the Marian method, the foe seemed familiar and less terrifying when the crunch came, and success was more likely. Rutilius was more of a traditionalist, and the traditional approach of a Roman general was to march his men to the battlefront, point them at the enemy army and thereafter encourage them to victory through the ensuing carnage. Besides tradition, there was another reason for the bull-at-a-gate strategy. Alba Fucensis remained under siege. Like Aesernia the citadel town had not been expecting a war in 91 BC, and had no reason to have laid in supplies for one. If this strategic
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