Mediterranean Hegemon of Ancient Greece

On the third day, the Third Legion, with its full strength, left Grumentum, took a boat to Poseidonia and entered the port of Neapolis.

Neapolis, one of the jewels of the Greek colonial cities in central Italia, is the second colonial city the Greeks built in Italia after Cumae and has a long history. But it started as a small port called Parthenope (meaning pure eyes, the name of a siren in ancient Greece), which expanded over time and eventually became the largest city-state in the Campanian region before getting renamed Neapolis (meaning new city).

While Neapolis developed, Syracuse provided it with great help, with the tyrant Gelon even sending a large army to help the Cumaeans and Neapolitans to repel the Etruscans. Later, the Syracusans sent another army to help Neapolis defend itself against the Samnites, making Neapolis and Syracuse close allies.

But ever since the rise of Theonia and the end of Syracuse's hegemony in the South-Italian War, the Neapolitans, which had strongly supported Dionysius in the South-Italian War, had changed sides to Theonia.

Besides Syracuse, the Samnites inadvertently helped the city of Neapolis greatly in its expansion as well. With the Samnites' constant invasion for hundred years, they captured many of the towns established by the Etruscans and Greeks in Campania, destroying even the old city of Cumae and capturing the great city of Capua, resulting in the influx of refugees to flee into Neapolis, which they considered the most peaceful city and resulted in the city's population to explode. And the Samnites’ invasion was also why there were many Campanian mercenaries in the western Mediterranean.

But now, the Campanian league formed to defend the various city-states from the fierce Samnite invasion was reduced to a handful of towns lined up along the coast. And if it weren't for their timely alliance with the Theonians, the Samnites would have owned most of their lands within twenty to thirty years.

On that day, the city of Neapolis, after getting informed in advance, set aside half of the port to let nearly a thousand transport ships carrying the Theonian soldiers land.

Due to curiosity, many Neapolitans came to the port with their families to watch.

“I heard that Theonia's Third Legion came to Neapolis this time…”

“What is a legion?”

“That's the unique army of Theonia, different from other cities. I heard their army has many advantages, resulting in their superiority in battles…”

“Since the Third Legion is coming, they must have the First and Second Legions. Then why didn't the First and Second Legions come to Neapolis? Don't they know that Neapolis is the leader of the Campanian League?!”

“Fool! The Theonians aren't looking down on us, but it's because the Third Legion is the closest to us. Since they are stationed in the Lucanian regions, they are the most convenient to come to Campania. And don't underestimate this Third Legion; they had defeated the Samnites who came to invade Potentia during the South-Italian War over a decade ago. They even captured Compsa and Irna on their own, so they are quite experienced in dealing with the Samnites!”

“Since the Third Legion is already so powerful, then does that mean Theonia's First and Second Legion are even more formidable?!”

“I heard there are ten legions in the kingdom of Theonia, each of which was victorious in many past wars. So I think any legion can fight the fierce Samnite.”

“Ten legions?! O Apollo, how many soldiers Theonia must have!”

“So it is only deserving for the Campanian league to ally with the kingdom of Theonia! And with the help of Theonia, we will no longer need to fear the Samnites who were like wolves.”

“Look! Look! The Theonian soldiers started disembarking. Eh? Why are they carrying black armour on their shoulders?”

“I know the reason. With Theonia taking Hades as their kingdom's guardian deity, they began using black colour. Moreover, I heard their king is a descendant of Hades.”

“Speaking of Hades, there's a Temple of Hades built in our city last year and its priests are said to have come from Thurii. And the priests are quite enthusiastic towards the people who come there to pray as they not only actively answer all kinds of questions but also give free medical treatment to the believers and provide some helpful aid…

I just went there a few days ago, and a priest of considerable stature spent much of his time listening to my sufferings and enlightening me… This proves that the other temples couldn't compare with the Temple of Hades at all, and it is no wonder this god is so popular in south Italia. In addition, I heard that even the Samnites in the city of Nuceria began believing in him.”

