[RS AAR] An Encyclopedic History: the Rise of Rome

[Calvin]

An Encyclopedic History: The Rise of Rome



By Andronicus of Macedon

Here I undertake perhaps the most ambitious task of any scribe; to record the entire history of Rome from the fall of Cannae to it’s height of Empire. In these annals will be the history of every legion, every battle, every general, every consul and every emperor from 473 A.U.C. to this very day. Included are countless images, enhanced by the most skilled artistes of this time, to bring our history to life.

We, as Romans, are privileged to know that our Empire will stand the very test of time. The blood that our ancestors shed shall forever be remembered by the chronicles I hereby begin. Let all of us give thinks to our gods for each of these men, and let the heroes of our past inspire and motivate new heroes for today.

Roma Victor!

___________________________________________
___________________________________________

Contents



Campaigns

Conquest of Eperios: 474 - 478 AUC

The Battle of Tarentum (474 AUC)

The Battle of Apollonia (476 AUC)

The Siege of Ambracia (478 AUC)

Conquest of Central and Southern Italy: 474 - 478 AUC

The Battle of Cannae (474 AUC)

The Siege of Croton (478 AUC)

Legions

Consuls / Generals / Emperors

Aulus Maxentius (439 - 474 AUC): Consul

[Calvin]

The Battle of Cannae - 474 AUC

Background

After a Calabrian army had trespassed on sacred Roman soil in the winter of 473 AUC, the noble Senate of Rome voted for the total subjugation of the city of Cannae and its allies the Tarentine's. Therefore as the spring of 474 AUC rolled into summer the two Consuls - Tiberius Maxentius and Aulus Maxentius commenced their invasion of Apulia with the Republican Legio I. Each of them commanded a full half of the legion, over 1,800 men each.

This was met with great alarm in Tarentum, who turned to foreign shores for assistance. Eager to further his own cause, Pyrrhus of Epeiros landed with a large army, determined to take all Italy for himself. This news caused great consternation indeed in Rome, and a complete withdrawal from Apulia was ordered by the Senate. However, before the messenger even reached the two consuls, battle was joined on the fields near the city of Cannae. Not willing to go on the defensive, Tiberius Maxentius with his fellow Consul attacked two armies of the Calabrians, intent on destroying them and subduing Cannae in the name of Rome.

The Battle



As the two forces stared each other down, a second army of Calabrians crested the hill, while Aulus and his legion advanced from the east. An already important battle was made all the more crucial now that Pyrrhus had landed at Tarentum. Both Consuls knew that defeat here would be of severe danger to the Republic.



Republic Legio I advanced in good order against the enemy, confident of victory even though they would have to fight uphill. Each soldier knew that Roman bravery and strength would carry the day.



The Calabrians struck first, striking at the vulnerable Velites and cutting many down before nearby maniples of hastati or principes could intervene. However, they were quickly driven off by the timely arrival of a maniple of triarii.



Though the light Greek cavalry had fled, elite Macedonian cavalry punched into the hole caused. A desperate fight to hold the line and keep advancing began, with many soldiers on both sides staining the fields red.



While the part of Legio I under the command of Tiberius held the line grimly, the second part swung around and drove into the disorganised Calabrian reinforcements. The discipline of the Romans unnerved the enemy, and soon they were falling back and giving ground.



Meanwhile in the centre of the battle, many Greeks began fleeing as Aulus' contingent of equites drive into their flanks. However, an elite force of hoplites from Tarentum refused to run from the now overwhelming odds, and fought to the last man. Theirs was a true testimony to bravery.



As the Calabrians fled, a unit of principes gave chase and pierced many with pilum that had not yet been used. The fields around them were littered with bodies, most of them Greek. Tiberius and Aulus met in the centre and congratulated one another, father and son.

Roma Victor!



Aftermath

More than two and a half thousand Greeks lay dead on the ground, and the city of Cannae had no more sons to defend it. The city swiftly surrendered to Rome before Pyrrhus could advance beyond the heel of Italia. More than three and a half thousand men, women and children were taken as slaves from the fallen city.

However, the cost had been great. A thousand sons of Rome fell in her defense, and we give honour to them now in this book. Jupiter, bless their names.

