Legio XVII: Battle of the Danube (11 page)

Segovesus was true to his word.  Upon his return to Brixia, he met with Manius and explained Bethica’s dilemma and her proposal.  “Timo told her he would contribute 5,000 men and Bethica is recruiting 20,000.  That would be four of your Legions, “he said.  All Manius Tullus could say was, “If the Senate and People of Rome deem this mission in their national interest and select me to lead the expedition, I will do my duty.”

On the inside, however, Manius was of a different mind.  He had just accomplished the impossible.  He was satisfied.  The thought of once again facing a hostile Army bent on killing him and his men, was a bit repugnant.  He had been thinking about retiring and enjoying life with his wife Lucia, his children, and managing his growing estate.  He had numerous ideas for improvements to his estate and was anxious to get started.  On the other hand, he was wise enough to acknowledge that his attitudes had changed dramatically in the past after more careful consideration.  Usually, after he got invested in some new enterprise, he got genuinely interested and embraced it.  He was open, therefore, to the idea that his reluctance to accept another mission could also change.  At the moment though, he doubted it would.

In July 208 BC, Ariovistus returned from Rome to Innsbruck.  He was a changed man, but in a positive way.  He had stopped by Brixia to visit with Manius Tullus, the man who wounded him, and learned what Manius knew of the Cimbri/Teuton invasion of Suevi land as well as Bethica’s proposal to seek Roman assistance.  At Rhaetia, he learned a little more of the story from King Timo and by the time he arrived at Innsbruck, he felt fully informed of all that had happened since his departure in July 209 in a wagon with the other wounded men.

He agreed with his daughter’s idea to ask for Roman help and never missed an opportunity to tell her of the good job she was doing.  He confirmed that he had no intention of seeking to be the Chief again.  He then told Bethica about Rome and the Romans and spent many hours describing all that he had seen and learned.  He was profoundly impressed.  Bethica found it difficult to adjust to her “new” more cosmopolitan father, but was pleased overall with the transformation she saw in him.

Chapter IV:  Rome Intervenes

June 207 BC

Legio XVII did not take an active part in the defeat of Hasdrubal at the Battle of Metaurus on 22 June 207, but the men of the Legion did have a bird’s eye view of the battle as they stood lined up atop the steep banks of the river.  They were there to block Hasdrubal from crossing the river, but the swift current and steep banks did the job for them.  After the decisive Roman victory, the two Consuls declared Legio XVII’s mission complete and ordered the Legion back to Rome.

Before the Legion began its long march back to Rome, the two Consuls told Manius that the Senate planned to honor him with an Ovation in August.  Manius was stunned by the news.  An Ovation was the second highest honor the Senate could confer.  Once he acknowledged the reality of it, he began thinking of who to invite to the ceremony.  He would invite his Commanders from Legio XVII, of course, and Rosa would enjoy seeing her parents.  King Timo had never been to Rome, so he would be invited.

It then occurred to him, that Segovesus, the Cenomani Chief, told him back in July 209 while he was at Brixia that Bethica was planning to cross the Brenner Pass in June 207 on her way to Rome to make her appeal for Roman assistance against the Teutons.  If her trip took place as planned, she should arrive in Rome in July/August.  She would need some time to prepare her case and it would take longer to schedule her to speak to the proper Committees and maybe even the Senate itself.  He dispatched a courier to inform Timo of the planned Ovation and to request that he and Rosa attend and then to stay in Rome to hear Bethica’s appeal for assistance.

When Timo received the invitation and told Rosa, she was thrilled!  He too looked forward to the chance to see Rome.  Then they both thought of Bethica who said she was planning to cross the Alps in June.  Timo sent riders to Innsbruck to ask her to delay her trip until mid-July, so they could all travel together to Rome.  It would be much safer if they traveled in a large well armed group.  The countryside was a dangerous place.  He asked Bethica to bring with her 100 mounted cavalry and 200 infantry for the walk to Rome.  He said he would double those numbers with Raeti warriors.  Bethica sent back word that she agreed.

*******

In early August of that year, Praetor Manius Tullus received a well earned Ovation from the Senate for his 30 month independent expedition to the Cisalpine Gaul and Austria.  He had done the impossible.  He recruited, trained, deployed, and sustained a Legion hundreds of miles from Rome with little or no help from the Roman Army or leadership of Rome.  Additionally, he defeated a much larger foe in combat and won the respect of the local tribes.  Praetor Tullus had significantly advanced Rome’s goal to expand their influence through war, economics, and persuasion.

