Let me know if you guys want me to delete the original chapter or to keep both versions up!
A Difference Of Fate: A Late Roman Timeline
- Thread starter StevenIronside
- Start date
Greatly enjoying the timeline, and looking forward to what comes next…and if a certain commander becomes attached to the bow.
Thanks you! As for Tullius, he will live up to his cognomen Tyranus (Tyrant) and his and Silvanus's rivalry will be something for the ages,
Chapter 22:470AD Continuing the Ostrogothic War
Chapter 22
470AD
The 470 Pannonian Campaign
January
Marcellinus looked out over the horizon, his men and in fact the city were beginning to starve, the cities grain stores were slowly being depleted with maybe 2 months worth of food left, everyone was put onto rations, the supply trains were not arriving, and the patrols that Marcellinus had sent out for them had similarly disappeared. Only one survivor had made it back since the winter made it back, hanging from his horse unconscious, However the man didn't survive the night.
That had been December since then, Marcellinus had sent men out at night, spies and scouts in an attempt to locate the enemy. His Dux Tullius Maximinus a distant cousin to the Tullius Tyranus, approached him, "sir one of the spies has come back, and he has news."
"The Goths and some gepids are encamped 10 miles west of here there are roughly 3,000 all have horses. As best I can see whenever a supply train is incoming from the main roads from west or south. Half the detachment leaves the camp and returns half a day later, carrying the supplies that were incoming for us. They have probably 3 months worth of food for their small force in the camp. And they have multiple patrols leading up to the camp. Any approach will be spotted and they will evade us on horse easily. It does seem like they are lead by the young Theodoric. I managed to kill a messenger and get his message, apparently his father is using the winter to strengthen his client kingdoms ties to himself. The Ostrogoths clients the Heruli Sarmatians and Gepids and others further east will amass an army for the next year. They intend to strike us here in the spring before they destroy the Eastern Emperor."
Marcellinus nodded, "Maximinus have this written into several messages send them to Anthemius we need at least one to make it through. We need to split the enemies forces, Anthemius cannot march into Pannonia."
Over the following weeks the proxy siege continued marcellinus and Maximinus would attempt to force a confrontation with Theodoric by sending out a small force of men followed an hour later by the cavalry, unfortunately nothing came of these baiting marches. Going into February during a storm Marcellinus lead half the army out of the city using the storm as a cover he had small group of scouts attempt to kill the Gothic scouts. He was going to attack the Gothic camp with force. Unfortunately word made it back to Theodoric. Not wanting to hold his camp against a force nearly 2 times the size of his own, he had his men put the supplies into the wagons and leave the camp going further west, leaving a burning pile of supplies in the center of the camp, this being what they couldn't put into the wagons. It was at this point Theodoric split his force in two to cover both roads from a further distance from the city keeping the stranglehold of the city in place.
Then from Emona on the western road to Siscia came a large supply train instead of a small force to guard it however was a force of some 2,000 men. They were a mixture of Burgundians Roman soldiers and Mercenaries. The supply train was large enough to hold half a months food for the city, somehow news must have reached the Italian Prefectus that there was trouble on the road to Siscia. Theodoric gathered his entire force and a days ride from the city ambushed the supply train, while he did lose a sixth of his force some 500 men, they had killed every soldier and tooken the supplies. Which he then had half his men then take to within eye sight of the city, before promptly burning whatever his men didn't need. By the time Marcellinus and his cavalry arrived, the goths disappeared into the forests and the supplies were ashes. The city was within a week of starving. Marcellinus than marched half his force west intent on meeting the next supply train or killing Theodoric possibly both. With half the army leaving this did give the city a few extra days, when Marcellinus arrived back at the city a week and a half later he had with him enough supplies for the city for 2 weeks, rotating his men he took the other half and repeated this action. As spring came Theodoric was forced to end his proxy siege. While he had nearly broken the spirits of the city and the soldiers Marcellinus use of force had gotten them the much needed supplies. It was time to rejoin his father.
With the campaigning season beginning the Ostrogoths gathered 23,000 of their own warriors, and were joined by 10,000 Heruli, and some 10,000 Gepids, their most Eastern client kingdoms were busy dealing with some tribes in the east, but the force of 43,000 men was a fearsome opponent to any Roman one that could be gathered.
The 43,000 Left Sirmium on May 15th, marching to Siscia to take on the 14,000 of Marcellinus. However as the army encamped around the city surrounding it, news came from the east.
Theodemir eyes were wide with suprise and panic, the expressions of the king's of the Heruli and Gepids were equally as suprised Theodoric simply sat still in thought. "Whaat! Why would he forsaken the men of the west, why has he done this!"
"It is simple father," Theodoric stood and camly looked around him at his father and their gathered allies. "Anthemius intends to split our army, he knows that we would take the city and then march south and defeat him, his decision his tactically sound, even though it is callous to the men of the west. By attacking the Gepid territory he rightly suspects that the Gepids will march back to save their people and even possibly a portion of our warriors. If the accounts of him having 30,000 men are accurate then he suspects even if the Gepids and half our own men return and join with the warriors who stayed home he will be victorious. Then he can march west and help Marcellinus. And unless I am wrong he is right and the Gepids will leave tonight."
The gepid king nodded and stood, "I am a subject of your father however I am a king to my own people and must defend them!"
"What I propose then is that we don't play into the romans hands we march east with most of our forces leaving enough to defend ourselves from Marcellinus and we bring ourselves honour by killing an Emperor!"
Theodoric looked at his father as the other leaders nodded encouragingly. Theodemir was silent eyes closed, his son was only 17, but was already turning into a smart and able leader. He was also right. If they split now even if they were victorious against Marcellinus, Anthemius would be the same against his clients the Gepids. Opening his eyes and looking at his men he nodded, "The Heruli and 5,000 of our Ostrogoths will stay here under Theodorics command. I will take the remaining 28,000 east, we will gather whatever warriors we can including Gepid warriors once we pass into thier territory, and we will defeat Anthemius."
Everyone nodded, though many grimaced, Theodoric still confident of having everyone's support spoke up, "Father why, we cannot split our forces, to do so will lead to defeat!"
A loud slap rang out, Theodoric stumbled back from his father, "Boy you will understand and follow my commands you may be my son, hier, and future king of this coalition but you still have much to learn, you will obey this command!" Theodoric stood firm and looked at his father, before looking at those who had agreed with him before all of their eyes were averted, he had lost, "Yes my king."
With this meeting the army split, Theodoric and the Heruli army of 15,000 kept the Romans surrounded in Siscia, unable to take the city but able to starve it. Theodemir King of the Ostrogothic Kingdom and master of many tribes lead his army east. Theodoric would not hear from his father for many weeks. Then finally word reached him. The Ostrogoths and Romans had met near the old roman city of Tibiscum on July 6th. The Roman force had already defeated a minor force of some 8,000 Gepids earlier in the campaign, however they were not 30,000 instead only 26,000. Theodemir had a great army of some 34,000 however as Theodoric read the message he gasped in suprise. The romans had defeated the great army, luckily it was not a decisive victory however some 10,000 Goths and Gepids had been lost the Romans had lost only a little less than a third of that, 3,000 men. The Heruli were to March east Theodoric was to retreat to Sirmium and hold the capital of their kingdom.
As the Goths and Heruli prepared to march however Marcellinus used to moment to attack and his 14,000 men sprung from the city against the goths and Heruli. What followed was a victory for the romans, as the suprised Gothic force was given only moments to drop their packs and form battle lines. By evening only 10,000 Gepids and Goths were marching back to Sirmium the rest having fallen in battle. Only a week later Tullius Tyranus arrived with his 3,000 men giving his version of events to Marcellinus.
Gepid Kingdom territory
Old Province of Dacia
July 20th
It had been a 2 weeks since his Victory at Tibiscum yet the Roman army had only moved to a camp beside the city. The reason was the Emperor had been injured in the fighting, he had personally killed the Gepid King when the king had lead his cavalry around the Roman flank. The battle had been a great victory, yet it wasn't the decisive war ending victory he had hoped for. However his invasion of the Gepid Kingdom had changed the course of the war for the year. His scouts now reported that 5,000 Heruli were a week away. He had not fully recovered, yet another battle was closing in on him.
August 1st
Anthemius grimaced in pain as he got atop his horse. His general a man named Flavius Petrus looked at the Emperor in concern, "Sire are you sure you want to risk yourself being on horse for this you have already given the orders of how you want the battle fought from there I can command. Anthemius looked at Petrus, "the men will think I am week for not being on the field it will demoralize them, I will see this battle out to its end." Petrus could only nod and sat back on his horse.
The battle was viscously fought, the battle began in the early hours of the morning and the infantry fought until the mid afternoon without cavalry being involved, both sides tried to continue outflanking the other extending the battle line, and as casualties mounted the fighting only became more intense. Finally as the day entered the late afternoon Petrus lead the cavalry against the gepid cavalry, however instead of this being the cause for Victory it was a breakthrough on the opposite flank the left. The Heruli there holding the line along with the Goths collapsed and began to route, the Roman infantry pushed forward and continued to press its advantage, once it was clear the Heruli and Goths on that flank had totally routed the Comes leading that flank turned his men around and charged them into the flank of the rest of the Gothic army which had began to route at the sight of the flank collapsing. It was another victory for the romans. The second battle of Tibiscum resulted in another 12,000 of the Gothic 29,000 dead. The romans lost nearly 6,000 men though taking them to 17,000 men. Both armies were still of similar size. However with news arriving from Marcellinus of his march west to protect Italia, and no reinforcements coming from the west, Anthemius retreated from Gepid territory back into his own ending the years campaign. He would leave Petrus in command for the following year however when he heard of Majorians victory on Sicily and for the planned invasion of Africa for the following year. He went back to Constantinople to see his family and gather men to join Majorian in Africa for the following years campaign. He would be there to see Carthage fall, for his son Anthemioulus.
470AD
The 470 Pannonian Campaign
January
Marcellinus looked out over the horizon, his men and in fact the city were beginning to starve, the cities grain stores were slowly being depleted with maybe 2 months worth of food left, everyone was put onto rations, the supply trains were not arriving, and the patrols that Marcellinus had sent out for them had similarly disappeared. Only one survivor had made it back since the winter made it back, hanging from his horse unconscious, However the man didn't survive the night.
That had been December since then, Marcellinus had sent men out at night, spies and scouts in an attempt to locate the enemy. His Dux Tullius Maximinus a distant cousin to the Tullius Tyranus, approached him, "sir one of the spies has come back, and he has news."
"The Goths and some gepids are encamped 10 miles west of here there are roughly 3,000 all have horses. As best I can see whenever a supply train is incoming from the main roads from west or south. Half the detachment leaves the camp and returns half a day later, carrying the supplies that were incoming for us. They have probably 3 months worth of food for their small force in the camp. And they have multiple patrols leading up to the camp. Any approach will be spotted and they will evade us on horse easily. It does seem like they are lead by the young Theodoric. I managed to kill a messenger and get his message, apparently his father is using the winter to strengthen his client kingdoms ties to himself. The Ostrogoths clients the Heruli Sarmatians and Gepids and others further east will amass an army for the next year. They intend to strike us here in the spring before they destroy the Eastern Emperor."
Marcellinus nodded, "Maximinus have this written into several messages send them to Anthemius we need at least one to make it through. We need to split the enemies forces, Anthemius cannot march into Pannonia."
Over the following weeks the proxy siege continued marcellinus and Maximinus would attempt to force a confrontation with Theodoric by sending out a small force of men followed an hour later by the cavalry, unfortunately nothing came of these baiting marches. Going into February during a storm Marcellinus lead half the army out of the city using the storm as a cover he had small group of scouts attempt to kill the Gothic scouts. He was going to attack the Gothic camp with force. Unfortunately word made it back to Theodoric. Not wanting to hold his camp against a force nearly 2 times the size of his own, he had his men put the supplies into the wagons and leave the camp going further west, leaving a burning pile of supplies in the center of the camp, this being what they couldn't put into the wagons. It was at this point Theodoric split his force in two to cover both roads from a further distance from the city keeping the stranglehold of the city in place.
Then from Emona on the western road to Siscia came a large supply train instead of a small force to guard it however was a force of some 2,000 men. They were a mixture of Burgundians Roman soldiers and Mercenaries. The supply train was large enough to hold half a months food for the city, somehow news must have reached the Italian Prefectus that there was trouble on the road to Siscia. Theodoric gathered his entire force and a days ride from the city ambushed the supply train, while he did lose a sixth of his force some 500 men, they had killed every soldier and tooken the supplies. Which he then had half his men then take to within eye sight of the city, before promptly burning whatever his men didn't need. By the time Marcellinus and his cavalry arrived, the goths disappeared into the forests and the supplies were ashes. The city was within a week of starving. Marcellinus than marched half his force west intent on meeting the next supply train or killing Theodoric possibly both. With half the army leaving this did give the city a few extra days, when Marcellinus arrived back at the city a week and a half later he had with him enough supplies for the city for 2 weeks, rotating his men he took the other half and repeated this action. As spring came Theodoric was forced to end his proxy siege. While he had nearly broken the spirits of the city and the soldiers Marcellinus use of force had gotten them the much needed supplies. It was time to rejoin his father.
With the campaigning season beginning the Ostrogoths gathered 23,000 of their own warriors, and were joined by 10,000 Heruli, and some 10,000 Gepids, their most Eastern client kingdoms were busy dealing with some tribes in the east, but the force of 43,000 men was a fearsome opponent to any Roman one that could be gathered.
The 43,000 Left Sirmium on May 15th, marching to Siscia to take on the 14,000 of Marcellinus. However as the army encamped around the city surrounding it, news came from the east.
Theodemir eyes were wide with suprise and panic, the expressions of the king's of the Heruli and Gepids were equally as suprised Theodoric simply sat still in thought. "Whaat! Why would he forsaken the men of the west, why has he done this!"
"It is simple father," Theodoric stood and camly looked around him at his father and their gathered allies. "Anthemius intends to split our army, he knows that we would take the city and then march south and defeat him, his decision his tactically sound, even though it is callous to the men of the west. By attacking the Gepid territory he rightly suspects that the Gepids will march back to save their people and even possibly a portion of our warriors. If the accounts of him having 30,000 men are accurate then he suspects even if the Gepids and half our own men return and join with the warriors who stayed home he will be victorious. Then he can march west and help Marcellinus. And unless I am wrong he is right and the Gepids will leave tonight."
The gepid king nodded and stood, "I am a subject of your father however I am a king to my own people and must defend them!"
"What I propose then is that we don't play into the romans hands we march east with most of our forces leaving enough to defend ourselves from Marcellinus and we bring ourselves honour by killing an Emperor!"
Theodoric looked at his father as the other leaders nodded encouragingly. Theodemir was silent eyes closed, his son was only 17, but was already turning into a smart and able leader. He was also right. If they split now even if they were victorious against Marcellinus, Anthemius would be the same against his clients the Gepids. Opening his eyes and looking at his men he nodded, "The Heruli and 5,000 of our Ostrogoths will stay here under Theodorics command. I will take the remaining 28,000 east, we will gather whatever warriors we can including Gepid warriors once we pass into thier territory, and we will defeat Anthemius."
