House of Julii
(270BC - 14AD)
by
Scrotumus Maximus

270BC | 260BC | 250BC | Next

In the year 270BC, the wealthy House of Julii was led by Flavius Julius. His family controlled the Roman Province of  Etruria and Umbria located in the northern borders of the Italian Peninsula. Next to them to the north were the territories of Gaul and to the south, Rome, controlled by the Senate. Rome had three powerful families, the Julii, Scipii and Brutii. This is an outline of the history of the Julii as played in
Rome: Total War.
 

270BC

• During the summer of 270BC, the Senate requested Flavius Julius, leader of the House of Julii to take the settlement of Segesta, Liguria north of Etruria.  Flavius ordered his son, Vibius Julius to take a small group of his army (his personal guards, 1 velites and 2 hastati) and took the small settlement with ease. Vibius Julius became a Governor of Liguria and resided in Segesta. Later that same year of 270BC, trade rights were accepted by Flavius Julius with the Gaul provinces up north. The Senate and the House of Scipii declared war on the Greek Cities later that year. The Senate ordered the House of Julii to take the Gallic province of Narbonensis region and gave Flavius 5yrs to do accomplish it.

• House of Brutii and the Greek Cities declared war on each other. A rebel army was driven away to the north by Flavius Julius in the province of Etruria where their Capital City of Arretium is located. Flavius was preparing to go to the port of Arretium to board his army in ships to start the war against Gaul. Flavius was concerned that the Senate was forcing him to declare war on Gaul when he was not prepared to do so.

• Flavius Julius arrives in the shores of Narbonensis using his fleet. He confronted a Gaul army stationed near the town of Narbo Martius but the Gaul army fled up north instead of fighting Flavius.  By having a Roman Legion landing in Gaul territory was an Act of War. A State of War now existed between Rome and Gaul.  Spain and Carthage declared war on each other.

• Summer - Flavius having stayed nearby the town of Narbo Martius for several months, another Gaul army avoided him for battle. Now Flavius was confident to attack the town of Narbo Martius. In Etruria the Julii Diplomat bribe a brigand army to join the Julii faction. Flavius was about to attack Narbo Martius, 2 Gaul armies converged and attacked him. The Gaul's main force was led by Gorteym and reinforcements led by Taximagulus.  They fought in the hills over Narbo Martius. The Gauls were routed and Flavius' cavalry cut them down as they tried to escape. More Gaul armies showed up near Narbo Martius as Flavius returns to attack the town.
• Winter - The House of Brutii declares war on Carthage. Flavius takes the town of Narbo Martius with only losing 3 men.  A few months after Flavius took Narbo Martius, Gaul attacks Arretium in Etruria, the capital of Flavius and the House of Julii. Instead of fighting inside the walls of Arretium, Tiberius Gessius, (husband of Fadia the grand-daughter of Flavius), ordered his army to come out and face the Gaul Army who was led by Cololitanus. The result was a rout of the Gauls. They did not have cavalry in the field and Flavius' son Lucius and grandson Amulius (Amulius is the son of Quintus brother of Lucius the Heir) led the cavalry and attacked the Gauls.

Winter of 267BC, Flavius Julius and his army preparing to attack the town of Narbo Martius in Narbonensis, Gaul.

According to historian Scrotumus Maximus (translated from Latin):
"General  Tiberius Gessius was very unorganized while leading his men out of the gates of Arretium. While trying to form his men in formation, a misunderstanding ensued and either young Amulius or Lucius his uncle charged the Gauls.  It forced Tiberius to charge the rest of the cavalry, but the charge overwhelmed the Gaul infantry and set them to panic. Only a few Gaul warriors escaped in the following onslaught."

Tiberius Gessius, led his army outside of Arretium's gate and proceeded to rout the Gauls, thus ending the siege (267BC).
 

• The Senate after August deliberations declares Flavius Julius as Quaestor. Egypt declares war on the Seleucid Empire.

• In the winter, the Port of Ariminum opens, and roads built in the province around Narbo Martius, Narbonensis.