Praetor Tullus’ ability to operate independently allowed Rome to focus on the defeat of Hannibal who was now successfully bottled up in southern Italy by 23 Legions.  Hasdrubal’s defeat was a significant setback for Hannibal who now had no access to badly needed reinforcements.  Scipio, one of Rome’s greatest Generals, was scoring significant victories in Spain.  Hannibal and Carthage were being contained, but still posed a serious threat to Roman interests.

After the Ovation, Praetor Tullus and all those who were present at the ceremony accompanied Manius and his family to his villa to relax and celebrate.  Perhaps, for the last time, he would be surrounded by the men he commanded for 30 months.  Everyone he loved was there: his dear wife of 14 years, Lucia, and their two children, his friend Quaestor
Levi, his wife Rivkah, and their son Joseph and his wife Decima; all the leaders from Legio XVII that served him so faithfully: Tribunes Servilius, Vitulus, and Tomaeus, Centurion
Andreas, his spy master Elitovius, Snake, his Illyrian archer, Rasce, his Etruscan cavalry commander, Lucani and Luceria, the Samnites
who nursed him back to health after Cannae; and Timo Bosettius, his loyal Rhaetian ally, with his Roman wife Rosa.

*******

Bethica arrived in Rome in early August before the Ovation along with Timo and Rosa, but it was deemed prudent not to invite her to attend the ceremony or to attend the following celebration at Manius’ villa.  After all, she represented the defeated foe.  She had been given comfortable accommodations befitting her high status and a small staff by Levi to help her negotiate the Roman bureaucracy.  Levi, with his in depth knowledge of the Roman Government was the key to enable her to plead her case in a timely convincing manner.  Within days of her arrival in Rome, she understood what her father had been telling her about Rome ever since his return to Innsbruck.  Like him, she was genuinely impressed with the city, its organization, and its grandeur.

Rosa enjoyed visiting with her family and Timo found Rome utterly fascinating.  While Rosa visited her family, Timo explored the city.  Besides his own body guards, Manius ensured that Timo always had several Legionaries close by in case of trouble.  Timo hoped to make the return trip to Trento with Bethica and her security forces, but was unsure how long she needed to complete her business.  He decided to wait a little longer, and besides Rosa was enjoying herself.

In early September 207, Bethica had her chance.  Everyone was extremely busy with the demands of war, so the normal bureaucratic delays and lengthy deliberations were suspended.  Making things happen quickly was the order of the day.

Using translators, she spoke informally with several Committee members and Senators.  In essence, her argument was a more polished version of the same speech she had given to Timo and Segovesus in July 209, right after the Teuton invasion.  She asked for two Roman Legions and an Auxiliary Legion all led by Praetor Tullus.  She said, “King Timo will provide a Raeti Legion and the Cenomani will coordinate the grain supply among several Tribes friendly to Rome.  We Suevi will provide another four Legions and additional animals and food.”  She downplayed the threat from Hannibal and emphasized the risk of future invasions from Germania coming across the Danube and down into Italy.  She added that her country would open trade with Rome and provide the city with the raw materials abundant throughout her land: coal, iron, copper, zinc, antimony, magnesium, and salt.  Her arguments were brilliantly composed and persuasive in substance.  She had rehearsed many times with Levi and his staff.

Shortly thereafter the full Senate was briefed on her request.  The Senate did not spend much time on her request, but questioned the rationale of providing assistance to the Suevi and not the two Tribes that now controlled her territory.  Some said that it made more sense to deal with the Cimbri/Teutons rather than the Suevi.  This idea was gaining in popularity and may have carried until two Senators who had spoken to Bethica earlier pointed out that the Cimbri/Teutons were still unknown to Rome and may prove to be hostile.  They argued it was wiser to cooperate with a known ally willing to trade raw materials rather than take a chance on an unknown.  The Senate approved Bethica’s request without further discussion and moved on to more important topics.

The fact that Tribes such as the Raeti and Suevi were contributing forces to the mission helped enormously.  Manius was directed to lead the combined Army and was told that he would retain his rank of Praetor permanently and be promoted to the temporary rank of Proconsul Pro Tempore for this mission.  The Army was directed by the Senate authorization, thanks to a paragraph Levi had slipped into the formal orders, to fully cooperate with Proconsul Tullus.  This was extremely important otherwise Manius would have received little support.  The Legions opposing Hannibal in the south as well as Scipio’s Legions in Spain drew all the available attention and resources.

