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

[QuintusSertorius]

Small Wars 184-182BC

Spain

Governor Pulcher played his part in the pacification of certain elements of the Lusotanii trying to unite the tribes against Rome.

He encoutered a band equal in size to his army at a river crossing.



The army were deployed in regular battle order on the south bank of the river, and waited nervously to see what the Iberians would do.



To the Romans astonishment, they crossed, with the intention of fighting their way through on the other side.



It was a bold display of courage and vigour, and the Romans braced themselves for some hard fighting.



The Roman legions in the centre took the brunt of the pressure.



The fighting was savage and lengthy.



At the tipping point, when it seemed the Romans couldn't take any more, one of Pulcher's extraordinarii killed the Iberian warchief.



The panic was infectious.





In the flight another Iberian worthy was slain.



And none were spared in the massacre that followed.



On the way back to his province, Pulcher was thrown from his horse and struck his head. He lingered for several days, before dying in his sleep. Thus ended a great Roman who had given nothing but his all for the Republic.

Anatolia

Rufinus was beginning to think the Roman navy wasn't going to return for him, it had been over a year. Still he wasn't idle, continuing to act as an advisor for the Pergamene army, which was growing in proficiency with every battle.

He fought a succession of battles, winning each one. In each case, only some elements of the enemy force engaged, often withdrawing before swords were drawn.









In 182BC he pressed into Lydia, luring one of their generals out of hiding.



He immediately went on the offensive, marching to meet the enemy.



His cavalry drove off the Greek cavalry.



Later in the battle, the enemy general's bodyguard fought hard, to the death.



But even that wasn't enough, and their general died spear in hand.





Rufinus was attached while re-provisioning the Pergamene army.



The attack was driven off with minimal loss.

[QuintusSertorius]

180BC:



All change in the world. Parthia are putting themselves on the map, recently they'd besieged both Susa and Gabai, though were driven off. The Seleukids are definitely on the ropes, though I think giving them Salamis has helped their finances a lot, since they haven't collapsed.

Baktria are over-extending themselves, lost their capital and Kophen to the Saka, although they're about to get Baktra back courtesy of a massive stack I moved up there for them.

The Saba actually retook Ptolemais-Theron and Petra all by theirselves, which I was impressed by. Though they lost Sala, so I used some FD to create a proper Mauretania.

Lusotanii are calmed for a while at least, although they keep throwing little stacks at Numantia.

Qarthadast took Kyrene, so I gifted it to Epeiros and moved their two FMs who were inactive over there. I hope when I destroy their homeland in 13 years they will be able to operate out of there instead. They've only got one FM left in Greece. I also gave them some money, which seems to have kicked them out of their lethargy. They've only got some crappy levy spears and freed slaves in Greece though, so shouldn't do much damage.

Germans are back across the Rhine again. I've had to move a Pontic stack to Krete because they were looking dangerously like they wanted to start something with Makedonia.

I also got this:



Which I took as a warning to stop turning down all the rubbish suitors who turn up. Have some pretty old birds with equally ancient husbands floating around now.

[General Appo]

Wow, I´ve never even got that. I´ve wondered what happens when an unmarried chick gets old, but I´ve never tested it.
Nice work with the Epeirotes, hopefully they´ll resist both Ptolemaic and Carthie attacks.

[QuintusSertorius]

Small Wars, 180BC

While wintering with the Pergamene army, Rufinus was attacked ones more, by a Greek raiding force. He had the advantage in numbers, but perhaps they hoped surprise was on their side.



He came out to meet them, but waited in a defensive line.



The enemy general and his elite bodyguard got around the Pergamene line.



But they were repeatedly charged by the Thracian and Illyrian cavalry...





...until only the brave strategos was left alive.



He fought alone trusting to his skill at arms to keep him safe, but eventually he succumbed to many wounds.



With that his army collapsed.



And once more Pergamon was preserved.



179BC:



I've been doing a bit of naughty tinkering with provinces via Force Diplomacy. Now we have the "Belgae" (ie Casse") and an Iberian migration too. They're Homeland and Expansion regions respectively for the Casse and Lusotanii, so they shouldn't be completely helpless. Plus there are already buildings that let them create troops there.