• Summer - Manius Julius has come of age (16yrs old). He is the son of the Governor of Liguria, Vibius Julius, son of Flavius. In the winter of 264BC, Armenia and the Seleucid Empire is at war.  Briton and Gaul became allies. This means the House of Julii is not only at war with Gaul but now also with Briton.

• Summer -  Gaul army attacks the town of Narbo Martius with Flavius defending it. Somehow the gates were opened and the Gauls rushed in but were repelled by Flavius army. The Gauls retreated back to the north.

• Summer - Rome alliance with Pontus and Armenia.

• Summer - Decius Julius comes of age (16yrs old), son of Lucius the Heir and Poppaea. Flavius Julius takes the town of Lemonum in Aquitania, thus owning another new province for Rome and in control by the Julii.

• Summer - Maglocunos of Gaul sieges the town of Lemonum, Flavius faces him. After a brief engagement with Flavius’ archers and velites, the effect was so deadly the rest of the Gaul attackers fled.  Flavius then ran them down with his cavalry.
• Winter of 260BC, Tiberius Gessius arrives in Narbonensis via the fleet, to give support for the campaign against Gaul in province of Narbonensis.

260BC - Flavius comes out of the walls and faces the Gaul invaders led by Maglocunos. Flavius archers and velites won
the day with deadly accuracy.
 

• Summer - Lucius Julius led his army to confront a Gaul force at the northern borders of Umbria. The Gauls seeing a large contingent of Romans fled before engaging for battle.

• Summer - the Senate nominated Flavius Julius as Aedile in the Senate Offices.

• Summer - Alliance formed by Thrace and Dacia.
• Winter of 257BC - Flavius arrives in Lugdinensis intending to conquer the province from the Gauls.  A Gaul Army arrived from the north. In the ensuing battle, Flavius was between two Gaul forces in the open snowy field a few miles from the town of Lugdunum.

According to historian Scrotumus Maximus (translated from Latin):
"He ordered his men to face the larger force of Gauls. The Gauls were coming too fast while his men were still forming their lines. Flavius was forced to charge his cavalry towards the first wave of barbarians to give time for his men to be in formation. His cavalry fought off the first wave and gave his men time. Then he looked back seeing another force of Gauls from the rear closing in. He ordered a new charge and his cavalry engaged the barbarians before they could reach Flavius' infantrymen who were facing the other way.  Flavius did not see a large force of Gaul cavalry chasing him.  Flavius cavalry where falling left and right as the Gaul horsemen flanked them and he tried to get back to his main body of troops. As he went through a group of barbarians, he was hit by them and fell.  Flavius men, knowing he was slain continued to fight and the Gauls retreated with the Romans winning the battle but losing their beloved commander.  With the loss of their greatest leader, the son, Lucius Julius, at the age of 45 became the Leader of the House of Julii.  Faustina, mother of Lucius and the wife of Flavius died the next year."

Julii Leader and General - Flavius Julius, prepares his legion to confront the Gaul army outside of Lugdunum, Lugdunensis, winter
of 257BC. He was slain as he rode through a group of barbarians when trying to get back to his men during the battle.

• Admiral Oppius of the Julii led his ships towards the port in Narbo Martius but it was blocked by the Spanish ships.  They would not allow Oppius’ ships to pass through.  He chose to fight the Spanish ships and defeated them.  He met another fleet of Spanish ships off the coast and defeated them also.  Just behind Oppius were ships carrying Marcus Julius, son of Lucius the Heir and at only 17, to be the new governor of Narbonensis.  Tiberius Gessius ex-governor of Narbonensis took his legion up north to Lugdunum to govern the province. Flavius’ army led by Captain Publius, still held the town of Lugdunum in hostile territory. The Julii is at war with Hispania after the naval battles.