Everyone nodded, though many grimaced, Theodoric still confident of having everyone's support spoke up, "Father why, we cannot split our forces, to do so will lead to defeat!"
A loud slap rang out, Theodoric stumbled back from his father, "Boy you will understand and follow my commands you may be my son, hier, and future king of this coalition but you still have much to learn, you will obey this command!" Theodoric stood firm and looked at his father, before looking at those who had agreed with him before all of their eyes were averted, he had lost, "Yes my king."
With this meeting the army split, Theodoric and the Heruli army of 15,000 kept the Romans surrounded in Siscia, unable to take the city but able to starve it. Theodemir King of the Ostrogothic Kingdom and master of many tribes lead his army east. Theodoric would not hear from his father for many weeks. Then finally word reached him. The Ostrogoths and Romans had met near the old roman city of Tibiscum on July 6th. The Roman force had already defeated a minor force of some 8,000 Gepids earlier in the campaign, however they were not 30,000 instead only 26,000. Theodemir had a great army of some 34,000 however as Theodoric read the message he gasped in suprise. The romans had defeated the great army, luckily it was not a decisive victory however some 10,000 Goths and Gepids had been lost the Romans had lost only a little less than a third of that, 3,000 men. The Heruli were to March east Theodoric was to retreat to Sirmium and hold the capital of their kingdom.
As the Goths and Heruli prepared to march however Marcellinus used to moment to attack and his 14,000 men sprung from the city against the goths and Heruli. What followed was a victory for the romans, as the suprised Gothic force was given only moments to drop their packs and form battle lines. By evening only 10,000 Gepids and Goths were marching back to Sirmium the rest having fallen in battle. Only a week later Tullius Tyranus arrived with his 3,000 men giving his version of events to Marcellinus.
Gepid Kingdom territory
Old Province of Dacia
July 20th
It had been a 2 weeks since his Victory at Tibiscum yet the Roman army had only moved to a camp beside the city. The reason was the Emperor had been injured in the fighting, he had personally killed the Gepid King when the king had lead his cavalry around the Roman flank. The battle had been a great victory, yet it wasn't the decisive war ending victory he had hoped for. However his invasion of the Gepid Kingdom had changed the course of the war for the year. His scouts now reported that 5,000 Heruli were a week away. He had not fully recovered, yet another battle was closing in on him.
August 1st
Anthemius grimaced in pain as he got atop his horse. His general a man named Flavius Petrus looked at the Emperor in concern, "Sire are you sure you want to risk yourself being on horse for this you have already given the orders of how you want the battle fought from there I can command. Anthemius looked at Petrus, "the men will think I am week for not being on the field it will demoralize them, I will see this battle out to its end." Petrus could only nod and sat back on his horse.
The battle was viscously fought, the battle began in the early hours of the morning and the infantry fought until the mid afternoon without cavalry being involved, both sides tried to continue outflanking the other extending the battle line, and as casualties mounted the fighting only became more intense. Finally as the day entered the late afternoon Petrus lead the cavalry against the gepid cavalry, however instead of this being the cause for Victory it was a breakthrough on the opposite flank the left. The Heruli there holding the line along with the Goths collapsed and began to route, the Roman infantry pushed forward and continued to press its advantage, once it was clear the Heruli and Goths on that flank had totally routed the Comes leading that flank turned his men around and charged them into the flank of the rest of the Gothic army which had began to route at the sight of the flank collapsing. It was another victory for the romans. The second battle of Tibiscum resulted in another 12,000 of the Gothic 29,000 dead. The romans lost nearly 6,000 men though taking them to 17,000 men. Both armies were still of similar size. However with news arriving from Marcellinus of his march west to protect Italia, and no reinforcements coming from the west, Anthemius retreated from Gepid territory back into his own ending the years campaign. He would leave Petrus in command for the following year however when he heard of Majorians victory on Sicily and for the planned invasion of Africa for the following year. He went back to Constantinople to see his family and gather men to join Majorian in Africa for the following years campaign. He would be there to see Carthage fall, for his son Anthemioulus.
Interim Chapter on important characters
Families of the Emperors
Flavius Julius Valerius Majorianus
Married to Placidia daughter of Valentinian
1. Gaius Julius Valerius Theodosius born 456AD.
Betrothed to Alypia Duaghter of Anthemius
2. Julia Placidia born 457AD.
Betrothed first to Flavius Anthemioulus,
Secondly to Flavius Procopius Marcianus
3. Marcus Julius Valerius Constantinus born 458.
Soon to be betrothed to daughter of Marcellinus
4. Lucius Julius Valerius Gallus 460AD
5. Lucius Julius Valerius Valens Geminus 460AD deceased twin of Gallus
Family of Anthemius
Married to daughter of Marcianus
1. Flavius Anthemioulus Deceased
2. Alypia Born 456 Betrothed to Theodosius
3. Flavius Procopius Marcianus Born 458AD Betrothed to Julia Placidia
4. Flavius Procopius Anthemius Born 460AD
5. Flavius Procopius Romolus Born 469AD
Military commanders of the West
Magister Militum of the WRE:
Flavius Marcellinus currently transitioning to command the Sicilian Army alongside Majorian in Africa the Sicilian Army numbering 20,000 at the end of 470AD
Magister Equitum Per Gallias:
Julius Nepos son of the deceased Nepotianus and Nephew of Marcellinus currently fighting a 2 front war against the Visigoths and Franks in Gaul commanding 26,000 men
Comes Hispania
Flavius Severinus commander of the Hispanian Comitatenses half of which is in Gaul and half garrisoning the Border with the Baugudae and Suebi his man count in hispania being 8,000
Comes Dalmatia
Flavius Aurelius Silvanus
Currently transitioning to command the Dalmatian Comitatenses which numbers 14,000 men
Comes Noricum
Marcus Maximius Paulinus new commander of the Noricum Comitatenses which numbers only 5,000 men.
Other notable commander is Syragius son of Aegidius who has the rank of Comes Domesticorum, chief commander of the imperial guard and Palitini, and Flavius Macrianus a commander in the Sicilian Army. Comes Flavius Tullius Tyranus an untrusted commander in the Sicilian Army, and Flavius Tullius Maximinus second in command of the Dalmatian army cousin to Tyranus.
Eastern Commands
Magister Per Thracius
Flavius Petrus in command of the Thracian Comitatenses against the Ostrogoths and Gepids going into 471AD numbering 20,000 men.
Comes Per Augusta
Lucius Aurelius Ulpianus Trajan commander of the Eastern troops in Sicily alongside Majorian, his command specifically doesn't tie him down to any province as he was given special commission to command the troops aiding the western roman empire in Sicily/Africa.
Magister Militum Orientum
Flavius Iordanes in command of the Syrian Comitatenses, which is only manned at 15,000 men.
This chapter comes as an interim chapter of all the chapters focused on war, it is really just a refresher for everyone on the families of the Emperors and the important and notable commanders and their army sizes.
Flavius Julius Valerius Majorianus
Married to Placidia daughter of Valentinian
1. Gaius Julius Valerius Theodosius born 456AD.
Betrothed to Alypia Duaghter of Anthemius
2. Julia Placidia born 457AD.
Betrothed first to Flavius Anthemioulus,
Secondly to Flavius Procopius Marcianus
3. Marcus Julius Valerius Constantinus born 458.
Soon to be betrothed to daughter of Marcellinus
4. Lucius Julius Valerius Gallus 460AD
5. Lucius Julius Valerius Valens Geminus 460AD deceased twin of Gallus
Family of Anthemius
Married to daughter of Marcianus
1. Flavius Anthemioulus Deceased
2. Alypia Born 456 Betrothed to Theodosius
3. Flavius Procopius Marcianus Born 458AD Betrothed to Julia Placidia
4. Flavius Procopius Anthemius Born 460AD
5. Flavius Procopius Romolus Born 469AD
Military commanders of the West
Magister Militum of the WRE:
Flavius Marcellinus currently transitioning to command the Sicilian Army alongside Majorian in Africa the Sicilian Army numbering 20,000 at the end of 470AD
Magister Equitum Per Gallias:
Julius Nepos son of the deceased Nepotianus and Nephew of Marcellinus currently fighting a 2 front war against the Visigoths and Franks in Gaul commanding 26,000 men
Comes Hispania
Flavius Severinus commander of the Hispanian Comitatenses half of which is in Gaul and half garrisoning the Border with the Baugudae and Suebi his man count in hispania being 8,000
Comes Dalmatia
Flavius Aurelius Silvanus
Currently transitioning to command the Dalmatian Comitatenses which numbers 14,000 men
Comes Noricum
Marcus Maximius Paulinus new commander of the Noricum Comitatenses which numbers only 5,000 men.
Other notable commander is Syragius son of Aegidius who has the rank of Comes Domesticorum, chief commander of the imperial guard and Palitini, and Flavius Macrianus a commander in the Sicilian Army. Comes Flavius Tullius Tyranus an untrusted commander in the Sicilian Army, and Flavius Tullius Maximinus second in command of the Dalmatian army cousin to Tyranus.
Eastern Commands
Magister Per Thracius
Flavius Petrus in command of the Thracian Comitatenses against the Ostrogoths and Gepids going into 471AD numbering 20,000 men.
Comes Per Augusta
Lucius Aurelius Ulpianus Trajan commander of the Eastern troops in Sicily alongside Majorian, his command specifically doesn't tie him down to any province as he was given special commission to command the troops aiding the western roman empire in Sicily/Africa.
Magister Militum Orientum
Flavius Iordanes in command of the Syrian Comitatenses, which is only manned at 15,000 men.
This chapter comes as an interim chapter of all the chapters focused on war, it is really just a refresher for everyone on the families of the Emperors and the important and notable commanders and their army sizes.
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Chapter 23: 470AD Gallic Campaign
Chapter 23
470AD
April 7th
Gaul
Magister Equitum Per Gallias Julius Nepos looked at the map of Gaul, at the blocks that showed the arrangement of both his and enemy forces thoughts of his and majorians plans in his head. Then he thought about Retimer. The only other surviving son of Theodoric I aside from Euric. His thoughts strayed back to Fredricus the man's brother. Fredricus had been a great regal man, had it been him instead of Euric leading the Visigoths in the war Nepos thought he would have lost already, on the other hand had Fredricus been the Visigoth King as intended by the romans this war would not have happened. Retimer was not his brother however, and now Nepos wondered if the man would be able to contain the Visigoths as king if he could even last that long on the throne. The General thought well into the night on the future of Gaul.
Tolosa 470AD, April 29th
Flavius Julius Nepos looked at the battle scared walls of Tolosa as the snow came gently down over the scarred battleground. The late spring snow storm had suprised many as its cold temperatures and large amount of heavy wet snow fell upon them, after 3 days it was starting to finally let up. Nepos had begun his campaign early leaving Narbo on the 15th, news had quickly arrived to Euric in his capital and soon the Gothic army was on the move. The following battle on the 20th had been brutal. The Goths had numbered 15,000 to the 13,000 Romans, the veteran infantry of Nepos army had held well and the day had ended when Nepos victorious on the flank with his cavalry had swept into the Gothic flank carving a swathe of destruction through the enemy army. Nepos had lost 3,000 men the Goths however had lost 8,000. What had remained his spies had said were a fracticious group. It was also said Euric himself had been injured in the fight.
Finally the Tribunus arrived, alongside the young man he had escorted. "Thank you Marcus Junius Gallicius, have the guard step back I want to speak to Remistus privately in view of his home."
The Tribunus nodded gave a quick command to his guard and stepped outside of earshot. Remistus stepped up beside Nepos and sighed at the sight of his peoples capital. "Remistus you have been spent the last few years among us being trained to be a king, loyal to Rome and good to your people. It was Majorians hope that we could make your people fedorati. You would be king pay a small tribute to Rome and send your warriors when required. But I do not see that as a viable solution to end this war. Your people are pulling apart as we speak, without a strong king, a man like Fredricus in charge your people will only cause pain to themselves. At the same time your people are proud and won't fall into line easily, you see the predicament we are in." He watched the young Goth nod his agreement. "Even if I am successful in what I am proposing we could still see your people try to rebel once your population comes back, but I believe this may be our best chance to end the troubles between our peoples for good."
May 3rd
Outside Tolosa
It had taken a few days but it had finally happened. Euric and his remaining loyalists some 2,000 had rode out of the north gate and broken their way through the siege lines only half their number getting through. They were riding to Burdigala to the Northwest that much was obvious. Hours later a group of elder men had exited the city and met Nepos and his officers and Remistus in the no man's land between the Roman fortifications and the cities. And Nepos had proposed his solution.
Remistus was not to be king, in fact the goths would have no king. All those years ago before Adrianople they were supposed to have been settled into the empire had things gone as planned many of the goths now would have been considered Romans. Instead they were enemies of the Roman people. Nepos intended to right the wrongs of the past. The Goths would still be in their current territory, however they would settle down and become farmers and soldiers. They would pay taxes which would be sent back to Rome, and in time they would become Roman. With this would come peace to prosper. Remistus would act as a govenor of the re-incorperated province for the first 10 years after which time he would enter the Roman Senate as a senator, and a new govenor would be assigned.
In essence the Visigoths were submitting to be conqoured and settled by the romans
Nepos watched the faces of the Visigoth nobles with interest as a certain split seemed to happen. When asked by the the group to be given time to think this over Nepos agreed as such a thing would need to be agreed to by the people as well otherwise within a matter of weeks the region would be into turmoil again.
It was May 5th before the Remistus who had joined the nobles the day before and the nobles met Nepos again. They agreed to the terms as well as to the set taxes and everything else that came along with living in Roman territory. They even agreed to send 1,000 men to march north with Nepos against the Franks. Though first Nepos needed to recieve word from Burdigala.
Burdigala May 8th
Marcus Junius Gallicius and his 4,000 men had marched as quickly as they could in the few days previous in hopes to take Euric before the man could raise more soldiers. However Gallicius ooked out from the port docks to the open water. The city had submitted without a fight. Thier only word of Euric was that the king had taken enough boats for his 1000 men and disappeared upon the horizon where he was going was unkown sadly. Nepos would be thrilled at the news he thought sarcastically.
May 20th
The organization of the new province of the Prefecture of Gallia took several days Gallicius and his men swept through the country side and making sure any resistance was stomped out, though for the most part it assumed the job of letting the locals know their new rulers. Remistus was given command of a century of depleted Legionnaires and the wounded to injured to be moved. The Visigothic nobles while Nepos was present seemed to have taken to the young man, the last Descendant of a great line of men. However behind the scenes there was still a group of nobles conspiring.
However on the 20th, news came from the north, and Nepos and his army 11,000 including the 1,000 Visigoths marched north with speed. Nepos did send a message asking for warriors from the Burgundian king Gondioc however did not believe any warriors would auctually appear. Regardless he raced north because Aurelianum was once again under siege.