The Casse came through for me right away, driving off the Germans. Hopefully they'll do a better job of keeping them on the other side of the Rhine than the Aedui did.

Wow, I´ve never even got that. I´ve wondered what happens when an unmarried chick gets old, but I´ve never tested it.
Nice work with the Epeirotes, hopefully they´ll resist both Ptolemaic and Carthie attacks.

Thus far, they've both ignored them, which is weird. Maybe after a bit they'll take notice and try to do something.

[QuintusSertorius]

Small Wars, 177-175BC

Anatolia

Aulus Cornelius Rufinus had finally been able to return to Italy when the navy made it through the Greek blockade, as well as delivering mercenaries to aid in the Pergamene war effort.

Left behind as leading advisors to the Pergamon king were an Italian and Greek, both Roman citizens in spite of their original extraction.

There were several battles. Fought in defense of neutral communities. Publius Sempronius Gracchus Eugertes led one of the Pergamene armies.









Eugertes struggled a little acting as commander, rather than in the subordinate role he had served in under Rufinus, and in the second battle an attempt to send flanking troops by a ford downstream of the bridge had nearly ended in disaster.

Illyria

Meanwhile the provincial governor of Illyricum acted on rumours that an agitator had risen encouraging the local tribes to rebel against Roman influence on their monarchy. Caius Aurelius Cotta gathered some local levies and marched out to deal with them, confronting them in a forest south of Dalminion.



After a brief contact, the disorganised rebels fled.




Anatolia

The Italian general Sextus Claudius Pulcher led the other Pergamene army coming to the rescue of Ipsos.



Demonstrating his confidence, he allowed the enemy reinforcements to join up with the rearguard that had been left in their wake.



He advanced to meet them, and they obliged, ignoring the space they'd been given to combine.



Contact was made all along the line.



The hardest fighting came when the Greek phalanx joined the fight.



Then the captain of the rearguard was killed.



Some time later, through the tireless efforts of the Thessalian cavalry, the strategos was slain.



His men fought grimly on, but the tide had turned, and Pulcher won the day.

[QuintusSertorius]

175BC:



Some hard times for Pahlava, even after I gifted them Persepolis and Gabai with some FD. They nearly lost the former to a revolt, then the Seleukids came back and recovered the latter. They also re-took Ekbatana, although just lost Susa. They've managed to kick the Ptolemies out of Syria and Cilicia, though now I'll have to watch carefully for any attempt to re-take Anatolia.

Makedonia seem to have given up the fight, which has surprised me. They lost Demetrias and Pella a couple of turns ago, I've had to slap the Greeks with some treasury penalties to slow them down. Not sure what's happened, maybe I gave them the best provinces in Asia Minor?

Saba are starting to kick ass again, they've now got all three Mauretanian provinces, and re-took Gaetulia after losing it. They also took Judea on their own, which was cool.

Baktria have been hard-pressed by the Saka, losing and retaking Baktra several times. They did finally take Opiana, having had a full stack sitting outside it for years doing nothing. I can see them getting squeezed into the top of India by the Saka. I think the fact that when I FD'd Baktra back to them it had four units of Indian Elephants in it might be a sign. As in their money situation is screwed.

No one is paying Cyrenaia any attention at all. Nor are the Epirotes there doing much, but that's cool. My bit of tinkering in Gaul and Hibernia seems to be stable.

You've actually got the original battle report for that last one - that one CTD'd immediately after winning it. I didn't do so well the second time - still a heroic victory but I had higher losses. I wasn't best pleased having to play that one out again.

[General Appo]

I´d say let the Baktrians stay in India, and don´t give give Baktria to them. I know it´s a bit premature, but it´s not that long left until they were driven out south to India. Besdies, they look unlikely to be able to keep Baktria.
Just curious here, how are the Sauromatae doing? Just been a long time since you mentioned them, and they look like they might get into a conflict with the a lot of factions.

[QuintusSertorius]

I´d say let the Baktrians stay in India, and don´t give give Baktria to them. I know it´s a bit premature, but it´s not that long left until they were driven out south to India. Besdies, they look unlikely to be able to keep Baktria.
Just curious here, how are the Sauromatae doing? Just been a long time since you mentioned them, and they look like they might get into a conflict with the a lot of factions.

