The Will of the Senate - Battle reports

[This thread is for write-ups of dramatic battles in the Will of the Senate thread. Please only post write-ups - comments or questions etc should be raised in the out of character thread. Tables listing all battles under each First Consul will also be posted here.]

A list of battles in the reign of First Consul Quintus (aka econ21), 280 BC - 275 BC


v=clear victory
cv=close victory
hv=heroic victory

The Battle of Agrigento, autumn 276BC

From Quintus's journal...

In the same season as I secured Messana, I marched our Consular army quickly back to strike the Carthaginian field army outside Agrigento.


https://img198.imageshack.us/img198/...uintus93to.jpg

The climactic battle of my consulship. It will be a fair fight.


https://img166.imageshack.us/img166/...intus109oh.jpg

Fortune favours us - we find the enemy army deployed on the plain as we advance downhill from the heights around Mount Etna.


https://img144.imageshack.us/img144/...intus110qg.jpg

The enemy place their African elephants at the head of their army and the velites who screen our advance make short work of them.


https://img334.imageshack.us/img334/...intus123cm.jpg

One of the beast survives, maddened by fear and goes crashing into the Carthaginians own ranks, sowing chaos.

https://img254.imageshack.us/img254/...intus130fw.jpg

A unit of caetrati cavalry charges the velites on our right, but our equites counter-charge and the matter is decided when our Italian spearmen approach in support.


https://img329.imageshack.us/img329/...intus144sg.jpg

In the centre, the enemy general bravely charges our infantry, but falls to our spears.


Roused by fury, the main body of Carthaginian infantry and cavalry press forward to attack our advancing line. Our infantry halts, fires pila and javelins, and then a general melee breaks out. But the enemy's heart is not in the contest. Gradually our cavalry moves in from both flanks and the Carthaginian army dissolves in flight.


https://img266.imageshack.us/img266/...intus156ip.jpg


We pursue the fleeing Carthaginians into Agrigento where we trap and kill the one elephant and two generals who survived the field battle.

A list of battles fought in the reign of First Consul Lucius Aemilius (aka DDW).


Roman casualties : 1339

Gaul casualties : 8555
Carthage casualties : 3662
Rebel casualties : 250
---
enemy casualties : 12467

[An account of a dramatic intervention in the Senate by Tribune Augustus Verginius, as faithfully recorded by a Senate scribe]:
*The Senate doors are thrown open and a man appears in the entrance, his face pale, his body covered in blood.*

Conscript fathers! It was an ambush! I know not how, but they fell on us... Gauls, thousands of them! We had been trudging through a blinding snowstorm to meet up with Consul Aemilius when we heard a mighty roar from the left...

https://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b...bushstart2.jpg

I do not know how it happened, I barely had time to think. The rearguard was still inside a small copse of trees and I ordered the rest of the men to rally around them. In truth, I had little to do with it, it was the centurians who reacted fastest. We had only just formed some semblance of a line when the mass broke upon us!

https://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b...argeresize.jpg

I... I cannot describe the horror of the sound of that impact. I have seen war before, but not like this. It was like the Underworld, I tell you! Our line bent back on itself as their mass overwhelmed us, pushing us back. For a while it seemed as though the men would break. The Legion, they stood their ground, they made the Gauls pay for every inch of soil, but we had not enough men... not enough...

They flanked us! Bypassed the right wing and turned upon us from the rear! There were no reinforcements, no rescue, no one to fend off the deathblow... so I looked to my men. The seventeen brave souls who have served me on this campaign; it was to them I looked. We all knew it would be our deaths, but it was an end we gladly accepted in defense of the Republic. We charged, oh... what a glorious charge...

https://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b...scueresize.jpg

The Gauls though would not break, would not let up their relentless assault. My men were too few, their bravery outweighing their numbers. We charged again and again until we were but a scattered few. My men... my brave men... it seemed only a moment had passed, yet I could see not a single one of my companions. The Gauls remained though, the Legion still in crisis and I still drew breath... so I charged again alone.

https://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b...ushrescue2.jpg

I took down three of the beasts, but they swarmed up at me without end. I saw my end in a spear thrust to the face, when suddenly a sword caught the deadly point and turned it. I wiped the blood from my eyes and saw Luca Mamilius, the foremost of my guard and a personal friend who had ridden with me since he left the Academy. He had gathered with him the four other survivors of my guard and they had cut their way through the Gauls to aid me. He looked at me hard and gestured to the left flank. I followed his arm and then I saw him... the demon of hell himself, Lucco! He had turned the other flank and was viciously cutting through the unarmored Velites. They were falling quickly, no match for the heavily armored Gallic demons.

I fear... I fear I failed my men. Rage overtook me. The sight of brave Romans falling to a Gallic horde brought back nightmares I have had since childhood... nightmares of Brennus and the sack of Rome. I abandoned my men on the right and rode at Lucco, not caring if I lived or died. I neglected my duty, neglected my men...

It seemed like an eternity that we sparred, he and I. I screamed in his face and spat blood on his armor as our swords clashed. In truth, I remember little. I do not know how it happened, how it ended. My men tell me that he fell, struck by a fatal blow...

https://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b...hkilllucco.jpg

...and horrible things. I do not remember, but they say I leaped from my saddle and severed his head in a single blow, screaming wildly and throwing the bloody mass into the melee. As if a witch's spell had been broken, the beasts turned as one and ran...

https://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b...ambushrout.jpg

In a rage, I submitted once again to my rage and ordered my men to pursue. I must have personally ridden down and butchered 50 of the things before I came to my senses. In the end, one Gaul was spared. To him was given the severed head of Lucco, to take back across the Alps as a warning and as a testament to the bravery of my Legion.

https://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b.../ambushend.jpg

Senators... I submit to you as a failed man. I failed my men, failed the Republic. At the moment of greatest crisis, I let my anger overcome me, overcome duty. I abandoned the most threatened part of the line and rode against Lucco. The success of the battle does not counteract my shame at the action. It was the Legion that won the battle, not I. When I let emotion take over, they held true to discipline. I will never be as worthy of praise as the most low-born of soldiers on the field that day. I beg of you, Senators... honor my men for their bravery and forgive me for my failures.

Marcella walks quietly up to the desk where the Senate scribe keeps the First Consuls's reports. She takes out a letter from under her cloak, kisses it lightly and places it with the documents in the box...

Later, an irritated scribe retrieves the letter and angrily files it in the correct box.

Dear Marcella,

I must be the first to tell you - your father is fine, as am I. The battle was won and neither of us was hurt, although our poor horses were run into the ground.

You were right to tell me to vote for the First Consul - he was most wise. He warned your father that there was a chance a landing on Sardinia would be met by a Consular sized army. But your father did not believe it. The old man said that, even if Carthage did mount a seaborne landing, it was better that they do it in Sardinia, where we have no settlements to lose, than in Sicily where we have many.

https://img81.imageshack.us/img81/688/sardinia18vd.jpg

The Carthaginian army (its two mercenary peltasts are not shown)

First Consul Aemilius was also considerate - he told your father we did not need to fight, that we could withdraw. We looked at the size of the enemy ranged against. We looked at the great heights we were forced to deploy below. We looked at each other, but had no need of words. Your father is a proud man. Twice a Consul, to withdraw from battle after his triumph in Sicily would have been a dishonour he could not bear.

Our ambush had failed, so we were forced to deploy at the bottom of a steep incline, with the Carthaginians above us. Your father decided to set up our battle line as far up the slope as he could, in the hope of wrong-footing the enemy. Some luck was with us, as the enemy appeared some distance away from us and not on the heights overlooking our position. So your father gave the order to the army - we had to race the Carthaginians to the top of the slope.

https://img92.imageshack.us/img92/7644/sardinia27st.jpg

Quintus orders his army to march for the heights to try to deprive the Carthaginians of their advantageous position.

But the Carthaginians had no intention of racing us. They simply wanted to kill us. They marched straight for us and their cavalry reached us before we could gain a significant height advantage. Fortunately, your father had deployed the legion to the right of the alae, so it was true Romans who bore the brunt of the Carthaginian charge. We beat off the initial attacks by their three troops of cavalry, but the Principes were left exposed on our right flank and soon engulfed in a mass of Carthaginian infantry.

https://img105.imageshack.us/img105/...rdinia35mv.jpg

The Carthaginian cavalry leads the assault on the Roman legion. Quintus just manages to extract his escort from a melee with one troop of enemy cavalry before mercenary hoplites can pull off a charge to his rear. But the principes enveloped on the right flank can have no such quick escape.

https://img162.imageshack.us/img162/...rdinia47ba.jpg

Ashtzaph charges the surrounded principes in their flank but still they hold.

The principes faught valiantly, but were gradually surrounded on all sides. Then the enemy general, Ashtzaph, charged his escort into their rear. The battle was now at a critical stage - if the principes broke, it would have unravelled our line and caused a chain rout.

I was fighting on the left flank, driving off another cavalry troop. Your father had given me command of that wing. My job was to use the small height advantage our forced march had gained us and try to turn the enemy's right. But it was slow work. We had no numerical advantage and our men were already exhausted by the climbing they had done. The principes had to hold on. Their job that day was to buy me time at the cost of their lives.

https://img144.imageshack.us/img144/...rdinia59hh.jpg

Tribune Titus Vatinus gets into a dangerous spot. Again and again, the Roman generals must use their mobility in hit and run tactics. Against so many Carthaginian spears, to be stationary would be suicide.

Gradually, the brave principes fell. They were utterly surrounded and whole cohorts of Carthaginian came up behind them to march on my forces. The only support available for the principes was your father’s escort and with so many enemies falling upon our poor infantry, your father could not directly charge to their aid. He could only charge around them, trying to drive off harassing skirmishers.

https://img158.imageshack.us/img158/...rdinia69ps.jpg

The mid-point of the battle. The Romans have gained the ascendancy on the left but the cohort of principes is being overwhelmed on the right. The white horses of Quintus’s escort charge some peltasts but dare not engage the mass of spearmen who are mobbing the principes.

Your father’s efforts to support the principes attracted the attention of Ashtzaph, who fortunately had a much smaller escort and by now had squandered the three troops of cavalry he started the battle with. The two generals and their escorts duelled for a while and again your father had to withdraw when the fighting attracted the attention of the enemy infantry.

https://img102.imageshack.us/img102/...rdinia70ie.jpg

Quintus extracts his escort from the melee but the over-eager Carthaginian general pursues

His men say your father personally slew Ashtzaph. Your father refuses to say whether this is true. He says it was like a frenzy, like hounds tearing at a fox and it is impossible to know who struck the fatal blow. Whatever the truth, the old man was certainly in at the kill.

https://img85.imageshack.us/img85/6175/sardinia82hs.jpg

Quintus’s horse rears up as that of his rival falls.

With the death of their leader, the tide had turned. Ashtzaph was an outstanding commander - in his way, as good as your father, and his presence inspired his men to fight fiercely. But with his death, their resolve began to falter. I led my wing to overrun the Carthaginian right, while slowly our men began to move down to where a lone principes fought doggedly on.

https://img235.imageshack.us/img235/...rdinia96cw.jpg

The turning point of the battle. With their leader dead, the Carthaginian morale is fragile and units begin to rout. In the distance, the white horses of Tribune Vatinius's escort start to envelope the enemy right while in the foreground, the velites move to support the heroic last principes on the enemy's left.

Now, with their resolve wavering, it was safe for your father and I to charge the enemy infantry. Your father moved to support the brave velites who had drawn their swords and were fighting in close order like heavy infantry.

https://img471.imageshack.us/img471/...dinia106by.jpg

As the Carthaginian right dissolves, Quintus charges their left. But his targets, although exhausted, are still steady and the charge will not be enough

Again and again, your father charged until eventually the enemy broke.

https://img144.imageshack.us/img144/...dinia113do.jpg

Quintus, on the mid-left of the picture, leads the charge against the last unbroken Carthaginian infantry

After that, my dear, it was slaughter. We let only twenty of the enemy escape. My escort claim they killed 221 of the enemy. Your father’s boast of 511 kills. But the best news was that the chirurgeons did their work wonderfully. Although 181 of our men fell, the chirurgeons were able to revive 92 of them. These included 60 of the brave principes - the Carthaginians had so respected the bravery of these men, they had spared the wounded and these were rescued when the battle was over.

https://img118.imageshack.us/img118/...dinia122sa.jpg

What happens next, my dear, is up to the First Consul. The worst of it is, we have spotted two more Carthaginian armies near Caralis, both of full Consular size. While we could probably triumph over another, it would be folly to risk attacking two. Your father is requesting that the Consular I Army be restored to full strength, with another legion and alae sent to our aid. But whether Aemilius chooses us to lead the inevitable confrontation is a decision only for him.

I am sorry to write so impersonally to you my dear. But I know your interest in our campaigns and I suspect that you will wish to show this account to others of our friends in the Senate. I will write a private letter to you soon, but for this now, I must take my leave and wish you every happiness in these troubled times,

Your loving husband,


Titus Vatinius

My Consul Lucius,

I write to you now by the light of my candle as I sit within my tent and look out upon the river. The stench of blood is still strong and the moonlight sparkles over the dulling swords and shields and spears and helms that litter the pass. We have abandoned the western shore as it is too dangerous. The Gauls are known for their tricks and ambushes and I would not risk an envelopement of my forces during the third watch. But I digress as I write to you to tell you of the battle and what occured.

The Gauls arrived on the western shore early before noon. My scouts had reported their movement and I knew that two forces were converging here, the single ford on the length of this river which you have tasked me to protect and defend at all costs to keep our new lands in italy safe and unmolested by the ravages of war and Gauls.

Indeed, the men had a splendid time when we arrived. Having marched through the night immediatly following the sacking of the town of Massilia without rest we arrived at the ford and then men bathed and swam in its waters. We had arrived a week ago.

I suspected the Gauls to rest for the upon their arrival as I was very surprised. I had not expected them until the evening or the next morning but it seems they forcemarched through the night to reach the ford. Whether or not they knew of the defenses of the third legion I know not but seeing as they marched hurriedly and without rest for well over a day I assumed them to set up camp until the evening or next morning when they would launch the attack. I was mistaken however and it seems completely defying human stamina after an hour or so of preparation they formed ranks for their attack.

I quickly called my men, a much smaller force by several times, and they formed ranks as I had instructed them to upon our arrival. My triarii, my rock, I placed in my center with my principes on the right flank and my hastati on the left. Being that the shield is carried on the left arm it is clear that a man will charge to his left before he will charge to his right so that he may have the full protection of his shield. For this reason I placed the principes on the right flank because I knew they were more capable to handle the additional men than were the hastati. These men I placed directly on the shore as I would not concede an inch of the eastern side unfought. Directly behind them I placed my skirmishers and I placed my funditores on the left flank. As cavalry has little role in such confined areas I stayed behind along with my good friend, the brave Luca, and the remainder of the cavalry.

https://img88.imageshack.us/img88/2571/bridgepre0sn.jpg

These preparations made the Gauls wasted no time in cahrging into the water. Only after they had reached the eastern shore did I order the skirmishers to begin their fire along with the hastati and principes. Hails of javelins rained down upon the charging Gauls but soon I realised that the Gaulish general had sent in the inexperienced fresh recruits first to bear the brunt of my missile fire and our swords. Regardless, as the bulk of the enemy host entered the waters I commanded my funditores to begin their fire and they proceeded with a certain relish to hurl their stones into the midst of the gathered and waiting enemy. So many Gauls were killed in the river by the funditores and the skirmishers that a veritable bridge of stones and bodies formed across the river allowing a man to cross without ever touching water.

For a time we held the horde contained in the small box of shields which my men constituted but soon small gaps began to appear at the joints in the formation and seeing this I ordered the skirmishers (their javelins expended) to hurry and seal them before they grew any worse. Unable to join the battle, I and Luca rode the battle lines and encouraged our forces and they fought the fiercer for it.

It was at this moment that I spotted the Gaulish general moving swiftly with his cavalry escort to the front line. He personally charged the ranks of triarii which up to this point had remained intact and undaunted. He charged with his escort, throwing their ranks into disarray and laying low men on all his sides but his foolish charge into the spearpoints of the triarii quickly took its toll and his escort was quickly reduced to only a few men. Sensing the complete collapse of the line under the weight I personally charged with my own escort through the ranks of triarii and pushed back the enemy horde along with its commander. The triarii knew such a tactic could not hold the enemy at bay for long and quickly readdressed their ranks and prepared to accept the charge of Gauls. With a signal of their readiness I and my escort withdrew from the battle and as the Gauls fell back on the triarii. Quickly questioning my men I found that none had slain the enemy general but they had accounted for all of his elite escort. Perhaps not realising he was without an escort, the Gaulish general again charged the triarii line and again broke it but this time, alone, he quickly found himself surrounded and cut down.

Word of his death spread quickly and the Gauls fled the field of battle back into the river. Calling forth my cavalry, I and Luca side by side and eager to account for some kills of our own, we charged through the infantry line after them into the river. Immediatly before I gave strict orders that no infantryman should break rank and pursue as well and this was egnerally followed until to my horror I realized it had not in only one instance later.

Riding over the bridge of corpses our cavalry had reached the opposite shore before we realized that the rout had been a trick by the clever Gauls. Unable to distinguish between the enemy fleeing and the enemy standing firm our cavalry unexpectedly met stiff resistence. After a few minutes of feverish fighting I realized that this enemy was not quite so ready to flee and so I retreated to the riverbank when suddenly from behind me charged my funditores. I can only guess as to what brought them to charge across the ford against my orders. Perhaps it was because I had purposely kept them from battle and now they wished to use their swords. I cannot say but they had passed me before I could call them back and those that could perhaps hear me ignored me. They almost instantly enveloped in the Gaulish mob and I lost sight of them completely. Knowing their tactical importance to the defense of the ford I called for all my infantry to cross the river and engage with all haste and this they began to do but time was against me. The funditores could not survive long surrounded by Gauls eager to enact revenge. I again personally charged the Gaulish mob with my escort in the hopes of breaking the line to reach the funditores. I got withing sight of them but the Gaulish line held and I was repulsed. By the time my infantry led by the principes charged the Gaulish lines the few funditores left were fighting to the death. The Gauls only began to flee after every last of the sixty funditores was slain.

Enraged I called all the cavalry to me and we rode hard after the Gauls who fled. Passing the mound of dead funditores where those last men fell upon eachother and fought literally upon their fallen comrades I let up a cry that was echoed by even the horses and we rode all the harder.

The Gauls it seems, having seen how well their trick worked the first time, attempt to pull the same trick again and rallied and assembled to charge us. My cavalry broke upon them and swept them ahead of us in our steel furry and none of those men were left alive. We ran our horses raw the rest of the day hunting down any of those Gauls who managed to escape the field alive.

Tomorrow we shall bury our dead and burn theirs but tonight the men rejoice the victory and those brave men who have fallen. I rejoice with them.

I have heard a rather humorous and pleasing story from a few of the scouts who I dispatched immediatly after the battle. Infiltrating several Gaulish settlements those witnesses of the battle have begun to spread stories and rumors about the third legion and myself in particular. It is true that I allowed the heat of battle overtake me at times but some of the stories they whisper are simply absurd. One in particular states that I rode out and met the fornt ranks of the Gauls in the middle of the river and there fought and slew men as I was surrounded. The rumor claims my horse stood perfectly still for the length of the battle as I fought men on all sides until my infantry line could push back the Gauls to meet my position. I laughed heartily when I heard this.

https://img146.imageshack.us/img146/...calhero9sh.jpg

I have compiled the relevent lists of men and casualties. It seems that I and my escort personally accounted for over 400 enemy dead. Luca showed his bravery many times and he has given me the figure of about 100 enemies slain by his hand though I believe this figure to be excessively modest on his part. I personally saw him slay more men than he claims.

The sixty funditores cut down accounted for nearly half of all of our casualties.

https://img88.imageshack.us/img88/2913/bridge21ph.jpg

https://img117.imageshack.us/img117/2330/bridge15fw.jpg

Your faithful commander,

Publius Laevinius

A short account of the battle of Aleria, 271 BC

The battle for Aleria was not particularly dramatic but it is the largest battle yet fought by the Republic. It also serves as an illustration of how a large army defending an unwalled settlement can be defeated in detail without great loss.

https://img152.imageshack.us/img152/1318/aleria17ct.jpg

The two sides are evenly matched.


Stage 1: Defending elements attack precipitously

Due to the size of the defending army, it could not all be deployed in the centre of the town. Some defenders on the outskirts of the settlement impetuously advance to meet the attackers. They suffer heavily to the Roman funditores and velites. Massively outnumbered, they are easily broken.

https://img486.imageshack.us/img486/8664/aleria26yj.jpg

A unit of 120 Liby-Phoenician spearmen have been reduced to a mere 23 men before a Centurion of the hastati leads his men in a flank charge.

https://img487.imageshack.us/img487/3944/aleria31cd.jpg

The hastati move on to neutralise the threat from the lone Carthaginian cavalry unit. The four enemy Generals and their escorts remain safely in the forum for now.

The defenders lack a solid battle line and come on piecemeal, allowing them to be easily defeated.

https://img157.imageshack.us/img157/6569/aleria46jv.jpg

Quintus leads his escort into a charge against another unit of Liby-Phoenician spearmen. In the distance, Poeni infantry can be seen trying to intercept, but the slowness of their phalanx formation is fatal in this open stage of the battle.


Stage 2: The defenders emerge from the side streets.

Quintus then divides his army into four - each arm a legion or alae - aiming to approach the town forum from each side. However, the defenders move out of the city centre to challenge the attackers approaching from the front and the right flank. Now there is less room for manoeuvre, but by letting the defenders leave the sidestreets, the Romans are able to surround them and slowly destroy them in hard fighting.

https://img387.imageshack.us/img387/4640/aleria54lz.jpg

The height of the battle on the right of the town. Three large Carthaginian infantry units are slowly enveloped and destroyed by a legion and an alae.


Stage 3: The battle for the town forum

By now, the Carthaginians are left with only a last unit of spearmen and their four generals. The Romans approach the forum from three sides - the centre, the left and, belatedly, the right. As the left alae advance, the Sacred Band escorts of the generals launch a combined charge.

https://img150.imageshack.us/img150/2305/aleria68sb.jpg

The Carthaginian heir and his three relatives launch a charge on the Romans approaching Aleria’s central forum. The Italian spearmen are caught off balance, trying to redress their ranks.

The remaining Carthaginian spear unit is lured off the town forum, pinned by Roman infantry approaching from the centre. Triari and other troops race to hit the Scared Band cavalry in the rear.

https://img62.imageshack.us/img62/7130/aleria71ig.jpg

The end approaches - all the Carthaginian units now lack the morale advantages of being in the central forum.

Belatedly, the Roman right wing approachs to occupy the uncontested town forum. The battle is soon over.

https://img160.imageshack.us/img160/8554/aleria87ps.jpg

The last Carthaginian soldier in Aleria - a general - dies bravely duelling the indomitable hastati Centurion. After the battle, Quintus will choose this veteran to join his staff as an valuable ancillary.

The presence of Roman surgeons lowers the figure for Roman dead, but the losses still appear modest given some of the fierce infantry fights in the centre and right of the town.

https://img160.imageshack.us/img160/9655/aleria92gk.jpg

The final tally

Note that for some reason, Quintus’s escort remains fighting despite all their enemies being dead. In fact the unit had become totally unresponsive ever since its rear charge described above.

A list of battles in the reign of First Consul Augustus Verginius (aka TinCow), 270 BC - 265 BC


Roman Casualties: 1463

Gallic Casualties: 9126
Greek Casualties: 5108
Rebel Casualties: 971

Total Enemy Casualties: 15,205

v=clear victory
hv=heroic victory
hd=in-game victory (timer), but historical defeat

The Diary of Quintus

Summer, 267 AD

609 men

So, we are in. I have only recently come to realise what a sharp operator that Verginius is. Not only does he play Senators - and indeed the whole Senate - for fools, he has an uncanny way with assassins and spies. I feel uneasy in this place, with his agents lurking in dark places. But for now, they have served me well. The gates were ready opened for us when we arrived.

Half the Greek garrison were camped in the fields outside the settlement, so I had to choose whether to fight them as well as those inside. Instead, I decided to sneak my army past in the night and slip into Apollonia undetected. Once through the gates, my men made short work of the few defenders.

https://img92.imageshack.us/img92/59...llonia17du.jpg

A gladius to the back - always reliable.

When the settlement was taken, I ordered my small army back out of the gates and we silently march under the moonlight to where the Greeks had made camp in the fields. The surprise was complete and hastily arraigned Greek hoplites did not have time to withdraw. We used our missiles to infuriate them and then I drew one unit out of line in pursuit of my escort, before swinging back to hit the rear of their brothers.

https://img148.imageshack.us/img148/...llonia25os.jpg

A lance to the back - even better.

We returned quickly to the settlement. My army has been blooded and the experience of battle is starting to make the men more confident. But the reports of the locals identify large Greek forces in nearby Thermon and Scodra. Surely it is only a matter of time before they mobilise to confront us?

https://img74.imageshack.us/img74/15...llonia38kf.jpg

Quintus enters a hornets' nest

How many seasons until help arrives? Let us call this:

Season 1.

588 men


Autumn, 267


...Quintus wanders round the gardens of the Provincial Palace in Apollonia. He stumbles and falls. A man from the shadows runs up to him and grabs him roughly. The ex-Consul's body is still and lifeless.

"Not yet you don't!" The shadowy figure raises his fist and crashes it down on Quintus's chest. Quintus coughs and starts. "Chirurgeon!" the unknown figure calls out loudly, before gently placing the old man on the grass and disappearing back into the undergrowth...


I don't know who will kill me first - the Greeks or my frail heart. At least it seems unlikely to be one of Verginius's agents, for now anyway. The incident in the gardens seems to prove that.

As for the Greeks, I am starting to doubt if they are serious or not. For their first expedition to retake Apollonia, they sent a brash young noble, Theras of Sparta, to besiege us. A mere boy of 18, lazy and careless. He came with only 454 men - less than my garrison - and proceeded to begin constructing fieldworks outside the town. The sheer gall of the boy! By the gods, I swear he was trying to bring me low by inducing another heart attack!

I waited patiently for the cover of darkness and then mustered our small army, leading them out of the gate at the double. Slowly, the Greek phalanxes turned and started to move off. I knew then that they would escape unless drastic action was taken. I led my escort in hot pursuit. I did not mean to engage the phalanxes themselves - I may be an old fool, but not so great a fool as to charge my escort into three steady phalanxes. Instead, I bypassed the hoplites and charged the peltasts accompanying them. My aim was to induce the phalanxes to halt so that my infantry could catch up with them.

https://img72.imageshack.us/img72/26...llonia42ka.jpg

Quintus's horse overtake the retreating phalanx and charge the peltasts

After I had run down the peltasts, the phalanxes stopped and turned to face my infantry who were puffing up the road from Apollonia. Two phalanxes charged our Italian spearmen. Our triarii was held back, to counter-strike at their rear after the Greeks were engaged. This went well until the third phalanx appeared out of the darkness and in turn charged the triarii in the back.

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The crisis of the battle - hunters become the hunted.

Fortunately, our other infantry arrived in time to aid the brave triarii. Theras of Sparta himself died well, in a manner fitting of his proud city. He fought my escort single-handed for nearly as long as his hoplites engaged our infantry. His inevitable death demoralised the Greeks and brought to a swift end to the battle. If only young Theras's acumen had matched his courage. I wonder if his countrymen will seek to avenge their proud young general?

Season 2

582 men

to be continued

Winter, 267

595 men

The arrival of Pleminius has raised my spirits, although this is more because of the small reinforcement it provides than the conviviality of the fellow. He is an austere chap, not given to small talk. His pithy pronouncements of personal duty and honour are admirable, I suppose, but at my age, I find them hard to take. Does he not realise his job is not to die for his country, but rather to make the other fellows die for theirs? Still the man's sword arm is just as steely as his speech, so I welcome his presence. I have assigned my previous Military Tribune to Pleminius, so that the two can be accustomed to working together in the event that my heart should fail again. Overtime, I may assign more of my ancillaries to him, if he does not object, but for now, I need them under my control.

The Greeks came again. A tall red-cloaked Captain Diadumenus approached under a flag of truce. "I have come for the body of Theras" he solemnly declared, much in the manner of young Pleminius. Indeed, I saw Pleminius scrutinising the Spartan with scarcely concealed admiration. Of course, I gave the Captain Theras's coffin and told him his Prince had died well. The Captain thanked me but then said he could not leave until we have surrendered Apollonia. I shook my head, telling him to go back to his men and that the next time we met, one of us would fall.

Again I had no intention of letting an inferior force blockade us inside the town, so I marched the army out at night. The Captain pulled back his hoplites from the gate and at first, I thought he was going to exit the field without giving battle. A foolish thought. That is not the Spartan way.

Gingerly, I spread our men out into a U-shaped formation, hoping to work our skirmishers and cavalry around the flanks of the enemy hoplites.

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As the Romans seek to envelope the Greeks, the hoplites advance in the centre.

I ordered our funditores to target the Spartans but they made little impression. Before the battle was half over, our slingers were out of lead and only two of the Spartans had been shot down. I knew the Spartan hoplites were our most dangerous foes and so ordered our own triarii to charge them. The two elite formations remained locked in combat for most of the battle.

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The Spartans and the triarii face off together

By good fortune, we managed to surround and break one enemy phalanx on the right, so I ordered young Pleminus to hunt down the routers. The headstrong tribune pursued too impetuously and ran into another phalanx moving in support. He fought bravely, before my messenger reached him ordering him to pull out at once. If I should fall, whether in battle or due to infirmity, it is essential that Pleminius survive to take command.

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Pleminius's pursuit of the routers nearly ends in disaster.

The critical phase of the battle was now reached. Our heavy infantry sought to encircle and defeat the phalanxes, while our skirmishers targeted the lightly armoured Spartans - although it must be said, not with any visibly greater success than the funditores had enjoyed.

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The height of the battle. The Roman cavalry is kept out of the action until all the hoplites are committed.

When the time was right I signalled to Pleminius to charge the rear of one of the enemy phalanxes, while my escort brought up the rear in support. The shock of the charge was decisive, breaking the enemy's morale and causing a chain rout. Most of the Spartans already lay dead at the feet of the triarii but half a dozen fled. The lances of Pleminius's escort spared these individuals the indignity of returning to their city in disgrace.

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This time, Pleminius's charge is unstoppable and decides the outcome of the battle.

After the battle, a shadowy figure approached me with a message from the First Consul. The enigmatic chap said that he had been assigned to watch over me and would accompany me with my escort from now on. I think I recall his thick rasping voice from my accident in the gardens. Somehow this heroic saviour makes me fear more for my life than the Greeks or my bad heart. But the news the agent brought from Verginius was most important.

Season 3.

573 men

Summer, 266

576 men

"Now it is time"

I awoke to the sound of a rasping voice whispered into my ear. Waking gradually, I looked around the room, but could see no one. Slowly, I rose.

A veteran centurion entered my quarters: "The enemy are deployed for battle, sir."

I nodded curtly. I found it hard to raise my eyes and my chest had an empty hollow sensation, more to do with the circumstances in which we found ourselves than my own frail constitution.

Seventeen hundred Greeks had arrived outside Apollonia. Seventeen hundred. Mainly hoplites and frankly quite superior to the still rather inexperienced men of Legio IV. They were commanded by a general called Kallinos of Gonni. I knew little of him, but the way he had deployed for the assault revealed him to be a fine general, easily my match. Five battering rams had been constructed and positioned at different points along the north wall. Each were backed by several other units of heavy infantry or missile troops. The general himself remained at the rear of his army, with his escort and two small troops of cavalry. While we could perhaps obstruct one or two rams, there were simply not enough of us to stop all five from breaching our walls.

Somewhere inside me I knew this was Verginius's work. Exactly how he had done it, what toils or tribulations he had gone through to pull it off, I did not know. But somehow his agents had conspired to move the Greeks to muster this large, fine army and march promptly for Apollonia. How else to explain the switch in Greek tactics from sending small armies to besiege us, to concentrating such a large force to crush us?

Why had the First Consul done this? Was it to punish me for staying his hand from eradicating the Gauls he hated so much? Or was it his revenge for my besmirching his honour in the Senate? Was it to provide a demonstration of the folly of Pleminius's motion to send a small army into the heart of the enemy's lands? Or to laugh at my own foolishness in mistakenly voting for the motion? Or was it to provide a high drama for the Senate, so that Verginius could come charging in at the end of his period in office and rescue our beleaguered force with the Consular Army? I do not know. Could you ever know with a man such as Verginius?

Pleminius came to see me as Legio IV took up position. I smiled sadly at him, but he just stared back, his face nonchalant and fixed with a sense of duty. While I wished to be anywhere but here today, this - the chance of glorious battle - was why Pleminius came to Apollonia. I patted him affectionately on his shoulder, as a master might reward an alert and eager guard dog. Then I explained my plan of battle.

Our only advantage over the Greeks lay in our cavalry - the men of my escort and Pleminus's own bodyguard of equites. Sadly, this force would be next to useless in the narrow confines of Apollonia's streets. We could not charge and the massed hoplites would cut us down easily with their spears. Therefore, we had to sally out of the city even as the enemy marched their battering rams towards us. But Kallinos was no fool, he would not halt his assault to fight outside the town. While we might distract some of his men from assailing the town's pallisades, others would still batter their way through. There were four entrances to the town's central forum. I could only afford to post guards on two - the triarii were assigned to guard the north entrance; while the Italian spearmen covered the east, where the enemy battering rams were disporportionately deployed. All the other infantry were to join the cavalry in sallying out of the town gate.

Pleminius nodded eagerly when he heard the plan. Clearly its boldness appealed to him.

"Who do we charge first?" he asked.

"We begin the battle with decapitation. My men will make for Kallinos. You will cover my back in case his other cavalry try to interfere."

A faint trace of a smile passed over Pleminius's pursed lips. Apparently this brutal opening gambit appealed to him even more than the idea of a sally had.

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The battlelines are drawn: as the Greeks prepare five assault columns, the Romans prepare to charge out of the north gate, with their spearmen left behind to guard the central forum.

As the five Greek battering rams began shambling forward towards Apollonia's pallisades, I led our men out of the north gate, all moving at the run. We had little time to deploy outside the walls before the many Greek phalanxes pinned us to them. Face to face, even the best Roman infantry had little advantage over hoplites. Our only chance was to flank them. Unfortunately, that called for numerical superiority, something which would be hard - if not impossible - to achieve that day.

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The first action of the day - Pleminius (on the near left) and Quintus (centre) together ride for General Kallinos, hoping to render the Greek army leaderless and demoralised.

The ride to reach Kallinos seemed like an eternity. We bypassed the many phalanxes marching towards Apollonia, and the peltasts and Cretan archers deployed behind them in support. Finally, we reached the Greek cavalry, who bravely interposed themselves between us and their general, allowing Kallinos to counter-charge with his superb hetaroi. The fighting was brutal, but the outcome inevitable. Every second we were delayed, however, left our infantry leaderless outside the north gate and left the Greek battering rams elsewhere free to smash down the pallisades without interference.

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The first Greek battering ram, on the far east of the northern pallisade, breaks through.

Eventually, General Kallinos was cut down and I urged our horse to return to the north gate to assist our infantry. When we arrived, we found the sallying force had suffered such heavy casualties, it was scarcely functional. In my absence, Greek peltasts and Cretan archers had poured fire into our brave infantry as they struggled to overcome the enemy phalanxes near the gate. Pleminius and I avenged the fallen without mercy, but it was too late. Four parts of the pallisade had been breached and at least eight enemy phalanxes were inside, racing to the central forum.

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The Roman cavalry return to allow the Romans to triumph near the north gate. But it has become irrelevant: the walls have been breached in force to the east.

It was now up the spearmen to hold; to hold against quite insurmountable odds. They fought magnificently. I ordered Pleminius to take his escort and the cohort of Italian swordsmen and hunt down any routing Greeks. I hurried the remnants of our sallying force back to the forum. A phalanx of pikemen attempted to intercept us but it fell out of formation as it tried to catch my escort while my infantry harried it from the rear. When it finally turned to face our infantry, it was so disordered, the Greeks had thrown down their sarissas. I seized the moment and charged it in the rear, breaking it within seconds. If only the hoplites with their shorter spears could be so easily disposed of, I thought ruefully.

Our sallying force was now safely back within the pallisade. But the battle had shifted to the central forum and we had to get there quickly. The northern approach was blocked by at least four Greek phalanxes, so I directed only our funditores to take that path. They could fire into the rear of the massed Greeks and perhaps even induce some of them to break off and pursue the skirmishers.

"What do we do when our lead runs out, sir?" the small funditore captain asked me.

I could only shake my head sadly. The captain saluted and turned to lead his men, already at half strength.

Three phalanxes were trying to force the eastern approach to the forum, blocked by our Italian spearmen. So I directed our sallying force to take that path and try to hit the Greeks in the back.

But it was too late. Unobserved by us, one Greek phalanx had taken the western approach to the forum. This allowed it to bypass the spearmen guarding the north and eastern entrances. It occupied the town centre unopposed, before charging the Italian spearmen guarding the eastern approach in the rear. Our Italian allies died bravely, the last spearmen seeming to fight off hundreds of attackers for minutes before he too fell.

