Once in the bedroom, Rosa sat on the edge of the bed, cried softly, and maintained her modesty. This was traditional Roman custom and expected. But to Rosa, it was more than just observing a custom. Relief, sadness, and joy assaulted her emotions. She felt overwhelmed. She cried to the depths of her being. She cried for her parents, her childhood, and her new husband. As was customary, her surrogate mother stood near the bed partially concealed by a curtain. Timo’s role was to gently convince her to lie with him, but he melted when he saw her sobbing. It broke his heart and he began to gently comfort her. Once Timo began to talk to Rosa, her “mother” blew out the candles and left the room. When the couple briefly reappeared in the Hall an hour later, the cheering was deafening!
The morning after the wedding, Rosa appeared wearing a silver tiara. She was now the Raeti Queen and her Roman jewelry had been replaced with exquisite Raeti silver. She even changed her hairstyle to the more modest and common Roman nodus style. (She parted her hair into three segments. The two segments from the sides were tied in a bun at the back while the middle segment in the front was looped over itself to form a raised pompadour.) She replaced her tunic with the white palla of a married woman. It had been tailored to fit comfortably over one shoulder and the back of her head. Timo thought she looked gorgeous.
The celebrations continued for three days and nights and only ended because the participants were too exhausted to continue.
Rosa enjoyed her new life as Queen and impressed everyone with her command of the Raeti language and knowledge of their culture. Two weeks after the wedding, Timo and Rosa toured the kingdom for a month in order for Timo to introduce his wife to the people. In time, she bore Timo a son and a daughter and never wavered in her loyalty to Rome or regretted her decision to marry Timo. During the first three months of her first pregnancy, she did regret getting pregnant. Her morning sickness was severe. Nothing helped. She tried drinking zingiber [ginger] and piperita [peppermint] to no avail. At times, she swore she would never get pregnant again.
Her parents were frequent visitors over the years and eventually moved to Tridentum to be closer to Rosa and their grandchildren.
*******
Andreas, the newly appointed Roman leader of the Combined Auxiliary force was excited and intimidated by his new mission. He feared that the Commanders of the Cenomani and Raeti contingents, Taluric and Lugano, would reject him. To his surprise and relief, he was warmly accepted, but was immediately and firmly shown the boundaries of his command. Both leaders insisted that he issue his orders to them and not directly to their men. Theirs would be the only voice their men heard. They also insisted that they have an opportunity to comment on all plans prior to implementation except those issued in an actual battle. Then they pledged their obedience, loyalty, and full cooperation.
Figure 21 "A" End of Brenner Pass (Google Maps)
The Combined Auxiliary camp was laid out much like a typical Roman camp with minor exceptions. Andreas noticed that the men did not blindly obey orders like Roman Legionaries, but had to have everything explained to them before they would do it. For example, the men saw no reason to dig a ditch around the camp and refused to do it. Their leaders had no choice but to acquiesce and no ditch was dug. The orders issued to the men had to make sense and be relevant or they simply would not do it. Andreas accepted this as the consequence of an undisciplined civilian army, but insisted that in time of battle, his orders must be executed without explanation and instantly. The leaders agreed to this and obtain a similar agreement from the men.
Andreas and his Romans ate with the Auxiliaries, trained with them, shared their hardships, and in time, were accepted. The Romans even underwent a drinking initiation of sort whereby they became honorary Cenomani and Raeti warriors. Andreas actually passed out after five cups of a Cenomani drink artfully dubbed “Cenomani Thunder.” It smelled a little fruity and had apparently had been carried all the way from Brixia. It packed an enormous punch. Training the next morning was cancelled.
The XVII was very busy during their month at Tridentum. The immediate need was always to provide food, fuel, and fodder. And in this case, the men would use their winter clothing for the trip over the Alps. Manius was not worried about daytime condition, the men would probably be sweating as they climbed up to the crest of the Brenner Pass; it was the falling nighttime temperatures that concerned him. Moist clothing and freezing conditions could lead to frost bite and hypothermia. Since battle ready Legionaries were his most precious asset, he spent most of his time ensuring they were healthy, trained, and had the equipment they needed.
