Villa of Quintus Antonius Diripio

[Rhio]

Welcome to the villa of Senator Quintus Antonius Diripio,

Biography

Name: Quintus Antonius Diripio Image: Biography After a short youth in Rome, Diripio served in the Mithridatic war alongside his father, Gaius Antonius Hybrida, legate and cavalry commander in Sulla's legions. Upon the conclusion of the war, Sulla returned to Rome. Diripio's father was ordered to remain in Macedonia and tasked with keeping the peace and maintaining Roman law throughout the region. Diripio remained by his father's side and acted as his right-hand man. It was during these times that father and son received their respective cognomen, Hybrida (Half-beast) and Diripio (Pillage), owed to the harsh methods they employed in enforcing Rome's authority throughout the region. Under orders of his father, Diripio and his troop of Roman cavalry plundered and ransacked countless villages and religious sites. Anyone who dared to resist, was brutally slaughtered, and countless others were sold to join the ranks of the Republic's numerous slaves. Gaius Antonius Hybrida would always continue to claim that these punitive missions were vital to Republican rule, however, there is no denying that he accumulated great wealth during his years in Macedonia. As word of his actions reached the Senate, Hybrida was called back to Rome. There he was accused of committing atrocities and establishing a reign of terror in Macedonia. Though it has to be said, many senators were probably just annoyed they didn't get a piece of the Macedonian pie. Employing his new-found wealth, Hybrida was able to avoid punishment for him and his son from the senate itself. However, the censors stripped Hybrida of his senatorial rank. As his father has retired from politics, it is now up to Quintus Antonius Diripio to represent the family in Rome. Hailing from a rich and powerful family and with a taste for blood, Diripio is man whose ambition might just leave a couple of corpses in its wake.

Income

Yearly incomes. ------------------------------------------------- 47 BC Starting wealth: 800 Income: Senator : 5000 2 small farms / 4 slaves : 700 Expenses: Purchase 2 large farms = 2500 x2 = 5000 Purchase 8 Slaves = 100 x 8 = 800 Total Income: 5700 Total Expense: 5800 Current denarii: 700

Assets

2 small farms - 4 slaves 2 houseslaves

[CONTENTBOX="Points"]
Patrician points: 2

[Dark Storm]

Senator Gnaeus approaches the villa, hoping to seek an audience with Senator Quintus

[Rhio]

Senator Gnaeus is let into the villa through the main gate and lead into the courtyard.

Moments later Diripio appears. "Greetings, Senator. What brings you here?"

[Dark Storm]

"I came to speak to the newest senator."

Gnaeus smiled

[Rhio]

Well, the son of a proud Roman legionaire is always welcome in my home.

And what do you wish to speak about Senator Gnaeus? Is this visit about politics, business or merely a social visit?

[Lucius Malfoy]

A later part of the day...

Two horses arrive...one was carrying Tribunus Lucius Titus Regulus and the other was his son, Caelinus. Lucius was somewhat sad that due to the military reform, Caelinus, despite starting his training, would have to wait three more years before joining the Legionnaire ranks. They dismount and seek an audience with Quintus.

[Dark Storm]

"I have come today Senator, to pay my respects to a great soldier, the son of the famous Legate Hybrida. I wish to hear you views on the senate especially the military reform." Gnaeus sighed. "I have found that i can trust the words of soldiers and take what they say at face value, rather than most Senators here. There are others with military backgrounds inside the Senate, Senator, Tribunus Lucius and Senator Flavius to name two, and i find them to be more trustworthy than many other politicians in Rome. Yet i would like to hear your views?"

[Rhio]

"I know soldiers; Senator Gnaeus. I have served with the best of them and the worst of them. Yet never have I heard any of them express the desire to become a farmer. They ask for women, wine and the spoils of war, but never for a plough. Give a legionnaire a scythe and he will not reap the grain, but rather use the sharp curved blade to disembowel a man. No, giving land to a Roman legionnaire is like giving a gladius to a Greek peasant, neither will know what to do with it. Rome's legions do not need wealthier legionnaires, we mostly just need more of them."

"Besides..." Diripio added with a grin,"mere imprisonment for a general who fled the field and abandoned his men? Being dragged naked behind a chariot for a hundred laps around Circus Maximus is too good for such a coward.

