Caesar's Legion
History
Caesar's Legion is an imperialistic, Roman-style republic based on large scale slavery.
The Legion was founded in 2247 by Edward Sallow (a former member of the Followers of the Apocalypse), who took control of several tribes in Northern Arizona, reconstituting them in the shape of the ancient Roman army, with himself as ruling Caesar. Under Caesar Edward, the Legion used the trappings of the Roman army but did not recreate any cultural, social, or political institutions of ancient Rome.
By 2281, Caesar's Legion held territory including all of the former states of New Mexico and Arizona. Caesar Edward pushed his armies westward, targeting the city of New Vegas and the energy wealth of Hoover Dam. At the same time, the New California Republic was making an expansionist move into the area, also hungry for the dam's electricity. The NCR and the Legion clashed all along the Colorado River. But in the end, they were both repulsed by the robotic army of Robert Edwin House and an independent New Vegas. Caesar Edward died of cancer and his three greatest generals were killed on the battlefield.
Afterward, the Legion descended into chaos. Three emperors emerged in a single year and were each assassinated by factions within the army. Eventually, the empire broke up into four autonomous districts and the southwest was plagued by perpetual war.
A charismatic new leader emerged from the city garrison of Flagstaff. A young centurian named Nathan Freeman overthrew the failing civilian leadership of Flagstaff and installed himself as dictator, renaming himself Aurelian. But unlike his predecessors, Aurelian established a more complete Roman order, establishing a trade-focused republic with open elections and a strong senate. While slavery was upheld, the use of corporal punishment and the sale of child slaves was banned. Ghouls and super mutants were granted equal rights under the law (but robots are still denied these rights.)
In 2290, the four independent Legion states of Flagstaff, Two Sun, Malpais and Colorado Springs met for a reconciliation summit. It was decided by the leaders of the four great cities that the Legion should be reunited under a single leader in order to defend the region from the threats of the NCR, the Brotherhood of Steel and The Capitol. The entire Legion undertook its first general election for a Princeps. Ultimately, Aurelian won with over three quarters of the vote. He was declared Caesar and given the honourary name 'Restitutor' for re-establishing the empire through patient diplomacy instead of a self-destructive war.
Caesar Aurelian Resitutor has been dramatically successful in restoring the glory of Caesar's Legion. Instead of pursuing a war of attrition against the NCR, Aurelian turned east, crushing the scattered people of the Chihuahuan Desert. In 2294, he quickly brought down the Texan city states of Dixie and pursued a three year war of aggression. His advance finally ended in 2297, while sieging the city of Nola. One night, five of Caesar's generals died in their sleep in an event later known as the Nola Miracle. The deaths were never explained, and the morale of the superstitious legion soldiers was broken. Caesar Aurelian Restitutor was forced to sue for peace. When the dust settled, the Legion gained the former states of Texas, Oklahoma, Louisiana, Arkansas and southern Missouri. Caesar signed a promise to the president of Dixie that he would never set foot across the Mississipi. A similar diplomatic agreement was made with the Midwest Brotherhood of Steel, setting formal borders through the Midwest.
This annexation of Midwest territory captured many Reavers communities. Caesar Aurelian's treatment of this group has been vicious. The Reavers have been enslaved, their leaders executed and their temple burned to the ground.
Today
By 2317, Caesar's Legion controls an enormous empire known internally as the Pax Aurelius. Though politically stable and focused on internal development, many in the former United States expect a day when the Legion will again turn to expansionism and conquest.
The Legion keeps a strong central bank with strict financial controls. They issue the Denarii currency in both coins and paper bills.
After the St. Louis Attack, tension between the Legion and the Midwest Brotherhood were high. A peace summit in Denver returned relations to normal, mostly due to the personal actions of Caesar Aurelian. He took a personal interest in making a gesture of peace, handing over 72 Midwest prisoners for nothing in return.
