Favourite Historical battle

**Quintus.JC** · 01-09-2008, 18:43

What's everyone's favourite historical battles?

**Monsieur Alphonse** · 01-09-2008, 19:01

Cannae

**mrdun** · 01-09-2008, 19:56

Yes, Cannae makes me wonder at the stupidity of Romans, a bad plan is one that cannot be altered an all. Some tacticts by Hannibal there.

**Quintus.JC** · 01-10-2008, 18:24

Hannibal's victory at Cannae was almost unbelievable.
Brief discription of the battle of Cannae.August 2 216 BC:

After losing the battle at Trasimene and Trebia The Roman brought with them the biggest army yet-85,000 men, Hannibal had 50,000. The Roman were so confident of victory. Trusting in their numbers, they let their central infantry push back the thin Punic infantry line. As Hannibal intended, this line bent rather than broke, enveloping the enemy, while the superior Carthaginian cavalry, routing the Roman cavalry, circle round to attack from the rear. Packed so tightly that they could not fight, some Romans then fled but many more were cut down. Roman losses reputedly approached 70,000 that day. a total annilhation not matched till the Teutoburger Wald disaster in 9 A.D

why didn't the game have Cannae as a historical battle?

**Quintus.JC** · 01-10-2008, 18:59

One of my favourite historical battles is the Battle of Pharsalus. Caesar’s numerically inferior army defeated Pompey’s army who had twice as much soldier as Caesar had.
Brief description. August 9, 48 BC:
After conceding Rome to Caesar, Pompey and his Optimates fled to Greece, knowing Caesar will have to come after them and force him to fight away from his base. After several small skirmishes the deciding battle took place in Thessaly on 6 June 48 BC at Pharsalus. It was probably the largest battle ever fought between the Romans; Pompey had 60,000 troops and was strong in cavalry, but most of his infantry were out of condition. In fact Pompey were so confident of his victory, the night before the battle he and his senior officers were so confident they’d win the battle they sat up most of the night arguing about how they would share all Caesar’s wealth-who would get which of Caesar’s villas; who would get his best farms and olive trees. They didn’t think Caesar stood a chance, they were wrong.

Caesar was an expert on warfare. He’d carefully studied Pompey’s usual tactics.

Every time Pompey moved his infantry forward, Caesar’s troops were there, waiting for him. Whatever Pompey tried to do, Caesar anticipated him. Caesar had fewer men but all were skilled, hardened veterans from Gaul. The brilliant discipline of Caesar’s legionaries, who advanced with their pila as pikes, routed Pompey’s superior cavalry. By using their cavalry to attack the flank. Caesar’s forces were victorious. More than 6,000 of Pompey’s force were slaughtered and 25,000 captured. That’s more than Caesar’s whole army!

After the battle Pompey fled to Egypt

and was killed. Caesar would later cleanse the empire of Optimates forces and sees the beginning of an end for the Roman republic.

**Barbarian** · 01-10-2008, 20:14

Siege of Sparta is pretty impressive. Usually ends up with hundreds of pikemen stabbing each other in the streets of burning city.

And from history: Carrhae. Surprising defeat for romans, who's legions couldn't adept for fighting in desert region and who's tactics were useless against fast moving missile cavalry.

**Quintus.JC** · 01-20-2008, 15:25

The Chinese seems to love fire attacks, as demonstrated in the Battle of Yiling and the Battle of Chi Bi. does anyone know if the same method is used ever in the West?