Haggith explained Mago’s request for 20,000 Boii and Eravisci troops and his willingness to pay Magimarus $5 for each soldier.
“That’s a low figure. I can only assume that the Carthaginian Senate has spent all its money on the war. Pay $7 a soldier and you will have your 20,000 warriors.”
“Mago wishes he could double that number Chief,” replied Haggith, “but yes, war expenditures have taken their toll. I would like to march the men through the Inn River Valley to allow them to gather the rich spoils of Innsbruck and then lead them down the Brenner Pass to Verona and west to Genoa. If you would assemble them at Vindunia, we can get underway whenever they are ready to march. Your generosity will be spoken of in the Carthaginian Senate for years to come.”
“Well said, Haggith! My men will assemble at Vindunia in two weeks, the 27th. You may remain here as my guests until the men are ready to move.”
At the end of the meeting, Haggith was taken to an adjoining room off the main hall and counted out the 2,800 coins ($140,000 USD). He had managed to save 200 coins in the deal. This allowed him to give each cavalry escort 10 coins, 25 each to Tendao and Merbal, and 50 for himself. Later, when the Eravisci Captain came to their hut, Haggith gave him five coins for expenses. The Captain encouraged the men to walk freely about the town and enjoy the taverns, food, and other delights during their stay.
Graz, Vienna, Salzburg, Rosenheim, & Innsbruck (Google Maps)
Haggith gathered Tendao, Merbal, and his Numidian cavalry Commander, Hiempsal, to review what they would do next. “It’s working out that the Taurisci from Ptuj and the Boii/ Eravisci will both assemble at Vindunia on the 27th. Obviously, the gods are with us because I couldn’t have planned for that to happen, no matter how hard I tried.” Haggith had gotten maps from local vendors and spread them out on the floor. “I don’t want Magimarus to know that we’ve hired 10,000 Taurisci. I’m not sure how he’d react, so keep that quiet. I suspect that the Taurisci will cross the Mura River at Graz and plan to walk to Vindunia. I don’t want that to happen. It’s too close to Posonium and Vindunia, and that’s where Magimarus plans to assemble his troops.”
“Hiempsal, I want you to take a detachment of five men and position them on the west bank of the Mura at Graz. Merbal, I want you to go with him. If the Taurisci depart as scheduled on May 16th, they should arrive at Graz on the 20th. That’s seven days from today. Once the Taurisci cross the river, march them northwest to Salzburg. That’ll take about 11 days and should provide them an opportunity to plunder along the way. Tendao and I will march southwest with the Boii/Eravisci from Vindunia to Salzburg and join you there. We should both arrive within a week of each other, June 8 or 9. From Salzburg, we will march to Rosenheim and then follow the Inn River south and west to Innsbruck. Allow the troops to loot along the way, but keep them moving. I hope to reach Innsbruck by June 16.”
“Hiempsal and Merbal, it’ll take you about seven days to reach Graz from here, so leave tomorrow morning and ride hard. The rest of us will stay here and march with the troops to Vindunia on the 27th. Does everyone understand their instructions?” They nodded.
The following day, Haggith was introduced to Lugius, the Commander of the 20,000 Boii/Eravisci troops. He was friendly, but wasted no time telling Haggith the limits of his authority. “Your job, Carthaginian, is to get us to Innsbruck and Genoa. I will lead the troops and say what they can and cannot do, and when they should come, and when they should go. I welcome your input, but I am in charge.”
“I understand,” acknowledged Haggith. He wasn’t surprised.
*******
Queen Bethica plans her defense
At 7:00 A.M. on June 1st, the day after Andreas and Elitovius left Innsbruck, Bethica assembled her Council. She had barely gotten any sleep thinking about the coming mercenary storm. “I want to go over our planning as we don’t have much time. If Andreas’ estimates are correct, the mercenary army could be here in two weeks.”
