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As rain lashed the Mediterranean, boding the approach of Winter, most Roman armies and barbarian forces dispersed to garrisons and crowded around their hearth fires. Only Gaul was muddied by the marching and countermarching of armies. Elsewhere, Rome's generals made careful dispositons for the troops' comfort during Winter, then packed their kit to join the political scheming in Rome for the Senate Elections.

Late Fall in the campaign tended to be a less busy time. The rules dictate that, to control a province, a player must have forces in more than half of its regions. Also, any Winter movement causes a player to forfeit half of his reinforcements. This forced armies into dispersed, immobile garrisons during Winter, as was the case, historically.

Incitare

Despite Germany laying open after his victory in early Fall, Incitare was forced to turn back to defend the province of Lugdunensis from a Gallic invasion. He rued his decison earlier this year to forego conquering the last Gallic stronghold. Now, a large force of free Gauls and rebels (9 SPs) was harrying his rear. The junior consul hurried his two legions (8 SPs) to engage them. Having spent the last two years fighting Gallic or German warbands, Incitare's legionaries had little trouble routing the troublemakers, 9-5 (+4 prestige points). Gaul was re-pacified.

As his legions built Winter camps in Gaul, his couriers brought disturbing news. Unconquered German tribes had surged across the river and retaken the province of the Rhine. Incitare sighed. These northern barbarians were an evil-tempered lot! Stamp out one fire and another rises...

Drusus

There were worse places to spend winter than Greece, Drusus' legionaries knew. Dispersed along the Illyrian and Thracian border, the troops made themselves comfortable and pitied their snowbound comrades in Gaul. Their commander was on his way to Rome, they knew, to receive his accolades from the Senate. This had been a tough year for the old man, what with the shipwreck in Spring and the retreat from the Thracians in the Fall, but their general would pull through. Rome had to know he was still their best, and Drusus' legions the finest, eh?

Tauruscrania

After pacifying his newly won slice of Parthia, the Consul Tauruscrania split his forces. One legion marched west to Winter in Cilicia, while the remainder of his troops chased the Parthians who had raided through Asia and Syria. His foot troops couldn't catch the mounted Parthians, though, who burned their way southwards into Judaea -- besieging the local garrison in Jerusalem. Tauruscrania snorted. Judaea was Graccus' territory, so the Parthians were now HIS problem. After a full year of marching, he had finally arrived in his allotted province of Syria.

Gracchus

A heat wave in the Libyan desert threatened to prostrate his men. Gracchus watched them struggle westward, their bodies showing the toll of a hard year of campaigning. He frowned and made a decision. ' Tiberius," he called to his chief legate, "the Moors are going to have to wait. Put the men into the Libyan forts and let them rest and refit during Winter. The gods will have to look after our citizens in Carthage, because our citizens here are exhausted." As word filtered through to the army, Gracchus acknowledged the cheers of the men. His mind was on Rome, though, where he would soon take ship for. This would be the first year where HIS influence was paramount, and he'd see if he agreed to any more of Drusus' schemes this year!

After two years of campaigning, Gracchus (Jason) now led in prestige points with 51. 1 was next with Drusus' 44, while Allen's Incitare was third with 37. Tauruscrania (Joel) had 31. A wild and wooly session of political wrangling ensued. As easily as I had bent the others to my will last year, this Winter was the total opposite. Allen and Joel -- like true brothers -- colluded to befuddle the two front runners.

Incitare's plan won the vote, with him remaining in Italy as proconsul. Tauruscrania would stay in Syria, likewise, as proconsul. I was deposited across the Mediterranean as Praetor (governor) of the newly-organized (by Gracchus, no less!) province of Egypt. This meant another sea crossing and desert raiders like the Arabs and Blemmye to fight. Gracchus seemed to get it worse, though. He was ordered to Hither Spain, which had only one tiny region of Iberia to conquer. Why had he not used his votes to block this plan? Did Gracchus even plan on obeying the Senate's decree? Would I? Or did civil war loom in the Rome 's future? As Drusus, I wished I knew what was going on in that wily Gracchus' head...

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)
Turn 13 (Herald 54)
Turn 14 (Herald 55)
Turn 15 (Herald 56)