Battle Reports

[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.