[] [Metics] It is time now for a Prytanis to be selected from among the Metics to address the assembly [Metics will choose their own representatives to present before the city].
[] [Metics] Allow Metics to purchase property within the walls of Eretria and reduce their taxation [10% reduction in Metic taxation, -14 talents a turn].
[] [Metics] The city will intervene in the Metic debt crisis and pay their debts [-90 talents].
[] [Metics] We cannot accept any of these demands! [Metics will consider assembly a failure].
"My fellow citizens, I urge you all to allow Metics to purchase lands and to reduce the burden of their tax. I acknowledge that they overstep themselves, but it is easy to see why they overstep themselves. Of the cities' entire tax income, 140 talents are extracted from the Metics who make up just over half of our population. Less than 50 come from our citizenry.
"The Metics overstep themselves, but we should remember that they contribute to this
poleis as well. They row in our fleets, they hurl stones and javelins alongside the
psiolli, and they fight alongside us in the phalanx. As of this moment, they cry out for our mercy, that their exceptionally high burden is too heavy. They are also squeezed by the double vice of high rents, unable to own property or build up wealth.
"The long-term cost to Eretria will be offset by increased tribute from the Messapii as taxes decrease so in this instance, it is not a great cost. It will add up over the years, but our coffers will continue to grow as our population expands and as trade begins to bloom.
"As a side effect of this policy, I foresee a change in the character of the Metics who reside in Eretria. By allowing them to purchase urban land and thus build up wealth, more and more metics will pile into the city, offering their skills in urban workshops. The Demos Drakonia has made clear that this is their goal for Metics: craftsmen who can create works like Celtic ironwork, Attikan pottery, and other famed trade goods. Instead of relying purely on agrarian products, we will be able to make more and create new trade routes, bringing wealth to the city.
"The Metics who still remain as tenant farmers are likely to continue seeking their fortune in Adriatic colonies as founders and citizens. They have the skills necessary to succeed there, but nothing ties them tightly to us. It will be small numbers that leave us, but over time, that will add up.
[] [Rhegion] Encourage Rhegion to make war against the city of Lokri Epixephyrii [Raises tension with Krotone].
[] [Rhegion] Redirect their ambitions toward the islands of Lipara and the Lucanian coast [Raises tension with Thurii].
[] [Rhegion] Help them work out a settlement with the Sikeliote League in Sicily [Raises tension with Taras].
"On where to redirect Rhegion, I would ask the assembly to reconsider suggestion that Rhegion declare war on Lokri. I suspect that in such a war, the city of Lokri will not fall due to their strong walls, but the two cities within their sphere north of Rhegion, Medina and Metauros, will be forced to change their overlord to Rhegion.
"This is a relatively mild gain and one that is easily achievable. However, once those two cities have fallen, it means that Krotone and Rhegion will directly border each other. There is a gap west of Krotone in the Apennine Mountains, near Skyllerion. This gap allows Krotone direct access to the cities of western Magna Gracia. With Rhegion expanding into this region, their spheres of influence will directly collide and hostilities will surely result. Given the nature of
poleis to seek
hegemonia, I do not believe we will be able to manage these hostile neighbours long-term.
"If we bid Rhegion fight Lokri, they will win and then they will immediately border Krotone, cutting them off from expansion. Both polities will be
forced to fight across the gap in the Apennines as they contest the cities of the region.
"We need both Krotone, Rhegion, and Thurii to remain powerful in the region for our own reasons. Thurii helps us check Metapontion and Taras. Rhegion is a check towards both Syrakousai and the Sikeliote League. Krotone, in turn, checks both Rhegion and Thurii. It is a complex political web we weave, but it is necessary to keep the region divided.
"It is for that reason, that I oppose encouraging closeness between Rhegion and the Sikeliote League. If they become truly close and put aside their differences over the Strait of Messana, it means that their faction will slowly come to dominate Sikelia. The Sikeliote League is right now in ascendance while Syrakousai wanes as a result of the ongoing war against the Sikels. If this trend continues too much, then the Sikeliote League will supplant Syrakousai as the dominant power. It would then be them that we would be forced to oppose least they continue on to unite Sikelia.
"The entire island of Sikelia being united is something we must oppose with utmost action. All of the cities in the region combined would out number us to such a degree that opposition is impossible. As it sites, the Sikeliote League is our ally, but we are roughly equal in size. If they were to become pre-eminent on all of Sikelia, I fear what would happen. One is right to be wary of a cute little piglet that has grown and revealed it is truly a boar.
