Curia Session 196 B.C.

[Amulius Valerius Marius]

This Senate session has been called to determine our governors, their terms and of course where we campaign.
Those seeking governorship as Propraetors - put your name forward and the Senate will then put a motion to vote.

Roman interests have been secured, as best they can be, against Carthage and Macedon for the time being. The barbarians in the north and in Hispania continue to resist good and honest Roman efforts to bring civilisation to them. I move that the Senate debate the following motion for the army:

That;

The four consular legions be sent North seize Placentia and defend Roman interests in that area
Two legions be raised for service in Hispania

[Gaius Quinctilius Varus]

I, Gaius Quinctilius Varus, support the motion by the Consul to raise two additional legions and campaign in Cisalpine Gaul in the north. The Boii should be taught a punitive lesson for aligning with Rome's enemies and securing the Peninsula would do much to improve our strategic position.

I humbly offer my services for command of such a force, should the senate see me fit for such duties.

[Marcus Aurelius Cotta]

Esteemed brothers of the Senate,

The Consul’s proposal before the Senate is a proposal which requires deep consideration. Rome has many concerns and many allies which require protection.

In Hispania, our allies cry out for support, and the enemy tribes stir with their Punic hate for our Republic. These same tribes annihilated a large force of our allies no less than last year, but we would leave Hispania undefended?

Are the Boii a threat to Rome? Yes. Have they harmed Rome by seizing territories from our allies that were under our protection. Certainly.

So did Carthage in the last Punic War.

But we never sent four veteran consular legions to defeat Carthage in The Battle of the Great Plains. We sent two remnants backed by a smattering of allies and the Great Scipio Africanus drove Carthage from the field, and then slaughtered them against at Zama.

Rome has always had allies, as a course of their obligations to us-their protectors, field their own legions. We should not protect those who do not wish to protect themselves.

I propose the following instead.

A consular legion shall be assigned to the propraetor of Hispania Citerior and another to that of Hispania Ulterior. These propraetors shall be tasked with pacifying their respective provinces.

The Socii and the Latins shall each be requested to provide a legion to the service of the Republic for the purpose of the campaign against the Boii. If funds are required to bolster these allied legions, the senate shall authorize them.

But Rome should not send all of its veteran legions to defeat opponents of far less worth than Carthage, and we should certainly not send freshly raised legions to fight former Carthaginian allies in Hispania.

I leave the floor to the Senators present to consider this more reasonable proposal.

[Postumus Caesonius Tacitus]

While I am certainly in agreement with sending legions to Hispania and sending some legions to Cisalpine Gaul in the north, I must ask why all consular four legions are being sent north? Traditionally, we've sent one consul with his legions up there and we still have issues in other regions that may arise.

[Postumus Caesonius Tacitus]

Esteemed brothers of the Senate,

The Consul’s proposal before the Senate is a proposal which requires deep consideration. Rome has many concerns and many allies which require protection.

In Hispania, our allies cry out for support, and the enemy tribes stir with their Punic hate for our Republic. These same tribes annihilated a large force of our allies no less than last year, but we would leave Hispania undefended?

Are the Boii a threat to Rome? Yes. Have they harmed Rome by seizing territories from our allies that were under our protection. Certainly.

So did Carthage in the last Punic War.

But we never sent four veteran consular legions to defeat Carthage in The Battle of the Great Plains. We sent two remnants backed by a smattering of allies and the Great Scipio Africanus drove Carthage from the field, and then slaughtered them against at Zama.

Rome has always had allies, as a course of their obligations to us-their protectors, field their own legions. We should not protect those who do not wish to protect themselves.

I propose the following instead.

A consular legion shall be assigned to the propraetor of Hispania Citerior and another to that of Hispania Ulterior. These propraetors shall be tasked with pacifying their respective provinces.

The Socii and the Latins shall each be requested to provide a legion to the service of the Republic for the purpose of the campaign against the Boii. If funds are required to bolster these allied legions, the senate shall authorize them.

