I'm putting on weekend at the Wargames Holiday Centre, in late June, and have been rehearsing some of the games I intend to run there. Chareronea 86BC is one of my favourite battles, and last night Dr. Simon, Ian, Jay and a new visitor, Steve, fought it to a bloody (and somewhat unexpected) conclusion, using the rules I am developing.
Below are the Pontic host; General Archelaus leads his xystophoroi bodyguard and Scythian heavies forward, whilst scythed chariots and archers screen the Brazen Shields and Slave phalanx.
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Below, the Roman lne is drawn up, below the acropolis of Chaeronea.
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Both sides advanced and battle was joined along the length of the line. The greek allied cavalry on the Roman left did a sterling job throughout the game, resisting and eventually defeating twice their number of superior-quality Pontic cavalry.
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Below, the pert buttocks of the Galatian garrison of Mons Thurium; these were surprised and destroyed by an attack from the rear!
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The Romans advanced quickly, but were pushed back by the enemy phalanx. On the Pontic left, their horse archers and thureophoroi, units which have never previously so much as scratched a Latin, managed to kill several cohorts and the course of the battle began to turn against the Romans.
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Eventually Pontic pressure all along the line told, and the Romans broke. It was a close-run thing, though, as by this time, much of the Pontic phalanx was, itself, ready to break. A little more Roman luck might have seen an entirely different result. This re-fight was the best ever showing for the Pontics, who have previously been very roughly handled by the Romans.
If you'd like a chance to play this game (amongst others), please drop Mark Freeth at the Wargames Holiday Centre a line.
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