"By encouraging Rhegion to expand towards Lipara and the Lucanian coast, they will expand against no one. Thurii will be jealous, but there is a
mountain range in between the Greek cities of Lucania and Thurii. Given the relative weakness of their navy and Rhegion's own control of the Straits of Messana, there is no possible way for them to contest overlordship of the region. Thurii cannot march armies over the mountains in any reasonable time, nor can they expect trade and tribute to flourish between themselves and the region.
(
@Cetashwayo Could you explain how/why Thurii would be jealous of Rhegion's expansion in Lucania? From what I can tell, there's a solid mountain range in between Thurii and Lucani; there should be no way that Thurii can possible interact with those cities while barbarians populate the mountains themselves.)
"Rhegion is naturally inclined to develop their interests towards the north. This will bolster their trade networks and obligate them, as overlords, to defend the Greek cities of Lucani. We have all heard tales of massive
barbaroi migrations. Campania has fallen. The cities of Lucani must wonder when their time will come and the
barbaroi will move against them.
"If they accept Rhegion's overlordship, then that will obligate Rhegion to come to their defense. Rhegion's attentions will be divided, drawn further north and they will have to act far more cautiously in Sikelia. This is desirable to us. We want them divided in this way as it reduces the changes that Rhegion aligns with or fights with the Sikeliote League or comes into conflict with Krotone. Division within the region and more defense for the now isolate Greek cities of Lucani; both of these ends are desirable.
[] [Kymai] The settlement will have the same citizenship laws as the rest of the Epulian League's new colonies. [-500 potential freemen, weaker cohesion, more rapid population growth after settlement].
[] [Kymai] The settlement may have its own laws [+200 potential freemen, stronger cohesion, less rapid population growth after settlement].
"This once I am inclined to grant Kymai an exception to the League's laws. The reason I suggest this is as an object lesson: New Kymai will have 700 additional freemen, but they will fall behind extremely quickly. As a result of their refusal to accept more immigration. The Epulian League has an adult freeman population of nearly 30,000. If we grow by one-part-in-twenty (the rate Eretria has grown these last few year Census), then we shall add 1,500 freemen to our number. Given how most of the League's population growth is concentrated in new colonies
and colonies naturally expand faster than established cities, 1,500 new freemen is likely to be a gross underestimation of the actual population increase in our new colonies of Pharos and Issa. Kymai's refusal to follow our immigration policy will cause New Kymai to quickly begin to fall behind their neighbours.
"In the distant future, we will be able to point to the tale of Kyami and their refusal to mix with outsiders as an abject lesson. They refused the outside world so the outside world passed them by.
[] [Mission] Messapii Tributary Mission. Although King Artahias reigns in Neriton, the Messapii are not yet integrated vassals of Eretria, and indeed owe only theoretical allegiance to the city. If we are to transform a temporary subject into a permanent ally then we must build the institutional and diplomatic grounding for it. The Xenoparakletor will tour the Messapii lands and gain support for a more permanent and fair arrangement, all the while tying the resolution of conflicts and the settling of disputes to Eretria. In this way we can curtail Artahias' ambitions without enraging him, and even grant him greater central authority that he may wield on our behalf [-20 talents, If successful, gain access to 25% of the entire Messapii freemen levy as well as 10.3 talents in regular tribute].
"There is little choice here: this option has been left as long as I feel safe. For the last four years, we had some contact with the Messapii in establishing the annual cattle drives and have the excuse of giving them four years to recover before their formal submission. If we were to continue to allow this option to exist untaken, then the Messapii will begin to wonder if they are really our feuditories at all. Perhaps our original defense pact stands and they refuse tribute. It would be... annoying to correct them; a distraction we could ill afford."
[X] [Metics] Allow Metics to purchase property within the walls of Eretria and reduce their taxation [10% reduction in Metic taxation, -14 talents a turn].
[X] [Rhegion] Redirect their ambitions toward the islands of Lipara and the Lucanian coast [Raises tension with Thurii].
[X] [Kymai] The settlement may have its own laws [+200 potential freemen, stronger cohesion, less rapid population growth after settlement].
[X] [Mission] Messapii Tributary Mission. Although King Artahias reigns in Neriton, the Messapii are not yet integrated vassals of Eretria, and indeed owe only theoretical allegiance to the city. If we are to transform a temporary subject into a permanent ally then we must build the institutional and diplomatic grounding for it. The Xenoparakletor will tour the Messapii lands and gain support for a more permanent and fair arrangement, all the while tying the resolution of conflicts and the settling of disputes to Eretria. In this way we can curtail Artahias' ambitions without enraging him, and even grant him greater central authority that he may wield on our behalf [-20 talents, If successful, gain access to 25% of the entire Messapii freemen levy as well as 10.3 talents in regular tribute].