Nepos force marched his men north leading into June, the Roman army under the Magister Equitum Per Gallias arrived at the besieged city on June 8th finding the full force of the Franks some 26,000 men surrounding the city. However the Garrison of the city had suffered heavy losses over the previous weeks.
Nepos quickly judged the situation. The city was on the north side of the river with a bridge crossing to the south side. The north side was surrounded by Frankish forts, and the south the bridge crossing guarded by a Frankish camp that looked to be able to hold 2000 men. He could at that moment nearly even the odds as he saw them. Within half an hour the small frankish camp fell well before any reinforcements could cross the pontoon bridges the franks had built on either side of the city. After taking the camp capturing nearly 500 of the 2000 men inside and killing the rest. Nepos seeing several thousand Frankish warriors crossing the bridges began marching his men into the city where they were greeted with a cheer. However Nepos and some 4,000 of his men packed the small camps outer ramparts and waited for the onslaught.
That night a bloodied Nepos bathed in the Loire River below the city walls alongside many of his men. They had held the southern side of the bridge both sides had suffered massive casualties. Of his 4,000 men he had lost nearly 1000, the enemy had lost nearly double that. However the situation was worse in the city than already anticipated. Instead of 13,000 men he found 8,000. Leaving him with some 18,000 men. Facing some 22,000 Franks. It was not a situation that Nepos could Sally out of this city with. However now neither could the Franks continue to assault the cities walls, coupled with the Roman camp holding the south side of the river the siege was essentially broken as supplies were now able to reach the city as long as they weren't caught by Frankish raiding partied before hand. It was 2 weeks later on June 22nd the Childeric decided to abandon the hopeless siege instead moving west towards Turonum about 5 days to the west. Nepos knowing the city had no garrison and that the city would grant Childeric not only supplies but also a crossing point that would allow Gaul to be open to his army. Leaving a garrison of 1000 men Nepos crossed to the south side of the river and force marched west. Attempting to keep pace with the franks. After a days march and a nights rest Nepos was woken up in the in the morning by Dux Marcus Junius Gallicius.
Looking at the Frankish camp across the river it was abandoned. "It seems they somehow snuck out of their camp during the night. Most likely having wrapped their armor in cloth to keep it quite. Ive had the sentries from this side of the wall put onto disciplinary rations and duties, given the fact that we are in a campaign i didnt think it would be best loosing any men to the whip. It also appears that they continued west trying to get a leg up on us I would say."
"Then get the men ready we march west as soon as possible." Meanwhile Nepos mind raced. He did not believe their were any fording points on the river but had the Franks found something he had missed.
Noon 23rd of June
Nepos couldnt believe what the Scouts were telling him. The Franks had crossed the river. It appeared that sometime in the last two weeks they had built wooden bridge over the river, and now the full might of Childeric was only a few miles away racing back at him. It was a trap, he had to admit the maneuver had been well done. "Turn the army around we march back to Aurelianum." The call rang out and the army turned around. In the distance the dust plume of the franks rose higher into the sky.
The day went on the Frankish cavalry began to close in on the roman army. Gallicianus rode up alongside the General. "Sir we will need to start building a camp soon if we intend on stopping. We could wake the men early and be on our way as the sun rises get a mile or two ahead of Franks, make it to the city by evening."
"And then what Gallicianus. Have half our men on the south side of the river while the rest make it to the city. Give the franks free reign south of the river. No whether we like it or not the Franks have forced us into a situation there is no getting out of. We must give them battle, but we must do it on our terms with all of the men we can. I want a rider sent to Aurelianum to get the garrison on the march i want to meet them on the march in the early hours of dawn. I also want some scouts sent out to find if the Burgundians or Alani have sent us any support. As we need a battle ground. Somewhere along this river that has enough room between the river and a bush to hold our army not their's. We try to even the numbers with the terrain." We battle tomorrow we better hope that its on ground of our choice we camp after dark."
24th of June
The moment had finally arrived battle was about to be joined. Nepos had his 16,000 men arrayed between River and the hill to the south. His 1,000 cavalry held the hill along with 300 men armed with slings and bows, supported by a futher 700 of his Comitatenses.
The Franks under Childeric 22,000 were arrayed with infantry in the center and left, along the main battle line. Their right, which looked to be set to attack the hill numbered 3,000 and was mixed cavalry and infantry. The battle would rely on the left being held.
The franks opened the battle with a charge, their center and left advancing on the roman lines. When they reached javelin range the Roman lines rippled as Plumbata were thrown across the no mans land inbetween the armies. Hundreds of Franks fell many more injured and many lost use of their shield due to numerous darts weighing it down. The romans at this point counter charged and the two lines smashed together. The weight of the Frankish lines immediately shifted the romans back a few steps but the line held, however the Franks had the advantage of numbers and could win a battle of attrition.
On the Hill the skirmishers were firing as fast as they possibly could. Hundreds of missiles and arrows filling the air the 3000 franks advancing on their position were forced to hunker under their shields as they continued up the hill. The Frankish cavalry was able to reach the Roman cavalry for a brief clash before pulling back down the hill, attempting to pull the roman cavalry off the hill. The roman commander however held his men steadfast knowing the standing orders to keep the hill. This manuever was done two more times until the roman commander himself was killed, his men in a furry and without anyone able to hold them back followed the frankish cavalry down the hill entering a prolonged clash. This left just the 1000 Infantry and archers to hold the hill against what had started as nearly double that number. As the Franks finally entered Plumbata range the darts where thrown and followed by a roman charge, the Franks with nearly a third of their number gone but still outnumbering the 700 roman legionaries attempted to hold the roman charge but began to lose the battle on the hill even as the two armies cavalry met evenenly.
However the infantry on the main battle line was not doing as good. The weight of the Franks was begining to bow the center of the roman line in, and Nepos was forced to throw all but his last 100 soldiers in the reserve line into the fight to hold the line. From what he could see within an hour his lines would break unless something happened to break the franks. Suddenly a rider rode up to him having come from behind the hill, confused by the rider who looked to have been riding hard for several days, Nepos met the man, before noticing him as one of the scouts he had sent out the previous day.
"Sir I wish to Report from the Alani of Prince Goar. He has 2000 cavalry as is but a few miles away he will join the battle in about an hour."
Nepos was amazed and saddened that he was only now hearing of the Alani reinforcements had he known before things could have gone so much differently. As it was a few miles was more like an eternity at this point the chances of hid men holding out that long in his mind were not good.
Goar of the Alans son of Sangibad looked at the battlefield as he came to the bush edge. From his position on the flank of the field he could see much, and nothing boded well. "It looks like the battle is over my prince." Goar could only nod in agreement ontop of the hill were some 2,000 romans below that he could hardly see but it looked like the Roman line had broke sometime in the last few minutes as the Franks surged forward.
"Men of the Alani! The battle may be lost, but their are still Romans fighting and lives to be saved, if we let the Romans be destroyed today the Franks will be able to conquer all of Gaul! Their is much Glory to be made today by saving the romans, today let us save Gaul and our People!"
With a Roar the Alani charged from the cover of the woods 2,000 Cavalry forming a front lances leveled when they hit the Franks who to busy looking forward other than a few shocked warriors had not formed a line against the Alani, they were barely slowed. Thousands of Franks were trampled or gutted on lances and then swords, the mighty charge of the Alani changed like a switch going of the course of the roman defeat.
Childerics horns blew a retreat his army trying to already escape the path of the Alani horsemen. With the arrival of the Alani, the romans were in fact saved on that day. However their army was but a shadow of its formerself. Of the 18,000 only 8,000 Romans made it back to the walls of the Aurelianum. Goar and his warriors were given a small reward of gold for their saving of the army, as well as roman honours goar himself was given Roman citizenship and made a Dux by Nepos. However in the days following once again the Franks put the city once again to siege. This time however their numbers were only 15,000 having lost some 7,000 men in the following battle. They could no longer put the romans under an effective siege. But nonetheless they tried. Their efforts focused on the north side of the river, and on destroying the Bridge to the south. However 8 days into the Siege on July 6th. A force of men appeared to the south. The Burgundians had not forsaken the Romans and now 4,000 of their warriors lead by one of thier Princes Chilperic were closing in on the city.
While the Arrival of the Burgundians did not signal the end of the siege, the Franks were forced to move to the north side to gather their forces together. The romans and their fedorati nunbered 14,000 to the Frankish 15,000. At this point any battle would be decisive as the the two armies were extremely weakened and tired. The victory would have Gaul. However Nepos was a pragmatic man. And instead of Battle he sent for an envoy to the frankish king.
While he could have tried to sally forth, his cavalry being more numerous than the franks, he would also be enclosed by the Franks between their fortifications and the city walls, and Nepos knew that the Franks only had so many men to call upon given where as the romans given a few years could end the wars on other borders and focus nearly double the man power in Gaul.
After several weeks of debate and talks, a peace was finally agreed to, the Franks would take the land up to the Seine River, and everything East. The Romans would keep the west bank and everything west. The Franks would also recieve a tribute of 1000 Solidii a year. And trade would be allowed the across the river.
This decision by Nepos for the peace treaty was a controversial one across the Western Empire. However when Majorian recieved word of the treaty in the fall after his war against the Rugians instead of being angered at the set back in Gaul he agreed with Nepos decision.
When quizzed about it by his sons who he spent the winter with, Majorian told them, "Gaul is in a precarious position, the Visigoths even if they have submitted will need need a garrison for a few years to keep them under control. Then besides the Franks who had a slight edge in numbers and in the terrain of the battlefield there is the Alemanni and the Baugudae, to think of. A weakend army in Gaul means that troubled times will come again as all these groups take advantage of our weakness. By signing peace Nepos has given us time to end the other wars on our borders, so that one day we can focus more recourses on retaking Gaul." Majorian looked to his wife whose face creased in worry, "And I believe that time will come when you boys succeed me. Theodosius as Emperor, Constantinus and Gallus you as his right and left hands, you three are the future of this empire, every decision you make will be consequential to millions of people." 14 year old Theodosius who was to take the toga in a year, looked both worried and proud, he was turning into a young fine man, though he was had yet to show great military talent his math skills his teachers said showed talent as an administrator. 12 year old Constantinus ambitious and always rambunctious and full of energy nodded, his face set in determination. 10 year old Gallus, however looked despite his age deep in thought, unlike his brothers one of which was a thinker and the other a decisive active man, Gallus was a deep thoughted man. Showed adept both in math and early forms of administrative works, as well as eager and strong athletically, he was a mixture of what both his brothers were good at, Majorian thought out of the 3 Gallus had the potential to be the best leader for the Empire after him unfortunately he was the youngest of the 3, but only time would tell
470AD
April 7th
Gaul
Magister Equitum Per Gallias Julius Nepos looked at the map of Gaul, at the blocks that showed the arrangement of both his and enemy forces thoughts of his and majorians plans in his head. Then he thought about Retimer. The only other surviving son of Theodoric I aside from Euric. His thoughts strayed back to Fredricus the man's brother. Fredricus had been a great regal man, had it been him instead of Euric leading the Visigoths in the war Nepos thought he would have lost already, on the other hand had Fredricus been the Visigoth King as intended by the romans this war would not have happened. Retimer was not his brother however, and now Nepos wondered if the man would be able to contain the Visigoths as king if he could even last that long on the throne. The General thought well into the night on the future of Gaul.
Tolosa 470AD, April 29th
Flavius Julius Nepos looked at the battle scared walls of Tolosa as the snow came gently down over the scarred battleground. The late spring snow storm had suprised many as its cold temperatures and large amount of heavy wet snow fell upon them, after 3 days it was starting to finally let up. Nepos had begun his campaign early leaving Narbo on the 15th, news had quickly arrived to Euric in his capital and soon the Gothic army was on the move. The following battle on the 20th had been brutal. The Goths had numbered 15,000 to the 13,000 Romans, the veteran infantry of Nepos army had held well and the day had ended when Nepos victorious on the flank with his cavalry had swept into the Gothic flank carving a swathe of destruction through the enemy army. Nepos had lost 3,000 men the Goths however had lost 8,000. What had remained his spies had said were a fracticious group. It was also said Euric himself had been injured in the fight.
Finally the Tribunus arrived, alongside the young man he had escorted. "Thank you Marcus Junius Gallicius, have the guard step back I want to speak to Remistus privately in view of his home."
The Tribunus nodded gave a quick command to his guard and stepped outside of earshot. Remistus stepped up beside Nepos and sighed at the sight of his peoples capital. "Remistus you have been spent the last few years among us being trained to be a king, loyal to Rome and good to your people. It was Majorians hope that we could make your people fedorati. You would be king pay a small tribute to Rome and send your warriors when required. But I do not see that as a viable solution to end this war. Your people are pulling apart as we speak, without a strong king, a man like Fredricus in charge your people will only cause pain to themselves. At the same time your people are proud and won't fall into line easily, you see the predicament we are in." He watched the young Goth nod his agreement. "Even if I am successful in what I am proposing we could still see your people try to rebel once your population comes back, but I believe this may be our best chance to end the troubles between our peoples for good."
May 3rd
Outside Tolosa
It had taken a few days but it had finally happened. Euric and his remaining loyalists some 2,000 had rode out of the north gate and broken their way through the siege lines only half their number getting through. They were riding to Burdigala to the Northwest that much was obvious. Hours later a group of elder men had exited the city and met Nepos and his officers and Remistus in the no man's land between the Roman fortifications and the cities. And Nepos had proposed his solution.
Remistus was not to be king, in fact the goths would have no king. All those years ago before Adrianople they were supposed to have been settled into the empire had things gone as planned many of the goths now would have been considered Romans. Instead they were enemies of the Roman people. Nepos intended to right the wrongs of the past. The Goths would still be in their current territory, however they would settle down and become farmers and soldiers. They would pay taxes which would be sent back to Rome, and in time they would become Roman. With this would come peace to prosper. Remistus would act as a govenor of the re-incorperated province for the first 10 years after which time he would enter the Roman Senate as a senator, and a new govenor would be assigned.
In essence the Visigoths were submitting to be conqoured and settled by the romans
Nepos watched the faces of the Visigoth nobles with interest as a certain split seemed to happen. When asked by the the group to be given time to think this over Nepos agreed as such a thing would need to be agreed to by the people as well otherwise within a matter of weeks the region would be into turmoil again.
It was May 5th before the Remistus who had joined the nobles the day before and the nobles met Nepos again. They agreed to the terms as well as to the set taxes and everything else that came along with living in Roman territory. They even agreed to send 1,000 men to march north with Nepos against the Franks. Though first Nepos needed to recieve word from Burdigala.
Burdigala May 8th
Marcus Junius Gallicius and his 4,000 men had marched as quickly as they could in the few days previous in hopes to take Euric before the man could raise more soldiers. However Gallicius ooked out from the port docks to the open water. The city had submitted without a fight. Thier only word of Euric was that the king had taken enough boats for his 1000 men and disappeared upon the horizon where he was going was unkown sadly. Nepos would be thrilled at the news he thought sarcastically.