After the SESSION 02: THE ST. LOUIS SUMMIT, tensions between Caesar's Legion and the Midwest Brotherhood were at a 20 year high. A successful peace summit in Denver restored an uneasy calm between the two nations. Caesar Aurelian was instrumental in this peace talk. He handed over 72 Midwest prisoners for nothing in return. Many questioned this decision, both within and beyond the Legion.
On May 28th, 2317, Caesar Aurelian made a surprise address to the senate in Flagstaff. He announced his immediate retirement, abdicating his powers as Princeps to the senate. With no clear successor, he left the city to an undisclosed location. Even his close advisors weren't told his exact plans. His whereabouts are still unknown to the public.
On June 3rd, 2317, the Legion's senate elected a new Princeps. They selected Pillar, a ghoul and former gladiator, who re-named himself Caesar Altus. Pillar vowed to pursue an agenda of internal development, which an emphasis on improving quality of life for the poor, especially slaves.
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Maps
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Flagstaff
The capital of Caesar's Legion, Flagstaff is home to 3000 citizens. The city is divided by the ancient Route 66. The southern half of the city is claimed by the Legion army and celebrates their connection to Ancient Rome. Road signs are in Latin, and much of the area consists of housing for soldiers. The Northern half of the city is more cosmopolitan, with signs in English and more open attitude. -
Caesar's Legion
The geographical expanse of Caesar's Legion from the Colorado River in the West to the Mississippi River in the East.
Type
Geopolitical, Empire
Economically Linked
The bosses of The Rustlands see Caesar's Legion as an important trading partner. The Rustlands highly prize well-trained Legion slaves and The Rustlands produce chems which the Legion cannot make for themselves. This exchange is difficult, given the two nations don't share a border. Much of the trade must be made across the lands of the Midwest Brotherhood, often carried by dirigible. The two nations are yet to have made any kind of formal military alliance. Many speculate that this is only because such a declaration would drastically raise tensions across the former United States.
Unease
Caesar's Legion and The Capitol have little contact, their nations only coming close in the a small stretch of the Shawnee Forest at the confluence of the Mississippi and Ohio Rivers. Caesar Aurelian has publicly expressed respect for the control and discipline of The Capitol, but has also criticized their embrace of high technology. It is generally thought that Great Leader Aditi has a disrespectful disregard for the Legion and The Capitol does not bother to maintain an embassy in the Legion's capital in Flagstaff.
Unfriendly
Caesar's Legion and The Commonwealth have very little contact. But these nations think very little of each other. Caesar admires the Minutemen as an institution, but views the Commonwealth Federal Assembly as weak and the Railroad intelligence agency as pernicious and dishonourable. Meanwhile, the people of The Commonwealth are disgusted with the Legion's practices of slavery and the disenfranchisement of women and robots.
Strained
Caesar's Legion annexed significant territory from the Midwest Brotherhood in 2294. While there was no combat, the situation left many angry, notably the Kansas Reavers Movement. Caesar Aurelian views the Midwest as weak and often muses publicly about invading. The Brotherhood Elders in Chicago have noticed the threat, but aren't well-equipped to respond. The recent nuclear detonation in St. Louis raised tensions between the nations, with many blaming Caesar for the unclaimed attack.
Cold Hostility
The NCR and Caesar's Legion battled many times in the 2270s and 2280s, most notably at the First Battle of Hoover Damn, where the NCR were victorious. The forces of Robert House and an independent New Vegas fought off both the NCR and the Legion, leaving them both in internal turmoil. Though they haven't engaged in battle in over 30 years, they still view each other as primary, and existential, adversaries.
Disgust
The Legion despises the old world leadership who destroyed the planet. The Enclave demands absolute subjugation. Though equally brutal, they would be fierce enemies.
Hateful Armistice
Caesar's Legion invaded Dixie in 2294, taking huge swaths of territory. The Legion was only turned away by the NOLA miracle. Caesar Aurelian made peace and personally promised to the Great God Mars that he would never cross the Mississippi River. But Caesar Aurelian is getting older, and very few expect his successor to extend the same courtesy.
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