Urbi et Orbi - A Rome AAR

[Stuckenschmidt]

Table of Content​

Chapter 01 - Prologue
Chapter 02 - The Mediterranean World around 300 (The East)
Chapter 03 - The Mediterranean World around 300 (The West)
Chapter 04 - The Third Samnite War (304 - 301)
Chapter 05 - Central Italy and the Sabinian Campaign (303 - 300)
Chapter 06 - The Roman-Apulian War (299 - 297)
Chapter 07 - Developments in Roman Society (304 - 296)
Chapter 08 - The Lucanian Campaign (295)
Chapter 09 - Italiote Diplomacy (294)
Chapter 10 - The Tuscian War (294 - 293)
Chapter 11 - The Elean Campaign (290 - 289)
Chapter 12 - The Second Etruscan War (289 - 287)
Chapter 13 - The Tarentinian War (287 - 285)
Chapter 14 - Gallic Affairs (283 - 282)
Chapter 15 - The Third Etrurian War (282 - 280)
Chapter 16 - The Bruttian War (279 - 277)
Chapter 17 - Developments in Roman Society (295 - 277)
Chapter 18 - Beyond Italy - Looking for a Strategy
Chapter 19 - Assimilation of Corsica (282 - 275)
Chapter 20 - The First Punic War (275 - 274)
Chapter 21 - Sardinian Unrest (273)
Chapter 22 - The Sikulian War (272 - 271)
Chapter 23 - Subjugation of Sardinia (270 - 269)
Chapter 24 - The Second Punic War (269 - 267)
Chapter 25 - Sicily and the begin of the Interlude (266 - 265)
Chapter 26 - Landfall in Illyria (264 - 263)
Chapter 27 - The Abrian Campaign (263 - 262)
Chapter 28 - Developments in the Republic (276 - 262)
Chapter 29 - The Cavian Campaign (261 - 260)
Chapter 30 - The Ligurian War (260 - 259)
Chapter 31 - The Daorsian Campaign (259 - 258)
Chapter 32 - The Taulantian Campaign (258 - 257)
Chapter 33 - Central Illyria and the Issa Civil War (256)
Chapter 34 - The northern Alliance (255 - 253)
Chapter 35 - The Ilvatian Campaign (252 - 251)
Chapter 36 - End of the Interlude (304 - 250)
Chapter 37 - The Epirote War (249 - 248)
Chapter 38 - The Macedonian War (247 - 246)
Chapter 39 - The Antigonid War (244 - 242)
Chapter 40 - Developments in the Republic (261 - 242)
Chapter 41 - The Campaign of 241
Chapter 42 - The Second Macedonian War (240 - 238)
Chapter 43 - The Argolid War (238 - 236)
Chapter 44 - Downfall of the Poleis (236 - 235)
Chapter 45 - The Thessalian War (234 - 233)
Chapter 46 - Into Thracia (232)
Chapter 47 - Venetian Containment (229)
Chapter 48 - The Valley Campaign (228 - 227)
Chapter 49 - The Island Campaign (226)
Chapter 50 - The Second Antigonid War (225 - 224)
Chapter 51 - Cornelian Dialogue (224 - 223)
Chapter 52 - The Dardanian-Sardinian War (222 - 221
Chapter 53 - Developments in the Republic (241 - 221)
Chapter 54 - The Second Thessalian War (220 - 218)
Chapter 55 - The Third Antigonid War (218 - 217)
Chapter 56 - End of the Greek Campaign (213 - 211)
Chapter 57 - Entrance to Hispania (210)
Chapter 58 - The Indigetien Campaign (209 - 208)
Chapter 59 - Across the Iberus (207)
Chapter 60 - The Sedetanian War (205 - 203)
Chapter 61 - The Ilergetian Campaign (202 - 201)
Chapter 62 - Rome and the Mediterranean World in 200
Chapter 63 - The Sibuzatian Campaign (199)
Chapter 64 - From Coast to Coast (197)
Chapter 65 - Toward the Padus Valley (196 - 194)
Chapter 66 - The Taurinian Campaign (193)
Chapter 67 - Transpadana subdued (190 - 189)
Chapter 68 - The Getae War (188-187)
Chapter 69 - The Olcadian Campaign (186)
Chapter 70 - The Campaign of 185
Chapter 71 - Mallorca and Menorca (184 - 183)
Chapter 72 - The Second Olcadian Campaign (182 - 181)

 

[DensleyBlair]

Very cryptic!

