Volume 4: The League of Dionia, Chapter 2: Re-establishing the Alliance

Hetushu said, “It seems the god-blessed Davos has worked another miracle!” Archytas exclaimed sincerely, his eyes showing not envy but more curiosity. “I want to know how Davos defeated the Crotonians!”

Mariji briefly recounted the Battle of Amendolara, emphasizing that it was a night assault and that the Crotonians were too arrogant and unprepared—they hadn’t even bothered to fortify their camp properly, and many were drunk—to downplay their astonishment.

But the Tarentine senators were still shaken by Davos’ military talent. It was clear that this young magistrate’s victory over the Lucanians months earlier had been no stroke of luck, nor had it relied primarily on Tarentine reinforcements.

The Tarentine senators became more cautious in their treatment of the envoys from Amendolara.

One of the magistrates, Eumachus, said, “Men of Amendolara, since you have already won, why come to Tarentum now? Are you here to boast of your achievements?”

“The people of Amendolara have always held deep respect for Tarentum, which once saved us! We would never dare such a thing!” Mariji bowed respectfully before continuing, “I have come because the Thurians, who have lost their home, have formed an alliance with Amendolara, and therefore we must renegotiate the treaty with Tarentum.”

“What did you say?!” The Senate erupted in uproar. “The Thurians have allied with you? What kind of alliance?”

“Surely you haven’t seized Thurii’s lands by force, like that mercenary leader who seized Amendolara?” a senator shouted loudly.

“I protest that statement!” Mariji said angrily. “Your words not only insult our magistrate but also insult Amendolara! I find it hard to believe that such words come from the mouth of our closest ally!”

“Lord Diomilas, that is unfair! On the day of Amendolara’s popular assembly, I was there and saw with my own eyes the citizens of Amendolara warmly inviting the mercenaries to become citizens of Amendolara!” Archytas stood up voluntarily to defend Amendolara.

Even with Archytas’ endorsement, Diomilas rebutted stubbornly, “If not for Amendolara’s coercion, why would the Thurians choose to ally with weak and poor Amendolara instead of wealthy and powerful Tarentum?”

“Diomilas is right—if not for the threat of Amendolara’s force, the Thurians would certainly have chosen Tarentum!” many senators immediately chimed in.

These Tarentines thought far too highly of themselves! Mariji sneered inwardly and was about to retort, but Antistanos held him back and stepped forward, speaking gently, “Honorable senators of Tarentum, my name is Antistanos. I was formerly a general of Thurii, and I have visited Thurii many times. Some of you should recognize me—Lord Eumachus, Lord Dicitimas…”

The senators he named had no choice but to nod.

“As a Thurian, I can swear by Apollo that Amendolara did not threaten Thurii with force. Quite the opposite: when Thurii was taken by Croton, when the Thurians had given up the struggle, believing even the gods had abandoned them, only weak Amendolara refused to bow to mighty Croton and held steadfast to its treaty with Thurii despite the enemy army bearing down on their gates! When Thurii was burned to the ground, when her people lost their homes and were threatened by disease and starvation, it was the men of Amendolara who came in time and selflessly helped us! And when the brutal Crotonians committed arson against a city—a crime unheard of in Greek history—and plundered everything the Thurians needed to survive, leaving unpunished and triumphant, no city-state in Magna Graecia stepped forward to demand justice. Only weak Amendolara dared to strike out, to face mighty Croton, Thurii’s enemy, and avenge us!

What other city-state could have done for Thurii what Amendolara did?! The Thurians regard the Amendolarians as their saviors, as their own kin. From the bottom of their hearts, they wish to share a magistrate, share a senate, share the rights and duties of citizenship with the Amendolarians—like brothers in one family, without dividing yours from mine. This was entirely the natural choice of we Thurians! …”

After hearing this heartfelt speech, the Tarentine Senate fell silent, and some even felt ashamed.

After a moment, Magistrate Eumachus said coldly, “Amendolara and Thurii have become an alliance, far stronger than before. The mere renown of Amendolara will prevent other cities from daring to attack. It seems there is little point in discussing an alliance with Tarentum anymore.”