Manius met daily with his staff to continue brain storming how events might unfold once they arrived in the Innsbruck area. Manius told them, “So far, we have the Legion and the Auxiliaries arriving simultaneously in the Valley on or about July 1. The Auxiliaries will be within easy recall at Axams, which is only about five miles to the northwest of where the Brenner Pass opens up to the valley. I’ve told them to remain hidden on the south side of the ridge and to minimize cooking fires. I’m told that the terrain is so heavily wooded that they should have no problem remaining out of sight.”
“I’m thinking that we need to mask our true strength and capability to gain an initial advantage. We’re already doing that by hiding the Auxiliaries.”
“I also want to hide the bulk of the XVII. Before we break out of the Pass and into the Valley, I want to place the Maniples in the Pfons-Zieglstadl-Muhlbachal area where they won’t be spotted from Innsbruck or anyone using the Pass to go to Innsbruck. In fact, we will set up a road block and stop all northward traffic exiting the Brenner. If the Suevi feel threatened, they can probably muster close to 35,000 men by suspending their fight with the Teutons and shifting their forces from the north. I want to minimize the threat we pose to them so they will only muster what they think they will need to beat us - maybe something in the 12-15,000 range.”
“Once the Legion is secure in the woods, I plan to go to the bridge over the Inn and present my demands to their Chief, Ariovistus, which are: One, dismantle the fortified towers on each side of the bridge, allow traffic to continue in both directions unmolested, which essentially means stop levying taxes and confiscating trade goods; Two, move any Suevi settlements from the south side of the river to the north side; and Three, stop all future military raiding into northern Italy. To be honest, I fully expect they will laugh in my face and we will have to settle this matter on the battle field.”
“To further the deception and project a minimal threat to the Suevi, I want to change the appearance of the Maniple and cavalry troop that accompanies me to the bridge and my meeting with Ariovistus, who is now the leader of the Semones, the largest tribe of the Suevi people.”
“By ‘change’ I mean they will not wear their armor, helmets, or carry their pila or shields. I want them to appear weak and inexperienced in warfare, and, therefore, easy to defeat in battle. I want our men equipped with the long Gallic sword, small round shield, and leather helmet; the same for the cavalry. Also, I want the cavalry to ride farmers’ work horses, which we can get here from the Raeti before we cross over the Alps. The object is to appear relatively inept and totally unprepared for battle.”
“To be successful against the Suevi, I need to know where their forces are at all times. To that end, Timo is attaching 20 Raeti civilians to the Legion. They will precede us across the Brenner by a day or two and then fan out to the east and west of Innsbruck and go about 10 miles up and down the river to watch for any signs that the Suevi army is being reinforced from the northern Suevi army or crossing the river to come after us. These lookouts will be positioned on both sides of the river. I’ve asked Elitovius to take charge of these men and their mission.”
“If I were the Suevi Commander, here’s how I would fight the battle: I would put on a demonstration close to the bridge to draw the attention of my enemy and pin him there while I quietly sent armies both up and down stream to secretly cross the river in two places and
then try to trap him in a vice between my two forces. I would make one arm of the vice stronger than the other and tell the weaker arm to avoid battle until both arms are in place. They must both attack simultaneously.”
“Timo told us that the Suevi have never met Romans in battle so they don’t know how we fight. I’m hoping that the pila and heavy shields will catch them by surprise. They have neither pila nor shields of note, just little round wooden disks to punch and push their adversaries. Most don’t wear helmets, but some have begun wearing chain mail shirts. They don’t use tactical formations and usually attack in a mob. They like to fight one-on-one and swing their swords overhead like the Gauls. They have no archers, or ballistae and only minimal cavalry. If we can hold up against their initial assault, our ability to maneuver should give us the edge. Timo said that the average Suevi is stronger and taller than the average Roman, so the men need to know that before we face them in battle. Make sure the men know that the Suevi are not giants and will bleed when cut, the same as anyone else. They must not be afraid of them.”
