Re: [Romani AAR] It began on seven hills...
Battle in Lacetania, summer 217BC
Early in the summer of 217BC, Scipio received some reinforcements from Rome, along with a new legate and quaestor, Decimus Claudius Pulcher. The men were heartened both by the replacements and the arrival of Pulcher, who some had fought under in Cisalpine Gaul when he drove off the Cenomani.
Scipio had made some minor changes to his army in the months since the battle with the local tribes. He'd consolidated the surviving Bruttians into one command and brought in some local fighters to serve in the Left ala.
With his force back up to full strength, he pressed on towards Arse, stopping in some wooded country on the Roman road to pitch camp. Spies among the local tribes whispered of a large Qarthadastim force marching towards the Romans, ready to kick them out of Spain. They were led by a half-Iberian noble called Mytonnes Saunites. They outnumbered the Romans by a small margin, but a significant part of their force were recently freed slaves.
Scipio marched out of his camp and arrayed his forces on the road, keeping the legions visible in the centre, but hiding the two alae in the woods. The right wing was commanded by Pulcher, the left by the cenburion in charge of the extraordinarii. They had a strong position halfway up a hill.
Saunites ordered his men to advance. He feared little from these Romans, beating Bodinelqart had handily removed a rival for supreme command in Spain. His heavy calvary rushed for the Roman left.
The rest of his army charged up the hill, tiring themselves out. His heavy cavalry caught the allied slingers unawares, cutting many of them down. The extraordinarii marched to their rescue, knowing that if they cavalry gained a foothold they could roll up the entire line. The Gallic horse drew another group of Liby-Phoenician cavalry away from the rest of the army.
In the centre the Iberians and slaves charged.
Gallic mercenaries and Numidian skirmishers joined in support of the heavy horse, and a desparate scrap broke out on the left.
Rather than engaging, the slaves in the centre began to drift away from the fight as the Iberians and African infantry moved to engage.
On the right, more Gallic mercenaries and Maure skirmishers pushed the Roman slingers back. Pulcher looked for his moment.
Using the cover of the fighting on the left, Saunites and his bodyguard slipped behind the Roman line.
Still the fighting continued on the left, with no sign of a resolution in sight. The Gauls were well-armoured and skilled, and despite their fatigue fought fiercely.
Sautines attacked the allied slingers once more, many of whom were already injured or dead. The triarii from the First Legion were ordered to support them.
For a time Sautines and his band threatned the Roman centre.
But he was wounded in the scalp, and a worried ward pulled him clear of danger.
The Gauls on the right were caught between the triarii, Bruttians and Pulcher's cavalry, and mauled badly. They decided discretion was the better part of valour.
Seeing the Gauls flee, and suffering many dead and wounded themselves, the Iberians fled. Pulcher led the Bruttians and his cavalry to outflank those remaining.
The return of the Gallic horse routed the mercenaries on the left. Soon resistance there crumbled.
His wound staunched with a makeshift dressing, Sautines attempted to salvage something of this battle.
But it was too late, most of his army were already in flight.
He tried to slow the Romans down anyway.
However the day was already lost.
He fled the field, narrowly escaping being slain himself as Pulcher spotted him while riding down fleeing Iberians.
A great victory had been won, further hampering the Qarthadastim war effort in Spain.
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