40.41
The
two consuls advanced against the Ligurians by different routes. Postumius
with the first and third legions closed round the mountains of Ballista and
Suismontium, and posted detachments to block the passes. By thus cutting
off their supplies and reducing them to complete destitution, he brought
them to terms. Fulvius moved out from Pisae with the second and fourth
legions, and marched against those of the Apuani who dwelt round the
Macra, and after receiving their surrender placed some 7000 of them on
board ship and sailing along the Etruscan coast landed them at Neapolis.
From there they were transported to Samnium, and land was assigned to
them amongst their own countrymen. The Ligurians who dwelt in the
mountains had their vineyards cut down and their corn crops burnt by A.
Postumius, until after suffering all the miseries of war they were compelled
to submit and give up their arms. From there Postumius sailed on a tour of
inspection along the coast occupied by the Ingauni and Intemelii. Before the
new consuls joined the army which was to assemble at Pisae, A. Postumius
remained in command. M. Fulvius Nobilior, brother of Q. Fulvius, who was
a military tribune in the second legion, during his two months of office,
disbanded the legion, having first exacted an oath from the centurions that
they would carry the unexpended soldiers' pay back to the quaestors who
had charge of the treasury. As soon as Aulus heard of this at Placentia,
where he happened to be at the time, he followed the disbanded soldiers, and
those whom he caught he sternly rebuked and took them back to Pisae, and
sent word to the consul about the others. The consul laid the matter before
the senate, and they passed a resolution that M. Fulvius should be relegated
to a part of Spain beyond New Carthage, and a letter was handed to him by
the consul to be given to P. Manlius in Further Spain. The soldiers were
ordered to rejoin their standards; and in the case of any soldier who did not
return to the army, the consul received orders to sell him as a slave and all
his goods. In consequence of their disgraceful conduct, it was decreed that
this legion should only receive half the year's pay.
