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AD43 2012 Scenario:
Suetonius Paulinus has arrived in Britain
as the new Governor of the province.
Paulinus has been sent with unique and secret orders by the Emporer Nero. Rome
needs
money! The Lead and silver mines near Anavio have the potential of
bailing out the Imperial Treasury, but are threatened
by the Deangli, The
Setantii, the guerilla tactics of the Cornovii, hit and run raids of the
Ordovices, and the rogue
King of the Brigantes Venutius, who is currently exiled
(the Brigantes are ruled by Queen Cartamandua), but could turn
up at any time.
Using the Druids on the Isle of Anglesey as an excuse, Paulinus is to move
against the religion to
destroy it, and in the process, secure the mines for
Rome and, as a bonus, provide slaves for them as well. Liaison with
Queen
Cartamandua of the Brigantes has brought new agreements over the mines, which
are even richer than expected, as
long as she is protected from her exiled King!
Legio XIV under Legatus Vettius Valens, and Elements of Legio XX under
Legatus
T. Poponius Mamilianus from the largest military base in Britain in the West
near Wroxeter, stand ready to go
to war against the Druids. Legio IX, stationed
in the north east at Lincoln, under Legatus Quintus Petillius Cerialis will
hold
the line in Eastern Britain during the campaign with assistance frmm Legio II,
stationed in the south west at Gloucester,
under the Camp Prefect Paenus
Postumus (the Legatus of Leg II died only a few weeks ago.) Postumus is an old
soldier,
and of all his legions, Paulinus looks on this one as the most
unreliable because of its current commander. A new Legate
has been requested,
but it will be months before he arrives, and Paulinus cannot wait.
Moving west with half the
legions in Britain invites disaster, and must be done
carefully. Paulinus sets his spymaster Valerius Celcus and census
officer
Aurelius Bassus to ascertain the loyalty of the tribes that will be in his rear.
The Coritani are an old tribe,
and their loyalty seems firm. The Atrebates
under king Eppaticus are also loyal friends, and as a bonus King Eppaticus
reigns
as president of the native council from Silchester. The Catevelluani are
also likely trusted, though their control over
all their outliers is suspect.
The Trinovantes are far less certain. An edict from Rome will soon arrive
demanding
repayments of loans and even grants made by Divine Augustus, and the
Trinovantes could be a problem. They have been squeezed
by Roman Procurators
for years because of their location, and anger may seeth beneath the surface...
but the spies sent
to find rebellion disappear...
The Iceni likely remember their last thrashing by the Legions some years
earlier.
Led by King Prasutagus, they will remain loyal. Indeed, as long as he
sits on the throne he holds all the Britons in the
east in check. He is an old
man, and his will divides his kingdom between his Queen Boducia, who is a known
Druid sympathizer
and who is hostile to all things Roman, and Caesar Nero. Nero
has secretely determined that this will not be allowed, but
it is an issue to be
dealt with after the druids are destroyed, the mines are secured, and the
Trinovantes' loans and
grants have been repaid.
Procurator Decianus Catus, a vain and greedy man, will be charged with
collecting the revenues
from the Trinovantes when the authorization letter
arrives from Caesar, some time after Paulinus has secured the isle of
Anglesey
and the West... He answers only to Caesar, and relations with Paulinus and the
Army are strained to say the
least. Because of this he employs several
centuries of disreputable "guards" for his ventures and collections.
As
long as Prasutagus remains healthy, the plan will result in the increased
long term revenue Nero needs for Rome, slaves
for the mines, and immediate money
to fill the coffers of Rome once again. Finally the province will pay for
itself...
...
As long as King Prasutagus of the Iceni remains healthy...
---PAST SCEANRIOS---
AD43 2011
It is early AD 44. The Invasion
of Rome under General Plautius is progressing. The army has moved west of the
river Thamesis, and on the ground, operations were going well as the troops moved into winter quarters.
The long winter has been a time of resting and refitting for the majority
of the troops. As Vespasian’s Legio II has proceeded west, its supply lines
have become extended. A series of fortlets established to protect these lines
has become a constant drain on manpower. As a result the war of supplies has
become the latest battlefield. Storms during the winter have slowed Roman resupply
dramatically. While they legionaries have been able to live off the land, their
pay is already several months behind. In addition, living off the land has strained
relations with the Britannic Celts who have been allied to the armies of Rome… so far.
Supplies are finally beginning to move up the river Thamesis in an effort
to shorten the supply lines, and a number of riverside fortlets have been established to supply the army. In some of these camps, Roman Marines have been used to garrison fortlets to free up legionaries for the
coming spring offensive. One of these camps, established on the site of a former
marching camp, Fortress Lafe, has been established as a rest and refit station used to resupply the army of Rome. Each Legion has troops moving through the area to bring up supplies, and perhaps most importantly if the
supply ships get through… denarii.
Murmurs in the back ranks have grown, and as the likelyhood of pay seems
further and further out of reach, dissention grips the ranks. The centurions feel the anger, and tighten their grip on the
troops, who push back as only soldiers can. Roman Marines have been brought in
to ferry supplies upriver on shallow barges, and since the marines have recently been paid, this does not make the situation
better. Additionally many milites feel the marines are being used to prevent the Legionaries from "liberating" supplies
from the stores. Some legionaries feel that Rome has begun to value the Marines
more than the Legionaries, and more than one bar brawl has been broken up by the vitis of the centurios... including several
that have involved casualties!
