[Romani AAR] It began on seven hills...

[QuintusSertorius]

Campaigns in Cisalpine Gaul, 219BC

Decimus Claudius Pulcher was a tribune and the proconsul Scipio's deputy. He'd been left to manage things in Mediolanum while the general joined the other consular army to take Segesta and attempt to pacify Liguria. However the Cenomani, allies of the Insubre along with some other kinfolk gathered a force and besieged Pulcher in the Insubre capital.

Hearing of the defeat of several Ligurian tribes in the south, that band raised the siege and began to drift away. Wasting no time, Pulcher marched out in pursuit, bringing them to battle in the forests west of Mediolanum.



He had no authority to command alone, but the tribunes and centurions were all agreed that the threat needed to be dealt with immediately. He drew up the men on the edge of the forest, and waited for the Gauls.



After a wait of an hour, he knew he had to seize the day or the Gauls would slip away. He ordered the men forward.



The first contact was made by the skirmishers, but it was unclear who gained the upper hand.



In the chaos that followed, the leader of the warband fell.



The warband collapsed, each warrior looking only to his own survival. They streamed out of the north side of the forest, into a clearing. Roman cavalry and skirmishers followed in hot pursuit.



With that, Pulcher had won the day.



He pulled his victorious troops back to their billets in Mediolanum and resumed his duties monitoring the local tribes.

Meanwhile further south, the propraetor Decimus Aemilius Mamercus advanced with the army of Scipio to face two Arverni armies. With him was Kaeso Sergius Orata. Two chieftains, cousins by birth led each of the Gallic armies.



Battle was offered in the thick forest, and even deployment proved problematic. Mamercus had trouble communicating with the wings of his army, runners got lost on their way to and from Orata on the right and the decurion Titus Annaeus on the left.



The Gauls came on in a disordered mass, ripe targets for the Roman skirmishers.



On the right, some parts of the Roman line met the enemy, but the situation was confused.



Frustrated at being unable to see anything, Orata took some allied cavalry and scouted ahead of the Roman line, hoping to find a route in which he could flank the fighting. He ran into Moggortos and his bodyguard, who put up a stiff fight, driving Orata off.



Mamercus dispatched his extraordinarii to assist in the brawl on the right. In the frenzied fighting there, one of the picked men slayed Moggortos.



A panic spread through the Gallic ranks, and in the ensuing flight Cogidubnos was killed by Annaeus' troops. The cousins had died bravely, but to little avail.



With little loss to his own force, the disordered pursuit devastated the Gallic army.



The twin defeats overawed many of the local tribes, who sought to come to their own accomdation with the Roman conquerers. There would be another time, but for now they needed to gather their strength.

[QuintusSertorius]

219BC:



Only a couple of seasons on from the last one, but some changes. Pictured is Spain, where I've been having fun with the move_character command to bolster Qarthadast forces. They've now got three near-full stacks there, and I'm hoping they might provoke the Lusotanii while they're at it. I'm at war with them now, courtesy of using the troops I got when I FD'd Garama to the Saba to attack them. I later disbanded them, but the point is the Second Punic War is now on. Now it's a race to get the proconsul Scipio and his army to Emporion to protect the allied communities there.

Elsewhere in the world, I've been using the move_character command to alter the dynamics of some conflicts. In Syria the Ptolemies have lost three armies which are now in Egypt and unable to attack the Seleukids. The Hai have almost nothing in Scythia now. I also had to pull a big Aedui force out of Germany. Things are calmer now.

[QuintusSertorius]

Winter campaign in Liguria, 219BC

Determined to bring the conflict with the Arverni to a close before the year's elections, Decimus Aemilius Mamercus pursued the last Gallic remnants still harrassing allied communities. They offered battle in one of the mountain passes still clear enough to travel through, and eager to finish this business Mamercus assented. He had superior numbers, even if they had chosen the ground.



Kaeso Sergius Orata had an idea on seeing the lie of the land. He broached this idea to the general in the consilum the night before battle. He and some picked troops - the pedites extraordinarii, some slingers and a few horse - would deploy on the hill overlooking the pass, and make their way around the other side of the broken ground topping the hill. It would be their job to distract and hold the enemy until the main force arrived. A risky plan, but one that could bring a great victory.



Orata and his men made their way across the ridge to meet the enemy.



Meanwhile Mamercus and the main body made their way through the pass, and on to the long climb up the hillside. They would be vulnerable during this climb, and would likely need to rest and reform before engaging. This was why it was imperative that Orata kept the enemy distracted so that Mamercus could get into position.



From the top of the hill, Brennos could see the Romans moving in two groups, but he couldn't fathom the meaning of it. Even so, his men held a strong position so he was confident. Let those foolish weaklings tire themselves out marching up and down hills.



Orata's men engage the enemy, the extraordinarii forming a literal barrier with their heavily-armoured bodies and a wall of locked shields to protect the slingers.



