SPQR III -- Turn IV Summary

 

 

Ave, and welcome to Turn IV!  Where is the Republic?  Well, NOTA BENE is still the primus inter pares within the Senate thanks to the dignitis of Publius Cornelius Scipio Africanus, who defeated Carthage in Year II and Lucius Aemilius Paullus Imperator, who defeated Carthage in Year III.  Rome is still digging out from last year's Storm of the Century.  The Illyrian guerillas continue to disrupt the grain supply and the Syrian war rages on in the east, less one Roman commander, Junius of CORONUS, who languishes there in captivity.  Carthage is beaten, but still exists, and Hamilcar is still there, licking his wounds and plotting revenge.  The Treasury stands at 29 talents.  The populace is rather upset [unrest 4] and that will no doubt pose quite a challenge for the Rome Consul, one Lucius Aemilius Paullus Imperator of NOTA BENE.  Rome has 22 Legions under arms, of which four are Veteren, and six Fleets.

 

So things are not what one could consider "bad".

 

Unless, of course, you happen to belong to the IONIC faction, as this is the year that Plautius Pontifex Maximus' body decides to retire permanently from all public and private life, taking 20 talents of gold with him to the Great

Senate Hall in the Sky, a place where the money will have absolutely zero practical use for the Lesser Senate Hall on Earth.

 

News from the new Roman provinces is good.  The governors, Scipio of NOTA BENE in Sicily, and Manlius of CORONUS in Sardinia-Corsica, both manage to significantly improve the infrastructure of their provinces.  This garners both of them new clients and thus increases their dignitas within the Senate.

 

In the case of Scipio, it clearly establishes him as the greatest, most powerful and admired man in Rome [Inf=23].  And in the Senate, the backbenchers have begun to murmer about how much power one man can hold before he is bold enough to think himself "king".

 

When all the bills are paid, the Treasury stands at 59.  This is a dangerously low amount, so the Rome Consul, Paullus Imperator of NOTA BENE, wastes no time in appealing widely to the Senate for contributions.  He also pays his respects to the grieving IONIC faction for the demise of the Pontifex Maximus.  Furius of BACCHANALIA also conveys his condolences, declaring that a "kinder face has never before been seen at the helm of our religious affairs."

 

(Historians will later go to great length and expense to show that no one in Rome during that time could ever have argued with that assertion in any way, shape or form.  As proof, they are able to note -- after exhaustive research

-- that Plautius was, in fact, the _only_ Pontifex Maximus Rome ever had up until that time).

 

The Senate answers the call for money and 58 talents roll into the Treasury, bolstering it to 117, as only IONIC fails to contribute; but given the loss of 20 talents to Plautius' death, no one blames them.

 

In Carthage, a very capable general named Hannibal comes to prominence.  It is very fortunate for Rome that his arrival is so late, for one can't help but wonder how Rome might have fared had he and Hamilcar both been at the head of the Carthaginian Army in the previous two wars.

 

To placate the populace a bit, Furius of BACCHANALIA hosts a Slice & Dice, the very first Senate-organized games that the Republic has seen.  It also edges up Furius' own popularity.

 

And in Macedonia, Philip V finally succeeds in organizing the force he needs to openly challenge Rome, and declares war.  His army is formidable, but as with Hannibal's arrival, Rome may at least count herself lucky that Philip was unable to declare war earlier, while the Carthaginian menace occupied all of Rome's attention.

 

The gens Plautius recovers quickly from the death of their senior member and immediately requalifies for the Senatorial census.

 

Amidst all this hustle and bustle of activity, it is a highly confident Lucius Aemilius Paullus of NOTA BENE, Rome Consul and Imperator of Carthage, who steps up to the rostrum to deliver this year's State of the Republic address. 

He's all smiles.  Who can blame him?  He's wildly popular for vanquishing Carthage last year.  Indeed, Rome has never had such a wildly popular Rome Consul!  And thus everyone is looking forward to Paullus applying that wild popularity to lowering the unrest level just by talking.

