Chapter 138: The Fall of Thurii

The salpinx to signal the attack rang over the city of Thurii, the freeman and the slaves that have gathered in the port area of the northern and southern part of the city, got the signal to immediately start a riot. They took out their hidden weapons and attacked the defenders.

The town on the southern part of the city on the south bank of the Crati river, was initially for the citizens who went to the plains on the south bank of the Crati river that will sometimes worked too late, and since it is dangerous to cross the river at night, so they have built some huts on the south bank for the night. Later, it gradually developed into a village, and because of the occasional crossing of the Bruttis on the mountain, and them taking the livestock, killing the citizens, so a wall was built in there for their safety. Therefore, the southern town is not big and it doesn’t have much guards. But now, due to the increase of guards these past two days and the fake news of armistice, they were unprepared. The attack of the freeman made them react in a hurry, and were now already having difficulty in resisting them.

Therefore, the soldiers of Crotone were hardly wounded when they crossed the moat. They erect a siege ladder, and quickly occupied the city gate, then they drop down the suspension bridge and opened the gate, then the army of Crotone poured in and disperse the garrison, and orderly boarded the ferry, cargo ship and merchant ship, and the freeman served as sailors and quickly sailed to the port on the northern part.

The strategos of Thurii were all flustered when they heard that the army of Crotone had reach the city and they had not yet have the time to give an order, when a tragic news of the freeman revolting at the port on the northern and southern part of the city came. They hastily summoned the citizens to the port to suppress the freeman, and the elderly over 50 years old and the young people over 14 years old had all put on their armor and took up shields and spears. For them, this is a crucial moment for the survival of Thurii, and every citizens must stand up to defend their homeland.

Although it took some time to gather the citizens, they all hate the same people, and the unarmed freeman can only continuously retreat, but then, the army of Crotone landed.

As soon as they went ashore, they immediately went straight to the army of Thurii and the nearly destroyed frontline of the freeman was soon stabilized.

The two sides were fighting in the narrow streets of the port. Although the soldiers of Crotone that had landed were far more than the citizens of Thurii, they could not deploy all their soldiers in the narrow alleys. Although the soldiers of Crotone are tall and strong, and the troops of Thurii are mixed with the elderly and young ones, and even the strategoi have also put on their armor. Behind them are hundreds of Thurian women who kept shouting and cheering for their family. It is a solemn and tragic cry! While the Crotone fought hard, the Thurian were desperate, and so the situation remained in a stalemate!

Melanseus, who had always been at the front, was dragged behind because of the water leakage on his boat, and when he got on the port, it was already full with boats and could only look for a place to land. Seeing that the battle situation is in a stalemate, he immediately ordered the buildings on both sides of the road to be demolished.

When the soldiers of Crotone began to encircle them from both sides, the Thurians gradually lost their support, they persisted for a while, but finally they could only retreat in the face of their citizens getting constantly killed.

Nianses didn’t want to escape, and so he face the enemy that came in great number. Since getting his position, this civilian born strategos has been highly praised by the citizens for his humble and hard-working attitude. However, less than two months after he reached the top of the city-states’ highest position, Thurii has suffered a great disaster, and he could only die under the spears of the soldiers of Crotone, while several other strategoi, such as Bolus had fled for their lives.

Burkes and Plesinas led some citizens, women and children to retreat into the acropolis on the hillside behind the city, where the temple of Apollo and the altar of the goddess Hera were located, and its flame has been burning for the past 41 years since its completion, and it is the place where the spirit of the citizens of Thurii is kept, and it is the resting place of their souls, a holy place! And the people of Thurii has decided to make their final resistance on this place.

After Melanseus occupied and pacified the rest of the city, it was already late. So he ordered his soldiers to light the torches and surround the acropolis, and then sent Bolus as a messenger: Surrender immediately or we will burn the acropolis of Thurii.

They didn’t expect that the Crotonians to be so cruel. After all, Apollo was also the patron god of Crotone. After a painful choice, they opened the door, and at this moment, Crotone had completely occupied the city of Thurii.

. . . . . . . . . . . . .

Davos was watching the citizen’s military training in the training camp, when the information regarding Thurii reached him. He and the officers were shocked to learn that Thurii had fallen.

“I didn’t expect that Thurii would fall like this!” Hielos said emotionally.

“If it wasn’t for Thurii for not managing to handle the conflict against the freeman and the slaves, then how could Crotone win so easily!” Amintas is obviously not convinced by Crotone’s victory.

“However, the strategos of Crotone is not so simple. Even with the help of the freeman, he was still able to use a scheme to deceive the Thurians in advance, and then make a sudden attack and it is even organized that he manage to conquer the city of Thurii in less than five hours, and the soldiers of Crotone can also be said to be well-trained!” Davos analyzed the Crotonians rationally, “The army of the Crotone is, in addition to the 800 Spartans that was led by Cheirisophus, one of the strongest enemies that we have met so far. So we must be more alert!” Davos warned everyone.

