Chapter 162: Towards Arabia
< 162. Towards Arabia >
The Nabatean kingdom was a traditional state founded by nomads from the Arabian Peninsula, centered around their capital, Nabatu.
Their history was surprisingly long, dating back to the 6th century BC.
They fought against Alexander the Great’s expeditionary force and expanded their power rapidly after the death of the great emperor.
They unified the Nabateans and established a unified dynasty under Harithat III, who came to share a border with Rome.
Unlike their nomadic origins, they were skilled in commerce and smelled a huge amount of money from the Roman Empire.
The Nabateans transformed into a merchant group that influenced the Mediterranean coast to the northern part of the Red Sea.
At that time, the most profitable goods in the Middle East were spices and frankincense.
Rome and Egypt used frankincense for religious ceremonies and making spices, but they had no choice but to go through Nabatea to get this product.
Spices could now be imported through Parthian territory, but good quality frankincense was produced in the southern part of the Arabian Peninsula, so there was nothing they could do.
The Nabateans bought frankincense at a low price locally and sold it at a higher price than jewels of the same weight.
With this enormous wealth accumulated, Nabatea began to build many buildings in their capital, known today as Petra.
Architects from Egypt and Rome flocked to Petra with a lot of money.
Magnificent buildings with the latest technology and artworks collected from the east and west filled the city.
Petra in the 1st century BC was undoubtedly one of the richest cities in the east.
As their wealth grew, so did the ambition of Nabatea’s king, Malichu I.
The Sabaean kingdom, which ruled the south of the Arabian Peninsula, was now in decline.
The situation was that new powers such as Himyar, Qataban, and Hadhramaut were fighting fiercely.
All four countries, including Saba, were weaker than Nabatea in terms of national power.
If Nabatea could subjugate them, they could secure a stake in the trade route of the Red Sea.
However, this grand ambition hit a snag before it even started.
It was because of a letter that came from Rome.
The letter sent by Marcus’s envoy was polite, but ultimately what he wanted to say was simple.
In summary, it was ‘recognize Rome’s hegemony and come crawling on your own while we are being nice’.
The name of the Roman Empire had a tremendous impact.
A single letter turned the whole Nabatean kingdom upside down.
Malichu summoned his ministers and held a strategy meeting for days.
He also ordered his spies in Antioch to report on the movements of the Roman army at once.
“If we reject Rome’s proposal, they will surely come down with their army. If we fight them, how likely are we to stop them?”
As soon as Malichu I’s words fell, various opinions arose among his ministers.
“Rome is powerful. I’m sorry to say this, but I don’t think we have more than 10% chance of stopping them.”
“What are you talking about! Our army is strong. And if necessary, we can hire various tribes from the central and southern deserts as mercenaries. What’s the difference between giving up our country without fighting and discussing surrender!”
“Come on! You have to face reality. Have you ever seen a country that fought Rome and came out well?”
“If not, we can be the first case!”
The opinions in the palace were divided into pro-war and pro-peace factions.
The pro-war faction consisted mostly of those who belonged to the military, while the pro-peace faction consisted mostly of those who were proficient in international affairs.
Malichu I decided to listen to both sides separately as he thought there would be no conclusion at this rate.
Ararat, a representative figure of the pro-war faction and the head of the military department, pleaded with the king in a resolute tone.
“Your Majesty, whether we want it or not, war is inevitable. The letter from Rome is just a trick to justify their cause.”
As soon as Ararat spoke, some people from the pro-peace faction tried to open their mouths reflexively, but Malichu I raised his hand to stop them.
“I understand your opinion well. But what matters is not whether we can fight or not, but whether we can win or not. If we have a chance to win, we should fight. But if we fight a hopeless battle, it will only result in meaningless bloodshed.”
“We can win, Your Majesty. Our goal is to repel the Roman army, not to conquer Rome.
First of all, we should mobilize all our troops and hire the desert tribes from the central and southern regions as mercenaries with our money. Then we can have a numerical advantage over them. And if we stick to a defensive strategy, we can negotiate with Rome on more favorable terms.”
Ararat continued to make various arguments, but the point was that they had no choice but to fight anyway.
Malichu I then asked Shakilavil, the leader of the pro-peace faction.
“Why do you think we shouldn’t fight Rome?”
“First of all, I will tell you about the absolute difference in power between the two armies. It is very embarrassing to say this, but fighting with Rome with our strength is like throwing straw into the fire.
Some people say that we can hire mercenaries, but mercenaries are people who move with money. They can run away at any time if they think the situation is unfavorable. And even if we pay them a lot of money, do you think the desert tribes will cooperate if we ask them to fight Rome?”
Shakilavil’s words made the people of the pro-peace faction nod in unison.
“Rome is different from any enemy we have faced so far. According to the reports from our spies in Antioch, at least eight legions will be mobilized for this war.
Eight Roman legions means more than 50,000 soldiers. Considering the average quality of the Roman army, we have no chance of winning in a head-on confrontation, no matter how many troops we match.
