350pt game on a 5x3 foot table



350pt game on a 5x3 foot table using DBMM V2

Seleucid civil war.

Seleucus as first ruler of the Seleucid Empire was growing old and knew his son Antiochus would soon have to take the rains of power. However other knew this as well and in the west some of them decided that they would be the new power in the empire and so they gathered there forces and rebelled. I assembled my loyal forces and marched to confront them before they could get any more support from my enemies.

The battle took place at the camping ground of the rebels, with a small river to there back and 2 marshes either side of there centre [placed by me] and a gentle hill on my left flank [placed my the rebels, they also tried for a large area of rocky ground but it would not fit] see below. This was how I wanted the battle area to be like as I had lots of light troops and a big phalanx.

[pic]

I ended up deploying first while the rebels were still getting out of camp, it was early morning and the ground was muddy with a heavy overcast.

My forces were based on a 282bc force - Seleucus CiC with the companions and Agema [5 Kn(F)w]; Tarentines [2 Lh(O)]; Cretans [4 Ps(O)] [higest die]

Antiochus [my son] and the Argraspids [4Pk(S) including Sub gen]; Phalangites [24 Pk(O)]; Tribesmen [6 Irr Ps(O)]

Margos [Kn(F)w]; line cavalry [2 Cv(O)]; peltasts [2 Ax(O)]; Asiastic’s [4 Irr Lh(O) 2 Irr Ps(O) 2 Irr Hd(O)]; Skythian [1 irr Lh(F)]; Elephant’s [1Irr El(O)] [lowest die]

Camp baggage wagons [6 Irr Bg(I)]

An army of 7,000 pike; 2,500 light foot; 1,000 elite horse; 1,500 other horse; 2,000 other foot = 13,000 men

The rebels using a 240bc force also had a 3 command army with there CiC (high Die) [Kn(F)w] on there left with – 3 Lh(F); 2 Kn(F)w; 2 El(O); 2 Ps(S); 2 Ps(O); 1 Kn(F) [line]. One sub [Pk(S) ]in the centre with – 8 Pk(S); 8 Pk(O); 4 Wb(S); 6 Ps(O). the other sub (low die) [Kn(F)w] with 1 Kn(F)w & 1 Kn(F) [line]; 2 Ax(S); 5 Ax(S) Thracians; 5 Ps(S)

An army of 4,000 pike; 1,500 elite horse; 500 light horse; 1,000 Galatians; 4,500 light foot = 12,000 men.

So my army was slightly bigger with more pike but not as good in light troops as I had hoped, I did have a small advantage in horse though.

My plan was to deploy my pike command in front with the other 2 layered behind to be able to move to the flank best suited for what they had. I was to be the main strike force with the pikes holding the enemy centre while Margo protected the other flank.

Both sides were ready for battle by 7am on a spring day, the ground was still heavy and muddy underfoot from the night drew and there was the change of rain during the day.

I advanced first with my pikes to give space for the other 2 commands to flow outwards. I send myself to my left to threaten all those light troops with my elite horse and hopefully hit his Galatians and pikes in the flank. Margos moved right to cover that flank.

My flanking move pulled the Rebels right flank horse further from there centre but still behind the marsh while his lights tried to stay in the marsh. In the centre our respective light troops engaged in skirmishing.

In the end I won that skirmish but lost a pike first before his lights were forced back into his pike, mine fighting right in front of my pikes were pushed right through. [one advantage of double basing your pikes as both of us did]. With the lights mostly out of the way our centres started to clash from my left first with 2 pike blokes hitting his Galatians. By now my strike command had swung back to my side of the marsh and destroyed a couple of javelinmen who were not in the marsh and the using the Cretans and a couple of knights to cover the marsh Seleucus went after the lights and Galatians covering the rebels pike flank.

The battle on this flank eventually took out the Galatians the Thurephoroi and some of the Thrachians bring that command to disheartened. In the push of pike we both gained and lost but they lost a pike line, to make up for the one I had lost earlier to his lights.

Over on my right my holding command had had a back and forth elephant battle as mine and one of his with various support at different times pushed back and forth until I managed to get a light unit onto its flank as well. With that Elephant gone a hole opened up which allowed my light infantry on that flank to attack his horse archers and once I managed to get my general onto there flank that was the end of 2 off them. The rebels now managed to flank my general while I had there CiC in the rear. He managed to survive but I did not. However both of our commands were now disheartened as well as his other flank command.

Rebel loses were 20% while mine were only 10% so a 14 – 11 win for the true rulers of the empire.

A good battle showing the staying power of pikes and the importance of covering there flanks and using a skirmish screen.

My plan worked with a few small differences.

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