When I arrived at the east of the forum, we were faced with four phalanxes of hoplites, while another four pressed against the triarii guarding the north entrance. It was hopeless. Then I saw, racing up the west entrance, Pleminius and his horse. He had chased the Greek routers off the field and was returning to assist in contesting the forum. Taking heart from Pleminius's sudden appearance, I charged my escort into the Greek hoplites guarding the eastern approach to the forum, while Pleminius charged them from the rear.

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Quintus attempts to force a way through the east entrance to the forum, while Pleminius charges the rear of the hoplites in support. The many Greek banners in the distance are the hoplites who have forced their way through the northern entrance and have pinned the brave triarii to the wall.

It was not enough. To be honest, not if every Roman horseman and every Roman general in the entire Republic had thrown themselves at the hoplites would it have been enough to break them. They were too many, too brave and too solidly packed. Only a large force of Roman infantry could have moved them from the forum and I had less than fifty such men left from the sallying force. Slowly, inexorably, Legio IV fell. Soon we were down to less than twenty infantry men in the sallying force. The same number of brave triarii were fighting at even more hopeless odds in the north approach.

Through the corner of my eye, I saw a small group of lightly armed, quick moving men dash across the forum towards us. They were the funditores I had sent to the north approach. They had run out of ammunition. As the push of the Greek hoplites had swept the triarii up against the wall, an opening had been created in the north approach and they had managed to rush past the melee. (Although one or two could not resist plunging their daggers into the backs of unfortunate hoplites whose attentions were fixed on the heroic triarii!)

The funditore captain ran towards me and called out ironically:

"You never told us what to do when we were out of ammunition, sir!"

I could have kissed the little fellow. Instead, I merely waved a proud salute in honour of his men. Then, the admirable chap led his men gamely in a charge into the rear of the hoplites massing around the east entrance, while Pleminius and I again spurred our escorts into the melee.

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Surely it is all over now? The funditores join the Roman generals in a futile charge against the Greeks on the east of the forum. Out of sight, a larger body of Greeks relentlessly wears down the triarii fighting near the north entrance.

Pleminius always was too fine a man, too brave, too strong. He cut his way into the centre of the Greeks, slashing and stabbing. He was too far in. He had to get out. I shouted to him.

"Pleminius, get out of there!"

But the young man just looked at me, reared his horse in salute and then disappeared beneath a seething mass of stabbing spears.

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Vibius Pleminius, a second before his death.

"No!" I moaned inwardly, "Not you! I was supposed to die here, not you! Not you! Me! Not you!"

With the young man's death, the spirit went out of me. It was over. Slowly, our infantry fell away, until there were just three triarii still pinned against the wall to the north entrance. The Italian infantry that had assisted Pleminius in chasing the routers had still not arrived at the forum. But at less than half strength, there was no way they could dislodge eight strong phalanxes of hoplites.

Only one of my escort remained beside me - a veteran centurion, who had earned distinction fighting with the hastati of the Consular Army and so had joined my escort. I turned my horse towards the Greeks at the east entrance and approached cautiously.

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Quintus and a lone equite, a veteran centurion, confront the victorious Greeks

In truth, I was unafraid. I had no will to live. I looked only at the many dead and wounded around the forum, at the chirurgeons and a few brave citizens among them, tending to the fallen.

"Brave sons of Zeus!" I called out loudly to the hoplites facing me. "You have fought well today and won a deserved victory! You have killed my army, my own brave boys. Even my own Tribune, Vibius Pleminius, has fallen. Theras of Sparta is avenged. You may leave now, having restored Greek honour. March out now, as the victors, with your heads held high and I will salute you.

But know this. You are leaderless. I have slain your General. You have no cavalry. No archers or javelins. They are all dead, like my own fine infantry. I will ride out of here and you will be powerless to stop me. You know my First Consul approaches with a mighty Consular army. If you stay here, you will fall as surely as my brave warriors fell before you. And I swear this, on the body of Vibius Pleminius, if you refuse to leave, if you stay to die, your deaths will be cruel and merciless. I will personally see that everyone of you is crucified. What is worse, I will lay crosses along the road to Athens, and set every captured Greek man, woman and child upon them.

Brave Greeks, the choice is yours. Leave now, with honour, and know that we Romans will fight you as men of honour, showing you all the consideration and respect you deserve. Or stay and die as foolish trapped rats, knowing your people will forever be hunted as such by us. That is the choice I lay before you. Now, speak, what say you?"

The exhausted hoplites looked impassively at me, until one large captain stepped forward and took off his helmet. He looked at me defiantly and then spat a large dollop of phelgm into his helmet, before running forward and hurling the helmet at me. With that the rest of his men raised a loud cheer and I had to ride for my life out of the forum.

Of the rest, there is little to tell. The dutiful Italian swordsmen eventually arrived, exhausted and bewildered at the eastern entrance to the forum. The reinvigorated hoplites pursued them and cut them down with enthusiasm. Finally, a few of the swordsmen broke and ran, one even making it to the forum.

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The last Roman infantryman dies bravely.

There, he came to his senses and looked around at the piles of dead and wounded, the blood and carnage. I had managed to escape my pursuers and break back into the forum, where I saw the lone red figure.

"Run!" I shouted. "Save yourself, get out! Run for the north gate!"

The path was clear, the swordsman could have made it. But he was exhausted. The horror and the futility of what he saw overcame him. He turned to face the hundreds of Greek hoplites eagerly pursuing him, raised his shield and prepared to strike.

I could not look, I turned away and headed out of the forum. Riding along a side street, I heard a rasping voice call out:

"Sir! In here, sir!"

I halted my tired horse and peered into the gloom from where I heard the voice call out from. It was Verginius's agent, the man who had saved my life in the gardens when I had suffered a heart attack.

"Sir, you will be safe in here, sir!” the man urged.

Something about his tone unnerved me. I saw a flash of steel in the darkness and thought "No!". If Verginius really had conspired to bring this Greek army crashing around my head, would he really be happy to see me crawl out of the ruins of Apollonia? It was time, the agent had said this morning. It was not my time in the garden. It was my time now, here. But Pleminius had fallen this day, not me. If I succumbed to an assassin's blade now, Pleminius's death would have been in vain. His family would never hear how bravely he had fought. Songs would never be sung in his honour. Verginius may have thought it my time now, but no, I would not die. Not now, not after so much blood. I would not die for nothing.

Just then, I heard the faint sound of a horn in the distance. Then more calls. I looked at Verginius's agent. He looked back at me and considered the veteran centurion mounted beside me, lance held at the ready. The agent sheafed his danger and smiled a toothy grin, rasping out:

"My master is here. You are saved."

The agent bowed and disappeared into the shadows.

Excitedly, I turned my horse back to the forum. The Greeks were leaving - proudly, in good order, but they were leaving. I saw the large hoplite captain still in the forum; he was picking up his helmet. He wiped it inside and then waved it at me in a casual salute.

"Remember your words, general!" he called, almost happily and then he turned to join his men.

Around the forum, as the Greeks left, the chirurgeons and compassionate townspeople rushed to aid the wounded. Prisoners were released by the magnaminous Greeks. They included many of the brave funditores, who some hoplites had preferred to capture, scorning to kill such weak fighters. The brave triarii were all dead, however. The hoplites had made sure of that, each one fatally pierced through the heart or trampled to death in the earlier scrummage. I gathered together a group of the walking wounded and waited for the Greeks to leave Apollonia before hastily attempting to repair the breaches in the pallisade.

The battle was over. By rights, the Greeks had won. But thanks to the arrival of the Consular army, we still held Apollonia and so history will accord it a close victory for us.

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For me, victory or defeat was irrelevant. All that matters to me is the heroic sacrifice of our men, symbolised by the brave Pleminius, a true Roman.

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Season 5

260 men

Consular I Army broke camp when it became apparent that the Greeks would not engage us on our own ground. We moved south and brought battle to the strongest of their forces, including two elite hoplite units and a full group of Spartans.

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Much care was needed to confront such a formidable force. I arrayed the men into an unusual formation, with the Funditores in front of a center line of Italian Spearmen and Triarii, flanked on each side by Principes, Hastati, and Italian Swordsmen, and backed by Velites.

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The Fundatores were used to harass and infuriate the enemy, so that they charged, enraged, into the center of our formation.

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When they closed, the Fundatores would retreat behind the spearline and the surrounding men would hurl their javelins at the oncoming Greeks. Upon realizing the trap, the hoplites would then retreat, to resume their place in the line of battle. We had infinite patience though, and the constant hammer of lead bullets on Greek skulls broke their discipline again and again. Eventually, the General himself charged. To his credit, he did not retreat as the others, though it resulted in his death on the spears of the auxilia.

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When the slingers had exhaused their ammunition, the line advanced and split to engulf the foe.

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The encirclement was completed quickly.

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The Spartans, flanked by the elite hoplites, fought for a long time, but in the end they died like the rest. Eventually, even their will was broken and the last fled for their lives. This was not a second Thermopylae.

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Summary of Battles Fought Under First Consul Tiberius Coruncanius, 265-260 BC






*non-real ratios such as those resulting from a division by zero are not included.

The Battle of Antigonea Pass
Spring, 264 BC

"Hold the high ground!"

The Triarii came at a run, responding to their commander's frantic gestures. Lagging slightly behind and on either side of them, Consular I Army rushed forward as well. The men had barely arrived at the summit, the lines still ragged, when the first of the phalanxes crashed into them. Steel scraped on wood and mail and bit into flesh and bone.

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Pilia, javelins and lead flew in all directions, dropping men and horse alike. The Greeks were closing quickly and in force, across the entire front. The Roman lines bent back on themselves to protect their flanks and prevent a complete envelopment. The armored hoplites outnumbered the Roman and Italian men two to one and had skills to match.

Tribune Amulius Coruncanius rode up next to his commander and long-time friend, Legate Augustus Verginius.

"I thought we were supposed to be attacking," he said dryly.

Verginius frowned and looked at the field. "It seems we need to remind the Greeks of that fact."

Having left many of the auxilia behind to garrison Antigonea, Consular I Army had moved forward to confront the last sizable Greek force in the area. Led by Philotas of Pharsalus, it was a large and formidable group of soldiers from many different nations. The bulk was, of course, Greek hoplites, but intermixed were Illyrian skirmishers, Thracian infantry, and Gallic swordsmen.

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As the armies had approached each other, a high hill become the focul point of their desires.

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Almost immediately, a rush began to attain the heights. The Romans had arrived first, but the Greeks had reached a great momentum and did not cease their advance. The Roman and Italian spears deployed in a long, thin line to hold the center, backed by Velites to bleed the Greeks in the rear. They had held firm since the melee had begun.

Verginius turned to Coruncanius, "Shall we remind them of the proper order of things?" He turned his horse and raised his sword. "Left wing, forward!"

At a rush, the Hastati and Italian Swordsmen, faster than any other infantry on the field, moved past the Greek right flank, scattering Illyrian skirmishers before them. After a short distance, they turned to take the phalanxes and supporting units from the rear.

https://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b...pass_flank.jpg

"Amulius, take the cavalry and guard the right flank. The center of the Greek line is pinned on our spears. Order the Principes into their flanks and then protect them from a similar fate."

The Tribune nodded and rode off with his men.

Verginius moved to the top of the hill, where he could see over the main line to the Roman light infantry fighting in the distance. A group of Thracian infantry had stopped both cohorts of Hastati and were inflicting serious losses on them. The Italians, having finished off a small group of hoplites that had been devestated by pilia, rushed forward to aid their comrades.

Yet, even as the battle seemed to be turning in their favor, the Greeks responded. First two, then three... four... five Greek phalanxes turned from the main battle and charged into the lightly armored Romans. In an instant the flanking movement had been surrounded and they began to drop.

"Gods curse them!" shouted Verginius. He galloped forward to the lead Centurian of the Triarii. "Break them! Break them! We must aid the Hastati!"

The man grimaced, his face spattered with blood. "Sir, they won't budge. We've killed dozens of them, but they never seem to waver!"

Verginius spat on the ground. If something wasn't done soon, a third of the army would be gone and the rest would surely be surrounded. He quickly recalled Tribune Coruncanius and, with the full force of the Roman cavalry, rode to the rear Greek hoplites opposing the Roman center. They charged home with leveled spears. A shudder went through the enemy force as the impact ripped and tore at the rearmost ranks, but they held. The Romans with drew and charged a second time. A third time. On the fourth, the Greeks finally broke and scattered.

"Forward! To the Hastati!"

The strength of the Roman infantry moved at a rush, with the hardened Triarii leading the way.

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Both armies convered in force on this point. The Hastati and Italians were holding, but barely. One group of the Roman light infantry was at half strength while of the other, only seven men could be seen, fighting back to back amidst a sea of Greeks. In desperation, Verginius ordered the Velites forward to extend the lines but there were still too many of them and there was no one left to commit.

No one... except the Fundatores. With their ammunition exhausted, they stood on the peak of the hill watching the carnage before them. They would not last long against armored infantry, but there was no one else...

A runner was sent to them to tell them of the dire situation and Verginius' orders. Without question they obeyed. As one, the Fundatores charged into battle... engulfing Philotas and his men, as they sat unawares observing the main melee.

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The struggle was desperate, but the unarmored Fundatores were fast and their daggers sharp. They hamstrung the enemy horses and swarmed over their fallen riders, ripping off helmets and slitting throats. Philotas suvived the longest, but he too was brought down by the overwhelming mass of men.

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Word spread quickly amongst the Greeks of their General's death. Many broke and ran, leaving the hardened few trapped in the center.

https://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b...s_surround.jpg

It was bloody work, but eventually the last of them were cut down and the field was quiet.

Verginius rode through the men, taking in the carnage. Nearly half of Consular I Army was dead or injured... but for every dead Roman, there were six fallen Greeks.

As Verginius dismounted and began to walk amongst his men, a Centurian began to shout. Soon all who could spare breath had joined in.

"Roma Victrix!"
"Roma Victrix!"
"Roma Victrix!"

As Verginius gazed out over the battlefield and his men, his mouth opened and he breathed a single line. "This is nearly as good as killing Gauls." Verginius smiled.

https://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b...ss_results.jpg
https://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b...ass_famous.jpg

Autumn, 264 BC

https://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b...oke_attack.jpg

Half a league, half a league,
Half a league onward,
All in the valley of Greeks
Rode the twenty-three.
"Forward, the Praetoria!
"Charge for the flanks!" he said:
Into the valley of Greeks
Rode the twenty-three.

"Forward, the Praetoria!"
Cried the man called Oratoria.
Not tho' the soldier knew
The Legate had needed a pee:
Their's not to make reply,
Their's not to reason why,
Their's but to hold the fly:
Into the valley of Greeks
Rode the twenty-three.

https://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b...oke_charge.jpg

Spears to right of them,
Spears to left of them,
Spears in front of them
Waver'd like trees;
Assault'd with odor and yell,
Boldly they rode and well,
Into the view of Greeks,
Into the vile smell
Rode the twenty-three.

Flash'd all their spatha bare,
Flash'd as they turn'd in air,
Slashing the hoplites there,
Charging a phalanx, while
All the Legion could see:
Plunged in the enemy-joke
Right thro' the line they broke;
Epirote and Spartan
Reel'd from the spatha stroke
Turn'd to flee.
Then they rode back, but not
Not the twenty-three.

https://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b...oke_impact.jpg

No spears to right of them,
No spears to left of them,
No spears behind them,
Waver'd like trees;
No longer assault'd with odor and yell,
No more horse and hero fell,
They that had fought so well
Came thro' the view of Greeks
Back from the vile smell,
All that was left of them,
Left of twenty-three.

When can their die their euphoria?
O the wild charge of the Oratoria!
All the Legion could see.
Honor the charge through historia,
Honor the Praetoria,
Noble twenty-three.

https://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b...ke_results.jpg

Near Patavium, Autumn 262 BC

Finding myself leading the Legio I Italia Victrix in an attack on a Macedonian army outnumbering my men and so well suited to defense, I had to disorganize the enemy somehow.
I accordingly split my army into two halves, one led by myself, Lucius Aemilius, and the other one led by the tribune Gnaeus Hordeonius (Silver Rusher).
My half of the army tried to tempt the Macedonians into attacking me, while the other half marched through the forest to outflank the Macedonian line. My troops killed a lot of peltastai, but the Macedonians were not inclined to attack and so my men were eventually forced to attack the Macedonian phalanx line in order to pin them down. When the lines clashed and the Macedonians were committed, Gnaeus Hordeonius and his troops charged out of the forest on their flank.

https://img85.imageshack.us/img85/1486/ambush11di.jpg
Ambush force charging out of the forest

The Macedonian general countered well, ordering a countercharge of this attack with his remaining peltastai units, while the phalanx line desperately tried to reorganize to meet this new threat.
With the ambush infantry force held up it was now up to the cavalry, which I had joined by now, to take the point and charge the now undefended Macedonian flank.

https://img91.imageshack.us/img91/1603/ambush28lr.jpg
Lucius Aemilius leading the charge

Just as the Macedonians were about to crack their general countercharged and restored the Macedonian's flagging courage. Now the battle was beginning to move against us, but the ambush infantry finally arrived to complete the encirclement of the Macedonians and both the captain and general of the Macedonian force were slain. The battle became very disorganized, but eventually the enemy routed and was wiped out.

https://img91.imageshack.us/img91/4112/ambush34cx.jpg

Quote:

---

Legate Verginius,

You have been tasked with preventing the Macedonian armies invading from the north from entering Epirus. The lead invading army has entered the place known as Valley of Greeks with the intention of moving south into Epirus. You have intercepted it.

The Macedonian army is about 1000 men strong and is led by a captain. You command Legion II, slightly understrength. I am sure you will be able to annihilate this army, but, and I can't stress this enough, there are two more similar armies trailing this one, with similar intentions, and our reinforcements out of Italy are at least two or three seasons away. Do not take any unnecessary risks; your primary objective is preserving your force. Any delay or annihilation you can impart upon the Macedonians is a bonus. Good luck.

Tiberius Coruncanius.

---

So read the letter and so it was. The first of three invading Macedonian armies was before me, and it was to be stopped by a single Legion with few losses. Easier said than done.

https://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b...mac_attack.jpg

Upon sighting us, the Macedonian captain spurred him men after us. Though we had made the first aggressive move, their superiority in numbers gave them confidence enough to sieze the initiative. In response, I urged my men to the top of one of the high hills surrounding the valley. They men quickly tired, but they would get a chance to rest before the fight, while our enemies would not.

https://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b.../mac_march.jpg

As the Macedonian wave closed on us, we darkened the skies with pilia and lead and many an enemy fell. But for each man that died, nine more marched on.

https://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b...M/mac_hurl.jpg

Their approach was slow and tedious. Their energy sapped from the strong climb. Well before they reached our lines, I ordered the charge. The Triarii, Italian Spearmen and Principes rushed directly into the middle of the enemy, to anchor them in place and hold, while the Hastati, Velites and Italian Swordsmen caught the flanking troops. I personally led the cavalry charges with Secundus Salvidienus by my side. First we ran headlong into a group of Hypaspistai who were attempting to countercharge our left flank. Though not routing them, we killed two-thirds of them in a single charge, before moving off to engage the main body.

https://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b...ac_charge1.jpg

From there we charged, again and again, into the foe. Breaking their spirit and churning their exhausted bodies to pulp beneath the hooves of our horses. The Italian horsemen suffered greatly and all but two fell in the melee, but the Praetoria stood strong and inflicted great hurt upon the Macedonians.

https://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b...ac_charge2.jpg
https://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b...ac_charge3.jpg

At the same time, the Velites found their way around the enemy's left flank and put their light infantry to the rout.

https://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b..._velcharge.jpg

With both flanks broken, the enemy turned to flee and we cut them down with ease. Yet, one in five of our men had been injured and one in ten would not rise again. We are weakened and two more armies yet remain.

https://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b...ac_results.jpg
https://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b...mac_famous.jpg

Summer, 263 BC, West of Athens.

I, Publius Pansa enter the horizon of the battle from a high hill.. Shyly; since it is my first battle as the first commander, I order my men into formation. I put the two units of Italian Spearmen in the front, backed up with a unit of Hesitati, Principals and Italian Swordsmen each. I deploy the Velitas on the right flank. The tops aren't that far, and that will give the army a bonus to benifit throughly.
https://img139.imageshack.us/img139/563/image002ab7.jpg
The enemy forces appear on sight. Surprisingly, the general of the enemy army rides alone, daring the whole legion to kill him. And his wishs are carried out. I, with my tribune and a unit of Italian Cavalry charge through at him. Strangely, his army doesn't dare to step one foot in the direction of my units.. It seems the fame of Romans have has trembled their morale.
https://img460.imageshack.us/img460/259/image003up8.jpg
At all costs, I carry out my charge on the enemy general, and his brave -though weak- escort. They all die as the tip of our spears hit their chests. Only the general is alive still:
https://img144.imageshack.us/img144/629/image005dq7.jpg

I give the order to disengage and fall back, for I want the enemy general to be litterly slaughtered, to install more fear into the Greek warriors, and make them ponder with no avail. As soon as I retreat, I give the order to the Hesitati, Principals and Italian Swordsmen to rain him with Javelins, and they do. The greek general falls down with dozens of Javelines into his body.

After that scene, the army that came with the general froze still, and came the other army from the south, which was running up the hil, ranting, to better describe them.
https://img112.imageshack.us/img112/...mage004ys9.jpg
I order my legion into formation again, to face the incoming shivering masses of Hoplitais. The enemy Hoplitais charge my infantry, after being weared down by the many javs into their necks. After the initial charge, I gave the orders to my tribune, and the Italian Cavalry unit to sway around the enemy backs causing fear into their soul, and when I order to charge. A well corporated charge leads to a wave of screams that finally led to the whole greek army fleeing off the field.
https://img152.imageshack.us/img152/...mage007oe5.jpg
And now, remained the enemy general's army.. And it timidly standing there, with no desire to move.
https://img144.imageshack.us/img144/...mage008hf2.jpg
In a desperate try to stirr them up, I sent in the Velitas, to rain some death on them, with no avail.
https://img144.imageshack.us/img144/...mage009be8.jpg
I tried to march one of my units up.. But I couldn't, the passage was so narrow, close to impassable.
https://img144.imageshack.us/img144/...mage011ct6.jpg
And so, I kept on surrounding, maybe they will attack sometime.
https://img152.imageshack.us/img152/...mage013js3.jpg
The battleground is brutal. Too many gree bodies, no wonder they don't dare to come down.
https://img506.imageshack.us/img506/...mage014xa2.jpg

https://img144.imageshack.us/img144/...mage015ys1.jpg
I don't blame them.. Just look at their general.

https://img152.imageshack.us/img152/...mage016yt4.jpg

Battle End:
https://img152.imageshack.us/img152/...mage001ly6.jpg

Statistics:
https://img144.imageshack.us/img144/...mage017kn5.jpg

P.S. Do you guys have any idea why non of my men got healed !!! It is really annoying!

Autumn, 262 BC, North east of Corinth
https://img150.imageshack.us/img150/...mage002lo8.jpg

I order my men into formation, and fast they arrange. The men, so confident; for they intimidated the enemy last battle, march uniformly to the incoming army. Just another battle, another bloodshed near the beautiful river..

The 2 armies approach each other. The main enemy army is formed of 3 Hoplitai units and 1 Peltast unit, led by a man in one of the Hoplitai units, the assising army is formed of 1 Hoplitai unit, with it's captain in it. I send my Velitas unit to the right flank, in the rear of the enemy. And advance along with my tribune, and the Italian Cavalry unit, and stand still in the rear of the enemy, too. Bringing them fear, whole masses of fear. The enemy sends 2 Hoplitai units to the Roman mass of infantry, sends another Hoplitai chasing the Velitas unit and one last Hoplitai chasing me, and my companions.

https://img150.imageshack.us/img150/...mage003uh4.jpg

I manouver the Hoplitai unit, and strike down the enemy Peltasts unit, then order my tribune to charge it in the rear, causing it's men to flee in panic. I order the Italian Cavalry unit to chase it, and go along with my tribune to charge one of the Hoplitai units engaged with the infantry in the back, and we do so, causing it to flee, too. So, I chase it along with my tribune. The numbers of the other Hoplitai unit go down fast, considering it is surrounded from each side by brave Romans, and so it flees, as well. Now, the enemy 2 captains charge my infantry. Of course I haven't spotted this, as I was away mobbing up the runners, and after I did, I went back to the scene along with all the cavalry, and managed the army closely.

https://img144.imageshack.us/img144/...mage004hm1.jpg

Now, I wait for the right moment, and then order my tribune and the Italian Cavalry unit to charge the captain on the left, while I charge the one on the right. One second before our charges reached, both the captains died, and their men were dazzled for a second, allowing for an easier job for me, and all the cavalry. At all cost, as soon as the charge hits, all the enemy men rout.

https://img141.imageshack.us/img141/...mage005vf7.jpg

I start chasing those runners along with all the cavalry.. One unit almost had fled, but I managed to catch it at the last moment, before it went out of the horizon.

Battle end:

https://img141.imageshack.us/img141/...mage006fy2.jpg

Statistics:

https://img141.imageshack.us/img141/...mage007ey8.jpg

Winter, 262 BC, Corinth.

The filthy Greeks dared and attacked us.. A thing I haven't imagined, not at all..

https://img129.imageshack.us/img129/...mage002ho5.jpg

The battle starts, and I order all my men out of the town, at once. I first go and attack the weaker army, or in the other words, the one with Levi Hoplitais and a regular Hoplitai unit.

I first order the Spearmen to engage, and order the Principals and the Hesitati to charge in the rear, and the enemy routs. I chase the routers along with the other cavalry.

https://img92.imageshack.us/img92/3931/image003qr5.jpg

Then, I order the re-depolyment to face the other army, that was formed of a Spartian Hoplitai unit, and a regular Hoplitai unit.

https://img80.imageshack.us/img80/9190/image004ss9.jpg

The enemy army rattles our way..

https://img92.imageshack.us/img92/6246/image005ts6.jpg

The engagement is soon.

https://img78.imageshack.us/img78/5061/image006qd7.jpg

The Spartan Hoplitai unit tries to charge me, and so I retreat; along with all the cavalry of the army, and drag it away of the main event.

https://img106.imageshack.us/img106/...mage007pj8.jpg

So, I order my men to encircle the Hoplitai unit. And you know what happens next..

https://img146.imageshack.us/img146/...mage008bz4.jpg
https://img106.imageshack.us/img106/...mage009jo8.jpg
https://img146.imageshack.us/img146/...mage010to6.jpg

After that, I go back with the cavalry behind our now re-deployed infantry lines and wait the Spartan Hoplitai unit.

https://img92.imageshack.us/img92/6812/image011fz5.jpg

You know what happens next..

https://img291.imageshack.us/img291/...mage012hc7.jpg
https://img80.imageshack.us/img80/8636/image013eu8.jpg
https://img291.imageshack.us/img291/...mage014pf2.jpg
https://img112.imageshack.us/img112/...mage015bo4.jpg
https://img82.imageshack.us/img82/2376/image016bu0.jpg
https://img80.imageshack.us/img80/4885/image017zy9.jpg
https://img87.imageshack.us/img87/510/image018ui5.jpg
https://img82.imageshack.us/img82/2675/image019uk9.jpg

Game End:

https://img87.imageshack.us/img87/3246/image020ev4.jpg

Statistics:

https://img80.imageshack.us/img80/3097/image001hl2.jpg

Spring, 261 BC

The garrison of Scodra was besieged by a force many times their size which formed a solid ring of steel around the city walls. Without the aid of Legio II Sabina Quintia, they would surely die.

https://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b...dra_attack.jpg

And so, we marched on them, to save lives by taking them. Great efforts were made to get a message to Marcus Laevinus in the city, but the Macedonian pickets were too cunning. None of our attempts succeeded and we were forced to attack without a coordinated sally from the garrison. Legio II, heavily understrength, but with skill and pride enough for an entire Consular Army, formed up and prepared themselves for what was to come.

As the lines were drawn, the Funditores began harassing the enemy formations.

https://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b...odra_setup.jpg

After a prolonged bombardment, some of the Macedonians lost their discipline and deserted the main line in an attempt to rid themselves of the painful lead rain. This was exactly what I had hoped for. Legio II quickly enveloped the exposed Macedonians and slew them before their comrades could react.

https://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b...codra_draw.jpg

As the sounds of battle grew ever louder, a runner came to report that Marcus Laevinus had arrived with the Scodra garrison. His presence was most welcome, but the chaos of the scene prevented me from speaking with him personally and thus our forces operated independantly of one another. The Macedonians saw the new arrivals as well, and quickly sent a force of light cavalry to delay their progress.

https://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b..._maccharge.jpg

The garrions's Italian Skirmishers took many casualties in the initial charge, but held firm and eventually repelled the enemy horse. Seeing this, the Macedonian general himself led a charge on the garrison. His impact was vicious and men all over the field shuddered at the horror of the blow. The Italian Swordsmen melted before him and the survivors fled for their lives.

https://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b..._gencharge.jpg

Seeing his force in danger of collapsing against this onslaught, Marcus Laevinus orded the body into formation with Legio II and then went to cover their flank personally. He was intercepted by the Macedonian second in command and a great melee ensued. Many a foe was felled, but I fear that Marcus' inexperience in battle was his undoing. A shudder went through the Scodra garrison as news of his death spread.

https://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b...dra_marcus.jpg

Seeing the Scodra garrison about to break completely, Legio II's Tribune, Secundus Salvidienus, took the initiative and charged the men who had slain the brave Laevinus. With revenge formost in his mind, Salvidienus plunged his sword into the Macedonian's chest.

https://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b..._secondgen.jpg

With their commander avenged, most of the Scodra garrison regained their composure and returned to the fight. I joined Salvidienus and together we trapped and slew the commanding Macedonian general. Yet, for all that the main enemy line held firm. We surrounded it and they began to fall, but they inflicted a heavy price.

https://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b...codra_main.jpg

Every man on the field was called on to ensure that the Macedonians were finally broken. The Funditores, their lead long since exhausted, were led into the melee while the two Italian Cavalrymen who had survived the previous battle were sent after the enemy skirmishers. In a remarkable feat of bravery, they single-handedly routed and slew in excess of forty of them.

https://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b...iancavalry.jpg

Eventually the Macedonians fell, until but a single group of spearmen remained. With one last, great effort, these men were surrounded and eliminated.

https://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b...codra_last.jpg

The battle had been won, Scodra had been saved, but at a high price. A Senator has fallen in the line of battle and Legio II is less than half the strength of a full Legion.

https://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b...ra_results.jpg
https://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b...odra_death.jpg
https://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b...dra_famous.jpg

The Macedonian armies continue to flood the passes with no end, yet we have received no reinforcements and the situation is growing dire. I can only hope that the next report the Senate receives from Legio II does not recount my own fate.

A letter from Numerius Aureolus to his wife:

Dear Lucilla,

If this letter reaches you, then our courier has managed to evade the Macedonians besieging us at Pella. Do not panic, my beloved, although the Macedonian army outside the walls is formiddable, the First Consul is well prepared and if so ordered, Legio VI is can reach us within a season. Your father, ex-Consul Verginus, is safe in Scoda although I fear somewhat for your uncle Decius Laevinus, who is besieged in Corinth with only a band of mercenaries as an escort.

My main reason for writing, however, is to pass on news of Legate Publius Pansa's capture of Athens. I know that you are interested in military matters and believe this victory is significant. The Athenian garrison, led by a general of the highest calibre, Damiskos of Hestiaeotis, sallied out of the city when they heard of the arrival of a relief forces. Publius, with 496 men, outnumbered both the sallying force of 260 and the relief force of 361, but it was imperative to defeat them in turn rather than allow them to combine forces. Perhaps the greatest obstacle to this, aside from the calibre of the enemy general, was the presence of two phalanxes of elite hoplitai in the sallying force.

The battle opened with the elite hoplites forcing their way into the centre of the Roman line. Publius met them with Greek spearmen and hastati, while working principes and mercenary Gallic warriors around their flanks.

https://img47.imageshack.us/img47/1539/athens1sg6.jpg

Publius himself drove away a few Greek light cavalry and then assisted the Italian swordsmen in fighting a phalanx of levy hoplites. That particular fight was nearly over when the Greek hetairoi arrived - a small contingent assisted the levies:

https://img206.imageshack.us/img206/8383/athens2dy7.jpg

A larger body of hetairoi, led by Damiskos himself, charged towards the backs of the principes who had encircled the elite hoplites. Fortunately, the centurion commanding the principes had seen the threat and ordered his men to disengage from fighting the hoplites and to advance to meet the hetairoi.

https://img123.imageshack.us/img123/9954/athens3cn9.jpg

The clash of hetairoi against principes was brutal, but by good fortune, Damiskos was slain in the initial impact - taking something off the bite of the Greek counterattack. Soon after Publius was able to assist the principes in destroying the hetairoi. The elite Greek hoplites then broke, already surrounded and now demoralised by the death of their general.

Publius's focussed on running down the fleeing elite hoplites before they reached the safety of the city walls. However, the relief Greek army turned, making as if to exit the field of battle. Hurriedly, the Romans began a pursuit and then the relief force turned about once more, resulting in a messing initial engagement.

https://img150.imageshack.us/img150/7841/athens4sl1.jpg

Slowly, the Romans began to encircle the three levy phalanxes in the Greek relief force. Publius himself returned from pursuing the routers, to charge one phalanx in the flank:

https://img113.imageshack.us/img113/7125/athens5xj9.jpg

and then another in the rear:

https://img113.imageshack.us/img113/5360/athens6vd1.jpg

Unsure whether Athens would fall after the defeat of the two Greek armies, Publius led his own escort alone on a raid into the city's central forum. Pursuing routing Greeks through open city gates, they braved the arrows and boiling oil coming from the towers. They then made their way through the streets of the great city, riding over the few Greek levees who tried to obstruct them and claiming the settlement for Rome.

https://img512.imageshack.us/img512/138/athens7jh1.jpg

Not a single Greek from the combined force of 621 survived the battle. Publius's own casualties totalled 106 and he claimed a heroic victory.

My dear, the war in Greece and Macedon rages like a great forest fire. Everywhere Roman armies are outnumbered and besieged. But if our men fight as well as at Athens, I have no doubt we will prevail.

Your husband,

Numerius Aureolus

=========================================================================

Sparta, Summer, 261 BC

https://img139.imageshack.us/img139/...mage002hg4.jpg

My speech to my men:

"We are outnumbered, for every man in our army there are 2 in the greek's. BUT! Fear not
great soldiers, for we; Romans are worth 10 times the Greeks, and by that, we outnumber
them 5 men to one. YES! Romans, we are ROMANS!"

The sound of the sword clashing with the shiels echoes into the horizon. Fear grows in
the greek's hearts. Shivering they start, wheeping they do..

"TO THE BATTLE!!!"

