Of savage tribes and glorious empires - An Arverni AAR

[Chaotix]

Nice start! And by the way, it's "Aedui", not "Haedui".

[SwissBarbar]

Thanks to everyone

Nice start! And by the way, it's "Aedui", not "Haedui".

Ingame they do, can be spellt in different ways though http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aedui / http://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Haeduer

I like the Haedui ^^ It affects to look more distant from the game, if you know what I mean.

[gamegeek2]

Rawr!

[SwissBarbar]

Of savage tribes and glorious empires

Chapter 1 – Bibracte

Our story begins in the year of 272 BC, when the Arverni and the Haedui prepared for war. Both of them intended to extinguish the other once and for all and claim the rule of Gaul. The league of the Arverni was lead by a family from Gergovia.

These men were warriors beyond compare, and have been trained to fight all their lives long. During the rule of their family, the Arverni have asserted themselves as contenders to the leadership of Gallia.


Their patriarch was a man called Aneirin oi Lugos.

For those ages he was a quite old man, and though he actually was of languorous character, he knew his duties and never rested when his people needed him. Not only was he a gifted leader, and knew how to lead an army to victory, but also he knew how to manage a city and understood the complicated ways of Celtic politics. After all those years of war, he had turned into a stern and serious man. Although the favourite and most reputable soldiers of the Gauls were their cavalrymen, Aneirin preferred to lead infantry. When he lead an army of infantry, no one would like to be in his enemy’s shoes.


Adcobrovatos oi Lugos was the eldest son of Aneirin, and with that heir to the leadership of the Arverni.

Like his father, he was very interested in politics, and he was quite talented. Very quickly he understood all finesse of leadership and management, though he was not known to be the foxiest man alive. After all he was a chancer, who – be it by luck or calculation – took many risks in his life, and mostly romped through. Adcobrovatos was given the governorship over Vesontio, so he was supervisor and reference person to the tribes of the Sequani and Treveri.


The youngest son of Aneirin was Belenos oi Lugos.

Though he was young, he was known as a very brave warrior. He intended to trek with the Osi and bring himself into the service of the Hellenic kingdoms, like many other Celts. Just when he was ready to leave, war was brought upon the Arverni, and he had to stay and defend his people. At very young age, he was given the rule over Viennos, and with that over the tribe Segusiavi. He was known as a harsh governor. For him, there’s nothing like law and order.

The homeland of the Arverni had been entrusted to Amminos oi Lugos’ care.

The middle son of the patriarch was very popular among his folk. He was open handed, paid his warriors well and threw many feasts for his people. Also he was a political animal, and was known to be intelligent and charismatic. All his loyalty was directed at his people.

War was near, it was only a question of time when the Haedui marched into the Arverni’s lands. So the Arverni decided to prepare. The first step was of diplomatic nature. Spies reported, that the Haedui intended to ask the Romanii for help. This warmongering people in the south was in possession of a very strong military juggernaut. But still the Gauls were known as even more fearsome as the Romans, even among the Romanii themselves. So the last thing that the Celts needed, was a Roman victory in battle against strong Celtic tribes. The Celts could not afford, that the Romans lost their fear to attack them, when the Celts fought themselves and weakened each other. Of course the stupid Haedui would never come to such deep strategic considerations. So the Arverni decided to ensure a peace with the Romans, so they could not interfere into Celtic matters. And so it happened that in the summer of 272 BC the Romans unwillingly, and under threat of violence, signed a peace treaty and granted trade rights.

Meanwhile the second step of war preparation had been started. Aneirin oi Lugos ordered all tribes, that were under his command, to send him troops. The patriarch himself camped between Vesontio and Viennos with his soldiers. He had with him 1’000 Leuce Epos, who formed the cavalry of most Celtic tribes at that time. The infantry core consisted of over 2’000 Botroas, who were the basic medium infantry of southern Briton and Cisalpine Gaul and of over 4’000 Gaeroas, the file warriors of the tribes of Gaul and Britain. 1’200 Iaosatae supported them with their slings. Aneirin also formed a strong body of men around him, his bodyguards, the Brihentin.