• Truce between the Macedonian Cities and Scipii.  In Umbria, Titus Brutus of the Brutii faction met a brigand rebel army (who turned down a bribe by the Julii to join).  Quintus Julius, son of Flavius and governor of Umbria set out to join his fellow Romans in the battle. When Quintus' forces arrived the battle was over. Titus Brutus of the Brutii and his small band of soldiers had routed the rebels and Quintus helped with finishing off what’s left of the rebel army. In the winter at Lugdunensis, Tiberius Gessius arrives in the vicinity of the town of Lugdunum and defeated a very small force of Gaul cavalrymen with the aid of Captain Publius who came out from Lugdunum. Captain Publius has been protecting the town for 2 years since the death of Flavius.
• Winter of 255BC - "Battle of Arretium" the Julii Capital was sieged again by the Gauls. This time the largest force ever assembled yet by the enemy from the north.  Vibius Julius, the governor of Liguria took his army (mostly consisted of House Watch troops and Hastati units, Velites and Slingers) to Arretium to aid the city and his family in the city. He arrived with his troops seeing the large army of Gaul confronting another Roman army. It was the army of Lucius who have come out from Arretium to face the Gauls outsides its walls.  With the combined forces of Vibius and Lucius (who were brothers) they were still outnumbered 2 to1 by the Gauls.  The Gauls were facing the bigger force of Romans that of Lucius who was leading the army from Arretium. Lucius was accompanied by his son Decius and his nephew Amulius, the son of Quintus, governor of Ariminum of Umbria (another brother of Lucius and Vibius).  Once the Gauls realized they were in between the two Roman armies, they split in half. The smaller half of the Gaul army went towards Vibius. Although in fact the smaller half of the Gaul army was still much larger than Vibius' forces.  The large half of the Gaul forces went after Lucius' army located about a mile away. (Note: the two battles can be seen from each another as smoke rose up and was visible from a long distance).

255BC - Quintus Julius finishing off the routed rebel army outside on the hills of his Capital of Ariminum when he came,
Titus Brutus’ Brutii army had already routed the rebels.


Vibius men forming a 4 man deep formation as several hundred, if not a thousand barbarians charge at them. A few barbarian cavalry men broke through
but Vibius attacked them from the rear with his own cavalry.


Vibius charged on the Gauls preventing them from reforming their lines.

According to the historian Scrotumus Maximus of accounts of the Battle of Arretium (translated from Latin):
"Vibius lined up his men in four men deep formation that stretch for a few hundred yards. Placing his velites in front of them so to skirmish and lined up his cavalry to the rear.  The Gauls sent waves of men toward his line. At the right moment, he led his cavalry to the left to flank the charging Gauls. First smashing through the rear of the barbarian cavalry who had made a dent at the left end of the line. With the help of his infantrymen several feet away, his foot soldiers engaged the barbarian cavalry. It gave Vibius a chance to disengage and attack the Gauls at the other end of the line now already with almost 1,000 barbarians engaged with the Romans. Smashing through the barbarians from behind caused panic and then the rout began. Vibius managed to break up one more group of Gaul warband when they tried to rally and regroup. Hundreds of the barbarians started running away and Vibius ordered all his men, cavalry and infantrymen alike to chase them down without mercy.

After the battle was over, Vibius was so concerned if any of his brothers and relatives were killed in the other side of the battle. His brother Lucius had survived as well as nephews Decius and Amulius, all three fought the other half of the Gaul army half a mile away. Vibius did not realize that his own son Manius who had accompanied him was killed in the battle. He fell to the ground in great sorrow. Knowing that he had saved their Capital City of Arretium from the hands of the barbarians by splitting the enemy in half and thus also saving his family did not console him for the loss of his son."

• Summer - Marcus Julius (Governor of Narbonensis) marries Cornelia. In the winter, Macedonia declares war on the House of Brutii. Two Gaul armies sieged Narbo Martius. When news came to Tiberius Gessius who was stationed north in Lugdunum Lugdinensis, he sent part of his army to Narbo Martius to aid Marcus Julius. The Gauls retreated.

• Summer - Marcus Julius (Governor of Narbonensis) destroys a small force of Gauls who was settling south of the town of Narbo Martius.  Decius Julius (2nd son of Lucius Julius the Heir) was lost at sea.  An engagement with the Spanish fleet north of Sardinia, his boat was sunk during the battle. He was sent by his father to be governor of Aquitania. This was a great loss to the Julii as there were no family members available to rule the Province of Aquitania.

