alternatehistory.com
Chapter 1
Chapter 1
Cassibellaunus drummed his fingers on the desk as he sat down in thought regarding the ongoing siege of his fort near the Tamesas River (Thames). Julius Caesar, that wretched Roman general had laid siege for weeks to make him submit and install that Roman fiend’s puppet as King of the Trinovantes again. Well he wouldn’t. End of story. He had already sent a missive asking his allies to attack the Roman beachheads and supply routes and it would be only a few hours until he received the outcome of that encounter. He had faith in his old allies. Segovax in particular was an old comrade in arms of his.
View attachment 544828
A portrait of Cassibellanus
He cut out of his musings when he heard someone knock at his door.
“Come in.” Cassibellanus replied as the door opened to show the looming figure of his top general, Finian Creel.
“Ah Finian!” Cassibellanus murmured as he gestured towards the chair in front of him. “Sit down, sit down. I believe you have news for me.”
“Yes, chief.” Finian replied with a small smile under his orange beard. “I bear good news from Segovax and our other friends.”
Cassibelanus let his hopes rise. “Did they succeed?”
“Yes, chief. However unfortunately for us, Cingetorix and Taximagulus fell in the line of battle. Carvillius and Segovax are fine however. They both have taken command of the remanants of the deceased king’s kingdom and army as they had the nearest stakes to them.” Finian replied dipping his head in respect for the deceased kings.
Cassibellanus did not know whether to laugh in joy or cry out of despair and frustration. He had won his gambit, but at the cost of loyal compatriots. He let a few tears cascade across his cheeks. Crying was no sign of weakness. It was simply a sign that he was still human, but for how long, he knew not.
“I….see.” Cassibellanus croaked out. “I cannot let their sacrifice go mistaken and broken. Now that the supply route of Caesar is broken, we can attack immediately and lift the pressure off us and push that Latinized bastard off our island. Mobilize the men for an offensive maneuver! This whole campaign had us on the defensive………It’s time to turn the tables on that little roman!”
***
Julius Caesar watched the fortress of Cassibellanus withstand the siegeworks again and again yet smiled. Cassibellanus was growing weaker every day and he knew it. It would only be a matter of a few days, at maximum, a few weeks before he would be forced to bow down to Rome.
His advisor galloped across the fields and rode along the lines as he came up to him. His advisor saluted him in a hurry and gasped out “Imperator! I bear bad news!”
“Bad news?” Julius frowned. Why must the gods scoff at his hard work and bring in wrenches in his works at moments like these? He sighed mentally and motioned the advisor or in this case, messenger to continue.
View attachment 544829
Julius Caesar
“Imperator, the Kings of Ceint managed to take our beachheads. We are encircled!”
Julius’s blood ran cold. Of all the damned things that could have happened……
He whipped around and called to his generals. “Lift the siege. We must link up with the coastline again. We cannot remain encircled for long. We need to retreat for the time being.”
His generals nodded in understanding and started to gallop across the field as they informed the lesser Centurions. He gritted his teeth as he gripped his sword. Damn these Celts. They were a headache in Gaul and they were a bigger headache in Britannia.
He whipped around and walked towards his tent. He needed to improvise in a better method.
***
Cassibellanus in the inner palisade of his fort trotted upon his horse as he looked at his troops. He looked at them directly in the eyes. Troops had every right in their tradition to challenge their commander if they felt their commander was too weak willed. Meeting them by looking them at the eye was considered to be a direct challenge to them and to stop any thoughts of revolt. His men visibly stiffened as he walked looking at the men in the eyes. He unsheathed his sword and raised it in the air.
“Men of Pritanni, we face an opponent like no other. You have all followed me, when I was once a warlord, a chieftain, but today I stand as a commander and leader of men. We are united despite being fractured. I am a Coritani. How many among you are Iceni? Brigante? Dumnonii? Yet we are all here to fight because we face a common enemy. Despite our differences, we all remain Pritanni! Tell me men. Will you surrender to these bastards of Rome?” Cassibellanus bellowed.
“NEVER!” His men shouted back as they thumped their shields and swords in response.
Cassibellanus grinned. “Then what are you waiting for? Our enemy lies just outside those gates. Attack at will! No mercy! For Pritanni! For Morrigan! For Camulos!”
His men roared in response as the gates of the fortress opened. The Birgante light cavalry roared and galloped outside first brandishing their spears and javelins. The Dumnonii light infantry poured out after them.
Cassibellanus grinned. Perhaps, just perhaps, unity among all the warring Celtic tribes was possible.
***
Corvix felt uplifted as the winds blew past him and his sword. It seemed that the Latins were in the process of retreating when him and his forces rolled down upon the Roman Legions. Not to say that the Roman bastards weren’t tough, but they had the advantage.
