Chapter 9: Sons of Mamers

When the great tyrant of Syrakousai Agathocles had died many years ago many of the mercenaries he regularly employed had found themselves out of work, and had decided to settle down in various part of the island. A particular group had decided to settle down in the city of Messana in the northeast of Sicilia.
Not only had they settled down there, but in doing so they had killed or expelled most of the city´s male population, and taken the women for themselves.
They had named themselves the Mamertini after the Oscan war god Mamers, and had truly behaved like sons of a war god, pillaging and looting everything in sight.
Years later they had called for Pyrrhos assistance against the Karchedoi, and had been given some breathing room by Pyrrhos intervention in what historians call the First Pyrrhic Sicilian War.
Now however, years later, they were not so friendly towards Pyrrhos and his kind. Seeing the establishment of a powerful ruler as a threat to their habits of raiding and looting they violently opposed Alexandros campaigns in northeast Sicilia. Even after almost all greek cities and towns had gone over to Alexandros they still resisted his rule, and continued to pillage the lands of Alexandros new-won allies, which called out to him for justice.
Having no choice but to act aggresively, Alexandros advances upon Messana, and the Mamertinoi retreated behind their wooden walls, hoping to disdain Alexandros from attack. Alexandros has no such intentions however, and his army surrounds the city and begins gathering wood for the construction of rams to break down the walls.

While waiting Alexandros contacts some mercenary captains and aquires the service of a band of Samnitoi and one of Keltoi, all young vigorous men equipped as assault infantry, perfect for an aggresive siege.
Soon the rams are finished and the the sun rises over citystreets soon to be littered with corpses. The Mamertines are outnumbered but not by much, and still has some hope to survive the day.


Alexandros army gathers in preparation for the assault, the men are eager for the treasures and women that are sure to await them inside.


No sounds is heard from inside the city, its defenders grimly ready to face their faith, whatever it might be.


Nor does any sounds comes from Alexandros army, as it awaits his order to begin the assault. Even the horses feels the nervous mood of their masters, and keep quiet.


The Keltoi stand ready with the ram to destroy the gate, and the Samnitoi right behind them.


Suddenly Alexandros awakes from his thoughts, raises his sword towards the clearblue sky and shouts the order that dooms the city. "Attack!"


First to attack are the Peltastai, who advances and throw their javelins over the wall towards the muffled sound of the defenders preparing for battle.


As many fall, the Mamertinoi learn their lesson and retreats from the gate, scurrying to avoid the many javelins.


The Samnitoi stands proud and ready to do battle, their shields and armour glimmering in the hot sun.


Soon the Keltoi have broken down the gate, and moves in. The defenders are quick to react though, and the two forces soon crash violently.


More defenders join the battle in an effort to push back the Keltoi and regain control over the gate. Little headway is made though as the tough Keltoi stand their ground and fights bravely.


The fight rages viciously, many men on both sides falling and being trampled beneath the masses.


Soon the Keltoi found themselves pushed back by the sheer wiegth of the hundreds of men that assault them, and some are even forced outside the gate.


Alexandros sees this, but is not alarmed. He calmy orders the Samnitoi to man the ram, and break a second entrance into the city.


The Keltoi are broken up into two groups, those pushed outside the gate and those still inside, who are now isolated and hopelessly outnumbered. Still they continue to fight, and take many Mamertinioi with them to whatever afterlife they believe in.


Alexandros orders the Phalangitai forward to support the Keltoi, and those cavalrymen who had ventured outside the city are swiftly cut down.


The Samnitoi goes unnoticed while breaking down a section of the wall, all the defenders to busy fighting the Keltoi.


Soon part of the wall is down, and the Samnitoi enters the city. Now the defenders have spotted them however, and engages them in fierce battle.


Alexandros and his bodyguard rides into the city aided by the rest of the cavalry and charges the Hoplitai that are fighting the Samnitoi.


The Thorakitai now enters the city, and aids the Samnitoi.


This becomes to much for the Mamertinoi who breaks rank and flees, but are cut down by the cavalry.


The Mamertinoi fighting the Keltoi are now attacked in the back, and swiftly cut down. The Keltoi have their revenge for their many comrades which have fallen in the battle.


Somewhere among the fleeing men the Mamertinos commander is cut down by the cavalry, and his men further demoralised.


The Phalangitai now enters the city to take care of the last defenders which are holding up in the city center.


The Phalangitai shows greats discipline as they refuse to break ranks to plunder the many rich houses that surrounds them, even when the gates to the houses have been left invitingly open.


Soon the Phalangitai engages the last defenders, and are aided by the Samnitoi and Keltoi who attacks their rears, and soon enough the last man is cut down.


The battle is won, the city of Messana now belongs to Alexandros. The remaining Mamertines are killed and the city repopulated with any who wishes to live there.



Next chapter: Total mobilisation