Chapter 42
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The army had left Aurelianum on May 12th, the first goal of Constantinus was the city of Parisiorum. The city lay on the Seine river and was a major crossing point. The city itself lay on the island in the center of the river and the western bank. The city on the river would be more akin to a fortress, the western bank of the city, was smaller and at one point had never had a wall around it, however over time a small roman wall had surrounded the settlement, however since their annexation of the city the franks had build these walls up. When they arrived at the city, the 28,000 men of Constantinus army immediately arrayed to attack the walls of the city. Ladders which had been built in the days before their arrival and carried on the march were brought forward.
"My spie in the city says there are but 8,000 men that hold the walls of that city. That will barely be enough to hold the walls and keep a reserve. We will take the city before dark." The simple statement from Constantinus to his generals was the order to advance, the battle plan having been made days before.
Archers and a row of Legionaries advanced and when they got in range began firing volleys of arrows, however the franks simply hunkered down behind the shields only the odd scream of pain heard upon the walls. Their own archers returned fire, however the line of infantry that had moved forward used there shields to cover themselves and their archers in turn. Thousands of missiles filled the air however the death toll was small, with only a few dozen casualties taking place, the main reason for the roman archers was to keep the franks hunkered down.
Cohorts of Legionaries marched forward shields raised and ladders held at the ready. Upon reaching the wall these ladders clattered onto the wall, and men immediately began climbing hoping to get to the top before they were attacked. For the frankish infantry and archers they quickly changed their focus to stopping these men from taking the walls, risking their lives to arrows to stab down with spears or to fire arrows downwards. However even as romans died reaching the top, gaps opened up on the wall and the romans slowly began to form a presense on the top of the wall. The fighting was viscous and casualties mounted however as the romans and franks formed shieldwalls on the top, the romans began to gain the advantage. After an hour or two of fighting the franks suddenly sounded the retreat and the evacuated the walls in an ordered fighting retreat, before running away from the walls to the bridges that would take them to their island fortress. The gate to the city was opened and Constantinus himself lead the roman and alani cavalry into the city hunting down the frankish army, instead of a running army though he met a shield wall at the bridge holding to allow their men to the island. When he crashed into their shield wall the fighting became extremely violent. However these men fought to the death to allow their men to get across the bridge causing a great number of casualties to the roman cavalry. The fact that he had unable to end the siege quickly angered the young general, and worse was the casualties he had suffered. In total the romans bad lost 1000 men between the battle for the walls and the battle at the bridge. The Franks had lost but a paltry 500 men, half of which were lost at the bridge. All this had been was a delaying action ment to poke at the romans and make them angry.
It did in fact make Constantinus angry, the young general quickly came up with a plan, one that would see the franks unable to escape even if they wanted to. During the night, Constantinus would roughly 2000 men to the other side of the river by boat, along with pieces of dismantled artillery. By morning the east side of the river was garrisoned with 2000 legionaries, who were overly armed with artillery having 20 scorpions and 10 ballistae. However this unfortunately ment that Parisiorum would not be the quick battle the romans hoped for and that Clovis would have time to bring his main army forward.
Over the course of the following week the bombardment of Parisiorum would devastate the island city and its walls. One of Constantinus men suggested destroying the bridges and leaving the people in the city to starve. But Constantinus was adamant that they would take the city leaving no enemy at their rear especially considering the strategic importance of this crossing of the river. Finally after a week of bombardment with the city gates destroyed on the main city side and the island fortress left in ruins Constantinus advanced, and met little resistance. For as he advanced from the west the franks charged through their eastern gates intent on charging through the roman blocking force. What they didnt plan for was the roman artillery which had been kept out of veiw. As the franks charged across the long bridge the artillery was quickly brought forward and to the horror of the fransk they were met by a devastating volley of Ballistae shot and scorpion bolts. The artillery simply ripped through the franks and before they could even charge through the devastation the first volley caused they were hit again, however as the romans went to reload again, a loud yell came up behind them as a thousand frankish lancers crashed into their rear. Clovis had personally arrived to Parisiorum.
Gallus looked from the eastern walls on the island to where his brothers blocking force had been, and sighed. The frankish force in Parisiorum had done their job of blocking the romans until their king arrived, and had caused the death of 3000 romans in doing so. Of course the franks had lost roughly 2000 men, but no one considered that a good trade.
Constantinus was irate. He had finally taken the city and opened up the path to the east, only to find Clovis had outplanned him and blocked him anyways, for as his men were being butchered by the Frank king and his heavy cavalry, over 20,000 Frankish soldiers arrived, blocking the blood bridge as it was now being called, and bringing both sides up to even numbers.