Corvix laughed in warlust as he stabbed a Roman through the chest with his spear. Ah what a good day it was to fight out in the open. The siege had been extremely boring for the wargoing Birgante.
A roman legionnaire stabbed his horse with a spear in the stomach. His horse whinnied before tumbling down. Corvix smiled insanely as he rolled over to the side fine and brandished his dual swords.
“Well well, looky here. It seems we have a brave yet foolish Roman here.” Corvix spoke in halting Latin.
“Go back where you belong barbarian.” The legionnaire snarled and leveled his spatha before charging at him. Corvix deflected the spatha and kicked the man in his left knee which forced him to crunch downwards.
“Goodbye Roman.” Corvix murmured and the legionnaire’s head burst open in a rain of blood, internals and gore. Corvix grinned madly as he licked some of the blood that had fallen on his lips.
“Hm…..even the blood of these men are not worthy of being sacrificed to the gods.” Corvix muttered as the bitter taste of the blood passed through him. As he surveyed the carnage around him he laughed in delight and advanced on the romans slashing and hacking his way through. What a delightful day. It had been months before he had fought in a pitched battle. Cassibellanus was always like ‘No…..we cannot defeat the Romans in a pitched battle….’ Yada yada that did not make sense to Corvix’s war addled mind.
He hacked his way through the battle lines as he was confronted by a centurion on a horse. The centurion stabbed at his chest as Corvix rolled to the side to dodge at. The centurion reared his horse towards the heavens as the horse’s hoofs came down at him. The force of the impact sent him some 20 yards away. As his chest started to bleed, Corvix blinked in confusion.
The roman trotted towards him before saying “May Pluto have mercy on your soul.”
That was the last thing he heard as he felt a spear pierce his lungs.
***
Cassibellanus trotted down the battlefield as the battle winded down. He grimaced as he saw the piles of bodies in the ground, both Pritanni and Roman. The worst thing apart from a battle lost, was a battle won.
He trotted upwards to his fort and waved his sword in the skies and said “Men! Assemble!”
His men who were celebrating their victory from the battle started to line up as they heard their commander’s voice. Cassibellanus waited until they were in good order before speaking up. “We have won a great victory today men. Rest. Celebrate. For tonight we dine like kings!”
His men cheered in response. Cassibellanus smiled. However he was distracted by a tap on his shoulder.
“Finian. What is the matter?” Cassibellanus asked his general. Finian replied “Caesar is seeking terms.”
Cassibellanus let a smile filter on his face and nodded. “Very well. Set up a camp in a neutral zone. We will meet tomorrow then.”
***
The next day.
Julius sat down burning with shame and humiliation as he sat down in front of Cassibellanus. The Celt was nearly a foot taller than him and it was clear that he was still flush with his victory.
“What are your terms?” Julius gritted through his teeth.
Cassibellanus spread his hands and spoke in decent Latin. “I really have only two wishes and terms really. The first is that you stop your claim of that bastard to the Trinovante crown. The second is you leave this island.”
Julius stared at the man in front of him and asked “What about the tribute?”
“The tribute was cancelled in protest against your claims of aiding that idiot gain the Trinovante crown. Should you stop your claims, the tribute will come to Rome again.” Cassibellanus replied in a light diplomatic tone.
Julius sighed internally and closed his eyes before speaking again. “I have a term as well.”
“Really? You believe you are in a position to act?” Cassibellanus replied with a tone of humor.
“Yes. Unless you are blind you can see that I still have 3 legions with me. I could attempt a break out attack can’t I? Do you really wish to force my hand, Celt?” Julius snarled quietly in reponse.
Cassibellanus looked alarmed for the first time since Julius saw him before he calmed down and looked at the Imperator. “Fine. What is your term, great Imperator?”
Ignoring the remark, Julius replied “Stop your aid to the Gallic Celts. That is my demand.”
“Not a hard one to accept either. Our lands have been ravaged by your legions. We need everything we have here, and not on the continent. I accept your term.” Cassibellanus replied in a neutral tone.
Both leaders of men stood up and held out their hands to each other. They shook it as both men then turned and marched out of the tents.
Julius sighed as he galloped on his horse to his army’s makeshift camp. They had been defeated militarily, but had failed in only one of the claims in which they had invaded Britain. All was not lost. He could spin this as a victory back in Rome. His position was still strong and without opposition. However despite that Julius turned back to look at Cassibellanus in the far distance and grudgingly nodded at the man. He knew not whether he saw it, however Julius Caesar left Britannia with a grudging respect of its inhabitants.
