SharruKinu
http://www.myspace.com/Sharrukin_of_Akkad
Windows Live Mess = Sharrukin of Akkad
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sharrukin
The Final Decree
Two days later, I was standing in the Forum, just outside of the Senate House. Two Tribunes were there with me, as were several of the Nobiles who had already emerged from the Senate House, including Quintus Fabius. We began to perceive a substantial commotion coming form a short distance up the Appian Way, and most of us turned to see what it was. It turned out to be a handful of our men, three or four on ragged horses, and perhaps another 10 on foot. I never saw a more miserable bunch. I heard Marcus Cornelius remark to Fabius, "Good God! How bad can it be?"
Their clothes and armor were all badly damaged. Some of the men were wounded badly, and all of them appeared to have been starving in the wild for months, although actually their journey could not have been more than a few days. Suddenly there was an outcry nearby, as a messenger boy, who had gone up the Way to meet them and had been walking down with them, came running across the Forum ahead of them. He was practically screaming the words: "A Consul is dead! Flaminius is lost!" Murmurs of consternation rose up all around at this, but we stood awaiting the men crossing the Forum.
I was to surprised to see that the ranking officer, the Praetor Marcus Pomponius, was on foot before the group, although surely a horse was his privilege. I learned later from the Centurion of the 3rd maniple (who returned with this group) that the Praetor had commanded that the most badly wounded be put on the horses, without regard for rank. When the men attempted to gainsay him and offer him one of the horses, he flatly refused in shame, saying that he did not deserve it.
When they finally stood before us, Fabius hailed them, as was right, and the crowd around quieted to hear the exchange. The Praetor removed his helmet, and just stood there looking down at it in his hands. Then, he raised up his head to look at us. To his credit, he gave us the news without blanching or averting his gaze. In the manner typical of our Roman succinctness, he told us simply: "Pugna magna, victi sumus", which in your language means "Big fight; we got beat." Before more words could be exchanged, a wave of anxiety swept the crowd, and the clamor became louder and louder.
Evidently having heard the sounds, more Senators began emerging from the Senate into the Forum. Soon enough the story came out. The battle had occured along the shores of a lake, called Trasimene, and had been a total rout for us. It turned out, in fact, that the legions had been badly ambushed, and no orderly retreat had been possible. The Consul, Caius Flaminius, had indeed been killed: Pomponius and the 3rd Centurion had seen it with their own eyes as they tried to get to him. The entire consular army, including what had remained of Sempronius's legions, had essentially been destroyed, although, the Praetor said, we would probably see at least a few stragglers, and certainly Servilius still lived, as his column had not arrived in time for the battle. Perhaps eight legions were destroyed in all, and the northern roads were completely open. The entire countryside was naked, and nothing stood between us and the invading armies.
Word spread like a wild fire, across the Forum and up every street. There was panic and even rioting in the city. Fabius and Pomponius called an emergency meeting of the Senate. The Senate issued the senatus consultum ultimum, the "Final Decree" declaring martial law. Quintus Fabius Maximus was made dictator for the year. So dire was the situation at this time that no one save Aemilius and L. Cornelius objected to Fabius -- although Aemilius was especially strenuous in his opposition on that point -- and no one whatever objected to the issuing of the senatus consultum ultimum. The Final Decree had not been issued for over 150 years, not since the invasion of Brennus and his Senones.
Windows Live Mess = Sharrukin of Akkad
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sharrukin
The Final Decree
Two days later, I was standing in the Forum, just outside of the Senate House. Two Tribunes were there with me, as were several of the Nobiles who had already emerged from the Senate House, including Quintus Fabius. We began to perceive a substantial commotion coming form a short distance up the Appian Way, and most of us turned to see what it was. It turned out to be a handful of our men, three or four on ragged horses, and perhaps another 10 on foot. I never saw a more miserable bunch. I heard Marcus Cornelius remark to Fabius, "Good God! How bad can it be?"
Their clothes and armor were all badly damaged. Some of the men were wounded badly, and all of them appeared to have been starving in the wild for months, although actually their journey could not have been more than a few days. Suddenly there was an outcry nearby, as a messenger boy, who had gone up the Way to meet them and had been walking down with them, came running across the Forum ahead of them. He was practically screaming the words: "A Consul is dead! Flaminius is lost!" Murmurs of consternation rose up all around at this, but we stood awaiting the men crossing the Forum.
I was to surprised to see that the ranking officer, the Praetor Marcus Pomponius, was on foot before the group, although surely a horse was his privilege. I learned later from the Centurion of the 3rd maniple (who returned with this group) that the Praetor had commanded that the most badly wounded be put on the horses, without regard for rank. When the men attempted to gainsay him and offer him one of the horses, he flatly refused in shame, saying that he did not deserve it.
When they finally stood before us, Fabius hailed them, as was right, and the crowd around quieted to hear the exchange. The Praetor removed his helmet, and just stood there looking down at it in his hands. Then, he raised up his head to look at us. To his credit, he gave us the news without blanching or averting his gaze. In the manner typical of our Roman succinctness, he told us simply: "Pugna magna, victi sumus", which in your language means "Big fight; we got beat." Before more words could be exchanged, a wave of anxiety swept the crowd, and the clamor became louder and louder.
Evidently having heard the sounds, more Senators began emerging from the Senate into the Forum. Soon enough the story came out. The battle had occured along the shores of a lake, called Trasimene, and had been a total rout for us. It turned out, in fact, that the legions had been badly ambushed, and no orderly retreat had been possible. The Consul, Caius Flaminius, had indeed been killed: Pomponius and the 3rd Centurion had seen it with their own eyes as they tried to get to him. The entire consular army, including what had remained of Sempronius's legions, had essentially been destroyed, although, the Praetor said, we would probably see at least a few stragglers, and certainly Servilius still lived, as his column had not arrived in time for the battle. Perhaps eight legions were destroyed in all, and the northern roads were completely open. The entire countryside was naked, and nothing stood between us and the invading armies.
Word spread like a wild fire, across the Forum and up every street. There was panic and even rioting in the city. Fabius and Pomponius called an emergency meeting of the Senate. The Senate issued the senatus consultum ultimum, the "Final Decree" declaring martial law. Quintus Fabius Maximus was made dictator for the year. So dire was the situation at this time that no one save Aemilius and L. Cornelius objected to Fabius -- although Aemilius was especially strenuous in his opposition on that point -- and no one whatever objected to the issuing of the senatus consultum ultimum. The Final Decree had not been issued for over 150 years, not since the invasion of Brennus and his Senones.
- Location
- Akkad
- XG Rank
- Sergeant
- Gaming Community
-
- XGC
- Gaming Consoles
-
- Occupation
- Priest-King
- Comments
- Nunc securus exstinguare computarum est "It is now safe to turn off your computer"
Signature
sharrukin of akkad, 2334-2279 b.c., drawn out of water, cast into conflict. i defeated lugal zagesi of uruk, and conquered lagash and ur. i captured mari and ebla, and plundered the cities of elam. i took the ark from its resting place in shuruppaq. i built akkad, united all the nations, and ruled from the mountains to the sea. 
