New Roman AAR

This is my first attempt at an AAR so please bear with me. To start, I will playing as the Romans and have made one crucial change to the game. I have given myself the Augustan Reforms. Some of you may frown, and understandably so, but I couldn’t resist. I figure that their expense, and therefore lower numbers, will balance out their incredible effectiveness on the battlefield, thus still allowing for relatively fair game play. This coupled with the fact that I am an average battlefield commander should produce dramatic campaigns enjoyable for all to read. I have set several boundaries for the game as well that I will follow. I will fight in the legionary formation, which I will detail later, and have imposed several rules upon myself. The legionary units will have enlistments for twenty years. I will keep track of this and disband all units in the legion at the appropriate time. The cohorts will be condensed into one experienced cohort, which is retained for the next enlistment of the legion, thus representing the first cohort. Legionary commanders, tribunes, will have tenures of four years. I will then bring in a new commander for the legion. This will all take an incredible amount of organization and time. For the sake of storytelling, many of the gaps that appear in the narrative of game play, such as the countless skirmishes and politicking behind closed doors will be added into the story to fully develop the narrative. I hope that my attempt to make the game as realistic as possible rewards me, and you, with a truly unique and challenging game. So without further ado, I start our story in the year 257 BC with the enlistment of the I Legion.

Chapter I- The Legion

The early history of the Roman Republic is fragmented and lacks complete detail. It is known that after Pyrrhus of Epirus left southern Italy and the region of Kalabria, the city of Rome settled into a period of peace and relative prosperity. The Kalabrian Greeks were content with their riches, the Carthaginians were pre-occupied with their trading empire, and the incredible warfare the gripped the east was but a distant roar upon the horizon. All this would change however as the tides of war soon found there way to the very door of the Roman Republic, and in this moment, an empire was born.

The year is 257 BC and the small Roman confederation located in central Italy takes its first step towards empire. New generations of military philosophers have reformed the structure of the Roman army from the traditional fusion of Greek phalanx and Italian manipular formations to a new and truly unique military formation, the legion. With the Senate’s approval, the I Legion was raised in Etruria throughout the year 257 BC. Consisting of five legionary cohorts, an elite light infantry maniple, two formations of auxilia slingers, and an Equites Praetoria squadron, the I Legion appears to be a truly powerful and flexible formation. The legion was raised to deal with a local uprising among the Greeks in Apulia. Under the command of Lucius Cornelius Scipio the I Legion easily cleared Apulia of the rebels by the winter of 257. The legion then returned north to Rome where its performance was analyzed, suggestions made, and new training initiated. The legion had performed well-enough against an unorganized band of rebels, but should the legion have to fight against the professional armies of the Kalabrian Greeks, or more menacingly the mercenary armies of the Carthaginians, no one could tell how the legion would perform. Regardless, the Senate was satisfied and confirmed Lucius Scipio’s command and made official the enlistments of the 1,500 soldiers serving in the legion.

At this point information came to the Senate accusing the Greeks of Magna Graecia, specifically the city of Taras, of funding the local rebellion that the I Legion had suppressed in 257. Incensed, the Senate ordered the I Legion to march south and attempt to take Taras by force so as to secure the protection of the southern Roman provinces. The Greeks struck first and laid siege to the provincial capital of Arpi in the spring of 257. The I Legion arrived shortly thereafter and the Greeks retired, only to be reinforced by the main Greek force outside the town of Caelie. Lucius Scipio decided to bring the Greeks to battle, hoping for one swift victory with his powerful legion that would grant him domination over Kalabria and allow him to reduce Taras at his leisure. This would not be so. The numerically superior Greek force shattered the I Legion at Caelie in the summer of 256 just south of Arpi. The battle was a disaster from the start. Lucius Scipio allowed the powerful and experienced Greek army to envelop the smaller legion with its superior numbers. The cohorts lost cohesion and the legion was defeated in detail. Scipio himself was killed, his neck broken as he was flung from his saddle by a pike. The remnants of I Legion fled northward, eventually reorganizing at Capua during the year 256. The Senate was shocked by the disaster and ordered the legion reinforced and the attempt to take Taras resumed. A new commander was appointed, Numerius Occius Blasio, and the legion marched south again. Near Sturni, along the Adriatic coast of Kalabria, in the spring of 254 the I Legion was confronted by the same Greek army and defeated again. The legionnaires were unable to penetrate the deep phalanx and the Greek cavalry proved decisive. The I Legion was able to fall back in order to Arpi. Numerius Blasio’s command was confirmed after his skill in saving the legion was revealed. Following this second defeat rebellion’s erupted in the northern territories and the I Legion was called north. The Kalabrian Greeks remained idle, much to the good fortune of the Romans, and the Senate came to realize the need for a second legion.

