On this glorious day, Secondus Sergius, Caesar of the Western Roman Empire, died gloriously and nobly. He took many barbarians with him, accounting for three quarters of the Vandals. Truly a more noble man has never been known.
It happened like this: He had finally pushed back the Vandals into their final position in western Gallia. All believed they still held Southern Italy, so he took their stronghold of Burdigala. Unfortunately, the Latins had rightly risen up against their oppressors and the Vandals were out of their homes. Four massive armies were gathered outside his very doorstep. Immediately two attacked him and assaulted his city. The battle went thusly:
Deploying on either side, they brought four and one rams respectively. Knowing he had not the strength to hold them at the wooden walls, he withdrew his three maniples of Limitanei and Comitatenses, and three units of Cavalry to the square. Most of the infantry were left to guard a narrow street, while two maniples and all the cavalry guarded the other entrance to the square. The Vandals broke down the walls and were funnelled into both killzones, many running from the brave Romans. At the crucial moment, Sergius charged through his line, routing an entire army and personally riding down hundreds. This would have been a memorable achievement in and of itself. But he was needed at the other end of the city; the other portion was in danger of folding and had lost nearly half it's men. Though his men were exhausted, he rode back and killed the Vandal general, routing the other army himself and riding down hundreds. When he and his bodyguard was done you could not walk without trodding on the corpse of a Vandal spear-man.
On that day, two entire armies ceased to exist. Although his force was devastated, Sergius managed to annihalate half of the Vandal force in being. Over four thousand of them died.
Unfortunately, the other half was still there and again faced his ragged army. Being the man he was, Sergius still managed to take down half of them with him before dying as a true Roman.
For Sergius Secundus, Ceasar of the Western Empire, you will not be forgotten.Anima eius et animę omnium fidelium defunctorum per Dei misericordiam requiescant in pace.
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It happened like this: He had finally pushed back the Vandals into their final position in western Gallia. All believed they still held Southern Italy, so he took their stronghold of Burdigala. Unfortunately, the Latins had rightly risen up against their oppressors and the Vandals were out of their homes. Four massive armies were gathered outside his very doorstep. Immediately two attacked him and assaulted his city. The battle went thusly:
Deploying on either side, they brought four and one rams respectively. Knowing he had not the strength to hold them at the wooden walls, he withdrew his three maniples of Limitanei and Comitatenses, and three units of Cavalry to the square. Most of the infantry were left to guard a narrow street, while two maniples and all the cavalry guarded the other entrance to the square. The Vandals broke down the walls and were funnelled into both killzones, many running from the brave Romans. At the crucial moment, Sergius charged through his line, routing an entire army and personally riding down hundreds. This would have been a memorable achievement in and of itself. But he was needed at the other end of the city; the other portion was in danger of folding and had lost nearly half it's men. Though his men were exhausted, he rode back and killed the Vandal general, routing the other army himself and riding down hundreds. When he and his bodyguard was done you could not walk without trodding on the corpse of a Vandal spear-man.
On that day, two entire armies ceased to exist. Although his force was devastated, Sergius managed to annihalate half of the Vandal force in being. Over four thousand of them died.
Unfortunately, the other half was still there and again faced his ragged army. Being the man he was, Sergius still managed to take down half of them with him before dying as a true Roman.
For Sergius Secundus, Ceasar of the Western Empire, you will not be forgotten.