The main force begin the climb, unmolested by missile fire from the distracted Gauls.



Most of the Gauls charge Orata's small band, and it's only the valour and resolve of the extraordinarii that prevents disaster. They stand firm.



Meanwhile only some skirmishers and a band of fanatics realise the danger from the main force. The fanatics charge and inflict grievous losses as they fight with inhuman endurance.

Brennos feeds more troops into the fray and leads his own chosen men to join the fight. The tribune accepts Brennos' challenge and charges to meet him. Orata's bodyguard suffer many losses before one of his troopers pulls the tribune out of the fray to rest and gather themselves behind the steadfast extraordinarii.



Brennos breaks through the Roman line and pursues the slingers. Orata follows, catching the Gallic chieftain off-guard. Men falling down left and right, Brennos takes flight.



But not to be denied, Orata pursues the chieftain, swearing vengeance for his lost comrades. He rides the Gallic warlord down, killing him with his spear.



Unaware that their leader has fallen, the scrap continues. Mamercus begins to send fresh troops to aid Orata.



Their arrival breaks the resolve of the Gauls, who break and flee.



In the ensuing rout, no quarter is asked, and none given.

[QuintusSertorius]

218BC:



Initially the war in Spain was rather cold, but now the Qarthadastim have mobilised troops to fight (helped in large part by me using move_character to teleport armies from Africa to Spain). Emporion is threatened, and the nearest Roman army is the proconsul Appius Cornelius Scipio, his transports only just past Massalia.

They don't arrive in time to prevent the Qarthadastim besieging Emporion, but as soon as their boots kiss terra firma they march to the town's relief.

[QuintusSertorius]

First Battle of Lacetania, 218BC

Having barely dried their feet, General Scipio's army went to the relief of Emporion, besieged by the army of Captain Bodinelqart.



Scipio was surprised when the Qarthadastim leader didn't retreat in the face of superior numbers. Evidently he was confident in the position he held, and responded to the offer of battle.

Scipio deployed his men in the traditional fashion, his chief tribune Kaeso Sergius Orata commanding on the right wing in the position of honour.



The Qarthadastim advanced, then halted to dress their lines. Not to have his men feel their general lacked confidence, Scipio responded in kind.



Some of the enemy broke from their formation to charge the Roman lines before they settled themselves down. The main battle line, however remained unengaged. Scipio watched for the activity of the elephants Bodinelqart had at his command, for he could already see they were unnerving his men, even at a distance.

On the right a mass of cavalry charged the Roman skirmishers, and for a few moments it seemed they might be driven off entirely. But the timely arrival of Orata and his Gallic cavalry turned the tables.



The enemy light horse were routed, while some other selected troops were fed into the fight by Bodinelqart. Orata and his Gallic horse pursued the Qarthadastim light horse for a while, effectively leaving the conflict.



On the left, the Qarthadastim heavy horse charged home, pushing the allied slingers back. The Campanian cavalry responded, but they were outmatched by the heavily armoured Liby-Phoenicians on big steeds.



Libyan Spearmen came in support of the heavy cavalry, and Scipio sent in the Samnites to aid his Campanians.



The Bruttians joined in the engagement on the left, which was rapidly drawing all attention. Spotting the approach of elephants, Scipio ordered his velites to attack.



Bodinelqart sent more men to the fight on the left of the Roman line, more Liby-Phoenicians eager to aid their countrymen. Both generals kept the bulk of their forces in reserve, waiting for the other to react. Scipio could tell how nervous his men were of the elephants, he couldn't afford to risk sending them forward until they were dealt with.



Some freed slaves were thrown into the mix, and the elephants withdrew. Not wanting to waste this opportunity, the velites pursued them.



The elephants returned, charging into the melee and sowing massive chaos and confusion. Spotting the danger, Orata spurred his troop in an attempt to stop the panic.



Unnerved by the smell and sound of the large beasts, Orata's horse threw him. He was trampled by one of the elephants.



But the confusion sown by the elephants affected the enemy as much as it did the Romans. Some men began to look over their shoulder, and in no time unease turned to flight.



Resistance on the left collapsed entirely.



In the centre and right, the Qarthadastim elite infantry fought on regardless.



The Romans moved to encircle them.



Meanwhile Bodinelqart ordered the general retreat.



The Qarthadastim elite fought on bravely, but it was in vain.



The day was Scipio's. He had killed or captured half the enemy force with relatively light casualties. But the loss of Orata soured the men's mood and took any joy there might have been from the victory.

[QuintusSertorius]

217BC:



Disaster! A Qarthdastim army did the unthinkable and marched across the Alps in the dead of winter. The army sent to respond as the passes began to thaw was defeated, and the one after that. Taking advantage of the vaccuum, the previously loyal tribes in Cisalpine Gaul have risen in revolt. Those in Liguria joined them. And now a foreign army is on Italian soil.

