Volume 4: The League of Dionia, Chapter 56: The Second Croton War Breaks Out

Kynogoratas’s tense expression relaxed considerably as he thought it over and said, “Our war with Croton probably won’t be resolved in just two or three days, so how we supply tens of thousands of soldiers with grain is a key issue we need to consider.”

Mariji immediately interjected, “I’ll head to the market right now to suspend all wheat transactions and immediately buy up all the flour and other food on the market, to prevent merchants from maliciously speculating once they hear war has broken out and driving up food prices. I also suggest we immediately send someone to Heraclea to purchase grain as reserves…”

Davos nodded in agreement. Although Mesis looked crestfallen, he still cooperated and led Mariji to the treasury to collect the money.

At that moment, Bourkos stood up and said, “This is the season for planting wheat. Most citizens are going off to war, which will severely affect this year’s agricultural harvest. I suggest we suspend mining operations and organize the several thousand state-owned slaves to cultivate the citizens’ fields. At the same time, offer some incentives to the freemen of the alliance so they’ll volunteer to help. That way our farmland won’t lack labor.”

“Burkes, you’ve thought this through thoroughly,” Davos said solemnly. “Cornelius, Kynogoratas, and—” (Since Nerulum was far away, Sestas usually remained in the city and couldn’t attend every Senate meeting.) His gaze shifted to the back of the chamber: “Vespa, Hemon (Hemon had repeatedly gone on missions to Grumentum, successfully signed a peace agreement with Sicinag, and persuaded several small Lucanian tribes to submit to the alliance; his influence among the Lucanians was greater than Vespa’s. Ultimately, Bacule suggested to Davos, Davos proposed it to the Senate, and the senators voted to approve him as the third Lucanian senator), work with Bourkos to quickly come up with a feasible plan to ensure our grain cultivation and livestock farming aren’t disrupted by the war.”

“Understood,” several replied.

“Philistos, immediately issue a war mobilization order to all cities in the alliance! Also, send word to Laüs and Castron to provide reinforcements… oh… and… uh… tell Castron to strengthen the city’s defenses and burn the pontoon bridge over the Trionto River!”

Philistos was stunned for a moment. He wanted to say that the Trionto River had no bridge and could be forded on foot, but out of trust in and obedience to Davos, he immediately saluted and said, “I’ll send men to handle it right away.”

“Pleisinas,” Davos said with an apologetic expression, “we have no choice but to suspend construction of the temple and invest all the treasury’s revenue into this war!”

“I understand, I support it!” Pleisinas replied.

Davos nodded with relief, then swept his gaze across the senators in the chamber. Clenching his fist and raising his right arm, he declared loudly, “Honored lords, Croton has destroyed the cities on the Sybaris Plain three times! After we defeated it, it must harbor deep resentment toward Daonia! Why? Because it fears that once Daonia grows strong, we will seek revenge. It will do everything in its power to strangle the still-growing Daonia in its cradle. So this war is not something we can avoid even if we wanted to! The war has arrived. We must unite and once again defeat this powerful enemy, Croton, and avenge the burning of our city, opening up a broader future for the Daonia Alliance!”

“War! War! We defeated Croton once, and we can defeat it a second time!” Capus, Antonios, Amyntas, and other mercenary senators shouted with raised arms.

“Fight to the death with the Crotonites!” Scombrus, Proxilaus, and other senators from Amendolara responded enthusiastically.

“Thurii must not be destroyed again! We will fight Croton with all our might!” Burkes, Antistanos, and some Thurii senators cried out in indignation, showing their support.

“We Lucanians are also citizens of the alliance and will defend the Daonia Alliance with all our strength!” Vespa and Hemon, the two Lucanian senators, naturally supported Davos’s decision.

Amid the fervor of cries for war, Kynogoratas and Cornelius, the two chief magistrates who had still been somewhat hesitant, also decisively stated that they would lead the officials and people under their respective cities to prepare everything for this war.

“Dong!……!” While Mariji led his men to snap up grain at the market, the great bell originally cast for the Temple of Hades—temporarily placed in front of the Council Chamber because the temple was not yet finished—was rung for the first time today. Immediately, cavalrymen galloped out, heading for Amendolara, Nerulum, Laüs, and Castron!

When the citizens heard the bell resounding throughout the city, most were still bewildered.

At that moment, patrolmen ran through every street and alley in the city, shouting loudly, “Citizens, attention! Citizens, attention! War has broken out! War has broken out! All citizens who have undergone military training, report to the square immediately! Report to the square immediately!……”

On the vast Sybaris Plain, dispatched cavalrymen shouted the same words in every newly built village.

Thus war descended upon them suddenly. It was only natural for the people to feel confusion and panic. But six months of rigorous military training had taught the citizens and preparatory citizens discipline and obedience. They put aside their household chores, stopped their work, prayed to the household gods, embraced their families in farewell, gathered all their weapons, equipment, and rations, and converged from all directions toward Victory Square in Thurii…

Such obvious movements in Thurii did not escape Tlatos’s eyes. In his secret letter, he wrote: Thurii has issued a war mobilization order. They are snapping up grain in the market. There is unrest at the port, but they have brought it under control. The situation in other cities is unknown for now.

