Conflict of Orders

The Plebeian Assembly is called to order by Spurius Domitius Rufus to discuss the war in the East with Sparta. The Senate failed to appoint a commander, or raise troops for the task, and thus it falls upon this body to correct that with legislation.

Any Plebeian may comment.

The proxy for Consul Marcus Decius Bellicus, liberator of Parma and Placentia and Defender of the Plebians rises

"My fellow Romans, the actions of one of our kind in the Senate were egregious and unbecoming the countenance of a Roman, let alone a Consul. To that end, I believe that the Assembly should adopt the measures put forth by our new Consul-elect and submit them here today.

Pre-approval of a mobilization of six legions: two consular, two regular and two socii, as well as 40 currently dry docked warships, come the beginning of the next consular year.

Titus Furius Pavo to lead these forces on that campaign. The nomination of legates for that campaign, as necessary, should be left to his discretion.

Consul Aurelius Cotta responded:

The Senate near universally rejected Furius Pavo’s leadership of such an expedition.

We believe that a new candidate should be selected based on this rejection.

One that is either a consul or has been consul, and one that is in Rome now, given that preparations need to begin immediately.

We will respect the will of the people of Rome, regardless of whom they selected.

Albinovanus Fango, proxy of Propraetor Domitius Corbulo, is in attendance at this assembly. When it is appropriate to speak, he rises.

"On behalf of Propraetor Domitius Corbulo I find that the failure of the Senate to pass effective legislation falls at the feet of the presiding Consul, in this case Consul Aurelius Cotta. Many others, including myself, supported comprehensive legislation to raise a fighting force against the tyrant Nabis but we were stopped by the tyrant Cotta. As we are late in the year and campaigning season is past us, this war will be fought by the Consuls we elected to lead us next year. To echo what Consul Decius Bellicus has suggested, I propose the following legislation:

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.

Article 4: Marcus Silvius Pastor will be given command of the fleet raised against Sparta.

The proxy looks at the Consul

"This is entirely your fault and you have the gaul, the absolute selfish, prideful audacity, to still put yourself forwards? The rejection was you inserting yourself into governships and campaigns that you felt entitled to, at the expense of...of..." the proxy gestures around him "all of this. You are a shame to the Plebians and a stain on the legacy of our first full representation in the Consulship."

Marcus Decius Bellicus wrote: ↑Thu Jan 06, 2022 7:00 pm The proxy looks at the Consul

"This is entirely your fault and you have the gaul, the absolute selfish, prideful audacity, to still put yourself forwards? The rejection was you inserting yourself into governships and campaigns that you felt entitled to, at the expense of...of..." the proxy gestures around him "all of this. You are a shame to the Plebians and a stain on the legacy of our first full representation in the Consulship."

I have suggested no such thing.

I have merely pointed out that the Senate has rejected Furius Pavo and that the role demands someone with experience leading consular sized armies.

All I have done; fellow Plebeians, is crush a slave revolt, disallow flogging of Plebeians as a normal course of punishment, facilitate Decius Bellicus’ campaign by selflessly putting his name forward to lead the war there, have the foresight to station two legions in Hispania Ulterior to put down the revolts there…

And yet these men all attack me…for saying I will defer to the people of Rome.

I am beset by petty, lesser men who bear grudges for facilitating their own ambitions.

All I have said is that Furius Pavo was rejected by the Senate in a near unanimous vote.

This is not in dispute. The facts speak for themselves.

Albinovanus Fango, having clearly had enough of this nonsense, slammed his hands onto the lectern in front of him and shot to his feet. He focused his attention solely onto Aurelius Cotta.

"SILENCE! You have embarrassed your family and this Republic with your petty tyranny. The Senate unanimously rejected your disgusting attempt to insert your own personal goals into legislation necessary to bring war against Rome's enemies. We unanimously rejected and continue to reject your attempts to promote your own growth. And, indeed, we also rejected your Proconsulship. Your days are finished, Cotta. I shall not even refer to you as Consul anymore."

Gnaeus Domitius Corbulo wrote: ↑Thu Jan 06, 2022 7:11 pm Albinovanus Fango, having clearly had enough of this nonsense, slammed his hands onto the lectern in front of him and shot to his feet. He focused his attention solely onto Aurelius Cotta.

"SILENCE! You have embarrassed your family and this Republic with your petty tyranny. The Senate unanimously rejected your disgusting attempt to insert your own personal goals into legislation necessary to bring war against Rome's enemies. We unanimously rejected and continue to reject your attempts to promote your own growth. And, indeed, we also rejected your Proconsulship. Your days are finished, Cotta. I shall not even refer to you as Consul anymore."

You see, my fellow Plebes, hostility, for suggesting we defer to the Assembly and demanding he be stripped of his magistry for suggesting such. A terrible thing.

Consul-elect Gaius Cassius Vecellinus rises.

People of Rome,

Possessing the dual honor of having been elected your Plebeian Consul for the next consular year, and of having had the privilege of serving the People and our Republic in the past as both Consul and Censor respectively, I must broadly commend and support the proposal as put forward by Domitius Corbulo, for it is reasonable and sensible to the needs of that campaign and the capabilities of our Republic.

In regards the nomination of Titus Furius Pavo as overall commander of the force; allow me to share a few words. I have been a productive member of our legislative system for decades now, having risen through the Cursus Honorum like my fathers and my fathers before them; more importantly I have held the office of Censor which so often requires a keen judge of character.

Having debated extensively with my future Co-Consul and taken in his vision for what ought to be the conduct of Roman forces in that campaign and our legislative action at home, I can recommend no other man for that assignment. His integrity is beyond disrepute and his interventions in the Senate have been invariably for the cause of tradition and in abiding with mos maiorum. I heartily recommend his nomination to lead our efforts in this campaign.

My only point of contention with the bill lies with its nomination of Marcus Silvius Pastor as naval legate; while I have absolutely nothing against the man, quite the contrary in fact, it goes against our long-standing tradition that commanders should pick their officers and any naval force will be necessarily a supporting one to our effort. Let us never forget, and always work to avoid, the tale of Terentius Varro and Aemilius Paullus at Cannae!

In summary, I support the bill as it is but request that the 4th Article be removed prior to it being put to a vote as this matter can be assumed to be under the purview of Article 3.

I yield the floor.

The Tribune thanks those who have spoken today. The insight has helped craft his legislation with care and precision. As a result of this, the Tribune presents this legislation to all plebeians for a vote.

Article 1: Marcus Aurelius Cotta shall immediately take his two Consular Legions, two newly raised legions, in addition to 2 newly raised Socii Legions, as well as 40 currently dry docked warships to Greece for the purposes of the defeat of King Nabis of Sparta. All associated combat and transportation fees shall be approved. He shall be granted Prorogatio and made Proconsul for the duration of the next year.

Article 2: M. Aurelius Cotta may select a Legatus of his choice.

A very large section of those seated closest to the speaker burst into cheers to signal their approval