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Citadel of Cisalpine Gaul
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Magister Militum A. Marius Vitellius walked nervously around his oak table, waiting for some urgent reports. He looked at god Marś statuette and murmured a short prayer. “Even now my family and Rome are not saves. Oh mighty god help me to save my beloved Rome and give me strength for punish all traitors of Rome!”

Suddenly a legionary entered in Mariuś praetorium, saluted him and gave him some secret reports “Commander, these are the reports you asked for!”

Marius made a gesture and dismissed the legionary, then he sat and started to read the secret reports anxiously. While he read the reports his eyes were red of anger, and every word he read increased his revultion. He rose from his chair and punched the table with violently while he yelled “Damn Pertinax! You will never stop until you kill me? This will never end? I was a good and loyal friend to you, I served you all this years and you continue to seek my destruction? By the gods, I curse you one thousand times!!”

Two German body guards were alerted by Mariuś yelling and rushed for help Marius, “You are well chief?” asked one of them in the German tongue, of their tribe.

Marius responded in their language “Yes, but with a heavy soul. Run and call all my legates I need to speak with tem urgently” In one hour all Mariuś Legates from the legions stationed in Cisalpine Gaul were gathered around Mariuś oak table. Marius was still nervous but managed to control his sentiments.

“My brothers as you know Proconsul A. Pertinax Veno tried to kill me, and he is the malign force in the Senate that prevents I becoming Emperor of Rome. He has great political and economic power and is using it for help a traitor of Rome, which make him a traitor as well. However I was ready to forgive him and make peace with him for the good of Rome, if he stopped supporting a traitor and gave up trying to have me killed. Unfortunately Proconsul Veno continues to seek my destruction and his evil plan to put a traitor in the throne of Rome. Take these, see for yourself these secret reports…”

One by one Mariuś Legates read about the way Proconsular Pertinax Veno was trying to bribe Proconsular Legates and politicians and put them against their commander, and his new plan for assassinating Marius. The military were shocked with such perfidy and Poncius Alus, commander of the private legion Felix I asked “My commander, these reports are exact? And what we will do now?”

Marius replied with firm confidence in his own words “My bothers unfortunately these reports are correct, and if we sit waiting and dońt act right now sooner or later we will be all dead. I received word from perfect Persus Antocos, commander of Classis Marsillia fleet, that Proconsular Pertinax Veno landed one of his private legions in Corsica…“



“But this is an act of war! this island is controlled by us and belongs to our perimeter of security around Rome” said Legate Cassius Galba.

Marius continued “Yes, it is! Proconsular Pertinax Veno isńt there for peaceful reasons I can assure you that!. So now listen to my plan. We will strike first and we will use our superior naval force for that. We will embark legios Felix I, VII Equestris and VIII Macedonia, now stationed in Cisalpine Gaul, and will attack Proconsul A. Pertinax Venós private legion in Corsica. For that we will use Classis Marsillia fleet and the naval port of Ricina in West of Cisalpine Gaul. Once we reach Corsica we will disembark the legions while Classis Marsillia surrounds the island and prevents A. Pertinax Veno from receiving reinforcements. Then the three legions must move as quickly as possible northward and attack A. Petinax Venós private legion without mercy. Meanwhile Classis Cerinthe fleet will continue to patrol the Mediterranean and Adriatic sea. Is that clear?. Besides I will go with you”

Legate Cassius Galba asked “Well and if Pertinax resists? What we should do with him?”

Marius hesitated for a brief moment and then responded with firm voice “Try to bring him alive but if he resists kill him!. He is my personal enemy and a traitor to Rome and like that he will be treated. Now I repeat to all, this operation must be very fast and secret, do you understand?

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Western Mediterranean sea
Isle of Corsica
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In only four days Marius embarked his three legions and arrived off Corsica. Mariuś emotive speech to them before they embarked explaining the motives of this action and the rightness of their cause, seemed to have a positive effect in his meńs morale. The men are ready and anxious to fight, and Marius knew how use it for win his battle.

While Classis Marsillia approached the coast of Corsica almost two dozen ships thought to be associated to A. Pertinax Venós sunk, when they tried to escape or fight against Mariuśnaval forces. Corsica coast line was clear now for Marius to disembark his troops. Mariuś intelligence reported that the enemy, legion Africanus I, was stationed 11 miles south from the city of Cersunum in north of Corsica, encamped around a Villa that housed Pertinax himself. It was possible that this enemy legion was training. This was a small town with 1,100 inhabitants and near a river called the Volerius.

Marius gave orders to his Legates “Now we must move very fast!. Disembark the men to the south of Africanus I’s position, within a day’s march, then when the men are ready move our troops at forced march speed northward. Please note that you have a fortress situated at 28 miles south-east from Cersunum, thus we need to avoid the enemy uses it. After we disembark send 3,000 light cavalry south-east and prevent the enemy using that fortress. As you know we have enough cavalry for that, 2,200 heavy cavalry and 3,812 light cavalry. Besides if the plan goes well we will engage them on north, before they have a chance to move southward. I want to fight Proconsular Pertinax Venós legion in open field, this will reduce our casualties.”


Legate Cassius Galba “Yes, but they certainly will already have detected our landing.”

