Chapter 390: Enemys situation in the north
Since its joining in Theonia Alliance, Potentia’s situation improved significantly, with the south side that they usually had to guard had now become its backbone. Apart from their improved trade with Grumentum and Pyxous, even their subordinate city-state, Poseidonia, has followed suit. And their maritime trade volume with the city-states of South Italia increased year by year. Changing the life of the Potentians for the better and its treasury to become abundant. Pamot felt relieved at the thought that his decision of joining the Theonia Alliance was one of the best decisions he ever made!
The frequent contacts between Potentia and Theonia had naturally influenced the Potetians with some of the cultures of Theonia. For example, the Potentians also began liking Rugby. Some began praying to Hades, the patron god of Theonia, while also worshipping their god Asinu. The priests of Potentia had repeatedly complained this problem to Pamot, but even he was feeling helpless.
He understood that the Theonians did not deliberately guide the sudden behaviour of the people. Still, the frequent contact of the Potentians with their fellow Lucanians in Grumentum made them feel that the mountain god, Asinu’s clay statue is crude and could not compare to the majestic bronze statue of Hades. And when they heard that the Temple of Hades in Thurii is even more magnificent, they became so amazed that they started to change their faith. Furthermore, Hades has so many fascinating stories (From the Book of Hades that Plesinas compiled, many of which are very different from the legends they heard)…
Pamot, on the other hand, thinks that the cultural influence of Theonia on Potentia is not a bad thing because he was also enjoying the elegant Theonian culture, like the lunch he had just eaten, which was a delicacy from Theonia. He thought that shabu-shabu was much better than the roasted and boiled lamb he usually ate. He had eaten so much now that he was too full. He then rubbed his stomach and was about to take his hounds for a walk in the courtyard to help digest the food through exercise.
At this time, his servant came in and reported that chieftain Shasid wanted to see him.
“Let him in.” Pamot frowned as he began to feel a bit uneasy. Shasid’s tribe is located to the north of Potentia, adjacent to the Samnites. It could be said that they are at the forefront of Potentia’s defence against Samnites, so Shasid rarely left his territory and came to the city of Potentia.
‘Could it be that there are some movements from the Samnites?’ As Pamot anxiously thought, Shasid strode into the courtyard, and as soon as he saw Pamot, he anxiously shouted, “Great chieftain, the situation is bad! The Samnites are going to attack Potentia!”
“What?!” Pamot immediately became nervous and asked, “What happened?!”
“A few days ago, my men noticed that many Samnites entered Compsa, making the city became lively, so they thought that they were doing some offerings or celebrations, but it also made us raise our guard. Afterwards, tens of thousands of fully armed Samnites suddenly came from the north of Compsa and built several camps near the city… Great chieftain, the situation is not good! Seeing this, I am afraid that the Samnites are going to attack Potentia again!” Said Shasid anxiously.
“Thousands? Exactly how many?” Even though Pamot was a bit flustered, he still tried to calm down and find out the situation first.
“A…about…at least 20,000 men! With the Samnites sealing off the area around Compsa, my men couldn’t get inside to investigate!” Shasid also felt that what he said was too vague, so he expanded, “But we found that among the Samnites’ banners, not only the banner of Hirpini but even the flags of Pentri and Caudini could be seen!”
Hearing this made Pamot surprised, and he anxiously said, “Could it be that the four tribes of Samnites have gathered in Compsa?!”
“We have not yet seen the banner of Caraceni.” Shasid then anxiously added, “Great chieftain, you must immediately send an army to assist me! The Samnites might launch an attack within a few days, and I fear that my hundreds of warriors won’t be able to fend them!”
“It was already difficult for us to deal with just Hirpini back then! Listening to what you said, there are now at least three Samnite tribes, so even if I send all warriors as reinforcements, it is still impossible to repel them. On the contrary, the Samnites will take this opportunity to destroy our main force in the field and weaken the strength to defend the city of Potentia! Alas…” Pamot frowned in sorrow.
The Lucanians were composed of numerous tribes that have merged, forming several large tribal unions, Potentia, Grumentum, Pyxous, Galaguso, Nerulum. These tribes united and fought with each other for their own interest, which continued until the emergence of Theonia; only then did peace was restored in Lucania.