Seeing as I'm here, I'll subscribe pre-emptively.

 

[Nikolai]

I'll sub too!

 

[Stuckenschmidt]

01 - Prologue

"Gentibus est aliis tellus data limine certo; Romanae spatium est urbis et orbis idem."[1]

"The land of other nations has a fixed boundary; only in the Roman the city matches with the world."

Rome. Commonly also nicknamed as the Eternal City. This name is insofar well deserved, as it is not only one of the older cities on the European Continent, but even more so since the interest in the city and what it stands for seems to be infinite. The „Old Rome“, the one from the founding of the early Roman Republic to the end of the Western Roman Empire, sparked a now uncounted amount of plays, studies, movies, documentaries and books. Like the one you are holding in your hand right now, which serves as further Testament for the never-ending inspiration or nostalgia in this long gone political entity.

But what exactly is the reason for this unprecedented status? As usual, there is not „the“ single reason, that explains everything. But rather a set of motivations, of which one or several might be the cause for someone to turn his focus back in time. In general, one may identify the following aspects:

Antiquity. Although we live in a world, that feels very cramped with eight billion human beings and quite small due to the vast technological progress made in terms of communication and transportation, we have not forgotten, that there was a time, when nothing of this existed. When people, ideas and goods travelled the earth at the speed of a pedestrian, a carriage, the wind on the ocean or the muscle power of rowers. And yet, despite these limitations, mankind was able to make achievements, that still astonish the world. Such as the Pyramids in Egypt or Mesoamerica. Or a vast territory around the Mediterranean Sea, controlled from one single city. The sheer question, how they were able to operate such a complex political and societal entity under these circumstances remains food for thought.

High Civilization. No doubt, that society has progressed. Institutions such as slavery, arena fights to the death or crucifixion will seem barbaric and brutish to an educated mind of the 21st century. And the ideas of unalienable human rights or equality before the law, that we deem to be necessary for a free and civilized society, were still things of the future. Keeping these caveats in mind, we still witness the remnants of a society, that managed to organize itself and, later, a large part of the known world. That had the means to administrate the needs of large population centers, construct still impressive infrastructure and had a literacy rate, that clearly exceeded that of later times.

Well documented. Contrary to, for example, the Bronze Age Cultures of Central Europe, we do not have to rely solely on rare archaeological findings to paint a picture of how the Roman world may have looked like. Instead it talks to us through a comprehensive oeuvre of consul lists, laws, letters and general literature by contemporary authors, that describe or comment past or present events. This gives us an almost unique insight into the minds of the authors and the time they lived in. The reader will meet some of them in the following chapters.

Epic Story. The rise of a city to the strongest political power of its time and, no less, its slow decline to nothingness, has occupied the thoughts of people forever. In popular culture, it is mainly about the great struggle between different people. Mostly one between David and Goliath. And, of course, the struggle between the „great men“ in the transition period from Republic to Empire. Rome provides large battles, defiance and political intrigue over a time of centuries to an extent, that an end to historical novels, TV series and movies is not to be expected anytime soon.