Tlatos sent off his secret letter. On his way back from the port, he saw freemen with worried expressions hurrying toward their crude shacks. A pang of guilt arose in his heart: having stayed here for over half a year, he had gradually come to like this vibrant city. He had ridden in the swift horse-drawn carriages, eaten the mouthwatering boiled beef and mutton, watched the thrilling rugby games… He admitted that life in Thurii was more interesting and more humane than in Croton. If he were not a Crotonite, he too would be willing to live here for a few years, then strive to become a Daonian citizen. But alas…

…

The passenger ship carrying Lysias left the Crathis River. Instead of sailing straight back to Croton along the coast, he first went to Castron.

At that time, Castron was still unaware that war had broken out between Daonia and Croton. Out of courtesy, they received Lysias.

When Lysias informed them that “Croton has declared war on the Daonia Alliance,” the generals and high officials of Castron’s Council were stunned.

Lysias threatened them, “Croton has assembled an army of forty thousand, about to march here—the largest army ever seen in Magna Graecia! Castron can only be spared if it breaks away from the Daonia alliance and joins Croton’s side. Otherwise, it will be destroyed!”

After intense debate in Castron’s Council, although they indeed feared Croton’s attack, the benefits of joining the Daonia alliance had been too numerous: convenient transportation, easy trade, greatly increased revenues for both the people and the treasury, and an elevated status for the city-state. So far, Daonia had never discriminated against Castron. They had truly adhered to the alliance treaty, never demanding a single coin of tribute, nor forcing them to do anything against their will. On the contrary, they were invited to all important celebrations… The people of Castron grew fonder of Daonia day by day. It felt as if they had rediscovered the happy, stable life they had enjoyed under Sybaris’s protection a hundred years ago.

In the end, Castron reluctantly refused Lysias’s demand. Chief General Amykles put it diplomatically: “According to the Daonia Alliance treaty, we have no right to sign any treaties or agreements with other city-states. So we are sorry!…”

Lysias had no choice but to leave the port.

Just then, Daonian cavalry arrived and told Castron’s Council: The alliance was mobilizing its army. Soon, a force of up to twenty thousand would reach here to help defend Castron.

Amykles and the others were completely reassured. Following Daonia’s instructions, they began reinforcing the city walls, stockpiling grain, burning the pontoon bridge, and sealing the port…

From his ship, Lysias saw the thick smoke rising over the Trionto River, which made him realize Castron’s determination. At the same time, he was astonished by Daonia’s strength of influence, further solidifying his conviction that Croton must strike Daonia hard.

His passenger ship swiftly sailed south. Passing Crimissa, the Crotonite fleet that had been waiting there learned from Lysias that “war had broken out” and immediately, impatiently, hoisted their sails and headed for the Daonia Alliance…

And at that moment, at Kynogoratas’s suggestion, Davos sent Pleisinas to Tarentum to request naval assistance from their ally, which possessed forty triremes, to prevent the Crotonite fleet from blockading Thurii’s port.

However, after heated debate in Tarentum’s Senate, with strong opposition from Diomilas, they apologetically told Pleisinas: The request had come too late. After the new year, the Messapians had again invaded Tarentine territory, and Diomilas had led an army to drive them back. The Senate believed that they must inflict a severe lesson on the Messapians to crush their arrogance. Therefore, Diomilas was once again ordered to lead a large army south to attack the Messapian stronghold—Manduria. Tarentum’s warships had already been sent to the Adriatic Sea to harass the Messapian hinterland and disrupt their reinforcements to Manduria. Consequently, they could not provide assistance to Daonia. However, Tarentum could offer grain aid at fair prices, provided it was purchased from Heraclea.

Note: Because of readers’ questions, it is necessary to explain the population situation in Magna Graecia here. According to several sources, historically, the number of soldiers Thurii sent into Lucania at that time was 10,000–15,000. The fact that Thurii dared to send such a large force far from the city indicates there were still many citizen soldiers remaining within. Therefore, the author of one source estimated that Thurii’s total population at that time was at least 200,000 (total people, not just citizens). Other data show that in its most prosperous period, Tarentum’s population was about 300,000, a major city in Magna Graecia no weaker than Athens. Tarentum reached its final glory during the term of Archytas as magistrate, which is about ten years after the time period of this novel. So Tarentum’s population at this time is probably no less than 250,000. Croton, comparable to Tarentum, with its vast territory, likely had a population no less than that. Locri and Rhegium were smaller in area, so their populations were definitely lower than those city-states, but as influential major states in Magna Graecia, their populations were probably no less than 100,000. The combined populations of these main Magna Graecia city-states exceeded one million. If we include Trina on the Euphemia Plain, Metapontum known for agriculture, and other Magna Graecia city-states, the total population of Magna Graecia was likely over 1.5 million.

Adding in part of Lucania’s population, it is entirely normal for Daonia to field an army of 40,000–50,000. Don’t forget, Daonia is not like other long-established city-states; it is a newly formed alliance. In terms of population composition, with freemen coming from various places, there are naturally fewer elderly and more young adults. I estimate Daonia’s current population to be around 250,000. Of course, this is just a rough figure, since freemen have been pouring in.