H28

It was with a fleet of three hundred ships including one hundred Dromons, and an army of sixty-thousand men that I landed in Syracuse. My forces were supplemented by those of the Greek Cities of Sicily, armed with steel that they traded for in the past few years. I gathered men and ships as I moved north toward Zanclo along the coast from cities such as Megara, Katane, and Naxos as I moved inexorably northward.

The Mamertines knew themselves to be outmatched even before I arrived within sight of the walls of Zanclo on the Strait of Messina. The dust kicked up by my army and the forest of sails from my fleet on the horizon had assured them of that well before their army even glimpsed mine. As we arrayed for battle against them, eighty-thousand men against a mere fifteen thousand, a rider came forth bearing a flag of parley.

Hortius Decius of Nerulum rode forth, wearing a triple-disc breastplate over his light linothorax. His Attic Helmet was decorated with the quadruple feathers so prized by the Oscan Peoples of Southern Italy. As I rode out to meet him, I saw that no small amount of his army bore those same feathered Attic Helms, though rather than the green and brown designs favored by the Lucanii, as Hortius Decius had on his shield, theirs were painted blue and red like Samnites.

"Hail Pyrrhus, King of Epirus. Your reputation precedes you. Have you come at the behest of the son of the man we once called liege?" Questioned Hortius Decius.

"I have, for his sister is my bride. I understand it was grievances over payment that brought you to seize Zanclo? If so, I shall pay my late Goodfather's debts to your forces, and offer you a chance for even further glory." I confirmed.

"Running from a fight, oh King of Epirus? I admit that is not something I would have expected of a man of your reputation. What possible glory could you have that we would be interested in?" Smirked Hortius Decius.

I reached into my armor and pulled out a number of sheets of Papyrus. "Dispatches. From Tarentum, Metapontion, Locri, Krotone, and others. Rome masses legions at their borders. Here is one more from the port at Himera, a Roman Envoy has disembarked and is making his way here. If Rome is its usual self, the demands any Envoy will make are likely to be unacceptable. Make no mistake, War with Rome is on the Horizon." I intoned. 

That seemed to wipe the smirk off of Hortius Decius' face as he realized just how hopeless his situation was. Even if he somehow held out against my forces, he would be caught between two titans as they battled for dominance with no hope of survival. With that, I began to work on my sales pitch. Pyrrhus' unfailing charisma working to my full advantage here.

"So you see that you are caught between Charybdis and Scylla with seemingly no way forward. However, I offer you a third path. Take my silver in payment of the debts owed by the late Agathocles then join me in my war with Rome. By the looks of your army, I judge the bulk to be Samnites, yes? Do you think your men would like a chance at revenge for the sacking of so many of their cities? Do you not think they are owed that much? Join with me, and I will lead you to the very gates of Rome itself if that is what it takes to seize victory. What say you? Shall we ask your men?" I pitched.

I could tell that Hortius Decius was interested but skeptical. Likely Agathocles had made similar promises but put off the issue until his demise. They would have received no joy of that promised revenge from him. There was also the feasibility angle. Rome was a notoriously stubborn polity to force to the table. I could tell that if I were anyone else or Rome was in a better position, he might scoff at such a claim. 

Luckily for me, I was not anyone else, I was Pyrrhus, Warrior King of Epirus, Humbler of Illyria, Vanquisher of Demetrios Poliorketes, a man who revolutionized half a dozen aspects of warfare in the past decade alone. Meanwhile, Rome was struggling financially, much of her Socii still lay in disorder from the Samnite War, and her manpower was flagging as a result.

"What would be required of us if we agree?" Questioned Hortius Decius.

"You would return to the status as mercenaries, with a hefty increase in pay over what Agathocles had been paying you. That means you would relinquish control of Zanclo and the fortress there to my appointed governor and allow the local Greeks back within the city walls." I intoned.

"And in return, you will just pay us and lead us to glory against a hated foe? Truly, your ambition is as they claim. Were you any other man I would think such talk idle boasting, but you are not any other man." Nodded Hortius Decius, before pivoting his horse around to face his troops.

"What say, you men? Shall we take the chance to follow Pyrrhus and plunge our blades once more into Roman breasts? Shall we once more raise the standard of the Great God Mamers in defiance of the Romans?" Shouted Hortius Decius. The assembled troops began clashing their blades and javelins upon their shields, roaring out in one great voice.

"So be it! The will of the People shall not be denied!" Exclaimed Hortius Decius before turning to me. 

With a wolfish grin, he nodded and said, "We have terms, Pyrrhus King. Lead us into our revenge and we will follow you to the gates of Rome itself if need be."