“If Elitovius and our Raeti spies can tell me in a timely manner about any Suevi river crossings and the size of both arms of the vice, I plan to advance against the smaller of the two and force a fight. Once we achieve victory there, I plan to turn and move against the other larger Suevi force.”
“I am undecided whether or not to position some troops at the Innsbruck end of the Brenner Pass to keep it secure should we need to retreat quickly. I don’t want Ariovistus to block the Brenner and force us to use the Secret Passage or the Reschen Pass to get back to Italy. Think about what I’ve said this evening and let me hear your ideas tomorrow night.”
Manius met with his advisors and staff every night for the next several weeks to discuss how the encounter might proceed with the Suevi. Some felt that the entire Suevi army would simply pour over the bridge like angry ants and attack. Others felt that the XVII should show itself early on and, thereby, hope to provoke a battle or discourage one if the Suevi comply with our demands. Opinions varied greatly, but little by little, they agreed on several basic operating assumptions and likely scenarios.
It was agreed that the Suevi would probably fight and opt to use the minimal force necessary to achieve victory. They were obviously trying to expand south into Italy and were an aggressive people, but, for the present were preoccupied with fighting the Teuton and Cimbri people in the north. The XVII should show itself, but only with a small part of the total force in order to hide its true strength. The XVII should also hide its cavalry, archers, and ballistae for as long as possible.
The leaders agreed that the Suevi would probably want to cross the bridge as their obvious first choice, deploy their army on the south side of the river, and quickly engage in battle. The XVII would have a very difficult time and victory would be doubtful if forced to fight the entire Suevi army all at once. If the Suevi could not use the bridge, they would probably still try to get their entire army across the river in one place to maximize their strength. The consensus was to do everything possible to prevent that from happening. The goal would be to force them to split their army. Hopefully, the Suevi will cross the river in two places and try to catch the Legion between them. Most felt the bridge should be burned to ensure the Suevi army did not cross it in force. The key to victory would be to know when, where, and in what strength any crossings take place.
Elitovius spoke up, “Praetor, the information about their assumed river crossings is too critical to our success to put this task solely in the hands of Raeti civilians about whom we know little. I recommend that I recruit several of my fellow Cenomani tribesmen to put additional eyes on the river. I further suggest that we send a mixed team of Cenomani and Rhaetians over the river, but keep them close to Innsbruck to watch for any troops leaving the settlement.” Manius agreed.
Eventually, the group determined that 500 Cenomani Auxiliaries would occupy and hold the Pfons-Zieglstadl-Muhlbachal area in order to protect the entrance to the Brenner Pass when the Legion moved farther south into the valley. The consensus was that the Suevi would probably send a force to hold the Pass and try to block the Romans from using it to return to Italy. Andreas and Taluric, the Cenomani chief, argued against this proposal because they wanted to fight the Suevi, but acquiesced when Manius said it was necessary for the safety of the Legion and its overall mission.
Despite himself, Manius was becoming fond of Calvus. He was a conscientious officer, bright, and was accepted by the men and the other officers. Manius often expressed his appreciation to his Optio. Similarly, Calvus felt valued and accepted for his abilities. He was glad he was not working with Farrid at the moment.
After three full weeks of daily training, which included lectures, maneuvers, and individual testing, Andreas judged that the Auxiliaries were about as good as could be expected in the time allotted. Manius and a few of his Tribunes were frequent visitors at the Auxiliary camp and agreed that the operation to cross over the Secret Passage could proceed as planned. Additional winter clothing was procured from the Raeti people and issued to protect vulnerable hands and feet.
As Manius knew it would, May quickly gave way to June and early June melted into mid June. Whether they were ready or not, it was time for the Legion to begin the campaign. One week earlier, Manius and the Legion formed up to bid farewell to Andreas and the 5000 Auxiliaries. Manius wanted to show his gratitude and confidence in the Auxiliaries so he ordered that the Legion conduct a Pass-in-Review, which evolved, as these things often do, into a major ceremony. Riders were dispatched to Brixia to invite Segovesus, the village Chief, and his Elders to participate and honor his Cenomani warriors with a grand farewell.