I order my men into formation. As usual:

https://img291.imageshack.us/img291/...mage003fk5.jpg

A brave, rather foolish greek comrade dares to challenge my legions. His brothers' fate
will be no bettter, nonetheless.

https://img291.imageshack.us/img291/...mage004dp2.jpg

I order my men to advance into the city plaza, and they do so hastly. I move forward to
distract the timidated camping units of Hoplitais, and even Spartian Hoplitais.

https://img291.imageshack.us/img291/81/image005wh6.jpg

My men are put into formation, and are ready to engage the city plaza. My goal now
is to keep the Spartian Hoplitai unit away of contact with my men till the already
'being dealt with' Hoplitai unit dies.

https://img215.imageshack.us/img215/...mage006es8.jpg

As soon as the Hoplitai unit dies, I engage the one and only greek unit left in the city:
The Spartian Hoplitai unit.. The legends of the greek world. My men surround them and
soon their general is cut down to pieces.

https://img80.imageshack.us/img80/6995/image009ug3.jpg

Battle End:

https://img80.imageshack.us/img80/4254/image010ee8.jpg

Statistics:

https://img478.imageshack.us/img478/...mage001gk8.jpg

The battle of Massila ford, Winter 261

The man and his army:

https://img264.imageshack.us/img264/...ssilia1lp0.jpg

The enemy army:

https://img394.imageshack.us/img394/...ssilia2tz1.jpg

The enemy general:

https://img394.imageshack.us/img394/52/massilia3ao6.jpg

The first wave of Gauls attacks:

https://img264.imageshack.us/img264/...ssilia4at8.jpg

The Gauls make it across the ford before the Romans can deploy:

https://img380.imageshack.us/img380/...ssilia5yc4.jpg

Manius enthusiastically throws himself into the Roman counterattack, slaughtering the isolated Gallic lead elements:

https://img178.imageshack.us/img178/...ssilia6au2.jpg

The battle soon develops into a confused affair, with Manius pushing on deep into the first wave of the Gallic attack. For some reason, half the Gallic army remains on the other bank with their general:

https://img178.imageshack.us/img178/...ssilia7xu6.jpg

Ultimately, the Roman defenders rout the first wave of the Gallic assault, thanks to the Roman infantry acting as an anvil and Manius’s own cavalry being the hammer:

https://img178.imageshack.us/img178/...ssilia8oq1.jpg

https://img209.imageshack.us/img209/...ssilia9fp0.jpg

However, the battle is not over yet: the second wave of the Gallic army advances across the ford:

https://img371.imageshack.us/img371/...silia10kj9.jpg

and throws itself against the hastati:

https://img121.imageshack.us/img121/...silia11td6.jpg

On the Roman right, a lengthy duel begins between the Manius and the Gallic general:

https://img242.imageshack.us/img242/...silia12ia6.jpg

Gallic slingers charge into the rear of Manius’s escort and for a moment, he thinks he is done for. But then he realises - those are his slingers; mercenaries!

https://img428.imageshack.us/img428/...silia13mo9.jpg

Now, it looks like Manius will surely prevail over the Gallic cavalry:

https://img428.imageshack.us/img428/...silia14za5.jpg

However, Manius withdraws from the melee and the Gallic cavalry massacre the mercenary slingers:

https://img355.imageshack.us/img355/...silia15po6.jpg

The Gallic general then pursues Manius and engages him in hand-to-hand combat:

https://img341.imageshack.us/img341/...silia16um6.jpg

Manius is severely wounded and unhorsed, assumed dead by the Gauls and Romans alike:

https://img304.imageshack.us/img304/...silia17jb2.jpg

Flush with their triumph over Manius, the Gallic cavalry charge into the flank of the Roman infantry holding the centre against the Gallic warbands:

https://img522.imageshack.us/img522/...silia18ri0.jpg

The Gallic flank charge, so soon after the news of the loss of their general, causes a chain rout amongst the Roman centre:

https://img221.imageshack.us/img221/...silia19sf4.jpg

Soon, the Roman army is falling back in disarray with only a handful of brave triarii protecting the eagle:

https://img221.imageshack.us/img221/...silia20kp7.jpg

The Gallic general is filled with bloodlust and wades into the triarii, slaying them left and right around him:

https://img221.imageshack.us/img221/...silia21sx4.jpg

Until the triarii too, run, desperately trying to take the eagle back to safety:

https://img191.imageshack.us/img191/...silia22tq4.jpg

In the distance, a strong cohort of principes can be seen. They are the only formed Roman unit left on the battlefield. These are fine troops - among the best heavy infantry in the entire ancient world.

https://img192.imageshack.us/img192/...silia23zz1.jpg

By their delaying action, they buy time for the some of the rest of the army to rally and regroup:

https://img401.imageshack.us/img401/...silia24rp1.jpg

However, the principes themselves are isolated and soon surrounded:

https://img376.imageshack.us/img376/...silia25uo5.jpg

The morale of the rallied Roman units in the centre remains fragile and they slowly dissolve. The triari defending the eagle rally but then are cut down, with the eagle being claimed by the Gallic general:

https://img401.imageshack.us/img401/...silia26vl1.jpg

The principes on the Roman left are surrounded and outnumbered:
https://img244.imageshack.us/img244/...silia27iq6.jpg

Shamefully, they break:

https://img451.imageshack.us/img451/...silia28ak9.jpg

With the flight of the principes, the heart goes out of the Roman army and it dissolves in a general rout:
https://img451.imageshack.us/img451/...silia29jr1.jpg

hv = heroic victory
v = clear victory
ad = average defeat
d = clear defeat
cd = close defeat

Factions destroyed :
- Illyria
- The kingdom of Macedon
- Gaul
- The Greek Cities

Illyrian casualties : 757 men
Roman casualties : 62 men
Average kill ratio : 12.2 - 1

Macedonian casualties : 5316 men
Roman casualties : 1598 men
Average kill ratio : 3.3 - 1
Macedonian ships sunk : 0 ships
Roman ships sunk : 0 ships

Gaul casualties : 1489 men
Roman casualties : 297 men
Average kill ratio : 5.0 - 1

Greek casualties : 1782 men
Roman casualties : 280 men
Average kill ratio : 6.4 - 1
Greek ships sunk : 5 ships
Roman ships sunk : 1 ship

Thrace casualties : 8965 men
Roman casualties : 1489 men
Average kill ratio : 6.0 - 1

Carthage casualties : 1846 men
Roman casualties : 1103 men
Average kill ratio : 1.7 - 1
Carthage ships sunk : 9 ships
Roman ships sunk : 1 ship

Ptolemy casualties : 1544 men
Roman casualties : 260 men
Average kill ratio : 5.9 - 1
Ptolemy ships sunk : 8 ships
Roman ships sunk : 2 ships

Seleucid casualties : 1376 men
Roman casualties : 582 men
Average kill ratio : 2.4 - 1

Rebel casualties : 705 men
Roman casualties : 225 men
Average kill ratio : 3.1 - 1
Rebel ships sunk : 1 ship
Roman ships sunk : 0 ships

Total enemy casualties : 23780 men
Total Roman casualties : 5896 men
Average kill ratio : 4.0 - 1
Total enemy ships sunk : 23 ships
Total Roman ships sunk : 4 ships

After the news of the capture of the legionary eagle of the Legio III Sicilia Aemilia, the soldiers of the Legio I Italia Victrix were demoralized and reluctant to sally forth from camp. I, Lucius Aemilius, ordered the centurions to assemble the men on the parade ground and I noticed that here and there threats had to be made to compell the troops to obey. Once they formed up in cohorts and in formation they quickly regained their composure when their natural discipline reasserted itself. I rode up in front of them in battle armour and spoke to them :

Soldiers of the Legio I Italy Victrix ! You have heard the terrible news about the Legio III, but there is some good news also. The senate has seen fit to appoint me consul in this dark hour. You all know me, some of you have fought under my command for twenty years already. I'll turn this twist of fate right round. Our brothers of the Legio III need our help against the Gauls, but we have to hold off these damn Thracians. So I have ordered for Augustus Verginius to travel to the West and to teach those Gauls the meaning of Roman wrath ! They still tell horror stories each night of his last visit. I sent a messenger to that goat-raping king of theirs to warn them and he pissed his pants right there and then ! They shall not have the eagle for long, Jupiter will see to that !
As for you sorry lot, moping and whining like these Illyrian camp women. It's disgusting ! You've got some making up to do ! You, you call that standing at attention ? If Mars saw you like this he would send down the furies to take our eagle away as well ! We'd better show good old Mars what kind of men we really are ! We are the elite ! Who are we ?

Legio Italy I Victrix, sah !

What do they call me ?

Lucius the Victor, sah !!

Are you ready to give me another victory ?

Yes, sah !!!

Roma Victor !

ROMA VICTOR !!!!!

And so the the legion marched out of town, in perfect formation I might add, singing a sordid marching song. The Thracians were so appalled by this show of fearlesness that they almost forgot to attack. We managed to position ourselves well before they dared to move.
https://img242.imageshack.us/img242/5736/battle0wz3.jpg
Terrified by my cheerful men only a small force dared to charge us outright and were promptly enveloped and routed. I and the italian cavalry followed in hot pursuit.
https://img475.imageshack.us/img475/737/battle1qx2.jpg
https://img475.imageshack.us/img475/7848/battle2lu0.jpg
https://img475.imageshack.us/img475/1272/battle3hi7.jpg
The second wave was a more serious attack, including a force of powerful bastearnii, but Gnaeus Hordeonius was there to smash them in the flank.
https://img475.imageshack.us/img475/732/battle4hd3.jpg
This second attack routed it was time to launch the counterattack. My men quickmarched in formation and formed up close to the remaining Thracian forces, who still outnumbered us. The moment the line was reformed I ordered the charge.
https://img445.imageshack.us/img445/4779/battle5zg6.jpg
https://img445.imageshack.us/img445/398/battle6wo3.jpg
A charge by my praetorians folded their left flank, closely followed by a charge by Gnaeus Hordeonius on their right flank. His charge was like a drill on Mars field. If you look closely you can see a Thracian been catapulted through the air.
https://img282.imageshack.us/img282/8866/battle7vp2.jpg
https://img282.imageshack.us/img282/1629/battle8hg4.jpg
Still the remaining Thracian troops, surrounded now, doggedly fought on, but they broke after one more charge by me and Gnaeus Hordeonius.
https://img313.imageshack.us/img313/4928/battle9ud2.jpg
After the last Thracian was slain, my troops looked around dazedly and bewildered, as men will do after a battle with no one left to kill. Then the cheering began.
ROMA VICTOR !
LUCIUS THE VICTOR !
ROMA VICTOR !
https://img313.imageshack.us/img313/...attle10zz5.jpg
The cheers on the battlefield were so loud the must have been heard in all the nearby Thracian towns and villages. It went on for quite some time.
https://img241.imageshack.us/img241/...attle11zq7.jpg

Our watchtower at the Danube had reported more Thracian forces moving southwest towards Aquileia. Having left Gnaeus Hordeonius in charge of the occupation of Segestica, I, Lucius Aemilius, commander of the Legio I Italia Victrix, intercepted the largest of the Thracian hordes. The terrain was not very favourable, but we could hardly let the enemy pass by and so I decided to offer battle. The Thracians are very adept in fighting in the woods and I found myself on a forested hillside where my cavalry would be useless. Accordingly I tried to lure them into the open by placing my battle line in the unforested area.
https://img468.imageshack.us/img468/603/hill0sy5.jpg

This seemed to succeed at first, but just before their usual charge en masse they retreated and Thracians appeared running from the woods on our right flank, which was held by a unit of Italian swordsmen. It was an excellent move on their commander's part, and I quickly responded by sending another cohort of Italian swordsmen from my left flank to help them out. I held the Roman troops in reserve untill the commander's plan was clear.
https://img91.imageshack.us/img91/9219/hill1bv6.jpg

Then I heard the hardpressed Italian swordsmen centurion shout out : General, Flanking manouver !!!
Using their natural stealth in the forest, the Thracians were attempting to circle round our right flank and attack the embattled Italian swordsmen in the back. I immediately reacted by ordering the orginal reinforcements to attack the Thracian ambushers instead. This still left the orginal right flank without reinforcements and so I ordered another cohort, of hestati this time, to rush to the aid of our beleagered auxilia.
https://img89.imageshack.us/img89/5223/hill2wr1.jpg

The lightly armoured auxilia had taken severe losses against the heavy Thracian infantry, slashing away at them with their deadly falxes, but our men doggedly stood their ground. As the battle was a stalemate I ordered the Principes to break formation and encircle the Thracian right flank. The other cohort of Italian swordsmen, fighting the Thracian ambushers, were also in need of assistence. I sent in my skirmishers to outflank the Thracian ambushers.
https://img104.imageshack.us/img104/1841/hill3ip5.jpg
https://img104.imageshack.us/img104/2908/hill4jt8.jpg

Now our forces were evenly matched and the Thracians were becoming encircled. Still the Thracians were not about to give up. Then they broke trough at our right flank, creating a dangerous situation. If the Italian swordsmen, encircled now, panicked, my entire right flank might fold. Accordingly, I send in all the remaining troops, the triarii to attack the Thracians in the rear and the Italian spearmen to block the gap and save their brothers, the Italian swordsmen.
https://img88.imageshack.us/img88/1026/hill5sk5.jpg
https://img88.imageshack.us/img88/306/hill6qq8.jpg

The spearmen attacked with gusto and rescued their friends and this setback was the straw that broke the Thracian morale and they routed, pursued by the legion.
Our cavalry had meanwhile been luring the Thracian commander away on a wild goose chase. When he saw his men running from the woods in terror he realised he had lost and attempted to withdraw. This was the moment to strike and I ordered the charge.
https://img125.imageshack.us/img125/2993/hill7yc7.jpg

When I cornered them against a cliff, they bravely turned and fought, but we ground them under the hooves of our horses. https://img206.imageshack.us/img206/1462/hill8eb6.jpg

I beheaded their commander's corpse and ordered the sole cowering surviving Thracian to carry it back to their King, with the warning that such will be the fate of all Thracians who set foot on Roman soil.
https://img143.imageshack.us/img143/1606/hill9rx6.jpg

Of the Italian swordsmen, who were at the center of the fighting, only 14 men were still standing. If they had broken, the battle might have been lost. I commended them in front of the rest of the troops and they did not want for drink or fellowship in the camp that night. Truly, this is the Legio I Italia Victrix !

Roma Victor !

Legate Augustus Verginius gazed at the city that lay before him. Its architecture was heavily influenced by the Greek style and, from a distance, it appeared to be a civilized and peaceful place.

"Civilized..." Verginius sneered, "there is no civilization here."

He looked back at his men. All of Legio II was forming up for battle behind him.

"Nor shall there be peace."

https://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b...ria_attack.jpg

The Illyrian people had been shattered by decades of war. First with the Macedonians, then with the Greeks, then with the Romans. They had stubbornly refused to allow any encroachment upon their homelands. They had won great victories against the mightiest armies that civilization could throw against them, but those victories had cost many lives and Illryria's veterans watered the fields with their blood. Now, in the end, there were only untrained warbands and slaves left to oppose Rome.

Still, these men fought with passion and rage. As Legio II approached the city, a great mass of men poured from the streets to engage in one final gesture of defiance.

https://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b...yria_sally.jpg

They were met in the streets by the Roman infantry, whose skill and discipline held the enemy charge almost effortlessly.

https://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b...a_mainline.jpg

The last Illyrian king, Temeia, joined in the melee with the last handful of trained Illyrian warriors. The Roman Equites could not be restrained at the sight of him. There had been rumors circulating amongst the Legion that the loss of the Eagle of Legio III had been partially due to a mistake made by the Equites of that Legion. Whether true or not, their counterparts in Legio II felt they had to prove their worth. The Illyrian king's men were the veterans of countless battles. Tough, battle-hardened warriors who had faced the best armies that the Greeks and Macedonians could field. Yet the Equites, in their determination to wipe clean any doubts about their abilities, cut through them with ease. Soon Temeia was surrounded by Roman horsemen and cut down.

https://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b...a_lastking.jpg

The remaining men of the Illyrian battleline attempted to flee after this loss, but there was no where to go. They were cut down in the streets and the occupation of the city began. Yet, in the town square a mass of Illyrian slaves had gathered, rallied to the cause by the whips of their masters. Yet, even with the Illyrian nation broken and their overseers dead, they fulfilled their vow and fought. It was a glorious charge, the last of an entire nation.

https://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b...lastcharge.jpg

Their ferocity inflicted a few casualties on the Hastati who received them, but they were only slaves. Soon the entire Illyrian nation was reduced to a few poorly armed slaves encircled by an entire Legion of Roman soldiers.

https://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b..._laststand.jpg

And so ended the independant Illyrian nation. For the first time in history, a non-Italian people had been completely and totally conquered and subjugated by the might of Rome. It would be the first of many.

https://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b...ia_results.jpg
https://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b..._destroyed.jpg

With Legio VI I was approaching the Macedonian town of Bylazora and was making plans to assault it. However the Macedonians, seemingly gathering their entire army together and led by as fine a general as they possesed were determined to drive me back.

https://img63.imageshack.us/img63/39...board01rz8.jpg

Outnumbered by 2.5 to 1 (1635 Macedonians to the 650 men of Legio VI) I decided to make a fighting withdrawal. Sending the baggage train on ahead, I made a stand at a wooded mountain pass. My plan was to use my archers & pelasts to inflict casualties on the Macedonians as they advanced, then pull back into the woods and retreat knowing that their slow, plodding Phalanxes would be unable to pursue me.

https://img77.imageshack.us/img77/49...board02wp8.jpg

Down in the plain below I could see the 3 Macedonian armies forming up and advancing

https://img77.imageshack.us/img77/78...board03lv3.jpg

https://img77.imageshack.us/img77/39...board04fu3.jpg

As the battle lines closed my missile units concentrated on their more lightly armoured troops and inflicted more than a few casualties. As their line approached I could see the possibility of envelopment and ordered a withdrawal. Unfortunately panic at the large numbers of enemy overcame my men and many of them ran every which way except the way they were meant to. My cohort of Roman cavalry ran straight at the Phalanx in their panic, my Thracian infantry ran down the hill (teach me to use barbarian mercenaries), my archers just stood there and refused to obey orders.

Eventually I managed to to the legion off the battlefield and into the mountain but our losses had been unacceptably high, though we had also given them a bloody nose. My anger at the refusal of my men to obey a simple order to withdraw has barely subsided as I write this report from my headquarters in Pella. Thankfully most of the 150 odd casualties were mercenaries rather than sons of Rome.

https://img77.imageshack.us/img77/64...board05ba9.jpg

Not long after, I got a chance for a small measure of revenge when a unit of Macedonian reinforcements - a single unit of slingers - attempting to head north and rejoin their main army passed too close to Pella and was spotted. Riding out with all 46 of my horsemen I killed all 61 of them for the loss of 1 cavalryman.

https://img78.imageshack.us/img78/64...board06rt9.jpg

"Right then lads, this is it, no going back this time. Too many bloody armchair generals in Rome questioned my decision to withdraw last time. Said I didn't have the guts! Said the 6th didn't have what it took to beat the Macedonians!

GAH! What does some snotty nosed little teenager in the scriptorium know about fighting, eh? I've killed more Gauls than he's had hot dinners!

But still, this is your time, the time when the 6th writes its own story. Its days like today, victories like today, where a legion achieves immortality. Win the battle, and your children, and their children, in decades to come, will say with pride in their voice and a twinkle in their eye, 'yes, Paionia, my ancestors fought there!"

The plan is simple. We are vastly outnumbered, but the enemy is split in three. We must take advantage of this and defeat his armies one by one. The first engagement will be decisive. We must rout their first army before the other 2 arrive. Do this and the day is ours!


Amulius marshalls his troops for battle

https://img88.imageshack.us/img88/98...board07ei5.jpg



The first Macedonian army is close, the other 2 are in the distance

https://img106.imageshack.us/img106/...board08el6.jpg


The lines clash.

https://img106.imageshack.us/img106/...board09ro7.jpg


Under pressure, the Macedonian line begins to waver, but their Chalkispedes stand firm

https://img106.imageshack.us/img106/...board10yr3.jpg


Amulius chases away 3 units of Peltasts from the rear of Macedonian line, but he can only fight one at a time. The other 2 stand back and pepper his bodygaurd with javelins. The result is inevitable...

https://img125.imageshack.us/img125/...board11lm2.jpg


His surviving bodyguards try in vain to escape the waves of javelins

https://img88.imageshack.us/img88/91...board12bz0.jpg


Over on the right flank Herennius Genucius also suffers at the hands of the Peltasts whilst charging into the rear of a Macedonian Phalanx

https://img88.imageshack.us/img88/67...board13rs6.jpg


Despite being surrounded, and repeatedly charged by the Roman infantry and under a hail of missile fire, the Chalkispedes have managed to hold on long enough for their 2nd wave to arrive. The heavy cavalry have a dispersed and tired enemy to charge into

https://img125.imageshack.us/img125/...board14ix4.jpg


Legio VI breaks and runs

https://img55.imageshack.us/img55/35...board15we1.jpg


The result. Note the decisive effect the arrival of Argeos of Pharsalus had

https://img88.imageshack.us/img88/52...board16ht4.jpg

https://img88.imageshack.us/img88/38...board17ie3.jpg

https://img55.imageshack.us/img55/62...board20kr2.jpg



The situation on the Roman - Macedon border following the defeat

https://img164.imageshack.us/img164/...board21eh4.jpg

Galerius Vatinius hands a young boy a message.

"Yes, ride on ahead and take this to Rome. Those damned senators would perhaps rather have me dead, but I want them to get the report of my victory even before I arrive there myself."

The boy gallops ahead, full speed towards Rome.

The message reads:

Lucania, Summer 259 B.C.
"Greetings, my beloved senators. I thought perhaps you should be informed of my adventure this beautiful summer day. As I was already on my way to Rome, I was given command of two cohorts of regional infantry by Consul Aemilius to bring up as reinforcements. Along the way, we recieved news of a small rebel force having assembled near the border of Campania, threatening a little village in the area. I was given the order to attack."
https://img153.imageshack.us/img153/...ebattlevw1.jpg

"My first battle. Standing against me, the suicidal Captain Herennius had gathered up a small force of rebellious Samnites from the area and awaited our attack."
https://img225.imageshack.us/img225/1623/battle2oj8.jpg

"As I rode towards the soon-to-be-dead rebel scum, Mount Vesuvius bellowed out smoke almost in anticipation for the battle ahead."
https://img228.imageshack.us/img228/686/battle1cr6.jpg

"We approached to within 10 meters of the enemy. They dared not move. I ordered the swordmen on the right flank to release their pila into the sides of the men ahead."
https://img228.imageshack.us/img228/5440/battle3df7.jpg

"Immediately after those were depleted, I ordered the spearmen in the center to charge, as I rode forward on the left flank and the swordmen advanced on the right to get behind Herrenius' force."
https://img223.imageshack.us/img223/6582/battle4dw4.jpg

"I ordered a charge by the swordmen into the rear/left flank of the enemy. I watched on as the Samnites were enveloped.
https://img224.imageshack.us/img224/6154/battle5ko7.jpg

"I was feeling a bit ill this day, so I waited a little while till their numbers were thinner before I lead the decisive charge into the exposed rebel rear/right flank."
https://img84.imageshack.us/img84/3665/battle6pt0.jpg

"Captain Herennius was immediately killed, and the remaining Samnites fought to their bloody deaths as they were surrounded with nowhere to run. The men cheered after the destruction of the enemy under my leadership."
https://img147.imageshack.us/img147/9687/battle7gd1.jpg

"I will be with you by the Autumn, senators. I see Senator Servius has been sent away to fetch the legionary standard somewhere... how fortunate, just before my arrival."

In the summer of 259, the Roman army camp at Pella was in a state of confusion. Troops had converged there from many different places; some were the survivors of Legion VI, some were from the I Field Army coming from Thessalonica, and yet others were from various garrisons. Some of them were combat ready, some were not. Many nations were represented; in addition to Romans and Italians, there were Greeks, Thracians, Gauls, and Illyrians. Consul Lucius Aemilius had promised to organize this mess under the I Field Army, to being operations in Autumn, but the senior commander at Pella, Tiberius Coruncanius, could not wait that long, for there was a Macedonian army, under Argeos of Pharsalus, passing nearby. Tiberius took it upon himself to mobilize the army, but this proved difficult. Some units were truly not ready for combat, while some commanders falsely claimed combat unreadiness of their units. Others refused to follow orders because they had not recieved an official order instructing them to be attached to the I Field Army. Some had to be dismissed, a few threats had to be made, but the army marched from Pella, 688 strong.

https://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y2...deployment.jpg

The enemy army was weak. It consisted mostly of skirmishers, peltasts and slingers, along with some Thracians, cavalry, and a few phalangites. Tiberius didn't complain much, as Argeos and peltasts were exactly the sorts of people he wanted to kill, although he did occasionally remark on how stupid the Macedonians were to actually allow this army to enter Roman territory.

https://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y2...de18/start.jpg
The opposing armies deploy.

The Macedonian army deployed on the side of a hill, and Tiberius decided to attack the hill from the right, where a small ridge offered the shallowest approach.

https://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y2...ude18/hill.jpg
Roman army stands before the hill.

Flavius Pacuvius, the army's Tribune, was a little worried.

"We will take many casualties charging up that hill at that many peltasts," he said.

"Indeed so," Tiberius responded, "better send in the Greeks, Gauls, and Thracians first."

"And the rest?"

"Yeah, they'll get up there too. No hurry, though."

The merecenaries charged up the hill as ordered and attacked. The Romans followed at a relaxed pace.

https://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y2...e18/engage.jpg
The Thracians engage on the left flank, the Gauls in the center, and the Greeks and Italians on the right, as the Romans look on.

As most of the Macedonian army committed to the battle with the first wave, the Roman troops moved around and through the gaps to attack the flanks.

https://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y2...e18/romans.jpg
The Macedonian center breaks as the Hastati enter the battle. On the right, another unit of Hastati charge from the flank.

The Macedonian center broke first, followed quickly by the left and right flanks. At this point, Argos of Pharsalus with his bodyguard and some Thracian cavalry entered the battle on the left side (bottom of hill). Tiberius, along with most of the Roman army, charged at him down the hill.

https://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y2...e18/charge.jpg
The entire Roman army charges at Argos.

This he could not take, and began to flee. Tiberius gave chase personally.

https://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y2...e18/coward.jpg
"COME BACK HERE YOU COWARD!!!"

But Argos flees better than he fights, and he could not be caught. So, Argos escaped, as did many of the peltasts. Still, Tiberius was not very upset. If this is the army the Macedonians were able to deploy, he reasoned, then no Macedonian has a very long life expectancy. Only 14 Romans died that day, and many mercenaries.

https://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y2...18/results.jpg

https://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y2...de18/stats.jpg

Seeing their way blockaded to Aquileia by the Legio I Italia Victrix, the Thracian horde moves eastward, bypassing Segestica, toward Delmatia, the nearest Roman town without walls. We catch up with them before they can reach it.

Their army has taken up position on a large hill, and is a good representation of the vastness of the Thracian Kingdom. They have Gauls, Greeks, Germans, Sarmatians and Thracians troops. It seems like a rabble, but they are powerfull warriors led by a famous warchief, Cornosikus.
https://img75.imageshack.us/img75/8327/lucius1oe2.jpg

We rush up the hill and manage to form a line while being worried by some Bastarnea who have gone beserk and are troubling our deployment. They will continue to harass us from inside our lines during the entire battle. The Thracian army charges fearlessly and my weakened legion is pushed back. Pushed back Hard !
https://img150.imageshack.us/img150/9258/lucius2md3.jpg

Our lines begin to bend as our first line is pushed back on the second. Our troops begin to crack. Legate Lucius Aemilius and all the cavalry charge in on their flank without regard for their safety. The Thracians take heavy casualties, but do not break and resume their drive against our line in the middle of a vicous melee.
https://img147.imageshack.us/img147/5164/lucius3ad5.jpg

As the cavalry gets bogged down, Lucius Aemilius orders them to withdraw before they start to take heavy casualties, but he can't resist hanging back to skewer a few more Thracians before he follows them.
https://img145.imageshack.us/img145/8450/lucius4ei0.jpg
https://img291.imageshack.us/img291/9466/lucius5hw8.jpg

The Thracian warlord has broken trough our lines entirely and is attacking our skirmishers in the back. The situation is critical. My men are sensing defeat is imminent !
https://img141.imageshack.us/img141/2193/lucius6ej1.jpg

In the nick of time the cavalry returns. Lucius Aemilius charges the Thracian general and cuts him down, while the Gaul Noble cavalry charges the Thracian horde in the back.
https://img135.imageshack.us/img135/4336/lucius7cw0.jpg
https://img240.imageshack.us/img240/8203/lucius8xp9.jpg
https://img240.imageshack.us/img240/8990/lucius9jm0.jpg

The Thracians break and are pursued mercilessly.
https://img47.imageshack.us/img47/7145/lucius10fg5.jpg
https://img142.imageshack.us/img142/...victoryvf7.jpg

Our losses seem light, but realize that most Thracians died in the rout. If their general had not been killed, it is very likely these figures would be the other way around.

Taken? TAKEN!

First the Eagle, now an entire province. This will be the last, I swear it by the blood of my Roman fathers. So many Roman colonists in Jenuensis... so many good citizens. Some might say that Jenuensis is still a Gallic city, but they know nothing. It is a Roman city built from the ashes in the style of the Capitoline Hill itself. The Gauls that used to live here are either dead or in chains, serving those of true blood who have taken this place for their home.

Jenuensis is a place of civility and honor. The citizens here have constructed glorious gardens...

https://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b...s_fountain.jpg

...they have built monuments to our noble fathers...
https://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b...sis_statue.jpg

...and now the DAMNED GAULS DEFECATE IN FRONT OF THE GOVERNOR'S OWN HOME!
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It was not a battle, it was a demonstration of what the future holds for all Gauls. This was holy justice inflicted with the mighty wrath of Romulus whose sword was the Roman people. Italians and other allies had no place in this battle. I left Tribune Gnaeus Hordeonius with the auxilia and took the Hastati, Principes and Triarii into the streets myself. The Gauls faced pure, unrestrained Roman fury, undiluted by less passionate souls.

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The Gallic general who led this offense to humanity attempted to inspire his men with personal bravery.

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We slew him in a moment, hardly breaking step. Not a word was said, not a battlecry, not a taunt, not a single whisper. The fury of the men had no expression in voice, so they expressed it in silence. The intense anger on their faces and the total quiet of the army terrified the enemy to their very souls, or would have if Gauls possessed them. The cowards, unable to match our discipline, gave a great cry and charged as one.

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The front ranks took the charge in total silence. There was only the screams of the enemy and the clash of steel on wood. We held like this for a moment. Then we loosed all of the anger of the entire Republic upon this band of beasts. Such a shout of fury the world has never heard. I swear to you I saw many of them fall, mortally wounded, from the mere sound of it. The rest fell to our blades. It was not a battle; no ranks were held, no manaeuvers taken. Men of all classes, Hastati, Principes, Triarii and Praetoria moved as one to eliminate this evil. I cannot count the number of bodies that I slashed at, I only remember being unable to find any more.

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When the last man fell, the silence returned. There was no cheering at the victory, for it was not a battle. A man does not cheer when he kills a diseased rat. Gergovia is ahead of us. We will lay it waste. We will slay every last Gaul in the city, burn its buildings to the ground and salt the earth it stands on. We will do it in silence.

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Autumn 259

Having destroyed a Macedonian army outside of Pella last season, the Field Army was again ready to move, and although no order was yet recieved from Consul Lucius Aemilius, I knew that his intent was for me to capture Bylazora to the north. I instead considered marching on Philippi, where Argeos of Pharsalus had retreated to, but when I learned that another Macedonian general that was present during the defeat of Legion VI, Eumenes of Enna, was located in Bylazora, I decided to march there instead.

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The Field Army arrived near Bylazora in the evening and set up an overnight camp. We deployed for battle at dawn. It was a beautiful, sunny and warm morning, just the perfect sort of morning to have a bloody battle on. We deployed on the west side of the city. The Macedonians were initially deployed toward the south and began to quickly reposition. One captain of a phalanx unit, either stupid or confused, decided to venture out of the city and march toward us. I sent the Gauls to attack them head on. The Gallic mercenaries, unlike their Thracian and Greek counterparts, actually survived the previous battle mostly intact. I was not going to repeat the same mistake twice! I'm only joking, of course, but it's still fun to send them charging at phalanxes head on. Once they were engaged, I sent other units around to flank the phalanx.

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Gauls and others form a neat circle around the phalanx.

It took some time for that skirmish to end, but once it did, we continued toward the city. The enemy army concentrated on defending what appeared to be the main street of the city. I had no intention of taking this street, instead planning on taking some auxiliary streets to the left.

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The Macedonian army defends the main street.

However, as we closed in, the Macedonians decided to do something very stupid, they charged out of the city. Maybe they thought that we would be unprepared, as we were marching? A silly notion. The Field Army quickly rearranged itself to form something of a semi-circle around the city exit, not unlike one would do for a bridge or ford battle, although somewhat more hastily constructed. They exited the city to find themselves partially surrounded. Some turned left, and others right. Eumenes charged out himself among his men. I immediately charged in, but was too late.

https://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y2...18/eumenes.jpg
Eumenes of Enna was brought down as soon as he entered the battle.

No matter, the important thing is that he's dead. The rest of the Roman army attacked the center, isolating the two groups of phalangites.

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The Macedonians become split and surrounded.

Not long after, being surrounded, and having their general just killed, the Macedonians break. Even their Chalkispides did not hold for very long. As they run back down the street, the everyone is ordered in after them, to prevent them from getting back to the center of town.

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The Macedonians rout.

Tribune Flavius Pacuvius and his Praetoria chase down the Chalkispides. Only 5 of them return to the center of town.

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Pacuvius ensures that the Chalkispides provide no further trouble.

Only one phalanx unit, of the weaker Pezhetairoi, remains at the town center as the army marches in. The Gauls, still surviving in large numbers, are sent in first to attack them head on.

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The Gauls prepare to charge the phalanx.

The Gauls charge, and other units move in to encircle the phalanx. At this point, something strange happens. The skies suddenly darken, as if at night. It becomes very cold, and rain begins to fall. The winds become very strong, and thunder and lightining begin to strike.

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As the encirclement is completed, the weather suddenly changes.

I was certain that this was an ominous sign from the gods. There had been some talk in the Senate about a curse, and although the Pontifex Maximus was certain that there wasn't one, I was still worried. Do the gods wish to prevent us from taking Bylazora? I seriously considered withdrawing at this point. I decided to consult my preists. The preist of Jupiter was certain that this was a bad sign. He was particularly concerned with the lightning, and feared that the entire army could be annihilated from above if we were to take the town center. The priest of Mars had a different view. He saw this as a sign for the Macedonians, warning them of their impending doom. I liked that explanation better. I decided to press on with the battle.

The Gauls had been almost completely destroyed at the front of the phalanx, but the phalanx could not turn around to face the attacks from its rear.

https://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y2...8/surround.jpg
The phalanx stabs at air while being destroyed.

All that was left to do was wait. The last phalangite was eventually killed, and the army stopped and waited, looking up at the sky. But, nothing happened. The rain still fell but at a reduced rate, and the winds died down a little. I was still a bit uneasy, but Bylazora had been captured.

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The Fall of Ratiara, Winter 259 BC

Legio V had endured a hard two-season march across the wilds east from Dalmatia, but now as the snows fell, it reached the Macedonian settlement of Ratiaria.

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Tribune Aureolus studied the report of his scouts: this was not going to be easy. The army of the Macedonian King was of high quality, with 39 Somatophylakes, 80 Hypaspists, 240 Chalkispides, 240 Hoplitai and 29 Thracian infantry. Going at them bull headed would be foolish.

One phalanx was stationed outside the settlement and easily isolated, then destroyed. Two more were enticed out and similarly eliminated.
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Aureolus coaxes a Macedonian phalanx out of the protection of the city streets.

Out of the narrow confines of the settlements, individual phalanxes are easily enfiladed:

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and enveloped:

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But the hypaspists were not so easily dealt with. One small company of 40 emerged from the east of the settlement at the run. Velites were arraigned to meet them, but the hypaspists specialised in destroying such light troops. The javelin volleys of the velites were met by a much more lethal salvo from the hypaspists, who then charged the skirmishers. The hypaspists moved faster than the velites and caught them, causing further casualties. Urgently, Aureolus ordered forward the rest of Legio V’s Roman infantry, so that soon 40 hypaspists were fighting 320 Romans. Incredibly, the hypaspists endured.

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Sheer weight of numbers forced them against the sides of the city, but if anything this was to their advantage. With their backs to the wall, the hypaspists could not be flanked and the amount of Romans who could confront them in direct combat was much reduced. A vicious melee developed which lasted for most of the length of the battle. The superior number of Romans made little impression and slowly the principes, who Aureolus considered among the finest heavy infantrymen in the world, were cut down. The hastati were withdrawn from the fight. The Roman lines were so overcrowded, they could make no effective contribution to the fighting and their presence in the scrum meant they were starting to suffer the exhaustion experienced by the principes and the triarii.

To the south, the Italian Alae had at least entered the settlement but was also encountering hard fighting. The Macedonian King launched his escort at the Italians marching through the streets. It was a brutal contest and many Italians died to the lances of the Macedonians, but the mass of infantry pressed in the street denied the Macedonian cavalry the advantage of their mobility or their lethal charge. The end was inevitable - a dead King fallen among a mound of dead.

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King Anesideemos of Macedon, moments before his death.

And so the battle moved towards a conclusion. Eventually, the hypaspists to the east of the settlement were all slain and Legio V could move towards the town centre. Aureolus ordered the Italian Alae to hold until the Romans arrived. The Italians had exhausted their missiles and the infantry were badly cut up. It was unlikely they could defeat the remaining Macedonians alone. Another unit of hypaspists remained in the town centre, where desperation would make them unbreakable as well as the fourth and final phalanx. Unfortunately, the principes and triarii were too exhausted by their earlier combat to be useful in the last stage of the battle.

Again, Aureolus tried to use his velites to bait the hypaspists and again, they were caught:

https://img123.imageshack.us/img123/...atiara7qa4.jpg

For a moment, it looked like it would end in disaster…

However, Aureolus had a trump card up his sleeve: a troop of mercenary Samartian cavalry, the finest heavy cavalry in the known world. These cavalry smashed into the rear of the hypaspists moments after the elite Macedonians left the town square:

https://img46.imageshack.us/img46/7248/ratiara8wz1.jpg

At the moment of impact, the hypaspits crumbled and routed.

”Damn … why didn’t I think of that earlier?” cursed Aureolus under his breath.

The fleet footed survivors of the hypaspists soon rallied when they reached the town square and the final phalanx had to be slowly worn down. But the battle moved inexorably to its conclusion and Aureolus claimed a heroic victory over the fallen Macedonian King:


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Spring, 258 BC

Legio III was a wreck.

I surmised that much when I took command of it in order to assault Comata. Their hearts clearly were not in it without their eagle. I knew I had to do something to get them motivated or otherwise they, the legion named after my father, would never get their honor back.

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So I had to make a speech.

"Men! There are some in Roma who doubt you! Who say that it was not the fault of Laevinius that day at Massilia, but your own! Luckily, smarter heads have prevailed and the true reason for your defeat is most likely about to be handed the punishment of Censure!

"Yet, you are still without an Eagle. My father, your namesake, has not deemed you worthy enough to recover it yourselves, instead sending Legio II instead! I can only imagine the sting of it; Verginius leading his men to glory while you're stuck in this stinkhole as a side operation!

"Do not worry, for there is one redeeming aspect to all of this. The Gallic King, Segovax the Cunning, stands on this field as well, giving a speech to his men too! He, at least, still fears you!

