The Rise Of An Empire In Ancient Europe-Chapter 116: The Tyrant Dionysius

Juleios watched as the Syracusan envoy, Herolis, departed. He stood silently for a moment, then turned back to the hall, his expression heavy and concerned.

"The stillness of the tree is disrupted by the constant wind," he thought. Syracuse seemed poised to prepare for war with Carthage. Regardless of the outcome, Amendolara would need to act swiftly—developing and strengthening itself to secure a foothold in the turbulent times ahead.

Two days later, in Syracuse’s grand palace, the tyrant Dionysius sat on his ornate chair, listening to Herolis’s report. His face darkened at first, but then he erupted into laughter.

"A mere mercenary leader has become a so-called lifetime consul!"

Standing nearby in disciplined silence was Macias, a former Campanian mercenary leader dressed in full military attire. With measured composure, he said, "My lord, I believe that as a mercenary leader, one should focus on winning battles to earn wealth and honor, rather than attempting things beyond their capability."

"You are absolutely right!" Dionysius exclaimed, slapping the back of his chair. "I sit here daily, trembling with vigilance, not daring to relax for a moment! Yet this mere brawler of a mercenary dares to call himself a city-state’s tyrant!"

Herolis, unable to remain silent, interjected, "My lord, this Juleios is not a tyrant. He was elected as the lifetime consul of Amendolara by its citizens!"

Dionysius’s sharp, blade-like gaze cut through Herolis. "What do you mean by that, Herolis?" he asked coldly.

Herolis immediately realized his mistake. Sweat gathered on his brow, and he lowered his head, bowing deeply. He dared not say another word.

Dionysius stared at him for a long moment before withdrawing his gaze. Then, with a tone laced with disdain, he remarked, "He merely played a small trick. It shows the young man has some cleverness, which explains his few victories. But he lacks vision."

A dignified middle-aged man seated closest to Dionysius on the left spoke up: "From what I understand, Amendolara has fewer than 4,000 citizens at its peak, and now far fewer than that."

"Do you hear that?!" Dionysius said, spreading his hands theatrically. "Even at its height, Amendolara had no more than 4,000 citizens—that’s less than one district of our Syracusan citizens!"

Laughter rippled through the room.

"If this so-called Juleios were smart," Dionysius continued, "he’d come here. After we defeat Carthage, he could pick from cities like Marsala, Palermo, Erice, the Egadi Islands, or Segesta to rule as tyrant. That would be far better than staying cooped up in that little town of Amendolara. But alas, he won’t have the chance again. Now, tell me—how is Carthage’s army preparing?"

A general stepped forward, his voice steady. "More than 10,000 mercenaries are already camped outside Syracuse. We can mobilize at least 40,000 citizen soldiers from Syracuse itself, and from allied cities like Catane, Leontini, Tauromenium, and Pachynus, we can gather another 20,000 troops, as well as 2,000 cavalry—a grand army indeed!"

Dionysius’s expression remained calm. Turning to his younger brother, Leptines, he asked, "How are the navy preparations coming along?"

Leptines, though Dionysius’s blood brother, appeared straightforward and unpretentious. It was precisely because of this demeanor that Dionysius trusted him and appointed him commander of the Syracusan navy.

Leptines replied confidently, "We now have 150 triremes, and with other warships, a total of 320 vessels."

"Still not enough..." Dionysius sighed, his fingers tapping rhythmically on the back of his chair. "You must understand, when warring with Carthage, two things are indispensable: warships and cavalry. And we still lack both. Accelerate the shipbuilding process! Speed it up! By next spring, we must launch an attack on Gela!"

The three commanders immediately promised to complete their tasks.

Dionysius turned to Macias, his eyes sharp. "Work hard, Macias! If a mere mercenary leader with 2,000 men can achieve such victories over those barbarian tribes, then we, with the largest army among the Greek city-states, must achieve even greater glory. Otherwise, it would be a disgrace!"

"My lord, rest assured—I will not let you down!" Macias declared emphatically.

"Good, Macias!" Dionysius commended him, waving a hand dismissively. "Philistus, stay. The rest of you may leave."

As Herolis, Macias, Leptines, and the other courtiers withdrew, Dionysius’s gaze lingered on Herolis’s retreating back. Turning to Philistus, he asked, "Do you feel that Herolis has changed?"

Philistus, startled, replied cautiously, "My lord, I haven’t noticed anything unusual. Herolis seems the same as before."

Dionysius’s expression darkened. "I know you have a good relationship with him. I haven’t forgotten the help he gave me during my hardest times. I hope nothing will ruin that friendship."

Pausing, Dionysius added thoughtfully, "I’ve heard he’s been studying Egyptian history recently. Perhaps it’s time to grant him leave so he can focus on his research..."

Philistus sighed inwardly, understanding the veiled message. "I see, my lord."

"This is only temporary," Dionysius said with an air of finality. Then, his tone lightened. "Philistus, invite Philoxenus. I’ve just written a poem, and I’d like both of you to critique it."

Philistus smiled faintly. "Philoxenus has a bit of an ego, but I’ll try to persuade him. My lord, even you—master of all trades—struggle with difficult citizens sometimes!"

Dionysius laughed heartily, spreading his arms. "So, who says I’m a dictator?"

Meanwhile, back in Amendolara, Juleios and Phelicius were hard at work reorganizing the city-state’s military forces.

After the mercenaries became citizens, Amendolara’s forces totaled more than 3,500 combat-capable men, including the 1,000 soldiers from Drakos, Sesta, and Adrianx’s commands, the 1,800 soldiers under Juleios, and nearly 300 freedmen. Adding the 250 original citizens of service age, the city-state had a substantial force.

Recognizing the growing numbers, Juleios proposed a higher-level structure: the Legion, inspired by ideas from his previous life. freewёbnoνel.com

The Legion was planned to consist of 7,000 men, divided into seven battalions—six heavy infantry and one light infantry. Each battalion would have 1,000 men, commanded by a Battalion Commander. Each battalion would be divided into five companies of 200 men, led by Company Commanders, and each company further divided into four platoons of 50 men, led by Platoon Leaders.

Phelicius argued for keeping the platoon structure, emphasizing its advantages in chaotic battles and mountainous terrain. After much deliberation, Juleios agreed. This decision made the platoon system a unique hallmark of Amendolara’s military. Platoon Leaders, often veterans, became the critical link between the ranks and command.

The Legion also included specialized units: cavalry, engineers, medics, and logistics. Though these were plans for the future, Juleios’s vision ensured Amendolara’s army would be organized and efficient.

The reorganization began with the formation of four battalions. The First Battalion, comprising Juleios’s original mercenaries, was placed under the command of Kapus, balancing the political influence of Antonios, the city’s Supervisor.

This military transformation marked the beginning of Amendolara’s evolution into a formidable force.

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