***
Cassibellaunus drummed his fingers on the desk as he sat down in thought regarding the ongoing siege of his fort near the Tamesas River (Thames). Julius Caesar, that wretched Roman general had laid siege for weeks to make him submit and install that Roman fiend’s puppet as King of the Trinovantes again. Well he wouldn’t. End of story. He had already sent a missive asking his allies to attack the Roman beachheads and supply routes and it would be only a few hours until he received the outcome of that encounter. He had faith in his old allies. Segovax in particular was an old comrade in arms of his.
View attachment 544828
A portrait of Cassibellanus
He cut out of his musings when he heard someone knock at his door.
“Come in.” Cassibellanus replied as the door opened to show the looming figure of his top general, Finian Creel.
“Ah Finian!” Cassibellanus murmured as he gestured towards the chair in front of him. “Sit down, sit down. I believe you have news for me.”
“Yes, chief.” Finian replied with a small smile under his orange beard. “I bear good news from Segovax and our other friends.”
Cassibelanus let his hopes rise. “Did they succeed?”
“Yes, chief. However unfortunately for us, Cingetorix and Taximagulus fell in the line of battle. Carvillius and Segovax are fine however. They both have taken command of the remanants of the deceased king’s kingdom and army as they had the nearest stakes to them.” Finian replied dipping his head in respect for the deceased kings.
Cassibellanus did not know whether to laugh in joy or cry out of despair and frustration. He had won his gambit, but at the cost of loyal compatriots. He let a few tears cascade across his cheeks. Crying was no sign of weakness. It was simply a sign that he was still human, but for how long, he knew not.
“I….see.” Cassibellanus croaked out. “I cannot let their sacrifice go mistaken and broken. Now that the supply route of Caesar is broken, we can attack immediately and lift the pressure off us and push that Latinized bastard off our island. Mobilize the men for an offensive maneuver! This whole campaign had us on the defensive………It’s time to turn the tables on that little roman!”
***
Julius Caesar watched the fortress of Cassibellanus withstand the siegeworks again and again yet smiled. Cassibellanus was growing weaker every day and he knew it. It would only be a matter of a few days, at maximum, a few weeks before he would be forced to bow down to Rome.
His advisor galloped across the fields and rode along the lines as he came up to him. His advisor saluted him in a hurry and gasped out “Imperator! I bear bad news!”
“Bad news?” Julius frowned. Why must the gods scoff at his hard work and bring in wrenches in his works at moments like these? He sighed mentally and motioned the advisor or in this case, messenger to continue.
View attachment 544829
Julius Caesar
“Imperator, the Kings of Ceint managed to take our beachheads. We are encircled!”
Julius’s blood ran cold. Of all the damned things that could have happened……
He whipped around and called to his generals. “Lift the siege. We must link up with the coastline again. We cannot remain encircled for long. We need to retreat for the time being.”
His generals nodded in understanding and started to gallop across the field as they informed the lesser Centurions. He gritted his teeth as he gripped his sword. Damn these Celts. They were a headache in Gaul and they were a bigger headache in Britannia.
He whipped around and walked towards his tent. He needed to improvise in a better method.
***
Cassibellanus in the inner palisade of his fort trotted upon his horse as he looked at his troops. He looked at them directly in the eyes. Troops had every right in their tradition to challenge their commander if they felt their commander was too weak willed. Meeting them by looking them at the eye was considered to be a direct challenge to them and to stop any thoughts of revolt. His men visibly stiffened as he walked looking at the men in the eyes. He unsheathed his sword and raised it in the air.
“Men of Pritanni, we face an opponent like no other. You have all followed me, when I was once a warlord, a chieftain, but today I stand as a commander and leader of men. We are united despite being fractured. I am a Coritani. How many among you are Iceni? Brigante? Dumnonii? Yet we are all here to fight because we face a common enemy. Despite our differences, we all remain Pritanni! Tell me men. Will you surrender to these bastards of Rome?” Cassibellanus bellowed.
“NEVER!” His men shouted back as they thumped their shields and swords in response.
Cassibellanus grinned. “Then what are you waiting for? Our enemy lies just outside those gates. Attack at will! No mercy! For Pritanni! For Morrigan! For Camulos!”
His men roared in response as the gates of the fortress opened. The Birgante light cavalry roared and galloped outside first brandishing their spears and javelins. The Dumnonii light infantry poured out after them.
Cassibellanus grinned. Perhaps, just perhaps, unity among all the warring Celtic tribes was possible.
***
Corvix felt uplifted as the winds blew past him and his sword. It seemed that the Latins were in the process of retreating when him and his forces rolled down upon the Roman Legions. Not to say that the Roman bastards weren’t tough, but they had the advantage.
