Match number
five takes place in the Gepid homeland of the steppes. The Gepid field equal number
of knights, warband and skirmish archers so will pose an interesting opponent
for the Byzantine. Unfortunately, the speed with which each game moved few
photos were made.
Game 1
Two gentle
hills and rough ground were the only salient features of the battlefield. The
Gepid deployed and infantry centre with skirmishers evenly distributed on both
its flanks. All the Gepid noble cavalry formed up one the left flank.
The photo
shows the Byzantine bound of turn three. The legions supported by bucellarii
have engaged the Gepid warband. In two turns, the main strength of Gepid
infantry was destroyed closing the game with a score of 4 – 0, Early Byzantine.
Game 2
This time the
Gepid deployed its main strength in two lines, the noble cavalry supported by
Gepid warriors. The Byzantine Strategos placed the legion and its support on
the right and would move ahead supported by the main body of cavalry. On the
left wing, two bucellarii and Hunnic LH would flank the Gepid force and attack their
supporting line.
The near destruction
of the Gepid reserve line (3 x 4Wb) had the desired effect of stinging the
Gepid noble cavalry into action. Despite some loss, the Gepid force
capitulated, score 4 – 2, Early
Byzantine.
Game 3
The final
game, the Byzantine Strategos switched commands giving the other regiments an
opportunity to test their ‘metal’. The made a concerted effort to breach the Byzantine line and this they did by eliminating half the skoutatoi. On the Byzantine bound and with a poor pip score of 'one', the skoutatoi destroyed a second unit of Gepid cavalry.
This photo shows turn four and the completion
of the Gepid bound and brought the score to an even 2 – 2.
The
legionnaires, fresh from their victory over Gepid cavalry now moved on the
exposed flank of the Gepid command. Together with the Herul symmachoi, they
brought a close to a well fought battle. Score
4g - 2, Early Byzantine.
No comments:
Post a Comment