May 20th
The organization of the new province of the Prefecture of Gallia took several days Gallicius and his men swept through the country side and making sure any resistance was stomped out, though for the most part it assumed the job of letting the locals know their new rulers. Remistus was given command of a century of depleted Legionnaires and the wounded to injured to be moved. The Visigothic nobles while Nepos was present seemed to have taken to the young man, the last Descendant of a great line of men. However behind the scenes there was still a group of nobles conspiring.
However on the 20th, news came from the north, and Nepos and his army 11,000 including the 1,000 Visigoths marched north with speed. Nepos did send a message asking for warriors from the Burgundian king Gondioc however did not believe any warriors would auctually appear. Regardless he raced north because Aurelianum was once again under siege.
Nepos force marched his men north leading into June, the Roman army under the Magister Equitum Per Gallias arrived at the besieged city on June 8th finding the full force of the Franks some 26,000 men surrounding the city. However the Garrison of the city had suffered heavy losses over the previous weeks.
Nepos quickly judged the situation. The city was on the north side of the river with a bridge crossing to the south side. The north side was surrounded by Frankish forts, and the south the bridge crossing guarded by a Frankish camp that looked to be able to hold 2000 men. He could at that moment nearly even the odds as he saw them. Within half an hour the small frankish camp fell well before any reinforcements could cross the pontoon bridges the franks had built on either side of the city. After taking the camp capturing nearly 500 of the 2000 men inside and killing the rest. Nepos seeing several thousand Frankish warriors crossing the bridges began marching his men into the city where they were greeted with a cheer. However Nepos and some 4,000 of his men packed the small camps outer ramparts and waited for the onslaught.
That night a bloodied Nepos bathed in the Loire River below the city walls alongside many of his men. They had held the southern side of the bridge both sides had suffered massive casualties. Of his 4,000 men he had lost nearly 1000, the enemy had lost nearly double that. However the situation was worse in the city than already anticipated. Instead of 13,000 men he found 8,000. Leaving him with some 18,000 men. Facing some 22,000 Franks. It was not a situation that Nepos could Sally out of this city with. However now neither could the Franks continue to assault the cities walls, coupled with the Roman camp holding the south side of the river the siege was essentially broken as supplies were now able to reach the city as long as they weren't caught by Frankish raiding partied before hand. It was 2 weeks later on June 22nd the Childeric decided to abandon the hopeless siege instead moving west towards Turonum about 5 days to the west. Nepos knowing the city had no garrison and that the city would grant Childeric not only supplies but also a crossing point that would allow Gaul to be open to his army. Leaving a garrison of 1000 men Nepos crossed to the south side of the river and force marched west. Attempting to keep pace with the franks. After a days march and a nights rest Nepos was woken up in the in the morning by Dux Marcus Junius Gallicius.
Looking at the Frankish camp across the river it was abandoned. "It seems they somehow snuck out of their camp during the night. Most likely having wrapped their armor in cloth to keep it quite. Ive had the sentries from this side of the wall put onto disciplinary rations and duties, given the fact that we are in a campaign i didnt think it would be best loosing any men to the whip. It also appears that they continued west trying to get a leg up on us I would say."
"Then get the men ready we march west as soon as possible." Meanwhile Nepos mind raced. He did not believe their were any fording points on the river but had the Franks found something he had missed.
Noon 23rd of June
Nepos couldnt believe what the Scouts were telling him. The Franks had crossed the river. It appeared that sometime in the last two weeks they had built wooden bridge over the river, and now the full might of Childeric was only a few miles away racing back at him. It was a trap, he had to admit the maneuver had been well done. "Turn the army around we march back to Aurelianum." The call rang out and the army turned around. In the distance the dust plume of the franks rose higher into the sky.
The day went on the Frankish cavalry began to close in on the roman army. Gallicianus rode up alongside the General. "Sir we will need to start building a camp soon if we intend on stopping. We could wake the men early and be on our way as the sun rises get a mile or two ahead of Franks, make it to the city by evening."
"And then what Gallicianus. Have half our men on the south side of the river while the rest make it to the city. Give the franks free reign south of the river. No whether we like it or not the Franks have forced us into a situation there is no getting out of. We must give them battle, but we must do it on our terms with all of the men we can. I want a rider sent to Aurelianum to get the garrison on the march i want to meet them on the march in the early hours of dawn. I also want some scouts sent out to find if the Burgundians or Alani have sent us any support. As we need a battle ground. Somewhere along this river that has enough room between the river and a bush to hold our army not their's. We try to even the numbers with the terrain." We battle tomorrow we better hope that its on ground of our choice we camp after dark."
24th of June
The moment had finally arrived battle was about to be joined. Nepos had his 16,000 men arrayed between River and the hill to the south. His 1,000 cavalry held the hill along with 300 men armed with slings and bows, supported by a futher 700 of his Comitatenses.
The Franks under Childeric 22,000 were arrayed with infantry in the center and left, along the main battle line. Their right, which looked to be set to attack the hill numbered 3,000 and was mixed cavalry and infantry. The battle would rely on the left being held.
The franks opened the battle with a charge, their center and left advancing on the roman lines. When they reached javelin range the Roman lines rippled as Plumbata were thrown across the no mans land inbetween the armies. Hundreds of Franks fell many more injured and many lost use of their shield due to numerous darts weighing it down. The romans at this point counter charged and the two lines smashed together. The weight of the Frankish lines immediately shifted the romans back a few steps but the line held, however the Franks had the advantage of numbers and could win a battle of attrition.
On the Hill the skirmishers were firing as fast as they possibly could. Hundreds of missiles and arrows filling the air the 3000 franks advancing on their position were forced to hunker under their shields as they continued up the hill. The Frankish cavalry was able to reach the Roman cavalry for a brief clash before pulling back down the hill, attempting to pull the roman cavalry off the hill. The roman commander however held his men steadfast knowing the standing orders to keep the hill. This manuever was done two more times until the roman commander himself was killed, his men in a furry and without anyone able to hold them back followed the frankish cavalry down the hill entering a prolonged clash. This left just the 1000 Infantry and archers to hold the hill against what had started as nearly double that number. As the Franks finally entered Plumbata range the darts where thrown and followed by a roman charge, the Franks with nearly a third of their number gone but still outnumbering the 700 roman legionaries attempted to hold the roman charge but began to lose the battle on the hill even as the two armies cavalry met evenenly.
However the infantry on the main battle line was not doing as good. The weight of the Franks was begining to bow the center of the roman line in, and Nepos was forced to throw all but his last 100 soldiers in the reserve line into the fight to hold the line. From what he could see within an hour his lines would break unless something happened to break the franks. Suddenly a rider rode up to him having come from behind the hill, confused by the rider who looked to have been riding hard for several days, Nepos met the man, before noticing him as one of the scouts he had sent out the previous day.
"Sir I wish to Report from the Alani of Prince Goar. He has 2000 cavalry as is but a few miles away he will join the battle in about an hour."
Nepos was amazed and saddened that he was only now hearing of the Alani reinforcements had he known before things could have gone so much differently. As it was a few miles was more like an eternity at this point the chances of hid men holding out that long in his mind were not good.
Goar of the Alans son of Sangibad looked at the battlefield as he came to the bush edge. From his position on the flank of the field he could see much, and nothing boded well. "It looks like the battle is over my prince." Goar could only nod in agreement ontop of the hill were some 2,000 romans below that he could hardly see but it looked like the Roman line had broke sometime in the last few minutes as the Franks surged forward.
"Men of the Alani! The battle may be lost, but their are still Romans fighting and lives to be saved, if we let the Romans be destroyed today the Franks will be able to conquer all of Gaul! Their is much Glory to be made today by saving the romans, today let us save Gaul and our People!"
With a Roar the Alani charged from the cover of the woods 2,000 Cavalry forming a front lances leveled when they hit the Franks who to busy looking forward other than a few shocked warriors had not formed a line against the Alani, they were barely slowed. Thousands of Franks were trampled or gutted on lances and then swords, the mighty charge of the Alani changed like a switch going of the course of the roman defeat.
Childerics horns blew a retreat his army trying to already escape the path of the Alani horsemen. With the arrival of the Alani, the romans were in fact saved on that day. However their army was but a shadow of its formerself. Of the 18,000 only 8,000 Romans made it back to the walls of the Aurelianum. Goar and his warriors were given a small reward of gold for their saving of the army, as well as roman honours goar himself was given Roman citizenship and made a Dux by Nepos. However in the days following once again the Franks put the city once again to siege. This time however their numbers were only 15,000 having lost some 7,000 men in the following battle. They could no longer put the romans under an effective siege. But nonetheless they tried. Their efforts focused on the north side of the river, and on destroying the Bridge to the south. However 8 days into the Siege on July 6th. A force of men appeared to the south. The Burgundians had not forsaken the Romans and now 4,000 of their warriors lead by one of thier Princes Chilperic were closing in on the city.
While the Arrival of the Burgundians did not signal the end of the siege, the Franks were forced to move to the north side to gather their forces together. The romans and their fedorati nunbered 14,000 to the Frankish 15,000. At this point any battle would be decisive as the the two armies were extremely weakened and tired. The victory would have Gaul. However Nepos was a pragmatic man. And instead of Battle he sent for an envoy to the frankish king.
While he could have tried to sally forth, his cavalry being more numerous than the franks, he would also be enclosed by the Franks between their fortifications and the city walls, and Nepos knew that the Franks only had so many men to call upon given where as the romans given a few years could end the wars on other borders and focus nearly double the man power in Gaul.
After several weeks of debate and talks, a peace was finally agreed to, the Franks would take the land up to the Seine River, and everything East. The Romans would keep the west bank and everything west. The Franks would also recieve a tribute of 1000 Solidii a year. And trade would be allowed the across the river.
This decision by Nepos for the peace treaty was a controversial one across the Western Empire. However when Majorian recieved word of the treaty in the fall after his war against the Rugians instead of being angered at the set back in Gaul he agreed with Nepos decision.
When quizzed about it by his sons who he spent the winter with, Majorian told them, "Gaul is in a precarious position, the Visigoths even if they have submitted will need need a garrison for a few years to keep them under control. Then besides the Franks who had a slight edge in numbers and in the terrain of the battlefield there is the Alemanni and the Baugudae, to think of. A weakend army in Gaul means that troubled times will come again as all these groups take advantage of our weakness. By signing peace Nepos has given us time to end the other wars on our borders, so that one day we can focus more recourses on retaking Gaul." Majorian looked to his wife whose face creased in worry, "And I believe that time will come when you boys succeed me. Theodosius as Emperor, Constantinus and Gallus you as his right and left hands, you three are the future of this empire, every decision you make will be consequential to millions of people." 14 year old Theodosius who was to take the toga in a year, looked both worried and proud, he was turning into a young fine man, though he was had yet to show great military talent his math skills his teachers said showed talent as an administrator. 12 year old Constantinus ambitious and always rambunctious and full of energy nodded, his face set in determination. 10 year old Gallus, however looked despite his age deep in thought, unlike his brothers one of which was a thinker and the other a decisive active man, Gallus was a deep thoughted man. Showed adept both in math and early forms of administrative works, as well as eager and strong athletically, he was a mixture of what both his brothers were good at, Majorian thought out of the 3 Gallus had the potential to be the best leader for the Empire after him unfortunately he was the youngest of the 3, but only time would tell
Sorry for the wait on such a big chapter, which has dwarfed every other that i have posted so far. I think this is a satisfying conclusion to the year 470AD, i am still working on the map which will then be focused on the final borders of the year, any questions and comments always appreciated and i everyone picks up on the tease for the future that i dropped in the chapter, as always thanks to everyone that supports and likes and reads the timeline!
Wonderful chapter, I enjoyed the battle scene and the resolution with the Visigoths. Looking forward to seeing what comes next!
Was it Necessary i would say yes. While the Franks and Romans were basically checked into a stalemate at Aurelianum, and border adjustments would bring peace. There was nothing really there to make either side hold the peace after a year or two. The Tribute is basically buying the Romans peace on that border. Similarly to Domitian and the Dacians. Buy peace so that the army can be focused somewhere else.
Chapter 24: 471AD Deception
Chapter 24
471 AD
April 11th
Syracuse, Sicily
Flavius Julius Valerius Majorianus took a deep breath of the light spring air from the walls of Lilybaeum looking over the sea to the south. It had been 10 days since he had arrived in the city which was to act as his initial headqaurters. His army massed at what was to be the launching point to the final phase of the war. With him were Trajan, and Marcellinus, all three were focused looking to the south waiting for the simple sight they had been waiting days for. Then finally it was the younger Trajan who spotted it. "There!" He exclaimed pointing at a spot at the horizon. It took a while before the two older men finally spotted what the young Comes had. It was a fleet, the fleet of the Eastern Augustus Anthemius, and with him was his army which numbered nearly 15,000.
The 2 emperors met eachother in high spirits, and with festivities in the city. It was to be their armies last free time before the coming campaign, strategy was discussed and the last supplies gathered for the army and on April 20th the army boarded the fleet and sailed upon Africa. Of course the army numbering 35,000 was not going to cross in one crossing. It would take 2 crossings to get the army across along with a 3rd to get all the supplies and equipment across. Accordingly the first crossing numbered 15,000 filling each ship as full as possible with men along with enough supplies to last the contigent a week before the second crossing came with more soldiers and more necessary supplies.
April 24th
Africa 40 Miles south of Carthage
As the fleet closed in on the beach they had chose for the landing each man watched nervously as suddenly files of men filled the beach. The Vandals had come to repel the landing. A quarter mile of shore the 2 emperors convened to decide to continue on the selected beach or not.
Anthemius was the first to speak, "we should push onto the beach. Yes the vandals have come to stop us but what is that maybe five or six thousand men they have arrayed on that beach. And none of them look like they are veterans i think they have just sent some militia for us to slaughter."
Majorian studied the beach a moment longer. "Those men definitely dont look like much. But trust me the General we face is not incompetent fool. I say we move a few miles down and land before they can defend the place than we defeat these militia." What he didnt say was he was nervous of a trap. The way the hills and trees pushed against the beach they could hide plenty of troops, it would be perfect for lulling the romans into a trap.
"Majorian the first battle is important, if we take this beach here and now the mens morale will be up."
"Anthemius. How many men will we lose landing on an opposed beach. Theres new way we know what they have laid for traps, it could be a slaughter of our men." The two emperors held eyes for a few seconds.
"You think they have something waiting for us, more men perhaps onagers or ballistae, or all 3."
"I do you havent faced the Vandal Prince before Gento is one of the most competent generals alive, he held me at bay in Sicily for nearly 2 years. If it wasnt for his brother messing up his plans my skull would be his fathers drinking cup. He is the very type of man that would lay such a trap. It may not look like much initially but he held these men in hiding for a reason, and i gurantee that by moving on this beach we will face his wrath."
Anthemius nodded "then let us move back east and land at the last beach we looked at." Majorian simply nodded, at least happy not to be landing at this defended beach the landing sight they had looked at before hand was 6 miles up shore and it was nowhere near as open as this beach even more perfect for an ambush but no troops had moved to repel them. They had to land somewhere, they couldnt continue arguing about landing sights forever.
