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Post by oznerol on Oct 2, 2021 13:07:58 GMT -5
Crassus knew that when he ventured into Capadoccia he would come. He was none other but Mithridates VI Eupator, king of kings, descendants of both the old Achaemenids and the generals of Divine Alexander. A man revered in many lands and ruler of a vast sea. One who could speak all tongues and was inmune to poison and disease. A man who was a colossus amongst men. Yet, Rome didn't know about gods beyond hers and the able strong arms of her soldiers. So, Capitolinus, not a man of any stature, save for his glib tongue, stood in the newly annexed kingdom and bid his time. Mithridates, would come. Definetely. And he would go back limping to his coastal kingdom, god-king or not.
Roman Forces:
Legio VI
Legio XIV
Legio XV
Auxiliaries:
3000 Capadoccian Cavalrymen
3000 Skirmishers
Commanders:
Pro-consul Lucius Licinius Crassus Capitolinus.
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Post by Gandalf on Oct 2, 2021 13:47:18 GMT -5
Word reaches Crassus that a sizeable host is being gathered in the hills of Pontus under the banner of Gordius, Mithridates’ Cappadocian deputy. On behalf of the King of Kings, Gordius has been charged with recovering the kingdom of his young son by driving the Romans from Cappadocia in its entirety.
An ultimatum arrives shortly after, demanding that the Romans adhere to the previously agreed treaty or else Mithridates shall have no choice but to defend the rights of his son. Where the King himself is is largely unknown.
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Post by oznerol on Oct 2, 2021 17:45:53 GMT -5
Word reaches Crassus that a sizeable host is being gathered in the hills of Pontus under the banner of Gordius, Mithridates’ Cappadocian deputy. On behalf of the King of Kings, Gordius has been charged with recovering the kingdom of his young son by driving the Romans from Cappadocia in its entirety. An ultimatum arrives shortly after, demanding that the Romans adhere to the previously agreed treaty or else Mithridates shall have no choice but to defend the rights of his son. Where the King himself is is largely unknown. Rome does not deal with people used to break treaties. Pontus usurped Capadoccia and broke the region's balance, now their claims to half the kingdom were forfeit. If the Pontic king wanted to purse such claims, he would have to wage war with the Republic. However, he should be warned as of the fate of many others who tried before he did.
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Post by Gandalf on Oct 3, 2021 8:20:43 GMT -5
With their ultimatum being answered, word would soon reach Crassus of an army crossing into Cappadocia from the east, Gordius having circumvented the northern border by passing through the territory of neighbouring Armenia. Gathering supporters from the Cappadocian countryside, their force will soon be upon the Romans in a matter of days. {Pontus’ eyes only}
Gordius (2 command)
10,000 light infantry
3000 Phalangitai (elite infantry)
4000 Galatians (heavy infantry)
3000 Cappadocian Cavalry
500 Cataphracts (heavy cavalry)
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Post by oznerol on Oct 3, 2021 15:58:25 GMT -5
Crassus, using the intelligence gathered in the previous weeks, looks for an auspicious terrain to face the enemy in battle. One where they might be effectively blocked. The pro-consul knew the enemy would come in force, probably would be twice as many of them as Romans on the field, so they would have to carefully handpick the battlefield on their advantage. The local Capadoccians, good skirmishers, playing on their own field, would act as scouts and harass the enemy supply lines when possible. But Capitolinus would play safe, defensively, chosing a good play to erect his camp and wait for the enemy's army to come knocking.
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Post by rhapture on Oct 3, 2021 17:06:55 GMT -5
The Pontic army advances slowly into Cappodocia, Gordius, his hair knotted in braids, advances confidently, confident his supply lines would not be harassed with the mountains on his flanks. He would love to see the Romans waste time and resources in those hills, he chuckled to himself.
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Post by Gandalf on Oct 3, 2021 17:07:48 GMT -5
Crassus scouts and guides give him a position that lies between Mazaka and the Armenian border, amidst the hills of Cappadocia. With good high ground and presumably located between Gordius and the capital, it would be as good a place as any to face Pontus in battle. {Pontus Only}Gordius’ scouts report the presence of a Roman force, roughly three legions strong with another legion’s worth of auxiliaries, blocking his road to Mazaka. It appears the Roman advance riders have not yet found his army. |
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Post by rhapture on Oct 4, 2021 11:33:04 GMT -5
The Pontic continues forward more warily, wanting to drive out the Romans quickly
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Post by Gandalf on Oct 4, 2021 11:39:22 GMT -5
The advance guard of Gordius’ army runs straight into a party of Roman scouts, driving them off handily with their superior horsemanship. The Roman scouts retreat into the hills, with reports slowly dripping back to Crassus that Gordius is on the move towards his defensive position. However, the size of the Pontic army is still unknown to the Roman commander.
