Chapter 113: The aid of Taranto
At the meeting place, some people were still complaining about whether the 200 drachmas is too much.
Some people retorted that paying more is necessary, because only in this way can they think that it is not easy to become a citizen of Amendolara and will know how to cherish it.
In the next day, the census officer, Raphias, reported that the Archon’s wife, Cheiristoya, had paid money in advance for 10 freeman, and at the same time, Mersis had also paid in advance for 6 freeman.
Only then did the other realize the value of this group of freeman. Not to mention the sinister insight of Mersis, as he had searched many talented people who were able to write and calculate, as well as craftsmen with excellent skills. Most of the ordinary slaves were also physically strong, because they were the one doing the labor of the supply camp. And after fighting a lot of times and with a little bit of training, they could become a qualified soldiers. What’s more, they are mainly Persian farmers. In the Mediterranean region, there are 3 countries that have a very experienced farmers in growing crops: The first are the Persians, the fertile land in the two river basins has trained excellent farmers. The second are the Egyptians, the Nile Valley, which surges every July, makes the Egyptians only love to do two things in their life, farming and worshiping their god. The third one are the Carthaginians, the two powerful magical weapons of Carthage are sea trading and agriculture, for this reason, they had even compiled a special book about agriculture. As for the Greeks, because their native land is barren, and so they could only do maritime trade, herding animals, planting olives and brewing wine, and crafting handicrafts…however, these new citizens have been fighting all over the place, and are bad at farming.
As a result, the 300 freeman were quickly divided up. The citizens who did not manage to employ them had to go to Taranto’s market to buy slaves (at that time, Taranto had the largest slave market in Magna Graecia). Some citizens even fancied the large number of freeman in their neighbor, Thurii. Of course, this is a story for later.
The council did not immediately disbanded after they finish handling the slave law, because Mariji had returned from Taranto.
If one had taken the sea route from Amendolara to Taranto, it won’t be far, and with a downwind from the port of Thurii, one can arrive there in less than two hours. However, it was a mistake for Davos to send Mariji to Taranto, because as a Persian, Mariji wasn’t allowed in the council of Taranto, but he had no other better talents to use at that time. Fortunately, Archytas anticipated this situation and wrote a letter, and have Mariji take it to his father, Histiaeus. With Mariji’s flattery and the rich and novel gifts that he had bought, it made the senior elder Histiaeus to actively mediated for him. Thus, the council and the archon of Taranto showed enthusiasm for Amendolara’s initiative to form an alliance with Taranto.
Of course, it wasn’t due to Histiaeus that made Taranto so enthusiastic about the proposal of the mercenary. The actual reason is that, Although Taranto and Thurii has an armistice for decades, and both are a part of a defensive alliance, they are, after all, a loose alliance with no binding force. Because this alliance was initiated by Taranto, and they need to actively made some efforts in order for some city-states that have accumulated deep hatred with each other, to not actively tear each other part, such as Crotone and Locri. Including Taranto, who was somewhat hostile to Thurii. After all, Taranto, as one of the most powerful city-state in Magna Graecia, was defeated twice in a row against the newly built city-state. In the end, although they have an armistice agreement signed in order to build Heraclea peacefully, Taranto greatly lost its face in Magna Graecia. Amendolara, who was once a member of the alliance of Thurii, now wants to form an alliance with Taranto. The council of Taranto had suddenly regained its face. Moreover, the addition of Amendolara means that their affiliated city-state, Heraclea, will now be well protected. How can there be any reason for them refuse!
However, another request of Mariji have put them in a dilemma, as Mariji asked Taranto for assistance on the ground that Amendolara had just experienced a war and was in urgent needs of supplies in order to maintain their living. As a newly established ally, it is easy for them to help with some material things, because Taranto is also a wealthy city-state. However, the amount of supplies that Mariji had demanded was a lot, and the elders needed to discuss this matter.
It wasn’t until the next day, when Archytas manage to lead his troops back to Taranto, and reported the course of the expedition, had emphasized the fighting strength of the mercenaries and the outstanding military talent of their leader, Davos. He also stressed that the mercenaries who were now the new citizens were the one in power in Amendolara.
In fact, Mariji had already long praised the performance of the mercenaries on them wiping out the Lucanian alliance. However, it had instead aroused the dissatisfaction of some elders that had thought that they just wanted to take the credit of the work of Taranto’s reinforcement. But now that Archytas, whom they trusted, had said the same thing, and had praised Davos so much, they then realized that the new Amendolara could do much more than protect Heraclea from the wind and rain. Therefore, they not only did not cut down the number of supplies that Mariji had requested, but had also added something extra.
