Curia Session II - 194 BC

[Gnaeus Domitius Corbulo Hispanicus]

"Gentlemen, please. You have both been nearly unanimously elected due to your outstanding reputations for being honest men of Rome. There is no doubt you both have the best intentions for your provinces. I believe we are not in such a dire financial situation that we cannot provide adequate forces to both provinces to ensure their defense.

My personal belief is that while the Turdetani rebellion has been crushed, there are still many other tribes throughout Hispania Ulterior and Citerior who are still very much agitated. True pacification will be a long struggle so we must ensure both provinces are defended."

[Gaius Cassius Vecellinus]

Consul G. Cassius Vecellinus rises to address the chamber.

Conscript fathers,

Let us be civil as beseeched by Senator Domitius Corbulo. If my co-Consul is in agreement, I would support a motion for the maintenance of the current four legions in Hispania should he present it.

However, it is broadly apparent, from this interchange we have just witnessed, that the lack of a well defined policy for our provinces is hurting the efficiency of our prospective candidates. While the distance from Italia to Hispania is great, this is no excuse not to have a broad strategy for our overseas territories under which our governors may operate. This is a topic I wish to return to in future sessions and I encourage all members to privately give it some thought but, for now, I ask that we focus on the matter of our current forces in the ground.

Does anyone have objections to the maintenance of the current four legions in Hispania? Two regular, two allied?

I yield the floor.

[Marcus Decius Bellicus]

Decius Bellicus rises

"The legions need to be expanded, Conscript Fathers, we cannot always rely upon the guile of leaders such as Domitius Corbulo or favor of the Gods to crush uprisings. I would recommend we double the size of both forces, for at least a year, if not more."

[Hostus Lucretius Tricipitinus]

Conscript fathers,

The matter of Hispania is certainly a topic that will cause lively discussion - particularly between those who wish to see the treasury of Rome grow before we get involved in major affairs and those who feel we must secure our rightful borders. As you have seen from my past, I am a man who leans fiscally conservative, but I would be remiss if I didn't see the danger of leaving Hispania undefended.

At the very least, the two legions we have there must be maintained. It is my opinion the Socii allies must return home - for they have taken significant casualties and have been in the field fighting for Rome for 2 years already. If we leave them in the field longer, we may risk the ire of our allies for keeping their fathers, sons, brothers and/or husbands away for so long. But overall, there is likely still simmering discontent and there is territory that is Roman in name but has not been secured yet. This necessitates a defensive force - and we've seen how ineffective militia can be.

I bring to the floor a possible alternative: We deploy one Consular legion to each Hispinin province, and return the forces currently there. This is both fiscally responsible of us, and greatly adds to the security of the region - this term being for only one year before being returned if it is the will of the Senate and future Consul. I would be remiss if I didn't address the potential stripping of Consul Cassius Vecellinu of his Consular legions: should the need arise for the Consul to leave Rome and fight, we would raise the veteran Hispania legions to fight under the Consul to ensure that we do not remain unprotected in Rome itself. Should that need not arise, then we will have saved significant coin with little risk or loss.

Let us not forget about the West while our armies march East to defend our allies. Rome can fight on multiple fronts, and we should if necessary.

Edit: Named the wrong Roman....

[Gaius Quinctilius Varus]

Conscript Fathers,

I have no objections to the maintaining of forces already present.

[Allectus Fabius Maximus]

Allectus stood up to speak, perhaps for one of the last times before departing for Greece. He straightened his toga before starting.

Good and Honest Conscript Fathers,

I have no objections to maintaining our current forces in Hispania. I do agree it may be time to rotate those legions out to allow our fighting men and allies to return to their homes, families and lands before they come to ruin.

I must however ask, what is our overarching strategy and goals in the region? Most of the tribes in our lands have been pacified to my understanding. And those by the border are the ones who we should be concerned with. Perhaps a delegation can and should be sent to improve relations and negotiate with these barbarians. Or else, we will find ourselves in an endless quagmire of military conflicts that will drain the republic treasury and manpower, making it difficult to face more determined and well equipped forces that are in our immediate vicinity like the Carthaginians and Greeks. And may Jupiter be with us if a large host of Gallic savages attempts to plunder Italia as they did so many generations ago.

[Amulius Valerius Marius]

Conscript fathers,

The Socii in Hispania must be replaced after their two-year campaign, for they have earned it. The legions we have deployed there, however, now grizzled veterans themselves, will no doubt be an unstoppable force alongside newly deployed Socii that we shall send.

I will support increasing the number of legions deployed to Hispania if the Senate authorises offensive action against the tribes, otherwise what we have should be sufficient to defend, I would think. Of course, if the Governors believe that they will be facing a large host, it would be prudent to reinforce them beforehand.

As to deploying the Consular legions to Hispania, I must object, as these are necessary for the defence of Italia - whether that be against slave revolt or a Gallic incursion.

[Postumus Caesonius Tacitus]

Conscript fathers,

I'd just like to remind everyone that we also got to pay 500,000 for Rome's maintenance this year.

[Allectus Fabius Maximus]

Allectus stands to speak once more

Good and Honorable Senators,

After much thought, I have come to agree with Senator Lucretius Tricipitinus’ suggestion and believe that the fiscally responsible thing to do is to send Consul Cassius Vecellinus’ legions to Hispania, one per province and augment those forces with two newly raised Socii or Roman legions, one going to each province as well. Rome and it’s Italian allies, at present, have the funds and manpower to raise additional legions in the event Italia itself is in any danger. The cost incurred by raising these additional legions will be offset by the tax revenues brought in from the provinces and the expectation of a successful consular campaign against Nabis.

Given the potential expenditures in assigning additional forces to Proconsul Decius Bellicus and Propraetor Quinctilius Varus, I feel that we should consider directing these legions to go beyond the borders of our territories in Hispania and quell those tribes and regions who have shown they will not negotiate with Rome nor behave as civilized men do and live amicably alongside one another. I still advocate for a diplomatic solution but men who have lived in the wilds for generations do not always respond to words but must have their actions and spirits tempered with the sword.

[Marcus Decius Bellicus]

Decius Bellicus makes a comment to the Senator next to him aghast at Senators treating Rome as if it were a pauper state