LOVE AND HONOR: The Mad Emperor (BL)

17 AD around May, Ravenna port, land and naval military base.

The travel from Vetara castrum to Ravenna city was a grueling and intricate one.

Germanicus had to navigate through treacherous terrain.

Avoiding hostile Germanic tribes and skirmishes along the way.

The journey involved multiple stages and different modes of transportations.

A combination of river boats and land travel, with careful detours to evade danger zones.

Germanicus commanded three Roman legions, each comprising approximately five thousand to six thousand soldiers.

Including foot soldiers, archers, cavalrymen, auxiliaries, siege engineers, and marines.

As well as around 3,600 non-combatant servants, merchants, and other civilians who supported the legions.

Totaling fifteen to sixteen thousand men.

The sheer scale of his force made it hard to imagine how to handle such a large number of people moving from place to place.

And yet, Germanicus managed.

His exceptional tactical acumen and inspiring presence, managed to weld this vast force into a cohesive, disciplined, and highly effective fighting machine.

Considering the distance, rugged topography, unpredictable weather and the complex logistical requirements of moving a large military force.

They have to carefully plan the route to ensure the safe and efficient transportation of his troops.

The legions would have to stop regularly to rest, resupply and attend to military matters, further extending the duration of the march.

As a result, they only arrived to Ravenna after several months had passed, spending winter on the way.

Their trek weary and very long.

After their battle at Weser river, they journeyed back to Vetera castrum.

And making a poignant detour to Teutoburg Forest to pay tribute to the fallen Roman soldiers and to retrieve the three aquilae' of the fallen three legions.

Now, as spring had set in, Germanicus led his troops into Ravenna city, after receiving a decree from Emperor Tiberius.

Their arrival marking the end of a long and challenging campaign.

The spring has come, they can smell it on the air.

The ground is muddy as the snow from the last season has just melt.

The birds are chirping in the distance.

*Trudge* *Trudge* *Trudge*

Germanicus rode into the city of Ravenna, his weary troops trailing behind him.

Their destination was the Ravenna port.

It had been five years since he left Rome, after meticulous planning and preparation for the campaign (12AD).

Since being summoned to the palatium on Palatine hill, he hadn't returned home.

Instead, he now found himself traveling to Ravenna city and its port, bypassing his domus on Palatine hill.

Tiberius, his adoptive uncle, who had seen him off five years prior.

Now, stood as the second emperor of Rome, after Emperor Augustus died of natural death, three years after Germanicus' departure (14AD). Or so they say.

Waiting outside the entrance of Ravenna port, the emperor with his praetorian guards lined up behind him, awaited Germanicus' arrival.

A calculating smile spreading across his face.

The overall commander and ex-general.

The driving force behind the Germanic campaign.

Seeking revenge for their devastating defeat of Varus' legions in the Teutoburg forest for Rome's expansion eight year ago (9AD).

As Germanicus dismounted his horse, Emperor Tiberius extended a hand.

His voice now dripping with formal courtesy. "Well met, nephew. Your victories over Germanic tribes are a testament to your military skills and bravery!"

Then he laughed, a joyous laugh, "Ha ha ha ha! well met indeed! Now let's go in and enjoy the banquet i prepared for you and your men!"

He then put his arms around Germanicus shoulder, "You must be tired!"

He looked around and said to his guards, "Tell them to get ready! The heroes of our country is here!" The emperor's joy is evident.

Germanicus who still had Tiberius right arm around his shoulder tried to be formal and bowed his head albeit awkwardly and said.

"Thank you, your grace. It is an honor to serve Rome." He isn't used to the changed status of Tiberius yet.

"Ha ha ha ha, don't be to stiff, nephew. After all, we are a family!" Tiberius dismiss Germanicus awkward courtesy.

"Now let's go in!" And with that, together, the two set off inside the port leaving his troops and guards to trail behind them.

As they entered, his nose got assaulted with the salty tang of seawater. The harbor is filled with various ships, from small fishing vessels to larger merchant and military ships.

The water's edge is filled with military storage, shipyards, armory, and fabrica's workshop.

Where blacksmiths, shield makers and armorers is can be seen hammering away.

The sounds ringing out from the port through the air, at the glowing hot metals, trying to finish their work in time for the celebration's banquet.

Now, as they seated in the grand hall inside the port. Tiberius took his seat at the head of the table, and led Germanicus to his right.

The room was already filled with other generals, nobles and some soldiers with positions.

