Curia Session III 195 B.C. / 559 AUC

[Amulius Valerius Marius]

The Proxy for the Proconsul rose to speak.

Senators,

Sparta is no friend of Rome! The Achaean League is. Since the war with Macedon concluded, the Spartans have redoubled their efforts to rebuild an army and abused our good will. Piracy from the port of Gythium has increased due in part to Sparta looking the other way and allowing pirates to raid our commerce.

Worse still, the Spartans appear to be not only freeing slaves but arming and granting them land! A travesty to be sure and not one we can simply ignore.

The Senate must send a Consul to Corinth to hold council with our friends and allies, to determine what is to be done. Either diplomatically or by force if nessessary. We must ensure Roman might is felt, and not just heard.

[Hostus Lucretius Tricipitinus]

Consul,

I am pleased to have seen the latest bill pass. I do, however, wish to bring up the status of Hispania and what forces we would need to ensure we can defeat any more unruly tribes and bring Roman rule to the lands we own, but not have yet been able to pacify. Instead of return the Socii allies, for only 300,000 more Denarii, we could maintain a more powerful force capable of supporting our legions - assuming there is a need.

I was hoping the former Governor of Hispania, or proxies for the current governors would be able to shed light on the military needs.

[Marcus Decius Bellicus]

The Proxy for the Proconsul rose to speak.

Senators,

Sparta is no friend of Rome! The Achaean League is. Since the war with Macedon concluded, the Spartans have redoubled their efforts to rebuild an army and abused our good will. Piracy from the port of Gythium has increased due in part to Sparta looking the other way and allowing pirates to raid our commerce.

Worse still, the Spartans appear to be not only freeing slaves but arming and granting them land! A travesty to be sure and not one we can simply ignore.

The Senate must send a Consul to Corinth to hold council with our friends and allies, to determine what is to be done. Either diplomatically or by force if nessessary. We must ensure Roman might is felt, and not just heard.

Senators,

I echo this call, Consul Aurelius Cotta should be dispatched to Corinth immediately.

[admin]

The end of the day is fast approaching. The senate session shall soon close and the workings of the Republic shall soon be set in motion, campaigns started, and the Senatorial Commission will land in Africa. (Read: Tomorrow when I get free time things will move forward)

[Gaius Claudius Nero Liguricus]

Consul,

I am pleased to have seen the latest bill pass. I do, however, wish to bring up the status of Hispania and what forces we would need to ensure we can defeat any more unruly tribes and bring Roman rule to the lands we own, but not have yet been able to pacify. Instead of return the Socii allies, for only 300,000 more Denarii, we could maintain a more powerful force capable of supporting our legions - assuming there is a need.

I was hoping the former Governor of Hispania, or proxies for the current governors would be able to shed light on the military needs.

The proxy of Senator Claudius Nero rises to speak

To elaborate for the Senator Lucretius Tricipitinus, my time in Hispania Citerior has taught me that to ensure the Propraetors Claudius Marcellus and Domitius Corbulo are able to not only defend their respective provinces, but ensure the tribals that belligerently raid and occupy our lands are repelled, they will require a Latin allied troop each to support their Legion. If we are able to redirect the funding from shipping the two Latin troops back from Hispania into maintaining them there with a further payment of 300,000 Denarii, I would support that motion. There are vast tracts of land that are currently occupied by the Cisiberian barbarians against the will of Rome, and if we want to properly exercise Roman authority within our own lands, these troops will be necessary for this year.

[Marcus Decius Bellicus]

Consul Bellicus rises

“I move that we immediately vote to send the Consul Aurelius Cotta to Greece to conduct a council with our allies.”

[Gnaeus Domitius Corbulo Hispanicus]

Albinovanus Fango, having adopted a much less confrontational attitude, rises.

"Patres Conscripti,

Senator Claudius Nero's proxy speaks truth. If our Republic is to thrive in Hispania, we not only need the ability to defend our territory but also to attack our enemies. We have made it a point to punish the Boii tribes for aligning with Hannibal and this has brought much glory to our Republic and funds to our treasury. But let us not forget Hannibal had many allies among the tribes of Hispania. The Oretani, the Germani, the Turduli, all once-allies of Carthage who contributed soldiers to Hannibal's army. And even now they raid deep into our territory and arouse rebellious thoughts within the tribes of our land. Now that the Turdetani tribes of Hispania Ulterior have been silenced we must not wait for our neighbors to convince them to rise again. We must launch punitive expeditions into the neighboring tribal land of our territories in Hispania to bring these tribes under our heel. There is great mineral wealth in the lands of the Turduli for our Republic to deny the friends of Carthage.

I ask for a vote to amend the bill to keep the Socii legions in Hispania for this task. The fresh legions, with the Socii Alae, would be an unstoppable force in the face of these tribes."

[Marcus Decius Bellicus]

Conscript Fathers,

I present the following motion, which I request should be put up for a vote immediately.

WHEREAS the barbarians of Hispania have betrayed The Senate and People of Rome in the past,

WHEREAS Roman soldiers have continued to free the lands of Hispania Ultierior and Citerior from their grasp,

And WHEREAS Rome must necessitate the planning of the defense of Her allies abroad,

The Senate of Rome enacts as follows:

1. The Socii Legions of Hispania are maintained for another year of service, placed at the disposal of the magistrates of those provinces

2. The Consul Aurelius Cotta is dispatched to Greece immediately for the purposes of holding council with our allies and shall deliver back a full report of the situation ongoing there to the Senate by the end of the Consular Year 559.

[Marcus Aurelius Cotta]

My fellow Co-consul’s honours which he intends to bestow upon me are indeed appreciated.

However, we have merely sent a diplomatic legatus to conduct our business against the ancient enemy of Rome, Carthage. Surely we do not require a consul to travel to Greece where a Consul’s legatus might instead be selected.

I formulate the following motion for immediate consideration, with great thanks to my Co-consul for his suggestions and draft motion:

WHEREAS the barbarians of Hispania have betrayed The Senate and People of Rome in the past,

WHEREAS Roman soldiers have continued to free the lands of Hispania Ultierior and Citerior from their grasp,

And WHEREAS Rome must necessitate the planning of the defense of Her allies abroad,

The Senate of Rome enacts as follows:

1. The Socii Legions of Hispania are maintained for another year of service, placed at the disposal of the magistrates of those provinces.

Estimated cost: 2 x 250,000 - 200,000 (previously authorized under Lex Aurelia) = 300,000

2. Quinctilius Varus shall be appointed diplomatic legatus on behalf of Consul Aurelius Cotta. He shall be dispatched to Greece immediately for the purposes of holding council with our allies and shall deliver back a full report of the situation ongoing there to the Senate by the end of Quintilis.

Given that nightfall is inbound, I shall ask for division on this now.

[Marcus Decius Bellicus]

Decius Bellicus rises

"Co-Consul, what message would it send to our allies if we thought a threat to Rome worthy of the attention of a Consul, but the threat to our closest allies were not? Surely you are not suggesting that you are unwilling to travel outside of the walls to assist our allies in what could be their time of need?"