Well, not quite, I gifted those settlements to the Gauls, Hannibal won't appear for another few turns. Just before that happens, I'll be gifting Capua to Qarthadast. That way he won't try to wander off to Spain. Hopefully he won't just sit in the city either. I might add to it's garrison to stop him doing that.

Elsewhere in the world, I've reset Pontos to the coast and moved their armies away. I need the Seleukids strong before I attack them in a couple of decades time.

In Spain I gifted Celtiberia to the Aedui a few turns ago. I also gave Turdulia to Qarthadast in the hopes it would provoke the Lusotanii to attack them, but no such luck. Their alliance is as strong as ever. Which is annoying.

[QuintusSertorius]

Campaigns in Lacetania, 217BC, part 1

Late in the spring of 217BC, General Scipio halted his men and constructed a marching camp. He didn't want to over-stretch his supply lines, nor advance too deep into the countryside without being sure of the loyalty of the local tribes.

While in his camp, his scouts and spies reported the approach of a Qarthadastim army, Bodinelqart and the survivors of the last encounter returned for more. Scipio was puzzled as to why the Punic commander would seek battle again so soon, without even drawing reinforcements. Perhaps he was confident that his elephants would do better this time. Perhaps he feared being replaced if he didn't quickly earn a victory to expunge his defeat. Perhaps there was some other, inscrutable reason. Despite being outnumbered two-to-one, Bodinelqart sought battle. Scipio's men were eager for vengeance for Orata, and cheered when they were ordered to march out of the camp to offer battle.



Scipio's army drew up on the top of a hill, looking down the wooded slopes to where Bodinelqart advanced.



Bodinelqart led with his elephants, hoping to sow disoder and rout the Romans with the first charge. He rode one of the elephants himself, perhaps adding to the confidence he felt.



Elephants and cavalry charged clear of the trees, entering a hailstorm of missiles from both the Roman light and line troops. Wary of the elephants, centurions ordered the men to throw everything they had, regardless that it might leave them with nothing for the enemy infantry when they arrived.



His overconfidence led to his end, Bodinelqart was killed by a sling bullet which took him in the throat. He died choking on his own blood as he tried in vain to dig the pellet out.



Soon all the elephants were driven off.



Elite infantry emerged from the woods and, heedless of the loss of their commander engaged the Romans.



Supporting them came Numidian skirmishers.



The extraordinarii and Campanian cavalry looped around the line to threaten the elite's rear.



And in a short while, the pressure broke the resolve of even these very brave men.



The Gallic cavalry drove off the skirmishers.



Surrounded, the elites in the centre broke.



But those on the left fought on.



In the end, though, they could not survive alone and were forced to flee. Bodinelqart had foolishly thrown away his life and his army.

[QuintusSertorius]

Campaign in Lacetania, 217BC part 2

Having crushed Bodinelqart, Scipio was surprised when a few days later his camp was threatened once more. This time by the local tribes, who either out of loyalty to their Punic masters, or else fear of another oppressor gathered a force and attacked. They were led by a fearsome warrior called Elazuno, who scorned the Romans and their effete ways.



Much as he had done before, Scipio deployed atop the same hill overlooking the forest. His men were confident taking up the same positions that had brought victory so recently.



Using the cover of the forest, Elazuno, a canny raider attempted to sneak around to flank the bigger Roman force. Scipio had outriders keeping tabs on the enemy, and readdressed his line to meet the ruse.



In a brave, if somewhat foolish move, Elazuno shouted his men forward, straight up the hill at the Romans.



They charged into a hail of javelins, then halted to deliver their own missiles. Meanwhile the Gallic horse spurred off to challenge Elazuno and his bodyguard.



Just as against Bodinelqart, the extraordinarii and Campanians moved to outflank their enemy.



Expending their missiles, the tribesmen charged.



As the enveloping maneuver took place on the right, the velites looked to repeat the maneuver on the left.



Elazuno ran from the Gallic horse, and unable to see their leader the Iberians lost heart. Their confidence evaporated and they tried to escape.



Elazuno didn't even look back as he and his horsemen fled the field like cowards.



The day was Scipio's and once again with very few casualties.



As spring turned towards sweltering hot summer, embassages were received from the local tribes who promised not to attack the Romans any more. Scipio didn't press for a more punitive accomodation, he needed the locals supportive, or at least outside of the bigger conflict with Qarthadast.

[QuintusSertorius]

Battle in Lacetania, summer 217BC

Early in the summer of 217BC, Scipio received some reinforcements from Rome, along with a new legate and quaestor, Decimus Claudius Pulcher. The men were heartened both by the replacements and the arrival of Pulcher, who some had fought under in Cisalpine Gaul when he drove off the Cenomani.

Scipio had made some minor changes to his army in the months since the battle with the local tribes. He'd consolidated the surviving Bruttians into one command and brought in some local fighters to serve in the Left ala.

