Title : Roma Firmus Est

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Cisalpine Gaul, north of Italy
Autumn, Late 80 AD
Marius Vitellius´ Praetorium
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Two days after Marius Vitellius returned from Tarentum, he met with his Legates in his praetorium. In the meeting were presents the Legates of legions VII Equestris, VIII Macedonia, XLII Construae, XL Auditrix and XXXVIII.

Marius started his speech with a smile “It is good to be with you again! As you know this will be my last mission to Rome and our Emperor. Thus I want everything to go well and we shall achieve our military goals”. The assembled commanders murmured agreement.

Marius paused and then continued his explanation “As you know our Emperor approved my general military plan fpr the northern borders. Also the military commander of the Belgian legions, Proconsular Legate Marcus Sabaco, has been informed about this plan and he and his men will do their job in Belgica. The plan is quite simple and I want you listen me carefully.”

Marius paused again and looked around him to make sure that everyone was paying attention to his words. He cleaned his throat and continued “In fact we cannot speak in a military campaign, because our mission is not to conquer barbarian lands or invade their territories …“

Legate Lucius Calvinus, commander of legion XLII Construae, interrupted his commander and asked “Well, if that so why does Rome have ten imperial legions stationed on the northern borders?”, while the rest of the Legates nodded their heads in approbation of his question.

Marius looked at Legate Lucius Calvinus and responded promptly “Because the Germanic threat is very real and we must deal with it swiftly.”

Then he continued with a resolute tone of voice. “However Rome must prevail. So as I was saying, we will not invade barbarian lands in order to avoid a full scale war against the many barbarian tribes along our borders. Instead, we only will expel the Germanic raiders and their settlers from Roman soil. This is our strategy, now about our military tactics. We will not use entire legions or legionaries at all. We will use light cavalry and in some cases also auxiliary infantry. With the exception of VII Equestris legion, each Germanic legion has 960 light cavalrymen, which means three cavalry Alas. So each Legate will use these cavalry Alas and some auxiliary troops to patrol their own territory, and expel the Germanic raiders. Remember we must show our muscles but at same time avoid provoking them, which means that if you appear and they withdrawal to their territories it is useless to pursuit them. Also expel their settlers from our territory but don’t slaughter civilian people, just because they are barbarians.”

Legate Domitrius Terentius, commander of legion VIII Macedonia, asked “And if the barbarians resist to us?”

Marius hesitated for a brief moment and then said “If they are barbarian women, children and older men, it is unlikely that they will resist to you. However if they are warriors, kill them all and show our power, let them fear Rome. But remember to avoid pursuing them to their territories, and be always aware of their guerrilla war techniques. Also try to have local people who know the region help you, even if you need to pay them, I will cover the expenses. So I want two reports per month from each of you, about the situation in your territory. Is that clear?”

The Legates shook their heads affirmatively.

Marius concluded his speech “I will march toward Eastern Germania Superior with Legion VII Equestris. Legions VIII Macedonia and XXXVIII will go to Rhaetia, while Legions XL Auditrix and XLII Construae will go to Noricum and Pannonia respectively. Follow my plan and everything will be alright. Now you are dismissed.”

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Eastern Germania Superior
Winter, Early 81 AD
Fortress of Lupodurum
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Marius hosted a banquet for his men and invited his Germanic allies. At that banquet were present King Dedrick III and chieftain Vadomar, from the Angrivarii and the Alemanni tribes respectively. These two tribal leaders knew Marius well and spoke with him in their own language during the banquet. While Marius ate and drank with them he received precious information about several Suevic tribes, and their migration movements and raids toward Roman lands. Minor Suevic tribes as Hermanduri, Juthungi, Bucinobanti and Lentienses were moving toward Germania Superior and Rhaetia.

Marius rose from his chair, put more wine in his glass and made a toast in Germanic tongue “Long live to us! Together we will expel these raiders from our land!”

Then Marius turned to the many Romans present and exclaimed in Latin “Roma Firmus est!”(Rome is solid) and then he drank at one draught the Sicilian wine sent by Prefect Darius Polimus.

Many of the guests tasted the famous wine, specially the Germanic leaders and their men who saw this wine as a gift from Rome.

Marius sat again and after he cleaned his lips and white beard he said to both Germanic leaders “So we are settled, your cavalry will help my own cavalry and auxiliaries troops in their mission. Your men speak Germanic tongues and know well the region from Germania Superior to Rhaetia.”

King Dedrick III responded with a smile “Yes, we have been allies since we expelled the Semnone tribe at almost 30 years ago. Thus the Angrivarii will not let you down”

Chieftain Vadomar nodded his head and said “You may count with us as well.”

