Roman Legion OOC Forums

"Senators, Aediles- Consul Vitellius," Lucius Tacitus said with a wry smirk. "Little debate has gone on regarding the upcoming budget, so I would like to lay down some other ideas... and desires of my own."

"I would like to see the Bella Roma Act expanded to encompass more cities within the Italian penninsula. Mediolanum, which has grown enormously thanks to garrisons of soldiers initiated by the late Hadrianos Sylivois. Ravenna, the base of an imperial classis, and where I plan to expand the harbor to shelter another classis. Then Ostia, for it's proximity to Rome and vast amount of traffic. Brundisium, Capua, Pompeii, Tivoli and Rhegium. Doing this will ensure jobs for the poorest of those center's people, and add to the beauty and hygiene of them as well."

"I would like to see the the remaining Ager Publicus in Italia secured, and begin a repurchasing program to add to the acres remaining. Once accounts show a balance of double the current farmable measurments, I would like to see the office of Praefectus Urbanus oversee a redistribution of land to be leased out to the poorer citizenry at fair rates; In conjunction I would like to see a lex proposed limiting the amount of ager publicus any one individual may hold to no more than 250 acres. We need land to grow food on, to graze cattle, swine and sheep, and we need land to settle legionaries on as part of their retirements."

"In regard to the legions again, I would like to see a lex proposed that would in effect allow citizens who are married at the time of enlistment to the legions remain married. At the moment enlistment into the legions is a de facto divorce. I am a supporter of monogamy and virtue, but too many happy Latin families are separated legally by the husband's need or want to join the legions- Rome needs these very men to fight our wars, and I believe we will see more of them enlist if their homes are left intact. To win our wars, Senators, we need Romans fighting them."

Tacitus shifted on his feet as he continued. "Senators, there is much to do. New lands are opening up to us in the East, and I feel we should designate two new free ports to facilitate trade. Trains of wealth are pouring into Greece and Italia from our eastern conquests, and those fortunes will allow us to do more right now than ever before. Do not be afraid to talk of building roads- I encourage it. Talk of arts, culture, institutions of learning- building new medical academies. I will guide the legions to victory over all who stand in our way. I will subdue the Goths, the Persians and the Britains- all I want out of you is to keep up."