Imaginary Battle

[Bryaxis Hecatee]

To our divine Emperor, Salve

 

News has reached me that the preparations of the city of Durocortorum are now complete. The city's walls have been finished, new towers added, a wooden wall built in front of it, preceded by a ditch, a vallum on top of witch is a palisade, a second ditch and lillies for some one hundred feet in front of this outermost ditch. Only four access have been kept in front of the doors.

 

All the men and women who had long hairs donated them to our artillery corp which has put ballistae on every tower and they have also built around 50 lighter, smaller ballistae to be used from inside the towers or even directly upon the walls. Around one thousand bows have also been prepared along with thousands of projectiles. A whole forest has been cut, the wood stored inside the stone walls or used on the new works. We have food inside for two month, three if we reduce the rations. Wicker shields and new weapons have also been stored and the citizens are currently training in the use of the bows while the legion trains every day. The city should thus be safe from anything but a Parthian or roman army !

 

On my side of the operation I have now mapped the whole area between the barbarians and Durocortorum and have found the best way through which to dram them to our defenses while making some ambushes along the way to blood my men and thus make them better without the benefit of the training my legion at Durocortorum has had. The legion I got with me is still pretty much green but they are most competent at building camps for they have built some dozens since they were recruited.

 

My cavalry is a precious tool with which I've been able to make some raids on barbarian parties looking for food, and my men showed great valor during those engagements. Those 300 men shall all have to be recompensed when this war will be over.

 

This, my Emperor, conclude my report on the situation here in the North.

 

I hope not to have disappointed you in any way.

 

Vale

 

P. Laelius Macer

Legatus Divi Augusti

[caldrail]

LEFT! RIGHT! LEFT! RIGHT! Come on, get those caligae up!.... You! Stop slacking or you'll get the optio's personal attention... HALT! Right lads, five minutes rest, you may take a draught of water, Marcus Didius Bestias, FRONT AND CENTER! You've got dust all over your Lorica.. Get it cleaned, where do you think you are man?.... Right, FORM UP! Yes I know I said five minutes, I lied... Come on, come on..... Cohort! QUuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuick... wait for it, wait for it.... MARCH!

[Augustus Caesar]

Ah this is indeed music Caesar's ears!! The sound of men marching and the sight of them building is quite welcome. It is very encouraging. I cannot see or hear this of course as I camp a day or so away but news now filters very fast to me through the efficient signalling systems. Excellent!!

 

Nephele may be in trouble as no news of her whereabouts has been received. She may be keeping quiet and gaining knowledge as I send you both this message. Hopefully the latter is true. If news filters through of her struggle to free herself do not go charging in with no hope of a result!! We cannot risk our futures on one lady... as important to me as she is!!

 

This news of troops being trained and doing their duty for Rome is very good news indeed and long may it continue. I have no doubts about our superior fighting qualities and these barbarians will learn what it is like to fighting a real battle with a real army and an army of Rome no less!!

 

I await news of your proposed strikes at the Gauls and upon the near completion I shall ride into the fields of glory and proclaim my generals heroes of the state!! Oh what a return to Rome that will be when we gain our triumph and you both ride at my side... hopefully with Nepehele in a good and fit state!

 

MARCH ON...!!!!

[Bryaxis Hecatee]

To Marcus L Ralla from P. Laelius Macer salve,

 

I begin today the operations against the northern camp of the barbarians. I will walk close by and then raid it with my cavalry, drawing them toward my legion which will be in a narrow pass waiting to butcher them, protected by some field defenses. After I'm sure to have raised their interest I'll begin to retreat toward Durocortorum, a five days trip that I should be able to do without suffering too much for I've got enough cavalry to protect my flanks and I know the way well enough tanks to my reconnaissances, which should make me much more faster than our enemies and their slow logistical train. Then I'll shut myself inside the city and I'll wait for your arrival : once you arrive I recommend that you begin to build a circumvelation, that should be rather easy since you have more men then I do. Then we'll be able to repel all their attempts at taking your or my walls, and we'll cut them down without much losses.