The II Legion was enlisted in 253 in the province of Campania. The legion consisted of the same formations as the I Legion. Cauis Aurelis Cotta was given command of the legion and the assignment of clearing the Adriatic coast of rebellious forces as well as defending the southern provinces from any potential incursions by the Greeks. The I Legion soon returned from its expedition to the northern provinces and assisted in guarding the southern passes of the Appenines. In 252 a small force of Greeks marched northward to Bleria; just west of Arpi in the foothills of the Appenines, and were quickly routed by the II Legion. This was the first victory of the legions. Though the battle was small and strategically insignificant, the people of Rome did not hesitate in celebrating their first victory over the Kalabrian Greeks. However, the Senate was weary. The Greeks still had powerful forces to the south. Greek fleets raided the western coast of Italy and the Romans could do nothing. Lacking sufficient funds for a fleet of any sort, the people would have to endure. The Senate was content to let the status quo be and ordered the legions to remain in their forts guarding the southern passes.

The decisive moment would not arrive until four years later. The Greeks had been stationing their army in the plains below the mountain passes so as to prevent the legions from entering the plains of southern Italy unimpeded. Yet in 248 they inexplicably shifted the bulk of their forces back to Taras, clearing the passes and allowing the legions a leisurely walk to the gates of Taras. It would be understood later that the Kingdom of Epirus had called upon reinforcements from the Kalabrian Greeks to participate in the brutal war being waged against the Koinon Hellenon in mainland Greece. However, those reinforcements would never arrive. In a moment of rare swiftness, the Senate ordered both the I and the II Legion south to Taras. The Kalabrian Greeks were caught off-guard and the ensuing engagement on the plains of Taras decimated the main Greek army in the fall of 248. The engagement was decisive and the Greek forces shattered with relatively minor losses amongst the legions. The victorious commanders, Vibius Sosius Caerellius of the I Legion and Cnaeus Faustus Asina of the II Legion, pursued the survivors to the gates of Taras and laid siege to the city. The siege was short lived and the legions marched through the gates of Taras by the end of the winter season in 248. Thus, Kalabria was secured for the young Roman Empire and the two legions had their first taste of true success. So ends the Greco-Italian War.

PLEASE COMMENT AND CRITIQUE...ANOTHER POST IS FORTHCOMING

I AM A FIRST YEAR TEACHER AND DONT HAVE MUCH TIME, BUT I WILL DO MY BEST.

this sounds interesting, i hope it works out well for you. the organization level required is immense!

I like the idea of Augustan legions from the beginning, maybe I'll do that too...

anyway, good luck with this it's always nice to see a Roman AAR.:yes:

Chapter II- War in Sicily, Part I

Following the success in southern Italy, the legions were sent back north and were deactivated for rest and recovery. The II Legion was deactivated in 245 and stationed south of Capua. The I Legion was deactivated the following year and stationed south of Rome. Peace reigned again and the Senate was content to watch developments abroad. The Ptolemy’s were successfully waging war against the Seleucid dynasty, even gaining control of Antioch. The mainland Greeks, led by Sparta, Athens, and Rhodes were gradually gaining domination over the Macedonians. The Greeks even extended east towards Byzantion and then northward along the Black Sea. The western Mediterranean remained relatively quiet until 243 when a Punic force crossed the straights of Messana and laid siege to Rhegion. Manius Aegidius Agrippa, a veteran leader, was given command of the II Legion and ordered south to aide the Italians in Rhegion. Punic influence in Italy was unacceptable. In 241 the I Legion was activated under the command of Cnaeus Faustus Asina, one of the victors at Taras, and was sent south to aide the II Legion. Rhegion surrendered in the fall of 241 and the Senate ordered the two legions to cross the straights and capture Messana so as to secure the straights. The Carthaginians did not sit idly by as the Romans approached and ordered their main army in Sicily east towards Messana under the command of Yahewweilon, an anti-Barcid who supported expansion into mainland Italy.

The opposing forces met at Abaecanum in spring of 240. The Roman legions approached from the south and deployed as they neared the Carthaginian force. The morning before the coming battle the two legionary commanders began to discuss strategy and whether or not one of them should take joint command over the army. Both men were successful commanders and well-respected by the troops, but Cnaeus Faustus Asina was clearly the more decorated of the two commanders in light of his success in leading the II Legion at Taras. The commanders decided to the Cnaeus Asina should take joint command of the army but sent a dispatch to Rome asking for clarity of the matter. With their battle plans settled, the armies settled down for the evening and prepared for the coming battle.

The following morning; the legions deployed in full battle dress. The I Legion took the right, being the more experienced of the legions. The II Legion formed the left of the line. The Roman battle line was situated along the top of a long rolling ridge that descended northward to the Punic camp. Along the slopes where gorgeous fields of freshly planted grain; providing a degree of cover for the Punic forces. Both legion commanders deployed their slingers forward, followed by the five cohorts of legionnaires along the crest of the ridge, with the light infantry maniple in reserve towards the exposed flank of each legion. The cavalry of both legions was deployed to the right of the entire line to serve as a combined force. Seeing that their lines were properly dressed and organized, the commanders of each legion stepped forward and addressed their respective troops, exhorting them to great deeds against the Punic forces. The commanders then withdrew to positions behind the legions, close enough to support each legion with their heavy cavalry. The combined might of legions fielded over 3,000 men.