I've been giving them occasional money boosts every time the Hai look like they're going to take Uspe. I can't seem to get the Hai to stop trying to go north into the steppe, so two of their full stacks are inactive on Krete. But the Sauromatae otherwise aren't doing much of anything. Not sure if they're fighting the Saka, and they ceased hostilities with the Getai and Greeks a while ago.

[QuintusSertorius]

Small Wars, 174BC

Publius Sempronius Euergetes once again led the armies of Pergamon against Asiatic Greek invaders. In 174BC he fought two major battles south-west of the city.

In the first he prevented a crossing.





But when his supply lines were threatened, he had to withdraw, and a second force crossed the river and attacked.



He offered battle, and ordered his forces in the usual manner.



The Greeks came to meet the Pergamenes.



The Pergamene light cavalry ranged out on the left.



They moved with impunity behind the Greek line, attacking light troops and always staying ahead of a response.





Meanwhile the Greeks on the left were routed.



The roving light cavalry took advantage of the situation.



They caught up with the enemy commander.



And then joined in the rout.



Euergetes had done his work well.

[QuintusSertorius]

172BC:



I've started my "3rd Makedonian War" only it's against Koinon Hellenon who I've been fighting fairly constantly in Asia Minor. They need humbling so they don't wipe out Makedonia. Going to take Thermon and Demetrias, give them back to Makedonia, and then perhaps make KH a protectorate. Then maybe do the same to Makedonia. That will surely stop them fighting? Then plunder Epirus proper, and leave them with only Kyrene.

Pahlava are still struggling to push out the Seleukids, and now Baktria are trying to get in on the action. The Syrian War is now between Saba and the Ptolemies, which shields the Seleukids a bit. Trying unsucessfully to make the Hai and Seleukids fight.

[QuintusSertorius]

Hellenic War, 172BC

Relations with the Koinon Hellenon had broken down after they refused the request of a delegation from the Senate to cease their attacks on Makedonia. The core of the issue between the Hellenes was a border dispute, along with an attempt by both sides to alter the settlement from their last conflict in their favour. Makedonia, allied to the Romans after losing the war in 200BC, called on the Senate to uphold the terms of the previous treaty. The Greeks decided war was a more favourable course.

The censor and proconsul Sextus Cornelius Scipio was despatched with a consular army to settle the matter by force. He had swept through Aitolia, rapidly taking Thermon and continued into Thessalia. There he shadowed the Greek's largest army, commanded by the strategos Zoilos Rhodios.

Rhodios had a slight advantage in numbers, and his men were confident from the raids and sieges they had taken part in during the previous campaiging seasons.



Battle started quickly, the eager Greeks marching into skirmish range.



The Romans got the better of the skirmishing phase of the battle, their slingers decimating the Greek archers, even the famed Kretan toxotai.



When the skirmishers had exhausted their missiles, Scipio pulled the lights back and ordered the main line forward to engage with the Greek infantry.



The Greeks charged headlong into the marching Romans, keen to get to grips with their invading enemy.The strategos led the charge in person.



The hardest fighting developed in the centre, under the gaze of the Roman general.



The Roman cavalry rushed the Greek medium cavalry.



Meanwhile the allied cavalry had made it's way behind the Greek lines.



Having broken through on the right, the extraordinarii charged the enemy general from the rear.



They fought savagely, like men possessed, and cut their way through to the strategos.



And one of their number struck the great man down.



At his death panic rapidly spread throughout his army.



The Romans were not merciful in the flight.

[QuintusSertorius]

171BC:



Not much change in the wider world, but Thermon is back in Makedonian hands. Demetrias will also be shortly, then I think I'd reduce each Greek city in turn, destroying it's warmaking capacity then giving it back to Koinon Hellenon. That should slow them down for a while. Hopefully I can FD a protectorate status out of them.

Then I turn my attention to Makedonia and possibly do the same. When that's done, then I can conquer and keep Epirus.

