Patrician Romans v/s Early Imperial Romans (with Sarmatian Allies)
The Patricians took the field against the might of Early Imperial Rome, led by the Emperor Trajan himself. The Patricians, still tentative after several recent defeats, were initially lacking in aggression and were forced to deploy first. Trajan sat back, with a warm and honeyed wine, and enjoyed the spectacle of his opponent having to put everything out on the battlefield. The Early Imperials had chosen to invade along the shores of the Mediterranean, and the Patricians formed up with the great sea to their right. Two low hills were situated on either flank of the Patrician deployment area, with a substantial farmstead protecting their right rear. The battlefield in front was very open, so the Patrician commander deployed his three commands across the width of the battlefield.
On the right, not far in from the sea, and straddling one of the low hills, was the right wing, under the command of the C in C himself. It consisted of 8 elements of Germanic foederati Wb(S) in double rank, followed closely by 4 elements of Germanic Kn(F) in line. Guarding the right flank, near the beach, were 2 elements of Alan foederati, Irr LH(S), and 2 elements of equites Reg Cv(O). The centre, in the valley between the two hills, was made up of the hard men of the Patrician force, 8 elements of legionaries Bd(O), with 6 elements of Bw(O) legionary archer support as a second rank. Anchoring each end of the legionary line were 4 elements of Auxilia Palatina Ax(S), 2 on each end, supported by archers. The left wing was given to the 3rd command, again consisting of foederati Wb(S) and Kn(F), supported on the far left by 3 elements of Equites Illyrcani LH(O) and single elements of equites Cv(O) and upgraded equites Kn(F). The army reserve was a force of 4 elements of Auxilia(I), stationed to the rear of the centre command.
Once the Patricians had deployed Trajan then took the field, and it became obvious why he had invaded along the coast ? naval units appeared close to shore on the EIR left, adjacent to a fortified camp set up on the beach. Two EIR commands were then seen by the Patricians to methodically take up their stations. Trajan anchored his left on the camp with one command, consisting of LH(O), Cv(O), Ax(S) and Bd(O), forming up in double line, auxilia out in front and legionaries in support with cavalry on the wing. The second command was of similar composition, though several cataphracti and Wb(F) were included for strike power. Three elements of Art(F) were also placed behind the second command?s line of auxilia. Trajan had not deployed straight across the battlefield, but instead curved his front so that the EIR commands formed a crescent, the left on the camp and the right anchored on the rear battlefield edge. It was obvious that a third EIR command was missing, either flank marching or held in reserve.
The battle began when the Patricians moved forward, their commander sensing an opportunity if the enemy flank march was tardy. The warband and Germanic cavalry rolled down off the hill on the Patrician right, moving towards the EIR command next to the fortified camp. The legionaries and their supports in the centre marched forward, with the third command also leaving the advantage of their hill and coming down in line with the other two commands. The Germanic cavalry of the 1st command moved through the warband to threaten the enemy Auxilia.
Trajan responded by detaching several of his galleys to sail down the coastline and move deep into the Patrician deployment area. The battle was joined early, as Trajan, in command of the units near the camp, realised his auxilia were vulnerable to the Kn(F) and charged first, with his cavalry engaging the Patrician horse and the auxilia hitting the Germanic knights. The fighting was fierce and, in the first round the EIR front held despite losing several light cavalry elements.
While the battle raged on the Patrician right, the centre and left commands continued to move forward, the centre command coming under fire from the ballistae in carts, losing an Auxilia Palatina and its supporting archer in the process. The critical arrival of the enemy off table command was sought by Trajan but to no avail!
The Patrician right now surged further forward, with the Kn(F) taking out a number of Ax(S) in the next turn, as well as some of the EIR medium cavalry. Trajan?s left was now in some trouble, and the legionaries moved up to begin plugging some gaps. The detached galleys landed deep behind the Patrician line and disembarked elite marines, who began to move towards the abandoned farmstead, with an eye to the Patrician baggage sitting unprotected further across the rear centre of the battlefield.
The Patrician left now swung around to conform to the crescent shape of the enemy, and the EIR commander on the right flank pushed his cavalry forward to slow down the Patrician advance.
The battle was now joined in the centre, with the Patrician legionaries and Auxilia Palatina crashing into the Ax(S) of the enemy. On the Patrician right the Alan LH(S) were working their way around the vulnerable and crumbling flank of Trajan?s command, while the Wb(S) surged impetuously into any gaps they could see to engage EIR Bd(O). In the mayhem on the Patrician right, some great work was done by desperate auxilia and psiloi under Trajan?s command, who hit and destroyed elements of Germanic knights in the flanks as they pushed through the collapsing lines of Ax(S) and legionaries, but by now Trajan was trying to inspire a disheartened command.
All eyes were turned towards the flank march of the Sarmatian allies, but still they refused to appear ? Trajan just had to try and hold on! The EIR cataphracti now surged forward into the Patrician left, as did the Wb(F) but, despite doing some damage to the Germanic Kn(F), the EIR right flank was also now being ground down. Trajan recalled the marines further down the coast back to the ships, not having the PIPs to keep them moving towards the enemy baggage now that the command was disheartened. Trajan kept searching his far right far flank for any sign of the Sarmatians - but still they refused to arrive!
The critical moment came when Trajan?s command broke, losing too many Ax(S) and Bd(O), as well as cavalry. Trajan himself was hit by warband and LH but, despite being completely surrounded fought off the attackers heroically, forcing them to recoil. On the EIR right the cataphracti and warband were wiped out, leaving this command briefly disheartened then broken.
Still no sign of the Sarmatians! They had let Trajan down completely, especially considering this command included a general and 8 elements of Irr Kn(F)!! How Trajan could have used them! Alas ? the vagaries of war.
Game over.
May thanks to the dragonfan_79 for the chance to let the Patricians gain revenge for the drubbings they had received in the last few games.