Handsigel laughed from his spot in the brush behind the men as they watched the romans move back east. Gento had been right his deception had worked. The six thousand leves sighed in relieve as the romans left. There had been every chance the romans would decide to land against them. While a thousand of them were veteran Vandal warriors most were farm boys conscripted by Gento. Given hastily made shields painted bright, and a mixture of old and new equipment they were barely trained nothing but a group of men to throw on the romans shield wall to tire them. Or as gento planned, a force thats timely arrival would change the battle.
"Alright you welps! Time to get moving we still have a battle to win!"
Majorian breathed a relieved sigh as the first ships land on the sandy shore. Not a enemy in sight though that sight was limited by small ridgeline that overlooked the beach from about 80 yards of the shore the first troops finished their wet slog onto shore as their ships were pushed back out into the sea giving room for the the next landing to commence. Roughly 1500 men were begining to array on the shore. After the second landing As the next landing was about to commenced everything suddenly changed. Flaming objects and large rocks suddenly were flung from behind the ridge some of the projectiles smashed into the men that were advancing of the beach or into some of the men currently landing or their ships. Other projectiles hit some of the ships coming away from the landing or going in to land. Then hundreds of sling slugs and arrows began targeting the men on the beach. The 3000 men already on the beach were forced to hunker down under their shields as projectiles slammes into them. The air filled with screams of the injured and dying. Majorian yelled out orders. "Get the ships to fire cover over our men onagers ballistae i dont care i want those men on that beach protected if anything advances on them.!"
No sooner were the words out of his mouth that Vandal war horns sounded and thousands of men spewed over the ridgeline. The romans on the beach threw their plumatta and javelins before being hit with a massive charge. The men in the 3rd landing rushed to aid the men in battle.
As projectiles flew overhead the battleline the 3000 romans were quickly being sucked into a battle they were hopeless in. Trajan quickly took a place in the rear of the line hoping he wouldnt be hit by one of the hundreds of missiles flying overhead. From his estimated roughly 8-10 thousand men was what they faced. With just 3000, though 1500 men were slowly trickling into the line. He saw a few spots in their line that were already in trouble bowing in or simply few men to fill the gaps. Trajan began to organize the men to fill these spots. Yelling at centurions to take their centuries to these positions. When suddenly as the last few hundred men began to exit the water, one of the oncoming Centurions motioned over to the edge of the battleline. Trajan looked only to see maybe a thousand vandal cavalry charging the edge of the roman line. Without thinking Trajan began running to the end of the line hoping that someone followed him.
As he reached the line a shield he picked up in hand, he watched as the cavalry crossed the last few hundred feet, watched as a ballistae bolt slammed into one horse going through into another taking down horsed behind it as they tripped over the fallen. A onager shot from a ship flew into the cavalry launching dirt and blood everywhere. Then a shield joined his and it was soon followed by another and another until he had 300 hundred men with him. On the centurions orders the Plumbata were thrown into the cavalry as they came within the last 20 yards, chaos erupted as the darts slammed into the cavalrys front ranks giving the romans just enough time to close tight ranks and un shieth their swords. Then they smashed into them, and Trajans shield slammed into his head knocking him unconscious.
Majorian watched from his ship nearly vibrating, Gento had goaded him into this, he looked a fool. And now he watched as his men were falling in droves, the 4th landing force just crashing out of the waves and into formation. The 4th wave was a larger group of men as Majorian ordered more ships to land on what was the flanks of his army and nearly 2500 men left thier ships. Already the few hundred cavalry were even further upshore similarly unloading they would be a crucial element to this battle. Then Majorian noticed a dust cloud to the west. It was the army they had left at the other landing sight. "Dam it all!" He swore.
Order nearly a third of whats left to join me to the west we nees to land and stop the Vandal reinforcements!" With the 2500 hundred men going with Majorian that left 4500 to still join the main battle. While Anthemius was almost willing to send the rest all in on one landing. This would spread the men out dangerously and it would take even more time for men to run down the beach for them to join the battle. This was quickly turning into a disaster.
April 25th
Lucius Aurelius Ulpianus Trajan woke with a start his head banging with a terrible amount of force. He must of groaned because a medicus arrived quickly to him, putting a damp rag on his forehead. "Your awake sir, we werent sure if you were put into a coma with the hit you took to the head. Speaking of which how does it feel?"
"It feels like a blacksmith has decided to take up space in my head!"
The orderly smiled, "thats good pain means your still alive and healing, maybe."
Trajan noticed the end to the mans sentence and once he was feeling better would remind himself to have a chat with the young man about his bedside manners.
"What happened, did we"
"Win, well none of us would be here if we didnt. Majorian had landed on the west side of the battlefield with 2500 men and somehow repelled those men we had seen at the previous beach, i mean for the most part they were militia, his men threw their darts and then counter charged, in the melee Majorian is said to have killed their leader, and the few veterans mixed in them were dying eagerly, they ran maybe a third of them dead. As the second last landing wave joined the battle Majorian and his men turned and flanked the Vandals some cavalry that landed upshore smashed into the other flank and the Vandals were forced to retreat. But the beach. Its like the sand has been staines red from the blood. Its estimated we killed 6-8 thousand while we lost some 4,000 but have thousands of injured. Almost the entire army in fact is injured in some way or another. If Gento had brought his entire force here and had all his veterans i doubt we would have won."
Trajan was shocked at the toll of the battle. But as he went to sit up the orderly held him down, and the instant bodily pain was enough for Trajan to fall back to the bed. He hadnt noticed due to the major concussion he was suffering from, but the orderly was quick to tell him that he in fact had several broken ribs, as well as a broken arm, and his Leg was purple and bruised. He was lucky that somehow a soldier had pulled him behind the line as his orderly told him. Otherwise it was likely that he would have been trampled and killed.
"Its a good thing that we were going to be staying here to wait for the next group, because there is no way this army would be moving, we will be lucky to be moving by the time the rest of the army arrives in two weeks." Marcellinus later told him. "Majorian is still here even though he killed a cousin of Genseric and Gentos, a monster of a man named Handsigel, the emperor was injured not majorily but enough to keep him moving slowly for a few weeks. Anthemius went back to sicily to gather more supplies and to gather whatever more men he could after our losses here. I doubt he will come up with anything but he is hopefull that at the end of the two weeks he will have gather some Mercenaries or perhaps some of the men who fought in Italy last year.
"Not the start of the campaign everyone hoped for then huh?"
Marcellinus laughed, "This will be the easy part young man. We still will probably have to crush these men in another battle, i wouldnt be suprised if Gento attacks again while we are still weak. Then we have Carthage to deal with that nut wont be easy to crack." Marcellinus sighed. "I hope to see my daughter again, shes to be married to Young Constantinus you know, but the blood bath for this country has only begun. As necessary as it is to regain this province. I dont know if i will see her again. If any of us will see our families again...."
Trajan watched as a sadness seemed to overtake the Magister Militum, the man was right though, the way the campaign had began they would be lucky to leave this place, the best they could hope for was an honourable death, as honourable as it could get dieing in a failed campaign, Trajan thought bitterly. But then if he knew what Marcellinus fate was to be, he would have wished a death on the battlefield for the General.
471 AD
April 11th
Syracuse, Sicily
Flavius Julius Valerius Majorianus took a deep breath of the light spring air from the walls of Lilybaeum looking over the sea to the south. It had been 10 days since he had arrived in the city which was to act as his initial headqaurters. His army massed at what was to be the launching point to the final phase of the war. With him were Trajan, and Marcellinus, all three were focused looking to the south waiting for the simple sight they had been waiting days for. Then finally it was the younger Trajan who spotted it. "There!" He exclaimed pointing at a spot at the horizon. It took a while before the two older men finally spotted what the young Comes had. It was a fleet, the fleet of the Eastern Augustus Anthemius, and with him was his army which numbered nearly 15,000.
The 2 emperors met eachother in high spirits, and with festivities in the city. It was to be their armies last free time before the coming campaign, strategy was discussed and the last supplies gathered for the army and on April 20th the army boarded the fleet and sailed upon Africa. Of course the army numbering 35,000 was not going to cross in one crossing. It would take 2 crossings to get the army across along with a 3rd to get all the supplies and equipment across. Accordingly the first crossing numbered 15,000 filling each ship as full as possible with men along with enough supplies to last the contigent a week before the second crossing came with more soldiers and more necessary supplies.
April 24th
Africa 40 Miles south of Carthage
As the fleet closed in on the beach they had chose for the landing each man watched nervously as suddenly files of men filled the beach. The Vandals had come to repel the landing. A quarter mile of shore the 2 emperors convened to decide to continue on the selected beach or not.
Anthemius was the first to speak, "we should push onto the beach. Yes the vandals have come to stop us but what is that maybe five or six thousand men they have arrayed on that beach. And none of them look like they are veterans i think they have just sent some militia for us to slaughter."
Majorian studied the beach a moment longer. "Those men definitely dont look like much. But trust me the General we face is not incompetent fool. I say we move a few miles down and land before they can defend the place than we defeat these militia." What he didnt say was he was nervous of a trap. The way the hills and trees pushed against the beach they could hide plenty of troops, it would be perfect for lulling the romans into a trap.
"Majorian the first battle is important, if we take this beach here and now the mens morale will be up."
"Anthemius. How many men will we lose landing on an opposed beach. Theres new way we know what they have laid for traps, it could be a slaughter of our men." The two emperors held eyes for a few seconds.
"You think they have something waiting for us, more men perhaps onagers or ballistae, or all 3."
"I do you havent faced the Vandal Prince before Gento is one of the most competent generals alive, he held me at bay in Sicily for nearly 2 years. If it wasnt for his brother messing up his plans my skull would be his fathers drinking cup. He is the very type of man that would lay such a trap. It may not look like much initially but he held these men in hiding for a reason, and i gurantee that by moving on this beach we will face his wrath."
Anthemius nodded "then let us move back east and land at the last beach we looked at." Majorian simply nodded, at least happy not to be landing at this defended beach the landing sight they had looked at before hand was 6 miles up shore and it was nowhere near as open as this beach even more perfect for an ambush but no troops had moved to repel them. They had to land somewhere, they couldnt continue arguing about landing sights forever.
Handsigel laughed from his spot in the brush behind the men as they watched the romans move back east. Gento had been right his deception had worked. The six thousand leves sighed in relieve as the romans left. There had been every chance the romans would decide to land against them. While a thousand of them were veteran Vandal warriors most were farm boys conscripted by Gento. Given hastily made shields painted bright, and a mixture of old and new equipment they were barely trained nothing but a group of men to throw on the romans shield wall to tire them. Or as gento planned, a force thats timely arrival would change the battle.
"Alright you welps! Time to get moving we still have a battle to win!"
Majorian breathed a relieved sigh as the first ships land on the sandy shore. Not a enemy in sight though that sight was limited by small ridgeline that overlooked the beach from about 80 yards of the shore the first troops finished their wet slog onto shore as their ships were pushed back out into the sea giving room for the the next landing to commence. Roughly 1500 men were begining to array on the shore. After the second landing As the next landing was about to commenced everything suddenly changed. Flaming objects and large rocks suddenly were flung from behind the ridge some of the projectiles smashed into the men that were advancing of the beach or into some of the men currently landing or their ships. Other projectiles hit some of the ships coming away from the landing or going in to land. Then hundreds of sling slugs and arrows began targeting the men on the beach. The 3000 men already on the beach were forced to hunker down under their shields as projectiles slammes into them. The air filled with screams of the injured and dying. Majorian yelled out orders. "Get the ships to fire cover over our men onagers ballistae i dont care i want those men on that beach protected if anything advances on them.!"
No sooner were the words out of his mouth that Vandal war horns sounded and thousands of men spewed over the ridgeline. The romans on the beach threw their plumatta and javelins before being hit with a massive charge. The men in the 3rd landing rushed to aid the men in battle.
As projectiles flew overhead the battleline the 3000 romans were quickly being sucked into a battle they were hopeless in. Trajan quickly took a place in the rear of the line hoping he wouldnt be hit by one of the hundreds of missiles flying overhead. From his estimated roughly 8-10 thousand men was what they faced. With just 3000, though 1500 men were slowly trickling into the line. He saw a few spots in their line that were already in trouble bowing in or simply few men to fill the gaps. Trajan began to organize the men to fill these spots. Yelling at centurions to take their centuries to these positions. When suddenly as the last few hundred men began to exit the water, one of the oncoming Centurions motioned over to the edge of the battleline. Trajan looked only to see maybe a thousand vandal cavalry charging the edge of the roman line. Without thinking Trajan began running to the end of the line hoping that someone followed him.
As he reached the line a shield he picked up in hand, he watched as the cavalry crossed the last few hundred feet, watched as a ballistae bolt slammed into one horse going through into another taking down horsed behind it as they tripped over the fallen. A onager shot from a ship flew into the cavalry launching dirt and blood everywhere. Then a shield joined his and it was soon followed by another and another until he had 300 hundred men with him. On the centurions orders the Plumbata were thrown into the cavalry as they came within the last 20 yards, chaos erupted as the darts slammed into the cavalrys front ranks giving the romans just enough time to close tight ranks and un shieth their swords. Then they smashed into them, and Trajans shield slammed into his head knocking him unconscious.
Majorian watched from his ship nearly vibrating, Gento had goaded him into this, he looked a fool. And now he watched as his men were falling in droves, the 4th landing force just crashing out of the waves and into formation. The 4th wave was a larger group of men as Majorian ordered more ships to land on what was the flanks of his army and nearly 2500 men left thier ships. Already the few hundred cavalry were even further upshore similarly unloading they would be a crucial element to this battle. Then Majorian noticed a dust cloud to the west. It was the army they had left at the other landing sight. "Dam it all!" He swore.
Order nearly a third of whats left to join me to the west we nees to land and stop the Vandal reinforcements!" With the 2500 hundred men going with Majorian that left 4500 to still join the main battle. While Anthemius was almost willing to send the rest all in on one landing. This would spread the men out dangerously and it would take even more time for men to run down the beach for them to join the battle. This was quickly turning into a disaster.
April 25th
Lucius Aurelius Ulpianus Trajan woke with a start his head banging with a terrible amount of force. He must of groaned because a medicus arrived quickly to him, putting a damp rag on his forehead. "Your awake sir, we werent sure if you were put into a coma with the hit you took to the head. Speaking of which how does it feel?"
"It feels like a blacksmith has decided to take up space in my head!"
The orderly smiled, "thats good pain means your still alive and healing, maybe."
Trajan noticed the end to the mans sentence and once he was feeling better would remind himself to have a chat with the young man about his bedside manners.
"What happened, did we"
"Win, well none of us would be here if we didnt. Majorian had landed on the west side of the battlefield with 2500 men and somehow repelled those men we had seen at the previous beach, i mean for the most part they were militia, his men threw their darts and then counter charged, in the melee Majorian is said to have killed their leader, and the few veterans mixed in them were dying eagerly, they ran maybe a third of them dead. As the second last landing wave joined the battle Majorian and his men turned and flanked the Vandals some cavalry that landed upshore smashed into the other flank and the Vandals were forced to retreat. But the beach. Its like the sand has been staines red from the blood. Its estimated we killed 6-8 thousand while we lost some 4,000 but have thousands of injured. Almost the entire army in fact is injured in some way or another. If Gento had brought his entire force here and had all his veterans i doubt we would have won."
