History books on the last 70 years of Roman history in general and the history of the Rome's wars against the Macedonians and Sicilians and their allies in particular, were somewhat sparse, but from the private documents of various senators, Lea had gathered, the following picture emerged:



Starting from a small tribe, the Roman Republic had enjoyed a steady growth.
Some 65 years in the past Rome had been disturbed by a short episode of inner turmoil, which was however resolved when a new Princeps Senatus of Rome took office. It was once more reaffirmed that Rome would be a democratic Republic, not an Empire or Dictatorship. Every Roman citizen would have the right to freely contribute his opinions and to vote on Rome's leadership. Every citizen could bring his concerns before those Romans elected as Senators, who would then vote on Rome's policy.

The roots of Rome's current wars lay some 25 years in the past, when Teutons and Goths were attacked by the Samoyeds.




Before Rome could come to the aid of our Teuton allies, Rome was involved with an attack on Roman lands by Dacians instead. The war with the Dacians however was successfully resolved and ended.

23 years ago Denis Cicic was nominated and subsequently elected the new and current Princeps Senatus of Rome.

When Phrygian forces conquered a Roman province, Rome responded with a campaign against Phrygia, raiding in turn several Phrygian provinces. Rome then offered a peace treaty to Phrygia, which was ignored.



Some 8 years ago Samoyed and Sarmatian forces raided Roman provinces. While Rome and the Teutons moved against Sarmatia and the Samoyeds respectively, the Phrygians also involved themselves in the conflict. Rome and her allies raided several of the enemies provinces as compensation for Rome's raided provinces.

All of these attacks on territories of Rome took place without any declarations of war being issued by our attacking foes and without any effort being made from Rome's enemies to formalize the conflict, to impose any limits and constraints on the war, or even to offer any reason for the attacks.

Some warriors formerly belonging to the Sarmatians and Samoyeds formed the new tribe of Pontus, some joined the Phrygians.

The conflict continued.

At that point many Phrygian warriors renounced their allegiance to the Phrygian nation, and roamed the world as an unaffiliated army of brigands, that then attacked the Teutons. That assault being rebuffed by the Teutons and being pursued by allied forces, the brigands entered the Castle of the Ceutrones and took over that tribe.



Not wishing to have neighbours with such an unstable, violent and hostile history in the vicinity, Rome, the Teutons and their allies joined in storming the Ceutrone castle and successfully dislodged those rootless and shiftless warriors, before they could gain a firm foothold there.

In the meantime several warriors born in Phrygia and Pontus together with outcasts from other tribes, having also renounced their allegiance to the nations that gave them birth, took over the Sicilian and Macedonian nations, occupying these nation's fortresses. From these new bases they have continued to make war upon Rome and taking up piracy. Their hostilities against Rome have been unceasingly, all offers of peace treaties have so far been refused. A sad state of affairs, considering that only a few years earlier Rome had enjoyed a friendly relationsship with Grimuald, Archon of Sicily.



However there were some positive side-effects, it seemed that in the absence some of the more bloodthirsty warmongers, more moderate voices gained weight in Pontus and Rome was finally able to reach a non-Agression Agreement with Pontus.



However as to the Sicilians and Macedonians, considering these warrior's histories, their unceasing enmity towards Rome, their vagrant tendencies, constantly changing allegiances, shifting loyalties and shyness of committing themselves firmly to any one nation, it would seem somewhat doubtful, whether treaties would even be possible with such unsteady characters, Lea reflected. Though personally she would remain hopeful.

Some other senators speculated, in light of repeated complaints about Innumerables and Imbalances, heard from Rome's enemies, that the drive behind this long hostility against Rome and the true reason for these long wars might be plain jealousy of Rome's success and prosperity. Well, only Rome's enemies themselves could truly know their motives, but their actions and words did give rise to the most unflattering speculations.

Rome is currently making every effort to dislodge the warriors of the Sicilian and Macedonian nations from Rome's neighbourhood.

Should the endeavour to remove Rome's enemies from the Sicilian and Macedonian castles fail, we Romans will have to console ourselves by sinking every pirate ship we come across and engaging the Sicilian and Macedonian armies whenever they dare poke their noses outside their strongholds.

If at any time the Sicilians and Macedonians should come to realize, how very unwelcome they are as neighbours to Rome and choose once more to wander off to some tribe far from Rome and our allies, at the ends of the earth, Rome would not further pursue the matter, I'm sure, Lea thought.

However, in spite of all these endeavours, Rome will keep in mind, that our first duty is to our young recruits, to help them in their training and in building their life in Rome; in seeing to the training of Rome's large forces of reservists and ensuring a stable and lasting future for all Romans.