Curia Session VI / 195 BC

[Proculus Lucius Regulus]

Just a point, Conscript Father -

Only a single tribe has risen in SeC. The Caralitani Tribe has sent a few hundred men to pillage the area around Caralis. Would you send an entire consul to fight a few hundred irregular barbarians? I believe you are equating the scale of the rising in SeC to the recent slave revolt and the rising in Hispania - but you would be mistaken. This is not like decades past, where many thousands of natives have risen against us.

[TerranSteel]

And what is the governor’s position on these tribal raids in Sardinia? To merely let them loot until they retire to the hills from whence they came? No, a force must be dispatched to handle them and the return of the Consul heralds his immediate dispatch to reclaim law and order.

[Proculus Lucius Regulus]

A force has been raised, Senator.

[Allectus Fabius Maximus]

Allectus rises to speak

Can the proxy for Propraetor Lucius Regulus elaborate on what forces have been raised to combat the barbarian menace on Sardinia? To our knowledge, the savages have already cut through a group of militia and roam the countryside unopposed. I think it’s time legions are dispatched to show them Rome is not to be trifled with.

[Marcus Decius Bellicus]

The proxy for Bellicus rises

"Conscript fathers, I believe the proxy for the Governor is also one who cannot be trusted with summations of necessary forces, owing to his recent humiliation."

[Hostus Lucretius Tricipitinus]

Hostus shook his head slightly and spoke

It seems the prudent move would be to deploy a Consular legion and putting an end to the issue in short order. The militia were easily routed and the without quick defeat, other tribes may rise to join.

The cost is slight, the necessity is great.

[Marcus Aurelius Cotta]

The Matter at hand is Greece, not Sardinia.

Based on the wise words of the former consul and the former censor, I believe we should raise a force of new and Socii legions for immediate deployment to Greece to support our allies.

[Gaius Cassius Vecellinus]

Conscript fathers,

Given the several matters which have to be resolved in short notice, I propose that it be put to a vote by the good Consul, as a measure of expediency and in keeping in line with our forefathers, that an ultimatum be sent to Nabis of Sparta on behalf of the Republic. Such an ultimatum would include the following articles:

1 - The tyrant of Sparta, Nabis, is to surrender the city of Argos to the Achaean League.
2 - For the attempted bribe of Quinctilius Varus, acting in the capacity of an envoy of the Rome, he is to pay 2,250,000 Denarii worth of gold, tenfold the offered amount, to the Republic.

Given that the above is likely to be uncontroversial, I gauge, it can be voted and acted upon quickly.

As for the force to be sent, I believe that, as a bare minimum, we ought to consider no less than six legions for this assignment. The reasoning for this is that we have used four legions against the Boii which, while a fierce tribe, cannot be considered the equal of Sparta's forces. 2 consular, 1 regular and 3 socii legions ought to be sufficient.

Given the time for the ultimatum to be sent and a reply received, I believe that we can await until the next Consular year to raise our forces.

In the meanwhile it would be prudent to heed Senator Lucretius Tricipitinus' words and consider the naval requirements for this enterprise. Indeed, the Roman Navy has been allowed to fall into grievous disrepair since the war with Carthage; I would propose that a motion be put to a vote to construct an immediate fleet of 60 triremes and 20 quinquiremes and that that number be added upon on an yearly basis; on the information at my disposal I believe this size to be immediately sufficient to guarantee naval supremacy over Sparta.

I yield the floor.

[Gaius Quinctilius Varus]

Conscript Fathers,

Nabis has already rejected one ultimatum from Rome, will he accept a second, harsher one? We must declare war on this tyrant, the particulars can be bickered over endlessly after.

Of secondary importance, we must inquire into the happenings in the provinces. The defeat of militia in Sardinia and the shattering of legions in Hispania Ulterior are of concern and this esteemed body would do well to look closer into these matters, once more pressing concerns have been addressed.

[Gaius Claudius Nero Liguricus]

Esteemed Senators,

I am in support of the Senator Vecellinus' ultimatum and proposal for 6 legions to be raised and sent come the time the new Consuls enter office next year. On the matters of the navy, while I am generally in support of expanding it, I must ask, is there a need to plan a continuation of the expansion of the fleet beyond the proposed 80 ships? Our only potential or theoretical threats lie with either the Seleucids or the Egyptians, of which we have no grievances with the Egyptians, and our Greek allies can support us if any outbreak of war occurs between Rome and Antiochus.

Nero briefly pauses in talking as he turns to Varus before continuing.

Senator Varus, I feel I must point out that the Propraetor of Hispania Ulterior notified the Senate on that matter already several months back, stating that he felt his current force to be potentially too small to fight the Turdetani tribal army that rose up against the Republic, and it was left unresolved and ignored by the Senate. And yet, despite that fact, he still brought a victory against the large invading army with his small force. Losses in a battle are expected, and the fact the Propraetor Corbulo was victorious, against all odds, is something that should be praised and celebrated throughout Rome, as clearly the Gods were with him that day. He shouldn't be ridiculed for some military losses.