With his force back up to full strength, he pressed on towards Arse, stopping in some wooded country on the Roman road to pitch camp. Spies among the local tribes whispered of a large Qarthadastim force marching towards the Romans, ready to kick them out of Spain. They were led by a half-Iberian noble called Mytonnes Saunites. They outnumbered the Romans by a small margin, but a significant part of their force were recently freed slaves.



Scipio marched out of his camp and arrayed his forces on the road, keeping the legions visible in the centre, but hiding the two alae in the woods. The right wing was commanded by Pulcher, the left by the cenburion in charge of the extraordinarii. They had a strong position halfway up a hill.



Saunites ordered his men to advance. He feared little from these Romans, beating Bodinelqart had handily removed a rival for supreme command in Spain. His heavy calvary rushed for the Roman left.



The rest of his army charged up the hill, tiring themselves out. His heavy cavalry caught the allied slingers unawares, cutting many of them down. The extraordinarii marched to their rescue, knowing that if they cavalry gained a foothold they could roll up the entire line. The Gallic horse drew another group of Liby-Phoenician cavalry away from the rest of the army.



In the centre the Iberians and slaves charged.



Gallic mercenaries and Numidian skirmishers joined in support of the heavy horse, and a desparate scrap broke out on the left.



Rather than engaging, the slaves in the centre began to drift away from the fight as the Iberians and African infantry moved to engage.



On the right, more Gallic mercenaries and Maure skirmishers pushed the Roman slingers back. Pulcher looked for his moment.



Using the cover of the fighting on the left, Saunites and his bodyguard slipped behind the Roman line.



Still the fighting continued on the left, with no sign of a resolution in sight. The Gauls were well-armoured and skilled, and despite their fatigue fought fiercely.



Sautines attacked the allied slingers once more, many of whom were already injured or dead. The triarii from the First Legion were ordered to support them.



For a time Sautines and his band threatned the Roman centre.



But he was wounded in the scalp, and a worried ward pulled him clear of danger.



The Gauls on the right were caught between the triarii, Bruttians and Pulcher's cavalry, and mauled badly. They decided discretion was the better part of valour.



Seeing the Gauls flee, and suffering many dead and wounded themselves, the Iberians fled. Pulcher led the Bruttians and his cavalry to outflank those remaining.



The return of the Gallic horse routed the mercenaries on the left. Soon resistance there crumbled.



His wound staunched with a makeshift dressing, Sautines attempted to salvage something of this battle.



But it was too late, most of his army were already in flight.



He tried to slow the Romans down anyway.



However the day was already lost.



He fled the field, narrowly escaping being slain himself as Pulcher spotted him while riding down fleeing Iberians.



A great victory had been won, further hampering the Qarthadastim war effort in Spain.

[QuintusSertorius]

Autumn 217BC:



Scipio's victorious army is threatened immediately by a slave army led by Burrhus Gades, along with the remnants of Sautines force. There's another Qarthadastim army nearby led by another FM.

Elsewhere in the world, Baktria have lost their capital to the Saka again, although they have troops around so should retake it.

The Iberians look to be trying to start things up with the Arverni again (even though they're allies). The Aedui in Celtiberia don't seem to want to move, they're recruiting more troops to add to the formiddable amount they already have.

Seleukids are holding now that I teleport any serious opponents away from them. There's a lot of Ptolemaic troops languishing in the Egyptian desert years away from causing any harm.

Still a stalemate in Greece.

I'm now three turns away from the appearance of Hannibal, assuming it all works. Two from giving Qarthadast Capua.

[Tristuskhan]

Favouring a gentle rise in the battlefield with cornfields to their back, Scipio's men drew up in the triplex acies.

Cornfields? that's even more ahistorical than Lorica Segmentas and so...

[Ibrahim]

corn actually vever origionally referred to maize (what we now also call corn). it used to mean any cereal in general..wheat, barley, rye, etc.

[Tristuskhan]

corn actually vever origionally referred to maize (what we now also call corn). it used to mean any cereal in general..wheat, barley, rye, etc.

Uh, really? I thought english was a much more accurate tongue. Nevermind, I apologise for my remark then.

[QuintusSertorius]

The War in Spain: Battles in Edetania, 216BC

Confident after the victories of the previous campaigning season, the proconsul Appius Cornelius Scipio and his legate Decimus Claudius Pulcher crossed the Ebro into Edetania. This was significant, for they were now taking the fight to the Qarthadastim and communities allied to them. The destination was Arse, to rescue the survivors of those still loyal to Rome.

Scipio was also keen to get this matter done, he couldn't get a decent Falernian in this benighted land, and the local wine was atrocious. His personal stocks were running dangerously low. Pulcher monitored his general with some concern, the old warhorse had always liked his drink, but this war was pushing him even deeper into drunkenness. In some respects it didn't matter, Scipio was as capable half-cut as he was sober and hungover, but he was getting careless about his personal security. His praetoria were getting sloppy and complacent, and that could be fatal in battle.

