Hello everybody,
I'm currently making some research for a timeline where the Gallic Wars end very badly for Caesar. I'm wondering how many Legions Rome could realistically muster to bar Vercingetorix from entering Italy, and/or attempting to retake Narbonnensis Gaul.
At this point (52 BC) Caesar had 12 Legions at the battle of Alesia (raised either from Italy or Hispania, if I'm correct). If we assume those are lost, and we add the 7 Legions Crassus lost the year before in his disastrous expedition against the Parthian, who is left to fight?
My guess is, they should be at least 2 Legions ready in Italy, because it's what the Pompey and the senate had when Caesar crossed the Rubicon. But I also found that up to 50 legions were raised by the various protagonist of the civil war (sometime for a very short period, and probably not very well trained, I suppose)
What do you think?
PS: if needed, we're talking about post Marian reform legions, so from 5200 to 6000 soldiers, depending on the number of auxillia.
I'm currently making some research for a timeline where the Gallic Wars end very badly for Caesar. I'm wondering how many Legions Rome could realistically muster to bar Vercingetorix from entering Italy, and/or attempting to retake Narbonnensis Gaul.
At this point (52 BC) Caesar had 12 Legions at the battle of Alesia (raised either from Italy or Hispania, if I'm correct). If we assume those are lost, and we add the 7 Legions Crassus lost the year before in his disastrous expedition against the Parthian, who is left to fight?
My guess is, they should be at least 2 Legions ready in Italy, because it's what the Pompey and the senate had when Caesar crossed the Rubicon. But I also found that up to 50 legions were raised by the various protagonist of the civil war (sometime for a very short period, and probably not very well trained, I suppose)
What do you think?
PS: if needed, we're talking about post Marian reform legions, so from 5200 to 6000 soldiers, depending on the number of auxillia.