Pyrrhos and what was left of his army set up camp near Brentesion (Brindisium) for the winter of 263. Manius Cornelius Scipio Asina, the consul who had replaced Blasio (see supra), boldly risked an attack on Pyrrhos’ fortified position. The Epirote sallied out to give battle.
Such bold and risky behaviour was often seen in Roman generals. Their offices only lasted for one year – or in the case of Scipio Asina, less – so the pressure to win an important military victory during this short time was high. Carefully orchestrating a military victory only to be replaced by the new magistrate, who then took all the honour for the victory, was the nightmare of any Roman commander.
The text:
[…]
The Roman consul had under his command the survivors of the army of the Cornelius Blasio, the consul killed by Pyrrhos. They numbered no more than what was left of Pyrrhos army.
When he saw the Epirote preparing for battle he too deployed his troops. This he did not do in the ordinary manner. In stead he put his allied infantry in the centre with his Roman infantry on the wings, not in three rows, but the hastati, principes and triarii all next to each other. His cavalry he kept all in reserve, since Pyrrhos’ cavalry was no longer numerous enough to pose any real threat.
[…]
Pyrrhos soon broke through the Roman centre, but was outflanked by the Roman foot, who turned and attacked. Scipio waited and saw that the Epirote centre was beginning to weaken, because all soldiers had turned their attention to the Romans on the flanks. Then he gave orders to his cavalry and charged personally towards this weak point.
[…]
The Epirote retreated to where Budaros, the Illyrian, lay with his fleet of Liburnes [light warship, often used by pirates]. There he was greeted by 3000 men, volunteering to go wherever he went, because they had lost all in the war against the Romans.
They boarded and set sail to Epeiros.
[…]
That's one for Molinaargh and one for the man with no name.
Book VII, 12-19.
Background:
The Dardanoi, an Illyro-Tracian tribe, had been a long time ally of Epeiros. They were enduring constant raiding from Getic (Dacian) invaders. Beautiful murals found in the city of Serdike tell us the story of these incursions.
Epeiros sent over its Illyrian army under the command of a Mollosian called Pialos Kassandreus, who repelled the Getic invaders. He then put Dardania under military administration and made Serdike his seat.
Meanwhile Alexandros was still out campaigning in Hellas. He had spent the autumn and winter of 263 laying waist to the countryside of Euboea, even laying siege to its most important city, Chalkis. This changed when, in early spring 262, he heard reports of two massive armies nearing Athena.
Spoiler Alert, click show to read:
Two of those beautiful murals I wrote about:
The text:
[…]
When Alexandros heard the Antigonid army was lead by Amphion, the general who had also lead the main army in the battle that killed his older brother Ptolemaios, he is said to have almost died of anger.
[…]
Alexandros ordered his army to move immediately and all 15000 men was transported back to the mainland in only three days.
[…]
There, with the Athena in the distance on his left, he gave battle to the Antigonids, whose men numbered more than twice his own. Althought the Epirotes fought hard and bravely, it was soon clear that they were no match for the Antigonid host. Alexandros, meanwhile, had found Amphion and challenged him to a duel.
[…]
Although their commander had been slain, their morale hardly wavered. Alexandros knew that it was time to blow the retreat. He had surely avenged his brother now.
[…]
The Antigonid army chased the retreating Epirotes and caused heavy casualties. Even more men fell when the boats were reached and it became clear that they could not carry all the survivors. Fighting broke out between the Epirotes themselves near the boats, while the Antigonids charged the Epirotes farthest from the water.
[…]
[…]
When Alexandros heard the Antigonid army was lead by Amphion, the general who had also lead the main army in the battle that killed his older brother Ptolemaios, he is said to have almost died of anger.
[…]
Alexandros ordered his army to move immediately and all 15000 men was transported back to the mainland in only three days.
[…]
There, with the Athena in the distance on his left, he gave battle to the Antigonids, whose men numbered more than twice his own. Althought the Epirotes fought hard and bravely, it was soon clear that they were no match for the Antigonid host. Alexandros, meanwhile, had found Amphion and challenged him to a duel.
[…]
Although their commander had been slain, their morale hardly wavered. Alexandros knew that it was time to blow the retreat. He had surely avenged his brother now.
[…]
The Antigonid army chased the retreating Epirotes and caused heavy casualties. Even more men fell when the boats were reached and it became clear that they could not carry all the survivors. Fighting broke out between the Epirotes themselves near the boats, while the Antigonids charged the Epirotes farthest from the water.
[…]
Reminds me of Marathon. Good updates dude and thanks for the balloon.
Last edited by the man with no name; 09-19-2009 at 19:45.
My balloons:
Originally Posted by gamegeek2
Steppe battles are very long, but the wars are short.
Infantry battles aren't as long, but the wars are much longer.
Reminds me of Marathon. Good updates dude and thanks for the balloon.
Yeah, you're right! I didn't think of it at the time of writing, but it looks a bit like the Persian retreat after Marathon.
Since only two people do more than lurking here I figured they deserved a balloon.
Book VII, 26-31.
Background:
Alexandros had lost his army. Athena was back in Antigonid hands. But, the Antigonids now knew the cost of killing an Aiakid. When Alexandros arrived back in Epeiros he thanked his survivors for their services, distributed the loot of the campaign and let them go home to their families.
When he himself returned to Ambrakia in the autumn of 262 he heard about his father’s retreat from Italy. Pyrrhos and his Italian army had disembarked on the island of Corcyra (Corfu). We have seen earlier that the Epirote citizens did not like their king’s engagement to the far away Taras. The general probably had expected a very different coming-home.
The text:
[…]
Pyrrhos had sent messengers to Ambrakia to announce his return. Thereupon the citizens of the city assembled and voted over this matter. Almost all agreed that Pyrrhos should no longer be considered their king and that he was not welcome with his army of foreigners.
[…]
After this they unanimously declared Alexandros as their king.
[…]
Almost all the other important cities followed the example of Ambrakia and sent messengers to Pyrrhos to tell him that he and his army were not to enter their territory.
[…]
Alexandros felt sorry for his father, but he had just excepted a ceasefire with the Antigonids. They could keep Athena, while he could keep Pella. Epeiros also had to pay a large yearly sum for the next 10 years.
The war was finally over, but he knew his father would want to renew the conflict immediately, so he accepted the offer to come to Ambrakia, where he was crowned as King of Epeiros.
[…]
Pyrrhos knew he had two options: to invade Epeiros, attack his own son and reclaim his throne or either to go into voluntary exile. He chose the latter and loaded all those who still wanted to follow him back on the ships – Budaros, the Illyrian admiral of the fleet was only loyal to Pyrrhos himself and not to the Epirote throne – and set sail to the East.
[…]
Re: - Never near Argos -
--> - 
Reply With Quote
Originally Posted by gamegeek2
Bookmarks