—Caput V—
Once again, it is worth emphasizing that for all his [Caesar´s] flamboyance, association with dubious characters and the controversial nature of some of his actions during the consulship, the overall pattern of Caesar's career had been broadly conventional. Having reached the consulship two years before the normal age, he was just marginally younger than the average proconsul. Compared to Alexander the Great, Hannibal or Pompey his opportunity came very late in life. Alexander was dead by the age of thirty-three, and Hannibal fought his last battle at forty-five […] Neither by Roman or modern standards could Caesar have been considered elderly in 58 BC, but neither would it have been obvious to any of his contemporaries that he was about to prove himself as one of the greatest commanders of all time. (1)
It was here, he was here —one look was enough for Marcus to recognize the place. He would never forget it, the smell of wet grass and Larch trees would always bring him back to this place. A week had passed since that night and the nameless patrician haunted him like his shadow, plaguing his days with restless dreams and his nights with burning longing. Marcus heard his slightly husky voice when the wind blew; saw his face when he closed his eyes. He became his obsession, he craved for him, needed him! And so Marcus wandered near the rampart with the childish hope of finding him again, praying to the night Gods to let him contemplate him again.
I'm a fool. Why would he be here again with the enemy so close? —Marcus tried to convince himself that his wish was foolishness but then, what was his nameless god doing here that night in the first place? He found him once he would find him again. After sleepless nights Marcus had reached the conclusion that his nameless vision was part of the military staff of the Pro-consul, it was the most plausible explanation, a Legatus or maybe a Military Tribune, he was unable to determine his age, something between 30 and 40 years old, maybe less? Marcus wasn't sure. And with that in mind he had walked every day near the praetorium, stretching his neck and paying attention even to the most insignificant slave. But nothing. Perhaps he had dreamed it all—. Even if he was an illusion, I wish I had his name, a name to call him in my dreams —Marcus shook his head.
I should stop thinking about him and concentrate on my mission —his Cohort was patrolling the rampart that night and, so far, they had encountered 3 enterprising Helvetii warriors trying to cross; really easy to stop. Ever since the Pro-consul denied the Helvetii safe passage through the province the Gauls had tried to cross by force, lashing several boats together to make rafts, others by looking for the shallowest places. Nothing serious, they just had to throw javelins and arrows from the top of the fortifications, but still they had to be on alert—. I already have enough problems with Crastinus and the Primus Pilus to become known as the only fool who let the Gauls pass under his watch.
— Slow night, sir. Damn Gauls have been pretty silent —Decimus Caelius, Hastatus Posterior Centurion, Sixth Centuria, walked to him. He was the younger of his Centurions, 25 years old, had been promoted to the Centurionate during winter quarter at Hispania after the previous Hastatus Posterior died from illness. This was his first campaign as Centurion and was so eager to prove himself that it was a little creepy.
— I'm afraid they are —Marcus answered.
— Do you think they are planning something?
— Or maybe they are getting ready to face us on the battlefield, don't you think sir? —Scaeva joined the conversation, approaching after taking a walk around to check on the boys and Marcus thanked the presence of both men in silence. He needed to stop thinking in his nameless dream.
— Only if they are stupid enough to challenge us, I wouldn't worry about them —Marcus was going to change the subject when he noticed his optio's nervousness, his inner cricket telling him there was more than met the eye—. Why do you ask?
— Some of the boys and I were talking to a merchant from Narbonensis…
Oh, Dis! This isn't good —and these words immediately caught the attention of Caelius.
— And he told us about this Brennus-guy.
No, definitely no good.
— Who's Brennus? —asked a frowning Caelius.
— Was. This Brennus bastard defeated 6 Legions at the north of Rome and sacked the city —Scaeva sounded preoccupied. Everybody knew Rome had been sacked and almost destroyed by Gauls, but apparently his optio (and Hastatus Posterior) ignored the details, including this battle, the Battle of Allia—. What if these Helvetii are like him, sir?
— Is that possible? —now even Caelius sounded worried. Marcus took a deep breath.
— First of all, Brennus was a Senone not a Helvetian.
— But they all are Gauls, right sir? —for Scaeva, the same as for all Romans, all tribes and clans sounded the same and he was absolutely unable to tell the difference between an Arvernian and an Aeduan.
