26.28
The
first questions, however, which the two consuls brought before the senate
were those relating to foreign policy and the allocation of the various
commands. Laevinus made his report on the situation in Macedonia and
Greece, and the unrest amongst the Aetolians, the Acarnanians and the
Locrians. He also gave details as to his own military and naval movements,
and stated that he had driven Philip, who was meditating an attack on the
Aetolians, back into the interior of his kingdom. The legion could now be
safely withdrawn, as the fleet was sufficient to protect Italy from any attempt
on the part of the king. After this statement about himself and the province
of which he had had charge, he and his colleague raised the question of the
various commands. The senate made the following dispositions. One consul
was to operate in Italy against Hannibal; the other was to succeed T.
Otacilius in command of the fleet and also to administer Sicily with L.
Cincius as praetor. They were to take over the armies in Etruria and Gaul,
each of which comprised two legions. The two City legions which the consul
Sulpicius had commanded the previous year were sent to Gaul, and the
consul who was to act in Italy was to appoint to the command in Gaul. C.
Calpurnius had his office of propraetor extended for a year, and was sent
into Etruria, Q. Fulvius also received a year's extension of his command at
Capua. The composite force of citizens and allies was reduced, one strong
legion being formed out of the two; this consisted of 5000 infantry and 300
cavalry, those who had served longest being sent home. The army of the
allies was reduced to 7000 infantry and 300 cavalry, the same rule being
observed as to the release of the veterans who had seen the longest service.
In the case of the retiring consul, Cn. Fulvius, no change was made; he
retained his army and his province, Apulia, for another year. His late
colleague, P. Sulpicius, received orders to disband his entire army with the
exception of the naval force. Similarly the army which M. Cornelius had
commanded was to be sent home from Sicily. The men of Cannae, who
practically represented two legions, were still to remain in the island, under
the command of the praetor L. Cincius. L. Cornelius had commanded the
same number of legions the previous year in Sardinia, and these were now
transferred to the praetor P. Manlius Vulso. The consuls received
instructions to see that in raising the City legions, none were enrolled who
had been in the army of M. Valerius, or in that of Q. Fulvius. So the total
number of Roman legions in active service that year was not to exceed
one-and-twenty.
