Curia Session VIII / 195 B.C.

[Marcus Decius Bellicus]

Consul Decius Bellicus rises to open the day's business

Today's topic is as follows:

Article 1: The following forces will be funded at the beginning of the year for immediate deployment against Sparta:
-2 Consular Legions [0]
-2 Legions [1,384,560]
-2 Socii Allies [500,000]
Conflict Costs: 800,000
Transportation Costs: 600,000
Total Costs: 3,824,560

Article 2: The following naval forces will be funded at the beginning of the year for immediate deployment against Sparta:
-40 currently dry docked Quinqueremes and Triremes

Article 3: Titus Furius Pavo, being future Consul, will be assigned to command the army against Sparta and may grant commanders as he sees fit.

[Allectus Fabius Maximus]

Allectus rises to speak when called upon.

Conscript Fathers,

There really isn’t much more to say on the matter.

This has been discussed Ad Infinitum and it obviously has clear support of the majority of this esteemed and august body.

It has my full support.

[Marcus Decius Bellicus]

Conscript Fathers,

It seems there was a transposition error onto this wax tablet.

Article 1: The following forces will be funded at the beginning of the year for immediate deployment against Sparta:
-2 Consular Legions [0]
-2 Legions [1,384,560]
-2 Socii Allies [500,000]
Conflict Costs: 800,000
Transportation Costs: 600,000
Total Costs: 3,284,560

Article 2: The following naval forces will be funded at the beginning of the year for immediate deployment against Sparta:
-40 currently dry docked Quinqueremes and Triremes

Article 3: Titus Furius Pavo, being future Consul, will be assigned to command the army against Sparta and may grant commanders as he sees fit.

In addition, we should delineate the composition of the naval forces, as there are differing costs.

[Postumus Caesonius Tacitus]

Conscript Fathers,

To keep the math simple, I suggest 10 Quinqueremes for 200,000 Denarii to activate and 30 Triremes for 300,000 Denarii to activate for a total of 500,000 Denarii to activate for the war?

[Gaius Claudius Nero Liguricus]

Esteemed Senators,

I would like to make one small alteration to the Consul's proposal, in that we swap one Legion for one Socii Alae to ensure each Legion has an auxiliary support. This will cheapen the cost by 642,280 Denarii without reducing the efficacy of the army by much at all. That said, whether this amendment is chosen or not, this proposal will have my full support so we can finally lay it to rest.

On the topic of what portion of the fleet we should raise, Senator Tacitus' proposal is sound to me. Particularly so when we take into consideration the fact that our Greek allies will provide their navies to support us in this war, so combined we should be more than capable of handling the Spartan fleet.

[Proculus Lucius Regulus]

The proxy of L. Regulus, hair eternally windswept, chiseled abs peeking through his toga, immaculately sculpted face and jawline stunning everyone surrounding him, stands to speak.

Conscript Fathers,

I will support this bill in whatever version results as the end of these debates wholeheartedly, but is such a sizeable naval contingent necessary? Our Greek allies will be providing their navies, and they are very skilled seafarers and naval warriors. Sparta is not a naval power by any stretch of the term, and they have relied upon Corinth in the past to do the fighting at sea for them. However, as of two years ago, Corinth is our ally in the Achaean League, and so we have deprived Nabis of a navy and taken it to our side.
My concern, simply, is the cost. Money not spent on the navy could be spent on the army instead, which is more pressing, as the Spartans are skilled land warriors, not to be underestimated or taken lightly.

[Gaius Quinctilius Varus]

Conscript Fathers,

I would support the current proposition as it stands however honorable Claudius Nero makes astute points. I would also support the proposition if it were modified to fit his and good Caesonius Tacituses amendments.

[Gaius Cassius Vecellinus]

Senator G. Cassius Vecellinus rises to speak.

Conscript fathers,

It is fortunate that we may meet again under more fortunate circumstances; base and unroman instincts behind us, let us return to the healthy and customary discussion within these walls.

I must express my reservations as to the changes proposed by the Senators or proxies of Lucius Regulus and Claudius Nero. In regards the former I must highlight that the tyrant of Sparta has, to the extent of our knowledge, expended considerable sums of currency in strengthening his naval arsenal at the port of Gythium; it is precisely for his lack of naval allies that he has sought to transform Sparta from a primarily land-power to one with a naval component. It would be remiss of us, in my opinion, not to send a robust naval contingent. It is a poor precedent for Rome to let others take the primacy of its armed efforts, be it on land or at sea.

As for the latter suggestion to replace a Roman legion for a Socii one, I would inquire if it is not tempting fate and the Gods to reduce our fighting strength for the purposes of achieving a relatively minor saving in our treasury.

I yield the floor.

[Gaius Claudius Nero Liguricus]

Senator Nero rises and faces Senator Vecellinus before speaking.

While my proposed alteration of the legions raised will have the benefit of saving funds, the primary reason for it was to ensure each Legion will have an accompanying auxiliary force, as they always have when entering combat. That said, whatever choice is made, whether it be my alteration, the original proposition by Consul Bellicus, or even if you wish for an expanded proposal to raise 4 Legions and 4 Socii Alaes, they will all have my support. While I would like to try and keep our military composition rigid, at the end of the day, I want this passed so we can begin making all necessary preparations with haste. We've already given Nabis too much time to prepare as is.

I also must state my agreement with you on the naval situation of Sparta, particularly when factoring their friends and allies across Crete. They are most definitely not alone in this situation, and are not an insignificant threat on the seas, so we must ensure we have a strong fleet raised to control the seas with.

[Marcus Decius Bellicus]

Decius Bellicus rises

Article 1: The following forces will be funded at the beginning of the year for immediate deployment against Sparta:
-2 Consular Legions [0]
-2 Legions [1,384,560]
-2 Socii Allies [500,000]
Conflict Costs: 800,000
Transportation Costs: 600,000
Total Costs: 3,284,560

Article 2: The following naval forces will be funded at the beginning of the year for immediate deployment against Sparta:
-40 currently dry docked Quinqueremes and Triremes (30 Quinqueremes and 10 Triremes) - 700,000

Article 3: Titus Furius Pavo, being future Consul, will be assigned to command the army against Sparta and may grant commanders as he sees fit.

Article 4: The Senate recommends that Consul Titus Furius Pavo nominate two legatus for his campaign, though all final decisions shall remain his

Commence division.