And the one who leads the Roman army is Marcus Mesopotamius, the absolute ruler of the East. I presume your majesty knows well about this person.”
“Marcus Mesopotamius… I’ve heard that name so often that it’s stuck in my ears.”
Malik I’s face turned gloomy.
The first time he heard about Marcus in Nabataea was when he became the governor.
At that time, Malik didn’t pay much attention to the young governor.
He had heard that he was a successful politician who was gaining influence in Rome, but he didn’t feel the need to care more.
It was the same when the war broke out between Parthia and Rome.
It didn’t matter who won, they would both suffer heavy losses, and that would be good for Nabataea.
That was the analysis of his ministers.
Malik I’s thoughts were not much different.
He even secretly planned to use this opportunity to strengthen his control over the trade routes he had secured.
But the war ended with Rome’s overwhelming victory, defying everyone’s expectations.
It took less than a year for Rome to crush Parthia and take over Mesopotamia.
‘It was then… that I felt something was wrong.’
Rome’s influence, which had completely dominated the East in an instant, soared endlessly afterwards.
Shakilabil looked straight at Malik I and said.
“Your majesty, even if our country is rich now, it is a fact that we cannot compare to Parthia a few years ago. That Parthia was destroyed by Rome in just two wars. What’s shocking is that both wars ended in less than a year.”
“That I know too well. That’s why I’m so troubled right now.”
“That’s not all. On the other side of the Red Sea, two powerful dynasties fell under Pompey’s hand just last year. Their national power was not much inferior to ours when compared. The ones who threaten us now are those who casually do such things.”
The atmosphere of the meeting became tense as the destruction of Parthia, Kush Kingdom, and Axum Dynasty were mentioned.
As Shakilabil said, there was no country among those three kingdoms that was clearly weaker than Nabataea.
Especially, the strength of Parthia was well known to the Nabataeans.
Many people were shocked by the news that they fell easily to Rome.
“Your majesty. Parthia provoked Rome first and was invaded, but the other two kingdoms were different.
They refused Rome’s offer to become their vassals and chose war, and they were annihilated. In other words, if they had accepted Rome’s offer at first, they could have continued to exist.
Our situation is not much different now. Look at the case of Egypt. They quickly bowed to Rome and joined them, and they are guaranteed the status of a Roman ally.”
Shakilabil’s rational analysis made Malik I nod slowly.
The king’s mind began to lean, and the pro-war faction could not refute rashly.
He tapped his forehead and fell into thought.
“It’s like being thrown naked in front of a hungry lion. But it would be foolish to antagonize the lion without a decent weapon. I guess there’s no choice but to give up some tasty food and beg for my life…”
Shakilabil’s answer was firm.
“Fighting is suicide. If we fight with all our might and a miracle happens, we might be able to repel them once. But then the kingdom will inevitably decline. And if Rome invades again, we won’t be able to stop them at all. The only way is to solve it diplomatically.”
Ararat, who had been shouting for a desperate fight, stepped forward with a frown.
“It sounds plausible, but how is it different from surrendering and handing over the country?”
“There is a difference between fighting a futile battle and losing all your wealth and troops, and becoming a vassal, and humbling yourself and keeping everything else. Your majesty, it is Rome’s style to use the local nobles even if they wage war. That’s why they can argue for war without hesitation.”
The bodies of the pro-war generals flinched.
As Shakilabil said, the generals who argued for war were not so stupid that they wanted to fight Rome because they couldn’t read the situation.
Rome had rarely exterminated the local nobles except for the royal families of the kingdoms that were hostile to them.
So if they could repel Rome by fighting, there would be nothing better, and if they were losing, they could surrender and keep their positions.
Most of the pro-war faction had already finished this cunning calculation.
As Ararat fell silent, Shakilabil knelt down and bowed his head.
“Your majesty, your position is different from those who can’t say anything right now. Rome has always sent the royal families of the kingdoms that were hostile to them to their land and humiliated them. Please make a wise decision to ensure the peace of your dynasty.”
Malik I closed his eyes and bit his lips hard as he felt his sincerity.
“If it’s for protecting the kingdom, I’ll have to endure some humiliation. I can’t send my soldiers to death in a fight that has no chance of winning… Tell the Roman envoy. I’ll accept their offer, but let’s discuss the details in person.”
Not only Shakilabil, but also other ministers looked at the king with surprised expressions.
It was practically a surrender declaration, but it was not something that would end with a little humiliation for the king to go out for a meeting himself.
It was not even a war that they had fought and lost, but why did their king have to endure such humiliation?
Shakilabil’s eyes reddened.
He bowed his head and shouted in a trembling voice.
“Your majesty! How can you endure such humiliation? Please, let me go instead.”
“No. I think it will be better for me to negotiate, even if it’s just a little bit. They might show some courtesy if the king of a country bows his head to them.”
Malik I was a wise man.
He knew well that it was foolish to confront Rome, the ruler of the East.
