Steele Brand

People keep thinking that they're going to peel allies away, and what they don't realize is every ally is asking themselves this question.

Okay, I've already been beaten by Rome.

this guy's coming along and he's going to help us out.

But if he helps us out, is he going to give me the autonomy that Rome gives me?

Is he going to give me the Roman law and the Roman rights that they give me?

I don't necessarily like being under Roman authority, but you know what?

They're not that bad of a master.

But I think this guy's going to be a horrible master compared to him.

So why in the world would I fight with him?

And what if this guy loses?

Then I'm going to have a worse situation with Rome.

Everyone's always making this calculus.

So unless you're someone like the Samnites who really, really value your independence and you just fought against them, you are not going to go with an invader.

That's why they never do.

Paris can't pull them away.

Hannibal can't pull them away.

No one can pull them away.

Alexander's not going to do it either.

In fact, they're going to look at his fancy ideas of monarchy and say, I don't think so.

That's not how we do politics here.