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"We must show Rome that you are still capable. Therefore, we march straight in, engage the enemy from the front. We will hack them down until Laevinius himself can smell the stench of your rebirth!"

Some people cheered. It was a start, I guess. More was to be needed, however, for the men to truly believe in me.

The majority of the body was indeed to move straight in, but two units (Italian Spearmen and Cavalry) were detached to go after Segovax and his escort. However, that engagement was to be a while off. Because the fight to regain the honor of Legio III was about to commence.

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The men fought bravely, driving the Gauls back and whittling them down. Once again, they fought like Romans and not cowards. However, Segovax had still not committed his reserve, and the men designated to engage him were still not in position. If he flanked, we would be in trouble. My bodyguard was nearby, waiting to see what the King would do.

Finally, the King charged... right into the mass of Italian Spearmen designed to fight him. It was an incredibly brave, yet stupid move. Somehow his escort managed to survive in good numbers, although they were now pinned. I had my Italian cavalry take him from the rear. Still his men fought like wildcats, cutting down seven of my horses before I ordered them out. I then realzed that this was the moment that would decide the fate of Legio III.

"CHARGE, PRAETORIA!" I roared, and ordered them forward. I hacked through his men until an imposing figure stood in front of me - Segovax himself. Big. Imposing armor. Ready to kill. Hell, bred to kill. We dueled, and I struggled to remember my combat lessons back at the Scriptorium. "Uh, he's swinging his sword... SHIELD!"

As the duel progressed, I got more confident and fought more by instinct. Neither of us were aware that the Praetoria and Spearmen were finishing off the remainder of his escort. We were solely focused on killing each other. And then I did just that, slashing low.

http://home.comcast.net/~general_han...te_pbm_004.JPG

Triumphant, those units cheered. They, at least, believed in me now. It was time to get the main body back to normal. And as I reared my men to hit the Gallic infantry in the rear, the thunderstorm hit. Instantly I was reminded of Bylazora. Clearly, rainfall signifies the death of a leader.

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My men cheered as they saw the Praetoria wading through the Gauls, slashing. I lost a few of my escort, but so what? Legio III believed in me now. And that meant the Gauls had no chance. We finished them off quickly.

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The restored Legio III looked up as the rain poured down, and drank it all in. It was a beautiful day to be a soldier.

The taking of Philipi

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Not much to say really. I led the assault at night. The Macedonian reinforcements were clearly scared of the dark and left their countrmen to die. A very tedious city battle. Our mercenaries did most the bleeding for us.

https://img73.imageshack.us/img73/52...board23rc5.jpg



Having taken the city I sallied out to take on the 2nd Macedonian army.

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I must give credit to their captain for he deceived me very cleverly. Just as I thought I was going to be able to completely encircle them, he charged at me with his Phalanxes whilst at the same time beating a hasty retreat with his assorted odds and ends of cavalry and light troops. The latter escaped, the former died to a man.

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Decimus Silvius Ahala stared out into the night. A great commotion was coming from the Gallic city. It was too far away and muffled by the walls to be heard clearly, but the defenders were certainly agitated. To the rear of the Legion, a bucina sounded a double note, starting low and moving to a high pitch.

BUUUUUU-AAAAAAAAAA

Within moments, every tenth man in the Legion had lit a torch. Where once there was darkness, suddenly the entire field was bathed in a flickering light.

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Ahala turned to, Manius Curius Cilo, the Princeps standing to his left. “Well if they didn’t know we were coming before, they certainly do now.”

Cilo grunted and pointed to the north wall of the city, where one of the massive wooden gates stood open, its doors shattered and their hinges broken. “I think whoever did that tipped them off first.”

Ahala opened his mouth to reply, but noticed the stern look on his Centurion’s face and quickly closed it again. Legate Augustus Verginius was riding towards the front of the Legion. His horse moved slowly and steady, without urgency, but with a force that made Ahala feel that mountains would move aside if they were approached in such a manner. Verginius’ face was blank and emotionless. The former Consul had been the commander of Legio II Sabina Quintia for several years and the men knew him well. In Epirus, he had been very open with the men, eating with them, talking and drinking. The men loved him, he was a military man and the Legions were his family.

Yet he had changed after news of the loss of the Eagle of Legio III Sicilia Aemilia to the Gauls had reached them. The familiar pleasantries had disappeared, replaced by an authoritarian hardness. His warmaking had changed too. Where once he had engaged the Legion in intricate tactical maneuvers to splinter, envelop and confuse the enemy, now he used brute force to smash them asunder. The men followed him without question regardless; he brought them victory in both manners.

Verginius stopped in front of the Principes and raised his voice to the entire Legion. “We are here for the honor of Rome. We are here to show the enemies of the Republic that there can be no victory against us, no matter what the fortunes of any single day bring. We are here to demonstrate to all the world that Rome is superior to all nations and all races. We are here to make an example of those who those who commit crimes against the Republic.” Verginius lifted a fasces from his saddle and pointed it at Gergovia.

No man cheered. No man moved. They squinted their eyes and looked at the walls of the city.

“They have our Eagle. Let us go ask them for it.”


As the Legion approached the gate, torches became visible through its gaping maw. There were men there, armed men, and they were in force.

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“I’ve seen worse,” said Cilo. Yet as they grew closer, more torches appeared behind those at the gate… and behind those… and behind those…

“Have they been mating with bloody rabbits?” said a Principes in the third rank. A low chuckle passed through the men.

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The Legion moved in step, with a low pounding that shook the ground around them. As they reached their assigned positions and the Centurions halted them, a great silence fell over the field. Within moments, the Gauls directly blocking the gate began chanting and shouting, bashing their shields and spears together in what was surely a taunt. The Romans did not reply.

The Gauls continued this spectacle for some minutes, becoming visibly enraged by the total silence of those who stood before them. First one, then two, then a hundred left the city and started towards the Legion at a run.

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No orders were given, none needed to be. The men knew their roles. The Gallic rush slammed into the shields of the Hastati who stood directly in front of the gate. The first three front ranks compressed in on one another as the sheer momentum of the charge was absorbed. But the line did not buckle and not a single man fell. A moment passed as the Gauls battered themselves against the Hastati, and then the signal was given.

Ahala and all the Principes roared and charged. What sounded like an echo from his left indicated that the Italian Swordsmen were doing the same. The hundred Gauls who had left the city simply melted. Within moments only a fifth were left standing and they broke for the city in a panic.

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Ahala and his comrades turned to follow them

“Hold!” Verginius was behind them and his sharp word brought the Legion to halt almost instantly.

Five of the Gauls made it inside the walls with their lives and the speed of their retreat spread panic amongst those waiting in the streets. A few volleys of pilia over the walls from the Skirmishers completed the job. The mass of men surged and split, moving off into side alleys and up towards the hill in the center of town, leaving the gate area empty.

“The Gauls believe they are supreme warriors,” Verginius’ voice rang out. “They believe that they are better than any race in single combat. Let us educate them.” A murmur went through the Legion. Verginius turned and looked at the Principes. Ahala felt like the man’s eyes were boring directly into his skull. “Principes, show them how Romans fight.”

The Centurion snapped to attention. “Cohort, on the double!” As one they sprinted towards the gate.

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Ahala was one of the first inside and jerked his head around wildly to check the layout of the gate area. A massive square with a very broad avenue opened up before him. It was totally indefensible for a single cohort and vulnerable to flanking from many side. Yet, to his right, a narrow street ran along the wall, wide enough to allow the full deployment of a cohort, but narrow enough to prevent anyone from getting around them. The Centurion saw it too, and he ordered the men into position at its mouth, facing the square.

The city echoed with noise around them. The Gauls were returning and they were coming fast. As Ahala watched, more torches came through the gate. The Hastati were being sent through as well.

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Every other man in the cohort moved to his left, opening up a dozen channels in the line, through which the Hastati funneled. When the last was through, the men retook their positions and the cohort solidified. Far behind him, Ahala could hear the Hastati making their own formation. Undoubtedly they were holding the other end of the street, preventing any attempt to reach the Principes from the rear.

The Gauls did not even try. Without any form, without any discipline or seeming leadership, the mass of men ran towards the waiting Principes, towards Ahala. An order was barked and he hefted a pilum in his right hand, pulling back into the throwing stance. Another bark and he loosed. He watched as his javelin was lost in an iron-tipped rain. Screams were added to the taunts of the Gauls and the mass broke apart once again, like a flock of birds scattered by a thrown pebble.

Yet not all ran. Four men in particular continued to advance on the Roman line, three half-naked spearmen and a mounted noble. They stopped a short distance from the line and began shouting, spitting and gesturing. Ahala did not know what possessed him, but he took a step forward, then another, then another. The Gauls stopped their taunts and stared at him. He looked each of them in the eyes, then screamed “Legio III!” and charged. The Gauls moved too, the mounted noble made directly for the main line to his left, while the three warriors went directly for him. It was all he could do to parry their thrusts, coming from left, right and center in furious succession. He could hear similar sounds coming from the rear where the noble had pushed his way into the Roman ranks.

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The mounted Gaul was quickly surrounded and pulled down. Out of the corner of his eye, Ahala saw Cilo and most of the first rank move to assist him.

“NO!” he shouted. “These are mine!” His father-in-law had been one of Legio III’s triarii at Massilia Ford.

The men stopped and exchanged glances. “Back!” shouted Ahala. Cilo saluted him and the men returned to the line. The blows continued to rain on his scutum and the exertion required to hold his ground was quickly tiring him. “What the hell am I doing?” Ahala thought to himself, “I’m going to get myself bloody killed.”

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He had to even the odds and fast. He planted both feet, bringing his scutum in close to his body, and barreled into the two Gauls on his left. One went down and the other stumbled back, stunned. Before either could recover, Ahala turned to his right and lashed out with his sword in a wicked horizontal slash, catching the third Gaul in the stomach, disemboweling him. The man dropped to the ground shrieking.

Turning back to his left, the other two were coming again, moving apart so as to force him to leave his back open to one. After a few strokes, Ahala found himself blocking on his left with his scutum and parrying on his right with his sword. His eyes could only face one direction at a time though, and he was sure to be caught on his blind side eventually. He pulled back a step and drew his scutum back towards his body. Watching the Gaul to his right, he waited for a blow, parried it, then turned to his other opponent and charged. That Gaul raised his shield to take the blow, but the force of it staggered him and he almost went down. Ahala nearly went with him, his back now exposed to the other man.

As the thrust came, he rocked back on his heels and then sat straight down in the dirt. The spear passed through the air only inches from his helmet. The momentum of the thrust and the lack of something to stop it cause the attacking Gaul to stretch forward, opening his torso directly above Ahala. With a single vertical thrust, he cut into the man’s chest. No scream came this time, only a gurgle as the sword was withdrawn from his lungs.

Ahala turned his eyes to the remaining Gaul. The man was standing several paces back now, holding a defensive stance and watching the Roman carefully. Ahala straightened himself up and stretched his sword arm casually. He spat into the dirt, then readied his shield and grinned directly at the man. The Gaul, enraged, charged him. Ahala caught the man’s spear on his scutum and angled the shield, allowing it to slid off to the left with the Gaul’s own momentum. He then thrust with his sword low and from the right. He felt it dig in and knew the struggle was over.

For a moment there was silence, then the Princepes began to shout.

“AHALA! AHALA! AHALA!”

Cilo was grinning at him, but the moment was short-lived. The Gallic army had seen the fight as well, and this time they would not scatter.

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Ahala quickly took up his place in the front rank, readying himself only moments before the horde reached them. The first group was small, but several more warbands pressed in behind them in a solid mass, easily outnumbering the Romans five or six to one.

The Romans fought slowly and with discipline. They used their scutum for protection from the enemy thrusts until they were close enough to jab with their short swords, cutting into their unarmored opponents. As the front rank tired, the second stepped up to take their place. As the fight raged, men began to fall, but few of them were Romans. The Principes held a firm line and every man was supported to both sides and the rear by his companions.

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For what seemed like hours, Ahala fought and killed those who came at him. Twice he fell back behind the second rank to rest and twice he returned to relieve another. Some fell, but most were not fatally wounded and they were moved to safety behind the ranks. With time, the line began to push forward, slowly and surely eliminating all in their path. At times finding a firm footing amongst the enemy corpses was as difficult as the fighting itself.

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The odds narrowed, then evened, then turned in the Romans’ favor. At last, when only a handful of barbarians remained, the Gauls broke and ran for the town center. The Princeps pursued them for a short distance, cutting down half of them, until they drew to a stop, exhausted, but still in formation and still ready for battle. Behind them was a carpet of Gallic blood and bodies.

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82 men had defeated nearly half of the Gallic force in direct hand-to-hand combat. There were losses; twenty-two Principes had been wounded, but only five mortally. When Cilo heard the number he spat. “We’ve been robbed. Five Romans are worth far more than 400 Gauls.” Ahala wanted to agree, but he was too tired to speak. Within a few minutes, the entire Legion had entered the city and formed up behind them. Legate Augustus Verginius rode slowly to the front of the Principes. He turned and addressed the bloodied Romans, with the rest of Legio II watching from behind.

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“You are Gods amongst men. In Rome there are those who are born patrician and those who are born plebian, but on the battlefield there are only those who are born Roman and those who are not.” Verginius’ eyes scanned the soldiers, coming to rest on Ahala. “You are one of the finest soldiers I have ever seen. It will be my honor to personally award you the Corona Civica when this battle is over.”

The Principes cheered and Cilo slapped his friend on the back. Verginius waved them silent after a moment and gestured to the central hill. “There is a man up there who thinks himself a general. He stormed the Massilia Ford and believes that in doing so he laid waste to the honor of Rome. He does not know what it means to face a proper Roman commander.” For the first time since the Eagle was lost, Verginius smiled. “I am going to teach him.” He turned and moved off towards the enemy. The entire Legion followed.

Augustus Verginius stopped when he was within a javelin’s throw of the city center. The remaining warbands had gathered there, with Drustan of Decetia in their midst. With the Legion formed up behind them, Verginius and his Praetoria moved forward until he could see Drustan’s eyes. There he stopped and waited; staring, unblinking, into the eyes of his foe.

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It did not take long for the man’s rage to overcome him. The axe-bitten Gaul and his men charged out of the mass and directly at the Roman cavalry. The Romans urged their horses forward and the two groups met in a swirling melee. Verginius and Drustan passed and swung at each other, but neither struck home and their mounts carried them away from each other and into the body of struggling men and beasts.

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Verginius swung himself around, slicing open the cheek of a Gallic noble on his right. Drustan was now on the other side of the combat and the Roman commander would have to cut his way through several Gauls to get to him. He flexed his sword hand and began, unaware that both armies, Roman and Gallic alike, were watching the battle in total silence.

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Horses and men screamed and fell around him. Verginius’ men were fine warriors, but Drustan had brought with him some of the fiercest beasts in all of Gaul. Augustus Verginius cut down another enemy, but two more moved to take his place. All wanted the glory that would come from killing the commander of Legio II. None would have it. He plunged his sword into the mouth of one of the Gallic horses. The beast reared up, its rider struggling to hold on with both hands. A quick jab to the unprotected right leg dismounted the man and Verginius pushed ahead past his partner. There was now only one Gaul between him and Drustan.

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He parried a single blow, then moved his arm in a broad slash, taking off part of the man’s face and his horse’s neck in one stroke. The pair fell to the ground, both writhing in a bloody mist.

“GAUL!” Verginius cried. Drustan turned and saw him, rage filling his face. The two men closed and began to hack at each other viciously. With only their swords between them, blow after blow was made and parried.

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“Roman filth!” Drustan screamed, “your army died like pigs! I will mount your head on the Eagle and shit on your corpse!” He lunged.

Verginius blocked, but Drustan did not decrease his force and the swords pushed against each other. The Roman was surprised by the strength of the savage general and he found himself being pushed back in his saddle. “You are as weak as a woman!” the Gaul screamed in glee.

“And you are as dumb as an ox,” replied Verginius, thrusting his torch into the man’s face. Drustan dropped his sword and put up both hands to protect himself. “My eyes! My…” Verginius ran his sword through the Gaul’s mouth and into his brain. Death came instantly and he fell, silently.

When the fighting at last stopped, Verginius emerged between the two armies, his bloody sword held high. The Legion cheered. He gestured at the remaining warbans.

“Kill them.”

And they did.

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Verginius sat to the side, watching the ring grow tighter and tighter around the Gauls. It was over within a few minutes. With the butchery complete, the Legion turned to face their commander and cheered with all their might.

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Augustus Verginius looked around the square at the hovels and structures that the townsfolk had erected. Ten years ago he had burned this place to the ground as a lesson to those who committed crimes against the Republic. They had rebuilt their homes, rebuilt their temples, rebuilt their markets and smithies. It was time for a more permanent lesson. Out of the corner of his eye, he saw a woman and a small child cowering inside a doorway. He gestured at them.

“Kill them. Kill them all.”

And they did.

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The Fall of Macedon

The First Battle of Debeltos

Numerius Aureolus bounded off the rowing boat, onto the Black Sea shore north of Debeltos. It felt good to be on land after travelling for weeks in overcrowded Roman galleys. Even better to be going in to battle again. A mere 21 years of age, Numerius had led an army into battle only three times before. He was exhilarated to have been given command of Legio V for another long distance raid like the one that had secured Ratiaria.

Already, a pair of Sarmatian scouts were back to make their report. The Macedonians had been taken by surprise and were dispersed in three armies around Debeltos. Numerius had a choice - to strike in daytime, giving all three armies the chance to come together, or to move at night, isolating the closest formation - commanded by King Argeos himself. The Co-Consul had recommended the latter option and although Numerius feared Argeos would decline to give battle, it was worth trying.

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Aurelous uses his night fighting ability to isolate King Argeos from half of his army

Legio V was quickly deployed for battle in a manipular formation, screened by skirmishers. It moved by torchlight towards the Macedonian camp, but was spotted by Argeos's pickets. The Macedonians hastily deployed on top of a wooded hill.

Slowly, methodically, the Romans started to march up the front of the hill. Numerius heard a whistling in the air and then cries of pain from men in his lines. Veteran Thracian slingers were firing from the hill top, under cover of the wood. Numerius looked around anxiously - without a chirurgeon, he felt keenly every wound his men suffered. Half a dozen unarmoured funditores already lay dead.

"Spread out! Loose formation! And for Jove's sake, shoot back!" Numerius roared.

A Samartian scout approached. Argeos had been spotted with many hetairoi in wedge formation to the left of the Romans. Numerius ordered his Triarii, Italian spearmen and his Samartian cavalry to move from his right flank over to his left. More whistling lead shot and more screams. Two triarii were left slumped on the floor. A horse reared and some Samartians were felled. By all the gods, Numerius cursed, these Macedonians are killing my best men!

"Faster, for Mercury's sake! And get out of range" he shouted at the Samartians.

By now the whistling of the Thracian slingers was being answered by that of the funditores. Evidently, the return fire discomforted the Thracians as the volume of shot from them seemed to diminish.

Peering through the woods, Numerius saw some peltasts lurking to the right of a phalanx of chalkispides. Numerius remembered the death of Co-Consul Amulius Coruncanius from Macedonian peltasts. Perhaps these were the very same men? Sending cavalry head first into the woods after infantry... that would not be very wise, thought Numerius. Moreover, his charge would bring him right in front of the noses of the many Macedonian hetairoi, arraigned in wedge formation. To charge would be foolhardy, reckless. But damn it, he could not slowly climb this accursed hill and watch his men being shot down by slingers, and soon by peltasts.

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The Praetoria break through the trees, startling the peltasts.

"Praetoria! Follow me! Ride!" The white Roman horses cantered forward, picking up speed, their riders skilfully swerving past trees and leaping over dense undergrowth. It was exhilarating, thought Numerius, like a hunt. The peltasts scattered like hounded foxes or rabbits. But the chalkispides to their side were made of sterner stuff. They turned to face the Roman cavalry, lowered their spears and set off after them like a mighty enraged boar. You can't catch me, smiled Numerius, observing the fast approach of the triari towards what was now the rear of the phalanx.

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The triari charge the rear of the Chalkispides diverted by Numerius's cavalry. Unfortunately, the full impact of the charge of the triarii is muted by the inexplicable requirement of their centurion that no one break ranks.

Good, thought Numerius. That's one phalanx sorted - now for the other. He urged his Praetoria to ride faster, well clear of the Chalkispides. He scanned the dark woods for any sign of the accursed Thracian slingers. Then he heard a loud voice cry out in Greek "Flee!". What Numerius had feared was happening - King Argeas, being so outnumbered, had decided to withdraw. Not so fast, Numerius thought. It worked once, why not again? He ordered the Praetoria to continue their pursuit of the peltasts, who were now fleeing close to the rear of the second phalanx. Formed of hoplitai, these sturdy Greeks could not resist the sight of a small band of enemy cavalry riding almost within reach of their spears.

Numerius turned to look at the mass of hoplitai bearing down on his escort. Unlike the sedate Chalkispides earlier, these men were running, charging at him. Numerius cast his eyes further afield and saw, emerging from the undergrowth a line of angry Bastarnae, waving their fearsome falxs. I'm enjoying this, Numerius thought before his reverie was broken by one of his bodyguard.

"Sir! They are almost on us! We must ride!"

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Numerius Aureolus cuts things a bit fine. Some of his escort say it was almost as if he were pausing to make a mental picture of the spectacle before him. Note the bastarnae emerging from the trees to the rear of the hoplitai.

Just in time, Numerius turned his horse and spurred it away. He rode to the rear of the Macedonia lines, but by the time he spotted the Thracian slingers, they were slipping away, out of reach. He sent word for the Sarmatians to pursue the now broken Chalkispides, while his escort returned to deal with the hoplitai.

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The hunters become the hunted.

After the battle, Legio Vs losses were counted and Numerius curled his lip in distaste.

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The Romans may only have lost 20 men, but they were all of the finest calibre - Praetoria and bastarnae slain in the melee joined the funditores, triarii and Sarmatians shot down by the Thracian slingers. Without a chirurgeon, only three of the twenty casualties could be saved. With a chirurgeon, Numerius believed nearly half could have been restored to their place in the line. The First Consul will laugh at me, if he could see me know, thought Numerius gloomily. He would never understand.


The Second Battle of Debeltos

Still, there was no time to dwell on such matters. King Argeos had escaped with all the Macedonian hetairoi and most of the Thracian slingers who had so discomforted the Roman advance. Again, Numerius had a choice - strike at night and fight only half the Macedonian army or fight at day. The Co-Consul had recommended Numerius strike at night, but this time, the young tribune was unsure.

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This time, Aureolus chooses to fight at day.

If Numerius tried to surprise just half the Macedonian army, it would surely follow Argeos and abruptly withdraw into the settlement. But if he deployed for a pitched battle in daytime, he could entice the Debeltos garrison out of the settlement. Fitful dreams during the trip through the Bosphorus had provided omens of Numerius's own death in Debeltos. These renewed his conviction that it would be folly to try to winkle out multple phalanxes of Macedonians from the narrow streets of Debeltos. A battle in the open would provide more opportunities to outmanouvre the Macedonians, especially as they would start the battle with their force divided into two separate halves.

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A wide open battle field and a divided enemy - Aureolus could not wish for more room to manouvre. In retrospect, however, Aureolus perhaps chooses too loose a formation for his army.

Numerius ordered most of his army to engulf the two phalanxes directly facing him, sending only his triarii and Italian spearmen to face King Argeos and his hetairoi approaching in the distance. The two phalanxes crumbled with surprising speed - before the Roman infantry even came into hand to hand combat. Fearful of what the phalangists could do if allowed to flee to the city, Numerius ordered his Praetoria and Sarmatian cavalry after them. This move was perhaps necessary, but it was costly, for not only were the Macedonians phalangists surprisingly cowardly - they were also surprisingly good runners. Consequently, the Romans were left without cavalry and indeed their commander for some time.

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The Roman infantry pivot to face the second force of Macedonians, but they are too dispersed.

In the confusion, the triari - having received early orders to meet the threat of the second Macedonian army - bore the brunt of the battle. Menaced by hetairoi escorting King Argeos and his heir, they were exposed and ultimately charged in the back.

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The triarii, traditionally the Roman reserve, now find themselves as the advance guard, tasked to hold off the approach of King Argeos.

What is worse, the Macedonian infantry followed closely behind the cavalry and engaged the triarii while they were locked in battle with the hetairoi.

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Only the triarii could be expected to hold out against this abuse

"By the fires of Hades!" cursed Numerius, as he raced his Praetoria back to the aid of the triarii. His small escort was but a fraction of the number of the Macedonian cavalry, but the lives of his men were paramount. The Praetoria pursued the Macedonians and a messy melee erupted, neither side having time to mount a proper charge.

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Numerius is in trouble - desperately parrying the lances of the Macedonian hetairoi. From here on he will be in extreme danger - outnumbered and losing another seven of his escort. But it is essential to keep the hetairoi off the backs of the beleaguered triarii.

Gradually, the situation stabilised as the rest of the Roman army converged on their enemies. Numbers began to tell and now it was the Macedonian spearmen who were surrounded, rather than the triarii.

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The bastarnae are not intimidated by the enemy phalanx, which anyway is soon to be surrounded. Once again, the full power of the Aureolus's infantry is limited by requirements to maintain ranks. Belatedly, Aureolus countermands these orders and after the battle, gives the overly rigid cohort commanders a dressing down, insisting that they allow their men to engage at will.

After the battle, Numerius took stock and was relieved to realise what had happened. Despite the predicament of the triarii, Legio Vs losses were not excessive. The Macedonians, by contrast were crushed.

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King Argeos fled to Debeltos with only his heir and six retainers.

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Trapped in Debeltos, King Argeos can but contemplate his fate. Hearing the approach of the Roman army, he sends a peltast to investigate.

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Then, he charges into battle...

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And makes a good end.

After the "battle", Numerius's turns to his Greek scribe to compose a report to the Co-Consul, Publius Pansa. The Co-Consul's instruction to exterminate the town burns in the young Tribune's mind. Such an order is vile and criminal, but Numerius must tread carefully. For now, his career is dependent on the good will of the Consuls. In his half-term at the helm, First Consul Aemilius responded to Numerius's requests for the chance of battle with a weary indulgence. Numerius does not want to anger the Co-Consul. The Greek scribe looks keenly at his master, as Numerius wrestles with the wording of his communication. The scribe's sympathies are clearly with the people of Debeltos. At last, Numerius comes to a form of words that he hopes will not be considered too insurbordinate.

"Tell him we will send Praetor Coruncanius the head of Argeos. Maybe that idea will satiate the Co-Consul's bloodlust."

The Greek scribe's face looks ashen: "Who shall I task with this? One of the Samartians? Or perhaps a bastarnae?"

"Great Jove, no!" laughed Numerius. "I know Praetor Coruncanius. He will be glad to know we have avenged his son's killer. But he is not a barbarian. He voted against sending out assassins against Argeos. He is a civilised man and would not thank me for such a gift. Let the Praetor mourn his son undisturbed; let the Co-Consul think he has his pound of flesh; and let King Argeos have a decent burial, head and all."

After the recapture of Acquileia, I, Lucius Aemilius, led my forces in pursuit of all the Thracian forces remaining in Illyria. They had gathered in the dark forests under the warchief Zalmoxis.
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I was worried about this encounter. We were outnumbered, did not have any heavy infantry, and the postion and composition of the enemy's forces was unknown. Still, time was pressing, as I was needed elsewhere and could hardly leave with the enemy behind my back.
The Thracians had hidden themselves deep in the forest and I was considering retreating, as this was the Thracian's favourite battleground. Then my scouts brought me news that the Thracians were lined up on a clear hill just out of the woods. Unfortunately, they also told me that the Thracian army consisted almost entirely of ferocious German mercenaries.
I decided to chance it. I led my hastati and Gaul swordsmen in a flanking manouver, while all my spearmen would try to lure them down the hill, supported by a cohort of velites. The Germans were in good spirits when they saw there were no principii in my army.
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The Germans dithered for a while and then attacked the spearmen. Hundreds of crude spears flew trough the air and almost completely annihalated a cohort of Italian spearmen. The return volley of the velites seemed hopelessly inadequate. But the line held. My flanking group was in position and the Thracian general saw the danger. He split his army into two and I ordered the charge. The Gaul swordsmen let loose with a horrible warcry and plunged into the German mass. The hastati threw their pila, then drew their gladius and fought in formation, almost lost in a sea of German warriors.
I could see this battle was not faring well. I spotted the Thracian general and ordered the charge in the hope of demoralizing his men.
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I and my praetoria managed to kill a number of his bodyguard and he fled into the mass of Germans, where we dared not follow. I broke off the melee and, seeing an opening, charged into the German horde fighting the spearmen. We pushed right into the middle of them and some of my loyal bodyguard started to fall around me. Just as I was wondering if this would be my end, with twenty of my bodyguard fallen around me, the Germans lost their nerve and broke. I followed them into the forest, shouting to the centurio of the velites to attack the rear of the mass of Germans fighting uphill. The spearmen were now fighting on almost equal odds. Meanwhile, my swordsmen were slowly being overwhelmed, altough each dead Roman left five dead Germans around his splintered shield.
The Thracian general, seeing that the battle against the spearmen was a stalemate decided to charge them, but I rushed out of the forest and cut him down.
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The velites, having expended their spears, threw themselves at the Germans almost suicidally. They were no match for the Germans, but it gave my swordsmen a fighting chance. Then the spearmen broke trough the German line and began charging up the hill where the bloody fight was taking place.
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After being surrounded by my troops, the Germans fought bravely for quite some time, before seeing the hopelessness of their situation. One last charge by the few surviving praetoria convinced them to run for their lives.
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We won, against the odds, but in my long military career I have never yet seen such a bloodily contested ground. Let this be a warning for all who face the Germans, they are not easy enemies like the Gauls. In memory of the many fallen, I ordered a shrine to Mars erected at Acquileia.
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Near Oduba, the Thracians threw everything they had at us. They had amassed a consular army sized force, led by the crown prince of Thrace, Arapeithes the Bloody-Handed, as skilled a general as myself, praetor Lucius Aemilius.
One of our legion-sized forces, without a commander, was besieged in a fort by Arapeithes the Bloody-Handed south of Oduba. I arrived with all the troops I could scrounge together, also a legion-sized force, to relieve the siege. I was accompanied by legate Titus Vatinius and tribune Gnaeus Hordeonius.
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Our troops formed up in battle formation, while the reinforcement legion sallied from the fort and also formed up in battle formation. The enemy sent some forces to attack them and in response I sent half my cavalry, under the command of Titus Vatinius, to support them. Far to the right is my own legion.
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Titus Vatinius repulses the attackers and chases them off the field, while the reinforcement legion prepares for a new attack. My legion and the Thracian main army close for battle, while the reinforcement legion gets bogged down in battle.
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Arapeithes the Bloody-Handed launches a full out attack on my legion. We give him a warm reception, but we are severely outnumbered.
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The lines clash and men die screaming. The Gauls and Thracians let out a terrifying howling and charge into one another.
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The basternae and falxmen cut through the Gauls like wheat. Then Arapeithes the Bloody-Handed charges into them to add to the destruction. He cuts a bloody swath trough my men and terrifies them with his beserker howls. They are pushed back and I have no reserves left. The reinforcement legion is still stuck in battle and so I and Gnaeus Hordeonius charge into the Thracians in an effort to turn the tide.
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The melee is savage in the extreme and the terrible falxes seem to be everywhere, cutting trough Roman shields and armour like they were made of papyrus. My men fight bravely, but we are being overpowered. The Gauls, rallied by my presence, fight on in desperation. Soon, we are almost surrounded and must flee for our lives.
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Our line is broken and the Thracians pour trough like a river and begin to surround our troops. The skirmishers rally to my aid and fearlessly charge into the breach, while I and Gnaeus Hordeonius rally our men for another charge. I look around and see that four out of five of the praetoria has perished. The situation looks bleak. I turn my eye on to the hill, but still the reinforcements are stuck in battle.
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On the hill, the last of the enemy phalanxes breaks down when Titus Vatinius and the cavalry charge them in the rear. In the clash Titus Vatinius is thrown of his horse and precious time is lost while he finds another horse and brings order out of chaos (OCC: The cavalry and infantry got stuck into each other and could not be moved for two minutes). Finally, the troops manage to disentangle themselves and begin to run down the hill.
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Meanwhile my situation has become desperate. The bastarnae and falxmen seem unstoppable and my skirmishers and Gauls are being slaughtered. As the line begins to fold I attempt to rally my troops by another suicidal charge, but I do not manage to make a difference with the few men left to me. Soon we have to retreat once more, amazed that we are still alive.
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The gap in our lines is forced open once again and the triarii are surrounded and beset on all sides. Stubbornly, they refuse to give ground. Yet even they are not able to hold back the Thracians. Meanwhile, my left flank turns into a slaughterhouse as my men are surrounded and cut down. Arapeithes the Bloody-Handed sees his oppertunity and orders a cavalry charge on my left flank.
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My skirmishers, the last organized force on my left flank, are not able to withstand the violence of the Thracian charge and are pushed back. With their lack of armour they are easily dispatched by the Thracians.
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Even the might of the triarii is not able to withstand the falxes of the Thracians and more then half of them has died already. Still, the thin line holds while my slingers move behind the Thracians and begin hitting them in their exposed backs. The hastati finally begin to make some headway on my right flank.
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Finally, the reinforcement legion arrives and charges the Thracian horde like they were beserkers themselves. The Thracians are completely overrun and Arapeithes the Bloody-Handed panicks and flees the field, pursued by the vengeful Titus Vatinius. Caught between hammer and anvil, and bereft of their commander, the Thracians sense defeat and the battle quickly becomes a slaughter as they rout.
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Never before have I lost this many men in a single battle. My plan seemed simple, but the reinforcement legion kept getting delayed and arrived almost too late to save the remains of my legion. Fortunately, most of the dead were auxilia, but there were many casualties among the velites, triarii and hastati as well. A dark day for Rome. It is with pain in my heart that I give the burial details their orders.
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The Fall of Byzantion

Peering through the darkness, Numerius Aureolus could just make out the high stone walls, dotted with torches. In front of him stood Byzantion, a city at the meeting point of Europe and Asia; a city with the potential to be perhaps the greatest settlement in either continent.

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The assault commences. Numerius decides the ladders are surplus to requirements and uses only the siege towers.

Already, Numerius could see the two siege towers were at the walls. Fortunately, the defenders had posted only one company of levies to meet them. The Greeks were going to be trapped between two of the most brutally effective heavy infantry in the ancient world - the well equipped principes and the savage bastarnae. As it happened, the bastarnae reached the walls first and so the levies moved to intercept them. Numerius might have preferred the better armoured principes to take the brunt of the frontal combat but in the event, things worked out for the best. The bastarnae cut through the levies with their falxes, parrying thrusts that would have slain a lesser man. The principes were able to secure a troublesome nearby tower that was firing at them and then assist in attacking the levies from the rear.

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The battle on the walls is uneven - the levies are surrounded and outclassed.

When the last levy on the wall had died, Numerius ordered the basternae and principes to capture nearby towers. This would allow the army to approach the town forum without having to endure fire from Greek archers hidden on the battlements. A second levy phalanx stood guarding the gate, so Numerius ordered some of his men onto the walls to fire down on them. The levies stoically endured. By the time the basternae came down from the walls and entered combat, the phalanx was down to nearly half strength.

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A depleted second unit of levies gamely charges the bastarnae. They will suffer the same fate as their compatriots on the wall, with cohorts of principes and hastati fast approaching their rear.

With the levies brushed aside, Numerius now had to manouvre his relatively large army through the city streets. Awaiting him, in the city forum, was a phalanx of regular hoplites and a strong unit of hetairoi, led by the heir to the Greek throne, Nicanor of Magnesia.

Methodically, Numerius marshalled his army to the forum. He forbade any slings or javelins to be loosened until everyone was in position. Soon he had lined the western side of the forum with Roman infantry and Italian spearmen, backed by slingers. The Greek phalanx and hetairoi did not react.

Gingerly, Numerius started to lead his own Praetoria around the north edge of the forum. Suddenly, a loud shout broke out and the Greeks sprung to life. With alarming speed, the phalanx lowered spears and charged towards Numerius's escort, closely followed by the hetairoi. Numerius uttered some words most unworthy of the Pontifex Maximus and spurred his escort forward, racing east out of the forum.

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Aureolus is forced to ride for his life out the forum, with the enemy hot on his tail

"This is Debeltos all over again!" thought Numerius, "Why does this keep happening to me?"

Soon, Numerius was running out of street to race along - his escort were approaching the city walls and already he could hear the singing of Greek arrows flying from the towers. He looked behind him - only the hetairoi were still on this tail; the phalanx had stayed in the forum. Good, one phalanx would be easy meat for his infantry.

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While pursuring Numerius, the hoplites exposed their backs to the two companies of slingers the general had deployed on the western side of the forum. When the hoplites return from their abortive chase, they are easily dealt with by the Romans.

Ok, thought Numerius, there was only one thing for it. He had to draw the sting of the hetairoi.

"Men!" he called out to the riders racing beside him. "Turn about! Meet them at the charge!"

Bravely, the Praetoria reigned in their horses and turned to face the hetairoi. However, the distance was too short and their formation too disordered to get off a proper charge. The same may have been true, however, of the hetairoi as both troops of cavalry intermingled in a messy melee.