Projection surface. Seven thousand kilometers to the west of Rome, one finds a Republic. In the capital of said Republic, there is a Senate on a Capitol Hill. The statue of one of its famous statesman rests on a seat decorated with fasces. And along the banks not of the Tiber, but the Ohio river one finds the city of Cincinnati. Besides the ancient Rome as it has really been at its time, there have always been interpretations or imaginations of what it was, that coincidentally corresponded with what the people wanted to be themselves. Or at least how they wanted to be perceived by others. And no matter whether Rome was depicted as imperialist juggernaut or romantic alternative to absolute monarchy, it said more about those making these interpretations than about Rome itself. But that is a story for another time and another book.

This book covers the time from the end of the 2nd Samnite War to the turn of eras. It will neither depict great men nor heroic poses. The reader will instead meet people, that reacted according to the ambitions of their character to the challenges of their time and environment. And, hopefully, it will not fall into the trap of telling a story of good versus evil, but a tale of struggle between different characters, ideas and ideals. And how this struggle led to a city having a grip on the world. Then and now.


[1] Ovid; "Fasti", Book II

 

[DensleyBlair]

The scene is set! Looking forward to this. The first I:R AAR I've followed from the beginning!

 

[Stuckenschmidt]

The scene is set! Looking forward to this. The first I:R AAR I've followed from the beginning!

Welcome aboard. The next two chapters will be a bit of introduction of the situation of the world (which also gives me some time to maybe wait for the second bugfix ). And after that this thing will begin in all seriousness.

 

[Bullfilter]

I’ve also dropped in for a look. Not many of us writing Rome AARs these days (and mine is suitably ancient, not even using Imperator yet!). May the Gods smile upon your efforts.

 

[Specialist290]

Glad to see you writing again, Stuckenschmidt Will certainly be following this eagerly.

 

[Stuckenschmidt]

02 - The Mediterranean World around 300 (The East) [2]

To the east of the Mediterranean, the so-called Fertile Crescent spans from Egypt along the coast through southern Turkey into Iraq and southern Iran. The books written about this cradle of early Civilizations fill Libraries. This is not the place to add or repeat anything of it. Suffice to say, that the region was used to see territorial states.

In the 4th Century all these old states, Egypt, Babylon, Assyria and others were gone. For in the mid of the 6th Century a people residing in the south of today`s Iran had its sudden rise to power, when Cyrus I defeated the Medes, the Lydians and eventually the Babylonians, establishing what is known today as Persian or Achaemenid Empire. For two Centuries it would rule, although partially just temporary, a territory from Egypt and Turkey in the west to Pakistan and Central Asia in the east.

Its downfall would come from a small territory at the edge of the Persian World. Greece stepped out of the Dark Ages and began to reestablish a high culture as of the 8th century. With an increasing population, the founding of various cities took place. At the beginning of the 5th century, Persia and the Greek world began to collide. After failing to subdue Greece in the early 5th century, Persia focused on dividing the Greeks, for example by supporting the Spartans during the Peloponnesian War. With the King`s Peace of 387, Persia was in firm control of Ionia and had the ability to interfere in Greek politics.

While Athens, Sparta and Thebes fought for Hegemony (respectively against it) over Greece, Philipp II, King of Macedonia since 356, expanded the borders and sphere of influence of his realm. In 338, he crushed the last Greek resistance to his Hegemony at Chaironeia and became Hegemon of the so-called League of Corinth. Two years later, he got murdered.

His son Alexander III was immediately proclaimed to be his successor to the Throne at age 20. Philipp already had intentions to cross the Hellespont into Persia, but his death rendered his plans void. Yet, in 334, after securing his reign and Hegemony over the other Greek states, Alexander made landfall in Asia Minor to embark on one of the best known military campaigns of the world. Within the next ten years he traversed large parts of Asia, defeated the last Achaemenid King Dareios III, destroyed the Persian Empire, marched into the outskirts of India just to get stopped by a mutiny, returned to the heartland of Persia, where he died in 323 at age 32.

