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"...Like two fierce beasts, the Romans and Barbarians tore at each other throughout the Mediterranean in Early Autumn. Roman legions battled the Germans in the North, the Numidians in the South and the Parthians in the East. Although Roman arms were successful in several places, they were not sufficient in other spots to hold off the tribal hordes..."

Incitare

Where brute strength failed, the Junior Consul Incitare decided to use guile against the stubborn German tribesmen. While he demonstrated in front of the Rhine with his two legions, five cohorts left Italy and darted north through the Alps, burning settlements along the way. This led to a partial breakup of the huge confederate army, some rushing south to defend their homes. The cohorts eluded them and joined Incitare, who then marched the combined force against the smaller German army (8 SP Romans vs. 7 SP Germans). The Romans wrought their vengeance for two seasons of frustration, smashing the German army, 7-4 (+3 presitge points).

There was little time for celebration, though, as messengers arrived with news that the Gauls, encouraged by the Roman failures against the Germans in summer, had invaded Lugdunensis. Much as he'd like to follow up his successes against the Germans, the Consul Incitare ordered the army to turn and march west to subdue the Gauls.

Gracchus

Knowing that the Moors were likely looting his provincial capital of Carthage in his rear, the proconsul Gracchus was determined to quickly defeat the Numidians who'd overrun Atlas. The sooner he routed them, the less damage their Moorish cousins could do. The Numidian army was of equal size to his two legions (8 SP Romans vs. 8 SP Numidians), which gave the tribesmen confidence to risk battle. Gracchus showed that he had learned their tricks in the last two years, though, and routed them utterly, 10-1, even seizing their camp (total, +9 prestige points!). Grim-faced, Gracchus watched his greatest victory yet over the tribesmen. All the taunts of Drusus' supporters would soon die in their throats.

In Egypt, Gracchus' legates dispersed the overstrength legion there into garrisons guarding Cyrenaica, the Nile Delta, Upper Egypt and Judea.

Tauruscrania

As Tauruscrania watched the new Parthian army march across the hills, he grunted in admiration. Little more than two months ago he'd wrecked one of their armies, and here was another of equal size to challenge his invasion of Cappodocia. Their dominions must be vast to summon up another so quickly. Knowing their strength lay in cavalry, the consul and his generals chose a spot where their flanks could be best protected. The ensuing battle lasted all day, raging back and forth, with both sides seeming to have victory in their grasp at times. The legionaries eventually triumphed, 10-8, and the Parthian army withdrew from the field again, beaten. Incitare's losses were substantial, too, but he knew his force remained a potent one.

Far south, the small Parthian raiding force that had ravaged its way through Anatolia continued south into Syria, burning the Levant and Tauruscrania's new capital of Antioch.

Drusus

Almost embarrassed by the way he outnumbered the invading Illyrians so badly in Summer, Drusus ordered four cohorts to march fast to garrison Macedonia and Aetolia. With two legions, he climbed north into the forested hills along the Illyrian border. His scouts came back wide eyed after making contact with the tribal army that contested the border. The tables had apparently been turned on him, as the Illyrians outnumbered him severely (11 SP to 8 SP). The ex-consul warred with his legates all night long in his command tent, adamant on attacking. Eventually, with their entreaties to remember the legion he'd lost in Spring, drowned in a sudden storm, his generals convinced him to call off the attack. "This will not sit well with the Senate and people in Rome," he warned. As predicted, weeks later, Gracchus supporters railed Drusus' clients with abuse.

Early Autumn had been an event filled turn. Three battles had been fought (all Roman victories), but three more barbarian forces remained unchecked on the map (Joel's Iberians in Spain, my Moors in North Africa, and my Parthians in Syria), and a fourth one had been activated (Jason's Gauls). The biggest event, though, was Drusus' campaign-long stranglehold on the prestige point lead had been broken. Gracchus' victory against the Numidians, and Drusus' decision not to fight outnumbered in Illyria, had let Jason sneak past me in the prestige point lead, 40-39. Joel and Allen were equally locked up, with Tauruscrania nudging past Incitare, 25-24. No longer the "First Man in Rome, " I wailed, how could this be? Was I no longer Fortune's Favorite?

More 1st Century BC Campaign

Turn 1 (Herald 42)
Turn 2 (Herald 43)
Turn 3 (Herald 44)
Turn 4 (Herald 45)
Turn 5 (Herald 46)
Turn 6 (Herald 47)
Turn 7 (Herald 48)
Turn 8 (Herald 49)
Turn 9 (Herald 50)
Turn 10 (Herald 51)
Turn 11 (Herald 52)
Turn 12 (Herald 53)