Romans vs Parthians

Deployment: The defending parthian's deploy a command containing cataphracts, horse archers and javelinmen between the marsh and the gully on the right. In the broad open space to the left of the marsh they have another command of medium and light horse archers. The romans have a small command of auxiliary italian allies on the right, sheltered behind the gully. Their strategist holds the centre with a mixed command of one full legion, an elephant with escorting theurophoroi, and a weak cavalry detachment. On the left the remaining legion is in march column, angled towards the centre of the battlefield. 


Roman Turn 1: The romans begin a general advance. The strategist splits up his forces, pushing ahead with the elephants whilst detaching his cavalry to screen the march column from the horde of horse archers on the left. On the right the italian auxilaries move up towards the safety of the gully.  



Parthian Turn 1: The italians freeze at the sound of hooves and clanking armour, an entire command of cataphracts spring their ambush from the gully whilst light horsemen gallop ahead to pin the flank. The rest of the parthian army canters within bow range and begins to harass the romans, the medium cavalry in the centre making sure to get in close and keep the elephants away from the cataphracts. 

Roman Turn 2: In the centre the maddened elephants stampede forwards, and much to their mahouts amazement catch the fleeing horsemen! The javelinmen on the right counterattack and push the cocky nomads off the table, buying time for their italian comrades to about face and move at the double away from the cataphracts. On the left the velites and light cavalry fight back and manage to pin more nomad light horse archers in a bloody melee.







Parthian Turn 2: The parthian commander leads her cataphracts in a charge straight into the middle of the roman legion. Their superior heavy armour and the shock of impact causes the legion to buckle, and straightaway the hastati giveway leaving the principes in a fight for their lives. On the left the horsemen charge forwards into the sole unit of roman cavalry, but despite being vastly outnumbered and outflanked the equites fight like lions to delay the nomads and protect the legions flank. On the right the cataphracts ponderously rumble forwards after the italians, taking them further and further away from the battlefield. 

Roman Turn 3: The marching legion detaches some hastati, and together with the velites they pin and cut down another unit of horse archers. In the centre the theurophoroi help to chase off the cavalry protecting the cataphracts flank, but as the melee continues the legionary line grows perilously thin.





Parthian Turn 3: At last the cataphracts smash their way through and open up a massive hole in the enemy line. The javelinmen rush out from the gulley and pelt the theurophoroi in an attempt to protect the flanks and rear of their noble overlords. On the right the cataphracts finally catch up with the italian medium swordsmen, and despite the merry chase crush them with ease. 





Roman Turn 4: The elephant drives a unit of horsemen from the table and is now free to rampage through the undefended parthian camp. On the left the roman equites are at last overcome, having brought time for the marching legion to deploy in the centre of the battefield, and distracted a full third of the parthian army. The legion on the right counterattack and try to envelope the cataphracts flanks, but the thickly armoured and well bred horses do not panic, letting their riders stand and trade blows with their enemies. 





Parthian Turn 4: The frustrated cavalry wing is confronted by another obstacle in the legionary rear-guard. They impatiently hurl themselves against the romans but fail to make any headway. In the centre the cataphracts ponderously trot through the gap in the roman line and onto the flanks of the principes, whilst the javelinmen finish off the theurophoroi. 

Roman Turn 5: The legionary rearguard turn the tables on the nomads and cause some nasty casualties among the halted cavalrymen. In the centre the javelinmen are slaughtered by more theurophoroi and hastati coming up. As a new legion forms into line and marches into the fray, the parthian nobles realise they are in danger of being surrounded and beat a hasty retreat. After a hard fought and bloody day, Romans win!