Although Alexander`s life and death are famous, equally important but far lesser known is what happened afterward. When Alexander died, there was only his half-brother Arrhidaeus and his yet unborn child (the later Alexander IV) as potential successors from his own family. At first, there was an attempt at unity, but the initial compromise to make both Arrhidaeus and Alexander King, with Perdiccas and others as Guardians, was not to last. Almost immediately the power struggle between Alexander`s generals began for the control of parts of the Empire, that would ultimately collapse.

One result of this struggle was the elimination of Alexander`s family. By 309 his mother, wifes, siblings and children were dead with the exception of his sister Thessalonike, who had married Cassander. The more important result was the split of the Empire. In 309, after several Wars, the remaining Successors (Greek: Diadochi) had split Alexander`s Empire in five parts.

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The five remaining Diadochi in 304 [from left to right: Cassander; Lysimachos; Antigonos I. Monophthalmos (the One-Eyed); Seleucos I. Nikator (the Victor); Ptolemy I. Soter (the Savior)]​

Ptolemy ruled in Egypt, Cassander in Macedonia, Lysimachos in Thracia, Antigonos in Asia Minor, Syria and Palestine. Eventually Seleucos in Babylon and the East of the former Empire. With the former royal family destroyed, all of them proclaimed themselves King in 306/305. In 304, when Rome had won the Second Samnite War, the Eastern Mediterranean was a divided region, always just one step away from the next major war between Alexander`s successors.

[2] All year dates refer to BC, unless specified otherwise

 

[DensleyBlair]

Plenty of division in the East also means plenty of opportunity for Rome, of course – if Rome can play it right.

 

[Nikolai]

Yep. Plenty of opportunities, as long as not one becomes too strong...

 

[Specialist290]

Alexander is a sterling example of how one man can forge an empire -- but also of the consequences of leaving that empire without a firm foundation. A lesson the Romans will learn much from, I assume.

 

[Stuckenschmidt]

03 - The Mediterranean World around 300 (The West)

Contrary to the Eastern Mediterranean, where Civilizations thrived since the Third Millenium, the Western part of it had not brought forth a similar early High Culture, that was able to influence other parts of the world. Hence the political landscape of the late 4th Century was partially shaped by influences from the East.

As of the 9th Century, Phoenician cities began to establish colonies along their trade routes at the African and Iberian coast. In what today is Tunesia, colonies were founded, among them Utica and Carthage. The latter, situated favorably along trade routes, emerged as prospering city and the most wealthy settlement in the region. In the 4th Century, Carthaginian influence had spread along the Libyan coast to southern Iberia, Sardinia and western Sicily.

Another Colonization movement came from the Greek cities. As of the 8th Century, the so-called „Great Colonization“ began, with numerous Colonies being established in southern Italy and Sicily. With the constant influx of Greek Colonists, these settlements had major influence in Italy, shaping a cultural and political region known as Magna Graecia.

Central Italy was controlled by a group of people of Indoeuropean descent, first and foremost the Etruscans. The Villanova Culture is seen today as the first stage of Etruscan civilization, beginning around 900 and heavily influencing the surrounding people, including the Latins further south. The Etruscans reached the peak of their power in the 6th Century, when their influence reached from the Po valley in the north to Campania in the south.

One city under Etruscan influence and, arguably, temporary Etruscan rule, was Rome. According to the legend, the rule of the last Roman King with Etruscan roots, Lucius Tarquinius Superbus, ended after a revolt in 509. Although modern estimations of the early stages of the Roman Republic fall into the first half of the 5th Century, it marked the weakening influence of the Etruscans in central Italy.

Rome began to have increasing influence among the Latin cities and the 4th Century saw the city gaining momentum in its expansionism. Although the Century began with a Gallic invasion and the sack of Rome in 387, this event also destroyed Etruscan influence in the Po Valley, further weakening Rome`s rival to the north. In the following decades, the Roman-Etruscan War and, even more so, the Roman-Latin War, made the Roman control of the region of Latium absolute by 338.