If he could get out of this crisis by bending his knees, he would do it ten times, not just once.
A king should have such an attitude, that was Malik I’s principle.
※※※
Marcus didn’t wait for Nabataea’s answer and summoned his legions to depart as soon as possible.
He had already sent messengers to prepare them before he left Rome, so the formation was done quickly.
Nabataea sent a reply that they would acknowledge Rome’s supremacy after the legions were ready to march.
Malik I even expressed his willingness to go to Antioch himself if Rome wanted.
But Marcus didn’t disband his legions even after hearing their surrender.
He had never aimed for just one Nabataean kingdom from the beginning.
“Tell the king of Nabataea. He doesn’t have to come all the way to Antioch. I’ll lead my army to the border and we’ll have the meeting there. The next course of action will depend on the outcome of the meeting.”
The Nabataean envoy turned pale at his words, which implied that he would sweep away the kingdom if he didn’t get a satisfactory result.
He hurried back to his country and told Malik I exactly what Marcus had said.
Malik I faced another dilemma.
Should he also lead as many troops as possible to meet him?
Or should he only summon a minimum of troops and show his obedience to Rome?
Normally, the former option would be natural, but it could be seen as a sign of willingness to fight if things went wrong.
On the other hand, the latter option had the advantage of clearly showing that he had no intention of resisting Rome, but it also had the possibility of being underestimated before the negotiation.
In the end, Malik I decided to go to the meeting with only a few guards and attendants.
He thought that Marcus might be trying to provoke him on purpose.
Since he had already decided to put aside his pride for a while, what did it matter if he looked a little pathetic?
Considering the difference in national power between them, it was much better to be looked down on than to be marked as a threat.
He had no reason to delay since he decided not to mobilize his troops.
He left Petra and reached the northern border, where he saw the magnificent camp of the Roman army.
It looked bigger than an average town, as it was made by eight legions.
This basic camp-building skill showed the basic competence of the army naturally.
Malik I entered the camp following the guidance of the Roman soldiers who came to greet him.
He passed by the barracks lined up with soldiers, and then he saw a temporary hospital and a forge.
He was amazed that they put so much effort into a temporary camp.
When Malik I reached the altar in the center of the camp, the soldiers who were walking ahead stopped.
“You have to get off your horse from here.”
Malik I obediently got off his horse and walked forward.
There was a crimson carpet on the way to the altar, and soldiers in shining steel armor stood on both sides.
Malik I had never seen such strange-looking armor before.
He had heard that Parthia’s heavy cavalry wore steel armor, but it looked different from that too.
He felt his guards trembling behind him.
Malik I didn’t want to scold them for that.
It was natural for people to feel confused and afraid when they faced something unknown.
It was a proof that they were good at controlling their minds that they only ended up with a slight agitation.
Malik I composed himself and moved his eyes beyond the carpet.
There was a majestic chair on top of the altar, which could only be called a throne.
And next to it stood a warrior who looked solid as steel, with an indifferent but somehow sharp gaze piercing Malik I.
The man sitting on the chair was too young to be called the peak of Roman power.
He was not wearing armor, but a toga, which made him stand out more.
‘That must be Marcus Mesopotamius…’
He had been curious about what kind of person he was, who had pacified Mesopotamia in just one year, and he felt that he was indeed extraordinary at first sight.
He didn’t get up from his chair even when he greeted the king of a country.
He just looked down at him with his eyes.
“Hoo.”
He had expected it, but he had a feeling that it would not be an easy negotiation.
It was not possible for someone who had reached the top of Rome at such a young age to be a mediocre person.
But he had to keep the Nabataean kingdom alive somehow.
He steeled himself and reached the stairs leading to the altar.
“Imperator, King Malik of Nabataea has arrived.”
At Antonius’s voice, who was guarding the front of the stairs, Marcus opened his mouth.
“Welcome. King of Nabataea. I am Marcus Licinius Crassus, the governor of Rome’s eastern provinces.”
He was being respectful, but he was still sitting on his throne and looking down at him.
Malik I nodded his head without showing any expression on his face.
“Thank you for your grand welcome. The fame of the great Mesopotamius is well known in our kingdom. I can see that it is not an exaggeration to meet you in person.”
“You flatter me. I also heard rumors that your majesty is a wise ruler, and I realized that it was not false. I appreciate your decision to make a difficult choice first.”
Marcus nodded slightly, lowering his head.
“I did what I thought was best for my kingdom. Rome and Nabataea have never been enemies, have they? I hope we can remain in a constructive relationship that benefits both sides.”
“That would be my wish too.”
Marcus shrugged his shoulders as if he didn’t care.
“It would be rude to keep your majesty here and talk on and on. So how about we get to the point right away?”
“Fine. What does Rome want? We are willing to listen to anything reasonable.”
“There is only one thing we ultimately want. To secure the Red Sea trade route completely. So please leave the west side to us, king of Nabataea.”
“What the hell…”
Malik I’s face turned pale at the outrageous demand.
< 162. Towards Arabia > – End
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