[Epeiros/Pergamon AAR] Philetairos' Gift

[QuintusSertorius]

Kilikia

Later in the season, Megarikos was instructed to assist Pergamon's allies, vassals of Ptolemaic Egypt in Pamphylia by invading Kilikia. His activities on the border attracted the attention of the Seleukids stationed there. They were led by Seron Kadysios, an experienced general.



The Pergamenes held a commanding position cresting a hilltop. The Seleukids were forced to march uphill to meet them.



They suffered horribly from missile fire.



As they engaged, the enemy general charged the Pergamene line.



As he withdrew to charge again, Megarikos spurred ahead of the line and called out a personal challenge.



Kadysios and his bodyguard accepted, and the two bodies of cavalry clashed.



Megarikos tried to cut his way through to face Kadysios in personal combat.



Meanwhile the weaker elements of Kadysios' army began to flee.



Some of Megarikos' men watched, but knew better than to interfere in matters of honour. Their general would either win or die trying.



In the centre, resistance was beginning to weaken.



The generals fought on. Megarikos' bodyguard, more rested, began to get the measure of their heavier Seleukid counterparts.



Kadysios' regular pikemen were surrounded, yet grimly held on.



Kadysios' bodyguard were slain one by one, until only the man himself remained. To his credit, he didn't run.



His regulars continued to stand their ground.



Succumbing to his wounds, Kadysios died with his sword in his hand.





Megarikos' men cheered their brave general, who gave thanks to Athena.



Seeing their gallant general slain, the last Seleukids capitulated.



Megarikos had won not just a victory, but great personal honour too. He could now dedicate a special ceremony in honour of his slain foe and the boost to his personal reputation that would carry.



Editorial note

I was rather surprised at how well my general's bodyguard, who are much lighter armoured than their Seleukid counterparts, managed to survive that fight. I put it entirely down to the fact that they were fresher, and used their swords rather than those slow-to-use lances which the Seleukids never switched from. Pretty telling that I lost about ten in that unit, and they lost all 40.