In the early spring, Burrhus Gades and his slave army tried to stop the Romans as they emerged into Edetania. Scipio eagerly offered battle.



He deployed his force in the traditional manner, the Right ala composed of Latins and Italians, the Left ala of Iberian tribesmen. He placed Pulcher on the left to keep an eye on these new additions, who hadn't quite been fully-integrated into the army. His extraordinarii he sent to the right.



At first it seems Gades might try to win the battle single-handedly. His bodyguard charged out, encouraging the slaves forward.





But then he and his army halted, and Gades couldn't get them to attack the Roman lines, despite their superiority in numbers.

Scipio ordered the advance, while his skirmishers deployed forward to harrass the enemy.



As the Romans advanced, Gades slave army simply fell back, refusing to fight.



Though Gades raged and ranted at his men, they wouldn't fight and marched away.





And so he surrendered the field to Scipio. The general pitched camp to raid the surrounding communities.



Scipio's raiding provoked a reponse from the Qarthadastim who had to demonstrate to their allies that they could defend them. An army of mercenaries, levies and others under Celeas Sabratha attacked Scipio's forces later in spring. Their two armies were evenly matched in numbers, although Scipio had a much greater proportion of heavy infantry to Sabratha's higher number of skirmishers and lights.



Scipio deployed as before, with the Italians and Latins in the Right ala, Iberians in the Left.



He noted with some alarm that Sabratha had elephants which threatened the Roman left. The Qarthadastim general also sent all his cavalry to his right, hoping to roll up the Roman left. A subordinate officer, Germelqart Gisgo commanded the Qarthadastim right.



The cavalry scattered the velites as the two armies met on the Roman left. Pulcher levelled his spear and rushed into the fray. Sabratha himself led the charge in the centre, perhaps hoping to draw Scipio into personal combat. With him came the Sacred Band, veterans and brave warriors all.



On the right, fierce Balearic tribesmen drove off the accensi, prompting the extraordinarii to enter the contest. Clouds of skirmishers hurled volleys of missiles at the Roman infantry, who grimly stood their ground and braced their shields.



On the left, the elephants advanced, sending a quail of panic through the Iberians.



Their mahouts turned them to come crashing into the flank of the Iberians and cavalry.



As the extraordinarii lent their strength to that of the Right ala, the Balearic tribesmen were punished severely.



The Campanian cavalry drove off the skirmishers, trying to give the line some breathing room.



On the left, Gisgo strayed into a maniple of principes, and one of the veteran legionaries killed his horse from under him. As the Qarthadastim officer jumped clear and tried to fight his way to safety, another legionary ran him through.



Diverting all his skirmishers to counter the elephant thread, Scipio managed to drive the beasts off, and they attacked their own troops indiscriminately in their flight.



On the right, hardened Liby-Phoenican spearmen and Numidian archers tried desparately to push the Italians back. The Campanians charged into their rear, but to little effect.



Sabratha brought his bodyguard across, forcing the Campanians to flee.



But rather than pressing home, he turn to take charge of the situation in the centre once more. The Campanians took advantage of the reprieve, finishing off the Balearic tribesmen.



The fight on the left dissolved into several localised skirmishes.



On the right, the Numidian archers broke.



Underneath the gaze of the general and their own commander, the Sacred Band fought on.



The pressure began to be felt, the lighter-armoured Qarthadastim being pushed back and taking more wounds than the Romans. Little by little, they gave ground. On the right, the Liby-Phonenicans turned and disengaged in good order, the extraordinarii giving chase.



It proved to be the last act of the battle, the Sacred Band fought to the last, and Sabratha fled the field. His men followed and the rout was bloody.



The following day, having barely had a chance to recover the wounded and bury the dead, Burrhus Gades returned with his slaves. This time however, he stiffened their resolve with mercenaries.



Scipio marched out in the same battle order as he had prevailed against Sabratha.



There was nothing subtle about Gades' tactics, he intended to use his superior numbers to sweep the Romans away. He placed his mercenaries behind the slaves to drive them on, and offer them no route of escape.



Hoping to inspire his men, Gades charged the Roman centre.



For a time the fighting was hard, the sheer weight of numbers against them pushed the Roman lines backwards.



Things were fiercest on the left.



Gades threw his mercenary reserves into the fight, hoping the Romans would be tired.



As the enemy fell back on the right, Pulcher marched the Right ala forwards.



Gades stumbled into the Samnites who swarmed over his horsemen. The Qarthadastim commander screamed for mercy before a spear ended his life.





His piecemeal army broke, tossing away arms and shields in their haste to escape the disaster.



And Scipio's victory was complete.