Trajan was shocked at the toll of the battle. But as he went to sit up the orderly held him down, and the instant bodily pain was enough for Trajan to fall back to the bed. He hadnt noticed due to the major concussion he was suffering from, but the orderly was quick to tell him that he in fact had several broken ribs, as well as a broken arm, and his Leg was purple and bruised. He was lucky that somehow a soldier had pulled him behind the line as his orderly told him. Otherwise it was likely that he would have been trampled and killed.
"Its a good thing that we were going to be staying here to wait for the next group, because there is no way this army would be moving, we will be lucky to be moving by the time the rest of the army arrives in two weeks." Marcellinus later told him. "Majorian is still here even though he killed a cousin of Genseric and Gentos, a monster of a man named Handsigel, the emperor was injured not majorily but enough to keep him moving slowly for a few weeks. Anthemius went back to sicily to gather more supplies and to gather whatever more men he could after our losses here. I doubt he will come up with anything but he is hopefull that at the end of the two weeks he will have gather some Mercenaries or perhaps some of the men who fought in Italy last year.
"Not the start of the campaign everyone hoped for then huh?"
Marcellinus laughed, "This will be the easy part young man. We still will probably have to crush these men in another battle, i wouldnt be suprised if Gento attacks again while we are still weak. Then we have Carthage to deal with that nut wont be easy to crack." Marcellinus sighed. "I hope to see my daughter again, shes to be married to Young Constantinus you know, but the blood bath for this country has only begun. As necessary as it is to regain this province. I dont know if i will see her again. If any of us will see our families again...."
Trajan watched as a sadness seemed to overtake the Magister Militum, the man was right though, the way the campaign had began they would be lucky to leave this place, the best they could hope for was an honourable death, as honourable as it could get dieing in a failed campaign, Trajan thought bitterly. But then if he knew what Marcellinus fate was to be, he would have wished a death on the battlefield for the General.
Finally was able to make a map, it may not be the best but it gives a general outline of the western empire at this moment. To remember the Visigoths have now become integrated into the empire in a similiar way as the alani have become. I have just showed their old border to give an idea of their lands.
As well sorry for taking a haitus of nearly two months, i never intended to but i was busy as i work in agriculture it was a busy time of year. I hope everyone enjoys the chapter and map
As well sorry for taking a haitus of nearly two months, i never intended to but i was busy as i work in agriculture it was a busy time of year. I hope everyone enjoys the chapter and map
Attachments
Chapter 25 471, Uprising, and death of General
Chapter 25
471AD
After gaining the foothold on the coast, Majorian was reluctant to lose anymore of his 11,000 men, but the necessity of needing information, forced him to send his scouts out in search of the enemy. What they found however was that the Vandals had seemingly retreated from the immediate area. Majorians force at this time numbered some 95000 infantry and 1500 cavalry, while he let his men rest as they waited for the rest of the army, Majorian sent Marcellinus along with 1000 cavalry and 2000 Infantry south towards thapsus, and Hadrumentum. At Thapsus they would find the remnants of the eastern army that went west With Anthemioulus and Trajan 2 years earlier which was still under a minor siege by the Vandals and numbered roughly 5000 men. Marcellinus arrived at Hadrumentum a week after leaving Majorians camp around the time the second of the 3 landings would have been taking place. At Hadrumentum the small Vandal Garrison of 500 men closed the gates on the romans only to have their heads presented to the general an hour later by the cities residents. Leaving a token force of 200 men 50 cavalry and 150 infantry as a garrison, Marcellinus continued south to Thapsus. Upon reaching the city he found the siege the vandals has placed on the romans had not moved an inch. The walls were scarred and battered but still held strong. The Vandal force outside the city which mostly consisted of Allied troops, Garmantian cavalry and spearmen, and other African troops immediately began leaving there tents and shelters. However instead of Forming up for battle upon realizing it was romans on there rear the camp and seige lines fell into utter chaos. Marcellinus had formed his 2800 men in a long arcing line and immediately ordered an advance, as the Africans began to regain some order and form up for battle however the Gates of Thapsus opened up and 5000 romans streamed from the gates. What followed next was a slaughter of the Vandal army, which of the total 8,000 men only contained 1000 Vandal warriors and with minimal losses. Once again leaving only a force of 1200 men, 200 cavalry and 1000 infantry to gard the campaigns southern flank, Marcellinus turned back north with 4,000 eastern roman legionaries marched to rejoin his emperors arriving the day before the last crossing took place.
With their total force joined together a massive army of 36500 men, they marched from the Camp the romans had occupied for the last 3 weeks on June 2nd, marching straight north with the massive roman fleet going around the tunisian peninsula.
June 7th
The two emperors watched from atop a small rise as there army marched onto the plains that surrounded the great city of Carthage. The army split around the rise to avoid their emperors as the descended onto the area that would mark the main camp. The work would start on the main camp, however already engineers were marking out the beginnings of major fortifications, walls to surround the city that would dwarve Caesars at Alesia.
From atop the walls a humbled Gento watched with a growing sense of dread. He had failed to halt the Romans advance on Sicily, and now on Africa he had once again failed and was left with not enough numbers to attack the romans in the open. As much as he wished to sally forth and attack the romans it was suicide, all that he could hope for was that his last allies would be able to force the romans to send some of their troops away, if not this was the beginning of a long a brutal end for his people.
Hispania
Rechicus the Suevi King looked upon his gathered nobles and his kingdoms warriors. 23,000 men his people had not been able to raise such a hoste of men since his Fathers day when he had fought the emperor Majorian nearly 20 years before. And yet several thousand of his people fought alongside the romans still. However as powerful as the force seemed he could see that it was full of young faces men who were nothing more than boys in truth, eager to prove themselves. He looked to his left where a man stood hooded in the shadows behind his guards, he gave a little hiss of breath as he seen the other mans eyes waiting on him to move. "Men of the Suevi, 18 years we have had to live with the humiliation of my fathers defeat at the hands of the Roman Emperor Majorianus. 18 years have given live to fresh faces and strong men! 18 years waiting for the moment the empire was at its weakest stretched to the breaking point, and now is that time! The empires armies are facing the vandals in Africa, and stretched so thinly across the rest of their borders that they cannot think of moving any men. There are 8,000 Romans in Hispania, we can take the entire Penninsula and give our men a taste of Roman blood, and there would be nothing more the romans could do, we would surpass all of our ancestors achievements in this moment!
The roars of his men filled the air and he felt like he was on top of the world. He looked over to the hooded man, Euric the last Visigothic king the man he had promised he would help get his throne back.
July 30th
Carthage, Africa
The siege of Carthage had not gone as well as Majorian and Anthemius had hoped in fact the siege was at a stalemate. While the entirety of the Vandal Kingdom had submitted to the romans and the surrounding minor kingdoms had as well the capital still held strong. Then the two emperors recieved a message neither wanted to hear.
Trajan and Marcellinus the two top generals in the army entered the emperors joint pavilion with a shaking messenger closely behind them. The two generals had worked well together handling the joint army as had their emperors. "Its from Hispania, lords."
Quickly Majorian was handed the message and he read it aloud with trepidation. "Hispania is falling to the Seuvi. Rechicus has invaded over 20,000 men. He defeated Comes Hispania Severinus and 5,000 of his men before they could reinforce Corduba in an ambush. Praetorian Prefect has called up the Hispania militia and is trapped at Carthago Nova, with 1,000 of the Hispanian Comitatenses and his militia. No word has come from Tarraco but that is where a Dux named Julius Aquilus has the remaining 2000 Comitatenses and should have more militia. Meaning that we have essentially lost most of the provinces of Hispania."
The two generals and emperors were in shock at the news Marcellinus was first to speak, Augustus give me 10,000 men and i will bring the whole of hispania back under our control!"
Majorian nodded, Anthemius spoke next though, "if you wish i could stay here and you could command the army at hispania yourself, personally end this conflict."
Then Majorian spoke. "Marcellinus we cannot afford to send 10,000 men however i believe we can spare at least hell we cannot even spare 5000 men for this endeavor however i will send you along with 8,000 men, 7,000 foot and 1000 cavalry to try and stop the suevi, with what is reported to still be in fighting condition that should give you at least a chance of ending the conflict. You leave in the morning so your evening and night will be busy, you can rest on the boats."
However Marcellinus would never be able to rest of the boats, Ulpius Traianus went to give his freind a send of in the morning as the soldiers were beginning to board their ships, when he found Marcellinus dead in his tent, knife in his throat it appeared there was not even a struggle, someone had killed the general in his little sleep that he had gotten the night before.
News swept through the camp of the Magister Militums death, words of assasination and murder soon filled the camp. Majorian quickly gathered the armies generals, quickly hoping to appoint a new commander to the Hispanian expedition while a funeral was prepared for his freind and greatest general. While his men argued over who should take the command, there were only two he thought could handle the situation with anything close to Marcellinus ability. These were Syragius and Macrianus however the two men would be needed in Carthage least of all because Syragius would not leave without Gentos death, and Macrianus would now be his senior officer. Then his eyes fell on the only other silent man, Tullius Tyranus. Majorian gave a slight shiver his actions in Noricum were unforgivable in most mens eyes, however since joining Majorian he had served dutifully and extremely well, in fact Majorian if it wasnt for his distrust of the man would think he would be one of the armies top commanders in africa. He remembered his conversation with Silvanus earlier in the year in Northern Italy, and came to his decision. Hopefully the man would be able to handle Hispania, and the next best thing would be if he perished doing so.
"Tyranus congratulations you are now Comes Hispania, you will take over where Marcellinus left off, win me Hispania back!"
Later that day
Tyranus smiled looking out across the vastness of water, as he stood at the front of his chosen flagship, finally a man interrupted his serenity. "Claudius you did well, did the general cause you much trouble?"
Flavius Claudius Clementius his chosen man, now a Dux gave a grim smile, "not at all General, his guards were tired and not prepared i was able to slip by and fit under the tent, the general was just opening his eyes in alarm when my knife hit him, not even a gurgle escaped him."
"Good job Claudius, you won me a promotion and got me away from the emperors prying eyes. Now the real work begins! Majorian will regret the day he let me out of his sight, and Silvanus will pay for all the ill word he has spread of me. Hispania will be mine."
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Sorry for the hiatus, i hope that this chapter brings back some excitement for the timeline, and for the fans of the timeline sorry for the wait and thank you for your patience.
471AD
After gaining the foothold on the coast, Majorian was reluctant to lose anymore of his 11,000 men, but the necessity of needing information, forced him to send his scouts out in search of the enemy. What they found however was that the Vandals had seemingly retreated from the immediate area. Majorians force at this time numbered some 95000 infantry and 1500 cavalry, while he let his men rest as they waited for the rest of the army, Majorian sent Marcellinus along with 1000 cavalry and 2000 Infantry south towards thapsus, and Hadrumentum. At Thapsus they would find the remnants of the eastern army that went west With Anthemioulus and Trajan 2 years earlier which was still under a minor siege by the Vandals and numbered roughly 5000 men. Marcellinus arrived at Hadrumentum a week after leaving Majorians camp around the time the second of the 3 landings would have been taking place. At Hadrumentum the small Vandal Garrison of 500 men closed the gates on the romans only to have their heads presented to the general an hour later by the cities residents. Leaving a token force of 200 men 50 cavalry and 150 infantry as a garrison, Marcellinus continued south to Thapsus. Upon reaching the city he found the siege the vandals has placed on the romans had not moved an inch. The walls were scarred and battered but still held strong. The Vandal force outside the city which mostly consisted of Allied troops, Garmantian cavalry and spearmen, and other African troops immediately began leaving there tents and shelters. However instead of Forming up for battle upon realizing it was romans on there rear the camp and seige lines fell into utter chaos. Marcellinus had formed his 2800 men in a long arcing line and immediately ordered an advance, as the Africans began to regain some order and form up for battle however the Gates of Thapsus opened up and 5000 romans streamed from the gates. What followed next was a slaughter of the Vandal army, which of the total 8,000 men only contained 1000 Vandal warriors and with minimal losses. Once again leaving only a force of 1200 men, 200 cavalry and 1000 infantry to gard the campaigns southern flank, Marcellinus turned back north with 4,000 eastern roman legionaries marched to rejoin his emperors arriving the day before the last crossing took place.
With their total force joined together a massive army of 36500 men, they marched from the Camp the romans had occupied for the last 3 weeks on June 2nd, marching straight north with the massive roman fleet going around the tunisian peninsula.
June 7th
The two emperors watched from atop a small rise as there army marched onto the plains that surrounded the great city of Carthage. The army split around the rise to avoid their emperors as the descended onto the area that would mark the main camp. The work would start on the main camp, however already engineers were marking out the beginnings of major fortifications, walls to surround the city that would dwarve Caesars at Alesia.
From atop the walls a humbled Gento watched with a growing sense of dread. He had failed to halt the Romans advance on Sicily, and now on Africa he had once again failed and was left with not enough numbers to attack the romans in the open. As much as he wished to sally forth and attack the romans it was suicide, all that he could hope for was that his last allies would be able to force the romans to send some of their troops away, if not this was the beginning of a long a brutal end for his people.
Hispania
Rechicus the Suevi King looked upon his gathered nobles and his kingdoms warriors. 23,000 men his people had not been able to raise such a hoste of men since his Fathers day when he had fought the emperor Majorian nearly 20 years before. And yet several thousand of his people fought alongside the romans still. However as powerful as the force seemed he could see that it was full of young faces men who were nothing more than boys in truth, eager to prove themselves. He looked to his left where a man stood hooded in the shadows behind his guards, he gave a little hiss of breath as he seen the other mans eyes waiting on him to move. "Men of the Suevi, 18 years we have had to live with the humiliation of my fathers defeat at the hands of the Roman Emperor Majorianus. 18 years have given live to fresh faces and strong men! 18 years waiting for the moment the empire was at its weakest stretched to the breaking point, and now is that time! The empires armies are facing the vandals in Africa, and stretched so thinly across the rest of their borders that they cannot think of moving any men. There are 8,000 Romans in Hispania, we can take the entire Penninsula and give our men a taste of Roman blood, and there would be nothing more the romans could do, we would surpass all of our ancestors achievements in this moment!
The roars of his men filled the air and he felt like he was on top of the world. He looked over to the hooded man, Euric the last Visigothic king the man he had promised he would help get his throne back.
July 30th
Carthage, Africa
The siege of Carthage had not gone as well as Majorian and Anthemius had hoped in fact the siege was at a stalemate. While the entirety of the Vandal Kingdom had submitted to the romans and the surrounding minor kingdoms had as well the capital still held strong. Then the two emperors recieved a message neither wanted to hear.
Trajan and Marcellinus the two top generals in the army entered the emperors joint pavilion with a shaking messenger closely behind them. The two generals had worked well together handling the joint army as had their emperors. "Its from Hispania, lords."