I'm sure some readers are glad to see an old fashion battle with legions, rather than Greek troops for a change.

[||Lz3||]

what do you think about night battles (featured in alx.exe)? would it be historically accurate somehow? (using barbarians // romans)

and btw do you think using alx.exe is a good idea to start my historical campaing? (again since the interloper thing ruined my last one)



veeery nice AAR I'm trying to do my historical campaing also but I dont think I'll have the patience to micromanage every faction... perhaps I'll let them die.. or play m/m...


well anyways cheers

[Chirurgeon]

Man this sucks the Lusotannan are getting hammered in all these AARs. Makes me proud of my accomplishments in my AAR. Rome's days are limited...Iberia is more powerful than ever!

[QuintusSertorius]

what do you think about night battles (featured in alx.exe)? would it be historically accurate somehow? (using barbarians // romans)

and btw do you think using alx.exe is a good idea to start my historical campaing? (again since the interloper thing ruined my last one)

veeery nice AAR I'm trying to do my historical campaing also but I dont think I'll have the patience to micromanage every faction... perhaps I'll let them die.. or play m/m...

well anyways cheers

Night battles were extremely rare in this period, and more generally throughout history. Many of the worst blunders came from trying to fight at night.

Alex's executable is better as far as combining stacks into proper armies, but it retrains, which I think is highly unrealistic.

I'm quite proud that 100 years into the game, no faction has died.

Man this sucks the Lusotannan are getting hammered in all these AARs. Makes me proud of my accomplishments in my AAR. Rome's days are limited...Iberia is more powerful than ever!

In fairness to them, they've given me harder battles than anyone else. Many of them tend to turn on killing the general, with the average morale of Iberian troops so high, they depend on killing the general or I suffer heavy losses.

[General Appo]

Once you´ve taken Epeiros homelands will you rename them? It´s really easy and only takes at most 5 minutes if you know what you´re doing.

[QuintusSertorius]

Once you´ve taken Epeiros homelands will you rename them? It´s really easy and only takes at most 5 minutes if you know what you´re doing.

Won't that mess with the province requirement for the Marian reform if I change it's name? As in the script won't be able to "see" it?

[General Appo]

Oh no, I didn´t mean it like that. I meant will you rename the Epeiros faction, to something like Kyrene?

[QuintusSertorius]

Oh no, I didn´t mean it like that. I meant will you rename the Epeiros faction, to something like Kyrene?

Oh, I could do that, couldn't I? How is it done?

Same with KH and Makedonia when I turn them into single-island factions.

[General Appo]

Just go to your main EB folder, then EB/Data/text then expanded_bi and you can get to work.
For changing Epeiros name to say Kyrene, just look after Epeiros/Epirote or anything like that, and replace it with Kyrene/Kyrenaia/whatever. Remember to look through the entire file so you don´t miss anything, like forts, físhing villages and the various "we are attacking somebody". Should probably take you about 5 minutes.
Remember to make a backup of the file, in case you ever start another campaign and want them to be named Epeiros. Also remember to set the file to "un-protected" or whatever it´s called, and to save the file.

[QuintusSertorius]

Wars in Greece and Asia Minor, 171BC

It was the hope of the Roman Senate in the campaign in Greece to sever the co-operative links between the various Greek communities in Greece and Anatolia - at least at the level of military co-operation and providing supplies.

Greece

Scipio and his tribune Cotta had surrounded and invested Demtrias when they were attacked by a Greek relieving force.



Scipio deployed in the usual manner, his skirmishers trading missiles with their opposites.



Growing bored of waiting for the skirmishing to finish, Cotta charged the Greek skirmishers, who fell back before the Roman horse.



The roving Allied light cavalry fell upon those who'd given up the fight.



Some elements of the main line broke.



In the confusion, coherent lines fell apart and the battle dissolved into several smaller conflicts.



Cotta was instrumental in bringing the battle to a conclusion, charging against the enemy general's bodyguard time and again.



He personally killed the strategos.



Demetrias was taken and their military capability reduced, and Scipio then turned south to the Peloponnese.



Anatolia

Meanwhile the proconsul had written to the king of Pergamon, requesting that in concert with his own campaign, he put the allies of the mainland Greeks under pressure.