All eager to curry favor with the emperor and hear stories about Germinacus' battle raids.

"Let the banquet starts!"

Looking around the table, Tiberius's eyes surveyed the room.

As if making sure that no one could overhear. His eyes full of curiosity, he is actually dying to ask his adoptive nephew.

He leaned closer to Germanicus, his voice quiet, drowned by the people's talk and laughter, "Tell me, nephew, what are your thoughts on the empire's future? Do you have ambitions to one day sit upon the throne?"

Germanicus's eyes remained neutral but he did not expect the emperor to ask him like this directly.

Although it's been whispered, but to Germanicus it felt like Tiberius yelled it in his ears.

Wariness crept into his voice. "May i be honest with you... uncle?" he whispered back to the emperor.

Tiberius's eyes gleamed sharply. All his attention is in Germanicus' answer.

But Germanicus is unaware of the Emperor's change, revealing his true nature.

Germinacus thinks back when he came back from Weser river to Vetara castrum.

When his four year old son Caligula caught a fever after bawling his eyes out on the severed arm.

A firm 'NO' came in his head in an instant.

He has no desire to sit on the throne. He's grown weary of his five years in the battlefield.

And to add politics in it?

He only wants to rest and spend time with his family now that he is back.

Then he remembered their detour to Teutoburg forest, where he had prayed for his fallen countrymen and comrades.

'Though i cannot let their sacrifices be in vain,' he thought.

Yet, if duty called him to fight once more for his beloved Rome.

And even if the emperor stood in opposition..

Germanicus steeled himself for the ultimate decision - to take up arms, seize the throne, and restore honor to his nation.

And so, Germanicus held onto the hope that this fragile peace would last long.

And that Tiberius, despite his calculating nature, would prove to be a just and benevolent emperor.

He lifted his silver cup, sipped the wine, and paused for a moment before responding, "No, my emperor, I am but a humble servant of Rome. My only ambition is to serve the empire and uphold its honor."

Tiberius silently exhaled, releasing the breath he'd been holding. Reached for his own golden cup. He took a sip of his wine, his eyes never leaving Germanicus.

He was acutely aware of Germanicus's popularity and the whispers that often compared them. Hinting that Germanicus would have been a better emperor.

Tiberius smiled as he gazed at Germanicus, it was a masterful facade. Downplaying the weight of his earlier question.

"Ha ha ha ha.." He raised his cup, "Excellent answer, nephew! Excellent!"

As the night wore on, the conversation turned to Germinacus campaign. Making the emperor's eyes slant a bit, when people praises his nephew.

The banquet drew to a close. Tiberius announced that they would travel back to palatium at the morn.

Right after that, he once again leaned in to Germinacus and say, "We'll speak more tomorrow, nephew. For now let us enjoy the night."

Germinacus nodded, but his mind was already racing with the implications of Tiberius's words earlier. 'What does the emperor really wants?'

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INDEX:

Ravenna city - a city in italy,

aquila/aquilae - eagle, a symbol of Legions

Palatine Hill - a hill in Rome, where the Emperor's palatium and other noble's domus/states is located

Emperor Augustus - First Emperor of Rome

praetorian guards - elite imperial guards

Varus - a roman general

Teutoburg forest - located in germany

Ravenna port - former roman military base

fabrica - blacksmith workshop

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NOTE:

I've change 'Germania tribe' and 'Germania campaign' to --- 'Germanic tribe' 'Germanic campaign'

And that in Emperor Augustus time, there are 60 legions (each legions 5000-6000 soldiers).

But then later reduced it to 28 legions.

So in Tiberius time there are only 28 legions.

And Germanicus commanded 3 legions in his Germanic campaign.

And 3 legions got killed in Teutoburg forest by Germanic tribe, resulting for Tiberius and Germanicus to seek revenge, forgetting their original purpose of territory expansions.

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TIMELINE:

9AD - defeat of General Varus with his 3 legions in Teutoburg forest

12AD - August, Caligula is born

- Germanicus left for his Germanic campaign

14AD - Emperor Augustus died

- Agrippina visited Germanicus camp

- conceived Julia, younger sister of Caligula

15AD - Agrippina gave birth to Julia on November

16AD - Agrippina left with Caligula, took him to Vetara camp. They left summer, and arrived on autum.

- around Nov and Dec, weser battle happened

17AD- around January came back to Vetara camp

-left Vetara camp

-arrived at May (spring)

*** I hope everything is clear ***