Chapter 147: The Last Expedition
< 147. The Last Expedition >
Pompey, who conquered the Kush Kingdom, marched straight to Axum in the southeast.
Axum, which had just emerged from a new country, was growing in strength, but it had not yet reached its peak.
Since Rome attacked the Kush Kingdom, the nobles of Axum had been arguing.
Whether to become a vassal of Rome or to resist to the end.
It was a debate that would determine the fate of the country.
The argument went on and on without a conclusion.
Meanwhile, Pompey, who had destroyed the Kush Kingdom, crossed the Nile and advanced.
Axum, which had never imagined that the Kush Kingdom would collapse in 50 days, was plunged into chaos.
Almost at the same time as Pompey started his march, a large ship full of military supplies arrived at Meroe.
Pompey’s legion, which boarded the warship as naturally as breathing, went up the Nile to the territory of Axum.
When the Roman army approached their doorstep, Axum finally made a decision.
A large army of 45,000 hastily gathered decided to fight a decisive battle with the Roman army on the plain in front of the capital.
The reason they did not siege was because the capital Axum was not suitable for siege warfare.
“If they come out to the plain, I’m grateful.”
Pompey accepted Axum’s challenge without avoiding it.
It was his nature not to engage in a decisive battle unless he was in a situation where he could win perfectly.
He preferred to fight only after creating favorable conditions for himself even if he had to wage a war of attrition.
In fact, Pompey’s tactical improvisation was relatively lacking compared to his excellent strategic planning ability, which was rated as the best in history.
He was average enough for a Roman general to overcome lightly, but he was definitely lacking compared to those who were among the best in history, such as Caesar or Hannibal.
He only fought battles that he had won perfectly because he knew his shortcomings well.
Pompey did not want to fight until the end in the Parthian War where he suffered a crushing defeat by Caesar in history.
Pompey decided to settle the matter with Axum’s army in a pre-war this time.
“There is not a single factor that can cause me to lose if I fight a war on equal terms.”
It was a conclusion he reached after fighting with the Kush Kingdom army.
Pompey’s legion, which received Marcus’s support, was much stronger than the original Roman army.
Infantry armed with high-quality steel lorica segmentata and cavalry using saddles and composite bows became solid symbols of the Roman army.
The overwhelming reinforcement of the Roman army gave Pompey wings.
The large army of Axum that collided with the Roman army on the plain suffered almost annihilation in less than half a day.
Out of 45,000 soldiers, 35,000 were killed or captured as prisoners.
The damage to the Roman army was not even one percent of that.
When this shocking result reached the capital, Axum lost its will to fight like Kush.
Pompey’s speed was too fast for Axum to do anything.
The nobles who sensed that the situation was unfavorable began to side with Rome rather than resist.
The fact that the nobles of Kush received citizenship and maintained their original status was a decisive factor that moved their hearts.
It was a dynasty that had not passed 100 years since its founding.
The loyalty of the nobles could not be deep.
In the end, Axum expressed its willingness to surrender and kneel before Rome like Kush.
With this, the Nile River and the Red Sea were completely under Rome’s control.
Pompey did not return to Rome right away.
Instead, he settled down in Axum and engaged in various activities to further enhance his reputation.
First of all, he dispatched an expedition team to identify the source of the Nile River.
The meaning of finding out the origin of the Nile River where human civilization began was significant even in this era.
The Nile River has two tributaries: White Nile and Blue Nile.
It was not difficult to identify the flow of Blue Nile.
Pompey’s expedition team discovered that a large stream of water from Lake Tana in Ethiopia originated from Blue Nile.
However, it took quite a long time to identify where White Nile originated from.
They heard stories from natives that far south there was a lake as vast as an ocean where the river began.
It was so far away that it would take a considerable amount of time to get there by boat.
The expedition team, supported by Pompey, set out for exploration with enough food to last for several months.
In the original history, the third largest lake in the world, called Lake Victoria, revealed itself in front of them, and it was later that the expedition team named it Lacus Pompeia (Pompey Lake).
Rome was swept away by a tremendous enthusiasm when it received Pompey’s report.
The war seemed to have ended in less than half a year since it started, and the news of victory arrived.
It was an unbelievable achievement.
The citizens, as well as the Senate, were astonished.