Quickly Majorian was handed the message and he read it aloud with trepidation. "Hispania is falling to the Seuvi. Rechicus has invaded over 20,000 men. He defeated Comes Hispania Severinus and 5,000 of his men before they could reinforce Corduba in an ambush. Praetorian Prefect has called up the Hispania militia and is trapped at Carthago Nova, with 1,000 of the Hispanian Comitatenses and his militia. No word has come from Tarraco but that is where a Dux named Julius Aquilus has the remaining 2000 Comitatenses and should have more militia. Meaning that we have essentially lost most of the provinces of Hispania."
The two generals and emperors were in shock at the news Marcellinus was first to speak, Augustus give me 10,000 men and i will bring the whole of hispania back under our control!"
Majorian nodded, Anthemius spoke next though, "if you wish i could stay here and you could command the army at hispania yourself, personally end this conflict."
Then Majorian spoke. "Marcellinus we cannot afford to send 10,000 men however i believe we can spare at least hell we cannot even spare 5000 men for this endeavor however i will send you along with 8,000 men, 7,000 foot and 1000 cavalry to try and stop the suevi, with what is reported to still be in fighting condition that should give you at least a chance of ending the conflict. You leave in the morning so your evening and night will be busy, you can rest on the boats."
However Marcellinus would never be able to rest of the boats, Ulpius Traianus went to give his freind a send of in the morning as the soldiers were beginning to board their ships, when he found Marcellinus dead in his tent, knife in his throat it appeared there was not even a struggle, someone had killed the general in his little sleep that he had gotten the night before.
News swept through the camp of the Magister Militums death, words of assasination and murder soon filled the camp. Majorian quickly gathered the armies generals, quickly hoping to appoint a new commander to the Hispanian expedition while a funeral was prepared for his freind and greatest general. While his men argued over who should take the command, there were only two he thought could handle the situation with anything close to Marcellinus ability. These were Syragius and Macrianus however the two men would be needed in Carthage least of all because Syragius would not leave without Gentos death, and Macrianus would now be his senior officer. Then his eyes fell on the only other silent man, Tullius Tyranus. Majorian gave a slight shiver his actions in Noricum were unforgivable in most mens eyes, however since joining Majorian he had served dutifully and extremely well, in fact Majorian if it wasnt for his distrust of the man would think he would be one of the armies top commanders in africa. He remembered his conversation with Silvanus earlier in the year in Northern Italy, and came to his decision. Hopefully the man would be able to handle Hispania, and the next best thing would be if he perished doing so.
"Tyranus congratulations you are now Comes Hispania, you will take over where Marcellinus left off, win me Hispania back!"
Later that day
Tyranus smiled looking out across the vastness of water, as he stood at the front of his chosen flagship, finally a man interrupted his serenity. "Claudius you did well, did the general cause you much trouble?"
Flavius Claudius Clementius his chosen man, now a Dux gave a grim smile, "not at all General, his guards were tired and not prepared i was able to slip by and fit under the tent, the general was just opening his eyes in alarm when my knife hit him, not even a gurgle escaped him."
"Good job Claudius, you won me a promotion and got me away from the emperors prying eyes. Now the real work begins! Majorian will regret the day he let me out of his sight, and Silvanus will pay for all the ill word he has spread of me. Hispania will be mine."
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Sorry for the hiatus, i hope that this chapter brings back some excitement for the timeline, and for the fans of the timeline sorry for the wait and thank you for your patience.
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Chapter 26: 471 Hispania
Chapter 26
August 10th
Nova Carthage
Praetorian Prefect of Hispania, Marcus Anicius Faustus watched in joy as his saviors docked their boats and landed on the shore outside the city. The Suevi had left as soon as the boats were spotted aware of the danger of being attacked from shore and the city. He was not much of a soldier never had an interest in it. However the last few weeks had been nothing he could have imagined. To top it off it seemed he did have an inner soldier, something even the veteran centurions in the Comitatenses units in the city could respect. His brother Lucius Anicius Paulinus would be proud, he was the soldier after all. He looked at himself covered in dust and grime, and armor, and couldnt help but smile. He had survived a dangerous siege. Finally he spotted the man who looked to be the commander of the army that had saved his city, and approached the man.
"Praetorian Prefect of Hispania, Marcus Anicius Faustus. Pleased to meet you."
The man, a handsome and hard looking man looked at the Prefect a slight hint of disgust hid under his disinterest immediately found Faustus hating the man. "Comes Hispania Flavius Tullius Tyranus, here to take over where my Severinus left off and save this province, give me your report Prefect. I dont intend to stay here long."
After breaking the siege of Nova Carthage without a drop blood of being spilt, Tyranus didnt even rest his men, marching them out of the city in the afternoon in the hopes of catching the Suevi before they gained forces. As per Faustus report, the Suevi at Nova Carthage had numbered around 10,000 his own militia had numbered 5,000 with the Comitatenses numbering 1000. Throughout the siege he had promoted those willing and the best of his militia into the Comitatenses to keep the veteran unit at full strenth Throughout the siege. This unit along with half of the militia had joined Tyranus making his army 11,500 strong.
However the Suevi kept one step ahead of Tyranus, pulling back to Toletum reaching the city on August 20th, to the safety of the city walls, and where they could wait for reinforcements. Tyranus surrounded the city with siege works, and sent his scouts out to find any enemy reinforcements which they did 2 days later coming from the direction of CeasarAugusta. This reinforcement army numbered some 13,000 a force larger the Tyranus own. However this worked to Tyranus advantage, for his future plans. He abandoned the siege in the middle of the night leaving his fortifications in place and marched north.
August 24th
Rechicus had been gloomy every since the news had reached him that another roman army had landed at Carthago Nova. The Roman resistance at Tarraco had proven strong and he still hadnt taken the city by the time the news arrived. He had been forced to abandon the siege in hopes of defeating this large force in the center of Hispania with his full army.
However all his plans came to a screeching halt as the Scorpion bolts hit his army from the forest to his right. As he turned at the sound and watched in horror as dozens of men were swept off their feet he missed momentarily the Roman Plumbata darts that sailed in from the opposite direction, someone summed up the action over the screaming of the wounded and dieing. "AMBUSH!"
Rechicus, Euric and two thousand men approached the walls of Toletum just a few days later, having escaped the Disastrous ambush that had scattered his army. Only a few miles behind him was the Cavalry Vangaurd of the Romans.
August 26th
Tyranus smiled at Claudius Clementius. As the Suevi leaders met him the middle ground of the city and the siegeworks. The suevi king glared with hatred at the two roman leaders.
"I wish to offer you something Rechicus. As we both know we are at a stalemate here. At the moment anyways. The army from Tarraco could be here any day, and i could then simply swamp your walls and kill you and your men. However i dont want that." The Suevi king looked at the Romans confused. "See i dont want your men dead. I want them to join mine, I want them to join me, as allies of course, when I am ready to kill the Emperor." Understanding filled Rechicus's face.
August 10th
Nova Carthage
Praetorian Prefect of Hispania, Marcus Anicius Faustus watched in joy as his saviors docked their boats and landed on the shore outside the city. The Suevi had left as soon as the boats were spotted aware of the danger of being attacked from shore and the city. He was not much of a soldier never had an interest in it. However the last few weeks had been nothing he could have imagined. To top it off it seemed he did have an inner soldier, something even the veteran centurions in the Comitatenses units in the city could respect. His brother Lucius Anicius Paulinus would be proud, he was the soldier after all. He looked at himself covered in dust and grime, and armor, and couldnt help but smile. He had survived a dangerous siege. Finally he spotted the man who looked to be the commander of the army that had saved his city, and approached the man.
"Praetorian Prefect of Hispania, Marcus Anicius Faustus. Pleased to meet you."
The man, a handsome and hard looking man looked at the Prefect a slight hint of disgust hid under his disinterest immediately found Faustus hating the man. "Comes Hispania Flavius Tullius Tyranus, here to take over where my Severinus left off and save this province, give me your report Prefect. I dont intend to stay here long."
After breaking the siege of Nova Carthage without a drop blood of being spilt, Tyranus didnt even rest his men, marching them out of the city in the afternoon in the hopes of catching the Suevi before they gained forces. As per Faustus report, the Suevi at Nova Carthage had numbered around 10,000 his own militia had numbered 5,000 with the Comitatenses numbering 1000. Throughout the siege he had promoted those willing and the best of his militia into the Comitatenses to keep the veteran unit at full strenth Throughout the siege. This unit along with half of the militia had joined Tyranus making his army 11,500 strong.
However the Suevi kept one step ahead of Tyranus, pulling back to Toletum reaching the city on August 20th, to the safety of the city walls, and where they could wait for reinforcements. Tyranus surrounded the city with siege works, and sent his scouts out to find any enemy reinforcements which they did 2 days later coming from the direction of CeasarAugusta. This reinforcement army numbered some 13,000 a force larger the Tyranus own. However this worked to Tyranus advantage, for his future plans. He abandoned the siege in the middle of the night leaving his fortifications in place and marched north.
August 24th
Rechicus had been gloomy every since the news had reached him that another roman army had landed at Carthago Nova. The Roman resistance at Tarraco had proven strong and he still hadnt taken the city by the time the news arrived. He had been forced to abandon the siege in hopes of defeating this large force in the center of Hispania with his full army.
However all his plans came to a screeching halt as the Scorpion bolts hit his army from the forest to his right. As he turned at the sound and watched in horror as dozens of men were swept off their feet he missed momentarily the Roman Plumbata darts that sailed in from the opposite direction, someone summed up the action over the screaming of the wounded and dieing. "AMBUSH!"
Rechicus, Euric and two thousand men approached the walls of Toletum just a few days later, having escaped the Disastrous ambush that had scattered his army. Only a few miles behind him was the Cavalry Vangaurd of the Romans.
August 26th
Tyranus smiled at Claudius Clementius. As the Suevi leaders met him the middle ground of the city and the siegeworks. The suevi king glared with hatred at the two roman leaders.
"I wish to offer you something Rechicus. As we both know we are at a stalemate here. At the moment anyways. The army from Tarraco could be here any day, and i could then simply swamp your walls and kill you and your men. However i dont want that." The Suevi king looked at the Romans confused. "See i dont want your men dead. I want them to join mine, I want them to join me, as allies of course, when I am ready to kill the Emperor." Understanding filled Rechicus's face.
Chapter 27: The beginning of the end 472AD
Chapter 27
Carthage, Africa
June 3rd 472AD
Augustus Julius Valerius Majorianus paced his tent as he read the reports. Gaul was quite or at least seemed to be at the moment. Magister Militum per Gallias Julius Nepos was holding the territory down well, and the army in the province was starting to rebuild itself. With the sudden death of the Praetorian Prefect in the fall , who had just began his tenure in the post he had quickly named Nepos temproarily Praetorian Prefect as well, giving him near imperial power in the province. The general had proven as able a administrator as he was a general, when Majorian took a break from the siege of the Vandal capital in the winter he had visited the province with his family and had been impressed with his generals work. He then left Theodosius in the province to help Nepos in his work, and learn from the man. Nepos report spoke well of Theodosius and he couldnt help but be proud of his son who was but 16. By letting Nepos tudor his son in administration and in the logistics of the military he hoped his son would become a strong emperor.
Then there was Hispania, that report stung when Majorian read it. "Your Loyal Comes Hispania, Flavius Tullius Tyranus." It read, he couldnt help but feel unease about Tyranus. However the man had dealt well with the Suevi. By all reports he had performed a miracle, forced the Suevi to abandon the dual seiges of Tarraco and Nova Carthago slaughtered half the Suevi army and forced the rest to fedorati status after a short seige. Then with his new fedorati and his Comitatenses he had raided into Baugudae territory in the last weeks of campaigning season, and once again this year was said to be doing the same. All reports even the Praetorian Prefects Marcus Anicius Faustus's reported that Tyranus was being a loyal general and doing a good job at holding the army in the province together and growing that army. However Silvanus warning still swam through his head whenever he thought of Tyranus.
As for Flavius Aurelius Silvanus the previous year, the Comes Dalmatia and the Magister Militum per Thracius Flavius Petrus had simultaneously campaigned against the Ostrogoths and their Allies. While Silvanus had seen success campaigning against the Ostrogoths and their Allies the Heruli and Scirians, fighting several battles though none decisive. The easter general Petrus however had experienced near disaster. While not being slaughtered Petrus initial success in the Gepid kingdom and against the Ostrogoths, he had been defeated by the Prince Theodoric. While Petrus and his army had lost a a quarter of their army, they were able to inflict a minor defeat on the gepids later on in the campaigning season. Unfortunately the war on the Danube was still ongoing.
As for the comes per Noricum, Marcus Maximius Paulinus had pulled his forces together and was holding the province together and the province was becoming prosperous with his protection.
Which then brought Majorian to Africa. He looked to Augustus Anthemius who had recently returned from Constantinople. Anthemius had been reading his own reports, from his commanders and Praetorian Prefects, but looked to his western counterpart and nodded. Both men then looked to two youths that were sitting aside, one recently arrived with his father, the other had arrived with Majorian. "Boys bring the generals in." The two imperial princes Marcianus and Constantinus both but 14 years old, and who had quickly become freinds exited the tent shortly before entering again, followed by the leading officers in the African Army. There where the two leading officers in the army who had commanded the siege while the two Emperors had been away over the winter and spring, Flavius Macrianus a grizzled veteran 52 years old of Gallic and Marcomanni descent, followed by Lucius Aurelius Ulpianus Traianus. Then came Syragius son of Aegidius and the commander of Majorians Imperial Guard and one of the most respected commanders in the army. They were followed by a a dozen duxs including a certain Lucius Anicius Paulinus brother of the Hispanian Praetorian Prefect.
Since the previous fall some headway had been made by Trajan and Macrianus in the seige and in the reconquest of Africa. Trajan had lead a portion of the army in fighting the last Vandal holdouts across the region. Finishing this by the middle of the winter. In February, one of the cities gates had been destroyed the towers on either side crumpling on the gate. In march a section of the walls had fallen due to undermining and constant bombardment, unfortunately the battle for this section of walls had been brutal but the two generals were unable to capitalize on the walls collapse. The Vandals had rebuilt the section out of the rubble however it was weak, and had been a focus of bombardments since then. Then in the middle of may, the walls fell for a 4th time since the original collapse, and while a brutal fight had once again taken place. Something had happened that had not been planned. A squad of soldiers had broken through the battle line and had managed to light the cities granaries. The disaster had destroyed the majority of the remaning grain supplies in the city but not all of it. The remaining supplies in the cities were running out however.
"So men. Once again it looks like the walls are about to fall. The northwestern wall is once again shaky, and with the focus of our onagers we will see it fall once again today. However we have also finished our Siege towers. Eight of them, that we will deploy south of the the weak part of the wall. Our miners are saying that the south portion of the wall can be collapsed within a half hour if we need it to. With the reinforcements that I and Anthemius have brought back, we will swamp the enemies walls, and to top this off we will also launch a naval attack on the port, with the Vandal fleet having been destroyed last year their remaining ships will hopefully be nothing to our great fleet, with the cities harbour being attack and the entire lenght of the walls the enemy will be able to do nothing. Today men Carthage falls, as our ancestors once said, Carthago Delenda Est!"
