Scallabis, Winter 234 BC

Gaius Lapius let the scroll slip down onto the table. It was unthinkable: the death of Manius Julius and the complete destruction of a second Roman army at the hands of the Scythians. And now it was his turn. He hand taken command of the Roman forces at Cordoba from the ailing Lucius Victor and fought his way through to Scallabis, smashing a blocking army led by Gotzon of Brigantium. But like Manius, he had been too confident and Rome’s enemies were preparing a second bloody reverse.



The Julii are punished for their over-confidence for the second time in a year.

A substantial army led by Dunixi of the Lusitani had come to relieve the besieged Scallabis garrison. Each Iberian army was slightly less than half the size of Gaius’ force. Hitherto, the Romans had worked on the assumption that they could defeat enemies twice their number. But recent defeats at the hands of the Scythians had shattered that confidence.

Gaius left his tent and moved to the front lines of his army, deployed for battle. He had a solid force - two legion plus an alae of Spanish allies. Would it be enough? The two Iberian armies approached - the relieving force coming from the north west, the sallying garrison marching more rapidly from the west. The Roman battleline initially faced the relief force, so its western flank had to pivot to meet the sallying army.



Roman javelins and slingshot cause significant casualties on the sallying garrison coming from the west.

The Romans held against the initial assault of the sallying garrison, but were unable to rout it before the relief force struck. Dunixi charged his heavy cavalry into the eastern half of the Roman lines, supported by bull warriors and other stout fighters. Even the Roman principes buckled and Gaius had to commit the triarii in a desperate attempt to shore up the line.



On the east, already it is down to the triarii and the battle has scarcely started.

On the western half of the battleline, Roman steel and determination were gradually prevailing. Elements in the sallying force from Scallabis started to rout, but other parts - the elite Bull warriors and the Iberian general’s bodyguard - were made of sterner stuff.



The tide begins to turn on the western half of the line but is it too late?

Now was the time for Gaius to commit his sole troop of equites. They were ordered to charge the general commanding the Scallabis garrison, who was locked in combat with Roman infantry.



Equites cut down the general leading the sallying garrison.

With the rout of the Scallabis garrison, Gaius felt a surge of hope - could he pull off a victory? His infantry were terribly cut up, but so were the Iberians. The main opposition from the relief force came from two bodies of bull warriors and the heavy cavalry of Duxini’s bodyguard. They were breaking through the Roman east flank - already hastati and some Spanish allies were routing. Gaius brought his escort round to the flank of the bull warriors and ordered a charge.



Everything hangs on the fate of Gaius’s charge - can he break the bull warriors and restore the failing Roman eastern flank?

The praetoria crashed into the bull warriors but the doughty Iberians held. A vicious melee ensued and the weight of Spanish numbers began to tell as Roman cavalry lost its impetus.



The bull warriors defeat the Praetoria.

Gaius hacked and slashed but the situation was becoming hopeless. Soon only six of his Praetoria remained. The only Roman units left effective on the battlefield were the equites and the Balearic slingers. It was over. Faintly, Gaius heard a cheer coming up from the equites who were still fighting over on the western flank.



The equites kill a second Iberian general.

Thought of the fate of Manius Julius pressed into Gaius’s mind. He would not throw his life away this day. He must get out now. Desperately, he spurred his horse away from the bull warriors and road to the equites, leading them off the battlefield, haunted by the screams of the doomed Roman infantry.



The second disaster in a single season: the army of Cordoba is destroyed outside the walls of Scallabis.

At nightfall, Gaius collected what few survivors there were from the battle and began the long march back to Cordoba. When he arrived back, he nervously approached the bedroom of the sick Lucius the Victor - fearful of the chastisement he would receive. Lucius had given Gaius command of his whole army, plus all his retinue. Gaius had come back with the retinue, but without the army. Sheepishly, head bowed, Gaius stood in front of frail Lucius. The old man raised his head, as if with great effort, and peered at Gauis:

”Have you heard?” Lucius rasped. ”Three Iberian generals died in the battle of Scallabis. Their royal line is dead and squabbling nobles compete for the leftovers of their kingdom.”



Gaius, his head still bowed, smiled. So, we won afterall?