 

Of course I hope that the second barbarian camp will come with their friends but should they not you'll have to make sure you can't be attacked from the back.

 

Vale

[caldrail]

To P. Laelius Macer from Marcus L Ralla salve.

 

I have in mind to attack at dawn as soon as I arrive. A circumvallation is of course a standard method of besiegement. I have no intention of waiting that long for victory. They will be camped and unready. Fear not macer, my legions are converging at the ford three days from your position. See you soon. Have the best wine ready. Tata for now.

 

Right then, centurion, call that soldier in, I'll deal with him now.

 

"Yes sir. Right you 'orrible specimen, forward... MARCH! LEFT RIGHT LEFT RIGHT LEFT HALT RIGHT FACE Salute the officer!"

 

Now then legionary, I see you have complaints... What is the nature of your problem?

 

"Well sir, we keep trying to camp every night but the german legion already has towels laid out on the best plots. Also, our rations sir, I mean, this brockwurst, its just not roman sir. And every time we're the ones who have to do the fatigues. Why do the Lusitanii get a snooze every lunchtime sir?"

 

I see. Centurion, this man does not understand what a roman legionary must be. He has until dusk tommorrow to learn, see that he does.

 

"Yes sir. Right then you 'orrible little man, you are going to train like you never trained before! Stand to attention! Face front! Right face! MArch! LEFT RIGHT LEFT RIGHT left right left right At the double twice round the camp move it!"

 

Ahh... the power of command...

[Augustus Caesar]

To Marcus L Ralla and P. Laelius Macer from Augustus Caesar

Salve...

 

At last I can get a message to you!! I have been ducking and diving these crazy Gauls and some local tribes hell bent on seeing me stay south of your current positions. I have been ill also and now that I have made a full recovery I can let you both know I am very close to hand...

 

Your plans of entering and surrounding the northern camp are excellent. I feared this may draw the southern troops from their base to attack you Marcus from the rear. This has been borne out! They are on the move. However, fear not... your plans should go ahead as normal and I and my army of Praetorians will bring these Gauls to their scrawny knees!! We will approach from the south and you must join in the attack from your northerly position. They will suspect nothing. Macer will continue his campaign as he has done so well thus far. This battle will be decisive. From this victory we will form a three pronged attack at the northerly camp.

 

I do believe their weakest point will be taken care of by your troops Macer who have infiltrated their guard? This is excellent.

 

Still no news of Nephele. Ah, I fear she may be lost to the Gauls. This would be a huge and tragic loss for Rome! We will fight in her honour. If she yet lives we will bring her home to a great triumph!!!

 

Onward.... Roma Victor!!!!!

[caldrail]

The sun had not yet risen. Against the pale sky dark clouds hung lifeless, their edges bright from the first rays of light over the horizon, obscured by a dull mist. A solitary gaul wanders about the camp, and the early morning chill still requires him to pull a cloak about him even with his vigorous indifference to the elements. At a camp fire, he joins his fellows, occaisionally glancing at the walls of Dorucortorum as their chief had ordered them. They exchange a few jests and chuckle amongst themselves. Then one turned to glance away from the town. He stood, and gestured to his men to be quiet. A faint rythmic swishing sound, curiously overlaid by a sound something like a waterfall in icy weather, drifted in from the south side. Or was it the north? The gauls become concerned. Were spirits at work in the mist? The hardy gauls place their hands on their sword hilts and bunch together. That sound again! It draws closer. Fearing to made fools of, they choose not to rouse their fellows asleep in the tents. Then, out of the mist, line upon line of roman shields emerge. Romans!

