Progress Made in Hispania While the defeat at Bilbis is a blow to our standing in Hispania, notable progress has been made this month with the capture of two rebel cities. In Tarraconensis, Legio XXI captured the city of Dertosa with ease as they discovered a most surprising incident ruined the city’s hope for defense. As the legion stormed the walls, few defenders came to stand their ground, and the city gates were quickly opened to the entire legion. Inside, the streets were chaos as what appeared to be various factions of the city’s populace fought against Each other! What began as a siege ended as a policing action as the legionaries broke up fights and quieted the streets, (though with ample looting). Eventually the truth was discovered; the city governor was assassinated, causing a power struggle in the city’s unstable leadership! Meanwhile, in Lustania, Pro-praetor Caius Livius Drusus handily captured and destroyed the rebel city of Scallabis. Using almost all the Greek fire oil in the province, Drusus pummeled the city with fire and harassed its populace as they attempted to douse the fires which ultimately spread through the city’s entire southern sector. With the rivers uncommonly low for this time of year, the city’s defenses were finished. The full weight of Legio XVIII and IV found a demoralized resistance which soon gave way to Roman victory. The city was completely looted for a total of some 600 D, and burnt to the ground. It will now take considerable investment into the city if this areas is to ever be productive again.

Baetican Praetor Pays Taxes The Praetor of Baetica, Lucius Terentius Varro, has for the second month payed for out of his own pocket the tax revenue of that province. The move is obviously designed to increase the loyalty of the province, and this task seems successful if the street demonstrations in favor of the Praetor in cities like Gades and Italica are any mark. Though now most certainly loved by Baetica, many senators in Rome are now mumbling over the suspicious nature of Varro’s actions. Some believe that the people will begin to expect no taxes after such an extended period of ease, and wonder if it could lead to a prelude to war. Also, some vicious rumours have been recently circulating suggesting that Varro has more devious plans for ‘his’ province.

Sulag Strikes Again! Though talk has been made in the Senate this month on possible answers to this year’s increase in piracy, all motions have been disregarded or tossed away. As if to answer this crisis, the pirate admiral Sulag has struck out again at Roman interests, capturing a number of merchant vessels and making raids on Sardinia and Sicilia. Provincials in the provinces and merchants of all classes in Rome are making quite a fuss, pressuring patrons and magistrates to take action.