— Whatever —Marcus sighed, probably he was the only one in the entire army who gave a damn about Gauls and their customs—. And second, that happened more than 300 years ago.
— But the Gauls are still warrior-like people, and they also sacked Macedon and Greece, sir —Marcus liked less and less this merchant and judging by Caelius' expressions he could have a very good idea of what were the rest of the legionaries thinking—. The Gauls attacked Macedon shortly after King Alexander's III death and, so the merchant says, "the sack of Callium by Combutis and Orestorius, was the most atrocious and inhuman in history. They put the whole male sex to the sword; old men and babes at their mother's breasts were butchered alike; and after killing the fattest of the suckling, they even drank their blood and ate their flesh" (2). And Gauls fought with Hannibal, they helped him to invade Italy.
Caelius gasped. Marcus had also heard about the Gauls' attacks to Macedon during the Diadochi Wars, at the time of King Cassander son of Antipater, and their attempt to loot Delphi, there were all kind of terrible tales about them, one more horrible than the last; but Marcus knew also that people were prone to exaggerate and sincerely thought half the things said about the Gauls weren't true. Besides, after the sack of Rome, the Legions defeated the Gauls several times, the most brutal defeat the battle of Telamon… but it was also true these same Helvetii finished the Legions of Cassius Longinus—. Still no one has ever fought against more than 300,000 Gauls at the same time and the men are more likely to believe stories of human flesh eating Celts. That's no good, especially if we have to fight them soon —he decided to approach this from a different angle.
— Are you afraid of the Helvetii, Scaeva? Are you Caelius? —Marcus teased them and obtained what he wanted. His optio and Hastatus Posterior looked indignant and straightened themselves.
— Of course not, sir! —exclaimed Caelius, so loudly that a couple of men turned.
— Me? No sir, never —Scaeva shook his head—. I'm just saying the boys are worried.
— They had nothing to worry about —Marcus assured him—. In all my years fighting with Magnus I learned that nothing can stop the Legions of Rome, even the Parthians, so terrible in the East, think it twice before crossing in our way.
— Damn right, sir. Damn right —Scaeva nodded.
Marcus had met and heard of truly moronic Generals, members of the so called aristocratic class, but, even if they didn't have a clue of what they were doing, the legionaries, the Centurions like him, always did the job, always brought victory and honor to Rome—. And this time it will not be the exception.
Oo0oO
It soon became evident for the Helvetii that crossing through Roman territory would be just a waste of lives, time and resources. The bloody rampart was not impregnable but it made it impossible to cross, it gave the Romans enough time to group and repel the attack. No, that was not the way, and finally Nammeius found an opportunity to talk and made his people see that, their best chance to continue this crazy adventure was to seek the help of Dumnorix, an Aeduan married with a daughter of the late leader Orgetorix.
— Why do we need the help of Dumnorix? —as always Verucloetius was skeptical of his ideas.
— Because the only route open to us now is through the lands of the Sequani but they won't let us pass unless someone speaks on our behalf, and Dumnorix is well dispose towards us —Nammeius explained with all calm, as if talking to a small child.
And that was exactly what the Helvetii did. Dumnorix spoke to the Sequani to let the Helvetii pass through their lands, both tribes exchanged hostages and the deal was closed. Everything would have been fine, the Helvetii could have crossed and established in a new land and Julius would have continued with his plans of invading the Balkans if it hadn't been for a tiny detail…
— The Helvetii are planning to enter the lands of the Santoni —Caesar informed his war council late that night. He had just received information from his spies and didn't lose time to share it with his Legati, Tribunes and primi ordines—, very close to the lands of the Aedui and of the Tolosates who, as you all know, live inside the Roman province —the imaginary question mark over his officers' heads told him everything he need to know. Santoni, Aedui, Tolosates…all those names sounded the same to them and had absolutely no idea of what was he talking about. They only know these are long hair Gauls and period—. Nobody here study the maps of Gaul? —murmurs and coughs answered his question—. Anyway, as I was saying we can't have warlike people so close of the province.
— What are you planning to do? —Publius Licinius Crassus, son of his friend and fellow Triumvir, Marcus Licinus Crassus, asked.