“Councilmen, I would like for you to send a representative to the fort at Bad Tolz to alert them to a possible attack. I want the people to decide for themselves whether to stay or to evacuate. There is a 50-50 chance that the mercenaries will discover the fort and attack it. Nasua, if the people decide to stay in the fort, I want you to order the Auxiliary force to march to Bad Tolz. I estimate that there are at least 10,000 able body men already there. The 10,000 Auxiliaries will bring the defenders up to 20,000, which is barely enough to hold the fort. If the fort is attacked, every man and woman must participate in its defense as this will be a life and death struggle.”
“I want cavalry detachments to ride east and observe the major roads coming out of Vindunia and Graz. Once the route or routes of the mercenaries are determined, warn any people who have not evacuated already to do so immediately if they value their lives. Have enough men with you to send couriers back here periodically to keep us informed. They may already be marching, so warn your men to be vigilant.”
“Send riders throughout the Valley to order the people to evacuate. They can travel north either up the valley at Jenbach and through Bad Tolz to Munich, or they can use the road that passes our fort at Seefeld. People living to the west of Innsbruck can head west and get far enough away from Innsbruck to be out of danger. They need to do this immediately. I don’t want to create a panic, but the people need to be warned.”
“Let’s anticipate problems with the evacuation and try to solve them before they happen. Nasua, I want you to use our 15,000 men at Seefeld to keep the wagons moving. Station them at various points along the route with the tools necessary to repair broken wheels and axels. A damaged wagon should be immediately pushed off to the side of the road while undergoing repairs so the others can continue rolling. Be prepared to repair bridges and rebuild washed out roads. If the traffic stops, dispatch men to find out why and fix it.”
“Use your men to maintain order. I expect tempers will be short and common courtesies forgotten. As you know, there are only two bridges over the Inn River for the people living on the south side; one here at Innsbruck and the other by Jenbach. These two bridges will be major choke points. We will need soldiers stationed at the bridges to keep the wagons moving and maintain order. If anyone thinks of any additional measures to take, tell Nasua or myself.”
Nasua was a deliberative man who didn’t appreciate being rushed. He wanted to study the issue before making a decision, which is why the former Chief of the Suevi, Ariovistus, did not promote him. Vocion, who was defeated by Legio XVII in 209 BC, was more like Ariovistus. He was decisive, bold, and quick to take action. These same attributes, however, led him into an ambush set by Manius, and to the defeat of Ariovistus at the Battle of Innsbruck. Bethica trusted Nasua’s measured judgment would serve them well.
Nasua gathered two of his cavalry Detachment Commanders, Armen and Warin. Each had 20 men. They studied the map to identify likely avenues of approach into the Inn Valley from Graz and Vindunia. The main road west from Vindunia led straight to Salzburg. The road from Graz angled northwest and also led to Salzburg. Nasua felt fairly confident that the mercenaries would ultimately end up in Salzburg. He was just unsure whether the Taurisci, Boii, and Eravisci would travel together from Vindunia or travel to Salzburg by separate routes. He guessed the latter.
He and his two Commanders decided that the Detachments would ride together to Sankt Johann and then split up. Armen’s Detachment would ride to the main road out of Graz and stop at Liezen to observe; Warin’s Detachment would ride north to Salzburg. “Armen, when you get on the road to Liezen, be aware that the Taurisci may have already been there and gone on,” advised Nasua. If that is the case, there should be no doubt of their passage. Look for signs of looting and destruction. Listen carefully. If they have already passed Liezen, follow them, but stay out of sight. Once you are sure they are headed northwest to Salzburg, and not due west to Bischofshofen, come back to Innsbruck.”
He then addressed Warin, “Approach Salzburg carefully; as
sume the mercenaries are there already. Find a safe vantage point to observe. Once you see them, continue to watch until they begin to move west towards us, and then bring your men back to Innsbruck. I suspect they will head to Rosenheim and then turn south to follow the Inn River to Innsbruck. Try to get a count. I need to know how many there are. I suggest you carry about two weeks worth of food.”
Nasua sent the rest of the cavalry throughout the Valley to tell the people to evacuate. As word spread, there was pandemonium. There were not enough wagons for the families to take everything they owned. Furniture, farm tools and even animals were left behind. If it had hooves and could walk, it was tied to a wagon. Animals like chickens and ducks were abandoned. Soon, the roads began to fill with wagons, and the lines got increasingly longer at the bridges. Day and night the wagons rolled. Some went up to Bad Tolz, but saw it as a death trap and kept moving north. The majority of people passed by Innsbruck and proceeded past the army fort at Seefelt. From there it was a straight shot up the valley to Munich.