Mariji put on a sincere expression and said, “Before I came, Lord Davos repeatedly instructed me: ‘Tarentum extended a helping hand when Amendolara was in its direst straits; you are Amendolara’s great benefactor. No matter how Amendolara changes, its gratitude toward Tarentum will never waver. I hope we can be long-term allies, forever friendly, and someday have the chance to repay this kindness!’”

The Tarentine Senate fell quiet again.

Another magistrate, Dicitimas, stood up and said, “Now, please allow the envoys from Amendolara and Thurii to withdraw temporarily. We will discuss the matter of the alliance.”

…

“Gentlemen,” Diomilas voiced his concern, “it is said that Davos, the magistrate of Amendolara, is a very young man. Young men are often energetic and ambitious. Little over half a year ago, he was still a mercenary leader; now he is the lifelong magistrate of two cities. This rate of promotion and expansion reminds me of that man in Syracuse on Sicily. Therefore, I do not fully trust him! I fear that if Tarentum allies with them today, one day they may turn their spear against us, Tarentum!”

Diomilas’ words drew laughter from the senators: “Diomilas, you are too timid! Amendolara has only three or four thousand citizens, and Thurii a few thousand survivors—altogether less than ten thousand. And you think Tarentum should fear them?! Are you really a Tarentine?!”

“Whether Amendolara and Thurii could even survive Tarentum’s wrath is an open question. They have no time to think about anything else!”

Amid the senators’ mockery, Diomilas sneered, “Gentlemen, when Thurii was first founded, our ancestors in the Tarentine Senate laughed just as you do today. And what happened? Thurii defeated us twice in a row! Yet it seems we, who suffered that lesson, have not learned from it!”

Hearing this, some senators grew thoughtful, while others looked displeased and cursed, “The old Thurii had strong support from Athens; otherwise, we would have been the final victor. The current Amendolara and Thurii cannot even compare to what Thurii once was. Diomilas, if Tarentum must worry about this, then why are we still here? Might as well emigrate!”

“I am merely reminding everyone that Tarentum should be wary of Amendolara! With a magistrate of such terrifying military talent, and now merged with Thurii, it may in time develop into a powerful state in northern Magna Graecia and cause Tarentum trouble. To prevent that, we need not support it. On the contrary, we should deliberately restrict its growth!” Diomilas urged patiently.

Archytas immediately stood up and said loudly, “Since Lord Diomilas fears Amendolara, then all the more reason to ally with them! Because Davos has always kept his word. Whether it was when he was hired by Thurii and, despite Thurii’s crushing defeat and the danger of being surrounded by a Lucanian army, he still led his mercenaries to stay and turn defeat into victory; or when the Crotonian army was at his gates and he still did not abandon his treaty with Thurii. This all proves that once allied with the new Amendolara-Thurii League, Davos, as lifelong magistrate, will not only not harm Tarentum but, should Tarentum ever face difficulties, he will surely lend a hand!”

Then Dicitimas said solemnly, “Archytas is right. Honorable senators, do not forget what Tarentum’s greatest threat is. It is not Amendolara, nor Thurii. It is the Messapians who surround Tarentum! The Messapians were already hard to deal with, and those damned Athenians taught them heavy infantry tactics and armor-making. Now they grow harder to handle every year. Think of how many of our people they kill each year, how many fields they ruin! Our roots and temples are here, not in Amendolara, not in Thurii. Tarentum has only one city, while the Messapians occupy most of Apulia. If we let them continue to grow, Tarentum may one day lose all its land outside the walls and be trapped inside the city. This is exactly why we have been advocating the formation of the Magna Graecia Defense League in recent years! That Amendolara and Thurii have formed a league is a good thing! When we face difficulties in the future, they can provide us with more help. So why not ally with them?!”

The senators fell into a long silence, most with grave expressions.

Thus, the proposal that “Tarentum and the Amendolara-Thurii League become allies” was finally approved. When the treaty was concluded, although Tarentum elevated this new league to the status of a relatively equal ally, they still proposed that in any future joint military operations, Tarentum would take the lead.

Mariji and Antistanos raised no objections, and so the treaty was sealed.