Carthage, Africa
June 3rd 472AD
Augustus Julius Valerius Majorianus paced his tent as he read the reports. Gaul was quite or at least seemed to be at the moment. Magister Militum per Gallias Julius Nepos was holding the territory down well, and the army in the province was starting to rebuild itself. With the sudden death of the Praetorian Prefect in the fall , who had just began his tenure in the post he had quickly named Nepos temproarily Praetorian Prefect as well, giving him near imperial power in the province. The general had proven as able a administrator as he was a general, when Majorian took a break from the siege of the Vandal capital in the winter he had visited the province with his family and had been impressed with his generals work. He then left Theodosius in the province to help Nepos in his work, and learn from the man. Nepos report spoke well of Theodosius and he couldnt help but be proud of his son who was but 16. By letting Nepos tudor his son in administration and in the logistics of the military he hoped his son would become a strong emperor.
Then there was Hispania, that report stung when Majorian read it. "Your Loyal Comes Hispania, Flavius Tullius Tyranus." It read, he couldnt help but feel unease about Tyranus. However the man had dealt well with the Suevi. By all reports he had performed a miracle, forced the Suevi to abandon the dual seiges of Tarraco and Nova Carthago slaughtered half the Suevi army and forced the rest to fedorati status after a short seige. Then with his new fedorati and his Comitatenses he had raided into Baugudae territory in the last weeks of campaigning season, and once again this year was said to be doing the same. All reports even the Praetorian Prefects Marcus Anicius Faustus's reported that Tyranus was being a loyal general and doing a good job at holding the army in the province together and growing that army. However Silvanus warning still swam through his head whenever he thought of Tyranus.
As for Flavius Aurelius Silvanus the previous year, the Comes Dalmatia and the Magister Militum per Thracius Flavius Petrus had simultaneously campaigned against the Ostrogoths and their Allies. While Silvanus had seen success campaigning against the Ostrogoths and their Allies the Heruli and Scirians, fighting several battles though none decisive. The easter general Petrus however had experienced near disaster. While not being slaughtered Petrus initial success in the Gepid kingdom and against the Ostrogoths, he had been defeated by the Prince Theodoric. While Petrus and his army had lost a a quarter of their army, they were able to inflict a minor defeat on the gepids later on in the campaigning season. Unfortunately the war on the Danube was still ongoing.
As for the comes per Noricum, Marcus Maximius Paulinus had pulled his forces together and was holding the province together and the province was becoming prosperous with his protection.
Which then brought Majorian to Africa. He looked to Augustus Anthemius who had recently returned from Constantinople. Anthemius had been reading his own reports, from his commanders and Praetorian Prefects, but looked to his western counterpart and nodded. Both men then looked to two youths that were sitting aside, one recently arrived with his father, the other had arrived with Majorian. "Boys bring the generals in." The two imperial princes Marcianus and Constantinus both but 14 years old, and who had quickly become freinds exited the tent shortly before entering again, followed by the leading officers in the African Army. There where the two leading officers in the army who had commanded the siege while the two Emperors had been away over the winter and spring, Flavius Macrianus a grizzled veteran 52 years old of Gallic and Marcomanni descent, followed by Lucius Aurelius Ulpianus Traianus. Then came Syragius son of Aegidius and the commander of Majorians Imperial Guard and one of the most respected commanders in the army. They were followed by a a dozen duxs including a certain Lucius Anicius Paulinus brother of the Hispanian Praetorian Prefect.
Since the previous fall some headway had been made by Trajan and Macrianus in the seige and in the reconquest of Africa. Trajan had lead a portion of the army in fighting the last Vandal holdouts across the region. Finishing this by the middle of the winter. In February, one of the cities gates had been destroyed the towers on either side crumpling on the gate. In march a section of the walls had fallen due to undermining and constant bombardment, unfortunately the battle for this section of walls had been brutal but the two generals were unable to capitalize on the walls collapse. The Vandals had rebuilt the section out of the rubble however it was weak, and had been a focus of bombardments since then. Then in the middle of may, the walls fell for a 4th time since the original collapse, and while a brutal fight had once again taken place. Something had happened that had not been planned. A squad of soldiers had broken through the battle line and had managed to light the cities granaries. The disaster had destroyed the majority of the remaning grain supplies in the city but not all of it. The remaining supplies in the cities were running out however.
"So men. Once again it looks like the walls are about to fall. The northwestern wall is once again shaky, and with the focus of our onagers we will see it fall once again today. However we have also finished our Siege towers. Eight of them, that we will deploy south of the the weak part of the wall. Our miners are saying that the south portion of the wall can be collapsed within a half hour if we need it to. With the reinforcements that I and Anthemius have brought back, we will swamp the enemies walls, and to top this off we will also launch a naval attack on the port, with the Vandal fleet having been destroyed last year their remaining ships will hopefully be nothing to our great fleet, with the cities harbour being attack and the entire lenght of the walls the enemy will be able to do nothing. Today men Carthage falls, as our ancestors once said, Carthago Delenda Est!"
Chapter 28: Fall of Carthage 472AD
Chapter 28
Carthage, Africa
June 3rd
Majorian watched alongside his son Constantinus, and Anthemius and Marcianus, as the weakened walls fell and the brutal fight began over the rubble. They could see individual Duxes and centurions yelling orders and pushing their men forward ignoring the hundreds of arrows and javelins that pounded their men. For the two Princes this was the first battle they had seen and they were incredibly caught up in the moments.
However what Majorian was watching for was the progress of the siege towers. The eight mobile towers were pushed forward slowly thousands waiting for them to reach the wall so that they could land atop the wall, as he watched one was smashed by a defending onager, and another was swarmed with fire arrows. However they reached the walls without the others becoming wrecked. There was a silence above the wall then the hatches on the towers dropped and the walkways collided with stone, and the Comitatenses of the east swarmed onto the walls.
An hour the vandals held strong. The near entirety of their forces focused fighting the romans who had swamped their walls and were filling the breach faster then they fell. Thousands were dieing or being injured, histories would wright that the Walls of Carthage were painted red a color that would not fade for months. After an hour Majorian who didnt want to damage the city more than necessary or than it already had, gave the orders, and 15 minutes faster than his engineers had primiesed, the southern wall of Carthage collapsed, and the few thousand reserves who Majorian had kept back from the fighting entered the city nearly untouched.
By chance Syragius lead this detachment, something the Western Augustus had been reluctant to accept. He had 4000 Comitatensesand 100 cavalry, he would perform a flanking movement on the Vandals from inside the city. A dangerous task as he could become trapped and cutoff inside enemy territory. However his mind burned of his father and of the Vandal general who had killed him.
As he and his men marched through the city and along the walls cautiously hoping not to be surrounded one of his forward scouts, screamed running back to the formation "Vandals to our front approaching quickly!" Instantly orders where given and the march through the city halted and formations corrected and the men prepared for battle. Then they appeared thousands an easy match for the romans in numbers. Plumbata darts were thrown as the Vandals closed hundreds fell then the two forces met and and a fierce battle ensued. Syragius fell back from the front line after several minutes in the fray, a small cut above his eye, while the wound irritated him blood slowly weeping into his eye it was not mortal. One of his aides handed him his horses reigns, his unit of 100 horse behind the line of battle. Once atop his horse he could clearly see that his men along the wall were holding well, however riding behind the battle line into the city districts it looked like his men being pushed back in places and advancing in others. As they neared the end of the battle line he could see the end cohort was surrounded on 3 sides. "Steer right we go a street south and then we will hit these vandals from the rear and route them, we will then continue harassing this flank!"
Upon hitting the Vandal flanking units they began to flank this is when Syragius noticed while Vandal warriors were fighting his men there were also lots of militia and young men fighting. These were the last men willing to fight for the Vandals, their last reserve.
After several minutes of harrassing the Vandals flank his cohorts began to wrap up on the flank and began to squeeze the Vandal formation together constantly pushing it back. Then Syragius watched as the Vandal reserve force broke like a dam burst and their men ran for their lifes. He charged forth with his cavalry and the slaughter began. Not a half hour later he was looking at the southern edge of the breached walls the Eastern empires soldiers now streaming down onto the streets from atop the walls. As the men joined his own force, he lead a charge into the Vandals flank. Amongst the battle Syragius met an enemy general, leading a small force to reinforce the flank, a desperate measure, that allowed Syragius to get vengeance for his father. The battle between Syragius and Gento was fierce, no man dared interfere, a circle formed around them as the battle continued. However several minutes of battle later and Gento fell to his knees, his sword broke, shield twisted from his and his opponents sword in his guts. The fierce and last surviving son of Genseric, would only be given moments to feel the pain of his wound before Syragius beheaded him.
Witht their Generals death and the battle already being a lost cause the Vandals routed. They were slaughtered through the streets of their great capital. In some instances the Vandals tried to reform and held the romans off for minutes longer but the overall result was the same a wholesale slaughter of any that resisted. The last resistance was met at the old governors residence where Genseric lived. A core of 500 Vandal veterans stood firm in a last stand. However before this attack happenes the two emperors and their sons would enter the city to witness the fall of their old enemy. The last fight lasted not 5 minutes before the last warrior was dead. The Kings residence was sacked a mountain of gold was found in the treasury, Genseric was found before he could kill himself he would be taken to Rome to be an object in Majorians Triumph. As well the wife of the long dead Valentinian Licinia Eudoxia was found along with her two daughters, Eudocia, and her young daughter Galla Valentinia. While Carthage was sacked, though with the efforts of the generals and Emperors it was lightly done only more Vandal parts of the city mostly being impacted, the smoking city with its destroyed walls was once again roman.
In the immortal words of the famous Constantinus, "With sword and blood we took back Carthage, we made that city Roman again, we taught it the pain of its Ancestors, and it is there I learned the trade of Death that we Romans know so well."
●●●●●●●
It is at this point i have decided to end the chapter as i would rather put the events after Carthage in their own chapter, however i think the moment most have been waiting for has finally passed! Thank you for watching and enjoying this timeline!
Carthage, Africa
June 3rd
Majorian watched alongside his son Constantinus, and Anthemius and Marcianus, as the weakened walls fell and the brutal fight began over the rubble. They could see individual Duxes and centurions yelling orders and pushing their men forward ignoring the hundreds of arrows and javelins that pounded their men. For the two Princes this was the first battle they had seen and they were incredibly caught up in the moments.
However what Majorian was watching for was the progress of the siege towers. The eight mobile towers were pushed forward slowly thousands waiting for them to reach the wall so that they could land atop the wall, as he watched one was smashed by a defending onager, and another was swarmed with fire arrows. However they reached the walls without the others becoming wrecked. There was a silence above the wall then the hatches on the towers dropped and the walkways collided with stone, and the Comitatenses of the east swarmed onto the walls.
An hour the vandals held strong. The near entirety of their forces focused fighting the romans who had swamped their walls and were filling the breach faster then they fell. Thousands were dieing or being injured, histories would wright that the Walls of Carthage were painted red a color that would not fade for months. After an hour Majorian who didnt want to damage the city more than necessary or than it already had, gave the orders, and 15 minutes faster than his engineers had primiesed, the southern wall of Carthage collapsed, and the few thousand reserves who Majorian had kept back from the fighting entered the city nearly untouched.
By chance Syragius lead this detachment, something the Western Augustus had been reluctant to accept. He had 4000 Comitatensesand 100 cavalry, he would perform a flanking movement on the Vandals from inside the city. A dangerous task as he could become trapped and cutoff inside enemy territory. However his mind burned of his father and of the Vandal general who had killed him.
As he and his men marched through the city and along the walls cautiously hoping not to be surrounded one of his forward scouts, screamed running back to the formation "Vandals to our front approaching quickly!" Instantly orders where given and the march through the city halted and formations corrected and the men prepared for battle. Then they appeared thousands an easy match for the romans in numbers. Plumbata darts were thrown as the Vandals closed hundreds fell then the two forces met and and a fierce battle ensued. Syragius fell back from the front line after several minutes in the fray, a small cut above his eye, while the wound irritated him blood slowly weeping into his eye it was not mortal. One of his aides handed him his horses reigns, his unit of 100 horse behind the line of battle. Once atop his horse he could clearly see that his men along the wall were holding well, however riding behind the battle line into the city districts it looked like his men being pushed back in places and advancing in others. As they neared the end of the battle line he could see the end cohort was surrounded on 3 sides. "Steer right we go a street south and then we will hit these vandals from the rear and route them, we will then continue harassing this flank!"
Upon hitting the Vandal flanking units they began to flank this is when Syragius noticed while Vandal warriors were fighting his men there were also lots of militia and young men fighting. These were the last men willing to fight for the Vandals, their last reserve.
After several minutes of harrassing the Vandals flank his cohorts began to wrap up on the flank and began to squeeze the Vandal formation together constantly pushing it back. Then Syragius watched as the Vandal reserve force broke like a dam burst and their men ran for their lifes. He charged forth with his cavalry and the slaughter began. Not a half hour later he was looking at the southern edge of the breached walls the Eastern empires soldiers now streaming down onto the streets from atop the walls. As the men joined his own force, he lead a charge into the Vandals flank. Amongst the battle Syragius met an enemy general, leading a small force to reinforce the flank, a desperate measure, that allowed Syragius to get vengeance for his father. The battle between Syragius and Gento was fierce, no man dared interfere, a circle formed around them as the battle continued. However several minutes of battle later and Gento fell to his knees, his sword broke, shield twisted from his and his opponents sword in his guts. The fierce and last surviving son of Genseric, would only be given moments to feel the pain of his wound before Syragius beheaded him.
Witht their Generals death and the battle already being a lost cause the Vandals routed. They were slaughtered through the streets of their great capital. In some instances the Vandals tried to reform and held the romans off for minutes longer but the overall result was the same a wholesale slaughter of any that resisted. The last resistance was met at the old governors residence where Genseric lived. A core of 500 Vandal veterans stood firm in a last stand. However before this attack happenes the two emperors and their sons would enter the city to witness the fall of their old enemy. The last fight lasted not 5 minutes before the last warrior was dead. The Kings residence was sacked a mountain of gold was found in the treasury, Genseric was found before he could kill himself he would be taken to Rome to be an object in Majorians Triumph. As well the wife of the long dead Valentinian Licinia Eudoxia was found along with her two daughters, Eudocia, and her young daughter Galla Valentinia. While Carthage was sacked, though with the efforts of the generals and Emperors it was lightly done only more Vandal parts of the city mostly being impacted, the smoking city with its destroyed walls was once again roman.
In the immortal words of the famous Constantinus, "With sword and blood we took back Carthage, we made that city Roman again, we taught it the pain of its Ancestors, and it is there I learned the trade of Death that we Romans know so well."
●●●●●●●
It is at this point i have decided to end the chapter as i would rather put the events after Carthage in their own chapter, however i think the moment most have been waiting for has finally passed! Thank you for watching and enjoying this timeline!