Publius was around Decimus' age although, contrary to Decimus, he was clever, strong and with a natural talent for war. He grew up in a very conservative Roman family, starting with the notorious fact that his father's only wife had been his mother, Tertulla, to whom he was still married. Publius was a good boy, kind and always ready to help. Julius had taken Publius with him in consideration for his father but, even if his friendship with Crassus hadn't existed he would have taken him anyway. Publius had no formal rank but, for the time being, Caesar decided to use him as Military Tribune because of his age, later, he would see.
— Stop them of course, we can't have the Helvetii so close to our domains, they will be a constant menace, not to mention that those are rich corn lands —Julius made a pause to let his words sink—. Labienus, you'll stay here and guard the fortifications with the Tenth and the auxiliary cohorts. I'll go to Cisalpine Gaul to enroll 2 more Legions.
— What about the other 3 Legions at winter quarters in Aquileia? —asked Labienus, scratching his chin with the back of his hand.
— I already sent for the Seventh, Eighth and Ninth Legions.
— And how do you plan to come back? —Labienus insisted.
— I'll take the new Legions through the Alps.
— But that will be dangerous, the mountain tribes, the Ceutrones, Graioceli and Caturiges will attack you —Gaius Caninius Rebilus, one of the Military Tribunes, pointed out. Finally someone who read the maps!—. You can suffer casualties not to mention delays.
Gaius Caninius Rebilus was not a prominent man at Rome, he hadn't held any flashy offices, nor was he from an ancient and renown family, in fact, he was a novus homus like Cicero and Gaius Marius so many years ago; but he was a devoted ally who truly believe everything Julius did was awesome; the funny thing about him was that Rebilus was extremely credulous, if you told him a there were pigs that could fly at Picenum, he would definitely believe you, but Julius was sure in time he would become a good officer… or so he hoped.
— Not necessarily —Julius answered with all confidence—. Besides, the Helvetii move very slowly, they are too many, dragging women, children and old men, and they have to pass through the Jura Mountains, that will give us time to get ready.
— So, you think is possible, to defeat more than 300 thousand barbarians with 6 Legions? — Rebilus asked.
— Gaius Cininius, I thought at this point we all agree that with me everything is possible —Labienus rolled his eyes but Rebilus looked at him with stars shining around him.
Oo0oO
Jules, you need to be careful with your pet Clodius, I think power is getting into his head; he goes around the city feeling as important as the sacred flame of Vesta. He passed a law forbidding Chickpea to be 400 miles near of Italy, and not only that, he incited the mob to destroy Chickpea's house on the Palatine. Since that day things have gone from bad to worse, violence on the streets is terrible so I decided to go to my villa in Tusculum, you know, the one you don't like because, in your words, is boring. Anyway, I heard you are in Cisalpine Gaul cheating poor ignorant bastards to enlist as your soldiers. Poor souls, only the Gods know what lies have you whispered in their ears.
You know? I have always wondered how do you manage to make people do as you wish while making them think it was their idea all along. One of these days you'll have to give me your secret.
Julius smiled and folded Camillus' letter. The brunette sleeping naked, beautiful and exposed like a flower in the fields of Campania, moved lazily in his bed, the steady rhythm of his breathing letting him know that at least someone in that room was sleeping soundly. He walked to the window. A nightmare had waked him up in the middle of the night and now he wandered like a stranger in his own bedroom. He had too many things haunting him, as always, too many fronts to fight, too many concerns: going from the present situation in his province to the Senate at Rome and his own family; his younger sister Julilla and his mother alone at the domus publica with all the violence Camillus described in his letter—. How I wish there was a way to pour thoughts out of my mind —everybody thought that to have a perfect memory like his was a blessing but for him it had always been a burden, condemned to remember even what he desperately wanted to forget.
He turned and looked at the beauty in his bed and ironically thought about his third and present wife, Calpurnia Pisonis, who by the way, was the great granddaughter of a Legatus of the infamous Lucius Cassius Longinus who had been defeated and killed by the Helvetii. She was extremely young and shy, and not pretty, something Camillus hadn't failed to notice the same day he met her, but, contrary to what anyone believe Julius wasn't looking for an astonishing woman, he had learned his lesson after marrying Pompeia Sulla, granddaughter of Sulla the Dictator.