Two Councilmen went to Bad Tolz, which is 35 miles north of the main east-west road. They arrived on June 3rd and briefed the leaders on the situation. The leaders then spent the next two days notifying the community and meeting with various groups to get their decision to stay or evacuate. A few families opted to leave the fort and go to Munich; the majority elected to stay. Those who left were mocked, ridiculed, and told not to return. When the Councilmen returned to Innsbruck and informed Nasua that most of the people were staying put, he dispatched the 10,000 Auxiliaries to assist in the defense of the fort, should it be necessary. Most people living in the fort did not believe an attack was coming, but the men practiced manning the walls and gathered their animals inside the fort.
The women of the fort took a decidedly different approach. They met in small informal groups to discuss the coming threat. The conversations focused mainly on what would become of them and their children if the fort was attacked and overrun. They speculated that many of them would probably be killed along with the men and many others taken as prisoners and sold as slaves. They also concluded that the children would be killed outright or simply abandoned. Thoughts of their children left to die or having a sword pierce their tiny bodies was more than they could bear.
The women began leaving the fort in twos and threes, but not to flee to Munich or hide in the surrounding woods. They began searching the fields and along the streams for one particular plant that was well known, hemlock. The plants grew abundantly throughout the area and were easily found and gathered. Its seeds, leaves, and roots were extremely toxic to humans. Once ingested, the toxin numbs the feet and legs, and then works its way to the heart and lungs. The women agreed that crushing the plant into a powder and then mixing it with water and honey would serve their purpose.
*******
When Nasua’s two cavalry Detachments departed Innsbruck on the first of June to observe the roads leading from Graz and Vindunia, Magimarus’ elite Boii/Eravisci troops were already five days into their 12 day march to Salzburg. The Taurisci from Ptuj had arrived at Salzburg on May 31.
Merbal and Hiempsal spotted the Taurisci while they were on the east side of the Mur River at Graz. Their Commander, Aze, intended to march his men north to Vindunia where he planned to link up with the Boii/Eravisci. Merbal had a hard sell to get Aze to cross the Mur and approach Salzburg from the south. Aze wasted no time in telling Merbal, “You are a guide to get us to Genoa. Nothing else! I am their Commander, and I will make the decisions. I will listen to your advice, but I will do what is in our best interests and not what is in the best interests of Carthage.”
“I understand that,” said Merbal tolerantly, “and completely respect your prerogatives.” He then went on to explain the advantages of going northwest and staying away from the Boii/Eravisci. “Once we’re clear of Boii territory, the Suevi land is open to looting, food, and women. Your men will have this all for themselves and will not have to share with the other tribes. It’s a shorter distance and will put you into Salzburg before the Boii/Eravisci. You will have your pick of the spoils of Salzburg.”
“You make a good point,” conceded Aze thoughtfully. “We will do it.”
The Taurisci crossed the Mur at Graz and marched northwest. Once the Taurisci were outside the Boii Tribal area and crossed into Suevi territory, the rampaging and looting began. The road from Liezen to Salzburg was littered with burnt out homes and dead bodies. Young women were taken as sex slaves and the older women for slave labor. The men were killed outright.
The Taurisci cavalry consisted of about 200 horsemen. They would ride off the flanks of the marching column up to three or four miles on each side. If they spotted a likely settlement of five to ten huts, they would return to the column and advise the Commander who would dispatch a team of 50 to 100 men and a few wagons. These men would advance on the settlement, rush into it, and kill the men. They would then scour the huts for valuables, food, grain bins, women, and livestock. They would fill their wagons, and any wagons they could find, and take the women, livestock, and loot back to the column where it was equally shared.
These settlements had experienced raids in the past. If they had enough time, they would run into the woods and hide until the raiders left. If not, they would hide their children in underground rooms and compliantly hand over whatever the raiders asked for. Usually, there was little violence, but this time it was different. The foragers were killing, kidnapping, and burning.