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The Praetoria are outnumbered by the hetairoi and Numerius finds himself thrust into danger once more. Regrettably, the Italian spearmen and triarii that might be most useful in such an encounter have not even started to move yet.

The duel between Numerius and Nicanor seemed to last forever, until belatedly some Italian spearmen came puffing up the city street from the forum.

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Numerius rears up his horse to signal impending victory, as his spearmen belatedly approach in the distance.

The next morning, after the victory, Numerius climbed the city walls to look east. Over the waters, Roman spies had reported vast, Consular sized armies of Seleucids marching over Asia Minor and the Levant in an epic contest with Ptolemy. Numerius felt like a jackal, observing a contest between lions and hyenas.

"Let's hope they are too busy fighting each other to bother us." he thought. Then he turned and climbed down the stairs, his mind returning to the west. If possible, Rome must put thoughts of Seleucia and Ptolemy to one side, for now. Imagined threats from the east must take second place to the very real dangers posed by Thrace to the north and, above all, by a resurgent Carthage to the south.

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Springtime, a new year, a time for new beginnings. This time, it is the beginning of a new General's career, Cornelius Saturninus. He had been in the conquered Greek cities of Pella and Thessalonika, keeping order, studying, learning much of theoretical and applied military strategies, attracting a nice retinue and garnering much respect. Now the time had come to be thrust into the field, lead a mighty Roman legion against her foes.

Saturninus had been given command of Legio I Italia Victrix and stationed in a fort along the Danube. Soon thereafter, the Thracians came.

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The Thracian force poised to cross the river, lead by Captain Oltenia.

Saturninus had been ordered to attack them before they reached the ford, and do so with little casualties incurred as reinforcements would be hard to come by. Luckily, he had acquired a respected herbalist in his time in Pella. He readied his men for the battle.

"Men of Rome, Sons of Mars, we stand here today as the last line of defense against the wild Thracians in the area. What you see before you is only a small taste of what more they have to come. Finish them off quickly, do not let them pass."

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Saturninus looks on across the river, the enemy has arrived.

Seeing that the Thracians dared not cross the river themselves, Saturninus gives the order to his men to cross swiftly and prepare for a quick attack by the enemy.

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The Roman legion charges across the river as quickly as possible to avoid being caught before they reach the banks.

Saturninus barks out orders as they cross, telling them where to deploy.

"Get in position, ready men, steady!"

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Professional as ever, the Roman legion deploys along the bank as Saturninus ordered, quickly, efficiently.

The Thracian missile cavalry attempted to move in and pepper the Gallic right flank with their javelins. Saturninus ordered the impetuous Galerius Vatinius to chase them off, supported by the Italian cavalry.

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Tribune Galerius Vatinius, leading the chase from behind as he was feeling sickly that day. The Thracian cavalry was destroyed nonetheless.

The Thracians moved forward and tried to charge the skirmishers on the left flank, but were intercepted by the Roman infantry. Soon after, the Gauls clashed into the right flank and it was over quickly.

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The Hastati and the Gauls route the Thracian infantry and warband.

The battle was all but over. The Thracians were running away with the Romans in pursuit. But in the chaos, their commander Captain Oltenia tried to cut down Saturninus from behind. Luckily one of his bodyguards, Gaius Antonius, saw this and remedied the situation, saving the General's life.

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Gaius Antonius thrusting his spear through Captain Oltenia, earning himself a place of honor by Saturninus' side.

The battle was a success. A few hundred less Thracians to worry about. 24 allies and 22 Romans had fallen during battle, but thanks to the skills of the Herbalist, half of those men would fight another day.

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Cornelius Saturninus came out of this battle with a heroic saviour, the man who slayed Captain Oltenia. Gaius Antonius will continue to serve the General as his most trusted bodyguard.

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The battle was a job well done for Saturninus, and word had reached Rome. He was quickly becoming a local hero, and a fine leader in his own right. There is much to come from this fine Roman.
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The second battle of Maronia


Publius the Victor faces the mysteriously named Molon and his horde of Seleucid warriors.

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The armies line up outside the city

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The lines clash. After exhausting their ammunition, Publius sends his Velites and Slingers round the Seleucid right flank to engage their dangerous Funditores in hand to hand combat

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These aren't unwashed barbarian hordes Legio IV is facing - these are wll armoured, disciplined troops. Eventually Seleucid numbers begin to tell and the Roman troops are more and more isolated.

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The death of Publius in hand to hand combat with the Seleucid general Molon and his second in command causes the morale of the surviving Roman troops to collapse

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The Phalanxes begin to move into the city

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leaving behind 1400 dead on the battlefield

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The few survivors are quickly mopped up and the city is taken.

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Legio IV Gallica Firma has been totally destroyed - not a Legionary survived the battle, Consul Publius Pansa goes down with his men.

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The last Greek city

He was a funny one, this First Consul, thought Numerius. We are invaded by Seleucids marching north from the western landbridge over the Bosphorus. So what does the First Consul order Legio V to do in response? To march to confront them, as Numerius had requested? To hunker down and defend Byzantion? No, he orders Legio V south, across the eastern landbridge over the straits, to attack the Greeks! Numerius smiled to himself, well at least the First Consul's strategy will have the element of surprise. It surprised the hell out of me.

Numerius heart warmed at the thought of the First Consul. In truth, he admired his leader intensely and the Consul's enigmatic response to the current crisis only added to that respect. The Republic was not short of brilliant commanders, but in Numerius's estimation, she had no more interesting strategist nor more accomplished tactician than the man currently leading her.

That reflection should have cheered Numerius, but he soon lapsed back into a morose disposition. His heart was not in the current fight. It felt like the wrong enemy, in the wrong place. It was true, the Greeks had allied themselves with Seleucia and were maneouvring to take Byzantion. Hence there was a logic in the First Consul's decision to send Numerius to eradicate them. But Numerius's eyes kept looking back, over the straits, towards Maronia and the hinterland, where Seleucid armies were pouring through into Roman lands.

Numerius thought especially of Tylis, where Praetor Coruncanius was stationed with the much depleted First Field Army. Tiberius Coruncanius was a man of integrity and a fighter's spirit. Recent controversies in the Senate had brought Numerius and Tiberius together as de facto allies, although the alliance was merely an implict one of shared beliefs and outlook, rather than anything explicitly stated. And yet the thought of the general disturbed Numerius.

In his fitful rest earlier that night, Numerius had had a nightmare or was it a premonition? In his dream, Numerius's father-in-law and now nemesis in the Senate, Augustus Verginius, had led the young Tribune to an occupied bed. The imaginary Verginius had drawn back the covers of the bed, revealing the scarred remains of Tiberius Coruncanius.

"See what you have done!" Verginius had hissed.

Numerius had turned to flee in the dream, only to be accosted in a doorway by the angry spirit of Publius Pansa:

"You will stay! And you will suffer the consequences of your actions!"

Numerius shuddered. Better to be fighting real men in this waking world, than confronting such spirits in the sleeping one.

A Samartian rider approached him, his heavy armour glinting in the moonlight.

"What word of the enemy?" Numerius inquired.

"Five phalanxes, not all at full strength, led by the Pylartes of Actum" the Samartian reported. He paused and Numerius realised this was not the end. "And the Greek King, Lasthenes of Corinth, marches from Nicomedia to reinforce his heir".

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Numerius attacks at night. It raises his command skill, but does not prevent the Greeks receiving reinforcements.

Numerius frowned. So the King was a night fighter too, very well. Numerius decided to deploy his men to the east, where the ground was a little steeper and furthest from Nicomedia.

Right, thought Numerius, phalanxes. I know how to fight them. Flank them with skirmishers so they can get clear shots, tie them up with our own heavy infantry and then send in the cavalry. Simple. In theory, anyway.

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Numerius tries a double envelopment of the phalanxes with his light troops and cavalry. It really is a silly plan when, out of camera, the Greeks have a powerful unit of hetairoi on the loose.

So the Romans started the slow ascent of the gentle slope on which the Greeks had stationed themselves. Numerius ordered the Italian spearmen to head for the Greek general and his hetairoi stationed to the east, at the rear of the phalanxes. His own Praetoria followed closely by. Numerius was surprised to see the Greek general pull back to the rear - he's not going to retreat is he? Numerius thought. But he gave it little more thought, even when the general then advanced to take up position on the west, to the rear of the phalanxes.

Cautiously, the Romans marched up the hill, spreading out to envelope the tightly knit Greeks as a fisherman's net might snare a shoal of fish. The Romans knew these Greek phalanxes were not the slow-moving ponderous creatures of legend. The hoplites could run and lacking any missiles, Numerius thought they resembled a tightly packed coil, ready to be sprung.

Then all hell is unleashed. The phalanxes charge down the hill. But what is worse, the hetairoi barrel down the east flank, making straight for the velites.

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Numerius is wrong footed and the velites pay the price.

Numerius was on the west flank, far away from the crisis point. He could only watch in horror as the resourceful velite captain hurried his men to take position behind the hastati. Some made it, many did not. Numerius signalled to the Samartian cavalry on the Roman left to counter-charge the hetairoi, but they were deterred by a small unit of levy pikemen charging straight at them. Damn, this Greek is good, cursed Numerius. He waved his hand, signalling the Sarmatians to pull back. He was determined to preserve these superb riders at all costs - running head on into charging spearmen would not be smart. The velites and the hastati would have to endure.

Numerius turned to the fight around him. His Italian spearmen, who he had originally planned to intercept the hetairoi were locked into battle with hoplites. Not a good match up, Numerius thought angrily. He ordered his Praetoria to charge the hoplites in the back, but he was distracted and the charge was botched. Damn it, can I do nothing right today? he cursed. Pull back, get back, he called to his bodyguard.

Patience, Numerius, patience. Learn from Lucius Aemilius. What he plans on the map of Europe, we must emulate here on the field of battle. The enemy is committed. Their reinforcements are far away. Our funditores and Italian skirmishers pour missiles into the rears of our enemies. Our Sarmatians and Praetoria are also on the flanks. They can take the time to line up, settle down, start at the trot, move to the canter and then ... charge!

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The first cavalry charge, on the east.

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And seconds later, another perfect cavalry charge, on the west.

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The Sarmatians show why they are reputed to be the finest cavalry in Europe - they kill 23 hetairoi for the loss of only one of their own.

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The Crown Prince of Greece, Pylartes of Actum, is among the Sarmatians' victims

And so the battle ended. With the death of their general and their flanks crushed, the Greeks hoplites broke and fled. The Sarmatians hunted them down mercilessly. The reinforcements, consisting solely of one phalanx and the Greek king with his own escort of hetairoi, hastily beat a retreat to Nicomedia.

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Historians will rate this battle as a heroic victory, but Numerius is not convinced. He has lost many velites and hastati, at a time when reinforcements cannot be expected. Heroic? Maybe. Smart? No.

The black mood lying over Numerius does not lift as he rides into Nicomedia the next day. This is not a battle. It is a slaughter.

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The Greek King and his men await their destiny - never have men been so eager to die.

The fact that Numerius himself personally slays the Greek King leads to rejoicing among his men, but merely sinks him lower into his dark fog.

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Another soul is sent to the underworld. There is no escape for mortals, even for brave Kings.

After the battle, Numerius angrily thunders around the govenor's palace, slamming into doors and aides with equal bellicosity. His timid Greek assistant looks at him uncomprehending. What has become of his normally equable master?

"Master, why this melancholy? This is a great victory! You have vanquished Greece! Your reputation grows! The men now say you are a confident attacker and a skilled infantry commander!"

Numerius snorts derisively and then stares back at the Greek angrily:

"Do you not know? Can you not guess what I have been ordered to do?!"

Numerius lets fall the message from the First Consul, setting out his grim duty. Enslave the town, man, woman and child. 5,345 subject Greeks will trek back over the straits to be sold into captivity in Roman lands. They will be stripped of their wealth and all but the barest personal possessions, bringing a meagre 1,029 denarii to the Republic.

But Numerius knows, the wealth of the town is not to be found in the pockets of its people. It lies in the buildings, the fine marble architecture of the Greeks and coffers of the many houses of state. And the temples.

Numerius Aureolus, Pontifex Maximus, stares at the list of Nicomedia's temples. They variously honour Zeus, Herackles, Dionysos, Nile and Athena. By all appearances, this was a god-fearing, civilised town. A last vestige of a great civilisation. Numerius is too well versed in history and scripture not to realise that the gods his people worship are also those of the Greeks, but merely given different names. What divine wrath does the Republic risk bringing down by this rapacious looting?

After the deed is done, the Greek aide compiles a list of the looted wealth - they have taken another 9,129 denarii, bringing the total raised by the expedition to 10,158 denarii. Numerius shakes his head at his sombre assistant.

But in truth, the destruction of bricks and mortar - even of marble - is not what most ails the young general. This Greek expedition has cost him 101 men, a fifth of his meagre force. The lives of his men mean the world to Numerius, but even more precious is what they protect - the gateway to the Republic and its first defence against the Seleucids now pouring into Europe.

What are the lives of 101 men worth? Numerius wonders.

And in his dark mood, a side of him fears he knows the answer: exactly 10,158 denarii.

The Raid on Prusa

"To: the Former Tribune: Numerius Aureolus
From: Roman High Command

I regret to inform you that your application for promotion to Legate has been turned down. The High Command believes that you are fully committed with your current duties as Governor of Byzantion and we will not assign you extra military staff if they are just to be diverted to civic duties.

Furthermore, the High Command has become aware of previous correspondence between you and the late Co-Consul on this matter. Clearly the Co-Consul took a similar view to us. Attend to your civic duties, former Tribune."

Numerius stared at the letter in disbelief. Bureaucrats! "Attending to civic duties!" Since when had midnight raids and the looting of settlements been "civic duties"!

He had to get out of Byzantion. He had come back to keep the unruly city in order. But he was like a caged animal. He had to get out.

The First Consul ... he held the keys to this gilded cage. What would appeal most to the Consul? Appeals to his compassion? His lust for glory? Appeals on the grounds of honour? Scarcely. The First Consul would not be swayed by such emotional appeals. What the Republic needed now was not more dead heroes.

Numerius looked at his Greek assistant, Isidor of Rhodes. The man was supposed to be Numerius "body slave", but in reality he was both less and more than that. Numerius was more than capable of dressing himself, but Isidor performed other adminstrative duties that were much more important. Right now he was working on an abacus, calculating the difference between the cost of Legio V's upkeep and the tax revenues collected from Byzantion each season. Numerius watched the Greek's quick fingers play with the beads on the abacus. Then Numerius smiled. He knew exactly what argument would persuade the First Consul to get him out of Byzantion. The only problem would be how to break it to Isidor, who had been so distressed at the looting of Debeltos and Nicomedia.

"AGAIN!?!" the Greek shouted in disbelief when he learnt of Numerius's scheme.

*****************************

So it was that Numerius rode out of Byzantion, authorised by the First Consul to carry out a raid on the Seleucid settlement of Prusa, much like that he had just performed so reluctantly on the former Greek settlement of Nicomedia. The Republic was broke and the prospect of large scale looting was too tempting to the First Consul. But this time Numerius rode out happily, full of enthusiasm for the venture. He tried to tell himself - and Isidor - that it was because this time the raid was against the Seleucids, that it would be the first time Romans could avenge the death of the Co-Consul and the loss of Maronia. But quick-witted Isidor was not convinced, prefering to believe instead that it was the thought of a Legate's baton in the young Tribune's backpack that motivated his master.

Numerius halted Legio V still on the eastern side of the straits, returning from Nicomedia. He sent on the Italian spearmen and the funditores to Byzantion, but ordered the rest of the column to about turn and march south to Prusa.

The sleepy settlement was caught quite unawares. The Seleucids had not expected that the savage fate that had befallen neighbouring Nicomedia would now fall on them.

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Although it gives him no command advantage this time, Numerius attacks at night so he might have a chance to improve his night-fighting skills. He will earn the trait "night owl" as a result of this battle.

Numerius spoke to his Sarmatian scouts to learn the size of the garrison of Prusa - it was two phalanxes of hoplites and a very capable Greek general with a small escort of hetairoi. Easy enough to beat, but how to do it at the least cost in Roman blood? Hoplites defending a forum were the devil's own job to shift. He would try to lure them out of their defences.

Carefully, he arranged his infantry at the opening of the southern road into the city. Roman heavy infantry at the front, backed by skirmishers and his mercenaries. That's the trap. Now, time to be the bait.

Numerius led his Praetoria up the southern road into the forum to confront the Seleucids. He would have to provoke them.

"I'm not very good at this sort of thing." Numerius said to Marcus Flavius, a Praetorian who had saved his life in the fighting at Ratiaria. "Would you do it?"

The young Praetorian smiled amusedly and tipped his forehead, before riding up to the Seleucids deployed in the forum.

"Son's of Alexander!?! Daughters of whores, more like! We are here to avenge Maronia! When we are through with you, your country will wish she never set foot in Europe!" Marcus paused for breath. The Seleucids were restive, but not moving yet.

Marcus rode closer.

"They say you killed your great King! Poisoned him! Well, look over there..."

Marcus guestured to blond haired Numerius.

"Alexander is back! And he is going to do to everyone of you what he used to do to Hephaestion!"

Numerius nearly fell off his horse.

Meanwhile, the Seleucids roared out as a man in anger and charged towards Numerius and his men.

Numerius tried to give Marcus a whithering look, but the young Praetorian was already riding past, turning only to wink and shout:

"The benefits of a classical education!"

Numerius roared back: "What in hades?!? I'm finished if that ever gets back to the Senate!"

As he turned his horse, the Tribune could hear Marcus shout back:

"And you are not already? Look at your wings, Icarus? They are on fire!"

Numerius spurred his horse: "Enough of the classical allusions, already!"

Yet, it was true, he had become the Senate's whipping boy. Already there were rumours of a vast conspiracy to place his father-in-law and nemesis, August Verginius, in power at the head of a faction that seemed to share no common agenda except self-advancement and a common determination to use Numerius as their scapegoat. If the Seleucid spears did not finish him, Numerius thought resignedly, a second Verginius consulship probably would.

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Baited by the Praetoria, the Seleucids charge out of the forum.

But the Seleucid general, Admetos of Abila, had not acquired his legendary reputation as a commander for nothing. When his hetairoi spotted the rows of Roman infantry waiting to receive them, they halted and returned to the forum. Three times, Numerius tried to lure him out and three times, the trap failed.

Sod this for a game of of soldiers, Numerius decided. If Admetos would not charge him, there was only one thing for it...

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Who says you can't get off a cavalry charge in a narrow city street?

The Praetoria crashed into the hetairoi, although the impact was more visual than real as few if any Seleucids fell to the Roman lances. Instead, a long melee developed, watched patiently by the Seleucid phalanxes only a few yards away. Apparently, Admetos had ordered them to stand to and let him deal personally with the foul-mouthed young Romans. Numerius had no such compunction and had ordered the triarii to come up to lend their weight to the struggle.

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Enraged, Admetos tries to slay the new "Alexander"

Eventually the unequal struggle was resolved in Rome's favour and the two Seleucid phalanxes were left leaderless in the forum.

Very tired, Numerius did not even think to try luring them out but instead called for the rest of Legio V to come to try to dislodge the enemy.

He lined up the principes and hastati to face the phalanxes, but ordered them to hold fire. Behind them he stationed his skirmishers, while to his right, he placed the basternae and Sarmatians. The Praetoria and triarii, he led along the left edge of the forum, aiming to get behind the phalanxes.

He ordered the skirmishers to follow him, hoping to give them a rear shot at the spearmen, but unfortunately the Italian skirmishers lacked discipline and ventured too close to the phalanxes. Ten of their number were butchered before Numerius rescinded the order and pulled them back behind the Roman infantry.

When he was satisfied that everyone was in position, Numerius rode his Praetoria round the rear of the Seleucids. The spearmen turned to face this threat, exposing their backs to the pila of the hastati and the principes. The phalanxes attempted a futile charge against the Roman cavalry, losing many men to the Roman infantry now given the order to fire at will. Maddened by their losses from the withering pila fire coming from behind, one phalanx reversed and charged the Roman infantry. Seconds later, the bastarnae launched a devastating counter-charge. The phalanx broke almost immediately - too soon, if anything, to Numerius's liking, because it meant many escaped alive to the forum, where they rallied and renewed the fighting.

Soon both phalanxes were locked in combat with the Roman infantry. The more disciplined velites had succeeded in doing what the Italian skirmishers had failed to do and were positioned to throw their javelins in the exposed backs of the phalanxes. The bastarnae, in their eagerness to get at the Seleucids, clambered over the shieldwall of the hoplites, hacking down with their fearsome rhomphaia. Such bravery carried a price, however, and by the end of the battle, 9 of the savage mercenaries lay dead.

Carefully, Numerius lined his cavalry behind the phalanxes and ended the battle with a climactic charge:

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The mortal blow

After the battle, Numerius's Sarmatian scouts brought a powerful looking countryman to meet the Tribune. The Sarmatian visitor was the head of a mercenary company, that included horse archers, Eastern infantry and Cyrtian slingers. Numerius was fascinated by the idea of fighting with bows on horse back and sorely tempted to hire the mercenaries without authorisation from the First Consul. Isidor, however, shot him a withering look. Numerius accepted the inevitable. The Senate would crucify me, he thought - literally, crucify me - if I overstep my authority in that way. So, instead, he asked the Sarmatian mercenary captain to ride with him part of the way to Byzantion, until he had heard back from the First Consul.

When word did come, the Sarmatian had to be sent away empty handed. However, Numerius was not downcast. For with the First Consul's letter had come another, from the Roman High Command. Since he was now indisputably back in the field, his promotion to Legate had this time been approved.

Well, well, a Legate at 22 years of age? Numerius thought. Surely some kind of record?

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Retaking Tylis

The time had come for Cornelius Saturninus to prove his worth and establish himself as an important part of the Roman Republic. Having fought a couple of smaller battles prior, he was now tasked with retaking the city of Tylis from the Odrysian rebels who had declared their independence from Roman rule. It was time to show the senators what he was made of.

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Captain Cocolitanus had assumed control of the rebel force and the city. Saturninus would launch his attack at night.

The plan of attack was set. The army was split in two, with Cornelius in command of the Roman legion and Vatinius leading the alae, which included Italians, Gauls, and Illyrians. They would attack from different sides to split the defenders and enter the city with less clutter.

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Cornelius Saturninus leading the Roman legion from the West.

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Galerius Vatinius leading the allied forces from the South.

As soon as the Odrysians saw the torches lit and moving towards their city, they sent forward scouts to harass both our forces simultaneously. A group of Thracian cavalry hurried south to take on Vatinius' men while some Gallic slingers headed out west to annoy Saturninus. Vatinius ordered the Italian cavalry to charge and he followed suit with his bodyguards to cut down the Thracians. Cornelius' Romans made quick work of the Gauls with their javelins and pila, sending the remaining few running back into the city. The sharp general would have none of that however and pursued them before they could get far.

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Vatinius taking down a Thracian rider.

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The Gauls trying to get back into the city with pila to their back.

After the first wave of the sally, another group of fools came charging out of the city. This time they were formidable hoplites running towards the mixed allied division. Slingers put some lead on them before they reached our first man and took a few down. Our Gallic spearmen clashed with their spears head-on and gave them a good fight. The Illyrian mercenaries cast their javelins into the hoplite's flank then charged, along with the Gallic swordsmen, and destroyed them completely.

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The Illyrians being a thorn in the side of the hoplites.

The rest of the rebels dared not venture out of the city and huddled close together in the market square, awaiting their doom. Soon after the last man of their forward guard was killed, they heard the march of the Roman army closing in on them from two sides.

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The two divisions of the Roman legion illuminating the streets as they march towards the last remaining rebels.

The Roman army converges on the bastarnae and hoplites fighting for their freedom. The Hastati bear the brunt of the attack on the left flank against the hoplites and bastarnae mixed in between. They put on a real display this day, killing 132 rebels while only losing 10 men themselves. The Gauls and Illyrians dealt with the bastarnae on the right flank. Many of them fall as they were not nearly as skilled or trained as our glorious Romans, but they get the job done which is what they get paid for.

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The main clash between the Romans and Odrysians.

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Captain Cocolitanus fought alongside his hoplites to the last man, and was surrounded and killed.

And so, Cornelius Saturninus had conducted his first assault on a city and came out victorious. The victory gave him even more confidence and fame. His words now held sway over most men, and many came from far and wide just to hear him speak. In fact, for his post-victory speech all of the citizens of Tylis came out of their homes to show their support. Even the ones who had conspired against Rome to gain their freedom in the first place were taken by Saturninus' words and pledged their loyalty to the Republic. Such a man can go far if properly used.

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A nervous scout arrived at my tent with the news that the Thracians were marching on Oduba in force. I sent him away to sound assembly.
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On my horse I looked over my troops, mostly raw auxilia recruits from Italian farms, some unreliable mercenaries, and only a single battered hastati and principii unit and not even one single triarii in sight. The troops were clearly aware of their sorry appearance and nervous about the upcoming battle. Those warmongers in the senate are responsible for this sorry sight, when will their senses return to reality ? This is supposed to be a Field Army ? It's not even half a Praetorian Legion and a bunch of farmer's sons ! I feel like a bandit chieftain instead of a Praetor ! At least we're not facing Germans. Well, time to get them ready...

Men, you know me, I've slain so many of these Thracians you could build a mountain of their corpses so high I could walk up to heaven itself. With my trusty brother-in-arms Gnaeus Hordeonius by my side, I've beaten them again and again and again.
Only once did they hurt us badly and that was when they outnumbered us two to one and still we routed them.
I know some of you men are wary of our new Italian auxilia recruits, but Italian bravery has saved me time and time again, as it will do today. You Italians know me, I was the one that has seen to it that the senate deemed it right to give some of your cities the right of Roman citizenship. Today has come the moment to earn that right. I want you to fight like Romans, as if you were principii yourselves ! Make me proud !

The Italian troops outdid each other in proclaiming their fighting skills, vowing to kill more Thracians singlehandedly than all the Roman troops in the army put together, bringing smiles to the faces of the Romans. They did not desist their demands for battle untill I promised them the frontline position in the center and on the right flank, the position of honour. Now they were ready for battle.

I'd managed to find the perfect place to wait for Scyles to show up. His army would have to march up a steep hill, tiring their troops and at the same time being exposed to our slingers. As promised, I deployed the Italian spearmen in the center and the Italian swordsmen on the right. The heavy infantry I kept in reserve on my right flank.
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Far away, a tiny group of reinforcements, mostly slingers, showed up from Oduba. They started a running march to our right flank. They would be exhausted by the time they arrived, but the same would apply to the Thracians.
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When the Thracians finally managed to climb the hill, they were greeted by a hail of pila. They had brought numerous missile troops themselves and replied in kind. Cries of pain filled the air on both sides.
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The ferocious falxmen charged en masse at the center, where my slingers kept throwing stones untill the very last moment. They ran behind the Italian spearmen and redeployed.
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When the falxmen were just a few metres away I ordered the volley of the skirmishers that I had held in reserve and the falxmen were slaughtered point blank. They broke and retreated, reformed and attacked once more and now the battle began in earnest.
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Meanwhile, my reinforcements had been intercepted and I ordered all the reserve heavy infantry and all the cavalry to charge to their relief. If I could get those slingers going on the enemy's left flank it would be very helpful. The Gallic light cavalry, mad with battle lust, beat everyone to the melee. The Gallic infantry may be pathetic, their excellent cavalry almost makes up for it.
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Scylus send more reinforcements to the battle around the reinforcements, led by himself, and in a confused melee he fell pierced by a praetorian lance.
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Now I was master of the situation. I ordered the heavy infantry and the slingers to attack the enemy's left flank and the cavalry to attack their missile troops in the rear of their army.
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The unexpected rain of stones from the left, made the Thracian troops look up for the battle. They found they were surrounded, their general Scylus was dead, and their other general had fled the field. They tried to make an orderly retreat and I ordered the Italian auxilia to charge.
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Unfortunately for the Thracians, they found their exhausted legs could not outrun those of the fresh Italian auxilia. They were all slain on the run.
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After the battle, the few remaining Thracian survivors slunk back to their villages, hoping never to see an Italian again. The escaped general has not been seen again.
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The third battle of Maronia

“How the hell did he do that?!?” Numerius scratched his head. The report of the First Consul’s victory at Lepcis Magna both pleased and puzzled him. “How did he take a settlement with the loss of only one man?”

The captain of his Praetoria, Marcus Flavius, skimmed his eyes over the scroll: “Must have been javelins.” the young Roman drawled. “Peltasts are the nemesis of the phalanx.”

Numerius nodded - of course he knew that in theory, but it was quite another thing to read of such a powerful demonstration in practice. “Still, it’s a bit much to be taught such a lesson by a young man just out of the academy.”

“Is it any worse than being given orders by him?” Marcus interjected sharply, then laughed. “Still, the academy must have improved a fair bit since my day - bunch of old duffers running it when I was there. Not that you would know anything about that, would you, sir?”

Numerius shot him a barbed glance - the Legate’s absence of much formal schooling, along with his relatively plebeian origin, was a sore point with him. Marcus, his patrician Praetorian captain, knew this and enjoyed needling the wound.

“OK, enough banter, let’s review the situation. You’ve read the First Consul’s orders, yes?” The plan was a bold one. It was quite contrary to Numerius's own plan of withdrawing Legio V and the First Field Army to Philippi and Tylis, respectively, where they could be raised to Consular strength. The Consul's plan also overruled Praetor Coruncanius's proposal of a grand daylight battle, pitching both Roman formations against the two Seleucid armies that had marched north of Maronia. Instead, the First Consul had ordered a plan as aggressive as the Praetors and as a safe as Numerius's. Numerius was to join with reinforcements at Philippi, but they would meet not in the mustering fields of Philippi but at Seleucid held Maronia. Meanwhile Praetor Coruncanius would also be reinforced from Philippi and would get his wish for open battle, but it would be done at night so he could pick off the two Seleucid armies one by one.

“Are the reinforcements form Philippi all here?” Numerius queried.

“Yes.” replied Marcus, “Mainly heavy infantry, which is fine as Legio V is sorely in need of that. The only light troops are a company of Illyrian mercenaries. We have a full cohort of principes, a company of mercenary hoplites, two companies of Thracian infantry and a band of Gallic swordsmen.”

Good, thought, Numerius. Those additions brought up Legio V into something not far short of a Consular army, more than doubling Legio V’s strength from 437 men to 960.

“Right, this is the plan. We’ll attack at dawn. No point blundering about in the dark - both we and the Seleucid general are too savy to gain any benefit from that. Marcus, I am going to rely heavily on you and the Praetoria. I know it may not be proper for a Legate to expose himself to danger at the front of the line, but we still lack a chirurgeon and your men are our best counter for those damned Seleucid hypaspists. We’ll also try to emulate our Consul and make as much use of our javelins as we can before closing. Oh, and Marcus, one more thing ... the Consul says we are to enter Maronia as liberators, not enslavers, so make sure the men are kept under a tight leash after we win.”

There was loud clapping of hands. Numerius turned and saw his Greek assistant Isidor smiling sardonically:
“At last! You Romans are finally going to act as if you are civilised!”

Numerius frowned - with subordinates like this, who needed enemies?

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The third battle of Maronia, Autumn 255 BC

So, here is where I begin to make good my promise to avenge the death of Co-Consul Publius Pansa, thought Numerius. Retaking Maronia was the first step towards redeeming Roman honour, although duty would not be satisfied until Molon himself was dead. Numerius had served under Publius Pansa, as his tribune, and the two had got on well. However, the relationship had soured when Publius had become Co-Consul. Publius seemed to resent his underling emerging from his shadow and acquiring an independent command at such a young age. Numerius could not quite understand the change in his former commander; it was as if Publius was a different person. Still, Numerius would avenge Publius, thinking of the happier times they had enjoyed in battle together rather than the later tensions.

The battle was fought under a bright Mediteranean sun. The Seleucids were deployed, half in and half out of Maronia. Still smarting from his encounter with them at Ratiaria, Numerius resolved to personally cut down the deadly hypaspists before tangling with the Seleucid phalanxes.

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As the Principes prepare to fire, Numerius’s Praetorians charge the first unit of hypaspists...

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...before moving to assist in bringing down the second.

Soon the Seleucid phalanxes had been stripped of their supports - the hypaspists and various small contingents of hoplites and skirmishers. Now, Numerius brought up his infantry slowly - trying to avoid contact the phalangists and giving his men time to lose their javelins and pila. The phalanxes were uncertain what to do in the face of overwhelming odds - advancing and retiring, exposing their backs to deadly volleys. Soon a killing zone had been created at the mouth of the settlement.

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Inspired by the Consul’s bloodless victory at Lepcis Magna, Numerius creates a killing zone for the unfortunate Seleucid phalanxes.

Eventually, the Seleucids had had enough and two depleted phalanxes pushed on into the Roman right. Seeking to minimise the casualties among his rank and file, Numerius charged into the flank of the phalanxes.

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Throughout the battle, Numerius uses his Praetoria as a shock force to bring the combats to quick resolutions. It is a reckless tactic and costs the Praetoria dearly.

When the phalanxes finally broke, Numerius pursued them down the streets to the city forum. Here, he made a costly error - allowing his infantry to pursue higgedly-piggedly. This was despite the fact that the Seleucid general was waiting for the Romans with his hetairoi in the forum.

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In war, the bravest are the first to die. The bastarnae are the most eager to break into the forum and take the brunt of the charge of the defending hetairoi.

“Damn it!” cursed Numerius. “Why does this always keep happening to me?!” It seemed as if almost every battle, the enemy general's escort was able to reek havoc on Numerius’s army. The young Legate had earned the reputation of being a skilled infantry commander. Incompetent against cavalry would be more like it, he thought bitterly.

The hetairoi were supported by many peltasts in the forum, who used the opportunity to pour javelins in amongst the beleaguered bastarnae. Soon the brave warriors were down to half strength. Urgently, Numerius called for his Sarmatian cavalry to assist in the battle - but before they arrived, it would be up to the Praetorians to relieve the pressure on the bastarnae.

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What is left of the Praetoria cut down the peltasts defending the forum...

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While the Sarmatians strike down the brave Seleucid general and bring the battle to a close.

After the battle, Numerius took stock of the situation. The people of Maronia welcomed the return of the Romans, hailing Numerius as a conqueror while his men acclaimed him as a confident attacker. But the Seleucids had fought well and although Roman losses had been modest, most of the dead were the best men in the Legio V - the Praetorians and the bastarnae.

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The loss of most his Praetoria was particularly troubling, given the reports of over 200 Seleucid cavalry patrolling in the area of the straits. But that was next season’s problem. The key question now was the fate of Praetor Corucanius and the First Field Army, about to do battle with a force four times as large as that which Numerius had just destroyed.

A Roman army marches through the night.

"I can't believe this. Sneaking up on the enemy at night. Just because we're fighting Greeks, must we match them in treachery? What if the Seleucid camp isn't alerted before we arrive? We'll have a massacre on our hands, that's what. Where is the honor in that? It's all Aureolus' fault. If it weren't for him, I would have been able to convince the Consul to authorize a daytime battle. What kind of man prefers to fight at night, anyway? What kind of man would pass up a glorious and epic battle for... this, or for a minor assault on Maronia? A deceitful and underhanded one. I wonder how he ever got the nickname of Alexander, it's hardly befitting for him." Tiberius turned to the centurion he was riding with. "Are you even listening"?

"Huh? Oh... yeah... uh, yeah, that's terrible, really.."

"What is?"

"That... thing you just said."

"What thing?"

Much to the centurion's relief, the conversation was interrupted by the return of the mounted Thracian scouts.

"What news of the enemy?" Tiberius asked.

"We weren't able to reach the enemy camp, they have sentries posted all over the place. Give me 10 men, and I can quietly take care of one of the posts, and take a look at the camp," said the Thracian.

"No, just ignore the sentries and go look at the camp."

"But, they'll see us!"

"Yes, you're not invisible."

"I mean, they will be able to alert the camp."

"I'm well aware of that."

The Thracian knew better than to press the issue further, and rode off toward the enemy camp. He came back not long after, reporting that the Seleucid camp was alerted and that the army was forming up for battle. By the time the Romans closed in, the main body of the Seleucid army was formed, but the second army was still in their camp and unlikely to respond.

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"Halt!"

The Roman army came to a stop on the side of a hill, already in combat formation. Tiberus was staring intently at the top of the hill. Everyone else was somewhat confused.

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Tiberius looks at the hill.

"Why are we stopped?" the centurion whispered so as to not break the silence.

"Do you hear that?" Tiberius asked.

"Hear what?"

"The sound of metal and wood, and of earth being crushed beneath men's feet. There is an army on the other side of that hill. We gotta get up there before them. Move out, quickly! Let's go, MOVE IT!"

The entire army jumped forward as if startled, and ran up the hill.

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The two armies run toward each other.

As the Romans came over the crest of the hill, they came face to face with the Seleucids. Both were rather surprised to see each other, and came to a stop. Only the Gauls charged forward and attacked. The Illyrians ran forward too, but stopped when they realized no one was following.

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The two armies face each other.

A moment later, the Romans opened up with javelins, and charged. The Seleucid army consisted of three groups. In the center were hoplites, on the right were Gallic and Thracian mercenaries. And, strangely enough, the elite phalangites were deployed on the left. Just what sort of trick was the enemy general trying to play? It didn't really matter; if he was really smart, he would have deployed them in the center. Tiberius merely ignored his right flank, attacking the center and left. The cavalry was ordered to eliminate the enemy cavalry on the left, and then break through to behind the enemy line. They suffered some casualties, but made it just as the enemy general entered the battle.