[Dark Storm]

"Besides..." Diripio added with a grin,"mere imprisonment for a general who fled the field and abandoned his men? Being dragged naked behind a chariot for a hundred laps around Circus Maximus is too good for such a coward.

Gnaeus laughed

"Maybe when the people ask for another military reform Senator Quintus, they Senate might entertain thr idea."

[Dark Storm]

"I know soldiers; Senator Gnaeus. I have served with the best of them and the worst of them. Yet never have I heard any of them express the desire to become a farmer. They ask for women, wine and the spoils of war, but never for a plough. Give a legionnaire a scythe and he will not reap the grain, but rather use the sharp curved blade to disembowel a man. No, giving land to a Roman legionnaire is like giving a gladius to a Greek peasant, neither will know what to do with it. Rome's legions do not need wealthier legionnaires, we mostly just need more of them."

"What of the other points the Reform encompasses, Senator Quintus? I would value your opinion of them."

[Rhio]

"What of the other points the Reform encompasses, Senator Quintus? I would value your opinion of them."

Well, the age of 21 seems rather late for a legionnaire to receive his first taste of battle, don't you agree? While I do agree a legionnaire should receive proper training, I see no need why we should wait for his 18th birthday. At age 14, I already rode through Macedon at the side of my father. Slit my first throat the very first year...The Spartans even commence their sons training at age seven

Naturally I don't foster plans to tear Roman children away from their mother. However, consider we were to start training at age 15 or 16. A good age for a man to learn how to march and fight. Then we would have created a legionnaire fit for the line by the age of 18. And in the end, that's where the real training starts as no amount of sparring can compare to a genuine battlefield.

Also, as I stated before. Imprisonment for any general guilty of cowardice, is far too lenient.

[Rhio]

I do believe such land grants have been in practice for several decades now.

[Rhio]

As the horses of Tribunus Regulus are lead to the stables, Diripio greets him.

"Salutations Tribunus. I am pleased to welcome you in my home. I will send for some wine and you can tell me the reason of your visit."

[Lucius Malfoy]

As the horses of Tribunus Regulus are lead to the stables, Diripio greets him.

"Salutations Tribunus. I am pleased to welcome you in my home. I will send for some wine and you can tell me the reason of your visit."

Lucius produces a bottle of Macedonian-made wine. He offers it to Quintus.

I believe this sort of wine will bring back memories to both of us, my friend. I myself am a veteran of the Balkans area...as my father and grandfather.

Lucius then lets his son come forth.

Quintus, this is my son, Caelinus. Caelinus...this is Quintus Antonius Diripio, a veteran of the Balkans theater.

Caelinus bows to the man.

[Rhio]

Your son is a young man of proper upbringing, Tribunus, but there is no need for such formalities. You are guests in my home and unless a consul happens to wander in, there's no need to bow for anyone.

Now, let us share this wine and talk. What brings you to my humble estate?

[Lucius Malfoy]

Lucius nods and walks in with Quintus.

Your reasons and words in the Curia...interested me. I have great respect for you as a celebrated military commander as well as your father. I am curious on what you think about the negotiations with the Thracians on a trade agreement? I would like to hear your views and opinions on this.

[Rhio]

Lucius nods and walks in with Quintus.

Your reasons and words in the Curia...interested me. I have great respect for you as a celebrated military commander as well as your father. I am curious on what you think about the negotiations with the Thracians on a trade agreement? I would like to hear your views and opinions on this.

I wouldn't see an immediate reason to oppose such an agreement.

On the other hand, I am no merchant, but I cannot help but wonder what advantages such a deal would hold for Rome? Thrace is poor, has few cities, little valuable resources and travel is dangerous and slow. With much more lucrative trade opportunities in the empire, the question remains how many merchants would want to venture into Thrace. The narrow straits to the Black Sea are the only thing of real value in the entire province, but this can't be exploited with a mere trade agreement.

If anything, any trade agreement with the Thracians would probably just be a symbolic. The Thracians aren't traders after all, they're warriors and a vicious lot at that.

[Lucius Malfoy]

The Pro-consul stated that the Centurions under his command wanted to invade Thrace...seems they are rather bored and have nothing to do. The Pro-consul believed that trade and peace would be the right path to take. I have met a few Thracian nobles and traders in my day and I am aware of their ferocity and savagery as warriors...only the hordes of Dacia can be an equal match to them.