Corvix laughed in warlust as he stabbed a Roman through the chest with his spear. Ah what a good day it was to fight out in the open. The siege had been extremely boring for the wargoing Birgante.
A roman legionnaire stabbed his horse with a spear in the stomach. His horse whinnied before tumbling down. Corvix smiled insanely as he rolled over to the side fine and brandished his dual swords.
“Well well, looky here. It seems we have a brave yet foolish Roman here.” Corvix spoke in halting Latin.
“Go back where you belong barbarian.” The legionnaire snarled and leveled his spatha before charging at him. Corvix deflected the spatha and kicked the man in his left knee which forced him to crunch downwards.
“Goodbye Roman.” Corvix murmured and the legionnaire’s head burst open in a rain of blood, internals and gore. Corvix grinned madly as he licked some of the blood that had fallen on his lips.
“Hm…..even the blood of these men are not worthy of being sacrificed to the gods.” Corvix muttered as the bitter taste of the blood passed through him. As he surveyed the carnage around him he laughed in delight and advanced on the romans slashing and hacking his way through. What a delightful day. It had been months before he had fought in a pitched battle. Cassibellanus was always like ‘No…..we cannot defeat the Romans in a pitched battle….’ Yada yada that did not make sense to Corvix’s war addled mind.
He hacked his way through the battle lines as he was confronted by a centurion on a horse. The centurion stabbed at his chest as Corvix rolled to the side to dodge at. The centurion reared his horse towards the heavens as the horse’s hoofs came down at him. The force of the impact sent him some 20 yards away. As his chest started to bleed, Corvix blinked in confusion.
The roman trotted towards him before saying “May Pluto have mercy on your soul.”
That was the last thing he heard as he felt a spear pierce his lungs.
***
Cassibellanus trotted down the battlefield as the battle winded down. He grimaced as he saw the piles of bodies in the ground, both Pritanni and Roman. The worst thing apart from a battle lost, was a battle won.
He trotted upwards to his fort and waved his sword in the skies and said “Men! Assemble!”
His men who were celebrating their victory from the battle started to line up as they heard their commander’s voice. Cassibellanus waited until they were in good order before speaking up. “We have won a great victory today men. Rest. Celebrate. For tonight we dine like kings!”
His men cheered in response. Cassibellanus smiled. However he was distracted by a tap on his shoulder.
“Finian. What is the matter?” Cassibellanus asked his general. Finian replied “Caesar is seeking terms.”
Cassibellanus let a smile filter on his face and nodded. “Very well. Set up a camp in a neutral zone. We will meet tomorrow then.”
***
The next day.
Julius sat down burning with shame and humiliation as he sat down in front of Cassibellanus. The Celt was nearly a foot taller than him and it was clear that he was still flush with his victory.
“What are your terms?” Julius gritted through his teeth.
Cassibellanus spread his hands and spoke in decent Latin. “I really have only two wishes and terms really. The first is that you stop your claim of that bastard to the Trinovante crown. The second is you leave this island.”
Julius stared at the man in front of him and asked “What about the tribute?”
“The tribute was cancelled in protest against your claims of aiding that idiot gain the Trinovante crown. Should you stop your claims, the tribute will come to Rome again.” Cassibellanus replied in a light diplomatic tone.
Julius sighed internally and closed his eyes before speaking again. “I have a term as well.”
“Really? You believe you are in a position to act?” Cassibellanus replied with a tone of humor.
“Yes. Unless you are blind you can see that I still have 3 legions with me. I could attempt a break out attack can’t I? Do you really wish to force my hand, Celt?” Julius snarled quietly in reponse.
Cassibellanus looked alarmed for the first time since Julius saw him before he calmed down and looked at the Imperator. “Fine. What is your term, great Imperator?”
Ignoring the remark, Julius replied “Stop your aid to the Gallic Celts. That is my demand.”
“Not a hard one to accept either. Our lands have been ravaged by your legions. We need everything we have here, and not on the continent. I accept your term.” Cassibellanus replied in a neutral tone.
Both leaders of men stood up and held out their hands to each other. They shook it as both men then turned and marched out of the tents.
Julius sighed as he galloped on his horse to his army’s makeshift camp. They had been defeated militarily, but had failed in only one of the claims in which they had invaded Britain. All was not lost. He could spin this as a victory back in Rome. His position was still strong and without opposition. However despite that Julius turned back to look at Cassibellanus in the far distance and grudgingly nodded at the man. He knew not whether he saw it, however Julius Caesar left Britannia with a grudging respect of its inhabitants.
***
- Sārthākā
- Word Count: 1.9k