I am but a humble scribe in the service of the republic. My name, and indeed my life, is unimportant. My only claim to significance is this left hand of mine that writes about the deeds of great men and the history of my people. Of warriors, statesmen and leaders, the cowardly and the brave, the fool and the wise man, the noble and the treacherous. It is a tale not to be missed!
280bc In an attempt to secure our borders and increase our military presence in Iberia the Senate has ordered the subjugation of surrounding Iberian tribes. An army lays siege to the village of Arsa.
In that same year my master, Hanno, returns from Sicily at the request of the Senate. I have never seen my lord so furious as he was today as we disembarked from the ships just south of Hadrumetum. Many times he has publicly stated the danger of the Romans yet he has no choice in this matter but to leave Lilybaeum practically undefended. He is required to bring the rebellious peoples of Northern Africa under Carthaginian rule. Only then, they say, will the army return to Sicily. We march hard for the nearest rebel settlement. I am grateful my master provides a carriage for men such as me, unsuited to both walking or riding any great distance!
Carthage is a far flung empire and for all our wealth we do not need to look hard to be reminded that the lands we rule once belonged to other people. Even Settlements founded or long governed by our people show well the legacy of those that came before.
For the most part Carthaginian colonies are small and scattered. It is there that our Generals go when they are desperate to recruit soldiers. Why must they be desperate to turn to their own people for defence? When a militia is composed of men such as I you can well imagine the reluctance of our masters to command them!
Yet for all that we are a rich people and masters of our world. If there is need of fighting then we have the Libyans and Numidians,
the Iberians
and even the Greeks can be kept satisfied with enough coin.
Led by proper Carthaginian officers these men are the equal of any army in the world!
The old men of the Senate prove they are not blind to the threat of Rome but if just watching them was enough to keep the Romans at bay my master would be a happier man!
It is hoped that a show of force at Aleria will convince the Romans to direct their attention elsewhere. Certainly should they manage to land troops on the island the Garrison would be overwhelmed.
Construction projects throughout the empire take the lion's share of funding. There will be few new recruits for any army foolish enough to suffer losses.
As always Carthage looks to trade to resolve disputes. Perhaps a steady supply of goods will keep the Italian peninsular docile. I take a moment of pride in the though that it is my own brother who negotiated the deal but I know that with this success it will be many years before I see him again. He has been sent further east to deal with the Macedonians.
Word comes from Carthago Nova that Celtic tribes in the north of Iberia have agreed to an alliance. My master has confided in me that he believes it to be short lived.
279bc and the siege of Arsa. A glorious victory celebrated by a collection of Artworks displayed at the Trophet of Carthage.
Scenes from the Siege of Arsa
Arsa will one day be the capital of a new Carthaginian province. For now it is a supply of slaves, soldiers and raw materials.
One can never have too many trading partners. More barbarians are convinced to sample our refined wares.
We are all heartily sick of travelling through the desert so it is a relief to finally be at our destination, even if it is a sun baked hole in the ground.
My lord is more angry than I have ever seen him and I have been with him since I was a small child. That the senate could consider these few brigands more of a threat than the might of Rome simply because a bit of water separates them from the latter is astonishing to consider and that the entire army has been sent here to destroy a force less that 1/10 its number is even more so. With fury and contempt Hanno destroys the brigands using but his cavalry forces.
This scraggly dust heap of a town we have conquered has some military facilities that can be put to use. To properly train the locals however will require dedicated Carthaginian barracks.
The army will resupply here before moving west into the Numidian kingdoms. Perhaps they will provide justification for our continued presence in this forsaken desert. I fear my master's anger is shortening his life. At the battles end today I noticed for the first time that he is an old man now. Why have I never seen this before today?
A mod of a mod of a mod - Carthage's coming out Party
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What are the extent of your "punic changes"?
Originally Posted by Scutarii
I'll have to be observant to catch the changes. And I may look them up in the XC thread, haven't checked XC out in a while.