But Rome should not send all of its veteran legions to defeat opponents of far less worth than Carthage, and we should certainly not send freshly raised legions to fight former Carthaginian allies in Hispania.

I leave the floor to the Senators present to consider this more reasonable proposal.

Just to clarify, this proposal would leave two consular legions in Rome in case other troubles arise?

[Hostus Lucretius Tricipitinus]

Esteemed Senators, Rome is still recovering from the ordeal that was our war with Carthage - while it is commendable to wish to bring the full might of Rome against our enemies, we must also remember that our treasury is depleted from years of warfare. To sustain six legions in combat, plus allies, we will all but drain our treasury. This may leave us wanting when there are greater enemies than a collection of barbarians. It will also leave us unable to properly civilize these lands for many years after conflict, for colonies are expensive as well.

So I ask that you consider whether we have the resources with our current four Consular legions to handle both subduing the Hispanic tribes we find ourselves in conflict with and the Boii. I have no doubt that two legions of Rome can secure Hispania, while the two remaining legions of Rome (backed by our allies) can begin to subdue the Boii. Our legions, with the gods at our back, will see victory - while we also refill our coffers and prepare ourselves for the fights that are to come.

And while I have the floor, I wish to make known my candidacy for Governor of Sicily. I believe that Sicily, as well as Rome, can benefit from stable leadership and the fiscal knowledge that I can bring to bear. In a time when Rome is wanting for funds, I believe I can be of use in helping fill her coffers.

[Marcus Aurelius Cotta]

Esteemed brothers of the Senate,

The Consul’s proposal before the Senate is a proposal which requires deep consideration. Rome has many concerns and many allies which require protection.

In Hispania, our allies cry out for support, and the enemy tribes stir with their Punic hate for our Republic. These same tribes annihilated a large force of our allies no less than last year, but we would leave Hispania undefended?

Are the Boii a threat to Rome? Yes. Have they harmed Rome by seizing territories from our allies that were under our protection. Certainly.

So did Carthage in the last Punic War.

But we never sent four veteran consular legions to defeat Carthage in The Battle of the Great Plains. We sent two remnants backed by a smattering of allies and the Great Scipio Africanus drove Carthage from the field, and then slaughtered them against at Zama.

Rome has always had allies, as a course of their obligations to us-their protectors, field their own legions. We should not protect those who do not wish to protect themselves.

I propose the following instead.

A consular legion shall be assigned to the propraetor of Hispania Citerior and another to that of Hispania Ulterior. These propraetors shall be tasked with pacifying their respective provinces.

The Socii and the Latins shall each be requested to provide a legion to the service of the Republic for the purpose of the campaign against the Boii. If funds are required to bolster these allied legions, the senate shall authorize them.

But Rome should not send all of its veteran legions to defeat opponents of far less worth than Carthage, and we should certainly not send freshly raised legions to fight former Carthaginian allies in Hispania.

I leave the floor to the Senators present to consider this more reasonable proposal.

Just to clarify, this proposal would leave two consular legions in Rome in case other troubles arise?

This would raise no additional Roman Legions.

This would despatch existing legions to trouble spots in Hispania and Cisalpina Gallia, while exhorting our confederates, the Socii and the Latins, to raise a legion each.

If the Senate wishes to raise additional legions for Rome - perhaps necessary - it would need to authorize those expenditures as well.

[Gaius Quinctilius Varus]

I believe Lucretius Tricipitinus to be a capable administrator and support his desire for governorship of Sicily.

[Marcus Aurelius Cotta]

Aurelius Cotta looks visibly agitated at the senator who nominated himself for the governorship of Sicily. Looking around, the Senator decides to pick a Senator at random, to try to set the proper precedent. He points and speaks:

I nominate…

A pause, as he tries to remember the name of the Novus Homo he picked…

Domitius Corbulo…for propraetor of Hispania Ulterior.

[Postumus Caesonius Tacitus]

Does Senator Domitius Corbulo accept this nomination? If so, I'd like to hear his plans for the region should we appoint him propraetor of Hispania Ulterior.