[Calvin]

The Battle of Tarentum - 474 AUC


Background

After the fall of Cannae, Tiberius and Aulus could not afford to bask in their success. A far more dangerous foe than the city state loomed before Rome in the form of Pyrrhus of Epeiros, a Greek king of worrying talent and power. Tarentum, requesting his help, had got more than they bargained for with part of the Epirot army garrisoned in their city. The kings own son Kreon was in charge of this force, while Pyrrhus himself led the main army.

Knowing the vast damage this invader could cause to Roman lands, the two consuls decided to advance on Tarentum itself, and force a battle before the Greeks could entrench themselves. Therefore, in a risky manouver, both halves of the Republican Legio I marched south in an attempt to draw Pyrrhus away from the reinforcement garrison. However, the king would not be enticed by this action, and eventually the decision was made to attack his position, in the hope that they could destroy his army before any reinforcements could arrive.

The Battle



Pyrrhus had positioned his army so that the Romans would have to charge uphill into a wall of pikes. On his right flank were fearsome war elephants, terrifying to the Roman eyes since they had never before seen such creatures. Even worse for the Romans was that their original plan of annihilating the main Epirot force before reinforcements arrived seemed ruined by the sight of Kreons force coming in from the right.



However, though Tiberius had lined up his force in the centre against Pyrrhus, Aulus and his legion marched in from the left, hoping to outflank the Greek army. The battle could no longer be avoided, and a Roman defeat meant all southern Italia lay open to the invaders.



The two main armies soon closed the gap between them, and the Roman lines gave a roar as pilum were hurled through the air, thudding into metal and bone with horrific sounds. However, the Epirots gave their own war cry, and steadily marched down the slope, pikes gleaming in the sunlight.



Tiberius was fully aware of the danger posed by the war elephants, and had positioned all of his velites on his left flank to try and counter the beasts. As the mighty animals rumbled forward, hundreds of javelins whistled through the air as the Romans opened fire. Shrieks came from the elephants as iron found its mark, and soon each of them lay dead on the ground. Tiberius tactic prevailed.



With battle joined, Pyrrhus tried to outflank his enemy by sending a contingent of Aetolian cavalry swinging around to the right. However, this move was countered by Tiberius who ordered his depleted equites to engage them in a ferocious cavalry battle. The fight grew ever more desperate as Kreons army moved ever closer to the scene.



As the battle wore on, the Roman centre began to buckle, outnumbered as they were. Pyrrhus himself saw them weakening, and led a tremendous charge with his cavalry bodyguard in an attempt to rout the brave Roman soldiers. However, the sons of Rome stood their ground, even in the face of such overwhelming odds, and Pyrrhus cut down from his horse and slain.



As the Greeks were reeling with the news of their dead king, disaster struck yet again for them. Aulus' legion had finally reached the battle, and drove hard into the flanks of the pikemen. Kreon was still a fair way from the fighting, and could do nothing to stop the roman infantry and cavalry from sweeping in en masse, and quickly routing the main Epirot force.



With the main army in flight, Kreon's men were faced with overwhelming numbers of Romans. The small garrison was very quickly surrounded and destroyed, with Kreon himself dying on the same field as his father.



The Roman cavalry chased down and slaughtered the fleeing invaders, and stood triumphant on the blood soaked field. The Epirot king and his son were dead, their bodies among the many lying in the grass.

Roma Victor!

The Aftermath

Nearly two and a half thousand Greeks were killed on the plains outside of Tarentum in the winter of 474 AUC. A great king and his son were among them, and Tiberius was hailed as a saviour of Rome, and promised a Triumph on his return to the hallowed city. Tarentum, defeated and humiliated, surrendered to Rome, and lost four thousand of their number to the slave traders.

However, the victory was bitter, with Legio I down to half strength, and even worse, the death of a consul. Aulus Maxentius, son of Tiberius Maxentius was killed in heroic battle with the Epirot invaders. His blood too stained the fields, but his death gave life to the Roman Republic. We honour his memory, and those of his fallen comrades in this book. Jupier, bless their names.