[QuintusSertorius]

Summer 216BC:



A disaster took place at Cannae, and the army of Hannibal crushed a consular army. A conspiracy at Capua betrayed the city to the enemy, and the Qarthadastim still foul Italian soil.

In Spain, Scipio marches to the siege of Arse, while he sends his legate Pulcher to bring drafts of replacements from Emporion.

Next turn Hannibal's army should be spawned in Campania, and thus the war in Italy proper will start.

[QuintusSertorius]

We're on temporary hold here, because my Hannibal script isn't working. Possibly because there's another character called Hannibal, and the kill_character command in the script doesn't seem to be working either. Soon as I get that fixed, I'll be back on track.

If anyone can help, the thread is here.

[QuintusSertorius]

Couldn't get the Hannibal script to work, so I gave up on it. Transported a random Qarthadastim FM and gave him an appropriate army.

Spain, Autumn 216BC

The quaestor Pulcher was attacked when bringing the reinforcements for Scipio's army across the Ebro. Celeas Sabratha and the survivors of his force thought they might catch the column by surprise.



Pulcher deployed defensively on the west bank of the river.



Sabratha wasted no time in crossing and charging, a simple, direct maneuver.



But Pulcher used his superior numbers to envelope the Qarthadastim force.



In the chaos, Sabratha fell. With his death, the fight went out of his army.



And so Pulcher was able to bring the reinforcements safely through hostile country to Arse.



Italy, Winter 216BC

The Senate, displeased with how the war was going so far, gave command to the proconsul Sextus Cornelius Sulla. An old campaigner, he promised to bring this invader to heel.

Though slightly outnumbered, they were defending Italian soil and Sulla felt that was no impediment.



But the battle was a debacle, orders getting confused in the forest and the enemy appearing as though out of nowhere from the fog. The general was caught and killed, and with him gone his men couldn't hold it together.



Rome suffered another defeat at the hands of this young Qarthadastim general.



For a time there was a great fear that he would now march on Rome itself, but he turned south-east for Tarentum instead.

Meanwhile in Spain, in 215BC Scipio was forced to withdraw from Edetania under pressure from the Qarthadastim. The communities claiming loyalty to Rome in the region weren't able to provide for his army, and hungry, he was forced to retreat to Lacetania once more.

Illyria, Spring 214BC

Taking advantage of Rome's apparent weakness after the string of defeats in Italy, the king of Makedonia sought to expand into Illyria at Rome's expense. The propraetor Sextus Cornelius Rufinus was dispatched with one legion and one ala to deal with the invasion of Rome's Illyrian allies.

He encountered an army under one Captain Euphamios. They were about equal in size, although the Makedonian army had more line troops to Rufinus' preponderance of skirmishers.



He arrayed in two lines, with his allied cavalry on the left.



Then marched eastwards over a wooded hill to meet the foe. The Romans would come at the Makedonians downhill, adding momentum to their charge.



The skirmisher went forward, harassing the Makedonian line who had no light troops of their own to respond.



Then the Makedonians closed, risking the climb to reach the enemy over enduring any more missiles.



The Roman right broke through the Makedonian left, moving to outflank their centre.



Then the left also routed their opposite line, the cavalry and skirmishers going around to threaten the Makedonian reserves.



Both wings routed, the fight continued in the centre as the cavalry hunted down fleeing troops.





Eventually even those in the centre gave way.



Rufinus had ended the immediate threat to Illyria.



Greece, Summer 214BC

Meanwhile in Greece allies attacked the Makedonian-held settlement of Thermon. They besieged the city, but when relieving forces arrived decided to offer battle.



They defeated both forces, killing the garrison of Thermon and taking the city.



Spain, Summer 214BC

Venturing out beyond the Ebro once more, trying to regain the situation, Scipio was attacked by a Qarthadastim force under Captain Milkyaton. He had both numbers and morale on his side, for his men had never lost to this foe.



They came on in the same old manner, and were beaten in the same manner.

[QuintusSertorius]

214BC:



Pictured is my Hannibal-replacement with his Hannibal-like army. Just recently gave him some Italian reinforcements.

You might notice I lost Arse in Spain - that was deliberate. There weren't actually any Qarthadastim armies bar the one that attacked after I retreated from the city. Not sure if I can manage to lose both my generals, or even if the game will be terribly forgiving if my Spanish army gets mauled. I've lost a fair bit of financial power and recruiting facilities.

Plus I'll be losing Tarentum in the next year as well as moving some reinforcements across to Lucania. Already picked out a likely general to do the leading. Got to transport someone across to Sicily, too.

Elsewhere in the world, I gave Thermon to Koinon Hellenon, though I doubt they'll keep hold of it long. That army jumped aboard ship, I plan on taking Korinthos and giving that to Koinon Hellenon, hopefully then driving the Makedonians out of Greece proper for good. Annoyingly the Makedonians assassinated the Greek mercenary general I recruited specifically to lead my little "Greek" force on the first turn he arrived. So they've also got no cavalry now.

