deliberate???
They attacked whit cavalry, archers and tribal javlinmen. They had exposed their archers and the commanding general ordered all legionaries to attack the archers and the Hill tribe warriors, to attack the cavalry. It was a massacre. The legionaries could??™nt even get to the archers as they were picked of one by one. The hill tribe warriors were trampled before they could defend themselves and then, the cavalryt attacked the legionaries??™s flank. In less than half an hour, the battle was over. I immidialty ordered my mercenaries back to Carsioli. Then they made a surprise attack on the partying North Oscans. Drunk and sleepy, the enemy could do nothing to stop blades from cutting them. I had taken back Carsioli but had put on hold an invasion of the North Oscans. They sued for peace but I asked that they give me 400 food and 400 ore but they refused. A new war was begining and it would be a long one..............................................

360BC -The first month, I tried to make peace whit both of my enemies but they both refused saying that they would not stop fighting me until I had only Roma for a city. The next month, a large campanian army attacked Anxur. They outnumbered the defenders 2/1. But Anxur had many fine archers but the attackers had a whole bunch of cavalrymen. The battle was hard but, at the end of the day, Anxur was still a roman army. The next month, I created another Legio composed of 1unit of cavalry, 2 of velites, 3 of legionaries and 2 of gladiators. It was a gamble to take slaves in my army but I needed the manpower. I went to a plain near Anxur were my Praetorians had gathered many gladiators(8000). I told them that if they wanted freedom, they had to fight and win at Arunci, my next target. All of them voluntered but my recruiters had to take 2000 of them because of the food problems but, I told the others to wait and that they would surely be picked for another battle. After the recruitement, my army marched south of Anxur to Arunci. The general that I had given the command of the legio did'nt send scouts ahead so he didn't know what was waiting in front of them. Just before seeing Arunci, there's a forest whit a rather small passage way(3 lines) and when the legio was well enough in the forest, the Campanians who were hiding in the forest came out of the woods and engaged my men. The legio was outnumbered 4/1 and disorganised. The morale of the velites and cavalrymen went so low that at one point, they were routed. The legionaries, seing there fellow comrades flee, did the same. Only the gladiators were still fighting. That day, only the gladiators were not routed, they were all killed. I had lost so many men that again, my invasions had to be put on hold. I didn't know if the North Oscans would attack one of my Eastern cities so I began looking towards securing the East........

359BC -The Campanians, after a important battle, took back Anxur. I realised that I could not fight on two fronts at once. I asked the North Oscans and the Campanians for peace. They both agreed. The East was a little bit secured when the Umbrians took Marucini. I created a mercanary army and attacked Paeligni. I personaly directed the battle. I placed the germans on the flanks, the Spanish mercenaries in the center. It was a rather quick battle because the North Oscans had nothing more than archers and javlinmen. Perhaps only one unit of Hill tribe warriors but, they could not stand my fierce mercanaries. After 1hour of fight, the city felled. Only two more cities to take and the North Oscans would be history. But, scouts reported that the campanians were sending medium armies to scout my provinces. I could not allow that so I created an army composed of 3cohorts(units) of legionaries and 1cohort of Praetorians. I had to take my Praetorians because there was a lack of armor. I sent my army to Anxur but en route, they met a large Campanian army. They engaged the other army that was only composed of Peltasts. The battle was quick and effective. I had only lost 20 bodyguards and 240 legionaries. Imidiatly after losing the battle, the Campanians offered a peace agrement. I demanded more but my army was still marching to Anxur. Before the the Campanians offered a last tribute for peace, I attacked Anxur. Little did I know that we would be still outnumberd 4/1. The battle raged on for 4hours. At the end, I had lost 1cohort of Praetorians and 3cohorts of legionaries. At least, had 8 cohorts of Praetorians back at Roma. I had transfered the old garrison to Latins. I could only trust my personal guards. But back to Anxur, when I attacked the city, the Campanians had sent a last offer of peace so when I lost the battle, I imidiatly took the peace offer before they could continue the war. Now that the south was secured, I focused on the East, again....

358BC -The North Oscans were weak because of their war whit the Bruttians and Umbrians but had been able to retake Paeligni . They had only 2cities left: Paeligni and Marsi. I created 2armies of Mercenaries(I had the ressources because of my peace whit the Campanians and my numerius mines) and I sent 1army to Paeligni and another to Marsi. I made them wait untill their experience and courage would be high enough but my money and ressources were quickly going down so I ordered one army to attack Marsi. In 2 and a half hours, they took the city. I ordered the other army to attack Paeligni. Again, they had only archers so it was one of the fastest battles I ever saw. The North Oscans had been erased from history. The Campanians were again, making trouble........