“Is it really so wonderful?! Then I will go to the Temple of Hades tomorrow!”

“Stop talking. Look, the Theonian soldiers began forming as a whole. Wow! They move quite fast, and you can see that almost no soldiers are talking. Our soldiers' assembly couldn't compare at all, as you could even hear their noises five kilometres outside the city. Only this kind of army can fight against strong foes!”

“Oh, look! There are so many flags, all glittering with gold. It's so beautiful!”

“Idiot, those flags are used to command the battles, not to look good.”

“Look! The Theonians even sent so many cavalries, which probably exceeds the cavalry in our Campanian league.”

“What's so strange about that? I heard Theonia has four cavalry legions, each of which has two thousand cavalries.”

“O Apollo, Theonia is truly a powerful kingdom!”

. . . . . . . . . . . .

As the Neapolitans commented and murmured about Theonia's Third Legion, who are disembarking in the port, only a few went so far as to criticise the Third Legion for having so many alien races (mainly Lucanians). That is because since Neapolis was founded, they had been surrounded by many alien races, with the Oscans and Etruscans to the north, the Samnites to the east, the Lucanians to the south, and the Phoenicians in the Sardinia island to the west. And after centuries of living next to these alien races, they had become accustomed to them, and their culture had deeply penetrated and influenced each other. Thus the Neapolitans are far less xenophobic and more tolerant than the Greeks in other city-states, with many of their people having mixed blood.

As the kingdom of Theonia's army stepped on the Campanian league for the first time, the Third Legion immediately won the applause of the Neapolitans around them with their strict discipline and mighty appearance, which could be said to have successfully cemented the image of the Theonian army.

While the brigades of the Third Legion and some cavalries drawn from the Second Cavalry Legion formed up, Litom, the legatus of the Third Legion and Carias, a Theonian Foreign Affair officer, were discussing with the leaders of Neapolis who came to greet them.

“Welcome, our esteemed ally! Thank you for your timely arrival, which relieved us! For the past two days, the Caudium warriors cross over the eastern mountains towards Suessula, causing the people of the entire Campanian league to be anxious!” Orosius, the polemarchos of Neapolis, said excitedly.

“Has the Caudium started their attack?” Litom asked.

“Not yet. However, judging by their past actions, they could storm our lands within two days, and I fear this Samnite invasion will be far greater than ever!” Mitades, a highly respected member of the Neapolis' council, replied with a sombre expression.

Carias, the Theonian envoy’s expression turned unsightly as well. Carias was a Thurian and a student of Ansitanos when he had been studying history at the Theonian Akademia some years before. After Ansitanos became the Minister of Foreign Affairs, he recruited several of his students from the Akademia to serve as officials in Foreign Affairs because he lacked staff. After that, Carias had also gone on missions to foreign countries several times and completed the tasks the kingdom assigned to him. Unexpectedly, he suffered humiliation in Caudium. Moreover, now that Caudium launched such an attack, it is obviously their warning and retaliation against him.

Litom smiled, “The Caudium came just in time; our soldiers have been longing for a great battle!”

“You must be legatus Litom. I've long heard of your name!” Orosius said pleasantly.

“You've heard of me?! Am I that famous even though I haven't fought any great battles?!” Litom's expression sank as he subconsciously thought of his dark history at the Corinth Games, which has become his inner demon.

Orosius was shocked as he didn't know why his enthusiasm had brought the other side's unfriendliness.

“Legatus Litom, who doesn't know you? You played an important role as the first senior centurion of the Third Legion when you defeated the Samnites! This time, we look forward to Theonia's Third Legion making a name for itself in Campania under your leadership!” Mitades said heartily, obviously knowing beforehand about the army the Theonia dispatched.

At this time, Litom also became embarrassed.

Fortunately, another Neapolitan strategos, Aeolus, promptly asked, “Legatus Litom, how many reinforcements have you brought?”

“Ten thousand,” Litom answered simply.

‘Ten thousand?!’ the several Neapolitan strategoi were surprised.