• Summer - Valerius Julius is born (son of Vibius "The Brave" of Liguria).

• Winter - Clodia is born (daughter of Quintus Julius, governor of Ariminum). Battle of Narbonensis - Tiberius Gessius and Marcus Julius combined forces and attack a Gaul Army on the west of the river near Massilia. The Romans outnumbered the Gauls 2 to 1 and it was an easy victory mostly done by the Roman Equites units and hired barbarian horsemen.

Winter 251BC - General Tiberius Gessius and General Marcus Julius ousted the Gauls out of Narbonensis. The battle took place near the river separating
the Roman province and Gaul territory of Transalpine. Now only the city of Massilia stands in the way of uniting Northern Italy and Southern Gaul as
Roman territory under the Julii.
 

• Summer 250BC - Lucius Julius "the Heir" was assigned by the Senate as "Quaestor" at the age of 51.  Birth of Prisca (daughter of Tiberius Gessius and Fadia). Birth of Secundus Julius (son of Vibius, Governor of Liguria and wife Claudia). Vortigern of Isara a brigand army blocked trade routes north of Narbo Martius, Tiberius Gessius confronted them and the two sides fought. They were easily over-powered by Roman cavalry as the two sides clashed.  Winter 250BC - Birth of Mucia (daughter of Lucius Julius the Heir and Poppaea).  General Tiberius Gessius confronted another Gaul army led by Enemnogenus north of Narbo Martius in the forest. Enemnogenus escaped Tiberius' trap using the woods as cover. Tiberius then headed back to his home at Lugdunum, Lugdinensis after several months of campaigning in Narbonensis.

Summer 250BC - General Tiberius Gessius and Marcus Julius fought the Rebel Army of Vortigern north of Narbo Martius at the
crossroads of trade routes to Aquitania. The Rebel Army have been disrupting Roman trade and had to be dealt with by Roman  force.
 

• Summer 249BC - Lugdunum riots in the absence of Tiberius Gessius but calmed down after he arrives.  Instigators were severely punished.
• Winter 249BC - Tiberius Gessius again headed south back to Narbonensis to face a newly regrouped Gaul Army. A contingent of Roman soldiers out of the northern border garrison of Liguria were ambushed by Gauls in Cisalpine as they were trying to head west to Transalpine. A few survived but it was the first defeat of the Romans against the Gauls. Tiberius Gessius decided instead to attack the large force of Gauls west of his position than taking Massilia to rid of the Gauls in Narbonensis. He faced them at the exact place where he defeated another Gaul Army 2 years earlier. Tiberius finally faces the Gaul General, Enemnogenus, who escaped his trap a year earlier. The Gauls managed to flank his rear but he managed to rout the Gauls in front of him and turned on his enemies at the rear.  Tiberius lost half of his cavalry but killed the Gauls to the last man.

Winter 249BC - A small garrison of the Roman Legion of Vibius, the Governor of Liguria came out of their fort and were ambushed
in the mountain passes of Cisalpine Gaul heading west to Transalpine Gaul. A few escaped death. Considered to be the first defeat of
a Roman army against the Gaul barbarians.

According to historian Scrotumus Maximus (translated from Latin):
"Word was received by Vibius, Governor of Liguria that Tiberius Gessius of Lugdunensis, needed reinforcements. It appeared that the enemy in Narbonensis were becoming too numerous. A window of opportunity arrived as the Gauls left Massilia unprotected with only a good sizable force to protect it. No army stood between the city and Tiberius Gessius' Legion which was just across the river of Massilia and believed he could take the city.  The large force of Gauls would not engage Tiberius west of his position and east of Narbo Martius.  Vibius of Liguria hastily sent a garrison of his legion that was stationed at the northern border of Liguria and Gaul to cross the border of Cisalpine and then to Transalpine to give support to Tiberius Gessius which planned in taking Massilia.  While crossing the mountains at the height of a plateau, the contingent of Romans were ambushed. The Romans, led by Captain Julianus, most of them veterans of the Battle of Arretium (see battle) did not have cavalry support. The Romans were overwhelmed by the force of the attack. Many died in the snow and a few survivors made it back to their fort in Liguria, after days of running and hiding. It concerned Vibius greatly as it left his northern border open for the Gauls since the garrison protecting it was wiped out."
 

