43.12
When
at the beginning of the new year the consuls consulted the senate about their
provinces, it was decided that as soon as possible they should come to an
agreement or else ballot for Macedonia and Italy. Before the ballot gave its
decision and the question was still undecided so that personal bias could not
influence the senate, they decreed the necessary reinforcements for each
province; for Macedonia, 6000 Roman infantry and 6000 raised from the
Latin allies, 250 Roman and 300 allied cavalry. The old soldiers were
discharged, so that for each of the Roman legions there were not more than
6000 infantry and 300 cavalry. In the case of the other consul no definite
number of Roman citizens was fixed for him from which to select
reinforcements, he was only ordered to raise two legions, each to consist of
5200 infantry and 300 cavalry. A larger proportion of Latin and allied troops
was decreed to him than to his colleague -10,000 infantry and 600 cavalry.
Four additional legions were to be raised for service wherever they were
wanted. For these legions the consuls were not allowed to select the military
tribunes, the people elected them. The Latin allies were required to supply
16,000 infantry and 1000 cavalry. It was intended that this force should only
be in readiness to go wherever circumstances demanded its presence.
Macedonia was the main cause of anxiety. To man the fleet 1000 Roman
citizens of the status of freedmen and 500 from the rest of Italy were
impressed; the same number was to be raised in Sicily, and the magistrate to
whom that province was allotted received instructions to see that they were
shipped to wherever the fleet was stationed off Macedonia. Three thousand
Roman infantry and 300 cavalry were despatched to reinforce the troops in
Spain. There also the number of soldiers in each legion was fixed at 5200
infantry and 300 cavalry. The praetor who was to command in Spain was
instructed to demand from the allies 4000 infantry and 300 cavalry.