Legio XVII: Battle of Zama (48 page)

Two days later, they stood on the plateau where the wall of logs had been erected.  The slope beyond was similar to the ambush site.  It was covered with decomposing bodies.  Servilius explained the tactics and Titus carefully picked his way among the foot traps.  Again he examined the armor and weapons of the dead.  When he was satisfied, the group rode down the cleared path used by Odo’s cavalry and soon arrived at the top of the lake.  They crossed the Sarca River and spotted the Legion in the distance.

Lucia was relieved to see Titus ride up.  She thought,
he looks so grown up
.  He greeted his mother than rode to join his father.  They rode side by side and Titus told him all about the battles.  Manius was impressed. The boy knew more about those two actions than he did.  Servilius joined Manius and Titus and described to Manius how Titus examined everything in great detail.  He told Manius that nothing escaped his attention.  Titus then rode back to his mother’s carriage and rode alongside her.  He told her a more sanitized version of his trip.

The arrival of the Legion at Trento was greeted with much fanfare.  King Timo was anxious to make their visit a truly memorable one.  The Legion went to the old wagon camp that was built three years earlier to hold the wagons, and the 2,000 newly graduated Legionaries before crossing over the Alps to Bad Tolz.

The King’s Residence was large enough to accommodate all the guests plus Tribunes and aides.  The multiple kitchens were geared up to prepare a variety of meals around the clock.  Over the next several days more quests continued to arrive.  Queen Bethica and Davenhardt came with Nasua and several Councilmen.  She also brought Osi and Agna, Imma’s mother, and Alina, the hero who brought the survivors out of Bad Tolz.  She hoped to allow them to tell their stories.

Segovesus arrived with his 15 year old daughter Mincia, his army commander Taluric, and the two Legates Gervasius and Bricius.

King Timo appointed an individual to coordinate with the attendees to learn of their expectations and serve as a master of ceremonies to accommodate the several speeches.  Manius was asked to give a wrap up presentation on the future of Rome.  The agenda covered a full week with most activities taking place during the evening meals in the Great Hall.  Attendees were expected to mingle with one another during the day and tour King Timo’s land.  He loved to show off the beauty of the surrounding hills and valleys and the beautiful things made from his silver mines.

Since Lucia was instrumental in selecting Rosa to be King Timo’s bride and Queen, she was most anxious to see Rosa and learn how things were working out.  They met daily and Rosa was thrilled to speak Latin and catch up on current events in Rome.  She convincing told Lucia that coming to Rhaetia was the best decision of her life.  She said, “Timo is a fine husband and father and has allowed me to play an important role in the management of the Kingdom.”

After the meal on the first night, Queen Bethica introduced Osi, Agna, and Imma.  They explained their actions during the Taurisci, Boii/Etrusci invasion of the Valley.  Agna story was particularly heartbreaking.  She explained that her oldest daughter Odila could not bring herself to talk about her plight yet.  Alina was next and told a riveting account of the siege of Bad Tolz and its aftermath.  She was asked several questions and addressed them completely and honestly.  The Cenomani attendees were grateful that they were spared such an attack.  This was the first time that many of the attendees heard any details about Bad Tolz.  Fifty thousand civilian deaths was mind crippling.  Bethica concluded the Suevi portion by describing the evacuation and subsequent reoccupation of the valley once the threat had passed.  She highlighted the indispensable role the army play in reducing the accompanying confusion and chaos.  She concluded her remarks by describing the final battle of Ala.  When she sat down, Nasua rose and told the audience about Bethica’s one-on-one fight with Aze. When he finished, Bethica was given a standing ovation.

After the following night’s banquet, it was the Cenomani’s turn to recount their experiences. Chief Segovesus first introduced his beautiful daughter Mincia and went on to recount the evacuation of his people to the nearly lake and the attendant confusion.  He freely admitted that his people were spared the worst because of the leadership of Manius and the brave Suevi, Cenomani and Raeti troops who defended the wall.  Titus and Mincia, both 15 years old, locked eyes immediately.  She smiled at him and he blushed, but he couldn’t stop looking at her.  She was the most beautiful girl he had ever seen.

