Rome

Starting territory of Rome, with its neighbours

difficulty Easy
Roman culture
believes Italic
26 settlements
capital Rome
78,300 manpower
34 characters
21 faction units
439 regional units

The campaign brief

"They make a desert and call it peace." – Calgacus

The history of Rome began with a she-wolf. She brought up the twin boys Romulus and Remus, of whom the first went on to found the city of Rome in 753 BC and kill his brother. These were the early seeds of violence in the story of a city that was allegedly populated by the descendants of Troy. In its early days, Rome fell under the influence of the Etruscan League and developed into a royal society. However, at some point before the halfway point of the first millennium BC, the people of Rome decided that enough was enough and expelled their last king, Tarquinius Superbus.

The fifth century saw the first period of military expansion, including successful wars against their Latin neighbours, who also laid the earliest foundation for the famous system of Roman allies in Italy. Those years also witnessed the rise of the adjacent town of Veii as Rome's most formidable foe. It took the Romans decades of war and frustration to finally win a decisive victory over Veii in 396 BC, which resulted in the Roman occupation of the town. But Fortuna was not all that gracious nine years later, when ferocious tribes from the lands of the Celts entered Central Italy and met the Romans in battle. At this meeting on the river Allia, the Roman army was emphatically crushed, and the survivors had to run to the safe haven of Veii. Following on to that remarkable defeat, according to legend, a little group of heroes - with a helping honk from the sacred geese, which raised the alarm - saved the besieged capital after most people had fled the town. But the Romans had learned from their mistakes and erected the impressive Servian Walls, which still form the main defence of the city now in 270 BC.

With Rome fortified and the Celts retreating back into the northern plains, the Republic underwent crucial changes both internally and externally. The common plebs, which already held the positions of the tribunes, also got their first consul in 366 and gained exclusive access for the election of the censors in 339 BC. At the same time, Rome finally conquered all of Latium and went on to challenge the Samnites, a people from the mountainous terrain of Central Italy eastwards from Rome. The armies of Rome advanced steadily over these years, but their cunning foes eventually lured them into a deadly trap. But against all expectations, the Romans, encircled and defeated, were set free by the Samnite victors. While the Samnites hoped this would end the hostilities, the Romans felt it was an unbelievable act of humiliation. From that point on, both sides fought until the bitter end. In the third and final war (298-290 BC), it was Rome who won dominance over Central Italy. Just three years later, the Plebs also won a victory to bring the struggle of the orders - the internal strife that had plagued the nascent republic - to an end.

Rome's greatest test, however, was yet to come. In the 476th year after the foundation of the city, King Pyrrhus of the Molossians landed in Italy to wage war on the Romans. He had been called by Tarentum to aid the Greeks in their fight against Roman expansion and arrived with the reputation of a brave warrior and skilled commander. At Heraclea, he smashed the consular armies and incited panic among the ranks of the common soldiers, not least out of fear of the strange beasts called elephants he had brought with him over the strait of Hydruntum. But the Roman accepted this formidable challenge and received the support of Mars, the God of War, to eventually defeat Pyrrhus in a glorious battle and drive him back to Greece.

It is now, in the year 485 ab urbe condita, that we look back on these events. Rome has established its dominance over Central and Southern Italy, establishing a formidable and ever-expanding system of subservient allies bound to the Republic. The expansion into the central Mediterranean, however, has been observed with sceptical eyes in Carthage, the great commercial metropolis of Northern Africa. Roman imperial ambitions might eventually carry her into war against this former ally. Meanwhile, in the North, the Celtic tribes still pose a considerable threat, and every Roman can tell horror stories about these wild and brutal people. But Roman weapons have proved their worth time and again, and slowly new reforms are starting to improve the citizen legions' lethal effectivity even more. Once again, Rome's fate lies on the shoulders of the common men...

Starting settlements

Rome begins with 26 settlements and 78,300 manpower.