Pompeia had been as beautiful as she was dumb, and after that scandal during the Bona Dea celebration in his house, where Publius Clodio disguised himself as a girl in order to see Pompeia and, according to the gossip, seduce her, Julius had decided he had enough marrying beautiful women—. I need a virtuous wife not a Venus —Julius knew how hard some had laughed when he announced with all ceremony that "his wife must be above suspicious" (Camillus had laughed so much that tears had ran down his cheeks and he fell to the ground) and, even if no one could prove Pompeia was guilty, no one could prove she was innocent either, and so he divorced her.
Long ago Julius gave up the idea of finding love, even before marrying his first wife, Cornelia Cinna; she had been a good woman and he had been fond of her, but never in love. Love was as hard to find as an honest politician in Rome (without counting Cato) and, when it appeared, it was only as a weakness. So, he concentrated in what was useful, on what he could rely on in order to advance his career—. And Calpurnia is perfect for that —even if Camillus didn't think the same. Not that his friend was a romantic fool but he still believe you could find true happiness and one of the main concerns of Camus was his best friend's loneliness…
— I'm not alone. I have lots of friends —had been Julius' answer the last time they talked about his sad situation (according to Camus).
— We both know that's not true, you have lots of acquaintances, not friends. I'm your only friend! —Camillus threw his arms in the air.
— I don't need more friends.
— You don't need or don't want? —Camillus insisted—. You can't close yourself like this, you don't even allow yourself to have feelings for a woman.
— I had feeling for Cornelia.
— Were you in love with her?
— I didn't say that —Julius was all seriousness and his friend sighed, losing his patience.
— Jules, have you ever thought that maybe the love of your life is waiting for you around the corner and you would probably miss her because of your stubbornness? —Camillus closed the distance between them—. You can't hide yourself just because of what happened with Sulla and…—and he couldn't finish. Julius took him with force by the arm, looking as furious as very few people had ever seen him. Camillus gulped and knew he had crossed the line.
— Don't you EVER mention that again, do you hear me? You have no right to talk about it —Camillus nodded, badly shaken by his friend's fury.
No mattered how many years had passed or how many would have to come, Julius would never be able to forget—. But the past is past, all I have is this moment and my future.
Oo0oO
Everything went exactly as Julius planned. Before long he had 2 brand-new Legions and was on his way to the lands of the Aedui, delimitated in their western border with the upper Loire and in the eastern border with the Saône, separating them from the Sequani. And just as Labienus had warned him, the mountain tribes lost no time in attacking him as soon as he reached their domains, but they weren't a match for Roman Legions, not even green recruits. And for the surprise of many and the terror of others, six days took Julius to reach the Aedui, who welcomed him with an avalanche of requests, not even letting him eat or rest.
— The Aedui have always been loyal to Rome and it is not right to allow our lands to be ravaged almost under the eyes of your army, our children carried off into slavery and our towns taken by storm —Liscus, the recently elected Vergobet, asked for his help. His voice full with passion looking to convince him to lend the Aedui Roman arms to protect their people and completely ignoring that he was actually helping Julius with his plans; giving him another reason to intervene—. The Helvetii plunder our lands and those of the Ambarri, our kindred and friends. You have to help us, the Ambarri and the Allobroges who have villages and estates beyond the Rhone, they have come to us seeking refuge after been robbed of everything but the bare soil of their country (3). Help us and we'll see that corn will be delivered to feed your troops.
Julius had always known this was going to happen. Celts had a warlike disposition and to have the Helvetii there would only help to ignite the volatile temper of the tribes already established there—. And, as I said, if the Helvetii aren't stop now sooner than later they will also cause problems in the tribes in our province too —it didn't took long for Labienus to arrive with the Tenth Legion, having left behind the auxiliary troops to guard the Rhone, and, with his forces complete and ready, Julius didn't lose time to give his orders and assure the Aedui he would do all in his power to help them against the Helvetii menace.
— The Helvetii are gathered on the river Saone, in the valley of the Formans, 11 miles to the north —Julius informed them, his husky voice, like that of a priest summoning ancient words in a prayer, calling long forgotten Gods, sank into all the present—. They are crossing the river on rafts and small boats tied together and the great majority already reached the other side. We'll attack the remaining group before they can go anywhere and for that we need to move fast —they all agreed in silence—. Labienus, you are coming with me —the Legatus nodded—. Septimus Modius —he called the Primus Pilus of the Tenth Legion—. Who would you choose for a special night mission?
