Curia Session IV - 194 BC

[Gaius Cassius Vecellinus]

Conscript fathers,

We meet once again today in our beloved Curia Hostilia for yet another Senate session; with your cooperation I expect it to be productive and in keeping with the best traditions of our Republic.

The order of business for the session, barring any amendments as necessary, will be as follows:

1. Reports of magistrates, promagistrates and those expired their term in office the past year
2. Old business
   1. On the construction of mercantile infrastructure
   2. Propraetor Quinctilius Varus request for a declaration of war on the Ilergetes
   3. Discussion on the policy of our Republic in regards the provinces
3. New business
   1. Other new business as presented

I wish to return to the matter of constructing an Emporium in the city of Rome as it appears that a few, commendable, individuals have pledged to donate funds towards the project. While such a project could be built as a private enterprise it would require, I'm told, a formal law for it to become a public enterprise for the benefit of the city and the Republic.

As such, I have used my prerogative to peruse the annals on prior discussion on the project and edit former proposals into a new motion that better reflects the new reality.

Inasmuch as it may be good and fortunate for the Roman people of the Quirites, we bring before you, conscript fathers the

LEX DE CONSTRUENDO EMPORIUM ROMANUM (Law for the Construction of the Roman Emporium)
Sponsors: Amulius Valerius Marius, Hostus Lucretius Tricipitinus, Marcus Aurelius Cotta, Marcus Decius Bellicus, Marcus Silvius Pastor and Postumus Caesonius Tacitus

CONCERNING the mercantile infrastructure of Rome, a number of Roman citizens have aired grievances that the current mercantile infrastructure is insufficient to meet the steady growth of commercial trade being conducted in Rome;

WHEREBY a survey of the lands surrounding the Forum Boarium have deemed it virtually impossible to expand the mercantile facilities;

WHEREBY Roman surveyors have identified an ideal plot of land, southwest of the Aventine Hill and alongside the banks of the Tiber;

WHEREBY these surveyors have calculated the estimated cost of construction for an Emporium at the above location;

WHEREBY the Aediles and Quaestors of Rome have voiced their approval to the proposition set forth below and have attached their signatures of endorsement;

THEREBY the Senate, on behalf of the People of Rome, deems it necessary to begin construction on the Emporium following the conditions below:

I. The construction of an Emporium, to cost 220,000 Denarii, along the banks of the Tiber is hereby authorized;

II. Improvement works, costing 65,000 Denarii, such as removing silt from high traffic areas, and general improvements to Ostia to facilitate the piloting of ships through the mouth of the river, as well as docking capacity for ships which choose to send their cargo up the river via towed barges, are hereby authorized;

III. The funding for its construction will be secured through a number of pro bono donations from the sponsors of the present bill publicly pledged as: 110,000 denarii from Marcus Silvius Pastor, 65,000 denarii from Hostus Lucretius Tricipitinus, 55,000 denarii from Marcus Decius Bellicus, 49,000 denarii from Amulius Valerius Marius, 4,000 denarii from Marcus Aurelius Cotta and 2,000 denarii from Postumus Caesonius Tacitus;

IV. The project will bear testament to the generosity of its donors through inscriptions on visible places of their names and respective contributions;

V. The Censor, or in his absence the Aediles, will be tasked with conducting and surveying these works;

Written into the annals in the consular year 194BC of Gaius Cassius Vecellinus and Titus Furius Pavo.

What does it please you should be done about this matter?

I yield the floor to debate.

[Allectus Fabius Maximus]

Primus Proximus Maximus stands to speak.

Conscript Fathers,

I wish to inform the Senate that Legate Fabius Maximus wholeheartedly supports this measure and agrees that the construction of the Emporium is and will be a great benefit to Rome and it’s people. He further wishes to commend and recognize the individuals who have selflessly contributed to the cost of the project and hope they are similarly recognized as a whole by the Senate and People of Rome for their devotion to this City and the embodiment of good Roman morals and values.

[Gaius Cassius Vecellinus]

The Consul rises.