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Tiberius and Abascantus engage in combat as the Roman cavalry makes their way to the rear of the enemy.

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The result is predictable.

With perfect timing, the Thracian and Sarmatian cavalry charge the Seleucid center from the rear, causing a mass rout.

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The center routs.

The phalangites on the right looked on in horror as their friends began to flee. They stood their ground, however. Tiberius rallied the cavalry and charged the phalanxes personally.

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Tiberius charges the remaining phalanxes from the rear.

They routed, and the battle was over. Around 150 Seleucids escaped and retreated to Nicomedia.

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Numerius relaxed at his desk in the governor’s palace at Maronia. He had given orders for Legio V to prepare for the coming winter and, with word of Praetor Coruncanius’s victory over the Seleucids, it seemed that operations this season were over. There was still a substantial cavalry-heavy Seleucid army this side of the straits, but that, Numerius assumed, was next season’s problem.

“A message from the Consul! A message from the Consul!” Isidor ran in the room excitedly. “He asks if you can strike at the last Seleucid army this side of the straits!”

Numerius jumped up at this unexpected call to action. He scanned the message. Praetor Coruncanius had failed to snare the second Seleucid army south of Tylis. It had fled in tact across the straits to Abydos, to rendezvous with the hated Molon. Well, it was fortunate we took Maronia before Praetor Coruncanius made his move, Numerius thought. Two Seleucid armies here would have been the devil’s own job to shift. OK, we can’t do anything about Molon right now - first we have to deal with that cavalry-heavy army that stands between us. Can we take it? Numerius already was developing a phobia of fighting cavalry, based on the rough handling Legio V had repeatedly received from the mounted escorts of enemy generals. Those escorts had typically numbered only a score or more. Now he would have to fight hundreds of cavalry.

“My only cavalry is 28 Sarmatians,” Numerius thought ruefully, “Plus the six survivors of my escort. And the Seleucids have, what, 288 cavalry. Well this should be interesting. What about missiles? Maybe I can shoot them down from afar? I have only my funditores. But there are a company of Rhodian slingers and Cretan archers seeking employment around Maronia. Isidor - ask the First Consul if we are authorised to hire them. And get the army moving - we march now.”

So a tired Legio V set off to confront the last remaining Seleucid army this side of the straits. Word came back from the First Consul - no mercenaries could be afforded; the money was needed for an offensive that the Consul had decided at the last moment to launch from Lepcis Magna. Worse still, the Consul reminded Numerius that the Thracian cavalry in the Seleucid force were famed for fighting with missiles. This is going to be messy, thought Numerius.

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Once last push and the Seleucids are repelled from Europe.

Numerius’s mood was not improved when he found the Seleucid army had deployed in a heavily wooded area. It was possible that woods provided some advantage against cavalry, although Numerius was not sure if that was true. However, if there was one thing messier than fighting missile cavalry, Numerius thought, it was fighting in woods. Numerius had a traditional Roman’s view of battle - it was to be fought in close order, out in the open, with heavy infantry. Scurrying around woods in hit and run encounters was not the Roman way.
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Numerius deploys aiming to seize some high ground and fight the Seleucids in the open valley below. However, the Seleucids deploy far away in the woods and cannot be enticed out.

Gingerly, Numerius advanced his army towards the woods where the Seleucids were deployed. He could make out two phalanxes in the centre, backed by another slightly to the west. The enemy cavalry were largely hidden, to the rear. Numerius ordered his veteran principes to face off with the phalanxes but not to engage. He ordered his two Thracian infantry and his Italian spearman to move around to the west; while to the east, he sent his hoplite company, his full strength cohort of principes and his few hastati.

The Thracians were the first to make contact with the hidden Seleucid cavalry. They stumbled upon a company of heavy Thracian cavalry but the enemy did not charge. Instead both sides exchange a volley of javelins before the infantry assaulted the cavalry.

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An encounter typical of the battle - Roman infantry stumble on Seleucid cavalry and engage in a confusing melee.

The second Thracian infantry unit then moved up and charged the Seleucid phalanx line from the flank.

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The Thracians will win the battle honours this day. Note the presence of the Roman principes pinning the phalanx to face forward.

On the western flank, the Roman mercenary hoplites pressed blindly into the woods, eventually encountering light Thracian cavalry. For some inexplicable reason, the Thracian cavalry did not attempt to skirmish but got caught up in an uneven melee.

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The battle is now in full sway - notice how almost every Roman unit is engaged in combat.

Numerius’s escort only numbered six men and he resolved not to engage the superior numbers of enemy cavalry. However, once virtually all his army was committed to battle, his enforced idleness became unbearable. The Thracians were hacking away at the enemy phalanxes, but it was slow work and a unit of Seleucid peltasts was preparing to fire into the backs of the Romans' brave allies. Numerius ordered his escort in to distract the peltasts.

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Numerius risks disaster fighting peltasts in the woods.

The fight was bitter and Numerius felt a rising wave of panic within him as the eighty peltasts slowly moved in to envelope his six horsemen. Marcus, the captain of his Praetoria called out:

“They are not going to break! We must pull back!”

Numerius nodded. “Fall back! Fall back!”

At that moment, outside the wood, Isidor - Numerius’s Greek advisor - was peering anxiously into gloom. He heard a loud shout of dismay and faintly caught the words:

”He has fallen! The general has fallen!”

Curses, thought Isidor, the young fool has finally gotten himself killed! Then Isidor realised the cry had been in his own mother tongue, not Latin!

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The Italian spearmen were given a specific task: kill the Seleucid general. Job done.

With the death of their general, the three beleaguered phalanxes finally broke. Numerius rallied his praetorian and, backed by his few velites, resumed his contest with the peltasts. This time, they would not hold.

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The last significant action of the day.

Soon all that remained of the Seleucid army was a company of light Thracian horse. They skirmished briefly but their heart was not in the fight anymore. They soon broke, their swift horses allowing them to make good their escape. However, the mercenaries then disbanded - the risks of employment in the Seleucid army evidently exceeded the benefits.

After the battle, Numerius was happy with the result. It had cost him about a hundred men - mainly drawn from the recently recruited mercenaries: Thracians and hoplites. But these men had died well, proving their worth in this battle. There were now no Seleucid forces on the European side of the straits.

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Numerius had been ordered to return Legio V to Maronia, but he was briefly tempted to disobey orders and strike out for Abydos, to make his rendezvous with Molon. But Isidor calculated the army could not make it to Abydos this season. Better to wait, and hope the First Consul would sanction such a move this winter. Yes, better to wait and learn news of the Consul’s own campaign far away in Afrika.

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The blood spattered his face as he road in amongst them, stabbing at their backs as the cowards fled, the desperate panic had taken hold. It was something no man could understand until the moment struck. Routing is the hardest thing in the world for a warrior to do, but when your friends and allies are dropping at your feet, lain to waste by the blade of an enemy and helpless to defend themselves, and your general has turned his back on you, left you to die while he himself escapes, their is a sudden fear that takes control of a man. Something that breaks in his mind, and the primal instinct for survival that once said fight, fight on, fight until you have bled every last one of them to the bone, turns full force in the other direction and cracks you like a whip to run like you have never ran before.
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Another final thrust..another man down. It was the common image, the wholesale route of the Carthy army had turned into a slaughter. Italian, Libyan cavalry, Servius and his bodyguard themselves, it was their hunt. The routers were their prey.

It was Servius's first real battle, brash, bold...and a clear defeat for the opposing side.

Following the news of victory after victory against the Seleucids in the east, and after mulling it over much in his mind - whether to wait next season for the carthy attack and risk them reinforcing themselves, or attack now and intentionally surround ourselves - he decided to go with the latter. In attacking the Carthaginian army lead by Celeas Abdera and Mobilkar the Mad now, Servius would be placing himself within a seasons march of three seperate smaller armies, one to the north, one to the south, and one to the west, combined, they equalled a legion in strength. But they were divided, and fighting them divided, should they take the bait and attack, would be a far easier victory than waiting for next season and allowing them to group.
The order was given, they began the march. It was a long trek across the sandy, wind-swept dunes where the Carthies had built their road, but it was the fastest way from Lepcis Magna to Thapsus, where he would find the Carthies waiting a few days march from the city. When the advance scouts had finally given word that the enemy was spotted, the day became tense. It was his first real battle, the fall of Lepcis Magna was simple, the garrison pitiful, weak, and easily defeated. This fight would signify the beginning of the main conflict, the fight for the core of Carthage. Servius would have to lead his legion against two battle hardened veteran commanders of the Numidian war, and their force was nearly consular in its size. https://img158.imageshack.us/img158/...tlocalegq6.jpg
As they approached, in an attempt to even the odds, Servius authorised the recruitment of as many cavalry and skirmishers as could be found willing amongst the locals, and by the afternoon, the line had been drawn in the sand.
After carefully considering the enemy's capabilities compared to his own, Servius set the legion up in a formidable formation.
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Our spearmen, backed by cavalry would form the flanks, while the center would be screened by an advance guard of Numidian mercenary javelins and the Roman funditores. Our heavy infantry stationed directly behind the javelineers, along with our velites and samnite mercenaries.
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Servius himself marched up close to the front lines, briefing the mercenaries one last time as they approached the enemy, making sure they understood their duties and boosting morale.
As they approached their target, the funditores were ordered to fire off everything they had at the enemies front ranks, made up of berber skirmishers, and by the time they were empty, the front rank skirmishers had been nearly halved in number. Ordering the funditores back, it was time for the main engagement, and Servius ordered a unit of the numidian mercs out to lure the enemy in, running halfway, then turning back. https://img158.imageshack.us/img158/...gtheminvt8.jpg

The tactic worked like a charm, as they approached the halfway marker, the berber skirmishers, eager for a chance to strike back, broke from the front lines and charged forward. A squad of caetrati cavalry came bounding after them, one of their comrades had been struck by a stray shot as well, and they were eager for blood. But it was a foolish charge.
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The Numidians caught every one of them with a javelin to the chest.
And the berbers were subsequently driven back by the hail of javelins before they could even through their own. The only Roman loss in the entire initial Carthy charge was one man.
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This reeling horse collided with a numidian when its rider was struck by a pila, falling down and tripping the horse forward into the skirmisher.

Enraged, the Carthaginian commanders thought nothing of strategy and ordered a full frontal charge. https://img180.imageshack.us/img180/...lchargenh9.jpgTaunted and made to look as fools by the Roman tactics, Celeas and Mobilkar the Mad order the army forward in a vengeful thrust for glory. But it is not to be, and the battle is over in swift order.
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A devestating cavalry charge crumbles the Carthy advance on the left flank from behind, and the cavalry continue down the center, routing one unit after another.
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The Italian spearmen charge the rear of a phoenician spear unit as it pushes through the numidian mercenaries, and the cavalry thunder into the rear of another block of spearmen and skirmishers on the far right flank. Decimating the enemy lines on both flanks.
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But the center of the Carthy army manages to hold until the hastati are given order to loose their pila into the enemy backsides, afterwards, the spearmen take flight.
What occurs afterwards can only be described as the wholesale rout of the Carthaginian army, both of their generals leading the flight from the field, neither of them ever actually taking to battle. They are clearly cowards in any man's eyes. However, the legion was not without loss, a significant number of our mercenaries were killed in the spearmen charges. In all, about one full unit of mercenaries javelins, a full unit of mercenary horse, and some two dozen italian spearmen were lost in the fight. But it is a pittance to pay for a clear defeat of two of Carthage's most experienced generals, and their closest army of significant size to the consul and his legion. A clear victory by any means. https://img180.imageshack.us/img180/...victoryba0.jpg

I have wondered, since our first battle against Celeas Abdera and Mobilkar the Mad, what it really meant to look a man in the eye and know that either your life or his will be taken that day. To know that he is not going to go easy on you, and to trust that you have the skill, and the constitution, to kill him in turn. Chasing down the routers is an easy task, flaying men from the backsides where you cannot see their face, and their cries of pain are more humerous than demanding of pity. Cowards are always easy to kill. It is the man that stares you in the eye, and knows that no matter how this battle turns out, he will have fought for something he believed in. I know I personally carry this expression in every engagement, but until today I had yet to actually see another who did as well. There are six Carthy armies on our heels, two..maybe three of them within marching distance this season. I do not fear death...perhaps what I fear, is meeting another man who fears it less than I.

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There was no choice today. No matter what direction we were to march, we would be walking out of the frying pan and straight into the fire. My men, myself, we could not continue our march into the empty, blistering wilderness of Carthage's southern inland. We were not properly supplied, not properly informed.

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So the decision was made. We would march to Thapsus, it nearly undefended itself, but within marching distance of a significant number of Carthy armies. But it didn't matter, we needed supplies, food water...and the town would be much more easily defended by us than the meager Carthy garrison. After some rather tricky maneouvering, we soon see the outskirts of the city.

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We approached, and, in what the men joke to be 'Servian Form', arrange to take the city by nightfall. They joke, and I'll admit, it's humorous, but in all reality it is far easier, and far more comfortable to fight at night in this gods-be-damned desert than it is during the day.

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As we approach the city, we spot torches coming from another direction. Clearly untricked by our nightfall approach, as I had doubted they would be, the small Carthy group outside the city turns around and heads back. So I form the army up into two groups, the first, consisting of all our cavalry, heads with me into the city to quickly take out the garrison, which our spy has also revealed to us to be a Carthaginian general, the perfect oppertunity to kill two birds with one stone. Sieze some supplies, kill a general, then abandon the city next season. The second group would stave off their reinforcements.

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We quickly tied up the general with our Numidians, then charged his flank with everything else we had.

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While in the other group, our skirmishers had driven the enemy generals to the flanks, trying to avoid their frontal hail of javelins.

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I can remember that look now. As I wade into the enemy in my first real engagement, I can remember seeing that look in his eyes. The enemy general, outnumbered and his bodyguard falling around him, fought to the last man. The look in his eyes the same one I am sure I had. The look that he would never give up, never surrender, he would fight to his dieing breathe for the nation he loved.

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But so be it then. I am clear to lose my inhibitions, I am a Roman, and this man is my enemy, in hindsight, it is hard to even consider him a man. Men do not worship devils that would thrust such a vile nation upon them. But.. with a final thrust, one of our men cuts this foolish man down before I can reach him to take him myself.

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The other groups skirmishers have backed away from the flanking cavalry and the front and back ranks have converged on them, fools, they've surrounded themselves.

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The first general is felled by our Italian spearmen.

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The second attempts to flee, but it caught by a javelin in the back. If only it were possible to discern where the javelin had come from, I would commend the skirmisher on his accuracy. The remainder of the ramshackle Carthy reinforcements are slaughtered by our javelins, swordsmen and their own poor morale. They deserve the death of cowards.

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Our victory, though not as bloodless as the taking of Lepcis Magna, which those cowardly, treacherous Carthaginian worms have bribed back from our hands, it is still a clear victory, and the taking of Thapsus opens up a wide new range of mercenaries for reinforcements and a stronger defensive position than we had previously had.

In nomine Roma, et pro totus doxa deum.
Servius Aemilius

The battle of Abydos, Spring 254

”The reinforcements are here!” Marcus announced chirpily as he entered Numerius’s command tent. ”The First Consul sent us three mercenary companies: hoplites, Thracians and peltasts.”

Numerius smiled, although inwardly he wondered whether he was commanding a Roman army anymore or a Thracian one. What’s to stop the buggers killing us all in our beds? He mused. But then he turned to give orders to his waiting Praetorian captain:

”Get the men moving. We have orders from the First Consul - we march on Abydos.”

Marcus saluted sharply and turned quickly, nearly colliding with Isidor, the Greek advisor, who was rushing dishevelled into the tent:

”They won’t move!” Isidor cried. ”The mercenaries - they came to see me. They are insisting on resting. They say the march here has exhausted them!”

”Right, I’ll see about that!” snarled Marcus, his hand moving to rest on his sword hilt.

”No, wait, Marcus” Numerius said, remembering his musing about the outnumbered Romans being murdered in bed by their stronger auxiliaries. ”Legio V is enough to take Abydos. Let the mercenaries rest, they can catch us up later.”

Marcus looked at his Legate uncomprehending, as if Numerius had suggested sleeping with Marcus’s mother. Inwardly, Numerius sighed. He had already asked the First Consul for a proper Tribune to take over as his second in command. Marcus was a fine sword hand - Numerius’s heroic saviour in fact - but a general, he would never make.

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Legio V must march without its reinforcements if it is to reach Abydos before Summer.

With the mercenaries left to run the camp and oversee supplies, Numerius’s army marched swiftly to the straits, was ferried across without incident and soon arrived outside of Abydos. There it found the army that had fled Praetor Coruncanius in the autumn offensive, stationed outside of the town. It was led only by a captain, but a nearby Seleucid general, Zolios Zabinas, was en route to reinforce it with the Abydos garrison. Numerius knew nothing of Zabinas, but he was no fool and even attempting a night march did not allow the Romans to catch the Seleucids unawares. Consequently, Numerius decided to wait for dawn before starting his assault.

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At last, this was to be a straight battle - in daylight, out in the open. No more skulking in woods or fighting through narrow city streets. This was old school, fighting like a true Roman.

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The Roman army deploys just below the crest of a hill. Fortunately, the Seleucids do not advance to deny them the crest.

Numerius deployed the true Legio V, his veteran Romans, on the left. However, many battles without a chirurgeon or Roman reinforcements had left them a small force. The heart of the army was now the auxiliaries. In the centre, Numerius formed up his hoplite phalanx, with Thracian infantry either side, screened by Italian skirmishers. His one cohort of Roman reinforcements, the principes, he put on the right together with his Italian spearmen, bastarnae and Sarmatians. He thus had three battle groups, each of roughly comparable power. In a single line, they advanced on the Seleucids.

Fortunately, the numerically superior Seleucid army did not come to engage the Romans as a whole. There was some skirmishing between the slingers of both sides and a feint by Gallic light cavalry. Then part, but only part, of the Seleucid infantry charged the hoplites holding the centre of the Roman line. The Galatian swordsmen, Gauls and hypaspists advanced, while inexplicably, the Chalkaspides held back.

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Hand to hand combat starts in the centre of the Roman lines. This particular combat will escalate until almost all the battle depends upon its outcome.


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First Roman Thracians charge the Galatians, then they in turn are charged by more Galatians moving up in support.

Numerius had not altered his dispositions upon seeing the initial deployment of the Seleucids except in one respect. He had spotted their one unit of hypaspists had been deployed facing the Roman right. Consequently, he took his own Praetoria from the Roman left round to the right, to face these elite troops. Now, seeing them hacking their way into the hoplites in the centre of the Roman lines, Numerius had no choice but to act.

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Numerius had singled out the hypaspists as the preferred target of his Praetoria.


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Unfortunately, the hypaspists are intermingled with Gauls and Galatians, whose bodies cushion the impact of the Roman cavalry charge.

Throughout the struggle in the Roman centre, the Seleucid phalanxes stayed uncommitted and were opposed by the Romans on either flank of Numerius’s army. However, when it was clear that the charge of the Praetoria had failed to end the central contest, Numerius ordered in his veteran principes.

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Seconds after this moment, all the Seleucid units fighting in this central melee will break...


https://img131.imageshack.us/img131/...bydos15zh4.jpg

… all the Seleucids in the centre will break, except the hypaspists, of course.

With the Seleucid centre collapsing, Gallic light cavalry launched a desperate charge into the central struggle. All across the line, the Romans were committed. The only force available to counter-charge the Gallic horse was a depleted unit of velites, now shorn of their javelins.

https://img158.imageshack.us/img158/...bydos10dn1.jpg

Velites charging cavalry… what madness is this?

Meanwhile, the hypaspists continued to hold. Numerius was becoming frustrated. His infantry were locked up in a bloody struggle with these indomitable fighters. He needed to end this quickly, to release sufficient men to tackle the still unengaged Seleucid phalanxes. The Praetoria had failed to break the hypaspists. So had his veteran principes. There was only one thing left to try.

”Marcus! Signal the Sarmatians to charge!”

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The impact of the Sarmatian charge will finally break the dogged hypaspists.

The battle now resolved into a familiar contest between phalanx and Roman infantry. Having routed over half the Seleucid army, the Romans now had the advantage of numbers and so were able to gradually surround the phalanxes. The chalkaspides died hard, but inevitably.

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The Seleucid general belatedly makes an appearance…


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… but he is driven off by the Sarmatians.

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It is a bloody encounter, but Rome’s triumph over unfavourable odds earns her a heroic victory and gives Numerius the reputation of being a good attacker.

After the battle, the Roman army marched into Abydos. Numerius was surprised to learn that most of the defeated army had fled, leaving only the brave Seleucid general and a single attendant. This symbolic stand appealed to Numerius’s sense of honour, so he led only his own Praetoria into the town forum to duel with the Seleucid. Zoilos Zabinas proved to be a fine duellist, however, taking down four of Numerius’s bodyguards before finally succumbing.

”Never do that again. said Marcus angrily. ”Bugger honour. Give them a hundred javelins next time."

As the rest of Legio V moved into the settlement, Numerius turned to Isidor. He knew the First Consul’s standing orders were to enslave captured Seleucid towns. It was an unpleasant business, especially to a Greek like Isidor, who shared some feeling of a blood tie with the Seleucids. Isidor looked at his master reproachfully:

”You are getting the reputation of being a pillager.” the Greek said softly.

Numerius nodded, eyes down, looking at the ground.

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Welcome to Asia, General!

Excerpt from the Field Army's log, Spring 254.

... the last of the troops were ferried across just before sunrise. There was a report of an army forming up not far inland, and the general ordered the field army to break camp. We marched in combat formation away from the coast, and soon met the other army. Everyone expected to find a Seleucid army, but the army standing upon the hill before us was not quite it. It had Thracians, Persians, Galatians, Cilicians, and many others, but no Greeks. There wasn't even a phalanx to be seen. Still, they carried Seleucid banners, so they were assumed to be the enemy. The foe was significant in number and put up somewhat of a fight, but was easily repulsed. A camp was set up near the site, but the army was on the move again by noon, less 200 men.

Excerpt ends.

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******

A report came from the south, another large Seleucid army was located just outside of Nicomedia. The scouts prepared a detailed report on its composition:

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That would explain the mystery of the missing phalangites. It would also explain why the Field Army did not pause for long after its previous battle.

https://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y2...8/deploy4b.jpg

This army was significantly stronger than the previous one. At almost 1500 men, it outnumbered the Field Army by nearly 2 to 1. It was composed mostly of elite Seleucid phalangites, rather than mercenaries. Although currently under the command of a captain, a top Seleucid general would be arriving from Nicomedia shortly. In short, the consensus among the Field Army's staff was that the General had gone insane. We took turns pleading with him to call off the attack, but he refused.

Even worse, the Seleucid army had taken the high ground near Nicomedia, we would again be fighting uphill. There was also a forest available to screen Seleucid movements. It seemed as if every single factor that could be in the enemy's favor, was. The Roman army deployed on a road at the foot of a forested hill.

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The Roman army deploys as the Seleucids conceal their movements using the forest.

The formation the General had chosen was highly unorthodox. It consisted of a single line of mercenaries and Hastati, with the rest being held in reserve on the flanks. One unit of Triarii on the right flank, and everyone else, all Principes, half the Trarii and all the cavalry on the left flank. Some early fighting occured on the left flank against enemy light cavalry which was of no significant consequence. Soon, the main body of the Seleucid army emerged from the forest.

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The Seleucid horde emerges from the forest

As the Seleucid line crashed into the Romans, who held their ground, something rather strange happened. The Seleucid general, who was coming from behind the Roman army, instead of going around to take over the command from the captain, decided instead to attack personally from the rear. He did achieve surprise, charging into the unsuspecting Princepes, but was immediately counter-charged by the Roman cavlary. The Triarii joined in too.

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The Seleucid general becomes surrouned...

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... with the usual result.

At this stage, the Roman center was barely holding against the much more numerous Seleucid center. The Triarii on the right were keeping the Seleucids busy, but there were large holes in the line there. Even on the left, one Seleucid phalanx flanked the Roman line, attacking it from the side. But, this is where the battle was about to turn. The General yelled, "charge!", and took off toward the nearest enemy phalanx. His escort followed, the Sarmatians followed, the Princepes and Triarii followed.

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Tiberius charges the enemy.

The enemy phalanx fled at the mere sight of this. The General continued the charge into the next phalanx, which also fled.

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The next phalanx in line flees.

And the next.

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The charge continues.

The charge gains strength as it moves. As each phalanx flees, the Romans that had been until then engaging it from the front, join in.

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The infantry reaches the near phalanx, while Tiberius has already moved on to the next one.

A mass rout begins.

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The formidable Seleucid line is dispersed.

The Seleucids rout into the forest, and everyone is ordered to give chase. A slaughter ensues. Many Seleucids enter the forest, many screams of horror are heard, few Seleucids exit the other side of the forest, and even they are cut down. Only a few escape back to Nicomedia.

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In accordance with the Consul's orders, Nicomedia is also captured immediately.

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Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Molon

To the Roman Senator "Numerius"

Ah, Numerius the Pretty boy, I've heard about you. They say the people round here regard you as some kind of conquering hero. Then again, they said the same about Publius Pansa and his reputation didn't help him.

He took a long time to die mind you, took most of my bodyguard with him. I didn't have much horse to start with, but he had even less. And his men, well, they fought bravely - not a single Roman ran away, every last one fought till he died. Very admirable.

I look forward to meeting your acquintance on the battlefield.

Molon

---

https://img127.imageshack.us/img127/1385/molon1cw6.jpg

Let justice be served.

Numerius put the letter back inside his inner pocket. He had carried it inside his vest for two years, since the death of his mentor Publius Pansa at Maronia. Now, time and the passage of events had conspired to bring Numerius to the walls of Pergamon to face his previous tormentor. But time had not softened the hatred Numerius felt for the Seleucid general trapped inside the settlement. Each day, the parchment had burned next to Numerius’s heart, scarring it and quickening his blood. The fact that Publius Pansa had fallen out with Numerius later in life in no way relieved Numerius of his feelings. In fact, it seemed to perversely strengthen them, as a father’s rejection might motivate a son to win his love. At the time of the Co-Consul’s death, Numerius had rashly promised to retake Maronia and kill Molon. Well, he had retaken Maronia and now finally he was able to make good on the rest of his reckless promise.

Today, Numerius had a hard, bitter expression on his face and even Marcus Flavius, the normally over-familiar captain of his Praetoria, spoke guardedly and cautiously:

”Legate, who do we send onto the walls?

Numerius considered the question. His mercenary hoplites were the largest formation and had been ordered to bring forward the only siege tower his small force had managed to construct. But they would have no edge over the Seleucid Chysaspides who would no doubt be stationed on the walls. His best troops were surely the bastarnae and his veteran principes, but they were too few and too precious for this bloody task.

”The junior cohort of principes can take the tower. Send the two Thracian companies forward with the ladders.” Numerius decided.

Numerius rode to address the men waiting to assault the walled settlement.

”Men of the Fifth! Long have you marched to come to this place! We have come here together, by way of Ratiaria, Debeltos, Byzantion, Maronia and Abydos. We even passed by Nicomedia and Prusa, but they were a bit crap so we threw them back to the Seleucids."

The soldiers laughed and cheered.

”But those places, those victories were all nothing compared to this! This day we fight not for glory, not for loot, not even to protect our sacred Republic. We fight just to kill. To kill one man - Molon!”

The men howled in condemnation.

”This man led the invasion of our lands! This man started the fires of a great war that will rage and burn throughout our life times! This man destroyed a legion, our brothers of the Sixth! This man killed our Co-Consul, my former legate! This man is why we are here today! And this man will find out that no wall, no matter how high, can protect him from the wrath of the just! Soldiers of the Fifth, this is not a battle - it is an execution!”

The men drummed their weapons on their shields and then turned, on the command of their officers, to assault Pergamon.

What was Molon thinking, as he heard the struggle for the city walls? Numerius wondered. Molon was getting old, now fifty-eight. He had the reputation for being untouched by fear. He was a proud veteran, a natural born leader. What was he thinking? Numerius looked up to the blue sky. Perhaps he was thinking that this was a good day to die.

The struggle for the walls was bloody. A single company of Chryaspides were guarding it. Initially, they outfought the Thracians, who were the first on the walls as they swiftly climbed the ladders. Even the arrival of the junior cohort of principes at the rear of the Chryaspides did not turn the tide immediately - the principes were at first cut down as they struggled out of one of the towers onto the section of wall on top of the city front gates. But then, slowly, as the Chryaspides turned to face the threat of the principes, their defence against the Thracians faltered. Falx blows started to rain down on the backs of the phalangites and soon their fate was sealed.

The gates were open. Remorselessly, Legio V marched towards Molon and his other remaining company of Chryaspides in the forum. Numerius ordered his mercenary hoplites to take the brunt of the inevitable charge of Molon’s escort.

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Molon dies bravely.

Soon the Romans had engulfed the outnumbered Seleucids and Pergamon was taken.

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Numerius sits impassively as his men celebrate the death of Molon.

The victory did not immediately release Numerius from the burden he had carried for two years. Roman losses had been significant - 67 men had died to defeat 255 Seleucids. But this was not the reason why Numerius could not shift his current mood. With the death of Molon, he felt strangely hollow and lifeless, as if fate had freed him from one obligation but that his own spirit had not yet returned to set a new course. Isidor knew better than to comment when Numerius enslaved 12,875 residents of Pergamon on the instructions of the First Consul. But still, in a quiet moment, the wise and brave Greek slipped into Numerius’s office to inquire after him:

”What is it now that ails you, Master?” Isidor asked cautiously. “It is over, you can move on.”

Numerius looked up, with dead eyes.

Isidor continued. ”You pray too much to Mars, young Legate. There are other gods.”

Numerius laughed bitterly: ”You lecture the Pontifex Maximus on religion?!? By the gods, you Greeks are insufferable!”

Isidor’s eyes danced lightly around the room and he shrugged: ”We Greeks knew the gods before you Romans. Sometimes I think you still do not know them truly. Your current duties may lie on the battlefield, but is that all you aspire to be, a killer? Is there not more to life than that - the extinction of life?”

Numerius put his head in his hands. ”I will not sit here to be lectured by a impudent Greek. Get out.”

But there was no harshness in Numerius’s voice and Isidor nodded quietly, then slipped away.

When the Greek had gone, Numerius reached inside his vest and pulled out Molon’s letter. He considered it one last time and then gently held it above the candle on his desk. The fumes from the flames swirled round his head and for the first time in many days, Numerius smiled.

The Consol had presented me with his plan and….I didn’t agree. I reasoned with him.

“It makes more tactical sense to FIRST strike at Rhodes as the Senate instructed, THEN cross the straits and seize Halicanassus where I would remain. Our navy sealing off Rhodes against any counter attacks.”

I thought this imperative as I did not like the thought of leaving an army in Halicanassus, on the main land, without a Tribune to command it.

The Consul pondered the choices and pawed over maps for many weeks. He used the best Greek mathematicians to work out distance and travel speeds…then his answer came back.

He’d seceded to my request. We would land in Rhodes, take that profitable city then hop over the sea to pounce on Halicanassus.

That was the plan. Now, I know I should have just kept my mouth shut…..the Consul, of course, was correct. Whichever priest had advised him before, had given him sound advice and no manner of strange Greek philosophy or reason could overturn what the Gods deemed.

We were to land at Rhodes within a few days when we spotted the first ship. It floated by, adrift. Its only crew were bloated corpses. The men were disturbed and, I have to admit, the same feelings of dread passed over me also. As we drew closer we peered through the morning fog at the expected prosperous bay and saw no activity.

I sent a signal to the fleet to hold off the coast and we waited. No advancing armada came forth, no fishing fleet, no trade ships even. Then on the third day a fishing vessel approached from the North West, a Greek trawler, what they had to tell us answered all our questions.

Plague.

For a number of years the fair island of Rhodes had been cursed with a sickness, many citizens had perished, but a few escaped before the disease took hold and had the werewithall to notify the authorities. The Island was quarantined but that was before War took over the region, and all knowledge of this plague was put to one side for more important matters.

We sailed away that evening. We watched with sadness and silence as we sailed on, at a once mighty and prosperous Island, laid low by a curse from the Gods themselves. Onwards to Halicanassus.

Morale was low at this point so I took the time to address the army once we had dis-embarked in Asia-Minor.

“So, it seems the Gods are firmly on the Republics side these days! They have transpired to aid us in a great way. We need not fight for the Island of Rhodes for the Gods have cursed them for us, they have cursed them for the Ptolomites greed and augur, they have taken the time to kill our enemy for us so that we need not risk good Republican blood. They will see that the Colossus will stand astride an empty harbour and its affront to them will be forever remembered NOT as a symbol of defiance to Neptune but as a constant reminder that we are…all of us…but HUMANS. We will not defy the Gods men, it is clear we are here to do their work and aid them in cleansing these cities of those who would consider the works of MAN greater than those of the Gods!”

I felt proud and full of an unnatural vigour when I was received after the speech. The citizen-soldiery received it well, much cheering was given and mens’ faces lifted as if a burden had been removed from their shoulders. All we needed to do now was prove I was right, take Halicanissus with as few casualties as possible.

These men before me were likely to be in my command for the next five to ten years at least! I would grow to recognise each one by sight, perhaps even know each of their names in turn, and they would mine. I will not unduly risk one of them when there would be another way of defeating the enemies before us, no, this Consular army would be my family for the next years and we would face whatever was needed so that we can face Pluto with pride and ensure he judges us well and pays for our passage over the river.

So, we stood before Halicanissus for our first battle as an army. It has to be said that despite my efforts the men were nervous….who would not be just before they are to commit to taking another mans life for the first time?

We had word that a re-enforcement army was en-route from the West but the both forces would still only amount to near 400. I had the choice to either await this other armies arrival and then fight a full battle or take the initiative and strike early.

I chose the latter, my men mean much to me and so do their lives.

Thus I deployed a force of spears supported by skirmishers and cavalry to the West of the city to await this relief force whilst I sent the rest of my skirmishers to the East of the city. I sent our heavy infantry strait in via the Southern route into the city.

Once these forces were in position I ordered the advance into the city from the East and South until the Peltasts could see and loose upon the defenders in the square. At the same time the force to the West I advanced towards the on-rushing enemy. We had the natural slope to our advantage and I massed two cohorts of Italian spearmen supported by one of the Triarii cohorts near the top. The enemy would have to come to us.

The Western enemy force consisted of an elite phalanx cohort supported by two skirmish units. We put their skirmishers to flight rapidly due to our own skirmishers advantage of height, it was then a matter of engaging Spear verses Sarrissa whilst the skirmishers loosed into the rear and flanks of the enemy. They swiftly broke and I sent my Pratoria and other cavalry to chase them down.

In the centre the story was much the same, my two forces teased and assailed the enemy from afar until they charged the Principi who had orders to hold. Italian swordsmen were sent to flank and shortly another elite phalanx was destroyed.

In all we suffered 24 casualties but thankfully most were minor. We did loose 11 sons of Mars that day.

I had them laid out before me and I checked each one, saying a prayer for their departure and committing to my log their names. I intend to keep this up as far as it is practical, when the losses I suffer become to great for me to note their names in a day, then I feel I would have lost more than just men in my army but a part of my soul also.

https://img87.imageshack.us/img87/50...ory1pl9.th.jpg

https://img97.imageshack.us/img97/53...ory2we2.th.jpg

Shortly afterwards I visited the fabled Mausoleum here, and truth be told whilst it is impressive I am personally not impressed. I have always felt it is folly to make buildings for the Dead greater than those occupied by the living, and many thoughts of those around me and from myself went back to what horror must be happening in the Island of Rhodes now.

It is clear now how the Avarice of these men has brought about such punishment from the Gods.

https://img97.imageshack.us/img97/81...uredok8.th.jpg

(OOC: Edit, have discoverd what I've done wrong and this is the best these pics will be. Sorry. Link to current Save file: http://www.totalwar.org/patrons/pbm/...s-correct1.zip )

From the command tent of a Carthaginian encampment, in the army of Ribaddi Clupea, the man tasked with leading the Carthaginian forces against Servius at Cartago.

The soldier sat rattling in his chair, rambling on in horror, a greasy sweat forming on his forehead. He couldn't sit still, the tremors wouldn't let him. He tried to wrap his arms around himself and calm his nerves, but a harsh chill broke him free from his own grasp.

"They were all over us, they took us from directions they couldn't take us. They were in our ranks from the front, the sides, the rear. We had it blocked off! We had it blocked off! And still they attacked. And they were in our ranks like we had never seen them coming! Amongst us! Amongst us, and the bodies. There was nothing left. There were none. Fifteen hundred men! And then there were none."