Cenomani girls usually married at the tender age of 14, not unlike many Roman girls.  Segovesus kept suitors at bay since he needed her to fill a hostess role after the death of his wife.  During the subsequent dinner table talk, Mincia and Titus stole away and found an unused guest room.  Mincia was much more experienced than Titus and introduced him to a component of life outside of soldiering and battlefields.  They both fell madly in love with the intensity and passion of 15 year olds.  Neither Lucia nor Manius noticed that Titus had disappeared from the banquet.

The next night, King Timo and his army commander Sethre gave their accounts of their evacuation and the damage wrought by the same tribes that ravaged the Inn River Valley.  They described living in the Nauders Valley and subsequent reoccupation of their homes.  Raeti property was not spared, but there was no loss of life.

On the last night of the feasting, Manius was asked to give his assessment of Rome’s war with Carthage.  Manius stood up.  His arm was still in a sling and without a single written note or scrip of any kind, he began speaking.

“As you know, the land surrounding the Mediterranean has seen many kingdoms rise and fall.  I am by no means a scholar, but let me try to name some of them: Egypt, Minoa, Mycenae, Phoenicia, Mitanni, Assyria, Babylon, Hittites, Persia, Canaan, Israel, Greece, Etruscans, Carthaginians, and the Romans.  Over the last three thousand years, these Kingdoms came to power, expanded, and then collapsed or contracted.  Some were military powerhouses and expanded by force of arms while others expanded through their extensive trade arrangements.  Kingdoms were absorbed into their neighbor’s sphere of influence and disappeared or were wiped out by floods, tidal waves, drought, and famine.”

“Fifty-nine years ago, Rome and Carthage fought a war for control of the Mediterranean and several Islands off the Italian coast: Sicily, Sardinia, and Corsica.  That war lasted 23 years and ended with a Roman victory.  In the 36 years since that war ended, both Rome and Carthage continued to expand their influence militarily and economically throughout the Mediterranean.  To maintain the peace, Carthage and Rome established the Ebro River in northeastern Spain as the boundary between the two powers.”

“Thirteen years ago, in 218 BC, Hannibal invaded Italy and initiated Rome’s second war with Carthage in an all-or-nothing battle for ultimate supremacy.  Initially, the war went poorly for Rome as Hannibal defeated every Roman army thrown against him.  I bear the scars of one such failed battle.  In an attempt to gain the upper hand, Rome initiated a scorched earth policy in Italy to deny Hannibal anything useful for his war effort.”

“A year after Hannibal arrived in Italy, his brother Hasdrubal Barcid was ordered by the Carthaginian Senate to leave Spain and join his brother in Italy to deliver the final knockout blow to Rome.  He attempted to leave Spain, but ran into multiple Roman Legions commanded by the brothers Gnaeus and Publius Scipio and was defeated.  He tried again in 216 and was again defeated.”

“In 215 BC, Hasdrubal was joined by the armies of his brother Mago and Hasdrubal Gisco, but was consistently defeated by the Scipio brothers.  In 213/212, Hasdrubal was recalled to Africa to fight against Syphax, one of the Kings of Numidia and a Roman ally.  Syphax was defeated and Hasdrubal returned to Spain in 212 BC and soundly defeated a Roman army at the Battle of the Upper Baetis, killing both Scipio brothers in the process.  Eight thousand Roman survivors made their way to the Ebro River and were reinforced with 10,000 men under the Command of Claudius Nero and another 10,000 under the Command of Publius Cornelius Scipio, age 24, the son of the slain Publius Scipio and nephew of Gnaeus Scipio.  In 210 BC, the young Scipio was given overall command of all Roman forces in Spain.”

“In 209 BC, Hasdrubal evaded the Legions and slipped over the Pyrenees Mountains.  He wintered in Gaul and crossed the Alps in 207 BC.  He was met by the Legions of two Consuls and decisively defeated at the battle of the Metaurus River where he met his death.”

“Thanks to Rome’s unlimited ability to muster more men, field new Legions, and unwavering determination to see this through, Hannibal was slowly driven down the Italian peninsula and into the very tip of the land, where he is today.”

