Phalanxes are Coming

A long-term project is to re-fight the struggles between Alexander the Great’s Successors, including Rome’s eventual conquest of the Greek East. Mark Backhouse is working on this supplement that will cover the early part of this period, but it’s not likely available until later this year. In the meantime, I thought getting experience handling a phalanx-based army would be helpful.

Chaeronea 86BC

The basic rules of Strength and Honour include one such engagement, Sulla’s victory over Mithridates’ army at Chaeronea 86BC. In this battle, the Pontic army led by Archelaus deployed four phalanx bases, forming the core Mithridatic force against Sulla’s five legions supported by their allies.

Like most ancient battles, very little is known of the order of battle, and the reports of the fight itself need to be clarified over the sequence of events. However, we have two primary sources. Appian and Plutarch provide a reasonable commentary on the battle., In addition, there are modern interpretations of Chaeronea in Philip Matyszak's book ‘Mithradates the Great’ and in Adrienne Mayor’s’.‘Poison King'.

Reconstructing the BattleAs I wanted to test out the strengths and weaknesses of the phalanx army, I decided to re-fight the battle as close as possible to the original. Therefore, I changed the Strength and Honour scenario’s deployment. I moved the river from behind the Pontic forces to the Roman right flank, but it would have little on the battle itself.

Matyszak’s reconstruction

1. The battle opens on his left flank; Murena, Sulla’s flank commander, attacked the Pontic right wing.
2. The Pontic chariots charged the Roman legions in the centre of the Sulla line. The chariots' failure led to a general Roman advance.
3. The phalanxes pinned the legion, a typical Hellenistic tactic, and the action moved to the wings.
4. The Pontic sub-Commander, Taxiles, extended the left wing and tried to outflank the Romans. Murena's cavalry struggled now struggled against the superior numbers and required support from some unengaged cohorts and the cavalry on the Roman right led by Sulla himself.
5. The movement of Sulla cavalry from the right led to the Pontic attacking the Roman right wing, forcing Sulla to return.
6. Finally, the legions began to get the upper hand against the phalanxes, and the Pontic attack on the flanks disintegrated, and the wing commands crumbled. This led to the phalanxes being exposed, and the battle was lost.

My Reconstruction

My recreation followed roughly this series of events. The Roman attack on the left was initially successful but was pushed back by the Pontic counterattack. Meanwhile, the chariots proved as ineffectual as in the actual battle and quickly disappeared from the field. The legions now advanced but became pinned by the phalanxes.

Murena and the god of dice

In the reconstruction, the Pontic attack on the Roman left wings never had a significant impact, mainly because Murena’s cavalry had the god of dice riding with him. His success in combat was quickly followed up by some awful discipline test by the Pontic left wing, which promptly collapsed. Sulla's help was never required, and the Pontic attack against the Roman right failed to make any headway. The Pontic general was now using up his command board chits to hold some form of force on the left, but in the end, it routed.

Homunculus Eat

The phalanxes now found themselves pinned by the legions, and a series of inclusive melees occurred between them across the centre. Meanwhile, the Pontic left finally collapsed. Sulla called Homunculus Est, but unfortunately for him too early, by one point. However, the Pontic army was now fatigued and running out of command chits and options. The game was effectually won despite removing a five-card from the Pontic setback/disaster hand. The phalanxes, now isolated in the centre, became prey to the Roman flank forces.

Some Thoughts

Overall, another enjoyable battle, and it did follow the historical sequence of events as I could reconstruct them. For me, more phalanx practice is required. The phalanx is an excellent defensive unit, but I must learn to use them more aggressively. I need to know to time the use of the supporting cavalry better. Finally, next time I leave the chariots in the garage.

Anyway, until the supplement arrives, I plan to recreate some more of Mithradates’ battles.