Legio XVII: Roman Legion at War (9 page)

After two or three minutes, the whistle would sound again and he would move to the rear.  This ensured that the individual actually doing the fighting was always fresh.  No other army used this technique.  The average Roman was probably about 5’4” tall and weighed 130 pounds.  After two or three minutes of 100% effort, both physical and mental fatigue would set in resulting in near muscle collapse and inability to concentrate.  A non-Roman fighter fought until he was killed or so exhausted that he simply moved himself out of the battle line.

The Romans advanced from both directions, throwing volleys of javelins, which devastated the lightly armored
Gaesatae
at the rear, who were fighting with only small disk shields. Some rushed wildly at the Romans and were slaughtered. Those who survived the flying missiles withdrew into the body of the Gallic army and caused disorder as they desperately pushed through their own ranks.  The Romans advanced relentlessly, thrusting rapidly with their short sword and butting down opponents with their broad heavy shield.  As the Gallic ranks compressed tighter and tighter, even the vaunted Gallic sword became useless.  The fighters were so tightly compacted, they could not raise their arms to swing their swords.  The last thing many Gauls saw that day was a Roman shield smashing hard into their face and chest and then a quick sharp stabbing pain in their stomach.

Papus instructed his two Legions on the flanks to swing around the Legion to their front, and push the Gauls on each flank.  Both Legions executed the maneuver on the run, formed a 500 man
Hastati
front line followed by the
Principes
and
Triarii
, and attacked the flanks of the Gauls, who were already fighting the three Legions in the center.  The slaughter began and continued until no Gauls were left standing.  Earlier, Papus readied his cavalry to attack the Gauls should they break and run for cover, which they never did.

In the front, Regulus’ 15,000 Legionaries tenaciously held their ground against the 30,000
Boii
and
Taurisci
who were fighting more defensively than offensively.  The large protective Roman shields, thrusting short swords, and rotating ranks were more effective than the Gallic smaller shields, slashing long swords, and fight until-you-die tactics.  Finally, Regulus’ cavalry rode down the hill into the Gauls exposed flank and clinched the victory. The Gallic infantry was finished and their cavalry put to flight.  The fight had lasted four hours.

Even in victory, Rome lost 10,000 Legionaries, which is approximately 1200 per Legion or 1 of every five men.  It was an extremely high price to pay, but prevented further devastation of the Italian countryside and even the possible sacking of Rome.  It was a price that Rome was willing to pay to preserve their Republic and way of life, but as King Pyrrhus of Epirus said in 279 BC after winning a very costly battle, “one more such victory would utterly undo him.”

Around 40,000 Gauls were killed and 10,000, including Concolitanus, taken prisoner. Aneroestes escaped with a small group of followers, but later committed suicide as the Roman cavalry closed in. The loot that the Gauls had taken from the Italian countryside was distributed among the Legionaries.  It would have been impossible to return it to the looted villages, many of which were burned and the residents killed.

Rome was spared; the Gauls,
Boii
,
Gaesatae,
and
Insubres
were defeated, and Manius grew in reputation and status.  For his actions, he was awarded the
corona aurea
[gold crown].  Manius also recommended numerous awards for his Legionaries including the
torques
[necklaces],
armillae,
[armbands] and
phalerae
[embossed discs worn on the uniform].

Before any of the Roman or Gallic dead were removed from where they fell, Manius was appointed to lead a team of fellow Centurions from all the Legions to walk throughout the battlefield and observe the manner of wounds most common to Roman Legionaries.  His Legate told him that Papus would use the information to recommend alterations to Roman equipment.  Having performed a similar task less than two weeks earlier, Manius knew what faced him and he did not relish the assignment.

Nonetheless, Manius organized the Centurions, assigned scribes to keep track of the data, and dispatched the teams.  He hoped to have their result later in the day and present his findings to the Legate early the next morning before the Legions would begin gathering their dead for the funeral pyres.

Once all the Centurions provided him with the results of their observations later that evening, Manius prepared his briefing for the Legate.  Essentially, the Centurions discovered that Romans died from Gallic arrows to the face, sword blows to the face and back of the neck, and severed arms.  On the positive side, the newly reinforced shields prevented most downward slashes from doing any real damage.  It was also evident that a few Legionaries had removed the iron bars welded to the top of their shields to lighten their load during the march.  Thankfully, the Gauls were unable to use their
ballistae
in this battle.  They sat unused with the wagons and were shipped back to Rome for analysis.

The Legate listened intently as Manius presented the Centurions’ report and sent him to brief the other Consul, Papus.  When Manius finished, Consul Papus thanked him for his good work and instructed him to present the briefing to a man named
Quaestor
Levi when they returned to Rome.  Manius did not know Levi, but would find him.

