The Teams and Their Plans

Transcription

1 The Setup Neither my Trinovantes nor my Spartans had had an outing recently and as their previous encounters had been over two years ago I thought it was time for them to have another opportunity to fight each other as single armies. The battlefield was fairly open with some scattered woods and hills across the middle. Some marshy ground ran along one flank with some rough terrain down the other.

2 The Teams and Their Plans The Spartan Army along with their allies mustered a total force of 13,100 men, split as follows: - The Spartans themselves had 3,000 high quality hoplites supported by some poorer quality light types. - Their Tegean allies provided 1,200 good quality hoplites supported by a few reasonable peltasts. - The reluctant Messene provided a motley collection (about 1,300 men) of poor quality hoplites and other foot. - Their other (Lower) Laconian allies fielded 2,400 hoplites of mixed quality and 1,400 other lighter types. Leonidas plan was for his and the Lower Laconian hoplites to join up beyond the wood and attack the enemy warbands. The Tegeans and the Messene would guard his right flank and his own light troops would be sent to support them. Cunobeline led the Trinovnates who mustered 12,800 warriors including two of their allied clans: - Cunobeline had his escort of chariot borne nobles and light horse plus the three warbands totally 5,000 men. - Togodumnus commanded 1,900 men a mix of chariots, cavalry and a large number of slingers. - Caratacus led 900 cavalry and 800 light foot. - The two allied clans each fielded about 1,500 men based around a warband of 1,000 men and various supporting troops. Cunobeline tried to keep his plan simple as historically his men were not that great at following orders. The warbands would hold a line with the allied clans on their right. Caratacus light troops would sweep around on the left and draw out the flank guard so that Togodumnus could exploit any gap. When the time was right the warbands would be released to attack the enemy front.

3 The Deployments Messene Tegeans Spartans Laconian Allies Caratacus Corps Togodumnus Troops Cunobeline s Warbands Green Clan Blue Clan

4 P1 The battle opened with a general advance by the Trinovantes. Both the Spartans and the Laconian Allies moved forward but the Messene and Tegeans on the right flank held back. Messene: held their Tegeans: held their Spartans: Laconian Allies: Caratacus: Togodumnus: Cunobeline:

5 P2 Cunobeline and the allied clans held their as they waited for the left flank Divisions to get into. Whilst the Spartans manoeuvred around the wood, the rest of their army waited for them. Messene: continued to hold Tegeans: Spartans: started to manoeuvre around the wood Laconian Allies: waited to link up with the Spartans Caratacus: continued advancing Togodumnus: to his designated Cunobeline: held his held their held their

6 P3 Ignoring orders, Togodumnus over eagerly and was charged and destroyed by the Tegeans. Caratacus continued to advance, but elsewhere most troops held their as the Spartans continued their leftwards drift around the wood. Messene: started to advance Tegeans: charged and destroyed Togodumnus chariots Spartans: continued to manoeuvre around the wood Laconian Allies: waited to link up with the Spartans Caratacus: continued advancing Togodumnus: wildly towards the Tegeans and then lost the melee with them Cunobeline: held his held their held their

7 P4 The Tegeans rolled over Togodumnus remaining troops. The Messene over confidently set off towards the nearest enemy and the main Trinovante warband line also went wild and towards the now clearly advancing Spartans and Laconians. Messene: over eagerly closed on the nearest enemy Tegeans: charged Togodumnus slingers and destroyed them Spartans: forward, calling in their light troops to provide support Laconian Allies: re-started their advance Caratacus: closed on the Messene and skirmished with them Togodumnus: his slingers wildly closed on the Tegeans, shot at them, were charged and destroyed Cunobeline: lost control of his men and they all wildly wildly wildly

8 P5 Cunobeline charged the Tegeans and forced them to retreat but was then hit by some Spartan lights who destroyed his chariots. The Spartan hoplites charged the warbands in the middle. The Messene were forced back by Caratacus. Messene: lost their eagerness and fell back under pressure Tegeans: forced to pull back after fighting Cunobeline s chariots Spartans: the best hoplites charged the facing warbands. The first light Division attacked Cunobeline s weakened chariots Laconian Allies: closed on the allied clans to their front Caratacus: kept pressuring the Messene with missiles Togodumnus: the remains of his command retreated from the battle Cunobeline: his chariots charged and fought with the Tegeans but when they fell back he had then to fight some light Spartans wildly wildly

9 P6 The Laconian Allies and Allied Clans met in melee and the Allied Clans were forced to retreat. In the middle, the Spartan hoplites were fast destroying the other warbands. Caratacus now in command of the Trinovantes - moved forward whilst his lights continued to pester the Tegeans and Messene. Messene: continued to fall back Tegeans: reduced to their last Unit as they remained on the hill Spartans: continued fighting the warbands Laconian Allies: Attacked and forced the allied clans to retreat Caratacus: used his light troops to pressure the Messene and Tegeans whilst he moved closer to the main battle Cunobeline: the remnants of the warbands struggled on against the Spartan hoplites despite the loss of Cunobeline fell back after melee fell back after melee

10 P7 The Laconian Allies followed up the retreating Allied Clans and forced them to break. The Messene and the Tegeans both broke as their numbers fell. Caratacus tried to move towards the remains of the rest of the army but found his way blocked by the Spartans who had re-formed their line and were now facing him. Messene: broke and left the battlefield Tegeans: broke and ran for home Spartans: re-formed their line to face Caratacus Laconian Allies: Best hoplites charged again and broke the Green Clan. Caratacus: tried to move towards the rest of the army but found his way blocked so fell back to secure his Cunobeline: the remnants of the warbands broke and ran for home heavy casualties in the melee caused them to break morale broke and they routed

11 And Finally With only his command left, Caratacus was unable to offer any serious op to the Spartans who were now advancing towards him. So he took the sensible decision and retreated giving the Spartans one of their best victories as an individual army. The impact of putting the Tegeans and the Messene on the right flank contributed to the Spartan victory as they put up a better defence than the usual Spartan light Divisions. The other major factor was the lack of control the Trinovante commander had over his men which both upset his battleplan and allowed the hoplite Units to reach his warbands before they could be weakened by missiles. Once the hoplites had taken the sting out of their opponents initial battle lust, then their better armour and training gave them the upper hand. I might have another look at the morale influencers in case they need adjusting to allow strong leaders more control and fully take account of battlefield losses.