Levi explained to Manius, “I argued that you be appointed Proconsul because you would then have sole jurisdiction over the anticipated future Roman Provinces of Austria and Germany south of the Danube.  As Proconsul, you can levy taxes, adjudicate legal disputes, authorize capital punishment, and raise troops from among the people.  The term Pro Tempore simply indicates that this appointment is in effect only for the duration of the expedition.”

Manius’ reluctance to accept a new command and mission was being swept away by the stream of honors he was receiving.  Manius could feel the beginnings of a new passion. As Proconsul, he would have enormous power and prestige.  He would lead multiple Legions into battle.  The challenge was daunting, but appealing at the same time.  He had a need to be challenged and this expedition would be the greatest challenge of his life.

The decision by the Senate to authorize the expedition arrived just in time for Legio XVII.  They had been scheduled to depart in one week for southern Italy to replace another Legion on the line facing Hannibal.  That order was cancelled when Levi intervened.  Legio XX and an Auxiliary Legion known as V Etrusci had recently returned from the south and were alerted to their new mission to Germania under the command of Proconsul Tullus.

A week before the Legion’s scheduled rotation, the Legate for XVII was wounded in a skirmish with Hannibal’s men and returned to Rome.  The Legion’s Tribunus Laticlavius
[Second-in-Command] was promoted to Acting Legate and he brought the Legion home.

The three Legions were housed in temporary barracks across the Tiber, but were within easy walking distance of Rome.  Even though Legiones XX and V Etrusci were in a Recuperation Status, they continued with morning physical training and drill, but were released in the afternoon for personal time.  Every evening, these troops invaded the shadier part of Rome to spend their hard earned money on drink, gambling, and prostitutes.

Timo announced that he and Rosa had to return to Rhaetia when he heard that hostile tribes in the eastern part of his territory were restive and needed a firm hand to restore order before there was open revolt.  He told Manius that, he would send a courier immediately back to Trento to summon a representative to work with him on planning for the new mission.  He named Lugano, who was the Commander of the 2,500 Raeti warriors at the Battle of Innsbruck.  Bethica said she would leave Davenhardt in Rome to assist Manius with the planning and preparations for the mission.

Before Bethica left Rome with Timo and Rosa, she felt a sudden deep sadness about leaving without Davenhardt, her constant companion for years.  When they were along for a moment, she took his face in her hands rose up on her toes, and kissed him.  Davenhardt had loved Bethica for years, but felt he could not admit it, even to himself.  Now, he was free and embraced her with passion and love.  He whispered in her ear, “I will be fine here, but I will miss you terribly.  Be safe; I will see you soon.”  He kissed her with all the feeling that he’d hidden for years.  She wept silently as she joined Timo and the large body of horsemen and infantry for the long trip north.

*******

Manius and Lucia had discussed the probability that the Senate would authorize the mission so she was not surprised when he told her that the Senate had approved the expedition.  The children were older: Flavia was 15, and Titus was 13.  Besides, Lucia was a strong Roman woman who could take care of herself and the estate.  The family would be fine in his absence.  Lucia had a defined purpose for her life.  She not only nurtured the children, but also managed the estate in Manius’ absence.  In her spare time, she enjoyed trying out new hairstyles and clothing as well as adapting new makeup techniques.  Her newest hobby was painting images on the walls of the courtyard in the rear of the house.  Between her responsibilities and interests, she led a full and rewarding life.

Despite her busy schedule, she decided to renew the organization that she had put together among the families, wives, and girlfriends of the men of Legio XVII during their deployment.  She knew the families and wives well and felt their association had provided a much needed morale boost while the men were absent.  For this expedition, she decided to incorporate the families and women of the Legionaries in Legiones XX and V Etrusci.

“Manius, do you plan to establish a Rear Detachment as you did for Legion XVII?” Lucia asked.

“Yes,” responded Manius.  “I haven’t given it much thought yet, but I could consolidate the non-deployables of the three Legions’ into one Rear Detachment.  They can serves as the focal point for communication among the families, wives, and sweethearts of the Legionaries.  Those too sick or injured as well as men near retirement won’t deploy with us, so they can staff the Rear Detachment.”

“Good,” said Lucia.  “I’ll put out the word that letters and messages to and from the Legionaries can be dropped off at the Detachment Headquarters for transport to the Legions.  Tell me when you have a location.”

“I’m afraid the letters will stack up for a while before they can be shipped north since our mission and location are secret.  Once we begin operations, the mail should begin to flow both ways.  Thank you for taking this on.  That’s very generous of you.  That’s why I love you so much.  Someday, it’ll be just you and me growing old together.  Sounds great doesn’t it?”