In the woods bordering northern Germania Superior with Germania Inferior:

The destruction of Proconsular Magnus and his rebellion was easier than the Emperor Maximinus expected, but his cruelty didn't quiet any further aggression. The Thracian emperor's barbarity seemed to be an issue and he wasn't sure how to quell down the mutiny. Petronius Magnus had entered into a conspiracy with many soldiers and senators to destroy Maximinus' authority by destroying the bridge between Germania Superior and the Teutonberg Forest. It was only after numerous reports coming back to him on his Germanic raids near the Neckar River that he found that his supplies had been cut off from behind. Three weeks through the swamps led Maximinus back to Moguntiacum and a few weeks ago he was able to lay siege on the city (which only lasted less than a day). Magnus was quickly captured and the numerous senators and soldiers that had contributed to his mutiny were quickly judged by him. This broke out controversy for tradition stated that an accused man should be judged by his peers and a trial set. Maximinus waved this issue for the obviousness of Magnus being guilty. Many of his followers were of the old Antonine aristocracy such as Claudius Julianus, L. Bruttius Crispinus, C. Bruttius Praesens, some from the Severan elite (L. Didius Marinus who married M. Aurelius' daughter, Cornificia, L. Aedinius Julianus, L. Domitius Honoratus, L. Lucillus Priscillianus) and ex-equestrians adlected into the senate.

Most of the men mentioned were executed in various ways. Some were hung on the cross, others such as Petronius were shut in the bodies of animals newly slain, and a few such as Didius Marinus were thrown to wild beasts, or like Honoratus who had his brain dashed out with clubs. Though they claimed they were Roman citizens and civilians, they had betrayed him with his own military and so he judged them to be tried in military standards. No civil court would let them escape their acts as traitors. And now, the emperor was heading for Germania Inferior’s capital Colonia Agrippinensis (Cologne).

Last week he had heard a report that a cohort of Osroenian archers were rebelling there with a new leader that he only heard with the praenomen of Titus. Titus was a common enough praenomen, but only one name came to mind- Quartinus. Titus Quartinus was made the provincial governor of Germania Inferior several months ago when he quickly sided with Maximinus. A decade ago the governor was the legatus of I Minervia and as such, he may have some loyalty from them.

“How many men have I put to death?” The emperor asked one of his secretaries, Vitalianus. The two of them had been riding with the cavalry for several nights now and any conversation was good conversation.

“About twenty-five hundred men’s property have been taken, Augustus.”

“And what are your thoughts about taking the Cassii family’s land away from in Britannia?”

“I think it may be too early as of yet. They haven’t shown any direct disloyalty and their connection to the governor of Germania Inferior is small- plus we don’t even know if Quartinus is leading the rebellion.”

“Well, he surely hasn’t stopped it.” His conversation stopped as he noticed the foot soldiers had stopped ahead of his small gathering. It wasn’t too long before he had heard the reasons why from a tribune. An ambush at the front of his army had begun. (To be continued)