357BC -Whit the increasing number of treats by the Campanians, I created an army of 6cohorts of legionaries and 2cohorts of archers. This, time, I was determinde not to lose at Anxur. I hide all of my army in the woods execpt for 1cohort of legionaries. They made a diversion and the garison of Anxur came out to kill them. The legionaries retreated into the woods followed by the Campanians. Now the tables had turned. Had the sound of a trumpet, all of my men charged the unorganised Campanians. In 1hour, the Campanians had lost Anxur. Imidiatly, I created another army of 8cohorts of legionaries. I sent them to Arunci. At night, they stormed the walls of the city and captured the forts. The governor had no choice but to surrender. I had finally gained all the territories down to the river to the south of Arunci and Marsi. The Campanians pleaded for peace and I said yes. They were currently fighting a war whit the Bruttians(they were the most powerful nation to the South) that they could not win. I turned my attention to the North. I did not want to be crushed by 2nations from the North and South. I sent scout into the country of an ally, the Faliscans..............

The final years
356BC -After my great victories to the south I wanted to continue my great ambitions. I decided to attack my allies, the Faliscans. I created another Legion composed entirely of Legionaries and sent them attack Falerii. The day before the attack, a great storm erupted pouring gallons and gallons of water on the land. The next day, the earth had turned into mud. The general that I had appointed decided to attack. The fool. It took 45 minutes for the legionaries to form their ranks. By that time, the Faliscans had already took their positions on top of the walls. When he ordered the charge, the legionaries were slipping or walking slowly not to fall on their back. The enemy archer were doing a massacre. Half the legion was destroyed before they could get to the walls. The other half was killed while trying to take the towers and walls. Seeing that I had wanted to double cross them, the Faliscans formed a Coalition whit the Umbrians and the Campanians against me. 2 or 3 months passed silently before the Coalition's army attacked my cities. Caere, Paeligni, Arunci and Reate. They attacked my cities whit 2armies for each cities. If the first could not take the walls, the second would surely do it. As a matter of facts, they all had to use the second army. All of the cities mentioned fell after days and days of battle. My ressources were going down because of the loss of industries. Could the next year bring me luck?...

355BC -I could not create new armies and could not get my garrisons out. One by one, all of my other cities fell until the coalition reached Roma, the last roman city. They establish a siege. After a month of inactivity, the enemies attacked. They stormed all the walls at once. But what they did not know was that I had an entire legion of praetorians and 3of legionaries. Not to mention the militia, the archers, the gladiators, the slaves and the citizens. Using all of the above, I had rouglhy 500 000 men. The coalition's army consisted of 250 000 soldiers. Now, let's go back to the storming of the walls. As they were attacking, I ordered all of my men to throw wathever projectile they could use. Whit that action, the attack failed and the enemy returned to camp whit heavy casualties. The next week, terrible news arrived, The Bruttians had sent an army of 100 000 soldiers and the Ligurians had sent 70 000 men to join the coalition. Apparently, the Bruttians had made peace whit the Campanians. The coalition from now on would lauch no further attacks. I had 3options left: 1)Surrender,2)Wait until we had no more food left or 3)try an exit. I chose 3. One night, I sent all of my soldiers charge the coaliton's men. I only kept the Praetorians and civilians inside Roma. But, to the Gods will, that night, the Coalition formed all of their men to make a night attack. They were ready to counter attack. At least, my men kept their surprise to them and charged whit great courage. The battles raged until dawn as I saw the thousands of corpses laying on the battlefield. Only an equivalent of a legio came back to the city, the rest had been killed. The coalition had also high casualties but received reinforcements from their countries. It was hopeless, a month after the faithful night battle, the coalition army attacked again for the last time. It was a do or die battle. Early in the morning, they attacked whit all the men they had. For almost 4 hours they tried to take the walls. At the fifth hour, the succeded. They opened the doors of Roma and hundreds of thousands of coalition soldiers charged into the narrow streets of the capital city. The citizens engaged into urban combat but could not match well trained soldiers. When they reached my Palace(it was also the city's fort) an intense battle began. Every body was so pumped up that one of my praetorians had the arm cut in half and still fought like a lion. I also took place in the battle. I've must have killed at least 68 men before a blade struck me in the abdomen. The a spear struck my back and another gladius cut my torsoe. I didn't know it but I was one of the only one's left. I received 28 blows from different weapons. I died instantly. Perhaps my ambitions were too great or I was foolish to attack an ally. What I know is that after the battle for Roma, the coalition fell apart and a civil war between the former members happened. Only the Gods know who will be the victors of this new conflict but I know for one that I will never be one of them. VAE VICTIS!