Marius drank another gulp of wine and slapped King Dedrick III´s back. Then he asked to his Germanic friend “Like the old times?”

The old King looked deeply at Marius´ eyes and responded in low voice “Yes, until the Gods demand our souls!”

The banquet continued until the dawn, and Marius was pleased.

**Eight months later**

A soldier came to Marius´ praetorium with the last Legates´ reports. He saluted his commander and said “Commander these are the last reports from your Legates”

Marius dismissed his messenger and started to read the reports carefully. The notices were goods, due to the efforts of his men and the help of his Germanic allies, the barbarian raiders were driven from Germania Superior and Rhaetia provinces. The balance ended with only a few fierce skirmishes and 53 Roman cavalrymen dead. As result the raids stopped and hundred of barbarian settlers returned to their lands.

Suddenly Marius stopped his reading, rose from his chair, and exclaimed in loud voice “Damn! We might be in danger in Pannonia …”

Then he yelled to the sentry “Call me Legate Petronius Vepius immediately!”

The sentry did as ordered and after ten minutes Legate Petronius Vepius met with his commander.

Marius was straight to the subject and gave some reports to his Legate “Take, read these last reports from Noricum and Pannonia”

Legate Petronius Vepius read the reports and then replied “Well, it seems we are driving the Cherusci and Chauci tribes from Noricum, the problem is Pannonia.” The Legate paused and then asked “Do you think they will invade? I mean the Suebi?”

Marius responded “Our comrade Lucius Calvinus didn´t speak about an invasion or even skirmish between our troops and the Suebi, but only some of his scouts saw hundred of Gothic cavalrymen near our borders. Anyway I will visit Pannonia for a month and you will be in charge here until my return”

Legate Petronius Vepius shook his head affirmatively.

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Pannonia, 51 miles east from Aquincum
Autumn, Late 81 AD
Roman fortress
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After two weeks of journeying and a two-day visit to Noricum, Marius and his escort finally arrived at Pannonia province. Marius went to the Roman fortress near the border, 51 miles east of the capital city of Aquincum.

Marius dismounted and walked slowly toward his Legate Lucius Calvinus. Marius embraced him and said with a serious tone of voice “I think you know why I am here, don´t you?”

Legate Lucius Calvinus, commander of the legion XLII Construae stationed in Pannonia, nodded his head and replied “Yes, I do”

Marius talked for two hours with his Legate and some Tribunes about the situation in the province, listening to all details of the last patrols. For him it was clear that the Suebi didn’t want to invade but were testing Roman reaction and defences.

Two days later in a regular patrol Marius could see with his own eyes those Suebi Cavalrymen. They were tall, blond hair and their equipment was better than usual for Germanic tribes. They used long iron swords, many of them with iron helmets, shorter javelins, long spear, oval painted shields, long cloak and some of them used cuirass. Despite the advice to the contrary, Marius tried to speak with them but they turned their back to Marius and rode away.

Marius was frustrated and concerned after this casual encounter with the Suebi. After he returned to the castra, he gave some instructions to his Legate and Tribunes “I want you double the patrols and send a message to the Legate of the other legion stationed in Pannonia”

Legate Lucius Calvinus asked “You mean Legion XX, commanded by Legate Patrinus Veno?”

Marius replied “Yes, tell them for be alert and ready to help you in case of troubles with the Suebi. Also I want you to follow all my previous instructions and avoid provoking the Suebi. Now you are dismissed, I need to write a letter to our Emperor”

The officers left Marius´ praetorium while he wrote a letter to Emperor Agrippa Maxus:

“My Emperor,

I am please to announce that our military goals were achieved in the provinces of Germania Superior, Rhaetia and Noricum. The Germanic raids stopped and the barbarian settlers were expelled from our lands. As balance I must say we only lost 53 men after some tough skirmishes.
During this process we didn’t kill the barbarian settlers and avoided provoking the barbarian warriors invading their lands. However I have also bad news regarding Pannonia province. Our scouts reported an increase in the barbarians’ activity along the border of this province. There is not doubt these barbarians belong to the powerful nation of Suebi. I went with my men in one of these patrols and I could see with my own eyes several hundred of barbarian cavalrymen near our border. I believe they don’t have an intention to invade us, but I am certain they are testing our defences and reaction to their presence. Although we have two legions in Pannonia in full alert, we must continue to have a close eye on Suebi and show some military power in the region, or one of these days we may face a sudden invasion.

Your loyal servant and friend,
Marius Vitellius”

Marius walked to the door of his praetorium and looked to the far horizon. Marius followed Suebi movements with foreboding and offered a short pray to God Mars “Oh mighty God Mars, protect my beloved Rome!”

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By: Agrippa Marius Vitellius
Input: GMs