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Post by oznerol on Oct 4, 2021 11:43:01 GMT -5
The advance guard of Gordius’ army runs straight into a party of Roman scouts, driving them off handily with their superior horsemanship. The Roman scouts retreat into the hills, with reports slowly dripping back to Crassus that Gordius is on the move towards his defensive position. However, the size of the Pontic army is still unknown to the Roman commander. Crassus deploys his army profitting from the terrain, the camp at his back, picking the most advantageous spot. He also makes sure to send scouts to his flanks. And waits.
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Post by Gandalf on Oct 4, 2021 17:38:12 GMT -5
Finally, Gordius catches sight of the Roman army in the flesh. Deployed atop a multitude of hills in front of their camp, the Roman Pro-Consul appears to be offering battle to the Pontic forces on ground of his own choosing.
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Post by rhapture on Oct 4, 2021 17:38:43 GMT -5
The Pontic army forms up battle lines and makes ready to attack. (battle orders incoming)
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Post by Gandalf on Oct 4, 2021 18:45:42 GMT -5
Horns blare, the armies face each other, the battle begins. Centurions bring reports to Crassus that some of his Cappadocians rode away during the night, apparently having deserted. They do however reassure him that most seem keen to remain and fight, and that the losses have been minimal. Gordius heralds his general advance.
The Pontic advance seems to be weighted towards their right, with the braided Cappadocian general leading the heavy-hitting Galatians and much of his light troops against the Roman left. Heavy fighting ensues on the left most hill, with the brutish Gallic mercenaries of Mithridates cutting a bloody swathe into the raw and untested legions on that side. For now, the battle hangs in the balance.
For the moment, however, the much lighter Pontic centre and the elite left flank remain unmoving. Opposite each of them, on the hilltop, sits a Roman legion. Not expecting the Pontic advance to be so skewed, the Roman officers send orders back to Crassus: do they sit and wait, do they advance down the hill to attack, or do they attempt to support their comrades on their left?
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Post by Gandalf on Oct 4, 2021 19:30:24 GMT -5
With the standoff continuing on the hills below, the engagement continued to rage on the Roman left. Crassus' Cappadocian horsemen are sent to outflank the Galatians, but the poor terrain ends up seeing them charging uphill, their mounts spend of energy after a long ride from the right. The Galatians continue to bully their way through the Roman left, putting the inexperienced Legio XIV to flight as the Cappadocian cavalry also retreat. However, the presence of the two other roman legions and their intact reserve means it is all but impossible to chase down their fleeing enemy. Gordius is now in control of one of the hills, the Pontic army surely soon to follow their commander up onto the heights to face the outnumbered Romans on more favourable terrain. Furthermore, the cavalry on the Roman right were baited into an engagement with their counterparts and driven off. With the end of the day soon coming, the Pontic right is exhausted and can fight no more. Crassus now faces a choice. He can remain on this ground and fight Gordius at a numerical disadvantage, or vacate the high ground and retreat further into Cappadocia. Result: Minor Pontic Victory{Remaining Roman Force}Centre (untouched)
Reserve (untouched)
Left:
3400 legionaries
450 skirmishers
1870 Cappadocian Cavalry
380 Roman Cavalry
Right:
4000 legionaries
800 skirmishers
270 Cappadocian Cavalry
360 Roman cavalry
{Remaining Pontic Force}9,900 light infantry
3000 Phalangitai (elite infantry)
3950 Galatians (heavy infantry)
2975 Cappadocian Cavalry
500 Cataphracts (heavy cavalry)
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Post by oznerol on Oct 5, 2021 5:30:26 GMT -5
Crassus sounds the horns for an orderly retreat. The night was at hand at they needed to re-group and fight in a more advantageous context. He cared little for the grass-green recruits who had fallen, Legio VI was intact and so was the other legion. Auxiliaries were expendable and the enemy had been bloodied. He could not risk facing the phalanxes and the armored horse with the day almost over. The Roman host retreats further into Cappadocia.
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