[Calvin]

Aulus Maxentius: 439 - 474 AUC


Background

Born in Rome to a patrician family in 439 AUC, Aulus was brought up fiercely proud of his family name and Rome. His father, Tiberius gained much prestige in wars against the Etruscans and Samnites, and by the time Aulus entered the political fray, Tiberius Maxentius was a dominant figure in the senate hall. This family connection almost guaranteed a lively career for the young man.

Career

Due to his fathers dominance in Roman political life, Aulus was put forward as a candidate for the Consulship with Tiberius in 473 AUC. Winning by a wide margin much to the dismay of their political enemies, they were charged with the defence of Rome in war against the Calabrians. His fame grew with victory at Cannae, and at just thirty five years of age, it seemed that he would go the same way as his father. However, when Pyrrhus of Epeiros invaded Italy, Aulus was to meet an enemy of even greater prestige and fame. Coming to the defence of his fathers legion, Aulus bravely fought in that great battle at Tarentum, but was cut down from his horse and killed. His actions were noble and worthy of a Maxentius.

Losing a man at the age of thirty five is always a tragedy to Rome, but all the more so when the city loses someone deemed for greatness. Aulus gave his life in the defence of Rome, and has shone as an example through the centuries. We honour him here in this book. Jupiter, bless his name.

[Calvin]

The Battle of Apollonia - 476 AUC

Background

The death of Pyrrhus and Kreon lead to the complete withdrawal of Epeirot forces from the Italian peninsular and a triumph for the victorious Consul Tiberius Maxentius. Publius Maecenus was elected as Consul alongside Tiberius the following year, and they began to repair the badly bruised Legio I. Croton was the final city in the south of Italy to resist Roman rule, and soon greedy senate eyes began turning towards it.

Tiberius on the other hand had other ideas. His fellow Consul was a mere youngster, a pawn in the hands of powerful patrician families. He ordered Maecenus to rebuild Aulus shattered part of Legio I at Neapolis while his own veteran troops marched south to Tarentum. There, he ignored explicit instructions from the senate and set sail for Epeiros itself.

The Kingdom of Epeiros was trying to rebuild what little credibility it had left by raising an army and threatening western Macedonia. However, in the summer of 476 AUC Tiberius Maxentius and the veteran soldiers of Legio I landed on its shores and immediately laid siege to Apollonia. Prince Dicaeus sent word frantically to his cousin Eudorus who quickly led the main army back towards the city.

In the winter of 476 AUC, Eudorus and Dicaeus faced the veteran army of Tiberius Maxentius - hero of Rome - on the fields outside of Apollonia. Defeat for the Epeirots would spell certain doom for their kingdom, whereas Maxentius would find himself in severe trouble with the Senate if things went ill.

The Battle



Legio I advanced in good order towards the lines of pikeman and skirmishers. Each man knew his duty, and had absolute faith in their leader who was the most dedicated and talented general of Rome of his generation.



The battle began with a volley of javelins from the velites. A group of Greek swordsmen who had ventured near withered under the assault and hurriedly turned back.



Stung by this first attack, the Epeirot cavalry stormed forward, slicing through the ranks of velites and hitting the hastati on the right flank forcefully. The brave sons of Rome stood their ground even under this deadly assault, and soon the sound of thundering hooves from two contingents of equites crashed into the Greek horsemen.



While the right flank fought off the Greek cavalry, the Roman centre faced an altogether more dangerous foe. Lines of elite Epeirot pikemen slowly marched in step towards them, determined to drive this foreign invader from their soil.



As the last remnants of the Epeirot cavalry fled from the onslaught of the equites, Eudorus himself charged them with his bodyguard emulating his hero Alexander. The right flank continued to make ground even with the prince personally fighting.



Eudorus was given cause for hope when Dicaeus and the garrison of Apollonia reached the scene of battle. The second prince immediately charged into the cavalry melee while the peltastai headed towards the Roman infantry on the right.



Tiberius had seen that the right flank had to be kept at all costs, and so ordering the centre and left to hold their ground he sent his Equites and mercenary Aetolian cavalry swinging around from the left. Eudorus and Dicaeus had nothing to counter this with as their infantry were tied up or too slow. Eudorus was quickly engulfed and cut down.



It was not long until Dicaeus too was dead, and the Roman infantry quickly drove off the peltastai. This left the right flank free to begin enveloping the phalanxes in the centre.



