For reasons unknown to their Roman leaders, the Greeks in Sicily have decided they've had enough of Roman rule. It wasn't hard to take control of the island -- the entire proconsular garrison has been in Carthage for years, which would also explain why the Romans missed all signs of the brewing rebellion -- and they have now formed a large militia.
Armed mostly with stolen, scavenged, or makeshift weapons, and with no military training at all, the only reason these rebels weren't killed immediately is because the legions had better things to do. Now Consul Maximus Caesoninus is sailing for Sicily with his army, making it only a matter of time before Sicily is back to normal. However, it still might be worth it to find out why the revolt happened in the first place.
Maximus sees the island from his ship and calls the admiral and generals together.
"gentleman, we shall land in the beaches and take the eastern side of the island. We shall build 3 camps in a line to keep the Sicilians from getting on our side. The archers shall men the walls and the cavalry is to sent word to the rebels to lay down arms or die with the assault of our legions. Any questions ? Very well let's do this gentleman. "
That night consul Ceasoninus his army lands on the beaches and execute the plans made by sunrise the encampments are made and everyone in position now it is a waiting game for word of the rebels.
The Greeks, knowing the Romans will eventually come gather as many supplies and food as possible inside the city walls of Syracuse. Because there has been no legion on the islands for sometime, the leader of the rebels, one Alexander Kiros, orders the roman magistrates taken into custody. Some Romans are able to flee the city, but most are forced to stay in their houses as there is no where else to go. For now the Greeks do nothing to harm them, knowing they could be used to deter an all out Roman attack.
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The Mad Skylord - Yesterday at 10:09 PM
Jesus
You're a monster
I love it
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The Greeks watching the siege towers being built, and began their preparations. Slingers and other ranged troops were posted on top of the battlements. Fire was kept ready in the towers to try to burn the roman advance. The gates were barred on the inside with stones, bricks, wood and anything else that could be dragged in place. The rest of the forces prepared for the fight.
Apparently the Romans were not even going to try negotiating.
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The Mad Skylord - Yesterday at 10:09 PM
Jesus
You're a monster
I love it
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"Our demands? Why that Syracuse become a free and independent Greek city with all the lands for 50 miles as part of our city! We will be free to support our own army if we so wish. Any roman in the city is free to come and go as they please if this is accepted, otherwise be warned that we currently have well over 10,000 Romans behind these walls."
"Do you accept?"
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The Mad Skylord - Yesterday at 10:09 PM
Jesus
You're a monster
I love it
__________________________________
Haha, A greek without brains it seems. Predictable of course.
You have peasants with old weapons and pitch forks.. I bring 18.000 legionaries. look at the situation you fool. you can't survive this battle. Surrender and return to your homes we might be able to get to some terms that makes life for greeks easier.
But If you resist I will vow to you no greek will leave this city alive.
So you are prepared to wreck your own city? Because we will start killing Romans once you attack. And most of these Greeks are tired of Roman overlordship, they would rather die than keep scrounging for a life under an enemy's thumb!"
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The Mad Skylord - Yesterday at 10:09 PM
Jesus
You're a monster
I love it
__________________________________
130 years ago, in the midst of the Second Punic War, the Kingdom of Syracuse turned on its Roman allies. The Senate dispatched the Consul Marcus Claudius Marcellus to put the city in its place. With his army of 18,000 men and 2,000 cavalry, Marcellus laid siege to the city. The 21,000-man Greek garrison held out for two years, thanks to the genius of Archimedes and his weapons. In the end, Roman soldiers pillaged the city, and the entire island of Sicily came under Roman control.
Now the situation is eerily similar. Syracuse has revolted against Roman rule while the legions are fighting elsewhere. Again 20,000 Greeks hold the city, and again a consul and 18,000 legionaries besiege it. But this time, there is no Archimedes, and there is no real army in Syracuse. The Greeks are a mob -- protected only by the city's walls and what few weapons they could find.
After months of siege, Consul Maximus Caesoninus finally decides to assault the city. One night, the Romans light campfires as usual. The Greek sentries take this to mean there will be no battle. The walls are still lined with men, however, as a matter of precaution. Meanwhile, the legions are loaded onto liburna along with a small group of 50 archers per ship.
The remaining archers, armed with short swords instead of bows, and dismounted cavalrymen are loaded into the siege towers, which move towards the walls while the ships sail for the harbor. The potential for a complete surprise attack is lost, however, when a hundred Roman horsemen parade in front of the walls, shouting at the Greeks to surrender and that the legions are preparing to attack. They are quickly silenced by a hail of slingstones.
The entire garrison rushes to the western wall, with the exception of 5000 men who are kept in reserve. To pass the time, they begin executing Romans in the city, as promised.
The Greek attempts to burn the siege towers fail for lack of accurate weapons; they are reduced to throwing torches, which actually do managed to set fire to two towers, but they are quickly put out with minimal damage and light casualties.
Auxilia pour out of the towers when they reach the wall. With the dark and fighting making visibility low for both sides, the auxilia are easily mistaken for legionaries, but the Greeks still get the feeling that something is not right. These Romans are too lightly armored and seem uneasy with their weapons, plus they are dying much more easily than expected and there are seemingly fewer of them than were in the camp.
Just as the Roman fleet lands in the harbor and begins unloading the legions, the 500 archers on the ships fire at the walls. Their aim is severely impaired by distance, walls, and dark, but is enough for the Greeks to notice this new attack. Their 15,000 men are overwhelming the auxilia on the walls by sheer numbers, with that threat taken care of, the men abandon the walls and hurry to meet the legions.
The legionaries throw pila at the approaching mob, not really needing to aim considering there are thousands of targets in one area. Still, the night can play tricks on the eye and a few throws miss entirely. The Romans raised their shields at incoming slingstones, deflecting most. Some stones even take out Greeks from behind.
Ultimately the quick exchange of missiles meant nothing in comparison to the melee that would follow. Highly trained Roman soldiers slaughter the defenders. Their gladii covered in Greek blood, the legionaries hunt down and kill any survivors.
Consul Ceasoninus looks over the pile of dead Greeks and whipse the sweat of his face.
Legate, throw the Greek bodies in the sea, seek the body of there leader and crucify him.
See for a proper berial of our soldiers and the killed roman citizens.
"yes sir!"
Oh and legate, the legionary pay of the deads should be sent to there families.
"aye sir."
Maximus takes a moment to look at his victory the first one of his career however he was seemingly touched by civilian loss.
Centurions !
Prepare to ship out to Sardinia there the replenishments will take place.
The Sicilian Revolt
