Post by diades on May 16, 2021 15:42:44 GMT
Antigonus Monopthalmos of Macedonia conquered most the Levant. He soon realised that to his South was a prosperous community growing fat from favourable trade routes, particularly in silver, frankincense and myrrh. In 312 BC he tasked one Athenaeus with seeking out and conquering Petra, a legendary, rich troglodyte city of the Nabataeans, and to return with plunder. Athenaeus was fortunate, finding Petra largely unmanned and, in a night raid, he made off with vast quantities of women and children as slaves, along with frankincense, myrrh and allegedly over 13 tonnes of silver. For some strange reason, the men of Petra, when they returned home shortly afterwards, were none too pleased and set off in pursuit. Allegedly they caught up with Athenaeus a day or so later. Reports speak of a night time raid, but also of superiority of Nabataean camelry over Antigonid horses in the desert terrain. A mounted battle at night seems unlikely, so we decided to settle the matter with a pitched battle.
Athenaeus knew pursuit was on its way, so he set up his troops with ancient ruins (edifice) to his left. From left, nearest the edifice to right, he arranged xystophoroi (3Kn), two blocks of double ranked phalangites (4Pk), with Athenaeus heading one, elephants, more double ranked phalangites and cavalry. Behind waited archers, javelinmen (both Ps) and light horse.
The pursuers from Petra were forced to deploy between a large area of scrub on their left and a small steep hill to their right, beyond which a road ran towards and through the ruins. Anchoring the line in the scrub with light archers (Ps), the line left to right, ran three units of archers (3Bw), backed by more light archers, swordsmen (4Bd), with two units of javelinmen (3Ax) on the hill. The cavalry general watched from behind, whilst camelry and two units of horse archers formed column on the road.
Athenaeus advanced the phalanx and xystophoroi, leaving the elephants behind and forming a solid block of pikes. The Nabataean camels and horse archers charged around the hill and lined up to threaten the Antigonid left. Athenaeus sent his light troops left through the ruins to emerge and threaten the Nabataean mounted in turn, supported by the cavalry and one unit of phalangites, whilst the xystophoroi had backed off. The Nabataean general rounded the hill and joined the rest of his mounted bringing a unit of light archers with him and angling his javelinmen on the hill to connect all.
The phalanx advanced and started to suffer massed bowfire, the right flank backing off under fire twice. The Nabataean general with horse archer support charged the Antigonid light troops with mixed but undecisive results.
Athenaeus moved left to counter the enemy javelins and sent his cavalry in against horse archers and his phalangites against camels. At the same time the remainder of the phalanx joined up heading right, due to the backed off right hand column. Nabataean light archers advanced to threaten their right flank, but were countered with Antigonid light horse.
Whilst the Antigonids proved strongest on the left, their opponents only recoiled, whilst on the right a unit of the phalanx finally succumbed to the massed archery. The remaining double-ranked phalangites charged home against enemy archers with light horse support hitting the lighter archers besides. The phalanx destroyed their opponents, but pursued into the scrub. Elsewhere between hill and ruins much manoeuvring and combat achieved little for either side.
The Nabataean archers seized their chance, surrounded the phalanx in the scrub and destroyed them. Now, having gained the upper hand, their swordsman charged the remaining single phalangite unit, bringing bows in support. Miraculaously the phalanx stood their ground for at least three combats allowing the xystophoroi to threaten from the left and the elephants from the right. Despite more combat all over the field, eventually the phalangites caved in for a history confirming 4-1 Nabataean vengeance! Families and booty duly reunited. Antigonid army duly slaughtered.
We chose to use the II/22f army for Petra. The terrain was chosen by Athenaeus, but deliberately true to the historic type of terrain to make an interesting game and it certainly was. Who at the outset would have predicted that it would be four units of pike that were lost to archers to seal the game?
Well, with lock down easing, this may be the last report for a while. To be honest, I believe Baldie's latest account to be far more accurate to the DBA experience than mine. DBA may become possible in person, so the writing time may become travel and social time…I have also finally decided to complete an army during lockdown, which may be ready to battle next week…
Athenaeus knew pursuit was on its way, so he set up his troops with ancient ruins (edifice) to his left. From left, nearest the edifice to right, he arranged xystophoroi (3Kn), two blocks of double ranked phalangites (4Pk), with Athenaeus heading one, elephants, more double ranked phalangites and cavalry. Behind waited archers, javelinmen (both Ps) and light horse.
The pursuers from Petra were forced to deploy between a large area of scrub on their left and a small steep hill to their right, beyond which a road ran towards and through the ruins. Anchoring the line in the scrub with light archers (Ps), the line left to right, ran three units of archers (3Bw), backed by more light archers, swordsmen (4Bd), with two units of javelinmen (3Ax) on the hill. The cavalry general watched from behind, whilst camelry and two units of horse archers formed column on the road.
Athenaeus advanced the phalanx and xystophoroi, leaving the elephants behind and forming a solid block of pikes. The Nabataean camels and horse archers charged around the hill and lined up to threaten the Antigonid left. Athenaeus sent his light troops left through the ruins to emerge and threaten the Nabataean mounted in turn, supported by the cavalry and one unit of phalangites, whilst the xystophoroi had backed off. The Nabataean general rounded the hill and joined the rest of his mounted bringing a unit of light archers with him and angling his javelinmen on the hill to connect all.
The phalanx advanced and started to suffer massed bowfire, the right flank backing off under fire twice. The Nabataean general with horse archer support charged the Antigonid light troops with mixed but undecisive results.
Athenaeus moved left to counter the enemy javelins and sent his cavalry in against horse archers and his phalangites against camels. At the same time the remainder of the phalanx joined up heading right, due to the backed off right hand column. Nabataean light archers advanced to threaten their right flank, but were countered with Antigonid light horse.
Whilst the Antigonids proved strongest on the left, their opponents only recoiled, whilst on the right a unit of the phalanx finally succumbed to the massed archery. The remaining double-ranked phalangites charged home against enemy archers with light horse support hitting the lighter archers besides. The phalanx destroyed their opponents, but pursued into the scrub. Elsewhere between hill and ruins much manoeuvring and combat achieved little for either side.
The Nabataean archers seized their chance, surrounded the phalanx in the scrub and destroyed them. Now, having gained the upper hand, their swordsman charged the remaining single phalangite unit, bringing bows in support. Miraculaously the phalanx stood their ground for at least three combats allowing the xystophoroi to threaten from the left and the elephants from the right. Despite more combat all over the field, eventually the phalangites caved in for a history confirming 4-1 Nabataean vengeance! Families and booty duly reunited. Antigonid army duly slaughtered.
We chose to use the II/22f army for Petra. The terrain was chosen by Athenaeus, but deliberately true to the historic type of terrain to make an interesting game and it certainly was. Who at the outset would have predicted that it would be four units of pike that were lost to archers to seal the game?
Well, with lock down easing, this may be the last report for a while. To be honest, I believe Baldie's latest account to be far more accurate to the DBA experience than mine. DBA may become possible in person, so the writing time may become travel and social time…I have also finally decided to complete an army during lockdown, which may be ready to battle next week…