Battle Reports

[johnhughthom]

Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 

City occupied.

[Folgore]

263 BCE, spring

As Timon Arrhidaeos and his army moved into Tadmor and besieged Palmyra, the Seleucids sent a small army to aid the city. Not willing to fight two armies at once, Timon lifted the siege and attacked the Seleucid army in the field. No match for a complete army, the Seleucid forces were crushed.

[Folgore]

263 BCE, summer

The Seleucids continue to split their forces. A detachment of skirmishers was spotted leaving Palmyra, heading towards Edessa through Syria. Timon's army, on its way back to Palmyra received word of this and moved west to intercept the enemy forces. The enemy tried to flee, but was forced to meet the Ptolemaic forces in battle after being pursued. In the ensuing battle, the Seleucid force was effectively destroyed.

[Folgore]

263 BCE, winter

With the threat of the Ptolemaic Royal Army now heading east, the Seleucid forces are in disarray. Their large army stationed in Syria flees east and most of the Palmyra Garrison attempts to regroup with it in Edessa, passing straight through Ptolemaic controlled Syria. Here, Timon Arrhidaeos' army is still stationed, having taken upon the defence of Antiocheia. With the threat of the Seleucid army under Sarpedon Syriakos now gone, Timon is free to attack the enemy force from Palmyra.

Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 

Making no attempt to flee, the Seleucid army offers battle in the middle of the desert. Taking up a defensive position at the bottom of a hill, they make no attempt to take the initiative. Timon's army marches in battle order towards the enemy until they are within range of his slingers. On a hill, the advantage is clearly with Timon's forces and he allows his slingers to fire as long as they can on the enemy army.

The enemy does not remain still however, and sends his troops forward, attacking the phalanx.

But his forces are no match for the long sarissas. They are kept firmly in place until Timon's cavalry can charge the enemy's flank. As they do so, the Seleucid forces turn and flee. Those committed to the battle are trampled as they attempt to escape. Those in reserve make a hasty retreat. With the exception of the Seleucid heavy cavalry and a small group of skirmishers, their army is destroyed.

[Folgore]

262 BCE, spring

Having defeated no less than three Seleucid armies in the past year, the road to Palmyra now lies wide open for Timon Arrhidaeos. The Seleucids have foolishly neglected to build any walls around the city. There is no lengthy siege, no time for Seleucid reinforcements to come to the rescue. Timon's forces march into the city and crush its garrison with ease. The narrow streets see some tough fighting though, and more men are lost than in the previous year's battles combined.

[Folgore]

261 BCE, spring

Authorised by the Pharaoh himself to leave the recently conquered town of Palmyra and to take all available forces to race to the defence of Antiocheia, Timon Arrhidaeos had set out to stop Sarpedon Syriakos and Milesion Syriakon from taking over the city. It is a long distance from Palmyra to Antiocheia however and the arid terrain is rough and inhospitable. As Timon arrived at the city, the enemy had already taken it.

Not deterred by this setback, Timon seized upon the situation that now presented itself. Milesion had set out from the city with nothing but his personal guard at his side, apparently unaware Timon had been marching in his direction as fast as he could. Hoping to lure Sarpedon from the city, taking on his troops in the open, Timon ambushed the unsuspecting troops of Milesios.

Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 

When Milesios found out what was happening around him, it had already been too late. He had been outflanked and surrounded from all sides by Ptolemaic horsemen. Chaos ensued and Milesios was cut down with his men. Our valiant troops suffer no casualties and Milesios' severed head is presented to our men. They cheer. The Galatians so loud and fearfully, the levy spearmen next to them are shocked into silence.

Milesios and his men are completely surrounded


Milesios is killed


See any dead Ptolemaic horsemen? Me neither

Looking at the battle from Antiocheia's walls, Sarpedon had watched with horror as Milesios' severed head was held up for our troops to cheer at. In a fit of rage, he assembled his men and charged out of the city gates. The battle lines are drawn. Timon's army stands on a slight slope, spearmen in the middle, Galatians covering the left flank and the slingers at the back. He keeps his cavalry in reserve. Sarpedon's army has the archers at the front, cavalry at the right and his spearmen in the centre.

Timon Arrhidaeos' army


Sarpedon Syriakos' army

In a tactically questionable move, Sarpedon sends his archers in first to absorb the Ptolemaic javelins. His brave men comply and absorb the javelins well, most of them die before they are able to let loose their arrows.

Javelins rain down on Sarpedon's archers

As both lines meet, Sarpedon sends in his cavalry. His horsemen are much heavier than the Ptolemaic horsemen and as long as they are not pinned down, Timon has to keep his light cavalry a safe distance away. Sarpedon sends his horsemen to attack the Ptolemaic flank where it seems weakest. Only a handful of men guard the left. But these are no ordinary men, they are the pride of Galatia. Mercenary warriors that live for battle. They are expensive, but they do not run. Even as Sarpedon's entire cavalry forces charges into their rank, they don't give away an inch.

Buttnaked, the Galatians hold off Sarpdon's cavalry - three times their number

On the right flank the battle also rages intensely. Timon's Jewish spearmen are veterans from five major battles. Well experienced and with complete confidence in their commander, they bravely hold the line.

The Jewish spearmen hold the line

With the enemy cavalry now embroiled in a hopeless melee, Timon can send in his cavalry. As he charges past the enemy flank, Sarpedon and his guard break off the fight with the Galatians and charge towards Timon. But his men are tired, wounded and outnumbered. Seeing every single one of his loyal guardsmen slaughtered around him, Sarpedon finally attempt to retreat. His horse is exhausted and Sarpedon's heavy armour wears him down. Our light horsemen have no trouble catching up with him and knocking him off his horse. One thrust of the spear and the battle is over. As soon as Sarpedon's death spreads through the enemy ranks, his men run for the hills. They do not get far.

Sarpedon's men are cut down


As is Sarpedon himself

With the Seleucid army utterly destroyed, Timon makes his triumphant entry into the city of Antiocheia, liberating it from its one month period of Seleucid rule.

[Folgore]

261 BCE, autumn

A small Seleucid unit under the command of Ammonios Dahaikos attempted to use the Ptolemaic road in northern Syria to cross over to Edessa. Timon Arrhidaeos gathered a small portion of his army to stop the Seleucid trespassers. Atop a hill, the Seleucid army had drawn up in battle formation, but as Timon's army advanced towards it, they decided it would be better not to attempt to hold their ground and fled the battlefield. Chasing Ammonios from Syria, Timon claims another victory.