It was no light matter to subjugate two kingdoms and completely dominate the Nile River and the Red Sea.
The citizens poured out onto the streets and praised the name of the hero Pompey loudly.
The great hero who pacified the East had finally pacified Africa as well.
He also unraveled the mystery of the Nile River, which was a mystery to the Romans.
The Senate honored Pompey’s achievements by giving him glorious titles such as “Conqueror of Civilization” and “One who reached the beginning”.
The citizens cheered and the Senate decided to hold a 15-day thanksgiving festival again.
It seemed harmonious on the outside, but in fact, the atmosphere of the Senate was close to thin ice.
The populists were ecstatic about Pompey’s great victory, but the aristocrats were just bewildered.
They did not think that Pompey would lose, but they did not expect the war to end so quickly.
After all, it was a matter of facing two kingdoms in the far south, and they thought it would take some time.
But before they could prepare a countermeasure, Pompey’s victory report arrived first.
The triumphant populist intensified their offensive against the aristocrats, trying to strengthen their position.
“We must grant a triumph to Pompey Magnus, who gloriously decorated his final campaign!”
The populist senators applauded the passionate cry of Piso, Caesar’s father-in-law.
The aristocratic senators could only grimace without any rebuttal.
Crassus had gone to the east late to see his son, and Cato had been absent for a long time after attending a wedding as a guest.
As a result, there was no one left in the current senate who could actively confront the populist except Cicero.
Naturally, the eyes of the aristocratic senators focused on Cicero.
He sighed and got up from his seat.
“If Pompey wants a triumph, we must grant it to him. Of course. There is nothing wrong with that. As long as he returns his imperium, and gives up his governorship of Hispania and the newly organized province, we should definitely give him a triumph.”
“That’s an absurd demand!”
Calvinius, a former consul, shouted in an enraged voice.
“Returning the imperium is natural, but there is no reason to give up the governorship of the province. He can resume his governorship after the triumph is over.”
“Returning the imperium means giving up the governorship. It’s nonsense to separate them. Even Crassus gave up his governorship of the east while he still had his term left in order to have a triumph. There is a clear precedent for this, so we can’t apply an exception.”
“We insist that this exception should be applied this time. How much merit has Pompey done for this Rome? How much benefit has he brought? He has finished his last campaign. He deserves a corresponding honor.”
The populist senators clapped and raised their voices loudly.
They accused Cicero of being ungrateful to Pompey.
But he did not yield and stubbornly emphasized the principle of the republic.
“I think we should treat Pompey according to his merit. If he wants, we should give him a more splendid triumph than anyone else in Rome’s history. I have no objection to holding a three-day event to honor his merit. But I oppose giving him special privileges that destroy the existing order and law.”
“That’s easy. We can enact and pass a special law for that. For example, we can make a law that temporarily suspends Pompey’s governorship and imperium while he is in Rome, and restores his authority when he leaves Rome. Wouldn’t that solve the problem?”
“Making and enforcing laws for one person only is against the order of the republic. That kind of soft thinking is what creates dictators and kings.”
“Oh, kings? Are you saying that we are trying to make Pompey a king?”
“No, I’m saying that if we continue to favor and accommodate individuals like this, the value of the republic will be damaged.”
Piso raised his eyebrows and sneered.
“You keep emphasizing the value of the republic, but what is the true value of the republic? It’s the support of the citizens. I think it’s right to put this bill to the assembly and let the citizens decide. Then we can accept and agree with whatever conclusion they come up with.”
“The support of the citizens is important, but it’s not everything. The majority of people tend to be swayed by emotions or crowd psychology.
If we vote now, they will unanimously agree to give Pompey privileges. But that’s not always right. Rather, we have the senate to complement the unstable points of the citizens. Passing this important situation to the assembly is tantamount to dereliction of duty.”
“Then what do you suggest? It doesn’t matter how much we argue here, we won’t reach a conclusion. Then we’ll just keep drawing parallel lines.”
Even if they voted in the senate, it would be over if one of the consuls vetoed it.
Since one consul was from each party, whichever way they decided, there would be a veto.
Cicero tried to delay as much as possible by using this point, but the populist senators were not fools.
They caught on to Cicero’s trick and decided to put this issue to the assembly.
Of course, it was an unacceptable proposal for the aristocrats.