Conscript fathers,

I was operating under the wrong impression that the construction of an Emporium and accompanying works required a formal authorizing law; it appears that this is not the case. My apologies to the Senate for needlessly returning to the issue and my commendation to the individuals who have worked together to make this possible.

Moving on.

I invite the Senator in representation of Gaius Quinctilius Varus to present, once again, his case for a war against the Illergetes and Senators who may be against such a motion to present their counter cases. In particular, I also ask the Propraetor's representative to share what intelligence is available in regards that tribe's strength, its relationship with nearby groups and the likelihood of the latter partaking in the conflict.

It is my personal belief that such a tribe, having previously exploited to great extent the animosity between Carthage and Rome for its own gain, often switching sides, and as of late having refused to fulfill their obligations towards Rome, is best reduced to the status of a tributary. If this can be conducted with local resources, all the better.

I yield the floor to debate.

[Hostus Lucretius Tricipitinus]

The proxy for Lucretius Tricipitinus rose

Good Consul,

I was under the impression the general sentiment from the Senate was that the Propraetor, Quinctilius Varus, did not need permission from the Senate. As was explained, despite being a subject, they have not paid their required tribute nor fulfilled their obligations. The actions that the Propraetor wishes to take are well within his Imperium and there is no need for a declaration of war, nor other permissions, from the Senate itself.

The update and information provided by the Propraetor's representative has been well detailed and explained - a refreshing change after the debacle in Sardinia with former Pro-praetor Proculus Lucius Regulus. As such, he deserves our confidence and latitude in ending the affair on terms he sees fit.

I yield the floor.

[Gaius Cassius Vecellinus]

The Consul rises to address Senator Lucretius Tricipitinus.

Conscript father,

While we have agreed often on many a discussion, I think the time has come for us to disagree even if it may be only a matter of definition. My perspective on the power of the Propraetorship and the Proconsulship is that these promagistrates should, and have, broad latitude to deal with any situations inside their provinces and any thrust upon them by events outside their direct control.

A provincial rebellion, an unprovoked attack from a nearby tribe, a civil dispute, the managing of existing tributary relations, these are all matters that would fall well within the prerogative of a governor. This matter, however, is, in my appraisal, rather different in that the Propraetor is proposing that he move his forces offensively into the lands of another who, despite having wronged us in a distant past, has not done so in recent years to the best of my knowledge.

Such an action, not a reaction, may provoke a cascade of events which will see the resources of the Republic tied up in a matter which its Senators did not decide nor command. Criticism was levied on former Propraetor Regulus in Sardinia for his potential role in starting the provincial deflagration, but now we are ready to admit that such an action, if it took place, was well within his prerogative?

This is not to say that I am against this conflict, on the contrary, but it must be commended that the Propraetor has contacted and sought the approval of the Senate before doing so.

The power to wage declare wars and handle diplomacy has been carefully and judiciously safeguarded by the Senate for its possible implications for our people; I heartily support that we keep it as it is though am ready to acquiesce to whatever is the majority opinion of the Curia.

I yield the floor.

[Gaius Quinctilius Varus]

Quintus Quintius Quietus rose to speak, the same look of pride upon his face as the first time he approached the subject.

Conscript Fathers,

My good and honorable friend Quinctilius Varus wishes for all he does to be seen as right and legal by the Senate and the Republic, he therefore asks me to express his desires to this august body for approval for a conflict with the Ilergetes with the goal of defeating them and making them a tributary of Rome. As requested here is a simplified report on the overall situation:

Casus Belli:
For multiple betrayals of Rome and for the cessation of their alliance and tribute the Ilergetes have shown their duplicity and warmongering as a perpetual threat to the Republic.

Forces Marshalled by the Republic:
One Veteran Legion
One Latin Socii Ala

Expected Opposition:
Moderate Strength tribe
Likely 20-35,000 barbarians

Potential Enemy Allies:
Unlikely, the Ilergetes raid all of their neighbors and have continually sought to expand, still there is the possibility they raise mercenaries or young warbands join them against Rome.