Arverni Bataroas

From Gergovia his son sent him 2’000 Leuce Epos, over 4’000 Bataroas, swordfighters, who formed the heavy infantry in most Gallic armies, and another 1’200 Iaosatae. The Segusiavi sent 2'000 Leuce Epos, over 4’000 Kluddacorii, who were trained from the regions near the Alps, and 1’200 Iaosatae. The tribes of the Sequani and Treveri contributed 1’000 Leuce Epos and over 6’000 Bataroas.

So when the armies had been united, Aneirin had gathered over 6’000 cavalrymen, over 20’000 infantrymen, 3’600 slingers and his bodyguards. All in all he could array over 30’000 brave warriors. And not one moment too early.

Just when the last warriors arrived, the Haedui laid siege onto Gergovia.

Amminos oi Lugos, governor of Gergovia let his father know, that he could manage this attack with his garrison, so Aneirin decided to return the favour, and march towards Bibracte. Bibracte was the capital city of the Haedui, and one of the biggest cities in all of Gaul. About 60’000 people lived there, and the city was defended by a great Briganavallo – a Celtic city wall. Also, with its Danoch, its marked, Bibracte was the Celtic centre of commerce, and made the Haedui very rich.

When autumn began, the Arverni formed a ring of siege around Bibracte.

Immediately the Haedui sent their armies to fight their opponents back. 3 members of the haeduian royal family lead two armies – one from the city itself, the other from the countryside - of all in all almost 30’000 men.

Haedui Brihentin

The Arverni hid a great part of their army in the woods, while one of the opponents armies took position on a hill in front of the forest, while the other part of their army arrayed in the woods behind this hill.

The Arverni decided to take the hill, as long as the enemy’s armies are not unified, dashed off the woods and ran trough the rain towards the Haedui. The heavy infantry climbed straight up the hill, while the slingers and the lighter infantry formed the left, the cavalry the right flank. When the great core of infantry threw their spears against the Haedui, and the slingers – protected by the light infantry – had reached the hill and formed up at the right flank of the enemy, the first light infantry of the Haedui began to rout. At this moment, Aneirin sent his cavalry into battle and crushed the enemy quickly.

All this happened in a breathtaking speed. The Haedui could not even form their battle lines, and before they knew what was happening there, the hill was taken, the haedui family member dead, and the second army of the Haedui had to climb up the hill.

It was a slaughter. All Family Members of the Haedui fell to the Arverni’s blades. Not many Haedui soldiers survived that day, they’ve been chased after the whole day. But also the Arverni lost about 10’000 men. After all the Haedui were Celts too, a fact that declared them to be fearsome and skilled warriors.

After this victory, the city of Bibracte opened the gates, after the Arverni promised not to harm the inhabitants. Aneirin sent many of his soldiers home, where they could pass the winter. He only kept somewhat over 9’000 men in Bibracte itself, so he could defend it in a case of emergency.

Bibracte was taken. But the Haedui still were strong and were not to be underestimated. Gergovia still was under siege and maybe the Haedui sought help from another Celtic tribes or even redoubtable Germans. This winter was about to become a very rough one.

Known territory in winter 272 BC

[gamegeek2]

NO! READ THE AEDUI AAR! NOOOOOOOO!

[SwissBarbar]

Hehe, the Aedui are being slaughtered in this thread !!!

[Mjolnir]

Epic battle, very nice.

More screenshots of future battles please.

[SwissBarbar]

Thanks. Yes, i will post more screenshots ^^ This battle was fought by a great amount of soldiers, but ended very quickly, so there was no occasion to take many great shots. And after all it was a very long chapter, so i shortened it. Next time there will be more of battle, and less of characters ;-)

[Olaf Blackeyes]

NO! READ THE AEDUI AAR! NOOOOOOOO!

LOLZ!!!! Now you know how i feel when my Sweboz get pwned.

[Kuningaz]

Crush those (H)Aedui weaklings