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The Scenario
The basis for this battle was that this was a Roman expeditionary force in advance of an invasion of
Greece and the two local city states had mobilised to repel them.
In reality, I had just finished painting the legionnaires and auxiliary infantry and wanted to give them a
try out against some suitable opposition and felt that the combination of Corinthians and Megarans
might be about right.
I set the battle up as a straight forward encounter, although the Romans did have a marching camp
which I had finished about month earlier.
The Pitch
A fairly bland and open battlefield with the only hindrances to movement being the woods and a
couple of crags on the left hand edge. The remaining hills were classed as low offering some
bonuses to those on top. The Roman marching camp is on the near edge towards the centre.
The Teams
The Roman force was led by Ludicrus Joblus. He commanded a
Corps of auxiliary cavalry and infantry and was supported by a
second Corps formed of part of the Legio IV Flavia. The total
army was 4,700 strong.
Ludicrus had three Divisions in his Corps. He commanded the
first which contained his own guard and two alae (V and XII). His
second Division was the auxiliary cohort I Mil Eq and the third
Division cohort II Mil along with the field engineers.
The second Corps was a single Division of the Legio IV Flavia
commanded by their tribune. This consisted of 1,400
legionnaires (including some ready to face Dacians) and 150
auxiliary archers.
The Greek Alliance was led by the Corinthians. They were assisted by
the Megarans who were classed as a willing allied army. The combined
alliance came to 8,400 men.
Periander commanded the Corinthians in a single Corps of four
Divisions. The first three Divisions each had 1,200 hoplites supported by
a mix of peltasts and skirmishers. The hoplites were a mix of militia and
raw quality with light or no armour. Only Periander’s guard and some of
the peltasts were of any real merit. The fourth Division comprised some
volunteer peltasts, the cavalry and a few slingers. None were of any
good quality.
The Megaran Army consisted of two Divisions. Both contained 1,200
hoplites (again a mix of militia and raw with limited armour). The
Strategos had a small elite guard and the hoplites were supported by a
few peltasts and skirmishers.
For more details on the compositions of both forces visit the armies page on this site.
The Deployments
Corinthians
Megarans
Legio
IV
Auxiliary Cohorts
Cavalry
The Tactics
Ludicrus had lined up his force with his cavalry on the right and
the legionnaires in the centre flanked by the auxiliaries. He had
assumed that the Greeks would form off to his left on the plain
and head for the hills. This would have given his cavalry room
to sweep round their flank. Seeing the hoplites lined up tight
against the wood he changed his mind.
The legionnaires would advance to the front of the camp and
hold. The auxiliaries would still form up on their flanks. He
would lead the cavalry around the back of the camp and
appear on the now open left wing.
The infantry would then advance whilst the cavalry would take
out the Greek light troops on their wing and then be in position
to annoy the enemy rear as the infantry engaged.
The combination of heavy infantry to the front and cavalry to
the rear he considered would be enough to win the day.
Periander decided to adopt a Theban tactic and
advance on echelon.
He would lead off on the right with his light foot
moving ahead to get round the enemy flank. The
Megarans would hold back so their flank sat on the
wood to prevent the Roman cavalry from getting
behind them.
This would allow his hoplites to gang up on the lesser
number of Roman foot in turn and roll them up from
the flank.
The Order of Battle
In my rules, each Corps takes its turn in being active and doing something. The order in which they become
active is determined by a dice roll at the start of the battle. This sequence is set out below and may help to
explain the battle report slides. Each Division normally occupies a single hex on the battlefield.
C1 – Legio IV Flavia (1 Division)
C2 - The Corinthians (4 Divisions: the first 3 being the hoplites and the fourth the light foot and horse)
C3 - The Roman cavalry and auxiliaries (3 Divisions: the first being the cavalry and the others the auxiliary
infantry)
C4 - The Megarans (2 Divisions)
Each Corps commander is in the first Division in their Corps. All photographs are taken from the Roman edge.