Ribaddi drew a hand to his mouth and began to bite at a nail. The image was disturbing, highly. He had heard stories of the Numidian war, of the casualties and terrors of battle soldiers would often feel in the midst of conflict. But never had he ever heard of a man coming back alive and not, even days after the incident, being able to control his own movements. There were two others too, three men in all returned to the camp. The other two could not speak of the incident at all, the fear of ever remembering that day has erased it from their minds. Could this "Servius" really be the demon this man portrayed, in his words, in his motions? The whole account of the battle seemed terrifying. He was beginning to get nervous, worried for his own safety. Just days ago he had five Carthaginian armies at his command, now he had four, and such minimal losses on the Romans' side that the army may have just as well enough been disbanded and the entire battle avoided.
He looked out the tent's entrance across the dunes and wondered, just exactly what happened that day.
-----------------------------

https://i9.photobucket.com/albums/a5...sMarcellus.jpg
(OOC - It's winter, 254 bc, Marcellus Aemilius has landed and established a fort east of Cartago to rest from their long voyage. The Carthaginian forces are swiftly pushing northwards along the road, five of them in all, led by a young commander by the name of Ribaddi Clupea, a Carthaginian man the same age as the Roman consul.)Three days earlier, about a dozen miles outside Cartago at the river crossing. The Carthaginian camp under captian Ashtartyaton is bustling with activity.

Sir! Their are Roman banners on the horizon. The legion has actually left the city to engage us here?

"It would appear so.." Captain Ashtartyaton answered the soldier with a bit of confusion in his own voice. "Set up a defensive block directly in front of the bridge. They have no idea what they're doing, they must be fools. We'll skewer them as they come across."

https://i9.photobucket.com/albums/a5...ianAdvance.jpg
Captain Ashtartyaton gives orders to his men to set up a spearwall at the bridge exit. They could surround and decimate the Romans in such a way.

But the battle may not be quite as easily fought as the Carthaginians had hoped. The legion is led by the consul himself, the same man who sacked Lepcis Magna and Thapsus, decimated a full Carthaginian army, killed three of their highest ranking generals, and dodged and outmaneouvered five Carthaginian armies for a year before finally taking Cartago right from under their noses.

https://i9.photobucket.com/albums/a5...vianLegion.jpg
The Servian Legion approaches.

And the stage for the battle is set.
https://i9.photobucket.com/albums/a5.../thebridge.jpg
This bridge would be at the heart of the conflict, with both armies setting up on opposite sides.

As Ashtartyatan expected, the Romans were coming straight for them.
https://i9.photobucket.com/albums/a5...ughinatide.jpg
Their commander ushering them across the bridge in a tide of flesh and iron.

Initially Ashtartyatan orders a straight charge, hoping to skewer the Romans as they cross the bridge and force them straight into the water.
https://i9.photobucket.com/albums/a5...tledcharge.jpg
The first elements of the Carthaginian army rushing forward.

But the Romans organize much more quickly than had been expected, and before the spearmen even reach the Roman line, their comrades are being dropped by javelins.
https://i9.photobucket.com/albums/a5...yconfusion.jpg
Confused, one unit rushes forward hoping to close the gap, while the others withdraw, trying to avoid the javelin fire and awaiting the captain's new commands.

The Carthaginians regroup, and the captian orders them forward as quickly as possible, hoping to make up for the initial setback with the early Roman formation and defeat them with a mass push towards the river.
https://i9.photobucket.com/albums/a5...alJointure.jpg
The initial jointure is a gigantic mass of spears pushing the Roman lines towards the water.

But the consul's legion is far more stalwart than they had been perceived to be.
https://i9.photobucket.com/albums/a5...ttheflanks.jpg
Not only do they hold the Carthaginian line where it stands, but they manage to order several units towards the flanks.

The full commitment of the Carthaginian army's entire bulk to a singular charge becomes its death knell.
https://i9.photobucket.com/albums/a5...tentions-1.jpg
As the Roman intentions become quite clear. The Carthaginian forces engaged in the line are completely oblivious to the maneouver.

A roman charge to the left flank startles the line, and the left begins to get jittery.
https://i9.photobucket.com/albums/a5...omancharge.jpg
And rightly so, the Principes and Italian swordsmen charging their rear are no mirage.

And then the thunder comes.
https://i9.photobucket.com/albums/a5...alryatRear.jpg
The Roman cavalry pound into the rear of the line's center like a sledge.

The whole center of the Cathaginian line cracks under the weight.
https://i9.photobucket.com/albums/a5...erisBroken.jpg
Four units of Libyan spearmen break without a second thought, as the line pushes them forward and cavalry cut them down in their flight.

The cavalry spare no man.
https://i9.photobucket.com/albums/a5...iusridesin.jpg
As Servius himself rides straight into the middle of the spears, the cavalry follow suit, slaughtering the routers without remorse.

Their fear quickly spreads to their surrounded allies.
https://i9.photobucket.com/albums/a5...akesflight.jpg
Without the center the left cannot hold and they take flight almost instantly, pursued by the Italian swords.

Invigorated with their swift victory, the Roman left brings its righteous hammer of judgement in a resounding swing to the right.
https://i9.photobucket.com/albums/a5...ankfoldsin.jpg
The left flank folds over to envelop the line and the spearmen route like demons themselves were on their heels.

Among the casualties is captain Ashtartyatan.
https://i9.photobucket.com/albums/a5...illCaptian.jpg
A young hastati cuts the coward down.

The thunder can be heard again even over the grinding roar of combat.
https://i9.photobucket.com/albums/a5...torelievet.jpg
Servius's cavalry pound into the back of the right flank with such force that men are literally thrown through the air like ragdolls.

It only takes seconds afterwards for the entire Carthaginian army to turn tail and retreat.
https://i9.photobucket.com/albums/a5...kesseconds.jpg
There isn't a single Carthaginian soldier left with the nerve to hold the line.

The order is issued to spare no quarter for cowards.
https://i9.photobucket.com/albums/a5...rcowards-1.jpg
The cavalry ride down the routers wherever they find them.

Not even those who fled through the woods are safe.
https://i9.photobucket.com/albums/a5...hunteddown.jpg
Regardless of the very clear victory gained here, the Romans continue their slaughter of the fleeing Carthaginian men. Servius giving the order for the Gallic cavalry to hunt down every last man in the woods. This battle must be a highly symbolic victory against Carthage.

But three prisoners are taken, then swiftly released.
https://i9.photobucket.com/albums/a5...stthreemen.jpg
Servius decides on sending these men back to the Carthaginian camp, to tell the whole of Carthage that there is nothing that can stand against the might of Rome.

Judging from the aftermath, there is no doubt in the three survivors' minds that this is true.
https://i9.photobucket.com/albums/a5...believable.jpg
The carnage is unimaginable for them. Fifteen hundred Carthaginian soldiers are slain, and the Roman army stands as strong as it had ever been.

It is a resounding victory for Rome.
https://i9.photobucket.com/albums/a5...archback-1.jpg
And the Serviuan Legion begins its short march back to Cartago.

They were proud of themselves for this day.
https://i9.photobucket.com/albums/a5...s/mingling.jpg
All of the men mingled on their way back to the city, crossing the bridge in celebration of their valiant victory.

If it were possible, it seemed like news had spread to Cartago of the Roman victory even before the Romans returned.
https://i9.photobucket.com/albums/a5...rts/Famous.jpg
It was a victory that history would never forget. It was the bell that sounded the end of Carthage.

https://i9.photobucket.com/albums/a5...thevictory.jpg

Lycia.

I had a good time entertaining Senator Numerious in Halicanassus but we had to leave to besiege Smyrna. However, we were there but a few weeks when word came of a relief Ptolomite force of 600 men marching upon Halicanassus.

Now, it was obvious that Numerious and his men deserved a rest so, keeping a small holding force at Smyrna we marched across the river to intercept.

Battle was done in the sight of the Mausoleam

https://img100.imageshack.us/img100/...usoleamuh6.jpg

The enemy took to the high ground, safe in the knowledge that we would have to combat them uphill. Unfortunately their commander did not know the high regard I hold my mens lives in.

I decided we needed the exercise so we marched.....marched up the far side of the hill and utterly flanked the enemy formation!

After using as much missile fire as I had available to tease the enemy out piece-meal we were able to take them apart in good order and for the cost of just 12 lives this time. More than before but when facing an enemy of some 200 more men, I felt I had done my best.

12 names is not such a large number to write in my logs.

https://img88.imageshack.us/img88/8172/victoryhm5.jpg

https://img301.imageshack.us/img301/...ictory2gh2.jpg

http://www.totalwar.org/patrons/pbm/...r-manius-1.zip

I feel like I have failed here. Whilst I captured the city, I failed. 31 dead Italians tell me with their blank eyes that I failed.

I sent a message to the Consul requesting permission to hire local Mercenaries in which to storm the walled city but his positive response arrived too late. Had I delayed a further week, perhaps this report would sound different but I doubt it for it was not in storming the walls that my failure came.

Finally we faced a member of the successor nobility, and I took great care in the planning of the assault.

https://img180.imageshack.us/img180/9178/symrna1lt8.jpg

We faced one unit of archers and I feared the death that they could rain upon us whilst our brave men marched to the walls. I placed two siege towers either side of the city gates ahead of us and a third to the East of the city where it would be, hopefully, unopposed.

Immediately I could see the archers to our right of the main entrance waiting for our approach. We decided we would not give them any targets so I ordered the Principe’s to Hold with their siege tower and allow the Hastati to advance on the Left.

With the Principe’s shouting and distracting the archers in front of them but out of range, the defenders completely ignored the Hastati’s advance.

https://img146.imageshack.us/img146/4259/symrna2wf6.jpg

…and they set foot upon the walls completely unopposed.

https://img146.imageshack.us/img146/7268/symrna3ne4.jpg

Once they had taken the gates and finished off the archers in hand to hand combat, the archers didn’t get a chance to loose a SINGLE arrow!, we advanced through the city. The Eastern assault was also unopposed and they advanced also towards the city square.

There waited one Phalanx unit and the General himself. As is normal for me I sent my Peltasts in first and this is were the error occurred.

One unit centurion was too keen to see his name in the book of honour, his Peltasts marched forward and assailed the enemy generals unit from afar…..however, the general ordered a charge to them and the Centurion waited too long.

The unit was caught in the charge and slaughter ensued! I double-timed a unit of Principe’s to their aid and they swiftly despatched the General himself but not until 25 Peltasts lay dead..

The rest was a matter of encircling the enemy Phalanx and it lay with the Italian Swordsmen to finish the deed by assaulting the rear of the engaged enemy unit

https://img180.imageshack.us/img180/681/symrna4mt3.jpg

The ratio of casualties compared to how many defenders we faced was higher than I wanted

https://img150.imageshack.us/img150/7096/symrna5ib0.jpg

Luckily though many were saved, including all casualties from the assaulting Hastati’s….I am rightly pleased with this.

https://img146.imageshack.us/img146/4249/symrna6em9.jpg

….for the Republic of Rome, another Wonder of the world is captured!

https://img180.imageshack.us/img180/5663/symrna7zq7.jpg

The temple has much wealth for the Republic and alongside what personal monies I have gained from my two previous victories I dedicate these monies to building temples throughout the Republic.

Perhaps it is guilt for the un-necessary losses we had this day, but whatever the reason the Republic can benefit from this better than I.

(OOC Save file: http://www.totalwar.org/patrons/pbm/...r-manius-2.zip )


_________________________________________________________

The march was quite long but uneventful. Sardis was better defended than Symrna and we had hopes of a decent fight that would stretch me mentally and my men physically.

https://img509.imageshack.us/img509/7988/sardis1gr8.jpg

As normal I split my forces up. This time into three, to make full use of the narrow roads, and we advanced in good order.

Unfortunately the Ptolemites had not humus for a fight and they all cowered in the city square...all 259 of them!

Again, I had a scare with our Funditores not retreating fast enough.....I shall make a point of not using them in such tight confines again.....but the wounded were treated fast as my Principes got to their aid immediately, and no Funditores died.

Our main losses were with our mercenary contingency of Thracian Infantry, gifted us by the Consul after my request, which was more than acceptable.

The men were overjoyed at such an easy victory

https://img368.imageshack.us/img368/9121/sardis2xw5.jpg

The final casualty figures for Roman and Italian born troops was just 25 men.

https://img179.imageshack.us/img179/...is25diedy6.jpg

...and gratefully I heard news that my exploits had become widely known and my men regard me in good grace.

https://img512.imageshack.us/img512/...gnitionny6.jpg

Afrikan Coast, 253 BC

How does it feel being in the heart of enemy territory? Especially when you don't agree with your Consul's strategy? How does it feel when you don't even trust the Consul yet your life is in his hands? And worse, how does it feel when that Consul you don't trust is your nephew?

Marcellus Aemilius had these thoughts in his head the night before. He couldn't sleep a wink. After all, his force was under siege from a massive Carthaginian army.

This is Servius' doing. Somehow, some way, he gets this huge army to head straight for this fort when I land. And it just so happens to be the largest army in the area.

Marcellus had no idea what the Consul's motive was behind this, but he knew it was something. Was it retaliation for basically trying to get him impeached and disowning him in the Senate? That stupid clerk, so self-assured, had bated him into doing it. Marcellus regretted saying the things that he had said, but not enough to take them back.

And now the orders had come in from that same Consul. He was to sally out and defeat the army besieging his fort. This would not be an easy thing to do.

https://i113.photobucket.com/albums/...te_pbm_007.jpg

1,832 men. This would be the largest single army (excluding reinforcements) that any Roman had ever faced in combat. And they were all either men that could form phalanxes or skirmishers. In other words, a pain to kill.

Might as well do this before it gets too hot out, he thought, walking out of his tent. It was 5:30 in the morning.

https://i113.photobucket.com/albums/...te_pbm_009.jpg

The only other person awake and outside was his tribune and little brother, Oppius Aemilius. He went straight for Marcellus when he saw that his older brother was awake.

"Marcellus, I'm scared."

The kid was sixteen. It was his first battle, and he should have been in the Scriptorium in Roma. Instead, he was here.

"So am I, Oppius. So am I."

"Were you scared in Comata? When you were facing Segovax?"

Marcellus laughed at this. Comata. His last battle. Seemed like such a long time ago.

"Well, in short, no. I was annoyed at my legion because they had no fighting spirit. Plus, in Comata we outnumbered and outclassed the enemy. Here it's a little different."

Marcellus sent Oppius out to wake the army up. That kid had better stay alive. Otherwise Mom and Lucius will kill me.

His strategy was simple: Sally from two gates. The main force would meet the Carthaginians head-on and hold them in place. The second force, sallying from a side gate, would then flank the living snot out of the enemy and send them running.

He set the army up in this way. He would lead the main force while Oppius would be the hammer. It was Marcellus' plan to leave his brother's escort out of the battle.

https://i113.photobucket.com/albums/...te_pbm_008.jpg

However, the Carthaginians were ready for this. As soon as Marcellus' force opened the gate, they hightailed it for a spot equally between the two gates. Curses, looks like we'll just have to outfight 'em.

The Carthaginian captain, aware of his superior numbers, decided to just charge against each force, and hoped they would break against the initial crush. If that didn't work, then there were always reserves. Oppius' force was targeted first. He would show this Roman the folly of trying to flank.

https://i113.photobucket.com/albums/...te_pbm_010.jpg

Soon after, several phalanxes charged the main body of troops. The skirmishers and funditores fired away, but still the Carthaginians came. This would be an endurance fight. How many of them do we have to kill before they finally break? Instantly Appollonia came to mind, and Marcellus shuddered.

He settled in for the long haul. Primarily, his job was to chase after the skirmishers, ensuring that their javelins wouldn't take the lives of his already-pressed infantry.

Time passed. The sun got higher in the sky. The Romans were pressed. They had killed hundreds of Carthaginians but there were simply too many. This Carthaginian captain had done a good job at sending in reserves. The situation looked grim.

https://i113.photobucket.com/albums/...te_pbm_011.jpg

Worse still, the Italian cavalry had just been targeted by a unit that snuck away from the main fighting. Marcellus desperately ordered them back to the fort, but not before they were severly wounded by the enemy's spears. Aside from the funditores, the only unit that wasn't engaged was Oppius' escort. He saw that the unit that had damaged the Italian cavalry was the captain's unit, and that they were under-strength to begin with. The Italian skirmishers were currently battling them with mixed results.

If I order Oppius to do something he might die.

If you don't then it might not matter.

Finally, he took the iniative.

OPPIUS! KILL THE CAPTAIN!

Oppius Aemilius, no longer scared, headed full throttle for the small phalanx. The enemy captain, sticking out front, had no chance.

https://i113.photobucket.com/albums/...te_pbm_012.jpg

Instantly the effect showed. The Carthaginian units immediately near the captain broke. Marcellus, Oppius, and the infantry pursued.

https://i113.photobucket.com/albums/...te_pbm_013.jpg

They had been taken care of, but a body of Carthaginians were still holding strong. They were absolutely damaging the Roman infantry. Marcellus didn't care what the Senate thought about the losses at the moment.

https://i113.photobucket.com/albums/...te_pbm_014.jpg

He looked at Oppius, and the two smiled. No order needed to be given. They headed together for the Carthaginian rear. The result was inevitable.

https://i113.photobucket.com/albums/...te_pbm_015.jpg

That night, back in the fort, Marcellus rubbed the kid's hair and grinned.

"You saved us all, kid. Good job."

Oppius beamed. The losses were horrendous, but would have been a lot worse had it not been for him, and he knew it. The two Aemilii would have an interesting career ahead of them.

It is difficult to say whether I made the right choice in bringing him here. I could have left them in Rome. Until this point in time I did what was right, what was necessary. I did what I must in the name of Rome. I did what must be done to preserve the Republic for posterity. But I wonder now, if bringing Marcellus and Oppius to Afrika was the right thing to do. Perhaps, when this day is done, I should send word to them at the fort.

For now, there is battle to be done. Two Carthaginian armies of consular size have set themselves on Cartago, one immediately besieging us from the south, the other taking up camp at the site of our historic victory against Captain Ashtartyatan.

I can see those wretched worms besieging the city in their camps from the walls, but I will not play their waiting game. The citizens of Cartago will watch with their own eyes the might of Roman power as the Carthy army is driven in disarray from our city.
https://i9.photobucket.com/albums/a5...engagement.jpg


As I gazed out upon the land from the battlements I knew it was time. It was noon, the sun blazing in the sky, the heat sweltering and the Carthy army all wandering about outside their tents. As they noticed the gates to the city open, their was a mass scramble amongst them to form up, and as the last of our men has exited the city, they had formed a battle line.
https://i9.photobucket.com/albums/a5...yFormation.jpg


We too were quick to form, and set ourselves up for a skirmisher heavy battle.
https://i9.photobucket.com/albums/a5.../Romanarmy.jpg


As the formation fell into place, I moved to the front of the army, my back defiantly towards the Carthy army, and adressed them with pride. "Look about you! Before my eyes I behold the valiant bloodlines of men from around the world. Unmatched in their prowess and courage on the field, and unmatched in their understanding of what it is to do your duty for Rome. The men I see before me have died a hundred deaths with me in this god forsaken place. You have wept tears of blood, and you have bled sand from your veins, and you have done so without a whimper or a cry. And for that I salute you! But it seems that the trials before us have only just begun. Before us lie a band of Carthaginian soldiers intent on recapturing their capital of Cartago, and another lies beyond them, at the site of our famous victory. These armies must be laid to rest, and forever set to shame. Do this in the name of Rome, and all that the gods could offer you in the afterlife will be yours!" The resounding cheers of the men were a clear indication that the speach was well received and struck a valiant chord amongst them.
https://i9.photobucket.com/albums/a5...gthetroops.jpg

Our slingers began by opening up on their javelinmen, who, in turn, had no way to defend themselves but to mount a charge. As they neared our Numidian skirmishers our spearmen were ordered through the Numidians thin formation in a charge.
https://i9.photobucket.com/albums/a5...stakelives.jpg

Their skirmishers were put swiftly to death and their advance lines suffered heavy casualties.
https://i9.photobucket.com/albums/a5...rthycharge.jpg

Moving forward then with their spear infantry the Carthies attempted a direct charge on the front line, some overzealous gauls charged early and were surrounded, but the line as an entirety held firm while our cavalry cut out swiftly to the flanks, followed by our heavy Roman infantry.
https://i9.photobucket.com/albums/a5...valryflank.jpg

As the Roman infantry engaged the Carthy spearmen at their flanks and rear, our cavalry went around the fray and charged straight into the ranks of their remaining skirmisher units, scattering them to the wind like ash. They could not escape, and the vast majority of them were ridden down.
https://i9.photobucket.com/albums/a5...ort/futile.jpg

As our cavalry turned and charged the rear of the Carthaginian spears, there was nothing that could be done to turn the tide away from Roman favor, and the resulting Carthaginian route turned into a coward hunt. The bleached sands outside Cartago were stained red with blood, and the Carthaginian defeat here became an example to all those within Cartago who may harbor rebellious thoughts.
https://i9.photobucket.com/albums/a5...rt/brutal1.jpg
https://i9.photobucket.com/albums/a5...rt/brutal2.jpg
https://i9.photobucket.com/albums/a5...rt/brutal3.jpg


The battle was a strong victory for Rome, and it left a lasting impression on the citizens of Cartago.
https://i9.photobucket.com/albums/a5...omthewalls.jpg

But there was no time to rest. There was still yet more to be done. Before our return to the city we first had to head back to the bridge we had become so familiar with, it was almost beginning to seem to us like a home on the battlefield..



(ooc - part 1 end, part 2 coming up soon)

It was a swift march down the paved road, two, maybe three hours time passed since our first battle, and the men, though a bit tired, were given significant time to rest before we finally approached the bridge. A number of mercenaries were also hired along the way from a traveling group of Gallic warriors. It wasn't long before we arrived at the river crossing, and just upon its sight their spirits were instantly lifted, any aches they had became unimportant compared to the symbolism of fighting once again at the site of their historic victory.

Making our way down the hill, the Carthaginian army must have had heard word from scouts that we were coming, and were already deployed on the opposite side of the river. This time, their army was much more flexible. This time even bringing with them members of Carthage's elite, sacred band infantry.
https://i9.photobucket.com/albums/a5...rebalanced.jpg

But it did not matter, this day, this bridge, this entire campaign, it was all meant for Rome. The men were eager and ready, their morale impetuous. Servius advanced to the bridge with only a handful of bodyguards to survey the opposing army.
https://i9.photobucket.com/albums/a5.../surveying.jpg

Eager to make history for a second time, the Roman army rushes across the bridge on Servius's command. Almost fighting amongst themselves to get to the front first.
https://i9.photobucket.com/albums/a5...secondtime.jpg

This time, the Carthaginian captain was wise to the mistakes of Ashtartyaton, and maintains that his force holds as Rome develops her lines, not wishing to have his troops startled on the unexpected volley of pila and javelins.
https://i9.photobucket.com/albums/a5...t/theyhold.jpg

Roman funditores and Balearic slingers open fire on the enemy lines, harassing and antagonizing the enemy until finally a unit of spearmen can no longer contain its frustration and rushes forward.
https://i9.photobucket.com/albums/a5...elessanger.jpg

The rest of the line charges after them and the Romans have a distinct advantage from the immediate start. Rushing around the line the Roman cavalry head straight for the skirmishers, Roman heavy infantry wheeling, yet again, around the left and coming down hard on the Carthaginian rear.
https://i9.photobucket.com/albums/a5...nadvantage.jpg

The Carthy skirmishers are cut down where they stand by the rush of the cavalry into their lines, and as the Romans descend on the Carthaginian rear, a rift opens in their lines. On the Roman left flank, the Carthy spears have been gravitated apart from each other, the rear contending with the Principes and Gauls while the front holds firm against the mercenary spears.
Seeing this split in their formation, Servius orders a full charge into the breach.
https://i9.photobucket.com/albums/a5...ntercharge.jpg

The result is a cavalry wedge being driven directly between the open crack in the Carthaginian line, somewhere in the confusion their captain is slain, and all morale the Carthies may have had left escapes them.

They are run down again, though not to the extent they were last time. These people may be foul and backwards, but I am no butcher and they can be taught the value of Roman ways. Sicily has proven us this. Once again a great victory is granted to us at this bridge, and the men are ready to return to Cartago with their spirits high and their pride even higher.
https://i9.photobucket.com/albums/a5...ctoryagain.jpg

OOC - part 2 end.

Outside Hadrumentum, 253 BC

Marcellus Aemilius, glad to leave the fort where a huge battle and an odd meeting had taken place, was walking by his army, supervising the construction of the siegeworks. Soon, very soon, they would be used to take Hadrumentum.

Siege assault. Ah, this is more like it.

His teachers back in the Scriptorium had particularly emphasized this method of battle, for whatever reason. The teachings had stuck with him, and now he was regarded as something of an engineer.

"Good, good work Secundus. Pretty soon we'll be feasting on Afrika's finest delicacies."

They were about ready to assault. But then, he spotted a lone horseman riding hard, straight for him. The direction was from the north. This would not be good news.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Servius Aemilius

Carthage's army besieging our western fort has lifted the siege in order to make an attempt at breaking your siege of Hadrumentum.

---

Damn.

https://i113.photobucket.com/albums/...te_pbm_016.jpg

Ok, Marcellus thought, there were still positives. The Carthaginian forces were smaller, he had more experience fighting them, and Oppius was no longer afraid. The only problem would be killing the relieving force quick enough to prevent them from combining with the garrison.

Marcellus planned to march up and send hell in the form of pila. If that still didn't break 'em, then the infantry and cavalry would do the job.

https://i113.photobucket.com/albums/...te_pbm_017.jpg

The pila worked wonderfully, killing about a hundred Carthaginians before there was any hand-to-hand combat. But it did nothing in terms of morale, and the Liby-Phoenician spearmen charged straight for his infantry.

Not again, Marcellus groaned. This time, he knew what to do though. He and Oppius went straight for the enemy captain.

https://i113.photobucket.com/albums/...te_pbm_018.jpg

It had worked, and some of the forces that were hit hardest with the pila began to rout. It had seemed like another chain rout would take place, but then a foreign horn blew. The garrison of Hadrumentum had arrived, with its excellent commander Ribaddi Clupea leading it. Marcellus was not quick enough in driving away the relief force, and now this problem would only cause more headaches.

He ordered any free units to head straight for Ribaddi, knowing that the death of yet another Carthaginian general would simply be too much for the Afrikans. Ribaddi was in serious trouble.

https://i113.photobucket.com/albums/...te_pbm_019.jpg

The Principes had made quick work of his entire escort, aside from the most important member. Ribaddi had somehow got out alive. Cursing, Marcellus wheeled his horses around. He had lost far too many men already and if Ribaddi escaped, then the battle would have served no purpose.

As he pursued, Ribaddi screamed something in Phoenician, which Marcellus had a pretty good grasp of. What he said only made Marcellus ride harder:

"Looks like I picked the right Aemilius to get in a fight against! You scoundrel, you can't even kill the most important person on the battlefield! No wonder you were only a side operation! That's all you'll ever be!"

Marcellus burned with hatred. Oh, no. The rage was taking over. He had had it under control for so long...

In a fury, he rode after Ribaddi all the way back to Hadrumentum, never quite catching him. The Carthaginian general slammed the gates shut and continued to torment him from behind high walls. Marcellus reluctantly made his way back to camp where he found that Oppius had finished things quite nicely.

