The Syrian War, 192BC

Pergamon had been a Roman ally since the Second Makedonian War, and aided in driving the Seleukid invasion off. Now that Qarthadast and Makedonia had been dealt with, the Romans turned their attention to the Seleukid menace. There were rumours that Theopropides Nepheris was serving as a mercenary advisor to the Seleukids, and that could not be allowed.

In the time since the campaigns against the Dacians, T. Claudius Pulcher had been elected consul, and as a proconsul was given command of the war against the Seleukids. With him he brought Numerius Aurelius Cotta, a somewhat dissolute youth as his tribune, in the hopes a war would make a decent man of him.

Pulcher marched out to meet a Seleukid force, unaware that another one had slipped into Pergamon to threaten the city state.

He had a slight advantage in numbers, but more importantly one in cavalry and light troops.



He deployed in the regular triplex acies, and the Seleukids drew up in a long line of pike phalanxes.



Seeing that his skirmishers had no effect on the well-armoured phalangites, Pulcher ordered them back and out to the flanks.



They were joined by his cavalry.



On the right a Karian warband was routed, and the envelopment began.



On the left the movement to outflank the Seleukid right continued.



A cavalry charge to the rear broke one of the phalanx blocks in the centre.



Elsewhere in the centre, some supporting spearmen gave up the fight.



The phalanxes on the Roman left routed.



More from the centre began to falter.



And the Seleukid army collapsed into flight.



The first major battle of the war had gone to the Romans.