Curia Session VI / 195 BC

[Gaius Quinctilius Varus]

Conscript Fathers,

Honorable Claudius Nero; did the Turdetani rise up, or did they invade? You rush to the defense of Good Domitius Corbulo yet seem confused on even basic details. Any investigations of the governors is second place to the impending war, which I would not have this esteemed body waste mincing more words with a treacherous tyrant.

Regardless I hold no doubt that Good Domitius Corbulo and Good Lucius Regulus have done nothing but their duties and should have nothing to fear from an investigation but Romans have died, and it is the mandate of this body to ensure all is done in accordance with Roman law and custom.

[Gnaeus Domitius Corbulo Hispanicus]

Albinovanus Fango, proxy of Propraetor Domitius Corbulo, stood.

"Patres Conscripti,

Senator Claudius Nero speaks wisely. Propraetor Domitius Corbulo asked for reinforcements from Hispania Citerior and was denied. I then stood before you asking for reinforcements and I was denied. Propraetor Domitius Corbulo, unable to accept the slaughter of Roman citizens, marched his small force into the face of over 40,000 Turdetani barbarians and brought a great victory to our Republic. The Propraetor's army inflicted great losses on the barbarian hoard and, in turn, suffered only a small number wounded. The barbarian host fled to the fortified city of Onoba where it was besieged by our army. Facing enemy Turduli reinforcements from the rear and a vastly numerically superior enemy behind defenses to his front, Propraetor Domitius Corbulo submitted himself to the Gods.

He writes that in his sleep in the command tent outside the walls of Onoba he was visited by Saturn and Mars who charged him with the immediate assault of Onoba and defeat of the enemy host. At first light, the assault was launched and within the first half hour of daylight the walls were carried and our soldiers were flooding into the doomed city. The reports of the Socii legion shattering have been greatly exaggerated. The Socii legion did take heavy losses but the casualties they inflicted upon the enemy were greater.

Hispania Ulterior is secure for the moment, and because of this I will suggest recalling the legion at Onoba to use in Greece. After a hard-fought campaign those soldiers are now veterans and will continue to distinguish themselves against the Greeks. I trust that whenever I shall hear of the V Legion, it will be of still nobler deeds achieved and higher reputation won."

[Marcus Decius Bellicus]

The proxy of Decius Bellicus nudges the Senator next to him

"Corbulo asked for reinforcements and was denied, yet won a battle. Regulus started his own fight, lost it, rejected reinforcements and no doubt will lose again. If those are the same thing then I guess I'm an Egyptian Queen!" Voice fades off into laughter

[Gaius Quinctilius Varus]

Conscript Fathers,

I do believe the Honorable Consul's proxy does not know what the word "incursion" means. You disservice your master with your ignorance and folly.

[Hostus Lucretius Tricipitinus]

Conscript fathers,

Perhaps, since we have many issues under discussion - seemingly inter-related - we need to pass a larger bill with multiple areas addressed. Otherwise, it seems as if the discussion has gone in circles: starting with Greece, going to Hispania and Sardinia, pulled back to Greece and then around again. While I am certainly no stranger to strong debate and I certainly am in favor of robust discussions in this Senate, I wish to propose the following which hopefully takes into account the wishes of many parties:

Article 1: Ultimatum to Nabis:

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.

Article 2: If Nabis refuses to back down - declaration of war for the affronts to Rome, our allies, and our legate we deployed. Upon declaration of war we will agree to raise the following forces and deploy them to Greece at the start of next campaign season:
-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

Commander and Legates will be chosen by the incoming Consuls

Article 3: Deployment of Consul Aurelius Cotta to Sardinia to put down the barbarian tribes

Owing to the chaos in the province and the lack of clear information as to the situation, Consul Aurelius Cotta will be tasked with putting down the barbarians using one of his Consular legions, in order to restore peace and order to the province.

Article 4: Return of Hispanian forces. Owing to the end of Campaign by Propraetor Domitius Corbulo, his legion and both Socii allies' legions will be recalled to Rome. With the Hispanian legion taking part in Grecian affairs (costs accounted for in Article 2). The Socii allies will be returned home after two years abroad.

Transportation Costs: 300,000

This is just a suggestion - and it is open for adjustments as needed. But it seems to take us in the direction we need to go.

I yield the floor.

[Gaius Quinctilius Varus]

Conscript Fathers,

I categorically reject the suggestion that we give Nabis a second ultimatum. Is there a Roman here who would wield the sword since the time of the pen is well past us? If only that I had legions I would bring him to heel myself!

Good Lucretius Tricipitinus you seek to clarify the argument by presenting bloated legislation?

I move for the simplest legislation of all; an immediate vote for a declaration of war against the pirate and tyrant Nabis and his mercenary Laconians!

[Allectus Fabius Maximus]

Allectus rises to speak

The legislation brought forth by Senator Lucretius Tricipitinus is both measured and reasonable. The fētiālis will conduct the rerum repetitio and if the Laconians refuse our ultimatum the legions of Rome and her Greek Allies will fall upon them faster than the steel-tipped javelin that’ll initiate this conflict.

[Marcus Decius Bellicus]

The proxy for Decius Bellicus rises

"On behalf of the Consul, who is currently busy crushing the enemies of Rome beneath his heel, would no doubt wholeheartedly support this legislation. An ultimatum from one person, acting of their own volition, was indeed given. But one backed by the full weight of the Roman Republic would surely be taken seriously, and if not, perhaps we could take a page from the books of Consul Decius Bellicus and bring those who wish ill to Rome to ruin."

[Gaius Quinctilius Varus]

Conscript Fathers,

The honorable Consul's proxy seems confused, Honorable Furius Pavo and I were not made Legates to be Rome's word abroad to "speak for ourselves" as "one man" but on behalf of the Republic. Perhaps he should remain silent from henceforth, lest he continue to further embarrass his master.

[Marcus Silvius Pastor]

The proxy for Senator M. Silvius Pastor, whose expression has fluctuated between agreement and exasperation throughout the debate, rises to speak.

My Esteemed Brethren,

We were called to order today to discuss "the developing situation with Sparta and our Graecian allies." Having done so, in some depth, I must voice my agreement with Consul-Elect, Senator T. Furius Pavo and Senator C. Quinctilius Varus - not only have our Graecian allies pleaded for our aid, but Roman honor has been directly insulted by the tyrant Nabis. The only satisfaction shall, and will be, a Declaration of War and the dispatch of expeditionary forces.

To our Consuls-Elect, may I be the first on this floor to congratulate you on your respective electoral victories - Mother Rome has placed her faith and trust in both you and your judgement. I must concur with Mother Rome, I trust you both implicitly. Therefore, I propose that the Consuls-Elect determine the appropriate composition of the expeditionary forces and its commanders in camera, for subsequent presentation and approval by the Senate if deemed proper.

So as to not mince words, which seems to be our specialty on certain days, I ask the presiding Consul to initiate a vote on the Declaration of War. Should the Declaration of War be passed, I ask the Consuls-Elect present the results of their in camera discussion in the form of the appropriate composition of the expeditionary forces and the desired commanders; with debate and a vote to follow.

I yield the floor.