Vigiles
Gaius Furius Sulpicianus surveyed the auction blocks. Many slaves had been coming in from Spain recently, of course. The odd Gaul or Greek was thrown in as well. But still a number of Italians were yet being sold and resold. Gaius inspected them all personally, some attendants marking those who would be bought. Soon there were enough to fill two cohorts. He lined them up, divided them into units, and before long addressed them "You men are being equipped to serve a special function. Instead of dying in the mines or the arena, you've been called upon the serve the people of Rome directly. Your job shall be to fight fires, primarily, but also to aid in municipal functions as called upon. You will answer to me not only as Consul of Rome, but as dominus." The meaning could not be lost on them.
Gaius Furius Sulpicianus recruits and equips two cohorts of Vigiles, or firefighters. Among them there will be one cart capable of hauling water, acetum, picks, shovels, and other implements for putting out fires in the city. Of course, Sulpicianus' own buildings will take precedence over any others.
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