Settlement	Region	Size	Manpower	Already built
Rome (capital)	Roma	large city	12,500	16 buildings
Arretium	Etruria	large town	5,100	13 buildings
Sena Gallica	Ager Gallicus	town	1,800	6 buildings
Volaterrae	Etruria Occidentalis	large town	3,500	12 buildings
Corfinium	Paelignia-Marsica	town	2,100	5 buildings
Falerii	Faliscia	large town	2,800	11 buildings
Iguvium	Umbria	large town	2,300	9 buildings
Cosa	Etruria Meridionalis	large town	3,000	14 buildings
Teate	Marrucinia-Vestinia	large town	1,800	7 buildings
Pisae	Etruria Septentrionalis	town	1,900	8 buildings
Reate	Sabinia-Aequia	town	1,900	6 buildings
Perusia	Etruria Orientalis	town	2,100	3 buildings
Camerinum	Camertia-Nahartia	town	1,800	3 buildings
Maleventum	Samnium	large town	2,600	12 buildings
Larinum	Frentania	town	1,700	3 buildings
Arpi	Daunia	large town	2,900	13 buildings
Venusia	Peucetia	large town	3,300	12 buildings
Croton	Kroton	town	2,400	5 buildings
Canusium	Kanysion	large town	2,400	11 buildings
Thurii	Thourioi	large town	2,500	12 buildings
Neapolis	Parthenope	large town	4,000	13 buildings
Fregellae	Latium Novum	town	2,100	9 buildings
Praeneste	Latium	large town	2,600	12 buildings
Paestum	Poseidonia	large town	3,400	14 buildings
Epizephyrian Locri	Lokroi Epizephyrioi	large town	3,100	9 buildings
Metapontum	Metapontion	large town	2,700	13 buildings

What is already built in each settlement

Rome, in Roma: Small Treasury, Pro-Consul's Palace, Stone Wall, Homeland, Public Baths (Sanitation), Region Information Scroll, Highways, Canal Network (Crops), Magistrates' Court (Civic), Forum, Shipwright, Salt Refiner (Industry), Capitoline Temple of Jupiter Optimus Maximus, Amphora Maker (Urban), Fruit Dryer (Rural), Basic Armoury

Arretium, in Etruria: Governor's Villa, Wooden Palisade, Small Granary (Food trade), Dependency, Cisterns (Sanitation), Region Information Scroll, Roads, Basin Irrigation (Crops), Local Market, Shrine, Pottery Kiln (Urban), Grape Orchards (Rural), Training Grounds

Sena Gallica, in Ager Gallicus: Small Colony, Governor's House, Direct Rule, Region Information Scroll, Local Barter, Trade Port

Volaterrae, in Etruria Occidentalis: Governor's Villa, Wooden Palisade, Dependency, Cisterns (Sanitation), Region Information Scroll, Roads, Basin Irrigation (Crops), Local Market, Trade Port, Stone Quarry (Industry), Shrine, Training Grounds

Corfinium, in Paelignia-Marsica: Governor's House, Dependency, Slope Pasturing (Husbandry), Region Information Scroll, Training Grounds

Falerii, in Faliscia: Governor's Villa, Wooden Palisade, Dependency, Cisterns (Sanitation), Region Information Scroll, Roads, Local Market, Slash and Burn (Crops), Shrine, Pottery Kiln (Urban), Training Grounds

Iguvium, in Umbria: Governor's Villa, Wooden Palisade, Dependency, Highland Pasturing (Husbandry), Region Information Scroll, Local Barter, Shrine, Lumber Camp (Rural), Training Grounds

Cosa, in Etruria Meridionalis: Large Colony, Governor's Villa, Wooden Palisade, Direct Rule, Cisterns (Sanitation), Region Information Scroll, Roads, Irrigation Ditches (Crops), Local Market, Trade Port, Shrine, Fish Salter (Urban), Grape Orchards (Rural), Local Garrisons

Teate, in Marrucinia-Vestinia: Governor's Villa, Wooden Palisade, Dependency, Cisterns (Sanitation), Slope Pasturing (Husbandry), Region Information Scroll, Shrine

Pisae, in Etruria Septentrionalis: Governor's House, Dependency, Cisterns (Sanitation), Region Information Scroll, Local Barter, Trade Port, Lumber Camp (Rural), Local Garrisons

Reate, in Sabinia-Aequia: Small Colony, Governor's House, Direct Rule, Slope Pasturing (Husbandry), Region Information Scroll, Local Barter

Perusia, in Etruria Orientalis: Governor's House, Dependency, Region Information Scroll

Camerinum, in Camertia-Nahartia: Governor's House, Dependency, Region Information Scroll