[Augustus Caesar]

AC and his loyal Praetorian Guard stand at the crest of a hill looking down on the scene and see the panicked Gauls as the rumble of Roman troops draw ever closer to the camp. Fear stalkstheir minds and yet they do not turn and alert the others. This is going very well... suddenly, a cry from within the camp as more Romans are spotted coming from the opposite side!! Nearer and nearer they come and only now do the watchmen alert the rest of the previously sleeping Gauls! Valuable time is gained by both our armies and I see that they are only a minute or two away from their target! The Gauls are panicked. Loud screams from the women and louder cries from teh men as they try t o at least muster some defence.

 

It's almost time for combat as Ralla's troops march through the last feeble defence posts hacking down the odd Gaul who dares to think he can withstand the mighty Roman Army on his own.

 

Ralla enters the camp and Macer has his troops only a minute or so away on the opposite side. The Gauls don't know which way to turn. There is only one real exit and that will bring them straight to me. If that happens they will be caught in a three pronged attack and surely cannot survive.

 

Macer is on the offensive and rallies his troops to strom the camp as Ralla on the opposite side commands his forces well.

 

I hear a cry from Ralla but I can't make it out!!! I need to know what he commands and it is not clear from his movement! Surely he realises we are on the verge of a truly magnificent piece of shock and awe! Ah, yes!! I see now... he calls his troops to spread out a little but not enough to cause our army any worries. He must be going to surround the enemy and push them right into Macer's waiting swords! Excellent!!!

 

There is a voice calling... it sounds like Nephele!! Could it be?

[Bryaxis Hecatee]

At the head of his cavalry Macer charge outside of the doors which he has had opened for his men had seen the attack from the top of their towers. Behind the cavalry came a full legion, the other one being kept as reserve inside the walls while the trained civilian militia was on top of the walls. The objective was to strike from one direction and then when the barbarian would all look in one single direction to open the two lateral gates and attack with half a legion on each side, cutting the retreat of the Gauls that would be taken between the walls, Ralla's armies and the two half legions of Macer.

 

Cavalry would open the way for the legion to deploy a bit past the dangerous defenses that littered the ground in front of the walls and would then keep the way to the gate open so that the legion could retreat if needed.

 

Once more the formidable organization of the Roman army showed itself in the way the units deployed themselves in a most orderly way, falling on the back of the barbarian. A signal was then sent to the town and the two lateral doors of the city opened, ranks after ranks of soldiers getting out. The first barbarians are beginning to loose confidence but still they keep their ground, but not for long.

 

From a tower flag signals tells Macer that the enemies rank are thinning somewhere to the right of his position. Taking half his cavalry and a century of foot soldiers with him he plunges into the action, sword drawn, in order to cut the enemies in two pockets and link with Ralla's men.

 

As he press the enemy a powerful warrior targets him. His horse is downed by a powerful blow on the front left leg and Macer falls on the ground. He has almost not enough time to get back on his feet before the warrior tries to strike him. From his look, long hairs and mustache and golden torks around his neck and arms as well as his chain mail armor and his helmet the man is clearly a leader of the band. Holding a large and broad sword he attempt to land a killing blow on Macer's helmet but another combatant falls upon him at this time, disturbing his aim. Getting his sword back in hand Macer face his assailant, seeing that the man is a powerful warrior of some 40 years, in very good condition and with experience if his scars on the right cheek is any indication.

 

Macer knows that with his shorter blade he has to get closer to the giant Gaul. They both own no shield, they only have their armors and swords. After a faint Macer goes straight to his enemy's neck, trying to slice him where he is unprotected. Unable to use his sword to defend himself at such a close range the barbarian moves to his left, a bad move for the point of Macer's sword catch him in the middle of the throat, killing him. Looking around Macer then gets the shield of a fallen legionary and rallies his men to press the attack on. Then he sees other legionaries with another shield design, Ralla's men : the Gauls are now separated in two pockets.

 

Ordering his men to hold this link between the two armies Macer then gets back to the rest of his cavalry where he is given a fresh mount and orders reinforcements for the men he just left. Signals from the tower tells him that the men on the flanks of the town are now in place and that the battle is going according to the plan...

