Auxiliary Legions and placed under the command of an appointed Praetor , named Marcellus, who reported to Consul Papus. These Auxiliary Legions were provided with a cadre of Roman Centurions from the regular Legions to officer the Maniples. Manius’ brother Gaius was one of the dozen Centurions chosen for this duty.
The plan was that the Auxiliaries would go north as a separate army, but operate in conjunction with the two Consuls’ four Roman Legions. The remaining 52,000 auxiliaries were held back in strategic reserve to form a final defensive perimeter around Rome.
With Senate and Comitia Centuriata approval, another three Legions of former Legionaries were mustered in for the emergency and began an abbreviated process to prepare them for battle. Mobilization units, to help muster them in, were activated and quickly accomplished the necessary training and equipment issues. These 15,000 former Legionaries would march to join Consul Papus’ force in about three weeks time.
Papus was told to not engage the Gauls until all seven Roman Legions arrived on the battlefield. He was ordered to fight before joining the other Legions only if the Gauls marched on Rome. Finally, two reserve Roman Legions stationed in Sicilia [Sicily] and Tarentum [Tarento] were recalled to Rome for additional homeland protection. Soldiers would now determine Rome’s future.
Papus’ two Roman and three Auxiliary Legions totaled 37,000 infantrymen with an attached 1600 cavalry. They were now ready to move north and link up with Regulus’ army, who at this point was just beginning to unload his two Legions at Leghorn. Regulus was ordered to dig in at Pisa and wait for Papus who would march the 220 miles up the Via Aurelia and arrive in about two weeks. In another month, Papus’ force would swell by another 15,000 experienced former Legionaries. Every bit of edible grain for the troops and fodder for the animals was gathered from around Rome and secured for the campaign. It was a huge undertaking.
As Counsel Papus was about to march north, a scout arrived with news that the Gauls had moved from Mediolanum [medio-LAN-um] [Milan] in the west to the east coast and were pillaging and burning the coastal towns along the Mare Superum [ Adriatic Sea]. Papus quickly decided to take his two Roman Legions to Ariminum [ARI-minum] [Rimini] up the eastern Via Flaminia , which was still under construction, and send the Auxiliary force up the western Via Aurelia to link up with Consul Regulus’ Legions at Pisa. Papus was concerned that the Gauls might suddenly decide to move back to the west coast and then south to Rome. If that happened, he wanted the Auxiliaries to be in a position to block and hold them until he and Regulus could converge.
Riders were dispatched to advise Regulus of the change in plans. He was told to stay at Pisa and await the arrival of the Auxiliaries before taking the field against the Gauls. The Gauls were considered too strong to attempt a battle without multiple Roman Legions. Despite their enthusiasm, the Auxiliaries were no match for the Gauls.
The next morning, Manius departed Rome, but instead of heading north on the Via Aurelia to Pisa as he expected, the Legions moved north east onto the Via Flaminia while only the Auxiliaries went north. It would be another five years before this magnificent 15’ wide stone road was completed, but the Via Flaminia served the troops well even in its present state. The foundation for the final road was in place; it was straight, level, dry and much easier than going cross country. Manius guessed their destination was the coastal town of Ariminum to serve as a blocking force to prevent the Gauls from traveling down the east coast.
He estimated the distance from Rome to Ariminum at about 230 miles. They were walking now at a pace of 20 miles a day, but he doubted the Legions could maintain that speed for more than two days. Mentally, he slowed
The plan was that the Auxiliaries would go north as a separate army, but operate in conjunction with the two Consuls’ four Roman Legions. The remaining 52,000 auxiliaries were held back in strategic reserve to form a final defensive perimeter around Rome.
With Senate and Comitia Centuriata approval, another three Legions of former Legionaries were mustered in for the emergency and began an abbreviated process to prepare them for battle. Mobilization units, to help muster them in, were activated and quickly accomplished the necessary training and equipment issues. These 15,000 former Legionaries would march to join Consul Papus’ force in about three weeks time.
Papus was told to not engage the Gauls until all seven Roman Legions arrived on the battlefield. He was ordered to fight before joining the other Legions only if the Gauls marched on Rome. Finally, two reserve Roman Legions stationed in Sicilia [Sicily] and Tarentum [Tarento] were recalled to Rome for additional homeland protection. Soldiers would now determine Rome’s future.
Papus’ two Roman and three Auxiliary Legions totaled 37,000 infantrymen with an attached 1600 cavalry. They were now ready to move north and link up with Regulus’ army, who at this point was just beginning to unload his two Legions at Leghorn. Regulus was ordered to dig in at Pisa and wait for Papus who would march the 220 miles up the Via Aurelia and arrive in about two weeks. In another month, Papus’ force would swell by another 15,000 experienced former Legionaries. Every bit of edible grain for the troops and fodder for the animals was gathered from around Rome and secured for the campaign. It was a huge undertaking.
As Counsel Papus was about to march north, a scout arrived with news that the Gauls had moved from Mediolanum [medio-LAN-um] [Milan] in the west to the east coast and were pillaging and burning the coastal towns along the Mare Superum [ Adriatic Sea]. Papus quickly decided to take his two Roman Legions to Ariminum [ARI-minum] [Rimini] up the eastern Via Flaminia , which was still under construction, and send the Auxiliary force up the western Via Aurelia to link up with Consul Regulus’ Legions at Pisa. Papus was concerned that the Gauls might suddenly decide to move back to the west coast and then south to Rome. If that happened, he wanted the Auxiliaries to be in a position to block and hold them until he and Regulus could converge.
Riders were dispatched to advise Regulus of the change in plans. He was told to stay at Pisa and await the arrival of the Auxiliaries before taking the field against the Gauls. The Gauls were considered too strong to attempt a battle without multiple Roman Legions. Despite their enthusiasm, the Auxiliaries were no match for the Gauls.
The next morning, Manius departed Rome, but instead of heading north on the Via Aurelia to Pisa as he expected, the Legions moved north east onto the Via Flaminia while only the Auxiliaries went north. It would be another five years before this magnificent 15’ wide stone road was completed, but the Via Flaminia served the troops well even in its present state. The foundation for the final road was in place; it was straight, level, dry and much easier than going cross country. Manius guessed their destination was the coastal town of Ariminum to serve as a blocking force to prevent the Gauls from traveling down the east coast.
He estimated the distance from Rome to Ariminum at about 230 miles. They were walking now at a pace of 20 miles a day, but he doubted the Legions could maintain that speed for more than two days. Mentally, he slowed
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