Maleventum, in Samnium: Small Colony, Governor's Villa, Wooden Palisade, Direct Rule, Cisterns (Sanitation), Highland Pasturing (Husbandry), Region Information Scroll, Roads, Local Market, Shrine, Tannery (Urban), Basic Armoury

Larinum, in Frentania: Governor's House, Dependency, Region Information Scroll

Arpi, in Daunia: Governor's Villa, Wooden Palisade, Small Granary (Food trade), Dependency, Cisterns (Sanitation), Region Information Scroll, Roads, Local Barter, Trade Port, Enclosures (Husbandry), Shrine, Grape Orchards (Rural), Training Grounds

Venusia, in Peucetia: Large Colony, Governor's Villa, Wooden Palisade, Direct Rule, Region Information Scroll, Roads, Irrigation Ditches (Crops), Local Barter, Trade Port, Shrine, Olive Grove (Rural), Basic Armoury

Croton, in Kroton: Governor's House, Dependency, Region Information Scroll, Local Barter, Trade Port

Canusium, in Kanysion: Governor's Villa, Wooden Palisade, Dependency, Cisterns (Sanitation), Region Information Scroll, Roads, Basin Irrigation (Crops), Local Market, Trade Port, Shrine, Weavery (Urban)

Thurii, in Thourioi: Governor's Villa, Wooden Palisade, Small Granary (Food trade), Dependency, Cisterns (Sanitation), Region Information Scroll, Roads, Basin Irrigation (Crops), Local Barter, Trade Port, Shrine, Grape Orchards (Rural)

Neapolis, in Parthenope: Governor's Villa, Wooden Palisade, Dependency, Region Information Scroll, Roads, Basin Irrigation (Crops), Local Market, Trade Port, Stone Quarry (Industry), Shrine, Small Glass Reworking Shop (Urban), Grape Orchards (Rural), Training Grounds

Fregellae, in Latium Novum: Small Colony, Governor's House, Direct Rule, Cisterns (Sanitation), Region Information Scroll, Local Barter, Trade Port, Olive Grove (Rural), Local Garrisons

Praeneste, in Latium: Governor's Villa, Wooden Palisade, Dependency, Region Information Scroll, Roads, Local Market, Trade Port, Contour Furrows (Crops), Stone Quarry (Industry), Shrine, Grape Orchards (Rural), Basic Armoury

Paestum, in Poseidonia: Large Colony, Governor's Villa, Wooden Palisade, Direct Rule, Cisterns (Sanitation), Region Information Scroll, Roads, Irrigation Ditches (Crops), Local Market, Trade Port, Shrine, Herb gatherer (Urban), Grape Orchards (Rural), Local Garrisons

Epizephyrian Locri, in Lokroi Epizephyrioi: Governor's Villa, Wooden Palisade, Dependency, Region Information Scroll, Local Healer (Healing), Local Barter, Trade Port, Shrine, Lumber Camp (Rural)

Metapontum, in Metapontion: Governor's Villa, Wooden Palisade, Small Granary (Food trade), Dependency, Cisterns (Sanitation), Region Information Scroll, Roads, Basin Irrigation (Crops), Local Barter, Trade Port, Shrine, Olive Grove (Rural), Local Garrisons

Homeland

Rome's homeland is 1 region. Only there can it install the Homeland government (more on homelands).

Homeland of Rome

Roma

Starting diplomacy

Protectorates (6): Bruttians · Capua · Lucanians · Samnites · Taras · Volsinii

Trade agreements with (6): Bruttians · Capua · Lucanians · Samnites · Taras · Volsinii

At peace with every other faction.

Like every faction, it is also at war with the Free Peoples, who hold every settlement no faction does.