 

But "talk" he does not, at least not right away.  All he does is step up to the rostrum, smile broadly and raise his fist in the air.  The crowd in the Forum loves it and goes wild, cheering him loudly!

 

"Good morning, Rome!" Paullus' voice booms.  (Mighty cheers).

 

"How y'all doin'?!"  (Deafening cheers).

 

(Historical note:  it's very unlikely that true Romans ever used the expression "y'all").

 

"Havin' a good time, are ya'?"  (Mind-boggling cheers.  Children dance and squeal with delight.  Young girls faint.  Some older girls bare their breasts).

 

Paullus waves and smiles, lapping it all up, discretely indicating one of the older girls to a lictor, who moves into the crowd to arrange the Consul's

"refined entertainment" for later on.  Paullus just keeps on smiling and waving, even as the crowd gradually settles and grows quiet, such that he is still smiling and waving even after everyone is completely quiet and staring at him.

 

A lictor finally nudges the Rome Consul, who suddenly seems to come out of his blissful trance and realizes where he is and what's happening.  It quickly dawns on Paullus that smiling and waving is not going to be sufficient; he'll actually have to talk.

 

Gulping, he lowers his hand and wipes the smile off his face and begins to talk.  But clearly he's not prepared, for there are far too many "uhm"'s, "uh"'s, and "How y'all doin'?"s in his oration.  One can imagine the negative impression this creates, but one must also take into account his high popularity.  Net result:  the two basically cancel each other out, and the great general manages to leave the populace just as angry as they were before.

 

Looking visibly disappointed, Paullus reconvenes the Senate.  He ignores their glum faces -- they also had higher hopes for his speech -- and attacks the matters at hand.  "Philip has shown is true colours," says the Rome Consul, and he calls for Rome to attack now.

 

Julius of AENEAN agrees, noting that Rome is lucky to have already defeated Carthage so that now she may concentrate on Macedonia.  He then analyzes Rome's military needs for the year and advocates campaigns against both Macedonia and Syria.

 

Claudius of BACCHANALIA enthusiastically agrees, noting that not even the "wildly popular" Paullus was able to mollify the masses and the Senate desparately needs to restore faith by trouncing her enemies.  Claudius endorses his faction mate, Furius, as one of the Consuls this year, noting the latter's increased popularity as a result of the games he hosted and his solid military record.

 

Buoyed by the positive words so far, Rome Consul Paullus of NOTA BENE makes his proposal:  Furius of BACCHANALIA and Julius of AENEAN as this year's Consuls.

 

Flaminius of IONIC pledges his support for the proposal and also makes a plug for his faction mate, Sulpicius, to become the new Pontifex Maximus.

 

Paullus answers that NOTA BENE is ready to support Sulpicius for the post.

 

The current proposal brings out Applus, the CORONUS backbencher, whose life, it is said, exists solely to dazzle the Senate with mathematics.  True to form, Applus dazzles the Senate again this year with his indepth analysis of, well, everything!  He suggests that attacking the two "weak" wars (Illyria and Syria) might be best, thus avoiding further military expenses this year and simultaneously building the treasury and creating new veterens.

 

And the Consul vote is in:  44-0, with six absentions from CORONUS.  Furius of IONIC becomes Field Consul and Julius Imperator of AENEAN becomes Rome Consul.

 

When next the Senate meets, Julius is first to speak.  It is time to propose the new Pontifex Maximus.  Julius thanks IONIC for the offer of Sulpicius, but declines it because the Ship Building Concession, which generated the revenue the Pontifex Maximus needed before, is no longer generating that revenue because Rome already has her fleet.  He therefore proposes Papirius of OPTIMATES for the position, where the Armaments Concession will generate the needed funds.

 

Papirius looks pleasantly surprized, but Faction Leader Valerius wastes no time; he jumps up to "graciously" accept the nomination and claims that Papirius is well-suited for the duty, as he is "predisposed to gazing obsessively at the stars and also enjoys slaughtering a menagerie of animals -- especially oxen."  A strange glint flits across his eyes, rather unnerving to those around him.