Potential Allies:
The Bergistani will be asked to aggressively raid Ilergetes borderlands to distract some of their forces from marshalling against Quinctilus Varus's army.

I would address a point good Lucretius Tricipitinus touched upon, the failures of recent promagistrates have all been tied with one fact; the reluctance to spend adequately on martial arms. With funds still in the treasury, good Lucius Regulus hesitated to raise more forces with barbarians at the gates. When sandwiched between two armies and forced to fight his way out for very survival, Domitius Corbulo was rejected reinforcements by this august body. When Furius Pavo's force to face the Laconians was presented on this floor, we squabbled over cost savings to fund a war. Indeed does not our glorified warfighter and veteran Decius Bellicus practically howl at the senate for more soldiers? Either these noble and good men have fallen to lunacy, or this esteemed body has been overly prudent in funding that which is necessary to accomplish the tasks at hand.

To make my point, while Quinctilius Varus alone stands the equal of a legion when on the field of battle, I would ask this august body to further tip the scales towards certainty in the coming conflagration; one supported by the previous Governor of Hispania Citerior and a conflict which none so far has voiced opposition for. In his due diligence as governor, honorable Varus has found that it is possible to raise Socii from the allies of Rome within Citerior, which would save the immense cost of transporting them. As part of this formal approval, I would ask that the Senate agrees to raise a local Socii Ala from the Iberian tribes, a cost which is more than covered by funds already submitted to the treasury from Citerior.

[Marcus Silvius Pastor]

I must voice my agreement with those Senators who have spoken before me - it is my understanding that the Propraetor, Senator C. Quinctilius Varus is well within his Imperium to launch a campaign against these treacherous Ilergetes; however, if he would like the approval of the Senate to commence military operations against these Barbarians, I say that we should provide him with that approval by acclamation!

The Propraetor also requests that the Senate disburse funds for a Socii Ala to be raised locally from within Hispania Citerior. While such a request involves a financial commitment, I believe that it is a price worth approving for the following reasons. First, as enumerated by the proxy of the Propraetor, the Senate has previously placed Roman lives in jeopardy in the name of financial prudence. While such rationale should be limited to isolated instances, the pattern presented before us demonstrates a pattern of inexcusable and dangerous negligence which must cease. Second, for those unconvinced by the preceding point, the 100,000 Denarii transportation cost has been eliminated by the Propraetor due to his commendable coalescence of willing Hispanian allies into a Socii Ala. Third, the military cooperation of a veteran Roman Legion, a Latin Socii, and a Hispanian Socii fighting together as a single army will simultaneously demonstrate Roman might and benevolence to other tribes - they may have our protection via tribute, but the moment they betray us as the Ilergetes have, they shall justifiably face our wrath and that of our loyal allies.

[Gaius Claudius Nero Liguricus]

Conscript Fathers,

I will not take up much time on this as I have already spoken on this matter before, but as other Senators have said, this matter should easily be within the purview of the Propraetor's Imperium to handle. When I was elected as Propraetor of Hispania Citerior, I did not ask the Senate if I was allowed to fight the Bergestani tribe, and suppress the numerous minor tribes revolting within the province, I simply did so. That said, I am thankful that Propraetor Varus thought to inform the Senate of this matter, for he has brought up another issue that is most concerning to me, the Ilergetes has an army. They are in direct violation of the treaty to demilitarise their tribe in exchange for becoming a tributary of Rome, and it only serves to further solidify a case against them.

However, if the Senate must state its approval before he may begin, then let it be known that I support this endeavour.

[admin]

I would just like to point out that it is not my intention to go through and research through every tribe who borders on Romes vast territory and read Polybius or Livy to determine if they should be providing tribute or not. Your annual incomes were derived to be in line with what Rome had historically, including any tributes. You are not losing out on income by not having the tributes. If you would like to make war on someone, or extract tribute on top of this, be my guest, that is entirely within your power.

[Postumus Caesonius Tacitus]

Proxy for Caesonius Tacituc speaks

Conscript Fathers,

I also support this endeavor, either formally in a vote or informally with this statement and allowing the propraetor to do what he must.