Having concentrated much of his force on the right, the left flank was much weakened, and soon hundreds of pikemen had broken right through the ranks. They fought off a contingent of Velites and headed straight towards the Consul himself.



Meanwhile the impact of the Roman infantry from the right flank had completely destroyed the Epeirot forces in the centre, and Triarii and Principes soon intercepted many of the pikemen.



In a heroic act of bravery, Velites that had been badly mauled by the Epeirot cavalry charged the last of the pikemen in an effort to draw them away from Tiberius Maxentius.

The Consul on seeing this uttered these immortal words, "A Roman on the battlefield is my brother, and I shall die defending him." With that, he charged the pikemen with his bodyguard, determined to keep his Velites from being massacred.

The great Charge of Maxentius, of which there is now a marble statue in Rome, shattered the morale of the remaining Epeirot forces who scattered and fled the battlefield, many being cut down by Roman cavalry.

Roma Victor!

Aftermath

Over four thousand Epeirot men were killed in that great battle, destroying the last of the major Epeirot armies. Apollonia was bereft of defenders and rather opened its gates to the victorious Tiberius Maxentius than face a prolonged and destructive siege. More than six thousand of their men women and children were taken as slaves.

The victory was great, and Tiberius was safe from a backlash from the Senate for now. However, his army had paid a terrible price with more than one and a half thousand Romans losing their lives. We remember them and their great victory in this book. Jupiter, bless their names.

[Calvin]

The Siege of Croton - 478 AUC

Background

With Tiberius Maxentius and the core of Republican Legio I away fighting in Epeiros, the Senate of Rome charged the new Consul Publius Maecenus with the task of taking the final independent Greek colony in Italy - Croton.

Croton had been an ally of Pyrrhus , going so far as to allow a garrison of Hoplites from Tarentum. However, with the death of the Epeirot king and Roman power unchallenged in the south, this last bastion of Hellenic expansion in Italy was isolated. Many expected it to surrender unconditionally since the cities leaders had died in the Battle of Tarentum. However, the people barred the gates and Maecenus settled in for a siege.

Publius Maecenus had a dubious military background with rumours abounding about him running from battle against the Samnites. He was backed by the opponents of the Maxentius family though and so these rumours were kept hidden. Pressure grew from these sponsors for a victory to rival Tiberius, and so in the summer of 478 AUC, Maecenus ordered the fresh recuits of Legio I to breach the walls and storm the city.

The Battle

The Romans had a vast numerical advantage and confidence was high as they geared up for battle. With just a wooden wall separating them from victory and glory, they were determined to finish off the Greek presence.



Maecenus ordered the Triarii - those battle hardened veterans of Aulus campaigns - to man the rams and break the will of the defenders of Croton. They marched forward confident in their own abilities.



Inside the city, the small garrison of defenders including the Hoplites of Tarentum could only stand and wait as the gates slowly buckled and the walls began to give way. Fear swept among them but they gripped their weapons hard and stood firm.



When the gates crashed open, the brave Roman triarii charged straight in, following the banner of Rome. Many were cut down by volleys of javelins from the defending peltastai, but they kept pressing forward regardless. As the walls caved in and the rest of the veterans hit, the peltastai began to give way and were soon streaming towards the city centre.



As the battle progressed and the screams and cries of the wounded and dying reached the ears of Publius Maecenus, many around him seemed to notice a hesitancy with his orders. The triarii were alone in the city, taking on the entire defence by themselves and the rest of the army were itching to aid them. Finally the Consul gave the order for the rest of the infantry to advance, but only beyond the main gate.



Meanwhile, hard street fighting had begun with the Tarentine Hoplites standing their ground against the brave triarii. Being kept in a bottleneck meant that the Roman force were suffering high casualties with still no sign of any reinforcements. They pushed on and eventually broke the Tarentine's, pursuing them into the city centre and finally killing the last of the defending soldiers.



As the rest of the Roman force marched through the city, they noticed the piles of bodies in the streets, many being Roman. Still, Maecenus had his victory, and the south of Italy was now fully under the heel of Rome.

Aftermath

More than seven hundred Greeks died in the defence of Croton, and a further three thousand people of the city were taken as slaves. This victory secured Italy for Rome and there was rejoicing in the streets.

