The Curia, Consulship of Regulus and Milo (90 BCE)

[Pontifex Maximus]

The Curia, Rome
The Consulate of Gaius Atilius Regulus and Quintus Annius Milo

The Curia of 90 BCE is now in session.

Magistrates

Consul

Lucius Atilius Regulus and Quintus Annius Milo

Censor

NPC

Praetor

Quintus Caecilius Metellus Pius and Lucius Cornelius Scipio

Pro-Consul of Asia

NPC

Pro-Praetor of Sicilia

Gaius Furius Sulpicianus

Pro-Consul of Corsica et Sardinia

NPC

Hispania Citerior

NPC

Pro-Consul of Hispania Ulterior

Publius Cornelius Sulla

Pro-Consul of Macedonia

Gaius Julius Iulus

Africa

NPC

Gallia Narbonensis

NPC

Aedile

Lucius Villius Tappulus

Quaestor

Gaius Aurelius Cotta and Sextus Annius Milo

Tribune of the Plebs

NPC

Events

1. The Legions demand payment of their wages in order to remain in the field for another year (see upkeep).

2. The Italians are defeated for now but not dissuaded from pursuing independence if not granted citizenship. It's just a natter of time before trouble starts again.

3. Captured Italian Generals Silo and Mutilius are in prison in Rome awaiting trial.

[The Mad Skylord]

Gnaeus Julius Iulus addressed the Senate. "With the war over, I hereby move that the Legio IV snd Legio V aredeployed to Macedonia for border security, and placed on the pay roll of the Procunsulate."

Iulus knew what their first objection would be. "I also move, that to quell any more unrest, we offer the Italians Full Citizenship."

[Rhapture]

Praetor Quintus Caecilius Metellus Pius walks proudly into the Curia for the new year in his toga praetexta, leaving a group of clients in the forum. He sat waiting for the consuls to open the meeting, talking with a few other senators.

[Lucius Malfoy]

Lucius Atilius Regulus is seated in the Consular chair, wearing his toga proudly and knowing what responsibility came with it. He listens to the proposals already being made without hesitation.

We should give the legions rest, this is agreeable. Yet I do not think we need to deploy two legions to the Proconsulate of Macedonia and Greece. There are no foreign wars and our lands are at peace.

Unless the Proconsul had plans that required two legions, thought Regulus.

Instead, what should be done, is that the Senate redeploy four of our legions to the various Proconsulates. The remaining two legions will remained stationed in Italy till the tension between the Republic and our Italian foe withers or at least peace is re-established. We must be vigilant at this time in case our enemy tries to catch us off guard.

As for the second proposal...

Due to some recent actions, we may have no choice but to offer the Italians full citizenship, despite our recent victories. However, let us at least send an offer of truce and bring the Italians to the table for negotiations. This must be done to at least halt the fighting and bring a much needed period of peace. We will see what they will want for peace before revealing what we can truly offer them. In the mean time, we should also plan for the executions of Silo and Mutilius who led this unlawful rebellion against our fair Republic. They were labeled enemies of the state and thus must be dealt with as such.

[Xion]

Sextus Erucia Mergus arrives and takes a seat.
--

[General Brewster]

Marcus Aemilius Lepidus arrives and seats himself.

[Rhapture]

"Consul Regulus," Quintus began.
So we won the battles and put down this revolt, correct?
"We have their leaders captured in Rome?
"Our religious leaders say we shouldn't offer them full citizenship, yet you think we need to just give it to them right away?"
They should be crawling here under a flag of truce, not the other way around!" Quintus said sternly.

"The Italians must offer us something in return before we just give them the value of a Roman citizen."

[Dirty Chai]

"Jupiter's advice should not so easily be thrown to the wind, consul," the Flamen Dialis reminded, a lictor standing by patiently.
"Surely he has seen the future of what will happen to res publica if we so hastily give full rights to a whole peninsula under a system built for a city."

[Lucius Malfoy]

That is why I stated that we may have to, but we shouldn't throw it on the table just yet, Quintus. Yet it is something that we must be ready to offer nonetheless.

Consul Regulus speaks plainly before speaking further.

If we wait for them to crawl to us, Quintus, we will only give them time. Time we could be using in negotiating and ending this conflict once and for all. Time they may use only to lick their wounds and prepare to attack us once more. They will never forget what is strewn between Sutrium and Rome. They will not forget that barbaric display that is only fit for Gauls and Iberians. If we delay, it will only lead to our own consequences, not theirs.

[Jokern]

Lucius Villius Tappulus enters the Curia and takes his seat. As the Aedile for the year, he would have many matters on his table concerning the maintenance of the city, as well as public games. That would come later though, for now matters of state took precedence. Listening to the proposals that were already being brought forward, Lucius rose to make his statement.

"I agree with Consul Regulus, though would it not be better if we kept three legions in Italy? While the Italians may be beaten, no peace has yet been signed and until then it may be prudent to be ready for another incursion, however unlikely it may be. I fully support offering full citizenship to the Italians, for it was the denial of this that caused the war in the first place. With the heinous actions of Consul Iulus last year, it may be hard to get a peace treaty without this.

And who should lead these negotiations. one of the consuls I would assume?"

