44.21
When
the commissioners had been heard, L. Aemilius said that the question before
the House was the conduct of the war. The senate decreed that the consuls
and the people should each appoint an equal number of military tribunes for
the eight legions, but they wished that none should be appointed that year
who had not held high office; L. Aemilius was to choose out of the whole
number those whom he wished for the two legions in Macedonia, and when
the Latin Festival was over the consul and Cn. Octavius, the praetor who
was to command the fleet, should leave for their respective commands. In
addition to these, L. Anicius, who had the alien jurisdiction, was to go to
Illyria and succeed Appius Claudius in command at Lychnidus. The task of
raising fresh troops was imposed on the consul C. Licinius. He was ordered
to enrol 7000 Roman citizens and 200 cavalry, and from the Latin allies
7000 infantry and 400 cavalry. He was also to send written instructions to
Cn. Servilius in Gaul, requiring him to enrol 600 cavalry. He was to send this
new army as soon as possible to his colleague in Macedonia. In that province
there were not more than two legions: they were each to be brought up to
the full strength of 6000 infantry and 300 cavalry; the rest of the infantry and
cavalry were to be distributed amongst the various garrisons; those who
were unfit for military service were to be discharged. There were, in
addition, the 10,000 infantry and 800 cavalry furnished by the allies. This
force was supplementary to the two legions, each consisting of 5000 infantry
and 300 cavalry, which Anicius was ordered to transport to Macedonia;
5000 seamen were also conscripted for the fleet. Licinius was ordered to
hold his province with the two legions and the 10,000 infantry and 800
cavalry from the allies.