Both generals and armies were sent to ravage the country around Sardis and provoke the Greeks into a battle.

Euergetes had the first opportunity.



He advanced straight for the first enemy force, intending to simply smash them aside before the second arrived.



They were swiftly routed when the second advanced to avenge their comrades.



The light cavalry played an important role, harassing the enemy light troops.



Their officers kept them on a tight rein, stopping them charging off and tiring their horses or getting ambushed.



The general in charge of the relief force decided discretion was the better part of valour, and withdrew.



The cavalry fell on any stragglers and showed little mercy.



A victory, if not a complete out, with the enemy punished for their temerity.



The Italian general Sextus Claudius played his part in the fighting.



Getting one better than Euergetes, he inflicted a serious defeat on the Asiatic Greeks, and took Sardis.



Greece

Later in the season, Scipio besieged Athens itself, and fought off an attempt to oust him.



During the brief conflict, an important Greek noble was killed.



Victory was never in doubt.



Following Athens, Korinthos was taken, and in the peace imposed on the Greek communities, they agreed to hand over weapons and not to go to war without the express permission of Rome. They also supplied Scipio with money to boost his pay-chest and grain to feed his soldiers.

Third Makedonian War, 169BC

Following the defeat of their enemies, the Makedonians tried to immediately gain their own concessions and change borders. Once again the Senate was forced to respond, dispatching the proconsul Numerius Cornelius Rufinus and his tribune Numerius Cornelius Scipio with an army to bring the Makedonians back to the negotiating table.

Marching through Epirus, they arrived at a lightly-defended Pella and laid siege while ravaging the surrounding communities.



The fighting took place in a thick forest, and much of the battle was hard to follow.



Charging downhill, the Romans contemptuously swatted the Makedonians aside and took Pella.



Rufinus made preparations to continue to the coast, expecting to encounter a more serious response from Makedonia.

[QuintusSertorius]

169BC:



I concluded a peace with KH after doing some serious damage to their military capabilities. I destroyed barracks, blacksmiths and naval yards wherever I found them, and some elements of their economy before returning them.

Then Makedonia attacked me in Asia Minor, so it's time to give them the same treatment. Their heartland was pitifully defended, so their major recruiting centre now can't recruit anything. They've got one army nearby which I hope to fight before getting some peace. Ispos and maybe Byzantion are the other targets before this war is out. Then I plunder Epirus.

That should calm things down there, what with having no armies and no recruiting capability.

I finally managed to get Karkathiokerta to rebel, putting the Hai and Seleukids at war. Maybe now they'll stop wasting their energies going north and try south instead.

Next target for war is the Hai and Pontos, Ani-Kamah is already surrounded by my mayhem squad of spies and assassins. A bit of FD to give it to Pontos, then in go the subversives.

Qarthadast are starting to renew their strength in Africa, and recently went to war with the Ptolemies. How they're going to do that with Kyrenaia in between them I don't yet know.

Pahlava have finally reached the Persian Gulf and Baktria have rebounded. I might have to start giving some money to the Saka to keep Baktria contained.

[General Appo]

Like the looks of Baktria, Pahlava and Saka-Rauka, three solid half-superpowers completely dominating the east.
As for Ptolies vs Carthies, I´m guessing they´re fighting over Augila. They do share a small border there.

[jhhowell]

I'm quite proud that 100 years into the game, no faction has died.

That's not particularly remarkable, is it? I honestly cannot recall if I've ever seen one AI faction eliminate another - if so, it must have been way back when I played vanilla RTW.

Re: Hayasdan fighting AS - any plans to teleport their armies back from Crete?

[QuintusSertorius]

All the games I've played, by 200BC you start seeing factions vanish if they're not protected. Invariably Pontos is one of the first among them, along with either Aedui or Arverni. Sometimes either Saka or Baktria destroys the other. In my last game Pahlava died in 215BC. In this very game, Epeiros nearly killed Makedonia right at the start.

I've already brought one of their armies back, which immediately besieged Karkathiokerta, which I was pleased about. Hopefully they won't take that then seek a ceasefire. If I can get them warring with Pontos, then I'll bring back their other army, and the Pontic stacks over there too.