 

But Claudius of BACCHANALIA frowns, saying, "The logic of our esteemed RC seems a bit flawed."  He professes not to understand how Julius feels that the Arms funds would generate the needed income and rhetorically asks if Rome would recruit Legions simply to fill the Pontifex Maximus' coffers.  He calls for a new proposal that awards the postion to "a faction with a more steady income," although he omits mention of which faction that might be.

 

Paullus of NOTA BENE laughs, declaring that that rules out his faction.

 

At this point, something absolutely unprecedented happens, something certain to have profound and unexpected repercussions for the future of the Republic -- the Tribunes of the Plebs, for the first time, come alive and forcefully exert their authority.

 

"Hear me, Conscript Fathers!" booms the Tribune who has jumped onto the floor.  "I forbid this august body to continue voting for this proposal!  It does not please the Populus que Romanus!"  In short:  a VETO.

 

To say that the Senate is "stunned" would be an understatement -- except for the IONIC bench, which looks serenely happy.

 

But before anyone can do anything about it, a second Tribune of the Plebs strides out onto the Senate floor.  "Hear me, Conscript Fathers!  It is the will of the People of Rome that Sulpicius of IONIC, being highly qualified for the position and enjoying the trust and confidence of the masses, be our next Pontifex Maximus!"  In short:  a proposal that completely bypasses the Consul.

 

There is no proof, but it's not hard for Senators to guess in whose clientship those Tribunes operated.  And with that, the Senate explodes, and pandemonium reigns.  Shouting above the din, Julius of AENEAN attempts a conciliatory note toward IONIC, saying that Sulpicius is more valuable to Rome as a future Consul than as Pontifex Maximus.  He challenges Sulpicius to give his justification.

 

But Valerius of OPTIMATES is livid with rage.  He decries "that a mere Pleb" should be able to disrupt "the patrician house".  His faction storms out in disgust, sneering at the Tribune bench.

 

And nothing much useful gets done for the rest of that session.

 

By the time the Senate next convenes, tempers have subsided, but you can still feel the tension simmering in the background.  The votes finally come in, and Sulpicius indeed becomes Pontifex Maximus by a close vote of 22-17, with 11 abstentions.

 

Sighing with what some interpret as "relief" that the unpleasantness is over, Rome Consul Julius of AENEAN takes the floor to propose the Censor.  "We only have four candidates," he says.  He states that three of those, Flaminius of IONIC, Valerius of OPTIMATES, and Paullus of NOTA BENE will certainly understand why they should not get the position, by which he means their already high dignitis.  Julius therefore declares that Junius of CORONUS should become Censor.

 

But in the first noticeable "repercussion" of what will eventually be known as the "Tribune Incident of Year IV", Julius outlines an elaborate plan for ensuring that Junius wins the election:  he'll propose all three of the other candidates, one after the other, and expect the Senate to vote them down, thus making Junius the last eligible candidate which forces him to become Censor.

 

Julius states that he must do it this way because "one may never know how uncontrolled tribunes may act."

 

A guffaw is heard from the CORONUS bench, and Fabius is overheard commenting to a faction mate about the waste of time.  Junius himself, however, publicly addresses the Senate.  He says he would be "honored to accept the Censorship".

 He professes understanding for the Rome Consul's "legal mechanism", but not for the "labyrinthian method".

 

"Am I worthy of the Censorship?" Junius demands to know.  "Am I capable of it?  Then why dilly-dally about?  Why not put it directly to the vote?"  After a moment of silence, Junius shrugs, sighs, and takes his seat.

 

And when the votes are counted, Flaminius fails to become Censor, 15-35.

 

Julius then proposes Valerius of OPTIMATES.  Answering Junius, Julius says, "I sincerely think that you are the best candidate" and believes that he speaks for the rest of the Senate.  However, for reasons already mentioned, he is determined to see Junius elected by this roundabout method.

 

And Valerius goes down 8-26, with 16 abstentions.

 

So Julius proposes Paullus of NOTA BENE.