https://i113.photobucket.com/albums/...te_pbm_020.jpg

~~~~~~~

"Double time, men! The sooner we finish these engines, the sooner that we sleep in actual beds!"

It was a couple of weeks later. Hadrumentum was still annoyingly in Carthaginian control. But finally, it was ready to be assaulted. It was a siege assault, Ribaddi was inside, and there was no other Carthaginian army in the area. He hadn't received the orders from Servius but this was now personal.

https://i113.photobucket.com/albums/...te_pbm_023.jpg

There were only a handful of Carthaginians who survived the last battle and made it back to Hadrumentum, but one of them had mattered more than the others. Ribaddi Clupea would be dead by the end of the day.

https://i113.photobucket.com/albums/...te_pbm_024.jpg

Marcellus only took a few troops inside. His escort, obviously, and Oppius' too. The Principes that had decimated the enemy's escort but failed to finish Ribaddi off, and then a unit of Hastati and Velites for good measure.

In the center square, Ribaddi had resumed his taunting.

"Is this all that remains of the mighty Consular Army? Are you really that incompetant that your army is that under-strength in only two battles? Oh, happy days, this should be easy!

Cursing, Marcellus abandoned all thoughts of Roman discipline and charged straight for his tormentor. When the tide of the battle took him away from his target, Marcellus reared back and flung his gladius.

https://i113.photobucket.com/albums/...te_pbm_025.jpg

It implanted itself in Ribaddi's skull, and the battle was over.

https://i113.photobucket.com/albums/...te_pbm_026.jpg

Now if I could only do that to UPS Maximus, Marcellus thought with a chuckle as he fed Ribaddi's body to the pigs.

The Consul ordered me to engage the enemy at night, I was unsure of this personally. Whilst I have no false sense of honour that precludes me striking at a hated enemy in the dark I was, however, concerned how this would affect the usefulness of my own ranged troops.

How would my Funditores find their targets if they could not see the enemy clearly?

How would my Skrimishers fare with a limited vision of the area in front of them?

Would this engagement cost me more dearly than if I’d sought my enemy in the light of day?

https://img242.imageshack.us/img242/9241/pic1eg9.jpg

Perhaps I was being tested by the Consul?

Well, these questions would soon be answered as we lined up for battle at Ascania.

https://img242.imageshack.us/img242/2746/pic2ux5.jpg

I formed the men up to present as larger front as possible whilst retaining the strength in our lines. Principes in the centre, then Hastati and finally my Italian Swordsmen. These were closely supported by the Triarii behind and on the flanks whilst he centre was given more missile power by the addition of one Velite unit. I organised my Funditores with another Velite unit into a separate flanking group. The cavalry I retained full control of so we could roam and pick off any targets of opportunity.

We could clearly see the enemy, two Phalanx units a skirmish unit and……..archers! Damnit! I had no real answer for archers, all I could hope is that we could entice them from behind their protective phalanx wall.

https://img135.imageshack.us/img135/659/pic3td0.jpg

I sent my infantry forward strait at the enemy, the skirmish group I sent wide right towards and to the edge of the woods there. I led the cavalry very wide left and we waited.

https://img242.imageshack.us/img242/3882/pic4ka2.jpg

My Funditores let loose at the Phalanx’s and it was too much to take for the archers, they moved forward and started to fire back. Unfortunately their target was the Velite unit behind them and they took a good few casualties before they withdrew into the woods. The Funditores remained in the open and seemed to be able to dodge most of the incoming arrows, as very few arrows landed in their formation. The Funditores returned death upon the archers and decimated them.

Our main line was now in position and the enemy spotted my “exposed” cavalry, wide left and ahead of the infantry – a Phalanx charged them. I saw them coming and a plan was fast in my mind. I let the cavalry slowly lead the enemy Phalanx further left then the left flank Italian Swordsmen and Hastati ran to intercept. The Phalanx re-presented itself to them but it was now that I sprung the trap!

The Principes dashed forward and let loose their pila into the flank of the Phalanx, the swordsmen and Hastati did the same from the front and the Principes charged! The Hastati held the Phalanx whilst the swordsmen flanked from the other side and swiftly the Phalanx was enveloped.

Meanwhile the other Phalanx moved forwards, again trying to seek my weak flank – this time my right with Hastati and swordsmen.

At this moment the first Phalanx utterly broke. I ordered the infantry to pursue just until they were directly behind the 2nd Phalanx, then to disengage – I sent my Italian Cavalry after the routing unit.

Swordsmen, Hastati and Principes turned about and crashed into the Phalanx rear before it engaged at the front with my main line.

This left the skirmishers and the remaining archers utterly exposed so my Praetoria and myself charged the untouched skirmish unit whilst the Equites finished the archers before turning to aid me.

I was surprised at how effectively my Praetoria fought against the skirmishers, we lost one brave man to a javelin but we managed to completely split their formation and re-charge from the rear before the Equites arrived to aid us.

I let the Equites finish them whilst I led my Praetoria to mop up any routing units and let my infantry rest.

https://img155.imageshack.us/img155/3731/pic5au6.jpg

I had to count 30 dead from this encounter, most struck down by arrows. Also, the enemy was intent on seeking my weaker flanks and engaged my Hastati with the Phalanx's, I would have preferred my Principes had received this but no plan is infalable.

https://img242.imageshack.us/img242/...630deadbg9.jpg

The Seleucids and Ptolemites seem unable to present a significant force in Asia-Minor now, to be honest this is starting to make the men worried. There is a well known saying “men fear what they do not see, far greater than that which they can” and it holds well.

However, I am confident that we can defeat whatever comes our way and all I am concerned with is that I am starting to yearn for a major engagement in which to make my name.

http://www.totalwar.org/patrons/pbm/...m-Manius-1.zip

Northern Afrika – 253 Autumn

Flavius Pacuvius was staring intently at the table in front of him filled with numerous maps, each and every one containing Northern-Afrika. And each and every one of them was different.

‘’Is it really that hard to make a decent map of this bloody excuse of a land ?!’’ He barked at the nervous looking Numidian Slaves in the front of his command tent. They of course weren’t stupid enough to answer, but then again Pacuvius didn’t want one.

For He of course knew perfectly well where he was, but as every self respecting general knew ;knowing where you are is one thing, knowing the land on which you’re going to fight is a completely different thing. It was also knowledge our general didn’t have. And he didn’t like that at all. He was going to have to improvise.

Luckily the consul had been generous, and he had a lot to improvise with. A full consular army was at our general’s disposal. And the force he was assigned to attack was only a mere ¼ of that size, if not less.

The Only thing that had to be taken care of, was to minimise the amount of losses in battle. As the enemy force apparently (if our intelligence is to be trusted that is) consists predominately of skirmishers accompanied by about 150 spearmen. That's about 800 javelins, if every skirmisher has two, and quite possibly a lot of injured or dead Romans

The armies engage, the Gods favour us – so it seems
https://img194.imageshack.us/img194/...6451120sw8.png

Flavius Pacuvius sends a token force to bait the Cartheginians, these Numidian mounted skirmishers claim to know the lay of the land – for their sake, let’s hope they’re right!

The Larger army is set to follow when the Cartheginians take the bait, or simply come close enough to be engaged by the large, consular sized, force

Pacuvius rode amongst his men as they marched towards the now clearly visible modes Cartheginian force. Morale was high, they outnumered and outclassed the enemy greatly. And the men knew it.

‘’Remind me to reward captain Kaeso for his excellent manouvering on the field, and of course for bringing the Punic fools in reach of Roman steel’’ Flavius said to a nearby scribe, a young Samnite, who followed Pacuvius’ every move, and wrote down every word. Who but the Gods knew if they might come in handy later! Hey, they might even make for some great quotes later on!

‘’ And of course to send a letter to the senate, I daresay those nervous old men ‘ll love to know how I did’’ He added.

The Numidian horsemen were now mere feet away from the main body, and we’re ordered to proceed to the left flank. And wait further instructions.


Roman Army on the March
https://img177.imageshack.us/img177/...7121150kh2.png

The army was now about 150 yards from the Cartheginian army, the mercenary stone slinging Funditores set to work immediately. The Skirmishers were ordered to form a line in front of the Gaullic mercenaries, who were in turn backed by the Roman soldiers. The Hastati, Principes and Triarii. Flavius and his entourage were located in a central position behind the Roman Soldiers, and the other detachment of Cavalry was moving towards the Right Flank. Ready flank and engage when the time came.

The Funditores and Mercenary Slingers were ripping the lightly armoured enemy skirmishers appart, the Cartheginian force, however, held it’s ground.

Not for long however.

Charidemos was getting more and more impatitient with each volley of stones hitting his vulnerable skirmishers, and decided to order them forward. To engage the enemy, not with their ranged weapons, but with their knives.

A desperate charge and fight ensue
https://img168.imageshack.us/img168/...laatje5dj9.jpg

The slingers and funditores were able to retreat behind the Gaullic Mercenaries, a couple of Velite soldiers decided to face the charge and help repell the desperate Punic Skirmishers.

However, the Gaullic troops proved to be better in a melee, and didn’t need a lot of time to rout the skirmishers. The Gauls, as is their nature, persued their prey eagerly.

The Skirmishers break.
https://img177.imageshack.us/img177/...7155359st2.png

Charidemos, the enemy general, saw his skirmishers charge and die againt the fastly superior force, what to do ?

Die on the field ? Or live another day ?

Being an honorless Carthaginian, he proceeded to do the latter. The entire enemy force was retreating, what was left of it at least.

The Cavalry are ordered to persue the still remaining enemy force.
https://img168.imageshack.us/img168/...7164214xf7.png

Seeing that this was not a trap Pacuvius ordered his two cavalry detachments to chase the tired and beaten force. Needless to say, being the brave Roman that he is, he participated in the chase himself. Alongside of captain Kaeso, to whom he partly owned his very first victory as a general. And they were both very well aware of this fact

The Chase Ends.
https://img168.imageshack.us/img168/...7173092pv5.png

The Battle ended right there, it was not a total victory – the cowardly enemy general had seen to that – but it was a victory non the less. And that was all the Roman people cared for really, and he knew, and the senate knew it.


The Results
https://img168.imageshack.us/img168/...7182776ot8.png

Alas, 15 soldiers had to die this day, mostly due to the bold and unexpeted charge of the enemy skirmishers. But it could have been a whole lot worse, had the enemy given battle in a more honorable way, and if captain Kaeso hadn’t done such a splendid job in baiting the enemy force.

The reward you ask ?

Well Pacuvius knew the perfect one:

A fine new General awaits command in the Afrikan Theatre.
https://img274.imageshack.us/img274/...7200871cq0.png

:balloon2:

Pessinus…hmmm…..I didn’t like this really, for several reasons.

Firstly, the town had a hideous name! Pessinus….what backward peoples named that? Next, it was a town assault again. These will always cost more lives than comparable open battles but it is the way of war.

Next, it was a true test of me and my men. We were finally outnumbered! Some 824 men resided in the town itself as a garrison but a further 401 hurried their way to aid them from the South! We were outnumbered but if we were swift we could defeat each component army in detail.

But lastly, the Consul had insisted on complete victory! No fighting man of the Seleucids should live through until nightfall…….a tough and unrelenting task was set my young men.

https://img222.imageshack.us/img222/121/pic1oe4.jpg

I wish us to find out where the enemy re-enforcements would come from so we deployed a short distance from the township. Sure enough those re-enforcements soon appeared over the dunes ahead of us and to our right.

https://img96.imageshack.us/img96/122/pic2fl3.jpg

I sent our Funditores forward to start to harass them whilst we deployed in force against the smaller army. I engaged with my right flank whilst sending my cavalry and Funditores to our left to ensure the defenders in the town stayed……in the town. The cowards obliged us and remained near the town and stood and watched as Roman steel cut their “saviours” to pieces. It was just a matter of advancing on the town next.

https://img247.imageshack.us/img247/4998/pic3ue3.jpg

As we got closer confusion and fear reigned! The defenders knew not what to do and ran back and forth in the city streets trying their best to hide from us……and THESE men were led by a Seleucid governor and general??

https://img222.imageshack.us/img222/6052/pic4ih2.jpg

Perhaps in an effort to show his men what to do or to install some valour in them the Seleucid general a certain Abantes charged forward into the flank of one of my Principes cohorts. I resolved to leave the matter at that but he was starting to do sore damage to the cohort so I decided to enter the fray……soon enough Abantes was cleaved from his horse by one of my Praetoria and I withdrew us from the Principes aid.

https://img222.imageshack.us/img222/3148/pic5hh1.jpg

However, is bravery did manage to urge his men into some form of action and it was that his own slingers did fire upon us then.

However, this put them as a number one target and whilst these men had some measure of red blood in their veins the Seleucid phalanx’s did NOT and left the slingers and skirmishers to their fate at the hands of my Principes, Hastati and Italian swordsmen!

https://img222.imageshack.us/img222/4494/pic6kl4.jpg

Soon enough though it was the cowards turn! Whilst a cohort of Principes supported by Hastati held the final “elite” phalanx’s attention, my Italian swordsmen finished off the last of the Seleucid skirmishers and struck at their rear.

https://img134.imageshack.us/img134/1640/pic7eg4.jpg

However, finally feeling there was some bravery in their hearts they would not break or surrender. Seeing my Principe cohort taking casualties I decided to help tip the battle again and I charged with my Praetoria into the melee……we drove a wedge into the rear of the Phalanx but still they would not break.

https://img96.imageshack.us/img96/7622/pic8jg8.jpg

However, I withdrew and re-charged a second time and this was too much for them. Surrounded, divided and defeated they fought near to the last….

…..there he stood. The last Seleucid warrior, spinning his sarrisia about him and fending off my soldiers. I watched him for a good time and could see the desperation in his eyes, the wounds on his body and the strength leaving him. I signalled my bodyguard.

The Praetorian horse charged forward, spear levelled but at the last moment he turned it to present the blunt end, and bringing it down upon the Seleucid’s head the last enemy fell. I galloped forward and leapt from my horse to catch the warrior as he slumped to the ground. He did not loose all sense at that moment though. He stared into my eyes and spat in my face!

I looked to my men all about me with a smile.

“I like this man, THIS is a man who would spit in the face of death! Call the Chirgeon, I would have such a man, a man with such defiance and spirit on my staff.”

Thus it was that I allowed one warrior to live, against the Consuls wishes.

https://img207.imageshack.us/img207/5427/pic9pu3.jpg

This was truly a Heroic victory for my men though……

https://img96.imageshack.us/img96/6285/pic10um1.jpg

……as only 74 fell never to rise again….for the cost of 1,219 Seleucid warriors heads!!

I was tired, it had been a long march from Pessinus and whilst we’d chosen a route which was quite easy it was none the less mainly desert.

There were no special instructions from the Consul regarding Ancyra, merely that it be taken. My own precepts of “with as little loss of Roman life as possible” was foremost in my mind as always though.

So, we advanced on the town and her defenders.

https://img151.imageshack.us/img151/9251/pic1gj3.jpg

Ancyra is to be one of the final border towns that will defend us against future Seleucid aggression. It is, actually, a shame that in order to secure as small a border as possible, in the most defensible position as possible, we had to take towns from the Ptolemites but, as blood relatives of the Seleucids I doubt they would have ceded to any diplomatic requests from us.

Ah, yes, our border. Well Ancyra will be the centre of this new border. Other than that I will leave to the Consul when he advises the Senate on his dealings but, suffice to say, that I cannot agree more with the thinking behind the overall plan.

Anyway, we prepared to advance on the town and after some scouting the previous night, I chose the most direct route to the centre of the town and thus victory.

The plan was the standard one. My Funditores would soften up the enemy and draw them out as the infantry advanced into a favourable position supported by Velites and skirmishers….well, if I still had skirmishers that is. They languish in Sardis still I believe on garrison duty with my Italian spearmen….pah! no matter.

We knew what we faced, a Hoplite cohort, some skirmishers and the enemy Governor himself.

https://img155.imageshack.us/img155/8996/pic2bo1.jpg

So, the Funditores advanced into the city to try and entice the enemy out to fight. This they did well, however it was only the defending Governor and General who took the bait.

…..and ran strait into my Principes!

https://img86.imageshack.us/img86/4279/pic3gr3.jpg

Surrounded and out fought, it was soon that the enemy Governor fell

https://img175.imageshack.us/img175/112/pic4jf7.jpg

I allowed the same Principes to advance on the Hoplite cohort and engage them from the front. They had little difficulty, actually making good use of their large shields to push past the Hoplite spears.

https://img174.imageshack.us/img174/7925/pic5px3.jpg

As normal I managed to get my Italian swordsmen in position at the unprotected rear of the enemy.

https://img86.imageshack.us/img86/6569/pic6qb6.jpg

After a volley of missiles from them and their charge, it was very soon over.

https://img174.imageshack.us/img174/258/pic7ut3.jpg

Victory again for my brave men

https://img86.imageshack.us/img86/9898/pic8es7.jpg

…and again for little cost in lives. Only 23 lost their lives.

https://img86.imageshack.us/img86/29...923deadjn4.jpg

Luckily, we do not have long to wait here and soon we are moving South East…..thank the Gods for this! We thought Pessinus was bad……Ancyra makes that place seem luxurious!

The message was quite explicit "......this is an emergency. The army west of Adana must be obliterated, immediately following the army's destruction you are to take Adana, enslave the town, it is necessary for stability in the east."

To the west of Adana stood 470 Seleucid warriors, we had simply to march up to them.....kill them all and then march upon the defenders of Adana.

We had always known we'd arrive at Adana, and in truth, the men were welcoming it. Ancyra was an appauling place - sandstorms and smelly camel traders - the men wished for nothing more than to move on. What we hadn't planned upon was to leave yet more comrades behind.

Two cohorts of Italian swordsmen had to be left behind for garrison duties.....yet we loose more men as garrisons than we do to the enemy blades!

Little more than a Legion now marched towards a spot called Pisida to meet our first challenge. Perhaps though this would be my mens final "boon".....in our most recent actions we'd had explicit instructions not to harass or enslave but now, we have orders otherwise. The men were keen, a handful of slaves to the most senior in the ranks, when sent back to their families, means a great deal to them. Those without rank enough to be granted slaves have the booty they could carry and sent back.

Either way, those citizens of the Republic with family in the ranks of this army have been able to acquire quite substantial coin over the last year....perhaps 18 months is it?

Not even TWO years! It seemed to take longer to sail here than it has been to subjugate virtually all of Asia-Minor from the "mighty" Seleucids and Ptolemites. Why did we fear these people so?

Perhaps after Adana, I will have my men back to me from Garrison duty.

So, it was that we chased down the first Seleucid force

https://img128.imageshack.us/img128/2021/pic1xq3.jpg

We lined up and prepared, I had to move my Triarii out to my flanks seeing as I don't have any Italians to fill the gap and I followed my cavalry out wide right.

https://img85.imageshack.us/img85/8541/pic2zk1.jpg

A swift skirmish where one Phalanx is consumed by a joint action by my left flank Principes, Hastati and Triarii the rest start to run from the field!

https://img128.imageshack.us/img128/...theyrunwc0.jpg

We manage to engage and take down 271 enemy for only the loss of EIGHT men.

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https://img355.imageshack.us/img355/3066/pic5vp8.jpg

Fortunately, the survivors ran to Adana....so it was that we met a force of identical manpower than ours but the advantage of not only Phalax formations in the narrow city streets but vital local knowledge.

https://img281.imageshack.us/img281/6149/pic6to5.jpg

I divided my army equally to the west and south of the city intending to advance in these two formations and hopefully catch the defenders off guard.
Unfortunately, the defenders struck at us first and threw virtually all of their army at only the men I had to the South!!

I sent frantic orders and I will bless the Gods for a month that we prevailed.

https://img281.imageshack.us/img281/3644/pic7vx8.jpg

This did mean though that the force I had in the West was virtually unopposed until they entered the city outskirts. They then hit formidable opposition..

https://img285.imageshack.us/img285/6087/pic8rm1.jpg

However, now freed from their own engagement to the South and now having vanquished the vast bulk of the defenders my Southern formation came to the Westerns aid.

I saw that little remained of the defenders, skirmishers and the Governor General himself. Thus I took it upon myself to finish this episode and rest my infantry. Myself and my Praetoria chased down and killed the skirmishers before entering the city square and felling the Governor himself!

https://img285.imageshack.us/img285/2343/pic9ck2.jpg

Victory again!

48 of my men died for this final township in the desert but the Seleucids paid very dearly indeed and 694 of their men will not breath again!

https://img285.imageshack.us/img285/6788/pic11ld6.jpg

The battle of Utica

The War in Northern Afrika was going as planned, not one battle was lost and thousands of Carthaginian soldiers and citizens had already died. Almost all of the most important cities were already taken by Roman force, only Utica and Hippo Regius still remained a threat to Roman liberation of the land. Of course, the Carthaginians still had numerous inland settlements, but these poor and desolate cities were not going to help Carthage vanquish Rome anytime soon. Our conquest at the moment at least, was confined to Carthage Proper and all of it’s coastal cities. Fine with me.

We are now but a few hours marching distance from the city of Utica, our scouts report that the resistance, let by a mere captain named Gisgo, is about 860 soldiers strong. At least half of those is comprised of Skirmishers and the other half of Spearmen fighting in a greek phalanx.
All in all, this shoudn’t give to much problems for my, by now, fairly experienced consular sized force. Even the impetuous Gauls have yet to let me down, a fact which ‘ll no doubt surprise Augustus Verginius quite a lot.

The plan of assault was to split the army up in two different groups, one comprised solely of trustworthy Roman troops, and the other of brave gaullic mercenaries. Both Swordsmen and Spearmen.
Knowing how my right flank would appear weaker than my centre, I was hoping the Carthaginians would underestimate my Gaullic force, and concentrate their energy on breaking them.

The troops deployed
https://img458.imageshack.us/img458/...4520129px7.jpg

As soon as the battle horns were blown, the battle started, the enemy skirmishers and a platoon of spearmen headed for my right flank. And the skirmishers proceeded to charge my spearmen.

The Carthaginians play right into my hands, they charge the Gaullic Spearmen.
https://img458.imageshack.us/img458/...4535073tn5.jpg

A combination of said spearmen and a contignent of Italian Cavalry break the Skirmishers in no time.

A great display of team work, a move straight out of the textbooks.
https://img458.imageshack.us/img458/...4542343ng8.jpg

The Carthaginian spearmen try, in vain, to succeed in what the skirmishers could not. But the Gauls appear to be the better fighters, no surprise there.

The Spearmen decide to flee.
https://img139.imageshack.us/img139/...4553665tu7.jpg

The victorious right flank moves forward, halting just before the street leading towards the city plaza. Again they meet a band of Spearmen.

Forming ranks.
https://img245.imageshack.us/img245/...4590453dg2.jpg

Engaging spearmen once again
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This time the spearmen hold out for quite some time, they fight with unexpected fierceness.
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Flavius now ordered his main force to move, seeing his right flank was doing fine on its own. He decided to move to the city plaza, and move in from two sides, to not get bogged down in the city streets – where the enemy phalangites were at their best.

The orders are issued.
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At that exact time, however, the Carthaginian captain decided to attempt a brake through on the right flank by charging his own unit into the marching Gauls. The slingers leading the right flank get caught trying to retreat and suffer some casualties.
On the other side of the plaza, the Roman main force engages the remaining spearmen and Skirmishers. Flavius himself moves to a more central position on the plaza, trying to get a quick overview of the battle at hand.

The Fight for the plaza ensues.
https://img245.imageshack.us/img245/...5080728cx5.jpg

The Tide turns once the enemy leader dies.

The enemy captain get’s surrounded and dies in a desperate fight.
https://img245.imageshack.us/img245/...5091703lo3.jpg

The desperate Spearmen fight to the last man.
https://img139.imageshack.us/img139/...5105054ld8.jpg

The battle was a succes, 174 friendly soldiers died. Mostly Gauls, as expected before the battle. A fair trade off againt 867 dead Carthaginians.

The Results.
https://img241.imageshack.us/img241/...5111920jy4.jpg

Now that Utica was secured Rome held most of the Original Carthaginian settlements, and had destroyed most – if not all- of it’s might.

Next Stop, Hippo Regius.

- Flavius Pacuvius.

:balloon2:

Battle of Hippo Regius.

Northern Afrika, winter of 253.

‘’If I spend one more year in the dessert I swear I’ll turn into sand myself ‘’Flavius thought to himself while reading the orders his Consul had just issued him. Besiege the City of Hippo Regius and eventually attack and enslave the city. Killing the enemy general, one of Carthage its finest, wasn’t specifically asked for, but was of course a nice bonus.

Hippo Regius was about a season’s march from the newly conquered city of Utica, and it could therefore, be taken two season’s after the marching order. If al went according to plan that was.

And thus in the winter of 253 Flavius Pacuvius faced the Carthaginian general Bisaltes the Mad, a worthy adversary – this battle could very well be harder than expected.

Our Consular army attacks the City.
https://img124.imageshack.us/img124/...6173270hr1.jpg

The enemy’s 673 men are comprised mostely of Skirmishers, the general’s personal bodyguards and two units of Pikemen. Nothing our general hadn’t faced before, as a matter of Flavius had had more than enough training facing such an army. As an added bonus, he had been heavily tutored in the fighting of sieges, an art of war he had come to like quite a lot.

‘’We’ll split up our army once again, Gauls to my left and the Romans in the centre’’ Flavius told his chief centurions and legates.

‘’If we’ve learnt anything these past battles, it’s that the Carthaginians always underestimate our veteran gaulic mercenaries’’

‘’They’ll split up, and come to us piecemeal’’ Flavius spoke to his centurions, before ordering them to deploy the troops the way he told them to.

The Roman centre re-deploys.
https://img124.imageshack.us/img124/...6220912bq3.jpg

Not surprisingly the Carthagnians split up their forces again, and decide the Gauls are easy pikkings. We all know how that worked out for them in Utica. I guess they’ll never learn...

The Spearmen march to engage, whilst taking casualties from the mercenary slingers.
https://img260.imageshack.us/img260/...6224690li6.jpg

The lone detachment of spearmen engage the friendly spearmen, and whilst under fire, get surrounded by even more spearmen.

Enemy speamen surrounded
https://img124.imageshack.us/img124/...6231296pg5.jpg

Meanwhile, Flavius orders his Roman soldiers to move on towards the main city streets. The ones leading towards the Town plaza. And the enemy general.
On the other side of the battlefield, as lone unit of skirmishers decided to join the melee, they were easily repelled. The Warbands were, however, having a hard time finishing the hardy Carthaginian spearmen off.

The Phoenician spearmen fight to the death.
https://img347.imageshack.us/img347/...6250100gl4.jpg

Bisaltes the Mad, seeing his right flank was crumbling and taking heavy casualties, marched out by himself to charge the Roman centre. He was living up to his name so it seemed.

Flavius himself meets the enemy General in battle
https://img347.imageshack.us/img347/...6270312xp7.jpg

The sacred band get’s surrounded, but keeps on fighting. What’s Bisaltes trying to prove ?

The enemy generals bodyguard units slowly die off.
https://img347.imageshack.us/img347/...6273700yp4.jpg

Finally, Bisaltes sees the stupidity of his actions and retreats tail between his legs, back towards the city plaza. To join and rally his beaten troops.
Flavius orders his men forward, skirmishers ahead of the main force, to take the plaza.

There the enemy general tries once again to force a breakthrough, again, un succesfully.

Bisaltes the Mad finally dies.
https://img347.imageshack.us/img347/...6320654bp6.jpg

Only a unit of skirmishers and phoenician spearmen where left on the city plaza, both were engaged and overclassed by the Roman principes, hastati and triarii. They do, however, hold out a long time, and a charge in the back by the general’s bodyguard itself is needed to brake them..

Pacuvius himself charges the skirmishers.
https://img124.imageshack.us/img124/...6325809ck3.jpg

On the other side of the plaza, the phoenicians fight on, to the last man, but die in vain. They were outnumbered and outfought.

The last of the Phoenicians die.
https://img347.imageshack.us/img347/...6342325yw9.jpg

Another battle is won, and the soldiers know it.

The Romans celebrate yet another victory.
https://img347.imageshack.us/img347/...6352339lf9.jpg

These were the results Flavius sent to his consul:

A clear victory.
https://img347.imageshack.us/img347/...6353210np2.jpg

Again, the Gallic soldiers suffer the most.
https://img124.imageshack.us/img124/...6353470mt2.jpg

Another successful battle added to the growing list of Flavius Pacuvius, now, however, another interesting question came to mind. What next, what would the consul have me do now ?

We shall know soon enough...

:balloon2:

(ooc: pictures will come later, I wanted to at least get this up)

Battle of Arsinoe, 252 BC

Appius hesitantly opened the tent flap and sniffed the air. Livestock. He shook his head and went back into his tent.

"Marcus," he asked the young man sitting with a writing board, "is there some reason the quartermaster is stationing the cattle not even a stone's throw from the camp? Upwind?"

Marcus looked up at Appius. "I imagine it's to irritate you, young one."

Young one! thought Appius. Look who's talking. "Well, he's succeeded. I'm about ready to go slaughter them myself right now. Except that wouldn't help the stench..."

"Probably make it worse," interjected Marcus.

"...so I'll go review the troops," Appius finished. "Get your stylus ready. It's going to be quite the day." He grinned that grin which often made others feel as if Appius was about to go mad. He knew this, and used it to great effect at times. Or he thought so, at any rate.

Appius threw open the tent flap a little less hesitantly this time. He walked about the camp, noting the ordered areas with praise, chastising those whose tents showed signs of unrepaired tattering. He chatted casually with some of the men, the ones who did not look at him as if he were a five year old boy. Some of the men were twice his age and looked at him as if they knew it very well. Appius, however, had grown used to this and walked on past them as if he saw nothing.

His walk led him to the eastern wall of the camp. From here he could see down into the valley below, barren except for a few scraggly trees. Down there beyond a small creek lay the city of Arsinoe, his target.

The First Consul had written to him, to him! His first reaction had been to shoo everyone out of his tent and read fervently. Numerius had stepped aside to give him command of the battle, and now he was on the edge of his first command. Fear and glory coursed through him as he looked down at the city. Which would control him even he could not tell.

The next morning dawned clear and bright, but the sun found the camp dismantled and the men lined up outside the wall-less town. Appius did not believe in sleeping late.

The people of Arsinoe had managed to field perhaps four groups of phalangites, some slingers, a scattering of horse. Appius tried to quell the feeling that this was a slightly pitiful force for his men to face. He would take no chances.

As he lined the men up, two of the phalangites from the town decided they would rather fight on open ground and came out of the city. Appius sent funditores and skirmishers at them, telling his heavy troops to back away as the phalangites approached. The phalangites were all a muddle; charging the funditores only to find they had melted away and were sixty paces off, now charging the skirmishers to the same effect. All the while they lost man after man to a constant hail of javelins and stones.

Finally, down to three-quarters their original numbers, they decided they had had enough and turned to go back to the city. Appius gave the signal, and four units of horse mowed them down as they ran, slaughtering them to the last man without a single horse dropping.

Appius coughed. "Did you get that, Marcus?"

"Oh, yes, I think so, yes sir, yes," replied Marcus, scribbling like mad on his vellum.

"I think you and I can stay up here on the hillside and watch. Better view, and it's shady." Appius bit into an apple, squinted for a moment, then ordered the cavalry to position themselves at all the city exits.

Now was the time for the spearmen and principes to do their work. After positioning themselves at three of the main streets through the city, they began the march into the forum where the miserable remains of Arsinoe's army huddled.

Appius' stomach tightened as the men neared the centre. He knew the Arsinoeans would fight to the last man, and he feared a mishap. However, he had laid his plans out to his captains the night before, and there was no use turning them now.

Finally, the sound of shield smashed against shield in a mighty roar came to his ears as Appius' spearmen and triarii locked horns with the phalangites in the city centre. The forgotten apple dropped to the ground as Appius noticed the Arsinoean horsemen lining up for a charge into the back of his triarii. He closed his eyes as they began the charge, and opened them a moment later to find that his hastati had intercepted the charge and were slaughtering the horsemen as if they were wheat under the sickle.

The horsemen fell quickly to the hastati's massed attack. Now only the phalangites remained, and they proved more stubborn than a wild ass. Attacked from three sides, with cavalry blocking all the exits, and their horsemen destroyed, the phalangites fought on like dragons and took many men with them to Hades. Finally they broke and attempted to flee the city, but they were all cut down before reaching even the edge of Arsinoe's forum.

As the cheer of victory went up, Appius breathed a sigh of relief and rode down from the mountain, into the city he had now taken for the glory of Rome.

North of Thapsus, 252 BC

This is the story of Lucius Dolabella:

https://i113.photobucket.com/albums/...te_pbm_029.jpg

Born in Messana in 285 BC. One of his earlier memories was when a Roman army, under the Consul Quintus, marched in and proclaimed the city liberated. It was a glorious day, for Carthaginian rule had been brutal and harsh. Lucius at that moment knew he wanted to be a soldier.

He couldn't be a principe, his personal preference, of course. He was far removed from the heartland of the Roman Republic. But when the large Auxilia building in Messana was constructed, he immediately signed up to be a swordsman. He would be part of the alae, those loyal Italians who would fight alongside their Roman friends in order to bring glory and freedom to all of those lands.

He served with honor and glory in the Alps, and later Afrika. Well enough to be considered one of the finest soldiers in his unit. He had killed his fair share of enemies, and gave his people much honor.

But then things happened. The other two units that had came from Sicily at the same time, skirmishers and spearmen, considered him their leader of sorts. They looked to him and followed his lead when it came to all sorts of matters.

The corruption of power combined with current sentiment made a nasty sum. The generals in the Carthaginian theatre were far from conforting. The new Consul, Servius Aemilius, was very young, and rumor had it that although a fine commander, the desert was claiming his soul. Servius' uncle, Marcellus, openly distrusted the Consul. Oppius was only a teenager, and Flavius Pacuvius, although he served admirably, was seeing his first action. Ever.

Despite all the fine victories won, Lucius had believed that there was no reason that the Romans should be in Afrika. He began to doubt everything, and wondered if Quintus was right to even invade Messana in the first place.

Finally, in one autumn day in 252 BC, a Carthaginian diplomat made his way to the fort where the alae were stationed. He offered Lucius and the three units there a sum of denarii to fight for them. After some discussion, Lucius accepted. He had thrown away his Roman values, once again serving the Republic of Carthage.

~~~~~~~

This is the story of Marcellus Aemilius:

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Born 279 BC into a proud Roman family, the Aemilii. He grew up with Numerius Aureolus and others in Rome, but eventually Numerius departed for Greece. Marcellus, at the age of 16, stayed in the Scriptorium to further his education.

Finally, at 20, his military career began with the dispatch of some brigands threatening Rome. From there he went to the Alps, serving with the late Augustus Verginius, and killing the last Gallic King in Comata.

After that things dampened. He got into a falling-out with his nephew and the Consul, Servius. He didn't agree with anyone's plans for Rome, believing that the Republic was abandoning its principles. He was annoyed that Servius had delayed his voyage to Afrika. But he never once entertained the thought of deserting Rome.

Things perked up. Marcellus arrived in Afrika, survived a desperate sally battle, and repaired relations with him and Servius. He conquered some cities, and was gaining respect in the Senate. The Carthage Expedition was going well.

But then some alae decided to defect. While a problem since reinforcements were tough to come by, he knew an example would have to be set.

https://i113.photobucket.com/albums/...te_pbm_028.jpg

The battle itself was relatively short. After some initial skirmishing, the Gallic Swordsmen charged, followed up by his Praetoria. The symbolism - Romans ordering Gauls to kill Italians - was not lost on the defectors.

As the charge neared him, Lucius Dolabella suddenly realized how wrong he was. Realized that Carthage was failing, and that Rome was right. All he needed to see was Roman might in action again. But the problem was, the Roman might was directed at him.

Marcellus Aemilius, eyes blazing, cut his way through the crowd until he and his horse were facing Lucius. The leader of the defectors just stared, making no attempt to defend himself.

"You have learned your lesson, traitor," Marcellus growled. He then plunged his gladius into Lucius' neck, and slashed upwards. And Lucius Dolabella's complicated life had ended.

https://i113.photobucket.com/albums/...te_pbm_031.jpg

After that display, the remaining Italians laid down their weapons and surrendered. Marcellus ordered the Gallic Swordsmen to stop, who did so reluctantly.

Once back in Thapsus, the army made their way to the town square. Marcellus put the 21 surviving Italians on display and ordered the Gauls to slay them all. They did so.

Word of the deed quickly spread through the city and Afrika. The message was clear: Treason will be dealt with harshly.

Lucius Dolabella and the other Italian defectors could attest to that.

Summer of 252 BC

Flavius Pacuvius was studying the newly arrived pieces of parchment intently, they contained the new marching orders. And were of course sent by the consul Servius Aemilius. The orders were easy enough; kill all the defenders and enslave the populace, Rome needs the slaves.

And thus it was that Flavius Pacuvius marched to, yet again, take a Carthaginian city, and he didn’t mind at all. There is only so much sand in ones bed a noble Roman General can take.

On to Kirtha.

During the march from Hippo Regius to Kirtha, which took about one season, the consular sized force was stripped of its Gallic soldiers – only the slingers still remained. It was to be the first time the Roman troops were to be tested. If tested was of course the right word, again the opposing forces were of such a level that none would have mistaken them to be anything other than Carthaginian. One can only kill so many Carthaginian Skirmishers....

This settlement did however differ in one fairly major aspect, this settlement had walls. Wooden walls, yes, but walls nonetheless. This wasn’t something our dear general had much experience with – as a matter of fact, it was the first settlement in which he would have to deploy actual siege equipment....

The Siege is started.
https://img49.imageshack.us/img49/19...3585242hx4.jpg
This was to be a simple assault, two battering rams would march on to the eastern section of the walls, and keep on ramming it untill the gate, and walls would come down. After that, the slingers and skirmishers would fire their load at any enemy soldier foolish enough to come too close to the fallen walls.

The General oversees the assault.
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The wooden rams didn’t need a lot of time to deal with the simple wooden walls on which the Carthaginians relied. The Gate was the first section to go down, followed shortly thereafter by the other targeted section of the walls.


The Gate is breached !
https://img127.imageshack.us/img127/...0052118yi6.jpg

The soldiers manning the rams were ordered to form a square on the Roman side of the destroyed walls, they were not to march into the city yet... First the slingers and skirmishers would have their way with the enemy, who indeed reinforced the downed sections of the wall.

The enemy captain himself comes to defend the walls, does he have a death wish ?
https://img49.imageshack.us/img49/94...0071735qp8.jpg

The gallic slingers throw volley after volley of stones into the marching Carthaginians on the far side of the walls, instead of defending the city plaza en masse – which every self respecting captain, or general, would have done – the Carthaginian captain decides to use his troops as stone catchers...The slingers inflict heavy casualties on the enemy soldiers, especially the skirmishers suffer badly.

The battle was almost won without even having to unsheath Roman steel. And it minded Flavius Pacuvius not for one bit.

The Bodies cover the dusty floor.
https://img49.imageshack.us/img49/78...0081143xa8.jpg

Now it was the time to enter the city, the troops met no resistance whatsoever when the marched through the destroyed sections of the enemy walls.

The walls were captured.
https://img49.imageshack.us/img49/74...0131868hc2.jpg

The soldiers were ordered to advance to the city plaza, where the enemy captain held what was left of his forces. The hastati led the march, followed by the principes and triarii, Flavius himself oversay it all from the back of the line.

The Romans march towards the plaza.
https://img49.imageshack.us/img49/18...0144235su0.jpg
Whilst turning the last corner to the plaza, the hastati are attacked by what is left of the captains contignen and by a sad bunch of already worn skirmishers.
The Captain tries to motivate his soldiers one last time, but once the triari charge into the skirmishers, it’s all over.
A massive retreat to the plaza begins...

The Triarii engage the skirmishers.
https://img130.imageshack.us/img130/...0171725oj7.jpg

The retreat was closely followed by the eager hastati and triarii, the rest of the forces also joined in, and not long after the initial rout, the soldiers slaughter what is left of the enemy on the city plaza.
The enemy captain died fighting, slain by a heavily armoured trairii soldier.

The enemy captain lies dead on the ground.
https://img49.imageshack.us/img49/92...0192081xn5.jpg


Victory was totall, the entire Carthaginian force was destroyed with only eleven losses mostly due to own fire.

A clear victory...
https://img49.imageshack.us/img49/66...0193487vc0.jpg


Another victory was added to Flavius Pacuvius’ rapidly growing list, he could now even call himself a surperior commander. Things were going well, one thing , however, bothered the General...What would the Consul have him do next ?

- Flavius Pacuvius.

:balloon2:

We had faced the foe, the mighty Seleucid Empire. We had faced them and found them wanting. Now, one of their Generals had the insanity to pit his meagre force of nearly 500 against not only our fortifications but also my seasoned army.

https://img214.imageshack.us/img214/3822/pic1um0.jpg

The river of Galatia flowed freely through the place where we cornered Antaeus of Gadara. Initially, I believed he would face us at the river and try to take us as we crossed, but no such sanity prevailed here. He awaited us a fair way away from us, atop a hill on the other side. So it was that we made the river crossing unhindered.

https://img152.imageshack.us/img152/6673/pic2uf9.jpg

He remained, stolid in that if he kept the high ground his army would not be defeated. Such a fool is only more reason why the Seleucids fail in war. Height is good, but it is not everything, movement and sense outweigh such factors.

Thus we moved up the hill on its most gentle of slopes to engage him on his right flank.

https://img150.imageshack.us/img150/9094/pic3ga4.jpg

The results were quite predictable, I advanced my skirmish troops ahead as normal and took his phalanx’s apart piece-meal. They held for longer than I expected and losses were higher than I’d wanted on this day but we held the field and destroyed Antaeus and his army.

https://img150.imageshack.us/img150/857/pic4yj9.jpg

28 Roman lives for 449 Seleucids….perhaps a “fair” trade, but our numbers dwindle again and more friends perish.

https://img228.imageshack.us/img228/7628/28deader7.jpg

__________________________________________________

So, this was what Antaeus was hoping for. Re-enforcements! Ha! Even if he’d had these 241 extra men, did he really believe the day would have been different those few months ago?

Perhaps I’ll ask him, well…..I would ask him had his head not have been cleaved from his body when I met him in the Winter!

So, my seasoned troops against a lowly Captain…..I even felt I shouldn’t even have bothered leaving my tent. Oh well, I suppose if I didn’t turn up my men would just do something silly….

https://img174.imageshack.us/img174/3820/pic1ic1.jpg

The two phalanx’s the comprised the whole of the Captains force clung to a slope of a low hill. We formed up and marched upon them.

I divided my skirmishers up as normal but managed to advance them well up the hill and not only above the enemy but also to their left flank.

Whilst the Funditores engaged and enticed the Phalanx’s to advance upon my main body my Javelin armed Skirmishers prepared on the enemies left.

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Blinded by the Funditores and the greater mass of my troops the enemy advanced, only to be hit by a massive barrage of Javelins into their exposed flanks!

The devastation was wondrous for even my troops! Principes and Hastati lent their own missiles as the enemy got close and after the rain of death had ended there was but 30 men left standing!

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The result was the cleanest I had ever had. ALL 241 enemy were slain and NOT ONE SINGLE ROMAN OR ALLY lay dead OR even scratched!!

Truly, Seleucia holds no fear for the Republic anymore.

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A reasonable force of Seleucids were reported to be moving to our borders this summer from Tarsus. Charged as we are to hold this border advanced to engage them before they had any contemplation of entering our territory.

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The field of battle was a massive expanse of rolling hills, never before have I set eyes upon such wondrous countryside. I ordered us to setup upon a nearby hill and await the arrival of the enemy, they advanced only so far and waited…….they clung to the higher ground as far away from us as they could, thus we had to advance a great distance to fight them.

I did arrange my formation differently than normal and whilst I kept my largest cohort of Principes in the centre, the rest of my front line consisted of my Italian Allies.

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As normal though, I separated most of my skirmishers and sent them forward at a dash to engage the enemy re-enforcements before they met up with the enemy on the hill.

Slingers and Javelins rained down at close range upon this hapless Phalanx.

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The result was utter devastation! It was unfortunate though that I had not cavalry or infantry that could chase them down…..so advanced had my skirmishers become.

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Carefully we advanced, I sent my infantry and skirmishers wide left along the low ridge whilst I lead my cavalry wide right along a similar ridge that brought us to the left flank of the enemy.

Once the body of infantry was in position in front of the enemy at the base of the hill I moved the cavalry into a threatening position, forcing one Phalanx to break formation. They chased the cavalry down the hill and to the right of my infantry where they were greeted by not only a hail of incoming stones from my slingers but also a cohort of Italian swordsmen, there javelin’s and a cohort of Italian spears. These engaged and then all my cavalry committed to the fight swiftly destroying this unit.

Meanwhile, a second Phalanx unit moved down the hill to engage my centre where my Principes held whilst my left flank Italians enveloped them……again I followed with cavalry charging downhill. The final Phalanx was similarly destroyed.

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….and victory was ours

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Gladly we only lost 19 men for destroying 456 Seleucid lives

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It appears I am known as Manius the Victor in this region and that I am “Hailed” as a Conqueror…….perhaps misplaced praise but I will do nothing to staunch such tails as they strike fear into the enemies hearts.

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On a more sombre note, I have determined that I shall not permit my cohort of, now 20 Principes, to fight again. They have fought hard and well over these years and 20 men is insufficient to be an effective battlefield unit. I have sent letters to the Senate requesting the survivors have Letters of Passage back to Rome where they may retire in safety. I hope that my request is received well, for my only remaining choice is to continue to bring these men on my continuing campaign or ferry them home by my own means…….I shall not suffer another death in that cohort.
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From the town of Icosium, I lead my praetorian force SW to intercept a small Carthaginian army. I am suffering from terrible headaches in the town and I hope that the more robust lifestyle we lead on campaign in this wilderness will clear them.

The enemy have 4 cohorts totalling 305 men, to my 787. I shall not bore you with with elaborate reports of how I did this and that, puffing myself up as if to show I am the greatest general ever. The enemy were dispatched swiftly, apart from their Numidian Cavalry. My only horses were those of my bodyguard, unable to catch the swift Numidians. I became more and more exasperated as my horses and men became more and more tired. Eventually we cornerned them and they were slaughtered. The Carthaginian General was already dead. His name escapes me. Its not important.

We buried 289 enemy bodies. My initial report was of 41 Romans killed, but 8 of the men who my surgeons reliably informed me were mortally wounded have recovered and will be fit for duty next season.

Tingi awaits me to the West....

Quintus Libo's Journal, December 14, 251

It is cold day. It seems that the winter never ends here on the Frontier, and I'd give my own horse's life to be in Afrika or Palma... somewhere where I hear the heat is relentless. The consul has ordered that I lead my legions against an Iberian army in the dead of night, the first of many strokes against this awesome power that has shadowed Rome from the west and north for decades. Now I must change that.

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I order my slingers to engage the Iberian front, a long line of untested warbands, no match for my legions. They take the rain of pebbles without moving, refusing to come off of the hill the cling to like they no doubt cling to their mothers.

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My Roman, Italian, and Gaullic infantry hold the charging Iberians, though some of thier infantry tries to flank my line. I order my son in law to charge them directly, and they break immediatly after. This leaves the entire rear of the Iberian force open to my cavalry, since they have no cavalry of their own. I take care of their slingers w/my bodyguard while the rest of the Gaullic Cavalry smashes the rear of the infantry, causing them to turn and run en mass.

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The battle is soon over. Not even one hundred of my men are dead, though over a 12 hundred of the Iberians are. Now Iberian-Occupied Germania lies open to my army, Viberi is just down the road, and accross the Rhine... the unprotected lands of Iberian-Gaul.

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