Afterwards, Rome turned its focus toward Campania, where the Samnites had major influence. Although the historicity of the First Samnite War (343-341) is questioned, the Second Samnite War (326 - 304), despite the catastrophic early stage with the Roman defeat in the battle at the Caudine Forks, ultimately led to a Roman victory.

In 304, Rome controlled Latium and most of Campania as well as small territories along the Adriatic Sea around Sipontum, which itself was independent. Several people to the east, such as the Frentani, were Rome`s vassals. The remaining large rivals in mainland Italy were the Etruscans in the north and the Samnites in the south, who had been reduced to their homeland in east Campania.

 

[Stuckenschmidt]

04 - The Third Samnite War (304 - 301)

"Let there be no confusion. This is not about whether we [the Romans] or they [the Samnites] will control Campania. If we meet them on the battlefield, we will determine, who will decide the future fortune of whole Italy."

Titus Livius reports about an alleged speech held in the Senate in late 304. The Second Samnite War was just concluded, as the first notions of a further clash with the Samnites emerged.

Leaving the question of the historicity of this or similar speeches aside, that were recorded by Livius or Cassius Dio, it seems to be, that the Romans did account to themselves about the nature of the conflict they were in. Or maybe the nature of the conflict they strived for.

In these speeches, the threat from other people such as the Etruscans, Samnites and Umbri are described, that would eventually lead to conflict. The origin of this threat was the increasing power of the Roman Republic, which made other people seek for Alliances to counter Rome. These Alliances, in turn, posed a threat to the Republic, that had to be countered with war and a further expansion of Roman control over the Italian peninsula.

Regardless whether the enemy Alliances mentioned in these speeches did actually exist or not at that time, the Romans were aware, that the logical conclusion of their rise was a struggle versus all people and that the result was either the destruction of Rome as it was, or Roman Hegemony over Italy.

Nowadays it is accepted, that the references to the scheming of other people was a later explanation to hide the fact, that Rome was very willingly entering this struggle. Even when taking into account the mechanics initiated by one Faction becoming more powerful, there is no denying, that Rome actually wanted what was about to happen.

In spring 303, Rome began the Third Samnite War. Consuls were Publius Sempronius Sophus and Publius Sulpicius Saverrio. While Sulpicius was put in charge of the Roman Fleet (a duty, that kept him far away from the actual action), Sempronius was in command of the Roman army.

While Sempronius headed for the Samnite City of Bovianum (today Bojano), the Samnites and their Allies from Lucania headed for the Roman City of Lucera. Both cities fell in early 302. Afterwards the two armies headed toward each other and met near Corneliani. Modern estimations assume, that the army of the Romans and their Allies had a bit less than 20.000 soldiers and that they outnumbered their opponents. The Romans won a decisive victory, that gave them the ability to operate unhindered for the rest of the war.

In late 302, the city of Aeclanum was taken and the Samnites had lost their last stronghold. In the early days of 301, the Samnites surrendered and the whole Samnite territory was annexed by the Romans. In the course of the war, at least five thousand people were enslaved and a Warrior Frieze was obtained and brought to Rome.

The Third Samnite War was the last chapter in the struggle for Campania. Rome now controlled a contiguous territory from coast to coast. The largest remaining entity in southern Italy were the Lucanians. But they had been defeated along with their Samnite Allies and would not pose a serious threat to Roman Hegemony.

 

[DensleyBlair]

Excellent first step towards total dominance in Italy. From here, the world!

 

[Specialist290]

Rome's slow march on the road to Italian -- and presumably Mediterranean -- hegemony begins.

 

[Cora Giantkiller]

Excited to see what happened next.

 

[Stuckenschmidt]

05 - Central Italy and the Sabinian Campaign (303 - 300)

As the Third Samnite War came to an end, Rome had to realize, that the strategic situation in Central Italy had worsened from their point of view.

In the late 4th Century, northern Central Italy was under control of the Etruscans in the west and the Umbri in the east. No contemporary sources of the cause of the following events have survived. Appian writes in a sidenote, that simultaneously to the Third Samnite War, the Etruscans took offense over a colonisation attempt of the Umbri. But considering that he wrote with a distance of Centuries and he is the only source for such an event, the validity of his claim is doubtful.