The Samnites are different from the Lucanians. The Samnites were a race that occupied the mountains of central Italia. The Samnites are divided into four major tribes, Hirpini, Pentri, Caudini and Caraceni, but each tribe is relatively united within the tribe. And even their relationship with the other major tribes is also friendly rarely even have conflict. Each major tribe has a great chieftain, which was jointly elected by all tribes, so it is rare for them to get ousted in the middle of their term unless they provoke public outrage. After all, only those talented and upright characters can be recognised by all tribes, so he will mostly serve as the great chieftain until he dies. And unlike the great chieftain of Lucania, the authority of the Samnites’ great chieftains are much greater, as no matter how far away the tribes live, whether they live in the mountains or valleys, all tribes under the major tribe must obey the orders of the great chieftain whether it is military, diplomatic and other matters. In this regard, the four tribes of Samnite are more like four kingdoms compared to the tribal union of Lucania and Bruttii. These characteristics of the Samnites, a race living in barren mountainous areas, is the reason why they could frighten the surrounding Latin, Greek and Lucanians.
Potentia was only facing Hirpini, the largest of the four tribes of Samnites, which was located in the south of the mountain occupied by Samnites and bordered on Potentia. But now, there are two more tribes, so how could Pamot not feel nervous? He paced back and forth in the yard. Finally, he made a decision and said, “Shasid, go back immediately and get your tribes ready. First, quietly transport some materials back to the city, and once you find that the Samnites might launch an attack, don’t resist them; instead, lead your people to retreat to the city… While I will immediately inform the other tribes to make the same preparations.”
“This…this… Great chieftain, are we just going to discard all our lands outside the city to those damn ‘pheasants*’ to trample on?! Even if we could tolerate the trampling on the farms, pastures and even burned down our houses,” Shasid, whose tribe had suffered from the Samnites so often in the past, was not surprised by this as his whole tribe had become accustomed to hiding. Still, he continued with concern, “If the city of Potentia were to be besieged by the Samnites, our food wouldn’t be able to support us for long!” (The Samnite warriors like to place pheasant feathers on the top and both sides of their helmets as a distinction between warrior levels, hence this nickname.)
“The Theonian army will come and support us soon. Don’t forget that we Potentians are now part of the Theonia Alliance!” Pamot has never been so glad in his decision to join Theonia Alliance as he is today.
“Right! Right! Theonia! Theonia will come and save us!” Shasid kept on nodding like a chicken pecking on rice. Obviously, he has confidence in this powerful ally to the south of Potentia, knowing that in the three years or so since Potentia joined the Theonia Alliance, his tribal territory had never suffered another Samnite invasion.
Pamot’s expression became more gloomy as he watched Shahid leave in a hurry. He had heard that Theonia declared war on Locri, so if Potentia were to ask Theonia for help at this time, would Theonia come and help them in time?
. . . . . . . . . . . . .
Alexius walked into the city hall of Grumentum, where the Praetor Bagul was waiting for him, “Legatus Alexius!” Bagul, who was wearing a chiton, gave a military salute.
“Lord Bagul!” Alexius, dressed in military uniform, however, gave a statesman’s greeting by raising his hand.
“What lord. Stop making fun of me. Now, I just want to take off my chiton, put on my armour and be an officer under your command!” Bagul smiled helplessly.
Back then, Bagul was also the first senior centurion of the third legion and the Praetor of Grumentum, which was a countermeasure to stabilise the Lucanians after just occupying Grumentum. Neither the Senate nor Davos would allow the highest administrative power and the highest military power of a region*. Therefore, after Theonia obtained Pyxous and had an advantage in their rule over Lucania, the Senate proposed to let Bagul relinquish one of his posts. (At that time, the legatus of the third army, Hieronymus, was in Thurii, so the senior centurion of the first brigade was the highest military position in Lucania.)
With Grumentum’s location is in the centre of Lucania, consolidating Theonia’s rule over it can completely stabilise the whole Lucania, so Davos temporarily removed him from his position in the legion. So, for this reason, he had to persuade him with great pains for several days.
Realising his meaning, Alexius immediately asked, “What is it? What happened?!”