Lucius sipped his wine lightly and looked out at Rome.

Unless we can evolve more as a military and gain even more territory...thus manpower and resources to create more legions and sustain them...then can we consider making the Thracians bend their knees to the Republic. I stated that we could try to win some tribes over by Romanising them thus gain support for a Roman invasion

[Rhio]

I do not believe that a trade agreement would further that purpose. Thrace was long under Macedonian rule and that influence remains strong. A few Roman traders haggling their wares won't undo this. Thracians have little respect for merchants and we would only be influencing the lower castes of their society. They would respect the martial prowess of our legions above all. However, given our numbers and current wars, it would be unwise to risk a presence in Thracia. I applaud the Centurion's lust for battle, but I fear that, for the moment, we will have to temper their enthusiasm.

You could, Tribunus, bring it under the Senate's attention that, while they bicker about reforming our military, it would be much wiser to consider expanding it. Rome's legionnaires do not require more gold or land, they've never demanded anything like that, but they might welcome a few extra brothers in arms.

[Rhio]

I am aware of the levying of a new legion. Though I fear its time in Hispania will be long. The war against the Lusitanians is far from over and afterwards, the region's pacification will require enduring Roman presence. Meanwhile our borders are long and beyond them lie many enemies of the Republic. You speak of the Gauls and indeed these barbarians have troubled as greatly in the past, yet these regions lie within marching distance of the Senate's most powerful legions.

My concern, Tribunus, lies further east. North of Macedonia lie the lands of the savage Dacians and Thracians, a threat we already spoke of. And in Asia Minor we find nations ruled by tyrants and depots, who envy and carry ill will towards Rome. Among which Pontus, an old enemy of Rome. Were we to show any sign of weakness, either of these enemies might jump at the opportunity to strike at the Repbulic. Therefore, I have drafted a proposal to raise an additional legion for the east next year and for the addition of a sizeable cavalry force to the Republic's military. Because, though I am still conviced that the footsoldier, the legionnaire, is the cornerstone of our armies. Cavalry is fast and flexible, allowing it to deal with incursions and raids too small and fast for a legion.

I would like to hear your thought before I bring this before the senate.

In 47BC, the Senate will levy a new legion of Italian Legionarries to be named “Legio VIII Macedonica”. The legion will be dispatched to the proconsul of Graecia et Asia.

The Proconsul of Graecia et Asia shall have direct control over Legio VIII.

Legio VIII shall not venture beyond the borders of the Republic without consent of both Consuls of Rome.

Each Senator shall raise and maintain a host of cavalry, whose upkeep shall number a minimum of 4% of his combined wages as both Senator and magistrate. Thus each shall raise the following:

Senator: 200
Tribune: 200 +100*
Quaestor: 200+100
Praetor: 200+200
Censor: 200+200*
Pro-Consuls: 200+400
Consuls: 200+400
(*These numbers were rounded up or down, since you can’t raise a number less than 100)

These troops will be called “Senatorial cavalry” and be assigned to a Proconsul or legion of the Senate’s choosing; to be determined by simple majority.

A Senator may choose to personally command his cavalry in battle, or chose their commander. In both case, they will act as a direct subordinate of the Proconsul or the Legate, for the duration of the battle.

A new Senator must raise a minimum of 100 cavalry in his first year in the Senate; and have raised the mandatory 200 cavalry within 3 years after taking seat in the Senate.

Upon passing this law, every current seating Senator must raise a minimum of 100 cavalry by 47BC and have raised the mandatory 200 cavalry within 3 years.

Upon passing this law, every senator holding an office of magistrate, will raise an additional 100 cavalry by 47BC and will have raised the mandatory number of cavalry, according to his title, within 4 years.

When a new magistrate is elected to office. The seating magistrate will transfer ownership of the number of Senatorial cavalry, determined by his title, to the newly-elected magistrate. The seating magistrate shall receive compensation, numbering the full levy cost of the cavalry., from the newly-elected magistrate.

If the newly-elected magistrate cannot afford this sum. The sum will be withheld from his first wage as magistrate and paid in full to his predecessor.