“BUT WE ARE NOT AFRAID OF HIM!” Exclaimed Amintas feeling unconvinced.

“Right, we all must have this kind of spirit! We attach importance to the enemy, but we are not afraid of them and we dare to fight any enemy!” Davos encourage everyone

“Legatus*, what should we do next?” Asked Alexius. (note: While inside the military camp, they would call Davos with his military position and not his administrative position)

“What do you think?” Davos asked him back without answering him.

Alexius thought for a moment and said, “We should send more scouts to monitor the army of Crotone, and to strengthen the defense of Amendolara…”

“Very well, we will quietly observe for now.” Said Davos. Davos is happy to see that despite Crotone conquering Thurii and demonstrating their strength, none of his officers suggested to curry favour with Crotone.

Looking at the soldiers who were actively training on the training ground, and thinking of the army of Crotone that was raiding the city of Thurii, Davos felt no fear in his heart.

. . . . . . . . . . . . .

At this time, in the city of Thurii, Melanseus did not restrain his soldiers after they have occupied the city. As a result, the soldiers ran wild in the city, looting, injuring the people and even the women, the people of Thurii were miserable.

Melanseus took a fancy to one of the most luxurious mansions. After expelling its master away, he lived in the house himself and held a banquet with his officers to celebrate their victory.

While he was drinking, he heard the prostitute in his army say that there is a disciple of Herodotus, a historian in the city of Thurii. So he immediately became interested, and have the guards to invite this person.

When Ansitanos arrived here, he saw a group of Crotonians lying in the couch in the hall, sipping wine and eating delicious food, while holding beautiful women in their arms. Most of those who took the initiative to smile and flirt were high-class prostitute, while those who forced themselves to look happy were the women of Thurii.

Some of the Crotonians were boasting about the victory and flattering Melanseus, while the others were making vulgar jokes, and its protagonist is the stupid and pitiful Thurii, while some only cared about their own actions and did shameful things directly in public with the women in their arms…amid the laughter and cheerful voices, Ansitanos entered the hall with a taut expression and stepped on the marble floor, which was wet due to wine.

“Oh, here comes the historian of Thurii!” Even though Melanseus has drank a lot of wine, his mind was still clear. Then he patted the breast of the woman in his arms, “Go and pour him a glass of wine.”

The woman handed the wine to Ansitanos, then he took a sip without hesitation.

“Thurian, are you drinking to celebrate our victory?!” An officer took this opportunity to press on him and laugh.

“No, I am just reminiscing the city of Sybaris, which was once famous for its wine. At that time, they were strong and Crotone was weak, just like today with Crotone and Thurii, but in the end, the oppressor had eventually perished.” Ansitanos calmly said.

“Ha! Ha! Ha!…” Laughed Melanseus, “But it was the weak Crotone who had destroyed the mighty Sybaris! Today, the weak Thurii was occupied by the powerful Crotone, so your statement is completely wrong!”

“The gods are looking from above, and even the most powerful city-state will still perish in the end.” Ansitanos replied strongly.

“Maybe one day…uck…” Melanseus belched and said disapprovingly, “But you and I may not have the chance to see it.” Saying that, he then sat up and said in a loud voice, “I heard that you are a disciple of Herodotus. So if you were to write the history in the future, will my name and this brilliant victory be included in your book for future generations to know?!”

“No, it will only be the crimes and evil deeds that you have committed in Thurii” Replied Ansitanos coldly.

“Audacious!”

“Do you not want to live anymore, Thurian!”

. . . . . . . . . . . . .

When the officers heard what he said, they shouted at him in succession and even threw some foods at him.

Melanseus waved his hand and did not regard Ansitanos’ provocation. Instead, he held up his glass and said triumphantly, “‘The winner proves his strength by his actions, while the loser can only prove his weakness by his excuse.’ This is an athlete’s maxim. Ancient heroes only enjoy the joy of conquering Troy, and no one had cared about the suffering of the conquered Trojans. If you are defeated, then you must recognized it, just like the Lucanians…”

Speaking of this, he suddenly thought of something and asked, “I heard that the archon of Amendolara, Da..Davos has wiped out 10,000 warriors of the Lucanian alliance with only 6,000 men, is this true? or False? or is this the work of Taranto? Or this is indeed his feat?”

“He was indeed the one that planned and organized that battle.” Ansitanos answered truthfully.

“In that case, this Davos guy…who is better him or me?” Melanseus was eager to have a go.

Ansitanos looked at him, and said, “Behind you stands the powerful Crotone, while behind him is only a small Amendolara.”

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