Starting characters

Name	Role	Age
Quintus Ogulnius Gallus	General	60
Marcus Ogulnius Gallus	General	30
Servius Ogulnius Gallus	General	36
Gnaeus Cornelius Blasio	General	43
Gaius Fabius Pictor	General	42
Publius Sempronius Sophus	General	41
Marcus Atilius Regulus	General	37
Titus Manlius Torquatus	General	22
Decimus Iunius Brutus	General	28
Appius Claudius Pulcher	General	25
Servius Fulvius Flaccus	General	30
Manius Aemilius Paullus	General	50
Gaius Genucius Clepsina	General	49
Lucius Genucius Clepsina	General	44
Bouzos	General	31
Eumedes	General	23
Sextus Quinctilius Varus	General	23
Decius Iunius Pennus	General	38
Spurius Cassius Longinus	General	46
Aulus Gabinius	General	32
Gnaeus Cornelius Scipio	General	35
Lucius Cornelius Scipio	General	32
Niumpsis	General	42
Statiis	General	39
Timochares	General	35
Nossis	General	40
Vibius Sallustius Crispus	General	22
Tiberius Sempronius Gracchus	General	29
Leophron	General	23
Marcus Livius Drusus	General	36
Lucius Valerius Flaccus	General	48
Gaius	Admiral	33
Manius	Admiral	33
Lucius	Admiral	33

Faction mechanics

From the game's own guide. See also the other game guides.

Military reforms

Rome has one reform.

Roman reforms requirements: Own 1 huge city in Italy.

Unlocks: The Legions!

Reforms

A New Man: Gaius Marius (switched off)
Polybian Reform
The Gracchan Reforms
The War of the Allies
The Late Republican Reforms
Named Legions are now available

For every faction: Military innovations have arrived!, Second wave of military innovations have arrived!.

Revolts

The Italic Revolt

Units you can recruit

Rome can recruit 460 unit types: 21 faction units and 439 regional.

What you need to recruit each unit.

Faction units

	Unit	Requires
	Ballistas	Armourer (Industry) · Government Building (Dependency, Indirect Rule, Direct Rule or Homeland)
	Large Lithoboloi	Foundry (Industry) · Government Building (Dependency, Indirect Rule, Direct Rule or Homeland)
	Legatus Legionis	Not available in this version
	Legionary Cohort	Homeland · Garrison Building or Tier 1 Military Industrial Complex · The Late Republican Reforms
	First Cohort	Not available in this version
	Lithoboloi	Armourer (Industry) · Government Building (Dependency, Indirect Rule, Direct Rule or Homeland)
	Cohors Thracum Sagittariorum	Not available in this version
	Equites (Early)	Homeland · Garrison Building or Tier 1 Military Industrial Complex · not Polybian Reform
	Funditores	Homeland · Garrison Building or Tier 1 Military Industrial Complex
	Roman General's Bodyguard	Homeland · Tier 2 Military Industrial Complex
	Hastati (Early)	Homeland · Garrison Building or Tier 1 Military Industrial Complex · not Polybian Reform
	Late Praetorian Cohort	Not available in this version
	Leves	Homeland · Garrison Building or Tier 1 Military Industrial Complex · not Polybian Reform
	Leves Armaturae	Homeland · Garrison Building or Tier 1 Military Industrial Complex · The Late Republican Reforms
	Equites (Polybian)	Homeland · Garrison Building or Tier 1 Military Industrial Complex · Polybian Reform · not The Late Republican Reforms
	Hastati (Polybian)	Homeland · Garrison Building or Tier 1 Military Industrial Complex · Polybian Reform · not The Late Republican Reforms
	Principes (Polybian)	Homeland · Tier 2 Military Industrial Complex · Polybian Reform · not The Late Republican Reforms
	Socii Cavalry Extraordinarii	Homeland · Tier 2 Military Industrial Complex · Polybian Reform
	Socii Cohort	Indirect Rule · Garrison Building or Tier 1 Military Industrial Complex · Tier 1 Colony · Polybian Reform
	Socii Extraordinarii	Homeland · Tier 2 Military Industrial Complex · Polybian Reform · not The Late Republican Reforms
	Triarii (Polybian)	Homeland · Tier 2 Military Industrial Complex · Polybian Reform · not The Late Republican Reforms
	Roman Praetorian Cavalry	Not available in this version
	Principes (Early)	Homeland · Garrison Building or Tier 1 Military Industrial Complex · not Polybian Reform
	Rorarii	Homeland · Garrison Building or Tier 1 Military Industrial Complex · not Polybian Reform
	Triarii (Early)	Homeland · Tier 2 Military Industrial Complex · not Polybian Reform
	Velites	Homeland · Garrison Building or Tier 1 Military Industrial Complex · Polybian Reform · not The Late Republican Reforms

Regional units

Show all 439 regional units