Pahlava are now at war with Baktria, had to do some FDing to prevent something happening like in my last game where they died out. Baktria seem to have the measure of the Saka who took Baktra again a few turns ago.

Very few rebel provinces left now, which is a shame. I think I screwed up the business of gifting them money, not taking into account that 40k is the most you can do at once.

[QuintusSertorius]

Sicily 213BC

Having heard that a Qarthadastim army had landed on Sicily, the proconsul Lucius Atilius Balbus was dispatched to the island to take command of the army in the province. With him was Quintus Claudius Nero acting as his senior tribune.

Ashtartyaton Cercina, a Qarthadastim noble, had seized Agrigento by treachery, then freed hundreds of slaves to fill his ranks. His forces thus bolstered, he set to raiding and pillaging the area, threatening communities loyal to Rome.

Balbus met the invader in the fertile plains south of Etna.



Balbus marched out in the traditional manner. He stationed Nero on the right and kept his extraordinarii close to hand.



Cercina had the advantage of numbers, fuelling a bold opening to the battle.



Then he halted and sent out screens of skirmishers while he prepared his main line to attack. Balbus responded with his own skirmishers.



The Romans had the measure of the Qarthadastim skirmishers, and spirits lifted Balbus sounded the advance.



The Liby-Phoenicans tried to turn the Roman right, Nero and his cavalry charged to avert the threat.



On the left, a band of cavalry and skirmishers were dispatched to drive off the Numidian light troops. They would take little further part in the main conflict.



Freed slaves moved in support of the Liby-Phoenicians on the right, Nero and his horse were forced into the retreat.



The pursuit of the elusive Numidians continued.



On the right Cercina personally joined the fray trying to exploit the gap created by the Liby-Phoenicians.



On the left, the African skirmishers continued their retreat, only stopping every so often to halt the Romans.



Liby-Phoenician infantry rushed to the aid of their countrymen, throwing the outcome of the fight on the right into doubt as they lent their weight to the conflict.



Eventually the heavier armour of the Romans began to count, allowing them to survive prolonged contact without serious wounds. The Qarthadastim begam to melt away. Seeing how this battle was going, Cercina left the field.



With relatively light losses, Balbus had halted the invasion of Sicily.



Unbeknownst to him however, Qarthadastim agents had slipped into Syrakousai and aided in the murder of old Hiero. He had long been an ally of Rome, and now the new rulers sought alliance with Qarthadast. Moving to avenge this insult to Roman honour, Balbus marched to invest Syrakousai and restore order.

Italy 213BC

The Senate of Qarthadastim had decided that it was time Nepheris received some reinforcements in his war in Italy. They despatched Hasdrubal Rusucuru and a strong force including elephants by sea. They landed in Lucania and immediately marched for Capua.

The proconsul Kaeso Cornelius Blasio, with a new army composed of those Italians and Latins still loyal to Rome and organised in the Roman fashion, took transports the short distance down the coast to intercept them. They were about even in numbers.



Blasio deployed in the quincunx, placing his extraordinarii in the second rank of the Right ala. The Samnites, of who's loyalty he was dubious, he placed in the second rank of the Left ala. His senior tribune, Pulcher commanded the Left ala to keep an eye on them.



Rusucuru took up position on a small hill on the Roman left to observe the battle, keeping his elephants in reserve. He put his elite African pikemen in the centre, with Libyans and Garamantines on their flanks. His wings were guarded by fierce Iberian tribesmen, and Numidian light cavalry roamed around.



Blasio marched out to meet the Qarthadastim line, pulling back some of his skirmishers to act as elephant defense. He kept a wary eye on the big beasts, still resting near the enemy general. Meanwhile the opposing skirmishers traded missiles. It was an indecisive trade, both sides taking losses, but neither feeling beaten.



The Romans advanced to meet the main battle line, hurling missiles first. Blasio's plan was simple enough; rout those flanking the pikemen in the centre and envelope them on both sides.



The right engaged under the shade of some trees, and everywhere the Roman line was in contact with the enemy.



On the left, the long-awaited arrival of the elephants put fear into the Left ala, but the skirmishers got to work, felling several elephants.



The elephants caused some damage, but slowly the javelins began to take their toll.



On the right, some cavalry and velites set off to outflank the Qarthadastim left.



On the left Rusucuru charged into the fight, lifting the spirits of his men. Things were beginning to look desparate for Pulcher and the Left ala. The threat of the elephants may have been defeated, but the Garamantines, Libyans and Iberians fought hard.



On the right, the arrival of Romans in their flanks and rear routed the Iberians and Libyans. Maniples were marched round to outflank the African pikemen.



Meanwhile on the left, the Samnites gave up the fight.