Timo, his Elders, and a majority of the town turned out to witness the parade and to accept the Roman honor. The Combined Auxiliaries were placed on a hillside along with Timo, Segovesus, and the town’s people, while the entire Roman Legion marched by in a formal military salute. As each Maniple passed by the 5000 Auxiliaries, the Maniple raised their swords and shouted “Victory and Honor.” Manius said a few words and presented each Auxiliary Commander with an honorary Legion’s Eagle. Then Segovesus and Timo spoke passionately about the need to bring honor to their people and towns. It was a grand spectacle, moving in its solemnity, and most importantly, it was a fitting send off for 5000 brave young men, some of whom would not return.
Andreas and his Auxiliary Legion departed for the Secret Passage on 20 June and covered the 35 miles to Bauzanum in three days. After purchasing local supplies and dropping off the sick and injured, the 5000 began the long and arduous uphill march. Local Raeti guides led the way. These were the same men sent by Timo earlier to walk the route to ensure it was still passable and free of Suevi. The column moved in a single file and stretched out for nearly four miles.
Andreas, the two Auxiliary Commanders, five couriers, and their horses followed immediately behind the guides. Next in line were 20 archers, followed by a Roman Maniple with the remaining archers. The Raeti contingent was next, then the Roman cavalry, the 2500 Cenomani, and the second Roman Maniple brought up the rear. This last Maniple was intentionally placed in the rear for protection and to prevent desertions.
Andreas used horns and couriers to send signal and to check on the column. At night, individuals gathered together for warmth and companionship while they cooked their food. Fires were permitted to blaze all night to warm men and animals. Sleeping in snow at night, with the temperatures still dropped below freezing, was a matter of trying to find a level, stone free patch of ground, clearing away the snow, and simply lying down. The Raeti showed the Romans how to used heated rocks to add a level of comfort.
Everyone marveled at the spectacular view that was all around them. It was as if they were walking on the top of the world. Their narrow trail was surrounded by deep valleys on their left and right while distant towering mountains silently watched their progress. The air was cold and thin, but few suffered from altitude sickness. The blinding sun
was a much bigger problem and gave birth to several creative solutions. The most popular was to cut eye holes in long leather straps and tie it around the head. Andreas now had a new appreciation for Hannibal as he recalled stories of his passage over the Alps. The animals fared better than the men; they were completed blindfolded and oblivious to the sun and their precarious surroundings.
Andreas figured that the column was covering a little less than 2 miles every hour except where the snow was particularly deep. If they could walk for 8 hours each day, they should reach Au in five days. He planned to rest the column there for a day before heading east to Axams, about 25 miles or two days away from Au. Andreas’ orders at that point were simply to take cover in the vicinity of Axams, avoid detection, and wait for further instructions from Praetor Tullus, who envisioned that he would arrive in the valley about the same time as Andreas ~ July 1. Timo said that his guides knew the terrain well enough that they would be able to link up the two separated commands with no problems.
Three days after Andreas and the Auxiliaries departed Tridentum, Manius and the XVII began their march to Bauzanum. It was a long, slow, and steady ascent, but nothing compared to the climb that awaited them farther up the Brenner. The Legion procured extra pack animals while at Tridentum and at Bauzanum to eliminate the load usually carried by the Legionaries themselves.
Joseph continued to find his friends in the evenings as they sat around the fire either complaining or speculating about the campaign. He enjoyed being part of a group, but was beginning to pick up subtle signals from the others in the tent group that they thought he had a cushy job and would probably avoid the real fighting. Joseph did not know how to respond so he usually just let it pass, but he was highly offended. When he thought about their words, he had to admit, they were correct. He determined that he would do whatever it took to prove them wrong.
Legio XVII: Roman Legion at War Page 27