Legio XVII: Roman Legion at War Read Free

northern Italy and southwestern Austria from 209 to 207 BC.  While faithful to the intent of the language of the scrolls, the team felt it important to modernize some aspects of the narrative.  For example, we changed certain third person pronouns to personal pronouns or used actual names to avoid confusing the reader.  In other situations, we adopted a narrator position or used more current language to better convey the author’s intent.  The translation presented herein adheres to the original text except for an occasional addition consistent with historical fact and the story line of the scrolls.  Goggle Maps and public domain images are used throughout the book.
    After reading the scrolls and understanding the accomplishments of Praetor Tullus and Legio XVII , the team unanimously agreed that Legio XVII will be accorded a prominent place in the history of Roman and western civilization.  The Legion helped prevent Hannibal from gaining vital reinforcements and thwarted a general uprising among the Cisalpine Gauls.  The consequences of failure on either of these two counts would have rewritten history for Rome and, ultimately, western culture.
    COL Charles suggested we mention our indebtedness to the Roman historians Polybius and Livy, as critical sources in understanding the scrolls, as well as Theodore Mommsen’s History of Rome , Jonathan P. Roth’s The Logistics of the Roman Army (264 B.C.-A.D. 235) , Pat Southern’s The Roman Army: A Social and Institutional History , and Robert L. O’Connell’s The Ghosts of Cannae , Random House, 2010.  These works as well as numerous other articles and Internet websites such as The Roman Army and UNRV History - Roman Empire were of invaluable assistance in telling this story properly.
     
    Maria Kralinger
    Team Leader
    Innsbruck, Austria

Chapter I: Manius Titurius Tullus
     

The Ovation September 207 BC
    A t 5’8”, Praetor Manius Tullus stood a little taller than the average Roman and he used the extra few inches to enhance his gravitas whether on the battlefield or training grounds.  By letting his height and war wounds do the talking, he did not have to degrade himself, like so many others, with bragging and bluster.  Maybe it was just his age or maybe it was his battle wounds from Cannae 10 years earlier, but by age 53 he had become soft spoken, gentle, and more compassionate.
    As he stood tall in the Senate chambers with all eyes upon him, he felt immensely proud and humble as the Senate Ovation, the second highest honor bestowed by the Senate and People of Rome, filled his ears and echoed loudly off the chamber’s walls.  Everyone he loved was there:  Lucia, his wife and their two children Flavia and Titus; his dear friend Quaestor Levi, his wife Rivkah [Rebecca], and their son Joseph and his wife Decima; all the leaders from Legio XVII that served him so faithfully: Tribuni Servilius and Vitulus, Centurio Andreas, his spy master Elitovius, Snake his Illyrian archer, Rasce, his Etruscan cavalry commander, Lucani and Luceria, the Samnites who nursed him back to health after Cannae ; Timo Bosettius, his loyal Rhaetian ally, and his Roman wife Rosa, and Tribune Tomaeus, his brilliant Engineer.  He felt like he would burst with gratitude and pride.  He would treasure this moment for the rest of his life.
    As he stood there smiling, he recalled that the 30 month expedition of Legio XVII did not get off to a very promising start.  The Senate granted Scipio and the other Commanders top priority for men and materials in their fight against Hannibal and his Carthaginian Army.  His expedition against the Gauls in northern Italy and the Suevi in Austria was considered a side show, a necessary one, but not as important as fighting the North Africans.
    Despite having to beg and borrow to outfit his Legionaries, he soon commanded a legion as professional and competent as any that took the field against Hannibal.  Indeed, in short order, Legio XVII had earned a