Rusucuru's horse was wounded, and he was caught by the triarii. His death caused his army to dissolve.





After a hard-fought battle, Blasio had given the Romans their first victory on home soil. It might not have been against the scourge Nepheris, but he would not be strengthened.



Dardanoia 213-212BC

The propraetor Sextus Cornelius Rufinus had marched out of Illyria in the winter of 213BC to ensure the Makedonians didn't try to return to his area of operation. His winter camp was attacked by Captain Philokalos. While Rufinus had greater numbers, he was on their home territory.



He deployed on a hilltop, with his legion on the right, ala on the left.



As the Makedonian phalangites marched up the hill, Rufinus' skirmishers punished them with missile fire.



They closed and the propraetor's line infantry threw their missiles. The heavier javelins inflicted a horrible toll.



Still the Makedonian phalanxes advanced.



He sent some skirmishers to outflank the pike block.



Exhausted, cold and wounded, the maneuver set the enemy to flight.



With relatively few casualties, he'd damaged the Makedonian war effort.



In the spring, rather than turning around, Rufinus continued into Makedonian territory, seeking towns to pillage. He stumbled across a Thracian band outside Serdike. The garrison of the town, commanded by Demetrios Argeades marched out to rescue the Thracians, and Rufinus eagerly offered battle.



He marched out as before.



Wasting no time, he advanced to meet the foe.



Trying to link up with the Thracians, the Makedonian commander sent another band to slow the Romans down.



Then he charged the Romans himself, heavy horsemen in his bodyguard thundering along.



Rufinus sent his Illyrian cavalry out to charge Argeades from behind. They charged repeatedly.



They whittled Argeades' bodyguard down, isolating the big horses and their well-armoured riders.



Argeades panicked, and tried to escape.



He was the only survivor to make it clear of the whooping Illyrians, hunting down the Makedonian horsemen with lance and axe.



Argeades was slain by a javelin as he fled.



Effective resistance ended after that, and the Illyrians killed many fleeing enemy.



Rufinus entered the defenseless town of Serdike and took everything of value.

[QuintusSertorius]

212BC:



I'm not planning to keep hold of Serdike, I'll wander off next turn when Rufinus can move again. I hope it revolts to the rebels. Makedonia have been fielding some strange armies with few phalangites and lots of spearmen in them. Lots of Celtic levies in particular, which is bizarre.

I re-took Capua by siege, not sure if I want to give it back again. Tarentum is going over to the enemy shortly. Nepheris is also besieging Arpi, not decided if I'm going to try to drive him off or not.

Qarthadast re-took Garama in the desert. Not sure if they're actually fighting the Lusotanii or not, their armies are moving around a lot in Spain. My mercenary/Greek stack in Greece took a pasting protecting Thermon last turn. Not many of them left now, I think it's had some effect easing the pressure on Koinon Hellenon. I can only hope the Makedonians will send some serious forces north to try and uproot Rufinus in Serdike.

[ServiliusAhala]

Your AAR is great... or a better word would be epic. Now, what i would like to know, is how you have gotten so many Consuls and so on. I never get any consuls myself. By the way, your battles are also epic

[QuintusSertorius]

Your AAR is great... or a better word would be epic. Now, what i would like to know, is how you have gotten so many Consuls and so on. I never get any consuls myself. By the way, your battles are also epic

I think it's Roma having an Academy which makes all the difference - FMs who spend their early years there get a load of education-related Traits (sometimes bad) and fill up their ancillaries quite quickly.

Virtually every family member who came of age (ie whom I've had since they were 16) is a consul by the age of 50 in my game. A few of those I got later did as well. Shuffling my commanders around makes a difference too, I don't have one great general who I use again and again. Since command starts don't actually matter as much when you play your battles out, your no-star general can still beat the AI's ten-star man.

[ServiliusAhala]

Thank you very much with the Consul thing, bothers me if i have to use an Aedile or Quaestor

[Cameron]

how do u get so many triarii, principes etc. per unit

[MarcusAureliusAntoninus]

how do u get so many triarii, principes etc. per unit

Change the unit size option from the main menu graphics options menu. It requires you to start a new campaign to take effect, however.

[QuintusSertorius]

Change the unit size option from the main menu graphics options menu. It requires you to start a new campaign to take effect, however.

Indeed, I'm playing on Huge unit size, rather than the default Large.

[Cameron]

how do u use force diplomacy

[QuintusSertorius]

how do u use force diplomacy

It's a minimod, download it here.

[Africanvs]

Nice AAR, must be be hard to keep everything flowing historically. :)

[QuintusSertorius]

Nice AAR, must be be hard to keep everything flowing historically. :)

Most of the difficulty is in policing the AI factions' activities, rather than regulating my own. That's through a three-fold process; boosting or reducing their territories, moving stacks away from where they can cause harm, or to where they can rescue a situation; and spawning troops in settlements or stacks of factions that need help.