Winter 249BC - Tiberius and Marcus fought the Gauls again in the exact place 2 yrs earlier west of the border of Transalpine.
 

• Winter - Birth of Livia (daughter of Marcus Julius, Governor of Narbonensis and wife Cornelia). Tiberius Gessius left a detachment of his legion to guard the bridge entering Transalpine Gaul.

• Summer - A detachment of Tiberius Gessius legion led by Captain Spurius defended the bridge at the Narbonensis/Transalpine border against the Gaul army stationed in Massilia and defeated them resulting in Massilia being left undefended. Scythia and Thrace declared war against each other. In Cisalpine Gaul, Lucius Julius the Heir led his army north of Mediolanium, against the Gauls under Cynan and Belenus, the same Gauls who defeated the Roman garrison 2yrs earlier while crossing Cisalpine.
• Winter - Macedonia and the House of Scipii acted a ceasefire. Spanish army landed in the coast of Narbonensis. The Roman Garrison of Marcus Julius that guarded the Pyrenees was sent to reinforce Marcus Julius in Narbo Martius  They avoided a confrontation with the Spaniards and reached Narbo Martius safely.  A large Gaul army from Patavium reached the area of Arretium the Capital but retreated when Quintus, Governor of Ariminum arrived with his forces outside of Arretium.  Lucius Julius marched his army from Cisalpine towards Arretium but was not successful in trapping the Gaul army. General Tiberius Gessius, Governor of Lugdunensis began the siege of Massilia. Riots and revolt in Ariminum and the town watch were overpowered. The rebels took control of the city with the absence of the Governor, Quintus.

Summer 247BC - A detachment of Tiberius Gessius legion led by Captain Kerwinius Spurius defended the bridge separating the Province of
Narbonensis and Transalpine Gaul. The Gaul defeat and blunder left Massilia undefended.

Summer 247BC - Lucius Julius the Heir, led his legion north of Mediolanium and fought the Gauls in the forest. He avenged the defeat
of Vibius, his brother's garrison 2yrs earlier by killing the Gaul leaders Cynan and Belenus.

According to historian Scrotumus Maximus (translated from Latin):
"General Lucius Julius chased the Gallic army into the forest north of the town of Mediolanium and massacred them. He then sent dogs to track down any survivors until they were all dead. He avenged the defeat of his brother's garrison that was ambushed 2yrs earlier crossing Cisalpine Gaul towards Massilia. Lucius made sure the survivors of Vibius' garrison (also veterans of the Battle of Arretium) took part of the battle. Three day later, he walks into Mediolanium with his legion unmolested, Cisalpine Gaul is now a new Roman province."
 

• Summer - Massilia taken and the population massacred by Tiberius legion. Quintus rejoined forces with Lucius Julius in the north part of Umbria to retake the city of Ariminum. Mediolanium falls back in the hands of the Gauls as Roman garrison stationed there could not hold it since Lucius legion left the province to confront the threat in Etruria near the Capital of Arretium.
• Winter 246BC -  Ariminum was retaken by Lucius and Quintus. The rebels and slaves were no match for the Roman Army. Now Lucius heads west to Arretium to take back the Capital.

Summer 246BC - Tiberius Gessius takes Massilia losing some of his soldiers against arrow fire. Once the gates were opened, he took no time
and massacred the defenders and its population. Transalpine is now a Roman province.

Winter 246BC - Lucius the Heir and his brother Quintus retook Ariminum in Umbria from the rebels.
 

• The House of Julii loses a General and a Governor, Marcus Julius at the woods outside of Narbo Martius against the Spanish army.  While the Romans were victorious, they suffered more losses. Arretium the Capital falls in the hands of rebels and slaves as most of its garrison were expelled out of the city.