One Century of Legionaries has been sent from Leg II to Fortress Lafe. Being ordered to leave comfortable winter billets to guard a supply convoy does not
add to the pleasant demeanor of the troops, they arrive cold, tired, and broke. To
add insult to injury, their arrival coincides with a period of increased infantry drill training for the upcoming operations,
and they are informed by the Prefectus Castrorum that they are expected to drill with the local auxiliaries.
Ringleaders in dissent begin to emerge as the Century of Legionaries arrive. The atmosphere is tense, and it is getting worse.
The local Governor is aware of the problems.
In a desperate bid to stave off insurrection and to improve moral, he has planned a series of military games scheduled around
the fortress in a few days. The legionaries will have the opportunity to humble
the local marines with their weapons and tactics displays. The Governor has also
decreed that a feast will be held following these games, with entertainment and fresh food.
It is hoped that these activities will take the troops minds off not having been paid in so long… if it does
not make it worse…
-------------------PAST SCENARIOS------------------
AD43 2010
In 43 AD, Claudius mounts an invasion force to reinstate Verica, an exiled king of the Atrebates. Aulus Plautius, a distinguished senator, is given overall charge of four legions, totalling about 20,000 men, plus about the same number of auxiliaries. The legions
were: Legio
II Augusta, Legio
IX Hispana, Legio
XIV Gemina, Legio
XX Valeria Victrix
The
II Augusta is commanded by the future emperor Vespasian.
The
main invasion force under Aulus Plautius crosses in three divisions. The port of departure is Boulogne, and the main landing
at Rutupiae.
British
resistance was led by Togodumnus and Caratacus, sons of the late king of the Catuvellauni, Cunobelinus. A substantial British force met the Romans at a river crossing on the River Medway. The battle raged for two days. A Cohort of Batavians
and Leg II execute a flank maneuver on which the battle turns.
The
British ware pushed back to the Thames. The Romans pursue them across the river causing them to lose men in the marshes of Essex. At least one cohort of auxiliary Batavian troops under the command of Gaius Calvus
(formerly a Primi Ordines of Leg II) swam across the river as a separate force.
Togodumnus
died shortly after the battle on the Thames. Plautius halted and sent word for Claudius to join him for the final push. Cassius Dio presents
this as Plautius needing the emperor's assistance to defeat the resurgent British, who were determined to avenge Togodumnus.
However, Claudius was no military man. Claudius's
arch says he received the surrender of eleven kings without any loss, and Suetonius says that Claudius received the surrender of the Britons without battle or bloodshed.
The Catuvellauni were already as good as beaten, allowing the emperor to appear as conqueror on the final march on Camulodunum.
The Romans established their new capital at Camulodunum and Claudius returned to Rome
to celebrate his victory. Caratacus escaped and would continue the resistance
further west.
The new capital established, the Legions settled into camp for the coming winter.
A series of forts and fortlets were established to protect the supply lines leading to the legions. During the course of winter, a series of guerilla actions by the rebels under Caratacus led to an unusual
number of lost skirmishes involving weapons and armor being sent to the Legions to re-equip them. Many of these weapons and armor have been turning up in the hands of the enemy… too many for
it to be an accident. Concerned with the success of the guerilla tactics and
fearing betrayal within the ranks, Plautius appeals to the Emporer for a special envoy to investigate the possibility of treason.
The Emporer dispatches a former Legate of Leg XIIII who had participated in the invasion and subsequently returned
to assume command of Gaul with the Emporer’s entourage after the Capture of Camulodunum.
Legatus Julianius is granted the title Protectores Augusti Nostri, and charged to find the traitors and eliminate them
by any means necessary. Dispatched to Brittania Julianus is perhaps the most
powerful man in Brittania and Gaul. Even Legate Plautius fears the power he now
wields over his own Gallic Legions, and the Legions in Brittania.
On arrival at Rutupaie, Legatus Julianus is met at Rutapaie by the Lataclavian
Tribune of the XIIII Legion, Germanicus Flavius Maximos. Appointing him Questionarius Tribunus, Germanicus has
been tasked to assist Julianus in his investigation.
Century II, Coh I, Leg II under Primi Ordines Centurio Justus Rustius Longinus participated in all the summer battles,
and was nearly decimated in the final assaults. Tasked with selecting replacements
for Leg II, they have been sent to Rutupaie for the winter. It is an easy duty
in a safe area, a reward for a job well done. They are just settling into comfortable
quarters when Julianus arrives.
Julianus decides the best thing to do is to visit the supply lines that have been attacked, and invokes his Imperium
to demand an escort. He selects the newly reconstituted Second Century and orders
them to accompany him because, as Julius says, only the II Legion did not participate in the mutiny before the invasion, and
only they can be trusted. The rumors of a traitor selling weapons and armor to
the Britons has spread throughout the army and trouble is brewing. There are
whispers and distrust. Julianus begins his tour of the supply lines, sending
out Tribune Germanicus Flavius Maximos as
his emmissary, he meets with tribal leaders along the way. These defeated Britons
have an air of arrogance about them, and the men of the century trust none of them.
Finally Germanicus returns with information that excites the Legate. Julianus
announces that a Britannic Chieftan who has led many of the guerilla attacks will surrender to him personnally and provide
the name of the Roman traitor. They will meet at a small fortlet garrisoned by
Batavian Auxiliaries under the command of a former Primi Ordines Centurio of Legio II currently serving as prefect
of a distinguished Batavian Cohort, Centurio Gaius Calvus, the Same Centurio who led the Batavians in their attack
on the North flank at the Medway, and who swam the river Thames. His men have
fought with the Sixth Century before, and the troops know and trust their commanders.
They faced iron and have shed blood together, and by their actions, the Battle of the Medway was won.
They will meet near a little known crossroads that every military convoy must
pass. It is known as Lafe…
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