The ruling consul, Valerius Salvius started the speech, he seemed to be pretty happy:
-Dear Senators, brothers, as you may know, my noble friend and co-consul Decimus Regullus is leading a campaign against the rebel Kingdom of Pontus with the help of the honored generals and Senate brothers Decimus Maxentius and Cornelius Manlius, leaders of the Legion Gemina VII and Scythica IV respectively, with great success I assure you. The latest news from the battle lines are excellent, General Cornelius and his three times blessed legion defeated the army of the King of Pontus himself and managed to capture the city of Trapezius, in the Black Sea Coast, extending the roman borders into Lesser Armenia!
Cheers and applauds from everywhere. Now more serious, Salvius continues:
-But my noble friends I’m afraid it is not to tell victories that a call you today in this special session, a great problem arise in the same place that our men have victory, so great that treats to annihilate the superiority of our Divine Republic…
Silence now, all Senators where fearing the worst.
-The Seleucid Empire ruled by the heirs of Alexander himself invaded Cappadocia with three armies and laid siege to the city of Mazaka and sent another army to conquer Bithynia and Nicomedia.
Still silence, much of the Senators became worried and some whispers of desesperation could be heard everywhere.
With a weak voice now, Valerius continued.
-It is know to you all that after Demetrius I became the new king 30 years ago he transformed a crumbling state in a vibrant Empire, he defeated the Parthian dynasty that declared independency from his realm and conquered Media again, extending the borders of his empire to India, he, as well, defeated the Ptolemaic dynasty and now controls all Egypt and Nubia. He transformed the small Armenian Kingdom in a loyal protectorate that obeys everything he says and consolidate his powers in Asia Minor.
Some Senators, now understanding the gravity of the situation started to became desperate and unstable, after the situation calmed again the consul continued, now more controlled.
-As you nobleman may know, most of the grains that feed our population and troops come from Egypt and Mesopotamia and now this grains will stay there. So my noble Senators, yes, we face adversity, the enemy is as powerful as us, but we can’t feed our population properly without their grains... we must be inventive and find a solution as well, here a now, how to respond to this problems.
The Senators started to discuss between themselves. After some time Gnaeus Albinus, one of the oldest members of the Senate starts to speak:
-Dear roman senators, we have faced worse problems than this trough out the existence of our Sacred Republic, in the Punic Wars, we faced a much more strong and richer enemy and still we won two times, In Greece, we fought in two fronts, and nonetheless we have victory. Now we must face our supreme test, an enemy as powerful and rich as us, but, I have total confidence that our armies are better and our man are stronger then the enemy…
The Censor, Oppius Cestius, interrupted Albinus.
-But, by Jupiter Optimus Maximus, how can we defeat an enemy if we are starving?
Some Senators laughs could be heard, but the old man simply answered:
-Dear innocents and fool child’s, Rome is not that weak, you know? They can stay with their grains but we, as well, stay with our money, and, correct me if I am wrong, grains don’t grow only in Egypt.
The Senators stayed quiet and listened to the old man:
-As you nobleman may know, we have much public land available in Greece and Iberia, simply distribute this land for the people, I can assure you the will take it without problems, and I can assure you that most of your problems will disappear. As for the legions, I can guarantee, the Cimmerian Bosphoran Kingdom of the North will be very happy to supply us with all the grains we may need...
Applauds were heard again and most of the Senators found a new hope. One of the queastores, Lucius Olgunius, stood up.
-I propose a motion
-You may speak -said the consul.
-I propose that half of the land of the provinces of Thrace, Celtiberia, Thessaly, and Asturias may be distributed to roman citizens as well a sum of 150 denarii as a loan, to be paid in the next 5 years.
-Anyone that disagrees stand up.
In other times this motion would face heavy protests, especially by the optimates but, in these circumstances, even them voted without complains.
-No opposition, motion approved.
Vibius Maxentius, uncle of Decimus, probably more worried with his lands in Asia Minor than with the life of his own nephew, asked:
-But now who will defend our territories in Asia Minor? Scythica is too occupied with Pontus to do something, and Decimus can’t stand all the armies of the Seleucid Empire alone, if they take our provinces in Asia Minor they can easily threat our Greek provinces and even Rome!
Confusion and shouts soon dominated all the Senators. Just after some minutes the consul could finally speak:
-As what concerns our legions, I can assure you that this will not be a problem, I already sent orders to some of our legions in Iberia and to the legions in Thrace. I will reallocate legions I Germanica, VI Ferrata and XI Claudian, now stationed in Iberia and legion II Adiutrix stationed in Thrace to Asia Minor to fill the gaps and create a stronger position there…
Some Senators tried to say something but Valerius continued:
-If some of you nobleman thought that I left those places undefended I must say that you are all wrong. I left the legions XIII Gemina and IX Hispana to defend and suppress the last rebellious tribes of Iberia as well defend it from possible Gallic and Carthaginian attacks, and to protect the Greek provinces from the Dacians of the north of the Danube I left the legions XX Valeria and V Macedonica. Some of you may say that I’m weakening our northern frontiers but, I have good reasons to think that the Dacians will not be threat for us, at least for some time, as our legions don’t see any action in the frontier for 8 months now. But, as I know that for some of you, dear brothers, security must be assured, I prepared orders of recruitment for a new legion, to be baptized VIII Augusta. If you, senators, really judge necessary the creation of another legion please stay sit for counting.
Lucius Olgunius, again, stood up fast:
-I must remember you roman brothers that the priority now is to produce food, if we spend more on legions maybe we will not have food neither coin in a near future. I must ask for you, noble senators, to think if this Legion is REALLY necessary, as you know… some of our enemies in the West don’t even exist yet and the wars with Pontus and the Dacians are about to end. The legions that are now in these fronts could be easily reallocated if necessity arises. Please, think carefully noble Senators.
Olgunius words had an awesome effect in dissuading his companions, including me, the formation of a new legion was not approved.
-Well, motion not approved. If any of you want to discuss anything more, please, say now.
Nothing was said and Valerius Salvius ended the session. Now, Rome will do war with the most feared enemy of all, hard times wait, the fate of the Republic lies within the next months.
To be continued...
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I have some photos that could ilustrate better this chapter but I am having problems to post it, if someone could help I would really appreciate...