Modius took his time before answering. He had a number of names in mind, men with whom he had fought for years, whom he trusted with his life and could very well used the opportunity to shine in front of their Imperator; he opened his mouth but then another idea crossed his mind, one that almost made him smile and laugh with evilness, like the wicked witch of a fairy tale. He cleared his throat aware that all eyes were on him.
— Marcus Aelius Rufus. He is your man, sir.
— Send for him —Julius ordered, always calm, never raising his voice but with a determination that made it impossible to ignore him—. I want to talk to Marcus Aelius Rufus before the meeting is over.
— Yes, sir —Modius saluted, his fist against his chest.
— Publius Vatinius you'll be in charge of the new Eleventh Legion and Servius Galba will command the Twelfth —Julius continued, Vatinius nodded eagerly while Galba just looked bored—. They could be still tironis but behaved quite well in the mountains.
— I'll see they become proper Roman Legionaries, Imperator —Vatinius assured him.
Vatinius had been Tribune of the Plebs the year before and it had been thanks to him and his lex Vatinia, securing a 5-year command to Julius, than they were in Gaul. As soon as his term as Tribune ended he came with Julius to serve as a Legatus and so far he had no reasons to complain. Vatinius was a staunch supporter of Julius contrary to Servius Sulpicius Galba who was only there because of his multiple friends who had asked the Pro-consul to take him as Legatus. And Galba wasn't happy. So far he hadn't done anything spectacular with his life and truth be told nobody expected anything from him, not even Julius.
— Will you be taking the 6 Legions, Caesar? —Decimus wanted to know.
— No, just 3 of them.
— 3 Legions? Against 400,000 barbarians? —Galba exclaimed without bothering to hide his thoughts about this moronic idea—. You will take 17, 000 men against 400,000? —he raised his eyebrows in a show of superiority that resulted annoying.
— Actually, dear Galba, its 92,000 against 15, 000 —Julius corrected him with a calm that tasted like subtle mockery. Galba frowned.
— What are you talking about?
— Very easy. The Helvetii, in their total numbers, are around 368,000 not 400, 000.
— Almost the same —Galba's mouth was a thin line, growling the words.
— Almost but not the same. And, as I mentioned before, we are facing just a fourth of the Helvetii forces which means 92, 000 people —Julius explained without pauses, without thinking, just pouring the words like rivers pouring into the ocean—, let's assume than little less than a half are warrior and the rest women, children and old men, that gives us 40, 000 warriors if you may. 3 Legions at full strength are 15, 000 men, and let's face it, there is no such thing as a Legion at "full strength", there is always someone sick or unable to stand for battle —he spoke quickly, doing the math in the moment without hesitation and leaving Rebilus with his mouth opened and Galba grinding his teeth.
— Then you should be taking the 6 Legions we have here —Galba insisted, he wasn't going to surrender easily and be left like a fool.
— If I were planning to fight the Helvetii in open battle maybe, and only a complete idiot would challenge them openly so vastly outnumbered —judging by the insane red on Galba's face he was thinking to do exactly as Julius had just said—. So, even if I took 6 Legions we are at a little disadvantage, reason why we are going to hurry and attack by surprise if we don't want to end like food for vultures. The other 3 Legions will stay here at the camp in case the rest of the Helvetii are planning something. We are still in enemy territory, we can't forget that.
— He got you there —Rebilus whispered at Galba's side.
— Shut up!
— Sir —Modius came back with another man—. Secundus Pilus Prior Marcus Aelius Rufus —he announced with strong voice and Julius turned, his aquamarine eyes finding the ultramarine of the Centurion's gaze.
(1) Adrian Goldsworthy. Caesar: Life of a Colossus. Yale University Press, p 185
(2) Christian Habicht. Pausanias' Guide to Ancient Greece. University of California Press, p 34
(3) Julius Caesar. Bellum Gallicum. The Conquest of Gaul. Penguin Classics Edition, p 33
I based the dialog on Bellum Gallicum but I had to change some words.
(4) Vergobet: elected magistrate.
(5) Servius Sulpicius Galba: this Galba was the ancestor of the same Galba who was emperor of Rome for seven months after the death of Nero in 68 AD.