Manius intentionally withheld one of his own observations from the Consuls.  He noticed, as did several of the other Centurions, the deadly effectiveness of the enemy archers.  Yet, Rome did not believe in archers.  They were viewed as cowards.  Sword to sword was the only manly way to fight and win battles, but he was beginning to have second thoughts.  He remembered that early in his career he thought that only men of the
Hastati
were the real fighters and noted how his thinking changed when he was moved to the
Principes
.  Maybe archers were warriors also.

Two days after the battle, the Romans collected their dead, removed salvable uniform parts such as body armor,
gladius
, and helmets and burned the dead in 10 great funeral pyres.  Gallic prisoners were similarly employed gathering their dead and burying them in long deep trenches, which they dug.  The entire Roman army was totally engaged in this activity either burning their dead or guarding the prisoners while they buried theirs.  It was a distasteful, but necessary duty.  Great piles of Gallic iron weaponry grew at several points around the battlefield as teams of prisoners collected them for resmelting and reuse as Roman helmets, swords, and body armor.

After the battlefield was cleaned up, Papus had one more task to complete. The next day, he announced his intention to lead his five Legions east across the Central Apennines and conduct a punitive expedition against the
Boii
in northeast Italy for their participation in this attack on Roman territory.  He would later use the spoils taken from the
Boii
for his triumph in Rome three-months later.

When Manius heard about the punitive expedition against the
Boii
, he had mixed emotions.  He agreed it was necessary as a future deterrent, but he did not like it.  It was not fighting for Rome; it was not honorable; it was not worthy of a Legionaire.  He knew that all the villages would be burnt; livestock killed; woman raped and the men killed or taken as slaves.  It repelled him.  And worst of all, he knew it would cause widespread resentment and hatred of Rome and only lead to further wars with the
Boii
.  It was bad policy.

With so many
Boii
and I
nsubres
men lying dead on the battlefield, their families back home were already doomed to a miserable existence.  Who now would do the planting and harvesting or tend to the animals?  Rather than punish them, Manius was beginning to think that Rome should treat them with kindness in their defeat.  Nonetheless, he trusted his Commander’s judgment and was prepared to participate in the slaughter ~ still it greatly troubled him.

Of the 10,000 Gallic prisoners taken in the battle, 2000 were to remain in Rome for construction projects and the rest were sent to work the Roman mines that harvested iron, copper, tin, lead, and the precious metals of gold and silver.  It was a death sentence.

The day before the Legions were to break camp and march north, Manius’ Legate summoned him.  Papus wanted Manius to go back to Rome immediately to brief Levi and begin the process of applying the lesson learned in this campaign before Rome was faced with yet another war and more unnecessary casualties.  He was told to depart immediately.  Manius felt an immense weight lifted off his shoulders.  He bade farewell to his Maniple, mounted his horse, and began the journey back to Rome.

As he rode away from the camp, Manius was relieved that he would not have to participate in the upcoming
Boii
campaign, but saddened that he would not be with his troops.  He would miss their good natured banter, the shared hardships, the complaints about the food and weather, the talk around the camp fires, but he had to let it go for now and focus on his new mission.  He was a soldier.  His brother’s helmet was safely stored in his personal wagon with the rest of his gear and would eventually follow him back to Rome.

After Manius arrived in Rome, he immediately went to the Forum’s Temple of Saturn and scheduled a meeting with Levi, which was to be in two days.  Manius used the two days to clean himself and his gear and prepare a more thorough briefing for Levi.  He ate and drank sparingly as he adjusted to civilian food and thought of his troops who were now on the march to
Boii
territory.

Manius also planned to use the two days to notify his mother Flavia about the death of her son Gaius in the Battle of
Faesulae
.  She was already frail and in poor health.  He feared the news would make her condition worse, even though it would not be entirely unexpected.  The mothers and wives of Roman soldiers always expected this day would come.  Dealing with it however, was never easy.  He also had to notify Gaius’ 24 year old wife, Lucia.  Strangely, he was filled with a sense of anticipation over the prospect of seeing her even though he knew the news would be devastating.  She was so dependent on Gaius.  He envisioned her eyes filling with tears and her pretty face contorting with utter despair over her loss and bleak future without him.  Her one year old daughter Decima would now grow up without a father and in poverty.  Manius felt his throat tighten and his eyes unexpectedly filling.  His anticipation turned to dread.