“The same Scipio who took Command in Spain in 210 BC defeated Mago and Hasdrubal Gisco last year in Spain at the Battle of Ilipa.  Scipio then sent his Legions throughout the country to break any final resistance to Roman control.  In a last ditch attempt to assist Hannibal, the Carthaginian Senate ordered Mago to go to Italy.  As you know, earlier this year Mago landed a force at Genoa to reinforce his beleaguered brother.  Since then, he has been recruiting and training allies from Gaul and Liguria.  We collectively defeated a sizable number of mercenaries enroute to join Mago, which was critical to his effort.  He is now facing seven Roman Legions with strict orders to defeat Mago or die trying.  I do not believe he will succeed in getting past the Legions.”

“Meanwhile, Scipio left Spain and is now in Sicily preparing his army and navy to invade Africa.  I expect that the Carthaginian Senate will recall Hannibal to defend Carthage from Scipio’s Legions.  I also expect that Scipio and Hannibal will meet on the field of battle and the war will end in Rome’s favor with the defeat of Hannibal.  You played a critical role in preventing the mercenaries from joining Mago and I will ensure that your feat of arms and enthusiastic cooperation will be known and praised in the Roman Senate.  On behalf of the Senate and People of Rome, you have earned our undying gratitude.  As far as the future, I believe Roman armies will eventually move north to defeat the Insubres and Ligurians and bring peace and prosperity to this entire region.”  Manius then sat down while the entire assembly rose to deliver a standing ovation.

Lucia leaned over to Manius and whispered, “Your speech was unbelievable.  You are really good!”

*******

The following day, the guests left.  The Hall seemed empty and quiet, but Timo and Rosa convinced Manius and Lucia to stay another week and depart on November 1.  Manius agreed.  Before the Cenomani departed, Titus begged his parents to be allowed to go to Brixia with Segovesus to learn about the tribe and their culture.  He said he would meet them at the wall by the Mincio River on November 3rd.  Segovesus said he would take care of Titus and the experience would be good for him.  Lucia reluctantly agreed.  Titus’ budding romance with Mincia had gone undetected.

Lucia spent every waking moment with Rosa who was thrilled with the company of a Latin speaker.  Manius and Timo rode throughout Timo’s territory to inspect the damage done by the mercenaries.  Most of the destruction was nothing more than vandalism.  Homes were burnt, monuments toppled, and fences torn down.  Because of Roman intelligence and early notification, the people had evacuated and there was no loss of life.  Timo showed Manius the site where the Raeti ambushed the mercenary scouts and pelted them with rocks from the cliffs above.  Timo said, “Beyond this site were many more such ambushes, but the first one served its purpose and the mercenaries never ventured farther down the road.”

As all good things do, the week flew by and it was time for Manius, Lucia and the XVII to start south for Rome and home.

The column met Titus as planned at the Mincio.  Segovesus and Mincia were there with him.  Manius and Lucia could not believe their eyes.  Titus and Mincia were hugging and crying!  It was a sad farewell.  When the column resumed marching, Lucia peppered Titus with questions, but he wasn’t talking.  Manius said, “Lucia, let’s leave the boy alone for a while.  It’s obvious he’s in love and grieving.  Let him grieve for now.  We can talk about it later.”

The trip was unremarkable except it was colder.  Troop morale was excellent and Manius and Lucia were more appreciative of each other than ever.  Only young Titus was still in the grip of deep mourning.  With each passing mile, the love of his life was getting farther away.  Titus and Mincia had made plans to reunite, but that was years in the future.  Titus wanted to start Legionary Basic when he turned 17 and then his life would be controlled by the Legion.  He faced a conundrum.  Should he return to Mincia and abandoned his plans to be a Legionary or let fate decide the matter.  He needed to talk to his father.

One evening Titus said to Manius, “Can we take a walk?”

Manius realized the time had come to comfort and advise his son.  “Yes, let’s go.”

They walked about 50 feet away from the camp and sat on a small grassy hill.  It was dark, but the moon shone brightly.  Cassius and Modius stood a discreet distance away.