P1/C1
The vexillatio of the Legio IV Flavia advanced forward of their marching camp.
P1/C2
The Corinthian army advanced with their skirmishers to the front.
P1/C3
The Roman auxiliary cohorts moved forward to support the legionnaires whilst their cavalry moved behind the marching camp
towards the left flank.
P1/C4
The Megaran army advanced in line with the Corinthians.
P2/C1
The Legionnaires moved forward in front of their marching camp. The auxiliary archers were to the front and the extra heavy
infantry in anti-Dacian armour were to the rear.
P2/C2
The two right flank Divisions of the Corinthian army continued to advance whilst the Divisions in the centre held position to
allow the echelon to develop.
P2/C3
The Roman cavalry were delayed as they negotiated the camp entrance whilst the auxiliary cohorts took up position on the
flanks of the legionnaires.
P2/C4
The Megarans held position in line with the left flank Divisions of the Corinthians.
P3/C1
As the cavalry had not appeared on the flank, the legionnaires held their position with the auxiliary infantry now in close
support.
P3/C2
The whole of the Corinthian army advanced. Their slingers, skirmishing ahead of their main bodies, came in range of the
Romans and opened fire causing a few casualties amongst the archers escorting the legionnaires.
P3/C3
The Roman cavalry advanced on to the low hill whilst the auxiliary infantry held position next to the legionnaires.
P3/C4
The Megaran army advanced to stay in line with the Corinthian left flank.
P4/C1
Seeing their cavalry now on the left flank, the legionnaires re-commenced their advance with the archers in front returning fire
on the Corinthian skirmishers.
P4/C2
The Corinthian army continued to advance. The two central Divisions lined up to face the legionnaires and tried to soften them
up with some javelin fire. Meanwhile, the light Division on their extreme right sent its skirmishers ahead to shoot at the Roman
cavalry.
P4/C3
The Roman auxiliary cohorts marched forward to protect the flanks of the legionnaires. Cohort I (on the legionnaires’ left) were
able to throw javelins at the adjacent Corinthian infantry. The Roman cavalry charged the Corinthian light Division fully
expecting to break them at the first attempt. Surprisingly, they didn’t.
P4/C4
The Megaran army continued to advance and their skirmishers and peltasts were now in range to throw javelins at Cohort II on
the Roman right flank.
P5/C1
The Roman legionnaires were in good spirit and the Tribune in command decided to attack the hoplites threatening his flank. He
led the three cohorts into them but sensibly deployed the half cohort of extra heavy infantry and the archers to face the other
threatening block of hoplites. He hoped to break the hoplites at first charge but the gods were not on his side and the hoplites
held their ground.
P5/C2
With both his light troops and second hoplite Division holding their own against the initial Roman attacks, the Corinthian
Strategos decided to commit the rest of his army. His own Division charged Cohort I and his third hoplite Division charged the
legionnaires. The flank guard of legionnaires were sufficient to hold up the new attack whilst their colleagues focussed on their
current opponents and the Roman cavalry finally destroyed the Corinthian light troops.
P5/C3
On the right flank, Cohort II pulled back to form a more secure perimeter but continued to throw javelins at the Megarans.
Cohort I continued in melee with the Corinthian Strategos’ Division. And having seen off the Corinthian light troops, Ludicrus led
his cavalry forward so they could support the infantry with javelin fire into the rear and flanks of the Greeks in melee.
P5/C4
The Megaran commander also decided this was the time to attack and led his better troops in a charge on Cohort I. His second
Division moved forward to support him.
P6/C1
The tribune in charge of the Legio IV Flavia decided to re-set his Units. He put two full cohorts into action against the
numerically stronger but poorer quality third Corinthian Division. This left him one cohort supported by the extra heavy infantry
to try to finish off the remains of the second Corinthian Division (which they did). The auxiliary archers had been destroyed in
the previous round. Despite taking heavy casualties and being outnumbered, the legionnaires were holding their own and
cutting down hoplites vigorously.