According to this historian Scrotumus Maximus: (translated from Latin):
"The battle of the Romans against the Spaniards took place at the edge of the woods outside Narbo Martius.  The Spaniards had numerical superiority in cavalry. The Romans held but reinforcements (the garrison that came from the Pyrenees Fort to support Marcus) came late in the battle since they were stationed outside the city and apart from Marcus. General Marcus Julius became surrounded but died heroically.  The rout of the Spaniard began with Roman reinforcements but the Roman victory was costly since they lost more men than the enemy and lost their General and Governor, Marcus Julius."
 

• Summer 245BC - Gaul armies slowly creep in the northern borders of Etruria.  The garrison that held Mediolanium Cisalpine retreated to Liguria to reinforce the Capital of Segesta.  Amulius Julius takes over as Governor of Umbria from Quintus. Quintus joins Lucius to retake Arretium from the rebels/slaves. Lemonum sieged by the Gauls.

• Summer 244BC - Arretium falls back in the hands of the Romans. The Senate's army took the greater part in retaking Arretium as Lucius took his time but managed to get in the city as well.  The Senate gave back the city to the House of Julii.  Quintus is now the new governor of Arretium, Etruria.  Reinforcements led by Captain Publius for the garrison in Aquitania, Lemonum met a Gallic army near a bridge and defeated them. He decided that no more threat was in Aquitania and headed back to Narbo Martius where reports of more Spanish armies sighted west of Narbo Martius.

Lucius and Quintus, with the help of the Senate retook Arretium, the Julii Capital from the rebels/slaves that held it. The Senate's army took control of
the city center but gave the capital back to the House of Julii.
 

• Summer 243BC - Narbo Martius is sieged by the Spaniards. Tiberius Gessius sends his army from Massilia and attacks the Spaniards near Narbo Martius.  During the battle, the Spanish General flees and a massacre of his troops followed.
• Winter 243BC - Dacia and the House of Brutii declared war.  Battle of Arretium II - Vibius from Liguria joins forces with Lucius in the plains of Arretium and confronted a large Gallic Army and defeated them.

Summer 243BC - Tiberius Gessius confronts the Spanish army sieging Narbo Martius. During the battle, the Spanish General flees and
a massacre followed.

According to historian Scrotumus Maximus about the Battle of Arretium II (translated from Latin):
"The size of both armies were larger than in the battle outside of Arretium 12yrs earlier. The Romans had superior numbers of cavalry and used it to their advantage.  Once the barbarian cavalry was routed, the Roman cavalry flanked the infantry from the sides and the rear. Then the Roman infantry was sent forward towards the Gauls. The barbarians could not hold their line and ran without a fight.  Dogs were sent out to maul the enemy. The rest of Lucius troops killed off the rest."

Winter 243BC - Battle of Arretium II. A worse defeat for the Gauls as they saw how effective the Roman cavalry were and once the Romans
came closer, they ran from the fight and were slaughtered.
 

• Summer 242BC - The Senate assigns Lucius Julius as Aedile at the age of 59.  The Senate and the House of Scipii is now at war with Dacia.
• Winter 242BC - Lemonum, Aquitania sieged by Gauls and the Roman garrison there could not hold the settlement.  The Province of Aquitania falls back to Gaul hands.. House of Brutii and Carthage Cease-Fire.

Winter 242BC - Captain Herius, responsible for the settlement in Lemonum, Aquitania sallied forth to face the Gauls but was forced back
within the walls. Several days later, Lemonum was taken by the Gauls.
 

• Summer 241BC - House of Brutii and Carthage at war. An army of Carthage lands in Etruria without permission from the Julii and sieged Segesta. Carthage and the House of Julii are now at war with each other.
• Winter 241BC - The Romans come back to Mediolanium, Cisalpine after a 6yr absence and Quintus and Vibius takes the town and province back to Roman hands.

Winter 241BC - Quintus Julius and Vibius Julius (Governor of Liguria) takes the province of Cisalpine by taking the town of Mediolanium.

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