[General Brewster]

Marcus being annoyed by the decisiveness "I would move we start with recapturing cities. Their military power is broken taking one or two larger cities back will break any hope for them. This will also help them forget Ex-cosul Iulus... misstep."

Marcus coughs before he continues.

"Consul there is one small detail I would like to have clarified. Neither the consuls or preators have put forward the seconded bill "Lex Denarii" of last period. Is this the new format the Roman senate will work with ? Or will this be something you will rectify Consul?"

[Rhapture]

"We could always just offer them Julius Iulus Carnifex to placate them"
Quintus throws out, a knowing smile on his face as he turns to the Pronconsul with a nod.

[Lucius Malfoy]

Lucius enjoyed the thought of handing over Carnifex to the Italians. Perhaps Quintus was right on that one. He turns to Lepidus first.

If we move to take their cities, that will only delay peace negotiations, Lepidus. They will think we desire further war and only be emboldened to keep fighting if we are still moving soldiers to attack.

The Consul remains standing, only shifting his posture slightly to look at Lepidus.

Re-propose your Lex Denarii then, Lepidus, before the Senate.

Lucius then turns his gaze to all those present.

We should aim to bringing the Italians to negotiate and impose a period of truce to halt the fighting. An appropriate peace treaty will be negotiated that suits both sides and end this conflict once and for all, my fellow Romans. The Pax Italica will be reinstated this year so that we may once more enjoy tranquility and order. As for who should negotiate this peace treaty, I will open the floor to any suggestions.

[Dirty Chai]

Albinus' eyes narrowed. It seems this new consul had no care for what the gods had to say.

[Oznerol]

Scipio took a seat, since he was elected he had to be escorted by six lictors and had the right both to wear a toga praetexta and sit on a silla curulis.

"I hardly imagine a reason we should deply two legions in Macedonia, Carnifex. With the province calm and troubleless I'd rather not waste our resources in such an enterprise. A single legion will suffice to mantain peace in the region and be enough to repulse any border raid by the Thracians or whoever is lured by Greece's riches"

Added the praetor.

"We should sign peace, as soon as posible. I think we should offer full citizenship to those who are willing to negotiate, maybe the only way to avoid further conflict is to grant full citizenship to all the Italians once surrendered, proving that we are willing to reconciliate with them and forgive the past. Patres, long have they been our socii, and Roma has always prefered a quiet and friendly neighbour than a troublesome, unruly one. Shall we prove to be gracious and merciful even after such a war will forever tie the Italians to Roma and its Senate. Italians have long formed a sizable part of our legions and long and wide have they marched, fighted and settled along us, the Latins. I propose that we lend them an open hand, for continency and mercy to a fallen foe is virtuous and in this case, the best and wisest course of action. We can afford this thanks to our former consul's labours"

[Xion]

"Perhaps the Italian communities who did not take up arms against Rome could be granted citizenship, if there were any. Maybe this would bring the communities who did take up arms to negotiate with Rome."

[Oznerol]

"Perhaps the Italian communities who did not take up arms against Rome could be granted citizenship, while the others should be negotiated with."

"Loyalty should always be rewarded, as you very well say"

Granted the praetor, with a nod.

"The outcome really depends on how willing the Italians are to negotiate. And flamen, we can always please the gods somehow"

--------------------------

The younger Milo spoke.

"We should remember the Gods didn't comply to any concesions of the kind. Latest omens weren't... precisely satisfactory"

He wore the toga like none other, the drapery falling in an orderly fashion. He noticeably wore it in a distinctively "Greek fashion" as it was called in Rome.

"As the flamen said we cannot ignore their will or an ill fate will befall upon our heads"

Not that Milo was too pious, but he owed one to that rascal, the flamen. The only gods he knew were those of wine and tits.

[Rhapture]

"Perhaps the Italian communities who did not take up arms against Rome could be granted citizenship, if there were any. Maybe this would bring the communities who did take up arms to negotiate with Rome."

Quintus was surprised by the young Senator.
" I agree with, Sextus is it? here. I think we should reward those who have been loyal to us first. This might show the rebels that we are not as violent and vengeful as a certain butcher and we can be reasoned with,"
He turned to the priest of Jupiter.
"And Flamen Albinus, I do not think this would upset Jupiter Best and Mightiest."

[Dirty Chai]

"I shall remind the senate one final time," Albinus stood and spoke tersely.
"The gods have spoken, you all heard or saw it. There can be no citizenship granted to the allies if we are to keep the favor of the Jupiter. Not for at least a generation."

He sat back down, adjusting his purple-striped toga.
"And I daresay Jupiter, king of heaven and sky, likely speaks for all of the pantheon on this matter. Do with his advice as you will, but I cannot recommend ignoring the will of a god." Not mentioning that indeed Jupiter was to Rome as Apollo was to Troy: father, shepherd, king. He knew the consequences of actions, the future of the republic; the Romans, in contrast, did not know their future.

[Jokern]

Lucius, in his toga praetexta and with two lictors by his side, nod in agreement to the words of Consul Regulus and Praetor Scipio. It would be good to finally return to peace once more, so that the treasury did not have to be spent on just the legions. If he were to complete his job as aedile he would need all the money he could get.

"I propose that the honor of negotiating peace with the Italians goes to Consul Lucius Atilius Regulus, for his outspoken support of peace in Italia."