However, it had cost the lives of more than three hundred triarii, a high cost of veterans against such a small defending force. Questions began to be raised about Publius Maecenus abilities as a commander. The men who died did so doing their duty to Rome however, guaranteeing that a city in the south could never again be used as a base for invasion. We honour their memory in this book. Jupiter, bless their names.

[Calvin]

The Siege of Ambracia

Background

Tiberius Maxentius' victory at Apollonia in 476 AUC had dealt a critical and irreversible blow to the Kingdom of Epeiros. Their last army was destroyed, and their capital taken meaning that the sole surviving heir to the throne had just one city to fall back on. Alexandros of Epeiros had never expected the throne and he received it under the direst of circumstances. He was faced with a relentless foe who had done the unthinkable by defying the Senate of Rome to pursue a personal vendetta. Thousands had died and many more had been sold into slavery. Alexandros' desperate attempts for peace went unanswered, so with no other option he gathered together as many men as possible for a final stand in the city of Ambracia.

The Consul was also racing against time. His replacement was already on the way in the form of his son Amulius Maxentius. Relations between the two were frosty so Tiberius was determined to finish off Epeiros before Amulius could take charge of Legio I. So, in the winter of 478 AUC, the battered veterans of Legio I prepared to face the last King of Epeiros.

The Battle

The beautiful scenery that surrounds the city of Ambracia would bare witness to the end of an era as the tried and true soldiers of Legio I prepared to storm the walls, driven on by their heroic commander Tiberius Maxentius. They were confident in their own abilities since the legion had never lost a battle against Epeiros before. Still, their numbers were far below their original strength, and they knew that more of their own would die this day on foreign ground.



As hastati and principes rammed the gates and walls down, three contingents of velites let fly with their javelins, killing scores of Epeirot defenders. Unable to stand this relentless barrage, many of the defenders broke rank and headed back toward the centre of the city.



Tiberius ploy had succeeded, and hastati were able to enter the city unopposed. The defenders struggled to get organised as hundreds of Romans poured through the gate and shattered walls.



The phalanxes finally made their way into battle, but retreating from the walls had given Legio I plenty of time to prepare. Epeirot soldiers were rapidly engulfed and surrounded in a sea of thrusting gladius and battering shields.

Seeing that the battle was going ill, Alexandros bravely charged towards the front line. However, Tiberius had held back his most celebrated veterans the triarii for just such an occasion, and they met the King head on where a vicious melee ensued. Scores fell on both sides, and many great soldiers of Rome met their death at the hands of his bodyguard. However, they could not be repulsed and in the end Alexandros, the last King of the ancient Molossian Kingdom was slain. He died heroically, fighting on even when all his bodyguard were killed and his own men were fleeing to the centre of the city. His was a worthy end.

Fighting through the streets of Ambracia, the soldiers of Legio I soon arrived at the centre where the last resistance held. many threw the last of their pilum before charging into the fray.



Fighting at the centre was bitter and hard with the Epeirots refusing to give way. Holding their ground firmly even when surrounded, many sons of Mars were cut down. Still, Legio I pressed on slashing and hacking at pikes and flesh. Gradually the last defenders of the Kingdom of Epeiros were cut down.



Finally, the fighting ceased as the last enemy soldier was killed. There was a lull for several moments, and then fierce celebrations began. Legio I under the command of Tiberius Maxentius, Consul and hero of Rome had brought down an entire Kingdom. Never again would Epeirot pikes threaten the great city of Rome. Aulus death had been fully avenged.

Roma Victor!

Aftermath

Over a thousand Epeirots died defending their independence, fruitless though it was. Two thousand men, women and children of Ambracia were taken into slavery and there was much weeping and sorrow when they realised it was the end of their kingdom.

Less than four hundred sons of Rome died in this great last battle of the Epeirot Campaign, but over half were from the worthy veterans of the triarii. Tiberius Maxentius had a statue placed outside the city in their honour, and we remember their sacrifice here in this book. Due to their bravery and matchless perseverance, an entire kingdom was brought to it's knees by the might of Rome. Jupiter, bless their names.

[Calvin]

I am writing this in the RS sub forum, but will also update it here from now on.

[Roxas]

yh more people can see your really good work. Keep it up