The Punic army was deployed at the base of the ridge in a long, thin line. The Punic medium infantry held the center of the line with one dozen elephants deployed to the front. The Carthaginian left flank was covered by Iberian light cavalry and the right flank was supported by three units of Punic heavy cavalry. The main army could put nearly 2,300 men into the field.

The battle was initiated by the sudden arrival of the Punic garrison from Messana, led by Hamalcar the Elder, and several hundred skirmishers. The Punic force arrived on the battle field beyond the right flank of the Roman forces and posed an immediate threat to the integrity of the entire battle line. Cnaeus Asina reacted quickly and wheeled around the heavy cavalry squadrons, along with the I Legion’s light infantry maniple and his personal guard to counter the new threat. The cavalry forces clashed and the casualties were heavy. The Punic heavy cavalry appeared to gain the upper-hand until the arrival of Manius Agrippa and his guard. Hamalcar was able to escape but not before inflicting grievous casualties upon the Praetoria squadrons.

Meanwhile, the main Punic battle line closed within range of the legion’s slingers. The legions held firm while the slingers began to pelt the Punic army with a hail of stone. The I Legion’s slingers cut down the light cavalry positioned on the Punic right. The II Legion’s slingers concentrated on the heavy cavalry supporting the Punic left. The Punic heavy cavalry then swung around the Roman left and attempted to flank the II Legion. The centurion of the II Legion’s light maniple shifted his command to counter the threat and the Punic cavalry was stopped dead in its tracks. The left-most cohort soon joined in the assault and the majority of the Punic cavalry was defeated.

As the left was secured, the elephants moved within range of the I Legion’s slingers. The slingers laid down such a barrage that the elephant force was cut down after just a few volleys. The cavalry guard of the Punic commander attempted to cross the front of the Roman army only to be cut down as well. Finally, the left flank of the Punic army, lead by a large phalanx of Greek mercenaries, engaged the I Legion. The heavy pilum of the legionnaires made quick work of the lightly armed Punic forces and soon the left flank of the Punic army began to disintegrate. At this moment the four unengaged cohorts of the II Legion marched obliquely to the right and smashed through the thin center of the Punic line. The Punic army now completely collapsed as the Punic commander led an organized retreat of a full third of the army back to Messana. The survivors where cut down as the Roman heavy cavalry returned to the battle field and delivered the final blow to any surviving pockets of resistance.

The Punic army was shattered and the survivors, led by their disgraced general fled to Messana. They left over 1,600 dead on the field while the legions lost only 200 men, mostly in the cavalry squadrons. Hamalcar escaped the disastrous battle as well with just a handful of his cavalry guard. The legions immediately followed up their victory at Abaecanum by besieging the dispirited survivors at Messana. The defenders of Messana still had a significant force of men and the Roman commanders decided to wait out the siege. Far better to keep the legions intact in order to continue the campaign onto Lilibeo unimpeded then to risk heavy losses storming the walls of Messana.

Messana would be captured in the winter of 239. The victorious legions marched through the gates of the city, putting to death the Punic garrison and enslaving those that they considered loyal to the Carthaginian war effort. Hamalcar the Elder had died during the siege, but the disgraced Yahewweilon was captured and crucified in front of the entire population of Messana. At this point in the campaign a decision had to be made immediately. The island was clear of any Punic field armies. The Greeks at Syracuse showed no signs of putting their forces into the field to challenge the Romans. Yet, the city of Lilibeo was slowly building a force as reinforcements began to trickle in from Carthage. The legion commanders met and began to discuss their next step and unfortunately could not reach a unified decision. Cnaeus Asina, fresh off his second major victory, wanted to make a dash for Lilybaeum, arguing that the combined might of the two Roman legions, flush with confidence, and holding the initiative, could easily secure nearly the entire island for the Roman Empire. The glory would be boundless and the Senate may even award them a triumph. Manius Agrippa argued for caution. He looked south towards Syracuse and saw a powerful army that could potentially undo all the valour and courage the legionnaires had displayed in defeating the main Punic army. He asked that they wait for orders from the Senate. Cnaeus Asina was furious, his fellow legion commander was not as experienced, nor as accomplished, and Asina believed that Agrippa was trying to stall and derail any greater glory he may receive by quickly taking Lilibeo. During the night, he marched the I Legion out of Messana and by the spring of 238 he laid siege to Lilybaeum, alone and unsupported. The II Legion remained in Messana and oversaw the arrival of a garrison force and began to Romanize the new province. The Senate took notice of the divisive situation and began to rethink the command structure of their young army. As soon as possible, they would have to address the issue of leadership of their armies lest a disaster occur.

Screenshots make AAR's!

SCREENSHOTS FORTHCOMING, RESOLVING TECH ISSUES

I am using the following site for maps of the Roman era. These maps allow me to name battles that do not occur at the gates of cities.

http://ancienthistory.about.com/od/r...pire/index.htm

My computer won't let me create a link, dont know why.