 

 

( sorry for the delay I had to prepare my graduation and then I had to feast my diploma for I am now officially a diplomaed historian of the ancient world )

[caldrail]

Ho hum. Finish them off tribune....

 

"Yus, Master..."

[caldrail]

No wait!... Spare that gaulish woman. She'll fetch a high price at the ludum...

[Augustus Caesar]

Ah... I see the battle goes well... Macer escapes death by skillfully avoiding a blow to his head (courtesy of a knock to the offenders body) and Ralla.. well he wouldn't be Ralla would he if he didn't see an opportunity to make a few denarii selling slave girls!! Trouble is he doesn't need to because he will receive plenty upon his return to Rome as a victor! Still, hopefully he'll take a few but not too many as resources are needed to battle - not take prisoners!!

 

As this girl looks very pretty and feisty I may just order Ralla to loosen her shackles and hand over to his Imperial superior... we'll see.

 

The battle goes well. It should be over very soon by this standard. The voice I heard may not have been Nephele after all... she is missing and I grow solemn with each hour she does not show. What a servant of Rome we will lose if the barbarians have killed her!! I shall not think of that however... I have a battle to win.

 

Very soon all will be well in the Gaulish provinces and peace shall reign over the Empire once more... but for how long I ask myself?

 

Ralla's men are moving in... good... this should be interesting!!

[Bryaxis Hecatee]

Macer was still on his new horse, looking around and what he saw pleased him. Slowly his men reduced the two big pockets of Gauls, those being either put into the traps or onto the swords of the legionaries deployed around them. Archers from the city walls were picking targets at a distance and ballistae and scorpios did a very good job of dissolving any group trying to form an organized defense or preparing a breakthrough.

 

Seeing he could do no more with his cavalry in such a congested place he ordered it to return inside the city and to prepare the medical parties that would carry the injured and the death to the city's forum for the former and to a nearby hill for the later, to be either cared for or cremated.

 

He himself went on top of a tower to get a better view of the field.

[caldrail]

A large number of defiant gauls regroup down by the river, tired, bloodied, and many confused by the sudden action on a misty morning, many left without weapons. Men of the Legio II Austus Magna surround them yet the command to halt is given. The gauls glance amongst themselves. What roman trick is this? A centurion shouts out across the silence... "Gauls! Our general will speak with you!"

 

Ralla pushes his horse through the ranks of waiting legionaries, but remains level with the first rank.

 

"Proud Gaulish warriors! Your folly has led to this. You have fought bravely, but for no good purpose. I call upon you now to see that your defeat is inevitable. You cannot escape. Those who run from our swords will be carried away by the river and drown. Throw down your swords! If you surrender with honour, then with honour you will be treated."

 

A single gaul steps forward. A tall muscled man, scarred by much combat in his youth. "Never will I drop my sword to roman invaders! I spit on you! And if my death is to come, then let it be said that I died in battle!"

 

With that he screams loudly, raises his longsword, and rushes forward. An auxillary arrow meets his shoulder, another his throat, and the gaul falls forward on the wet grass. He tries to stand, but his life ebbs away hopelessly.

 

The gauls look despondent. Some clearly wish to end this and remain alive. Another gaulish voice calls from among the throng. "But what assurance do we have from a roman? One who attacks while we sleep. One who shoots down a brave warrior?"

 

Ralla raises his hand and silences a rising murmur of agreement amongst the gauls. "We are the victors. Surrender now, or any survivors will suffer far more than that gaul on the grass before you!"

 

There was a moment of thought, hesitation, and a few gauls call their surrender and throw their swords to the ground. A murmur of discontent is heard amongst them. The prouder men seethe and curse their fellows for cowards.

