Part 10: The invasion of Gaul
The history of Rome is riddled with instances of military commanders who thought that maybe, maybe if they scored a decisive victory over the enemies of Rome, prestige and honor would come their way. Many of these people hoped to be the next Caesar, but more often than not, they ended up like Crassus- defeated and humiliated. All of these commanders who strayed from the formula hoped to be the former. Placiadanus is no different.
As soon as his forces were ready, he marched north on April 27th, onto the city of Lugdunum. The city must be taken as a starting point of the invasion, for it can serve as a base of operations for Placiadanus until Claudius arrives. Victorinius and his men, who were encamped outside of the city, were simply not ready for an attack from Placiadanus, but the Roman Gauls luckily spotted the scouts of the attackers and withdrew behind the walls. Before Placiadanus could besiege the city proper, Victorinius sent a messenger to Hispania with the urgent message for Postumus: Help!
Placiadanus takes no rest with the siege of the city, immediately ordering his men to make whatever necessary to assault the city. As he rested in his tent, he imagined the honor and the prestige that would be bestowed onto him by Emperor Claudius Gothicus. Placiadanus cracked a grin- it was all happening so easily.
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Inside the city, Victorinius repeatedly examines all of the defences, wishing that he could field more men. He still had his Praetorians, but they were too few to turn the tide of battle if and when it happens. If assistance from Postumus did not arrive in time, southern Gaul would fall, allowing the Realm of Postumus to be effectively split in two. Aid had to come.
The history of Rome is riddled with instances of military commanders who thought that maybe, maybe if they scored a decisive victory over the enemies of Rome, prestige and honor would come their way. Many of these people hoped to be the next Caesar, but more often than not, they ended up like Crassus- defeated and humiliated. All of these commanders who strayed from the formula hoped to be the former. Placiadanus is no different.
As soon as his forces were ready, he marched north on April 27th, onto the city of Lugdunum. The city must be taken as a starting point of the invasion, for it can serve as a base of operations for Placiadanus until Claudius arrives. Victorinius and his men, who were encamped outside of the city, were simply not ready for an attack from Placiadanus, but the Roman Gauls luckily spotted the scouts of the attackers and withdrew behind the walls. Before Placiadanus could besiege the city proper, Victorinius sent a messenger to Hispania with the urgent message for Postumus: Help!
Placiadanus takes no rest with the siege of the city, immediately ordering his men to make whatever necessary to assault the city. As he rested in his tent, he imagined the honor and the prestige that would be bestowed onto him by Emperor Claudius Gothicus. Placiadanus cracked a grin- it was all happening so easily.
--------------
Inside the city, Victorinius repeatedly examines all of the defences, wishing that he could field more men. He still had his Praetorians, but they were too few to turn the tide of battle if and when it happens. If assistance from Postumus did not arrive in time, southern Gaul would fall, allowing the Realm of Postumus to be effectively split in two. Aid had to come.