1
Chapter 1
461AD
Portus Illicinatus
It was early 461, and the army of Majorian was readying for its next campaign. Majorians army consisted mostly of foedoratii troops and mercenaries, which totalled around 18,000, he also had a growing force of Romans in his army. He had around 4,000 roman men who formed his core bodyguard which he named Legio I Augusta. With 20,000 Infantry of varying types he could also count upon the Scholae, the imperial cavalry which numbered 2000, and 2,000 Foedoratii cavalry supplied by the visigoths and burgundians.
It was a massive army which had helped him defeat many enemies and had continuously grown. He had lead then down the Rhone valley against the Burgundians, into Aquitaine against the Visigoths, and into Hispania where they had put down rebels and fought the Suebi. Now he was leading them against the Vandals and inti Africa.
For such a feet he had created a navy in southern Hispania where it waited at Portus Illicitanus for his use. The Vandal King Genseric had tried for peace but Africa was needed to secure not only Majorians future but also the Empires. Genseric had deployed a strategy of schorched earth and had scorched all land that could be of any use to Majorian. Majorian only looked foward to his future.
A captain of one of Majorians ships, a hispanic roman Flavius Ulpius Aurelianus was just finishing up the final duties on his ship with his men, making sure all equipment was in order. There was news just came in from the armies scouts that ships had been spotted down the coast, Vandal ships. Aurelianus had heard it just before the scout continued on his way to the Emperor. The thing Aurelianus a experienced soldier didnt understand was that the Vandals were so daring so close to the roman fleet who had them outnumbered. As he was going back to his quarters in the city he happened to pass close by one of the other officers quarters and heard talk from several men.
Aurelianus had been having wierd suspicious feelings for the last few weeks as several of the ships captains continued having secret meetings. It was only when he heard of the Vandals Payment did he auctually stopped. The man had said "the vandal payment has arrived" and one could here the clinking of many coins. He snuck closer to the other mans quarters and could here then even better. "
"What is the kings orders?"
The day of the battle we are to switch side and ram our own ships."
It was at this Aurelianus turned and ran towards the Emperors quarters, he knew who the treacherous captains were and immediately seeked to infrom Majorian.
That night Majorian captured the treasonous captains and had them all imprisoned and left them to rot in the prisons. For his loyalty Aurelianus was named Admiral of the fleet and the bribe paid to the turncoats was given to him as a gift.
2 days later Aurelianus lead the fleet out to battle the vandals were he was victorious and destroyed half the vandal fleet and captured the rest. The Vandal men were taken prisoner and made into work slaves and sent to the mines while the rest their ships became roman ships.
Only a week later Majorian would lead his army onto the boats and sailed to Africa. Landing just west of Icosium the most western point of Vandal territory on June 1st the conquest of Africa had begun.
461AD
Portus Illicinatus
It was early 461, and the army of Majorian was readying for its next campaign. Majorians army consisted mostly of foedoratii troops and mercenaries, which totalled around 18,000, he also had a growing force of Romans in his army. He had around 4,000 roman men who formed his core bodyguard which he named Legio I Augusta. With 20,000 Infantry of varying types he could also count upon the Scholae, the imperial cavalry which numbered 2000, and 2,000 Foedoratii cavalry supplied by the visigoths and burgundians.
It was a massive army which had helped him defeat many enemies and had continuously grown. He had lead then down the Rhone valley against the Burgundians, into Aquitaine against the Visigoths, and into Hispania where they had put down rebels and fought the Suebi. Now he was leading them against the Vandals and inti Africa.
For such a feet he had created a navy in southern Hispania where it waited at Portus Illicitanus for his use. The Vandal King Genseric had tried for peace but Africa was needed to secure not only Majorians future but also the Empires. Genseric had deployed a strategy of schorched earth and had scorched all land that could be of any use to Majorian. Majorian only looked foward to his future.
A captain of one of Majorians ships, a hispanic roman Flavius Ulpius Aurelianus was just finishing up the final duties on his ship with his men, making sure all equipment was in order. There was news just came in from the armies scouts that ships had been spotted down the coast, Vandal ships. Aurelianus had heard it just before the scout continued on his way to the Emperor. The thing Aurelianus a experienced soldier didnt understand was that the Vandals were so daring so close to the roman fleet who had them outnumbered. As he was going back to his quarters in the city he happened to pass close by one of the other officers quarters and heard talk from several men.
Aurelianus had been having wierd suspicious feelings for the last few weeks as several of the ships captains continued having secret meetings. It was only when he heard of the Vandals Payment did he auctually stopped. The man had said "the vandal payment has arrived" and one could here the clinking of many coins. He snuck closer to the other mans quarters and could here then even better. "
"What is the kings orders?"
The day of the battle we are to switch side and ram our own ships."
It was at this Aurelianus turned and ran towards the Emperors quarters, he knew who the treacherous captains were and immediately seeked to infrom Majorian.
That night Majorian captured the treasonous captains and had them all imprisoned and left them to rot in the prisons. For his loyalty Aurelianus was named Admiral of the fleet and the bribe paid to the turncoats was given to him as a gift.
2 days later Aurelianus lead the fleet out to battle the vandals were he was victorious and destroyed half the vandal fleet and captured the rest. The Vandal men were taken prisoner and made into work slaves and sent to the mines while the rest their ships became roman ships.
Only a week later Majorian would lead his army onto the boats and sailed to Africa. Landing just west of Icosium the most western point of Vandal territory on June 1st the conquest of Africa had begun.