*******
When Armen’s cavalry Detachment arrived at Liezen on June 7th, they could tell immediately that the Taurisci had already passed by. The road was freshly rutted from numerous wagon wheels and the surrounding grassland was trampled. They decided to split up into teams of two each to explore the condition of the settlements in the area.
An hour later, they reassembled and all told the same story. Huts had been looted, the men killed, and the women and farm animals were missing. Some of the huts had been put to the torch. One team gave their account. “As we entered each settlement, we rode around looking for survivors. We began to call out that we were Suevi and were here to help. In several settlements, small children began to appear. They looked pathetic and hadn’t eaten in several days. We shared our rations with them and told them to stay put assuring them we would come back for them. I think there are probably others hidden in underground rooms and are too afraid to come out. We need to do a more thorough search.”
The Commander’s job suddenly got more complicated. His orders were to follow the Taurisci until he was sure that they were headed to Salzburg and then return to Innsbruck, but he couldn’t ignore the plight of the children. “Listen to me, quiet down,” he demanded. “I will take five men and follow the Taurisci. They appear to be headed to Salzburg. Osi, I want you to take command of the remaining 14 men. Scour the settlements for survivors. Look for trap doors inside the houses and barns. If there are no wagons close by, ride farther out to acquire some. Put the survivors in the wagons and take them to Bischofshofen. Ask the people there to care for them. Do not take the survivors farther west than Bischofshofen, or you will be too close to the Rosenheim-Innsbruck road, which is the route I believe the mercenaries will take once they leave Rosenheim. After you drop off the survivors, try to make your way back to Innsbruck, but be careful.
Armen led his five men along the road for a few hours and then said, “From here on, we will stay in the tree line and off the road. I don’t want their rear guard to spot us.” They followed the trail of destruction for three hours. When they reached Spital Am Pyhrn, Armen reined in his horse. “I’m convinced that the Taurisci are headed to Salzburg. From this point on, there are no more roads heading west until you get around these mountains. The next available road turns west and goes to Salzburg. Does anyone disagree?” They all nodded their agreement. The horses were turned around, and Armen and his men headed back towards Innsbruck. They arrived on June 15th and confirmed that the Taurisci were headed to Salzbur
g.
Osi split up his men to search the settlements of Lassing, Selzthal, Rottenmann, Admont, Trieben, and Weissenbach bei Liezen. They had all been attacked. Their search lasted for two days and yielded 12 children. Some had still been hiding and only responded to the offer of food. The children were helped into the wagons and taken to the only settlements that were spared: Oppenberg and Hohentauern. These people were too far off the main road and not even aware that the Taurisci were on the move. They accepted two of the twelve children and provided food and clothing for the others.
Osi planned to take the remaining children to Bischofshofen where he hoped to find homes for the 10 orphans. One night while sitting around the campfire, he questioned the children to find out what had happened. Many were either too young to express themselves or still in a state of shock.
After a bit of coaxing, one little six-year old girl named Imma told Osi how she survived and what became of her family. “I heard horses enter our settlement, and everyone started shouting. My mother picked me up and put me in a storage bin in the house. She shut the door, but I could see through the cracks. I saw my father grab his spear and run outside; then I heard him scream. Next, two men came into our hut. My mother was holding my eight year old sister tightly by her side, and my oldest sister was hiding behind the bed.”
“One of the men pulled my sister away from my mother. He raised his sword, and my mother fell on her knees in front of my sister. She begged the soldier not to kill her. She said ‘she can cook, start cooking fires, sew; she can help me prepare your food. Don’t kill her, please. She’s very helpful and can fetch things for you; she’s a very bright little girl.’ The soldier lowered his sword and told them to go outside. As they went out, I heard my mother yell to Odila, ‘I love you, just survive!’ They found my older sister and did things to her. I could hear her crying. Then they took her outside too. One of the men came back inside looking for things and opened the door where I was hiding. He stuck his sword into the pile of bedding, but it missed me. I heard everyone leave, and I stayed in the closet until you came and took me out.”
Legio XVII: Battle of Zama Page 19
