To the Legate of Legio XXIII

I fully understand your need to await proper authorisation from your commanding officer or rather due to his illness, Rome, as to how to respond to the appeal of Bocchus.

It would however be useful for you to be made aware of a few facts in this matter that might shed some light on the web of fantasy being weaved by King Bocchus.

Firstly, Mauretania is at war with our ally Numidia. She is at war because, as confirmed by the Senatorial fact finding mission led by Marcus Fulvius Sesquiculum last year, Maretania, or more specifically the eastern part, Bocchutiana, the realm of King Bocchus, has been systematically raiding the border with Numidia over recent years.

Tiring of this constant raiding and finally able to respond due to Numidia and Rome's treaty at the Pact of Thugga, as brokered by my father Caius Livius Drusus, he finally could turn his eyes from his eastern to his western border and make a punitive raid into Mauretania to extract payment for King Bocchus continued wrong doing.

In this raid Numidia acted alone and quite within it's rights. After sacking Sitifis Masinissa was stopped at Icosium when he was defeated whilst besieging the city by an army of King Bocchus that caught him unprepared. The subsequent flight and burning of Saldae by Masinissa produced the near death of Masinissa from arrow wounds that he is still struggling to recover from.

King Bochus called on his brother, King Bogud of Bogutiana to assist him by invading the south of Numidia in an attempt to sack Cirta.

Bogud was stopped at Iambasa by the forces under my command. This defeat caused both Bogud and Bocchus to retreat back into their own country.

Mauretania then declared war on Rome. Rome sent an envoy in M. Fulvius Sesquiculum and he found Mauretania to be in the wrong in the matter. Rome sent legions to aid her ally and to fight a war unjustly declared on her.

During this time Numidian forces took Sitifis and established a fortified city there. It is important to note that Sitifis is NOT Roman, it is Numidian. Bocchus cannot bargain with that which he does not possess any more than Rome can demand a city won by it's ally as payment for a debt owed her by Mauretania.

King Bogud fought against Legio XXI at the Rapidum bridge, Roman legionaries died. They were relieved and assisted by the forces under my command.

It is clear that Mauretania having taken Roman lives cannot now call the tune on negotiations.

I have just defeated King Bogud utterly near Zuccabir, his remaining, decimated forces are in open rout, he is going back, no doubt, to his own kingdom in the west which now lies near defenceless.

King Bocchus meanwile finds his ally gone, his own army stupidly trapped between three Roman legions and15,000 Numidians on the east and south and 20,000 Cretan Mercenaries on the west side.

To the north is the sea, to the south a massive mountain range and legio XXI.

He is trapped, he knows it, you know it. Help is not going to be coming from anywhere and so he seeks to save his worthless hide by complicate matters by seeking to divide Roman and Numidian interests and take advantage of Commander Asiaticus' illness.

Do not allow him to fool you! Bogud is not the instigator here, it has been Bocchus all along. He knows that he will be crushed at Saldae and Icosium and so will have lost almost all of his country.

There can be no peace, no treaty discussion without the presence of Numidia. Rome can withdraw support from her ally, if she wishes, but her ally cannot be forced to accept the loss of one of her hard won cities nor to forgive the three arrows that were treacherously fired at her King's back AFTER he left the city of Saldae.

Numidia and Rome are in this together, Bocchus head lies on the block, now is not the time to be prevaricating.

Nevertheless, if Bocchus is prepared to make a better offer he can come and meet with the Numidian delegation here at Icosium where I now lay siege.

I have taken the liberty of inviting King Bogud, who will surely be most interested to hear what his brother has been saying about him.

Caius Livius the Younger.


A letter to King Bogud of Boguttania

Greetings King Bogud.

I wish to arrange to parlay with you regarding the future of your realm.

Your brother, King Bocchus, has informed the Romans that he wishes to sue for peace with them blaming YOU entirely for the war.

The loyalty you showed your brother in our negotiations of last year was admirable, it seems however that your brother does not share the same honourable feelings towards you as you do for him.

If he succeeds in painting you as the aggressor YOUR Kingdom will be the one that falls.

You have taken ROMAN lives at Rapidum, they will not forgive that debt so easily.

Only with your assistance may the truth be demonstrated and an honourable and acceptable treaty be negotiated. I am willing to act on your behalf to obtain the best possible settlement for you with Rome.

If you are interested come to Icosium within 10 days with an escort of no more than 100 men. You will not be harmed.

Caius Livius

Orders for the legions:

Prepare camp and lay siege to Icosium. Once the siege equipment is in place, proceed with artillery bombardment of the city. Use fire, burn them all.

Send signal to the Roman ships in the harbour to commence bombardment with us, let us see if they assist.