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Rome vs the Selucids

Page history last edited by Rob Brennan 15 years, 7 months ago

  'And no sooner had he returned to Constantinople than Constantius

received word that the Persians were preparing for war, and several

predatory bands of horsemen were already ravaging the country around

Amida. Constantius became enraged and cried out that he was beset by

evils on all sides. Consulting with his generals Constantius elected

to attack the Persians whilst a chance of victory still presented

itself. He sent envoys to the Scythians entreating them to send

assistance in return for promises of future aid and tributes. The

Scythians despatched three thousand warriors to meet with

Constantius army now gathering at Adrianople.

When the host had been assembled Constantius moved with great speed

into the country of the Persians. On the march Constantius devised a

cunning plan. Instead of taking the most direct route, he instead

pasted down the coast, via Antioch and Tyre, then struck towards the

East.

Two days after leaving Tyre the scouts reported a large body of both

men and horses half a days march away. Believing that deserters or

spies had given away the Emperor's plan, Constantius ordered the

army to halt and make camp. Hurriedly consulting with Ursicinus, the

former Master of the Horse, now recalled to duty at the express

order of Constantius, and with Trajanus, Master of the Foot, it was

agreed to await the on-coming host rather than either advance

forward or retire back towards Tyre. The scouts returned as light

was failing with further reports, saying the approaching army itself

was encamping and that they were but several hours march away.

Strong defences had been erected and men of courage posted outside

of the camp in ambuscades in case the enemy should attempt some bold

adventure during the night.

At dawn the next day the army assembled into their various companies

and Constantius mounted a podium to give a speech, exhorting them to

be brave and to deal such a defeat upon their foe as to cool their

military ardour. The scouts were bringing constant reports of the

enemy's movements, and relayed that they were marching toward the

Romans'. The signals were given and the army marched to meet the

enemy host. The enemy, upon seeing the Romans advancing towards

them, formed up in battle array. The Romans gave the signal and

formed themselves into their own battle formations. The field was

confined to a small space as there was a large area of soft sand on

the left side of the Romans with a salt marsh abutting it. The Roman

generals deployed the army to the right of these obstructions. The

Scythians, with auxiliaries on their flanks, formed the first line,

whilst in the second line was contained the legions and auxiliaries

of proven quality. To the left of the first line was arrayed the

heavily armoured cavalry known as the clibanarii, with groups of

sagittarii and light horse armed with javelins. To the right of the

first line was deployed the other armoured cavalry, including the

Scutarii and the rest of the mounted archers and javelin armed light

horsemen.

Our men marvelled at the appearance of the host now marching towards

them. No Persians these, for they were attired in the panoply of

ancient Macedonians! Serried ranks of men bearing pikes of enormous

size bore down upon the Romans. Mixed among them were wild bands of

warriors, not dissimilar to the Scythians. To their left was the

cavalry formed into 'boars head' formations, with mounted archers in

support. To their right were cavalry almost identical to the Roman

clibanarii, with the addition of several war elephants of terrifying

stature, who's trumpeting instilled fear within all those who were

not used to them.

The Scythians and the auxiliaries attached to them made savage howls

and war cry's in their manner and intimated the enemy with their

gestures. At the signal the battle was joined, arrows and other

missiles darkened the sky and both Roman wings clashed with the

enemy wings, death and destruction reigning on all sides. The Roman

left wing wavered and collapsed when the elephants thundered into

the horsemen there, the Roman's fleeing as if their armour was on

fire! The Roman right wing fared much better and whilst initially

they were pushed back to a low hill, they rallied, charged back into

the host and thoroughly routed the cavalry before them.

In the meantime the Scythians had engaged the enemy phalanx and the

battle raged without respite. Pressure of numbers finally broke the

Scythians and Constantius ordered the reserves brought up.

The battle was renewed with increased vigour but the loss of the

first line had instilled fear within the ranks of the Romans. When

numbers of the auxiliaries of the reserve were routed the Roman line

wavered, and then like water bursting through a dyke, the Romans

finally broke and made for their camp a short distance away.

So ended Constantius disastrous Persian campaign.'

And so would Ammianus have reported the battle!

A thoroughly enjoyable encounter, my opponent, Dave Mather, is

giving me some very valuable gaming experience and is a worthy

teacher of DBMM. I am sure Dave will post a more 'traditional'

battle report with the army lists etc.

One point here. As some of you will know I have been experimenting

with using the formations proposed by Vegetius for the Late Romans.

Having put these historical formations into action I would have to

say they are beginning to make a lot of sense. The battle was

decided right on the final bound and could have gone either way. I

am sure with a bit of tweaking on the structure of the lines as

suggested by Dave, I will finally inflict a defeat upon him!

 

And David Mather added:

I will struggle to follow that ;-) ...

I must admit the use of Vegetius has got me all a fluster over my

Late Romans again - I did like the way the army was structured and

played.  Spend most of Pierpoint last night glugging wine and

tweaking your list.

Much applause from the seleucids when the Roman second line turned

and moved back to open up the gap between the themselves and the

sorely pressed Gothic foot aka Scythians then turneed back and

advanced to cover the gaps opening up in the Gothic line. Great stuff

Note - we utilised the NO doglegging interpretation so all

measurement was straight line - This is a very clean way of doing it

but changes aspects of the game - makes the deep line and reserves

more realistic/necessary  - I have now played this twice and am

warming to it Much cleaner way of playing - and before it goes off -

there are two ways of interpretating this

Some detail - 350AP 25mm 6' x 4'

I used a 4 command seleucid wanted to give a 4 comamnd structure a

try especially as I anticipated the Romans (albeit inert) would be

able to manaouvere well (thanks to the magic tents)

Try and do a full report later - but a great game again

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