 

"Centurion, escort the men who surrender through there... And centurion, that man who talked back to me, see that he is executed when we have them in chains"

 

"Legate! Right then, Gauls, this way... Come on, come on, we haven't got all day"

 

About a third of the gauls remain defiant, women and children among them. A few are already trying to sneak away, one man carried off by the strong current in the rive behind. Ralla saw their heart - he knows they seek to remain free gauls - and with no hesitation, Ralla calls for the legion to ready. The gauls see their fate, and wait no further, rushing forward en masse. The romans raise shields and meet their charge, a bloody melee where no quarter is given or asked for. The fight rages, the gauls pushed back, and at last a soldier raises a bloody gaulish head high and shouts "Roma Victor!", and a cheer sounds from the men.

 

Ralla salutes his men, and calls for the wounded to be taken to the medics. He then turns and rides to the column of surly gauls being chained for their fate in the markets of Rome. One gaul spits as he rides past - this defiance will not be tolerated - and Ralla orders him bound and thrown to the river with his dead friends. Rome has conquered this place. Let gaul know that. A handful of gauls are taken aside, their right hands cut off, and pushed away into the countryside to spread the word of roman victory - that Rome will not be defied.

[Augustus Caesar]

A few days have passed since this sound and glorious victory on Gaulish soil. Ralla has his troops building camps and exercising even though they will probably disband after they reach home. Macer has his men refortifying the walls and repairing or modifying buildings for use by those who wish to stay here and administor the site for their Emperor and Rome.

 

Two proud generals stand before me in my rather hurriedly put together surrounds... I don't mind but it could have been better. To Macer I offer retirement and land as promised in a region of his choosing. His army will be well rewarded for their toils and small plots of fertle land will given if they choose to settle here. The land is perfecly good enough to sustain families for generations so this is a choice which could mean they live well or go back to their homes with a small reward o gold coins. At least they cannot complain they didn't get their reward.

 

Ralla is offered a different deal. He can continue with his legion or retire to the hills in Rome with land and gold as promised. He is a fighting man and Rome can use his services. I suspect he may wish to retire as Macer may choose also. His troops will be offered the same deal... stay on or retire.

 

"I am proud of two of Rome's finest battle hardened generals and any reward may be insufficient in others eyes. You have both shown greta courage and tactical awareness. You have brought together a fine body of raw recruits. You have trained them well and maximised their strengths. Rome salutes you Macer and Ralla!! You must retire now and give me your answers by tomorrow morning. Your decision will be respected by all no matter what you choose to do. Either way, gentlemen, we will return to Rome in triumph and you shall join me at the head of a victory parade. We shall display these Gauls for all to see and let it be a rmeinder that no-one stands in Rome's way of glory and victory."

 

I take my seat and look at the men for thier immediate reactions. Both are still and silent in their Emperor's presence. Then in simultaneous fashion... "HAIL CAESAR!!!". I smile and dismiss them both. Quietly, I reflect the moments on the battle field where I thought I heard the voice of Nephele, where both Ralla and Macer made decisions that wold frighten lesser men, where the Gauls looked panicked and frightened but stood their ignorant ground. This victory will go down well in Rome with her senate and citizens. How will it go down in history? Will it be remembered as a possible turning point in the defeat of the Gauls? If they were allowed to continue building forces would Germania have joined them against us? Would we then have been taken on other fronts and seen as weak? We shall never know. History dictates only what is told and written down - not least the facts that are given by the somewhat biased writers of our time. I will give a good account of this battle and we must see what history brings. Immortality as a God or a reincarnatio may offer us an insight. But - there are many tasks and battles to be done and won over the coming years so no time to rest. I must now return to Rome tomorrow when Ralla and Macer have given me their choices. We will ride together, proudly, and then see what our fates bring.

 

"Ah, Longinus, good to see you. Join me for a meal and we will talk before heading to Rome tomorrow.... I may have need of your services. I await decisions from my generals and you may be called back to my legions. How is your lovely wife... what's her name again...?"