As Cicero said, the citizens’ thoughts were simple.
‘What’s the problem with giving a privilege to the great hero of Rome?’
Almost 90% of Rome’s citizens had this idea.
The moment the vote went to the assembly, the aristocrats were doomed to lose.
It might not seem like a big deal for Pompey to enter Rome while keeping his governorship, but the aristocrats were not really worried about Pompey.
The biggest obstacle was Caesar.
He had the ability and power to use this precedent to his advantage.
And the problem was that Caesar’s achievements were ongoing.
It was amazing enough that he had completely pacified Gaul, but he was also easily conquering Britannia, which Rome had never set foot on.
If they granted Pompey a privilege, Caesar would naturally want the same treatment.
Then the senate would have no reason to refuse him.
Would they make an excuse that his merit was insufficient?
Then he would just attack Germania and win a few battles.
The senate knew well that Caesar’s military skills were not inferior to Pompey’s.
It didn’t seem likely that Caesar, who had subdued Gaul and Britannia like beating up local thugs, would suffer a defeat against Germania.
The huge debt that could hold Caesar back was also meaningless now.
Caesar, who had gained enormous profits from the war, had already paid off most of his debts.
It was a huge threat to the aristocratic senators that Caesar, who had amassed great power and wealth, would return to Rome.
Above all, Caesar had a strong political power that Pompey did not have.
If he came back while keeping his governorship of Gaul, who could stop him?
Cicero did not care even if his words were hanging on the Forum Romanum, and did not budge from his opposition.
“It is absolutely unacceptable to bring this bill to the assembly. I will deal with this matter seriously with my political life at stake! I will never watch the republic fall! If you want to bring this bill to the assembly, you will have to step on me.”
Cicero lay down on his seat with the aristocratic senators who agreed with him, as if to prove his words.
The populist could not push any further when he refused so firmly.
Piso shook his head with a click of his tongue.
“Haha… You are so stubbornly opposed. Fine. Let’s discuss this bill again next time.”
In the end, the senate meeting dragged on for days without any results.
Piso gave up on persuading the aristocratic senators and resorted to an extreme measure.
He used his ally, tribune Clodius, to demand that he submit the bill directly to the assembly.
Clodius, who had no reason to refuse, submitted the bill to the assembly with his tribune authority.
He also incited that the great Pompey was unable to have a triumph because of the envy and jealousy of the senate members.
The citizens who remembered the previous incident rose up and furiously attacked the aristocratic senators.
The aftermath of this event was bigger than expected.
Clodius, who was the incarnation of spite, had not forgotten his grudge against Cicero.
He had been waiting for a chance to pay him back for testifying against him in a trial related to Bona Dea festival.
And he judged that now was the time. Clodius made speeches every day in Forum Romanum, denouncing Cicero.
“Dear citizens, can you believe what is happening? Look closely at what the senate is doing to Pompey, the great hero who dedicated his life for Rome and returned with heroic achievements. They are just jealous. And at the center of this jealousy is Cicero!”
Clodius pointed at Acta Diurna stuck in the middle of Forum Romanum and shouted resolutely.
“He speaks with a false tongue, saying that the citizens are emotional and cannot make important decisions. If you doubt my words, go there and read it for yourself.
His words are written there exactly.
“The one who claimed to love the republic more than anyone else actually looked down on the citizens.
This proves that Cicero’s ideal republic was only a society that favored himself. Since when has our Rome become such a country? We should not be dragged around by those who persecute heroes who have done merit, and sit comfortably in the senate and propose bills that harass them!”
“Right! Pompey deserves to come back to Rome and have a triumph!”
“What’s wrong with having a triumph while keeping his governorship?”
“Shame on you, Cicero! Coward, senate!”
The assembly voted unanimously in favor of Pompey’s special law in all districts.
The citizens who were swayed by Clodius’s agitation did not stop there.
They flocked to Cicero’s mansion on the Palatine Hill and vented their anger.
Cicero, who felt the seriousness of the situation, hastily fled Rome.
The aristocrats were completely crushed and could only watch the populist’ moves without making a proper voice.
Cicero, who had been driven out of Rome, decided his course after much deliberation.
His destination was Brundisium, a port city where ships bound for Antioch were located.
< 147. The The Last Expedition > End
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