"So be it! And because you are wise enough to seize the opportunity when it arises, I shall have your back pay brought forth immediately!" I smirked, before gesturing to a rider who galloped off toward the baggage train. Fifteen minutes later a convoy of carts rumbled forth, packed with silver from galena mines in Illyria, Sea Silk dyed in carmine and saffron, and Steel from my Forges in the form of scutae, helms, triple-disc breastplates, and gladiii. 

I could tell I had won the Mamertines to my cause and over the next forty-eight hours control of Zanclo was returned to the local Greeks, headed by my appointed governor there. It was a great victory, won without unsheathing my sword, largely off the back of my reputation and charisma. As my army made camp outside the walls of Zanclo, the Polis itself not being able to shelter everyone, and my fleet lay at anchor just off the coast, I reflected that my Italian Campaign was off to a good start so far.

Thirty-six hours later, the Roman Envoys would arrive. Guards in Lorica Hamata chain shirts, with their Scutum and Gladius weapons, formed the bodyguard. It was a full maniple of one-hundred-twenty legionaries, escorted by a group of twenty mounted scouts from the conquered Sennones Tribe of Cisalpine Gaul. Riding at the rear was a man in full senatorial garb. I recognized him as Decimus Junius Brutus from the description of the man who had dictated terms to the Etruscan League. 

As he approached, Decimus Junius Brutus took in the size of my force with a gaze that seemed stoic enough, but some remnant of Pyrrhus that had been guiding several of my actions for years now whispered in the back of my mind that he was nervous. He clearly hadn't expected this much force to be brought to bear. Perhaps I could use that to gain some sort of advantage in whatever passed for negotiations?

"Hail Pyrrhus, King of Epirus. I bring you greetings from the Senate and People of Rome and beg you answer our inquiries as to what it would take for you to remove yourself and your army from Italy back into Epirus?" Questioned Decimus Junius Brutus.

"Hail, Decimus Junius Brutus, I can only offer that I was invited to these lands in Magna Graecia by the locals in order to settle various ongoing disputes. They are kinsmen and allies and I would be cursed to Tartarus if I broke oaths sworn under the eyes of Blessed Concordia by leaving them now." I returned.

"Perhaps I should speak plainly, then. The Senate is disturbed by your alliances in Italy. We beg you to remove your army from our shores, or at least pledge under sacred oath to Concord to remain on Sicily, forsaking all alliances made on the mainland." Intoned Decimus Junius Brutus. 

He probably thought he was throwing me a bone by conceding Sicily as if it was Rome's territory to even concede. Just him making the offer proved just how weak Rome really was, however. There was no way they'd allow me to remain even in Sicily as part of a treaty if they weren't on such shaky ground with their economic and manpower situations at the moment. Time to press home my point.

"I will not break oaths sworn to the Goddess Concordia only to turn round and beg her to sanctify new oaths. Such a thing would tempt the Wrath of the Gods. I cannot forsake my alliances on the Mainland in such a fashion. Rome may be in the habit of tempting divine punishment, but Epirus is not. However, I can pledge not to step foot in Roman Territory while in Magna Graecia if that will suffice?" I offered, knowing full well that the Senate wouldn't buy it because they would use that as a cover for an invasion if they were in my place.

"I do not believe the Senate will agree to those terms." Stated Decimus Junius Brutus.

"That is most unfortunate, for they are the ones I will give. The Greek Cities of Magna Graecia are not Rome's to bargain for, and there is also the matter of the substantial debt that Rome owes to Epirus for our loans that financed your recent wars. If it helps soothe the Senate's concerns, I can perhaps forgive the debt as a sweetener?" I questioned. I knew the Senate wouldn't accept that, though it would show I was willing to negotiate for when the time came to end the war.

"I will carry your terms to the Senate, you shall have our reply within a fortnight." Nodded Decimus Junius Brutus. Then he headed back for Himera to take ship to the Port of Ostia. Fourteen days later exactly, I was in Rhegion with my forces, having crossed the Straits of Messina in anticipation of Rome's refusal. I was not disappointed. Rome had declared war to remove me from Italy and Sicily.

The Die, as it were, was cast. . .

XXXX

AN: So yeah, I hope you guys are ready for the First Pyrrhic War. Pyrrhus has a strategy that will be put into motion next chapter, but for now, he's managed to pretty expertly read Rome's moves and be a step ahead of them. The bit with the Mamertines was one such maneuver, the appearing willing to negotiate while simultaneously moving his forces across the Strait of Messina to prepare for the likely declaration of war was another.

Rome is in the unenviable position of having been reacting instead of acting. We'll see the fruits of that strategy soon enough on a battlefield near the River Laus in Lucania. It isn't going to be pretty for the Romans, I can tell you that much. The fact that they're sending Quintus Maximus Samnicus to command the forces also will not help their chances when the Mamertines realize who's in command. They'll fight like demons to get their revenge.

That will be coming up next chapter.

Stay tuned. . .