Marius replied “True, but if we move fast enough they will be trapped, dońt forget this is a island”

Legate Cassius Galba nodded in agreement

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Northern Corsica
Battle of Cersunum
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According his plan Marius disembarked his three legions on south of his enemýs position, and moved fast northward in order to engage legion Africanus I. Mariuś 3,000 light cavalry controlled the roads of south and blocked any attempt of legion Africanus I to move southward, they also acted as a pervasive screen to any recconaisance that Pertinax’s Private legion might have attempted. On sea the Classis Marsillia fleet had full control of the situation and prevented any reinforcements last minute reinforcements arrived for A. Pertinax Veno. However the most important of all was that all these actions were made in secret, and with a stunning speed. A. Pertinax Veno was now trapped with his private legion.

Finally Mariuś legions had visual contact with the enemy only one mile south of Cersunum.. Legion Africanus I, was now trapped, prepared for combat. The battle was now inevitable and the two enemy armies made their final preparations for battle. The legates gave their last orders and the men prepared their weapons and souls for killing.

Marius deployed his legions in line, in the centre was legion VIII Macedonica, while legion Felix I and legion VII Equestris were in the left and right sides respectively. Mariuś heavy infantry were formed in three lines, each legion had four cohorts in the first line and three cohorts in the second and third lines. Intervals were maintained between each cohort, and the cohorts from the next line stationed covered the gaps. Behind the heavy infantry were the archers and the auxiliary troops. Marius had 1,110 heavy cavalry in each flank and 812 light cavalry protecting his rear. Legio Africanus I used identical deployment of troops but didńt have any cavalry to protect their rear of flanks or auxiliary troops.

After 20 minutes of waiting finally Marius gave the order for a attack. Immediately his archers moved swiftly through the gaps between the cohorts toward the front line. They launched a massive attack of flaming arrows. Thousands of arrows crossed the sky swiftly with a whistling noise. After half of hour, and despite the legionaries of legion Africanus I used their shields for protect against the arrows, almost three hundred of them died or were wounded by the missiles. Because they lacked auxiliary troops their response to Mariuś archery attack was quite impossible.

Marius yelled “Now advance and that god Mars guide your swords, fight for Rome!” The trumpets sounded and the legions ahd a clear signal to advance.

Slowly Mariuś heavy infantry advanced toward their foes. At 20 yards they were received by the enemy with a massive volley of pila which caused hundreds of deaths among Mariuś troops. Mariuś legionaries reacted and threw their pila as soon the enemy came within range. Then Mariuś legionaries charged forward, yelling their war cry “Death to the traitors!”, and sounding their trumpets. They clawed their way over the field works of Pertinax’s defences. All the time under a rain of Pila and smaller weapons.

The legionaries of both sides used their long shields and the weight of their bodies, to punch at the enemy and move forward. They used their gladius for stab at the enemieś stomach, arms or face. During 20 minutes both sides fought fiercely and with courage. Meanwhile Mariuś heavy cavalry surrounded the enemy and made escape from the rear of Pertinax’s camp impossible. Heavily outnumbered and suffering heavy casualties the legionaries of legion Africanus I began to lose control of sections of their ramparts. Finally Mariuś enemies understood that the battle was lost and ran for their lives. Marius then gave orders for the troops to break ranks and continue the pursuit of the enemy. Many of Pertinax́s men were killed in the process, before the killing wa sbrought to a halt.

Marius had won the battle but his doubts remained, where was his enemy A. Pertinax Veno?. He gave orders to his me, that they find at all costs Pertinax, dead or alive. One hour after the battle Legate Cassius Galba finally brought notice about A. Pertinax Veno “My commander, we found A. Pertinax Venós dead body near river the court yard of his villa. It seems he was killed in close combat during our pursuit. What do we do with the corpse? And what about the prisoners?”

Marius thought for a brief moment and then said with emotion “I didńt want that things happened this way, but A. Pertinax Veno gave me no choice. I served him with loyalty and I remember when we were friends before his treason to me and Rome. Because of that I will allow perfect Persus Antocos to deliver his corpse to his family in Hispania for him to have a Roman and honourable funeral. Regarding the prisoners they are Romans Citizens. I dońt want to shed more Roman blood than has been made essential. So after they swear that they will not fight anymore against us , put them in chains and embark them with Pertinax Venós corpse, they can be shipped aboared Pertinax’s own ships. Then tell to perfect Persus Antocos to send those ships to the shores of Hispania and release them there. Now prepare to return to Cisalpine Gaul, if we leave this island tomorrow we will be there in three or four days.”

Legate Cassius Galba responded “Very well Sir, I will do that and I will inform perfect Persus Antocos of your intentions”

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Scenario results:

Private legion Africanus I was destroyed.
A. Marius Vitellius released all Roman prisoners and Pertinax’s corpse enroute to Hispania..

(Casualties)
A. Pertinax Veno was killed in battle.
A. Pertinax Venós legions -
Legion Africanus I : 3,150 dead, 250 wounded, 2,000 prisoners released.

A. Marius Vitelliuślegions –


VII Equestris : 410 dead, 37 wounded (mostly heavy infantry)
VIII Macedonica : 930 dead , 208 wounded (mostly heavy infantry)
Felix I : 1,110 dead, 444 wounded (mostly heavy infantry)