Persians vs. Macedonians
By Jos Dijkman
On August 4th 2007, Darius encountered Alexander in a 2000 points battle.
The
Plan and Strategy
The plan of Darius was to focus the scythed chariots
on one phalanx unit to less than 16 models, after which the Noble Cavalry was
intended to break the phalanx, after which the Persian Cavalry, assisted
by the Dahae would roll op the phalanxes by charging in the flank. The Persian
Cavalry, on the side assisted by the Takabares, were hoping to hold the Macedonian cavalry long enough. The Dahae had a secondary roll
to shoot down any skirmishers which could block the path of the chariots. The
Mardian archers were needed to reduce the numbers of the phalanx even more (should
the chariots fail their objective).
The plan of Alexander was to use a refused centre strategy, where the phalanxes
were hold one side of the field and the light cavalry, Hypaspists and Companions
were to strike on the other side and advance to the back.
As everybody knows; plans never survive contact with the
enemy...
Phalanx on the left and companion cavalry on the right.
The
armies
|
Persian Army |
|
| 8 | Satrapal Cavalry with heavy armour |
| 12 | Takabara in skirmish formation |
| 16 | Kardakes with large shield |
| 16 | Melophorai with large shield and light armour |
| 12 | Mardian archers |
| 2 | Scythed chariots |
| 12 | half barded, heavy armoured Noble Cavalry, including the army battle standard barrer |
| 8 | Persian Cavalry with heavy armour |
| 8 | Dahae |
| 16 | Kardakes with large shield |
| 13 | Takabara in skirmish formation |
| 8 | Persian Cavalry with heavy armour |
The great King Darius in Chariot located behind the Scythed chariots
|
Macedonian Infantry |
|
| 10 | Alexander the Great with 9 companion cavalry with xyston and heavy armour. |
| 16 | Hypaspists with light armor and thrusting spear. |
| 25 | Pezhetairoi with pike and shield and the army battle standard bearer |
| 25 | Pezhetairoi with pike and shield |
| 25 | Pezhetairoi with pike and shield |
| 25 | Pezhetairoi with pike and shield |
| 9 | Light cavalry with thrusting spear |
| 10 | Agrianians with buckeler and slings |
| 9 | Skirmishers with buckler and javelins |
| 9 | Skirmishers with buckler and javelins |
| 9 | Skirmishers with buckler and javelins |
| 9 | Skirmishers with buckler and javelins |
The
Start
Before the start of the game, Darius had send a
message to Alexander and offered him halve of his wives and land in exchange for
peace.
Alexander turned this offer down...
The Persians used the option for a flat battle ground and started
first.
The Dahae, Scythed chariots, all other cavalry moved forwards. The
Dahae shot at the Light Cavalry and missed.
In the next turn, the Light Cavalry, Companions, Hypaspists slowly moved
forward, threatening the right flank of Darius and threatening to
charge the flank of the Noble Cavalry. The skirmishers shot and
missed.
The Persians, especially the cavalry, had difficulties to position
themselves, due to the massed cavalry rule. This took the next turn.
The Dahae shot one Light Cavalry model. Weak as they were, they preferred to
shoot the enemy from a distance instead of charging them.
The
armies clash
Then
the Light Cavalry of Alexander, bold as they are, defying the rain of missiles
shot at them, charged into the Dahae, which
lost the combat and fled away. A hole was created in the lines of the Persians. Darius was threatened.
Would he flee?
The 2 scythed chariots charged into the phalanx. They rolled a 1 and a 2. The
phalanx lost the combat by -1 but held their ground. The
following panic tests of the Persians due to the destroyed chariot
were all passed, thanks to the inspiring presence of Darius.
The Persian Cavalry, on the right, charged into the companions. They
failed by a fraction of an inch...
The Satrapal Cavalry charged into a unit of skirmishers on the left
flank, which fled and caused the other unit of skirmishers to panic
too.
Then Alexander acted. The phalanxes charged their opposing units, the
companions and Hypaspists charged the Kardakes. The Satrapal cavalry
fled immediately, the Kardakes lost the combat and fled, which caused
a chain reaction because the Melophoroi and Mardian archers fled too.
The
end
The combined action of Hypaspists and companions caused the
Kardakes
to flee, the pursuing companions caught them, the Hypaspists pursuing
into the remaining Persian cavalry and to make matters worse: ALexanders's
skirmishers shot at the 8 Persian cavalry on the right and caused 4
wounds. The unit was now too small to do a serious flank attack.
The Persian army collapsed, with only Darius and the noble cavalry in
an offensive position...
The
Conclusion
The game, we both concluded, was a great and tense game, although the outcome was dramatic for
the Persian player.
Looking back, it is clear the Darius never should have offered peace
to Alexander. This demoralized his army to start with, causing bad
die rolls and misjudgements of distances covered.
The other reflections are that small units of Kardakes stand no
change against either phalanx nor Macedonian cavalry. The Persian
cavalry is very slow and can hardly manoeuvre. They cannot be used in
separate units, but should be used as big blocks of (expensive)
infantry.
Thanks to Richard for a great game and the next battle will see a
battle hardened Darius, looking for revenge...
Happy gaming,
Jos Dijkman
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