Wednesday 18 October 2017

Re fighting the Battle of Toletum, 193 BC

Regarding the battlefield we made the assumption that Fulvius approached Toletum from the south and therefore limited the terrain selection to the following; the compulsory BUA, one difficult hill, two gentle hills and one scrub. 

Despite the lack of information one could also argue that the approach march was made along the River Taag (Tagus). If one chooses this option, then the terrain selection could be limited to a compulsory BUA and two difficult hills and two scrub. See the terrain overview from the previous post.


Roman force (attacker)
1 x Praetor Fulvius (Cv)
Roman legion: 1 x triarii (Sp), 4 x hastati/principes (4Bd), 3 x allied (4Ax), 3 x velites (Ps)
1 x subordinate commander (Cv)
Allied legion: 1 x triarii (Sp), 2 x principes (4Bd), 2 x hastati (4Ax), 2 x allied (4Ax), 2 x (Ps), 2 x cavalry (Cv).


The Confederation (defender)
Celtiberians:
1 x King Hilernus (Cv), 6 x warriors (3Bd), 4 x caetrati (Ps), 1 x light horse (LH).
Vaccæans:
1 x general (Cv), 6 x warriors (4Ax), 4 x caetrati (Ps), 1 x light horse (LH).
Vectonians:
1 x general (Cv), 6 x warriors (3Ax), 4 x caetrati (Ps), 1 x light horse (LH).


The opening moves
Both Roman and allied legion were divided evenly between Fulvius and his subordinate. The latter formed the left wing which secured the village and Fulvius commanded the right wing facing enemy lining the crest of a difficult hill.

The Celtiberians formed on the right of the battle line with the Vaccæans in the centre and Vectonians on the left. The combined tribal force outnumbered the Roman force but their deployment did not stretch further than that of the legions.

Anticipating the impetuous nature of the Celtiberians Fulvius would lead the main attack while his left wing would move in support leaving a skirmishing force to occupy the Celtiberians.


The attacked move accordingly to plan as Fulvius drove the Vectonians back on their heels and eventually breaking them. Unfortunately, his subordinate was severely mauled by holding off the combined effort of the remaining two tribes. The situation for Rome became critical as Fulvius had to decide how best to deal with the remaining two tribes.  


A Critical turn
Despite the collapse of his left, his subordinate managed to hold his ground and slow the pace set by the enemy. Oblivious to the situation around them, a unit of principes continually beat off attempts even while surrounded for a number of turns.


Reforming his scattered units, Fulvius could see the Vectonians were no longer a threat and moved his units to attack the nearest tribe, the Vaccæans.  


After a brisk clash, the Vaccæans finally succumbed to the full weight to the legion and broke. King Hilernus faced with the loss of two tribes called for a general retreat, much to the dismay of the Celtiberians.


Epilogue   

The Roman left wing took the brunt of the Iberian attack and suffered the greatest number of casualties, nine elements including the general. His heroic loss came at the end of the battle. The right wing under Fulvius was relatively unscathed suffering only one casualty. 

2 comments:

  1. I never played this battle, looks very nice and interesting...

    ReplyDelete
  2. Then you will like next week's battle.
    That one is an early battle of Hannibal in Hispania.

    ReplyDelete