 

Valerius of OPTIMATES takes this opportunity to remind everyone about the "Tribune Situation" by firing an angry comment toward the IONIC bench.  He calls the use of the Tribune "abhorrant...an afront to the mos maiorum."  He is especially angry because the Tribune was able to influence an office that is "more ancient then the kings of Rome".

 

"Fancy a representative of the people proposing our Chief Priest!" sneers Valerius.  "I hope Jupiter finds more reverance in these 'people's' tribunes than I do!"  He then goes back to sit down.  And then promptly stands again and shakes his fist at the IONIC bench.  "Why dont you move to Greece with the other democrats!" he shouts.  And then he sits down again.

 

And the vote is 8-37, with five abstentions.  As the last available candidate, Junius of CORONUS finally becomes Censor.  He declines prosecutions.

 

In the next session, which all hope will be just a little quieter, Rome Consul Julius Imperator of AENEAN addresses the two new Roman provinces:  Nearer & Further Spain.  For Nearer Spain he proposes Flaminius Imperator of IONIC and for Further Spain, Valerius of OPTIMATES.

 

Only CORONUS dissents, as Junius declares that he cannot "see the wisdom in posting another man with high military acumen to the boondocks."  But as usual, CORONUS represents the minority opinion, and the proposal passes 44-6. 

And off go the governors!

 

Julius now proposes military builds:  three new Legions and one new Fleet.  This is, for a change, a "non-controversial" proposal, and it glides through the Senate, 45-0.

 

In the Senate's final session of the year, Rome Consul Julius Imperator of AENEAN tackles the War Plan.  The "time for swords has arrived," he says.  Declaring that Rome is at her military peak, he says it is "time we smash our

enemies!"

 

The proposal:  Field Consul Furius of BACCHANALIA takes command of three Veterens, 13 Legions, and five Fleets, and attacks Philip V's Macedonians; Rome Consul Julius of AENEAN takes command of one Veteren, eight Legions, and two Fleets, and attacks the Syrians.

 

Amid general approval from around the Senate, it is the CORONUS bench that again cuts against the grain.  Applus the Backbencher again demonstrates his mathematical ability to discredit the force distribution.  He advocates one less Legion for Syria and one more for Macedonia.  Naturally, CORONUS votes NAY.

 

Julius of AENEAN smirks, rolls his eyes and rhetorically asks, "Has ever CORONUS voted YES to something???"  Laughter all around.

 

Nevertheless, the War Plan passes 40-6.  The Consuls go off to war and the Senate adjourns for the year.

 

 

THE 1ST MACEDONIAN CAMPAIGN

 

Furius of BACHANALIA leads 16 Legions, three of them Veterens.  Arrayed against him is the Macedonian Army, with Philip V in command.  Philip has prepared very long indeed.  He curses vainly about his lack of success in mobilizing his country to challenge Rome while Hamilcar's Carthage was in the field.  Now Carthage is reduced to a shadow of her former self at the time that Macedonia is finally ready.  But Philip knows it would have been premature to declare war on Rome even a year ago -- his forces just weren't ready.  So for better or worse, he has chosen this moment to unleash his own legions.  This year, vows Philip to himself, and later to his soldiers, will be Macedonia's year.  For their part, his soldiers need little encouragement, for Philip has held them back for so long that they are now like thoroughbred racehorses chomping at the bit.

 

And as the campaign progresses, they chomp on Roman Legionaries.  Furius' Army, big and powerful though it is, is simply not prepared for the ferocity and rabid hunger with which Philip and his men fight.  Again and again, one engagement after another spills rivers of blood, swelling to an ocean of loss that Rome has not yet known, even against Carthage.  As the campaign wears on, the clashes became more frequent, more desparate, and bloodier than the ones before, in which mercy's face flees, neither side gives any quarter, and both sides commit atrocities heretofore unseen in Rome's history.

 

In the end, neither side can claim victory this year.  Military historians will later generally agree that Philip of Macedonia was the far better commander on the field, easily out-classing Furius in generalship.  This is not to say that Furius isn't a good soldier.  Certainly no one could dismiss him as a coward, for indeed, in more than one battle he was only spared death because his personal guard physically restrained him from charging into a mob of Macedonians, even though he was already wounded.