When Mariji read out the agreement with Taranto in the city hall, the original citizens didn’t feel much when they heard it. As it still the same alliance and the contents did not change much, the only thing that was changed was their partner, from Thurii to Taranto. However, the one that had attracted their attention was the Persian and now a citizen of Amendolara, Mariji, not only was he fluent in Greek, but had made them remember the two laws that was passed, which made the original citizens felt complicated for a while.
Next, Mariji read out the list of the aid that Taranto had sent: 100 tons of grains, 1,000 kilograms of salted fish, 200 sets of round shields and spears, and a hundred piece of linen cloth…
They were surprised every time they heard about the quantity of the supplies. Finally, before Mariji could even finished reading it all out, everyone had cheered, ‘Taranto is so generous!’ Not to mention the other things, a hundred tons of grain is already enough to keep the whole population of Amendolara alive for six months, and the wheat fields of Amendolara should be ready to be harvested by that time. Amendolara’s biggest difficulty was easily solved and had made the elders think that they are dreaming.
“Due to the sheer amount of supplies, Taranto needed to divide it into several batches and transport it to Heraclea and then to here. The first batch will arrive tomorrow!” Everyone applauded as soon as Mariji finished speaking.
By taking advantage of the situation, Davos say out loud, “Brothers, in view of the great achievement of Mariji for Amendolara, I propose that Mariji, a citizen and the city-state commercial officer of Amendolara, to become a council elder!”
The proposal was warmly supported by the new citizens, while the original citizens reluctantly raised their hands.
Next, the council had also decided to send an envoy, led by the praetor, Cornelius, and the inspector, Antonios, to visit Taranto the next day to express their gratitude to their ally and further discuss the details of the treaty.
At the end of the council meeting, Mariji followed Davos out of the city hall.
“Thank you for your help! You had not only made me a citizen of Amendolara and a commercial officer, but also a council elder!” Said Mariji gratefully.
“See, I didn’t lie to you.” Davos laughed.
“My lord, I know you have always abide by your promise. It is impossible for you to deceive others!” Mariji seemed to have forgotten what he had said when he came to Magna Graecia.
“Mariji, you must remember that this is not my decision, it is the gratitude of the elders of the council and your reward for your contribution to Amendolara!” Davos, modest as he was, said it as reminder.
Mariji looked around and whispered, “What council! I only know for a fact that without you my lord, I’m afraid that I won’t even be a citizen of Amendolara. I, Mariji, will always be faithful to you my lord Davos!”
Mariji’s words were sincere, and Davos laughed again and said, “It seems that you still have to get used to being a citizen of a Greek city-state.”
Mariji wanted to say more, but Davos patted him on the shoulder and asked, “How about Taranto?”
Mariji is a smart person, and instead of continuing what he was gonna say, he instead seriously said, “The time is too short, and after walking around in a hurry, I feel that Taranto is a big city with a lot of people and a lot of them are wealthy…there are a lot of merchant ships in their ports, and their market is prosperous. I estimated that their trading volume in a day is not low…” Mariji looked envious.
Davos nodded and asked, “I heard that the Messapians are invading Taranto. What’s the situation now?”
If he had not joined the mercenaries, Mariji would not even have cared about the situation, let alone find out about it. After learning from the mercenaries, he had some understanding of the military, “The Messapians have retreated, and their invading troops were mainly composed of cavalry and light infantry. They did not clash with the hoplite of Taranto at all. They can only invade the lands outside of the city of Taranto, but Taranto had no way to deal with them, because they couldn’t catch up with them.”
“Cavalry? Do they have a lot of cavalries?” Asked Davos keenly.
“I don’t know. However, it seems that the terrains to the south of Taranto does not have many mountainous areas and rivers, and most of it are flat grassland, so the Messapians graze a lot of animals there.”
Davos thought that in the Apennine Peninsula, besides the Gauls in the north that raised horses on the vast plains and marshes in the river Po basin, which had made their cavalry to be very strong. While the other forces in other places are mainly infantry, and only a small number of cavalry act as a facade. He didn’t expect that in the south, in the “Italian Leather Boot” or “Heel” there is a tribe that has a cavalry as their main force. After this, it is a must to have Antonios visit Taranto and look into the strength of the Messapian’s army. (In fact, the information of Mariji is wrong. The cavalry is not the main force of the Messapians.)
Note: The Messapis was said to be a race that have come from Illyria* a long time ago (*it is now Epirus in Albania today). The people who immigrated to the “heel” of southern Italy were regarded as an indigenous people because they have arrived earlier before the great colonial era of Greece.