P6/C2
With two of his Divisions completed destroyed and the other two losing men rapidly, the Corinthian Strategos became
concerned and was in danger of being surrounded. Consequently, he ordered a withdrawal. The only route out for his Division
was towards the Roman camp but his other remaining hoplite Division fell back nervously towards their own baggage.
P6/C3
Seeing the Corinthians pull back, Ludicrus sensed he had to push on to keep the advantage. He closed up with his cavalry on the
Corinthian Strategos’ Division and also ordered Cohort I to turn to face them. Both Divisions then pelted the Corinthians with
javelins. Meanwhile Cohort II, on the Roman right flank, continued to battle away with twice their own number of Megarans but
were beginning to suffer.
P6/C4
Despite his own Division finishing off their opposing cohort, the Megaran Strategos was also becoming concerned and wanted
to form a stronger line. So he ordered his own Division to retire to line up between the two other hoplite Divisions.
P7/C1
With both opposing Divisions dealt with, the tribune re-grouped his remaining legionnaires and faced up to the hoplites. Being
wary they did not close to combat with what appeared to numerically stronger opposition.
P7/C2
With no friends advancing and being pressured by Roman javelins, the Corinthian Strategos considered the situation was
becoming poor and ordered a general retreat. His own Division moved back in good order away from the Romans to form a line
with the Megarans, but his only other Division broke and ran for home.
P7/C3
Eager to press home his advantage, Ludicrus charged with the cavalry into the sole remaining Corinthian Division. It was a bit of
a rash decision and the hoplites caused heavy casualties amongst the cavalry but the attack achieved its key aim and the
Corinthian Strategos and his guard were destroyed. Cohort I also advanced and now targeted the Megarans with their javelins.
Meanwhile the field engineers (all that remained of the third Division) gratefully fell back behind their colleagues.
P7/C4
Despite the losses around them, the Megraran morale was sufficient for them to hold their ground but not enough for them to
attack.
P8/C1
The legionnaires turned to face the Megarans and offer encouragement to their auxiliaries but were too wary, despite the
routing Corinthians, to charge larger numbers.
P8/C2
With the loss of their Strategos, the situation for the Corinthians became dire and the retreat continued with the first Division
falling back in good order (bottom right in photograph) whilst the other remaining Division continued to rout (top left in
photograph).
P8/C3
The Roman cavalry and auxiliaries held their position but continued to throw javelins at their nearest opponents.
P8/C4
The Megaran Strategos became more concerned with the poor situation and pulled both of his Divisions back out of range of
the Roman javelins.
P9/Early
Period 9 started with the legionnaires continuing to hold their ground but not willing to attack. The Corinthian morale continued
to reduce and their one remaining Division broke and ran for home (right of photograph).
P9/Late
As the Corinthians folded, Ludicrus ordered his auxiliaries and cavalry to close up and concentrate their missile fire on the
Megarans. The Megarans nerve still held and they stood their ground.
P10
In Period 10, the Romans closed in around the Megarans whilst the Corinthians continued to rout.
The End
The situation continued in that manner for several periods, until weakened by missile fire the second Megaran Division fell back.
Ludicrus took the chance and charged with the cavalry. The Megarans put up a token resistance but were swiftly broken. Left
stranded, the final Megaran Division decided to withdraw leaving the field for the Romans.
The Conclusions
A first victory for the Romans, but they seemed to make heavy work of it and suffered substantial damage
themselves. The failure of the two initial charges to break their opponents immediately was largely down to
very poor dice rolls and the Romans continued to roll badly throughout the battle. Had these initial charges
been more ferocious the battle may have been decided a lot sooner. Despite this the legionnaires performed
well seeing off twice their own number and the auxiliaries fared well too against larger opposition blocks.
The Greeks nearly pulled it off when the Strategos took the opportunity to charge. A few more well equipped
and trained hoplites may have turned the battle at that point.
As it was the lack of quality amongst the Greek infantry and with no real cavalry force they were unable to use
their higher numbers to surround and overwhelm the smaller Roman force.