Having suppressed a coup attempt and brought to heel a
number of less than enthusiastic satraps Antiochus III could now contemplate a
campaign to bring the eastern satraps of Parthia and Bactria back within the
empire. Historically, Polybios gives us no specific details other than the
campaign lasted two years and it was successful.
The three test games bring a predominately infantry
force against a highly mobile enemy consisting of cataphract nobles and tribal
horse archers. Recalling Alexander’s campaign against the Scythian, Antiochus
III led his troops to meet the elusive tribes of Parthia.
II/19c Seleucid
1 x general (3Kn), 1 x cataphract (3Kn), 1 x elephant
(El), 1 x scythed chariot (SCh), 4 x phalanx (4Pk), 2 x thureophoroi (4Ax), 1 x
Cretan archer (Ps), 1 x slinger (Ps).
II/37
Parthia
1 x general (4Kn), 2 x cataphract (4Kn), 9 x horse
archers (LH).
Game one
The satrap of Parthia is one vast area of steppe is
this is where the Seleucid confronts their enemy. The remains of a vacant
hamlet resting on a gentle hill served to anchor the Seleucid right flank so
the phalanx and other foot could extend their line 400 paces across. Echeloned
to the left rear were all the mounted troops supported by the thureophoroi.
Parthia split her forces into three groups with the
centre facing the Seleucid army and horse archers were positioned on the wings to
take advantage of any flanking opportunities.
By turn three a general battle ensued with the
Parthians attempting to push the Greeks back on to the hamlet.
The Seleucid flanks held against the horse archers,
but the pike units were crushed by the charge of the heavily armoured
cataphract.
Parthia took advantage of the Seleucid broken line and
to see Antiochus carried off the field, scores
3 – 4 for Parthia.
Game two
The Seleucid, now defending chose a battle ground with
a stretch of river. This particular crossing area provided good ground for
light troops to operate in against the horse archers and a gentle hill to serve
as a rally point if things became difficult.
Parthia approached the river line and seeing the
Seleucid was inviting them to cross and accept battle gladly obliged.
The river was fordable, but deeper than expected and
consequently troops had to form columns to cross. The Seleucid moved forward at
a steady unhurried pace.
Those riders who lost their footing or slipped off
their horses made the river crossing torturous and so the passage slowed giving
the Seleucid time to close the distance.
Reaching the bank in time, the phalanx repelled the
Parthian crossing, yet on the right flank, the thureophoroi and Cretans held
their own but could not stop a third column from slipping through. In two
bounds these managed to encircle the Seleucid position to threaten their rear
from the hill.
Due to the prolonged period to cross some units panicked
only to be swept away by the rapid current and the scythed chariot took care of
the horse archers at the rear of the army, score
4 - 0 for the Seleucid.
Game
three
Following up their victory, Antiochus found the
Parthian ready for battle on a cavalry plain.
As the Parthian centre moved steadily forward, the
horse archers on the flanks moved rapidly forward to encircle the Seleucid
force.
Confident that the cataphract to make short work of
the Greek phalanx the Parthians struck.
Gaps appeared up and down the line with each
subsequent bound revealing isolated combats with troops on both sides recoiling
or fleeing or dying, with the casualties mounting evenly for both sides, 2 – 2,
3 – 3, 4 - 4.
The battle ended when the Parthia warlord was
surrounded and struck down by the members of the guard cavalry and Galatians. Score 6 – 5 for the Seleucid.
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