He and Lucia had a history.  His mood brightened as he recalled their brief romance not that many years ago.  He was tempted to ask her to marry him then, but Army business got in the way.  If truth be told, even though he loved her, he thought a wife and the Army were somehow incompatible.  His real love was the Army.  His brother, on the other hand, harbored no such illusions and began to court her intensely; they married one year ago.

The Battles of
Faesulae
and
Telamon
seemed to have affected Manius in ways he had not anticipated.  He still loved the Army, but, now, he more fully realized that death can come at any moment and it is permanent! Like so many others, his death would be forgotten in time and as irrelevant as a thrown
pilum
.  He now longed for more meaning; one based on the permanence of another caring human being ~ and even children!  He was aware that his heart was turning once again toward Lucia.  His dread dissolved and the anticipation of seeing her returned.  Now he desperately wanted to see her.  He wanted to hold and comfort her. Manius loved and respected his brother and felt his death deeply.  He began to wrestle with feelings of guilt for wanting to see Lucia.

Rome was in a state of war and all military personnel were instructed to go about their daily business in full uniform: shield, weapons, and armor.  He would have preferred to wear civilian clothes, but the Senate was concerned about public order and the need to protect lives and property.  The people of Rome were easily aroused and could quickly form loosely organized mobs.  The Senate hoped that the sight of so many uniformed men would have a calming effect and remind everyone of the danger.

It took him about an hour to reach his mother’s house.  She seemed to know what he had to say before he said it.  She took the news more stoically than he expected and immediately busied herself with cooking dinner for Manius; the subject was dropped for the moment.  He stayed with her until she began to fall asleep later that night.

Over dinner they chatted about the boys’ childhood on the Tiber fishing with their father, the fish market, and trips into the city.  Those were happier times for everyone.  She asked if he had told Lucia, Gaius’ wife.

“No, not yet” he replied, “but I will tomorrow.”  They were quiet for a moment then they both laughed as they recalled how hesitant and shy Gaius had been about courting Lucia.  “After all,” he would say, “I am 16 years older than her and her father rejects every suitor that shows up on her door step.”  Gaius’ elderly father encouraged him to pursue Lucia.

“She is already 21, well past the marrying age because her father keeps holding out for a rich man.  This might be her last chance for a good husband.”  He was right.  Lucia’s father relented and they married four months later and one year before his death.

Flavia suddenly blurted out, “She and the baby can stay with me.  I could use the help and she will need a place to stay.”

Manius helped her to bed and returned to the barracks at
Martius
.  The walk back made him feel better.  The next morning, after intense personal grooming, Manius set out for Lucia’s house.  His sense of dread returned.  How should he tell her the bad news?  He would leave out the part about the gash in his helmet.  He died quickly, which was true, and honorably of wounds received on the battlefield.  That would be enough.  She would not ask for more.

He was now in that part of Rome commonly called “Soldiers’ Town” because so many members of the Roman garrison lived there.  It was not the most attractive part of Rome, but it provided adequate housing at a reasonable price.  He knew the wives on the street would be watching to see to which apartment he went.  They could sense it was a death notification.  He avoided eye contact and quickened his step.  Sweat began to collect on his brow and upper lip.  He felt terrible and just wanted to be somewhere else.

He knocked on Lucia’s door and stepped back.  His heart and mind were racing.  He heard a child crying as the door opened.  She was beautiful!  She stared at him.  His mouth tried to form words; his brow furrowed and he averted his eyes.  She knew!  Words were not necessary.  She cuddled the now silent Decima and turned away from the door.  He followed, leaned his two
pila
against the wall, and removed his helmet.

She had her back to him and asked, with tears streaming down her face, “Did he suffer?”

Manius shook his head.  “It was quick.”  Then he stammered, “I want to help you and Decima.  I have some money saved.  You will not want for anything.  My mother would like you to move in with her.  It is a good idea, please consider it.”  He said all that with one breath of air and felt dizzy as he took a deep breath.

Lucia sat, rocking the baby, and wept.  She wept for Gaius, for Decima, and for the kindness of Manius.  She had no income and few possessions.  Legionaries were not rich.  She held Decima close.

Manius stood next to her and said, “Lucia I am so sorry.”  She began to cry again.  In a gentle voice he asked, “May I come back tomorrow.  It would be late in the day.  We could talk about my mother’s offer.”  She nodded.  He reached out and touched her shoulder and said, “Think about it; for the baby’s sake if nothing else.”  He took a step backwards, turned, put his helmet on, retrieved his
pila
, and walked out the door.  He felt relieved.  He had done his duty; he would care for her and the child.  As the brother of her fallen husband, that was his obligation after all.  But secretly, it was more than that.  He realized that he still loved her.