The Battle of Samarobriva
We needed to get rid of the Britons. Their presence so close to our lands is threatening. The Britons belong on their Island. Brittania is huge and the proportions of a continent, so I heard. Why do they need land on our part of the world? They are as dangerous and as hungry for land and power as the Romans.
So I was pleased to learn that the Council of Chieftains agreed with me on this matter.
The garrison of Samarobriva wasn't very strong. But I suspected the Britons to try to recapture the settlement, so I choose to take a rather large force with me.
Since we were marching to the unknown, I decided to take a unit of holy warriors with me, to keep morale high.
And thus, we besieged Samarobriva. The settlement would be ours soon.
Overconfident. Too proud. Stupid. That was how described myself when a relieve force of almost 900 Britons attacked us. I cursed myself for not having scouted the area before entering enemy territory.
Things were looking bad. We were seriously outnumbered and the Britons fielded several units of their feared chariots. So I decided to hide my troops in the woods.
I positioned my four units of Warband around the holy druid warriors. I put myself in the rear. The light cavalry was hiding a bit further in the wood and I hoped my proud warriors could hold the line long enough so my cavalry would have a chance to charge those damn Britons in the rear.
Meanwhile, I would disturb the chariot archers, making myself and my courageous bodyguards their primary target.
Alas. Things didn't go according to plan.
The Britons formed a large front and entered the woods. Their chariots came nearby at our left flank. Thankfully most of their arrow missed their targets. The Britons came closer. I ordered my druids to chant and my warriors started to produce their feared war cries.
But the chariots came near and the holy warriors seemed an easy target for them. So I charged towards them. Those cowardly skirmishers ran away. My maneuver succeeded and the chariots attention was focused on me, still running in the woods. A fast moving target, covered by trees wasn't easy to touch, so I enjoyed them wasting their ammo on me and my loyal bodyguards.
But my actions were foolish! Busy with my own participation in the battle, I didn't pay attention to my army. The large front accidentally stumbled on my cavalry!
No more surprise attacks now. Meanwhile the bulk of their army attacked my four infantry units who were without cavalry support now.
So I turned and we made our horses run like they had never run before and we charged the Briton infantry.
Meanwhile my light cavalry was getting annihilated.
I started to yell, ordering them back. Back here you fools! Come help us out.
As you know, plans made before a battle are useless once the chaos of the actual fighting takes place. In those dark woods, the chaos was total. It was almost impossible to recognize friend or foe.
I repeatedly charged the enemy. Retreat, charge, over and over again. The pathetic remnants of my light cavarly did the same. The holy druids, almost exterminated, kept singing. Their courage strengthened our warriors. They fought like Gods. I saw several of them, heavily wounded. A normal man would have died from such wounds, but our warriors kept fighting. They made me proud.
It would be a good day to die. Totally outnumbered and surrounded, we kept fighting. Our dead would be a good dead. We would die as heroes!
But than, the Britons started to run!
The Gods must be with us, fellow Chieftains! The Britons started to run! I looked around me, my mind still clouded by the burning rage of the battle. And I saw the corpses. They were everywhere. And they were Briton!
I chased those cowardly Britons with my bodyguards and the remnants of my light cavalry.
Meanwhile, our druids kept chanting. A man has to admire the courage of these men. Facing death, cruelty, attrocity, they just kept singing to our Gods.
Thanks to these heroes and our proud warriors, we obtained this heroic victory, which will be remembered until the end of times.
I am proud that I was there. And allthough history will describe it as an heroic achievement of the Head Chieftain Brennus, the true heroes were the druids. With warriors like that, we don't need to fear any adversary. With such men in our ranks, we, the Gauls, are invincible!
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