But evidently a war broke out between the Etruscans and the Umbri. The latter being supported by the Picenes and Sabines. Possibly there have been tensions between the two people, but most Historians assume, that the war was a result of an Etruscan situation analysis.

From an Etruscan point of view, Rome`s war in the south meant, that soon there would be no rival left to deny them the dominance over southern Italy. Hence the strenghtening of their own position was a logical conclusion. The important question is, why they did not prefer an anti-Roman Alliance with the other people of the north over a potentially risky war.

Some authors argue, that the Etruscans tried to form such an Alliance and only resorted to war, after they failed to achieve their goal. Anyway, shortly after the end of the Samnite War, the Umbri surrendered either. Their territory as well as parts of the Sabine and Picene lands were occupied, blocking any further Roman expansion.

With its armed forces occupied in the south, the Republic had not been able to stop this development. When the Etruscans had won the conflict, the only remaining option was to deny them access to the remnants of Sabine and Picene territory by occupying it itself.

During a campaign from roughly early 301 to late 300, Roman forces defeated what was left of the enemy armies, after they had been severely beaten by the Etruscans already. After the sieges of Interamna (today: Teramo) and Aternum, the last resistance had been broken and these territories annexed by the Republic.

After the end of the Campaign, the Etruscan and Roman territories shared a common border across the Peninsula. While both entities had the possibility to further expand in the north respectively south, the Roman potential to increase its influence in the south was limited and a conflict with the Etruscans now inevitable.

 

[Specialist290]

Rome and their ancient rivals are on a collision course -- there can only be one master of the Italian peninsula in the long run.

 

[Stuckenschmidt]

06 - The Roman-Apulian War (299 - 297)

After the end of the Sabinian Campaign, the political Rome prepared for the Consul Elections of 299, resulting in the win of Publius Cornelius Barbatus and Publius Cornelius Arvina, who had served as Augur respectively Pontifex Maximus before.

There are no sources concerning the process of decision making during the first month of their term. But in late 299 the Republic mobilized its forces and marched south toward the city of Sipontum (Greek: Sipious). According to the Legend, the Founder of the city was Diomedes, one of the Heroes of the Trojan War. In fact it was one of the numerous Greek colonies in southern Italy.

Although not the largest city in the region, it had a formidable port. Something, the Republic was lacking along the Adriatic Sea even after the occupation of Aternum. Besides Sipontum, the Republic faced resistance by the Messapians, the Apulians and the city of Tarentum, who had formed an Alliance. This Alliance shows, that Rome did not only face a political, but also cultural opponent, that, contrary to the Samnites, consisted not of Latin people, but was of Illyrian-Greek descent.

The Campaign began in late 299, when a Roman army appeared at the gates of Sipontum, while the Roman fleet blocked the port of the city. There are almost no descriptions of the Apulian War, but in mid 298 a Apulian-Messapian force tried to relieve the city, but was defeated close to the city, that had to surrender shortly later.

Although the main reason for the Campaign had been achieved with the capture of Sipontum, the Republic decided to take advantage of its momentum and marched south into Apulian territory, besieging the capital of Barion (today: Bari). It took until well into 297, before the city had to give up.

Livius reports about a last event in the now concluded Apulian campaign. According to him, Rome`s opponents gathered for a last stand west of Barion, near Thyron. That force was completely destroyed, while inflicting considerably high casualties on the Romans and their Allies. Historians still debate the validity of this account, since no archaeological findings for a battle of such dimensions have evolved in the region yet.

Thyron may be fiction or reality, the Apulian War had come to an end by mid 297. With the annexation of Sipontum and Apulia, the Republic had increased its influence in the south along the Adriatic Sea and, including Gnatia, gained two seaports for military and mercantile operations.