Demetrius Soter of Bactria-Sogdiana invades India
Aug 29, 2020 15:16:40 GMT
gregorius, martin, and 1 more like this
Post by diades on Aug 29, 2020 15:16:40 GMT
My name, Alexis, I am the second generation of Greek settlers in Bactra. I am serving as the officer of a unit of Arachosian light horse in the army of our King Demetrius invading India. The Mauryan dynasty is at an end and the locals will welcome us as saviours...
One of the Sungan warlords now dares bar our progress.
My unit and a unit of Saka are drawn up with a large gentle hill ahead of us. A distance to our right runs a local river. On the far bank, our phalanx is drawn up in two ranks with allied elephants in the centre. Beyond the phalanx, military settlers (4Ax) and Cretan archers (Ps) extend into a region of scrub. Behind the phalanx, Demetrius is on station flanked by lancers and cataphracts.
The enemy has placed three units of archers (4Lb) beyond the hill on our side of the river. Opposite our main body, the warlord waits on his elephant, with more elephants on either side. On their left flank, cavalry and light chariots extend wide. In reserve, javelinmen (4Ax) and wild tribe archers (Ps). There is a second hill between the armies beyond the enemy's left flank and a hamlet by the river behind the enemy elephants.
Demetrius has sent us out overnight to scout our side of the river, to let the enemy know we are here. His ploy is to bring the enemy our side, where we can easily evade them and allow Demetrius to press advantage on the far bank. We appear to have drawn all of the native archers, so the ploy may work, but we as yet have no idea how the river has been affected by recent highland rains.
Our phalanx advances and the enemy elephants advance to close. The enemy archers advance towards the hill, now is our cue to cross the river, but it is difficult to cross (4).
The enemy archers wheel and fire across the river at our phalanx's left flank and our troops recoil. The main bodies clash, the enemy seizing the advantage of the recoil. Our right hand phalanx recoil the enemy elephants. Our allies hate the Sungan and drive their general back too, but foolishly pursue. Enemy cavalry are repulsed by our settlers, whilst our Cretans back deeper into the scrub.
Demetrius sends the lancers forward to support our right, whilst, taking the cataphracts with him, sets off right, around the scrub, with the enemy's light chariots cresting the hill on that flank in his sights.
It appears the enemy general's withdrawal is a ruse, he destroys our allied elephants and whilst the elephants to his right engage the phalanx by the river, he charges through the gap and hits our nfantry in the rear causing their destruction.
Demetrius orders our troops to retire and reform. The lancers are on the left, the remaining phalanx to their roght, with settlers and Psiloi in the scrub. The enemy general comes in again, this time to the flank of our lancers, who turn to face him...and are destroyed!
Demetrius Aniketos? Hardly! Elephant generals can be nasty! I suspect Demetrius should not have advance his centre so early. Whilst WW Tarn's "The Greeks in Bactria and India" is the original authoritative text, this encounter was inspired by Geoffrey Storey's historic fictional account, "Anabasis": recommended.
One of the Sungan warlords now dares bar our progress.
My unit and a unit of Saka are drawn up with a large gentle hill ahead of us. A distance to our right runs a local river. On the far bank, our phalanx is drawn up in two ranks with allied elephants in the centre. Beyond the phalanx, military settlers (4Ax) and Cretan archers (Ps) extend into a region of scrub. Behind the phalanx, Demetrius is on station flanked by lancers and cataphracts.
The enemy has placed three units of archers (4Lb) beyond the hill on our side of the river. Opposite our main body, the warlord waits on his elephant, with more elephants on either side. On their left flank, cavalry and light chariots extend wide. In reserve, javelinmen (4Ax) and wild tribe archers (Ps). There is a second hill between the armies beyond the enemy's left flank and a hamlet by the river behind the enemy elephants.
Demetrius has sent us out overnight to scout our side of the river, to let the enemy know we are here. His ploy is to bring the enemy our side, where we can easily evade them and allow Demetrius to press advantage on the far bank. We appear to have drawn all of the native archers, so the ploy may work, but we as yet have no idea how the river has been affected by recent highland rains.
Our phalanx advances and the enemy elephants advance to close. The enemy archers advance towards the hill, now is our cue to cross the river, but it is difficult to cross (4).
The enemy archers wheel and fire across the river at our phalanx's left flank and our troops recoil. The main bodies clash, the enemy seizing the advantage of the recoil. Our right hand phalanx recoil the enemy elephants. Our allies hate the Sungan and drive their general back too, but foolishly pursue. Enemy cavalry are repulsed by our settlers, whilst our Cretans back deeper into the scrub.
Demetrius sends the lancers forward to support our right, whilst, taking the cataphracts with him, sets off right, around the scrub, with the enemy's light chariots cresting the hill on that flank in his sights.
It appears the enemy general's withdrawal is a ruse, he destroys our allied elephants and whilst the elephants to his right engage the phalanx by the river, he charges through the gap and hits our nfantry in the rear causing their destruction.
Demetrius orders our troops to retire and reform. The lancers are on the left, the remaining phalanx to their roght, with settlers and Psiloi in the scrub. The enemy general comes in again, this time to the flank of our lancers, who turn to face him...and are destroyed!
Demetrius Aniketos? Hardly! Elephant generals can be nasty! I suspect Demetrius should not have advance his centre so early. Whilst WW Tarn's "The Greeks in Bactria and India" is the original authoritative text, this encounter was inspired by Geoffrey Storey's historic fictional account, "Anabasis": recommended.