As to Qarthadast and the Ptolemies - there's nothing going on in Augila. There was an ex-Sabaen FM bribed by Qarthadast floating around Judea, I wonder if he stumbled into someone.

[QuintusSertorius]

Third Makedonian War, 169BC

Later in the campaigning season, general Rufinus was halted by a Makedonian army moving to address his predations. They were evenly matched in numbers, although the Makedonians had a preponderance of skirmisher cavalry. The open countryside along the road would offer little advantage to either side. The Makedonian general was one Lysias Beroiaios, who had been successful in wars against the Greeks.



The battle began with skirmishing, the Romans keen to drive off the Makedonian llight horse.



On both sides of the battle line, allied Roman horse duelled with the swarms of Makedonian cavalry.



With the support of the slingers, they slowly got the better of their enemy, and otherwise kept them engaged where they couldn't harrass the line. Meanwhile the Makedonian line advanced.



The centre and right were attacked.



Rufinus sent his extraordinarii infantry to the right. Young Scipio charged to the rear of the Thracians pressing the allied infantry.



Beroiaios charged into the fray on the right, then withdrew.



The unengaged Left ala began an outflanking movement.



The extraordinarii cavalry followed them.



Beroiaios charged home once more. Scipio and the allied cavalry followed.



The Makedonian general was making some headway against the Right ala. His men on the right were heartened by his inspirational example and fought harder.



The extraordinarii cavalry, having made a circuit all the way around the Makedonian line, now joined in the fight on the right.



They drove the Makedonian general and his bodyguard away from the infantry and fought at a standstill.



Beroiaios and his bodyguard were tired and outnumbered, soon only the man himself was still alive.



He never wavered, never looked to escape, and died spear in hand.



At his death, his army collapsed.



Few escaped to tell of the Roman victory.

[QuintusSertorius]

Third Makedonian War, 169-168BC

While the war in Makedonia proper was largely done, the war in Anatolia to reduce the power of Makedonia's allies still raged on.

Sextus Claudius Pulcher ravaged the lands around Ipsos, a Makedonian army came to stop him.



They came on directly, no subtlety or deception.



Aloius Gonatas led the charge.



The Pergamene left began to envelop the Makedonian line, and some of their men fled.



Gonatas was killed in the fighting.



In the ensuing rout, many of his men were killed.



Publius Sempronius Euergetes attacked a marching column on it's way to Ipsos. The garrison of that settlement marched out to rescue them.



The Pergamene army had to fight uphill, and it was fortunate that the rescuing force had been delayed.



Much of the marching column were quickly put into flight.



Just in time for the arrival of the main force.



Philoxenos Azorios charged straight for the Pergamene lines.



The arrival of the Thessalian cavalry slaughtered his tired bodyguard.



Azorios tried to escape, but they followed, even through his own troops.



He was cut down as he ran.



His army lost heart.



But the steep hill prevented a complete victory, many slipping away.

[General Appo]

The carnage never ends. Should be sacking Epirus soon I hope. Or are you going for Ipsos and that final Makedonian army next to it first?

[Aaldaemon]

Soooo much deaatttth, over and over and over again... To think I thought my Sauromatae to be butchers... they ain't got a patch on the Romans... should have played with larger unit sizes myself. Quintus' aar is the one that truly reads like continuous genocide lol.

[QuintusSertorius]

The carnage never ends. Should be sacking Epirus soon I hope. Or are you going for Ipsos and that final Makedonian army next to it first?

Yep, that's what I did. A spy told me Byzantion really didn't have much by way of military production capability, so I gave up on Macedonia proper. Makedonia is now my protectorate - they even chose me over their alliance with Epeiros. Epirus' demise coming up.

Soooo much deaatttth, over and over and over again... To think I thought my Sauromatae to be butchers... they ain't got a patch on the Romans... should have played with larger unit sizes myself. Quintus' aar is the one that truly reads like continuous genocide lol.

There is a lot of enemy death, yet I'm quite merciful. I never expel or enslave settlements I take (although the Epirote ones will be expelled), I only kill in battle.