One of the tribunii during their war meeting brought up that they could build a fleet of boats and cross the river enmass or use them to very the men further south and cross. Constantinus hadnt even spoken, instead motioning to Gallicianus replied with his previous experience with the Frankish king. "Clovis knows that on even ground the battle would be to close, he will only engage us when he knows he has the advantage. If we push across we will be bombarded with missiles before having to wade to shore and into the frankish lines, not exactly and easy crossing and one that we would win, if that is your suggestion i recomend you be put in the first boat to land." As the Tribunus looked down noticeably ashamed, Gallicianus continued. "If we move further south Clovis will either withdraw, or simply move to take the city blocking any retreat for us."
"Where does that leave us sir?" Asked another Tribunus.
Gallus watched his brother carefully, who finally spoke. "Individually the plans we have discussed will not work. Simply put the Franks will have the ability to prevent all of these plans. It is for that reason we will do all of them. The Tribune was not completely wrong, its a good plan just not fleshed out. I want our soldiers building boats on the western shore, we will then cross at night attacking at dawn. Our cavalry which numbers some 3,000 will move tonight to cross the river to the north it will be a 2 day march for them. When we attack we will bombard the east shore with artillery. Once the franks are suitably engaged on shore the cavalry will hit them from the rear, Gallus that will be you with them, Gallicianus and I will lead across the river. The city gate will be protected by 2 cohorts, these 1000 men will prevent any attack on the city, and if we are advancing on shore they will then advance themselves."
4 Days later
May 29th
Gallus and his men had been hidden for 2 days, watching and waiting at each dawn prepared to charge the frankish camp that they were only miles from, each night had been a cold one spent eating cold food. Now on the 4th day his men formed up they watched as a sudden volley of artillery missiles flew from the roman held city towards the east shore. It had begun, minutes later the sound of battle could be heard. "Today men, we defeat the Franks, today we will flank the Franks and bring honour to rome! Charge!"
Dawn
Constantinus smiled at the mighty sight that was before him hundreds of boats had beeb crafted in days, and were now filled with his army and was slowly rowing towards the east shore. In the early dawn light, he thought there was nothing more beautiful. With luck his men would make the shore before the alarm went up..... as the first boats began to unload he heard the alarm go up, the first men on shore immediately formed ranks raising there shields up, just in time for the missiles that launched towards them from the bush immediately to their front. While a few men fell the rest charged forward allowing room for the subsequent boats to discharge their men and form up on the waters edge. The battle was on. The fighting was viscous however suprisingly the romans were advancing easily it was almost like the Franks were allowing themselves to be pushed back. As the roman army completely discharged and formed up they made their way onto the open ground that lay behind the bush that covered the rivers edge. On open ground they could see that they were not completely facing the entire Frankish army in fact the franks were formed up about 500 yards behind the battleline. Waiting for the romans. Suddenly the entire frankish force charged crashing into the roman lines, a frenzied battle beginning.
"Where is Gallus!" Constantinus roared. Gallicianus came along side him, "Sir weve got bigger problems." Constantinus looked to where Gallicianus was pointing. The Frankish Lancers had arrived and were bearing down on his right flank, several thousand infantry behind them. "Reserves with me!"
Gallus and his men came thundering through the frankish camp they only met light resistance a few hundred men but they had slowed his men down nonetheless. His men immediately began to see his men forming up again. "Alright lets join the main battle. When they came upon it Gallus immediately yelled "shit! Charge wedge formation!"
What they had come upon was the army of Constantinus deep in battle, his main line was holding even advancing however his flank was being torn apart by the frankish lancers, only a few cohorts holding the line.
The Roman cavalry hit the Frankish flank hard smashing into them and savagely killing any they met. Gallus came upon the Tribunus Aelius Scaurus. "Tribune take your men and join the general on the right flank! And rush before the flank falls!" However he wouldnt get the chance, seeing the roman cavalry Clovis had ordered the franks to fall back. Their lines disengaged orderly as did their cavalry and began backstepping. Gallus immediately ordered his men to reform and was about to charged when Constantinus had his horns order a halt. Gallus immediately rode to his brothers position. Taking in the two armies positions. Realizing why his brother hadnt ordered an advance as he rode.
The franks had gotten out of the battle in far better condition than the romans, as well their lancers had caused hundreds of casualties to the roman flank and were still relatively fresh and where as his cavalry were beginning to tire. Both armies began to step back, the battle for Parisiorum was over, and while the Romans could claim victory it was not decisive nor was it in their favour, the franks had badly maulled the romans causing some 4,000 casualties to their own 3,000 in the final battle and had fallen back in good order. The first phase of the Frankish Campaign had shown that Constantinus was not as invisible in commanding as everyone hoped.