 

No, "cowardism" was not the problem.  It was simply Philip, who outmaneuvered and outclassed Furius every time.  But Philip, for his part, was left just as frustrated, cursing vainly because one engagement after another failed to produce him a clear victory -- Rome's Army was just too damned big.  If he had just mustered more soldiers, or if Rome had fielded less Legions, things could have gone differently.

 

As it is, Philip and Furius both settle down into winter camp, licking their wounds and preparing for the next campaign.

 

 

THE 2ND SYRIAN CAMPAIGN

 

Julius of AENEAN, Naval Imperator over Carthage, finally has what he's always dreamed of -- command of Roman Legions on the ground.  He has 10 of them, of which one is Veteren.  This is his moment, he knows, and he fully intends to make the most of it.  The Syrians will help him with that -- by dying by his hand and the hands of his soldiers!  Julius never felt that the previous commander, Junius of CORONUS, knew anything worthwhile about soldiering and that sending him to face this wily eastern foe was just about the dumbest military decision Rome has ever made.  But it was Junius' fault, of course, choosing to be Field Consul instead of Rome Consul last year!  But enough of that -- time to lead this Army and fight for the glory of Rome!  Time to show the Syrians what their fate is when a real Roman Military Man takes the field against them.

 

And Julius gets his victory!  But not without cost.  In the Carthaginian Naval campaign of Year I, some had criticized Julius for being too reckless, for rushing the victory, when a little bit of patience would have saved Roman lives.  And again those rumors of recklessness resurface, for he buys his victory against Syria with the loss of two Legions.  But Julius himself also pays the ultimate price, for in the hour of his triumph, he too falls with his soldiers, covered in the blood of his enemies, his sword stuck to his hand by blood and gore.

 

A victory indeed ... but not without cost.

 

 

BACK IN ROME...

 

Claudius of BACCHANALIA is the first to address the Senate in the aftermath of the military campaigns.  "Can our military plans be so flawed?" he demands of his peers.  "We of BACCHANALIA think not, but instead offer our belief that the hand of a more powerful entity is at play here."

 

By "powerful entity", it's clear that Claudius is referring to supernatural powers, for he then "implores" the Pontifex Maximus "to offer libations to Mars, the God of War, as he is obviously most displeased with our actions!"

 

Claudius concludes by decrying this "black day in the histories of Rome."  He then offers solace to Julius the younger, who must now take charge of his gens in the Senate.

 

Lucius Aemilius Paullus Imperator of NOTA BENE speaks next, with words so profound that one simply must include them in their entirety:  "I am struck almost speechless at the news of Julius' death.  Killed by a rampaging elephant at the moment of his triumph!  An elephant is a noble and intelligent beast, served by its prodigious memory.  Loyal to its friends.  Unforgiving of its enemies.  A fitting totem for Julius.  A fitting model for his son".

 

(Now that is a "eulogy"!)

 

Much later, when the mail catches up with events, a letter arrives from Valerius of OPTIMATES, currently serving as Governor of Further Spain, in which he writes:  "Let us not think that we have lost a colleague but gained a statue!"

 

(Now that boggles the mind).

 

In the meantime, Julius the Younger, Faction Leader of AENEAN, expresses gratitude to all who've expressed their sympathy.  He calls his father's death "the most glorious one" and he notes that the war booty, 45 talents of gold, is greater than any Rome has yet gained from conquest.  In a surprising moment of candor, Julius admits that his father miscalculated the military risk of the two wars and thus badly distributed the available Legions between

Macedonia and Syria, and thus contributed to the woeful result.

 

(Now that is something you don't see every day!)

 

In conclusion, Julius notes the unfortunate stalemate in Macedonia and but also states that "Furius has been good enough to avoid falling in an ambush."  As the year ends, Sulpicius Pontifex Maximus of IONIC becomes Administrator of the 3rd Tax Farmer District.

 

In the CORONUS faction, one Quintus Fabius Maximus, a military man of some renown, takes over leadership of the gens Fabius.

 

Thus ends Year IV of SPQR III.