Angrivarii Rampart (16 AD)

This is the first of two scenarios to refight the campaign of Germanicus against the Germanic tribes.

The scenario was played using the Commands & Colors Ancients rules but on hex terrain from Kallistra and using paper figures from Peter Dennis instead of blocks.

Following the catastrophe at the Teutoburger Wald, Augustus dispatched a series of punitive expeditions into Germany. In 14 AD, Tiberius became emperor and assigned his adopted son Germanicus Julius Caesar to the German province. In AD 16, Arminius decided the time had come to destroy another Roman army. He deployed his Germanic army to ambush Germanicus at a point in a plain between a forest and a deep, broad stream. His infantry waited behind an old boundary rampart while he deployed his cavalry in the woods, waiting to charge out onto the Roman rear. 

Germanicus was a far better tactician than Varus. He scouted well and did not fall for the trap, sending auxiliary infantry into the forest to occupy the German cavalry while his legions attacked the ramparts. The first Roman attempt at the ramparts was repulsed, so Germanicus ordered forward his engines and light troops to soften up the Germanic position. The second attack broke through the rampart and the Germans behind the ramparts fled. The battle then shifted to the woods where the fighting went on until dusk. Arminius withdrew in the darkness and the Roman cavalry pursuit was indecisive. Germanicus had won a tactical victory with little strategic impact. Arminius had survived with a depleted but intact army to continue the fight. In the following year, the Emperor Tiberius decided to abandon Germany and fix the limit of the Roman Empire at the Rhine. Roman expansion was at an end, and the Germanic tribes remained free, with dramatic implications for the future of Europe.

The battle commenced when Germanicus ordered two units of auxilia into the forest, and the ballistae on his right flank to advance.

The barbarian skirmishers rushed forth, threw their javelins, and then retired back to safety before they could be attacked. The Roman light infantry on their left flank and the legionaries in the centre took casualties.

The Romans acted on both flanks, advancing their infantry to build up for an attack. The ballistae opened fire on the far right but without success.

The barbarian leader took his unit and four other and attacked the forest.

The Roman legionaries and the barbarian warriors both took losses.

The Romans didn't want to loose the forest, so the pushed back into it and attacked.

Both sides took losses, but despite having the initiative, the Romans came off worse.

The barbarians pushed forward into the forest.

The lone Roman legionaries were destroyed and their light infantry took losses.

Following their leader, the Romans advanced two units from their centre. 

The legionaries destroyed a unit of barbarian warriors and their supporting light infantry fled.

Thinking that the Romans were busy in the forest, the barbarians charged out of their ramparts at double time and attacked the Roman front line.

The Romans lost heavily but did manage to inflict some casualties in return.

Inspired by their commander, the Romans attacked.

With slight losses to themselves, the pushed back the barbarians and caused 50% casualties to their right flank unit.

The barbarians decided they had been a little too impetuous when the advanced out from the safety of their ramparts, so they double-timed back to the fortification.

The Romans attacked yet again in the forest.

And still not having learnt their lesson, took heavy losses.

While at the same time on their right flank, the ballistae went into action. 

Loaded with iron tipped bolts, they shot at the depleted unit of warriors with their leader standing in front of the tree.

The barrage of ballistae bolts destroyed the unit, and one bolt killed their commander outright.

The barbarians in the forest, wiped out the Roman light infantry to their front. Ignoring this, the Roman line advances towards the ramparts.

The barbarian commander ordered a mounted charge in the forest, wiping out all Roman resistance there and even almost eliminating the supporting unit of Roman allies.

While the Roman commander was preparing for an attacking the the centre, the barbarian commander ordered a second mounted charge from the forest.

This wiped out the Roman allied warriors and caused the supporting light infantry with their commander to evade.

The Roman commander ordered the three legionary units in his centre to attack the ramparts.

The Roman legionaries stormed over the ramparts and eliminated the barbarians defending them.

Seeing their fortifications captured, the entire barbarian army lost heart. Demoralised, it fled the field leaving the victorious Romans to pick up the spoils.

For Germanicus, this victory came in the nick of time. The Roman left flank was in trouble, the barbarian cavalry was exiting the forest and about to pounce on the lone light infantry unit. But when the ramparts fell to the legionaries, even this cavalry turned and left the battlefield.

A very exciting game, that hung in the balance until the last turn. It could have gone either way! 

The Roman Invasion of Britain - Scenario 10

Mons Graupius (84 AD)

This is the tenth and final scenario in our campaign representing the Roman Invasion of Britain based on my own campaign rules. 

The scenario was played using the Commands & Colors Ancients rules but on hex terrain from Kallistra and using paper figures from Peter Dennis instead of blocks.

The Roman commander addresses his men - by MW

After years of campaigns in northern Britain, Gnaeus Julius Agricola subdued all the tribes except the fierce Caledonians. Agricola maneuvered to bring the Caledonians to open battle. Determined to restore the security of his Highland home, the Caledonian chief, Calgacus, gathered a strong force of about 30,000 and awaited and the Romans at Mons Graupius. Calgacus occupied the high ground with his main force and posted a line of chariots on level ground to their front. The Roman army was of roughly equal size. Agricola deployed his auxiliary infantry and cavalry in the main battle line and held his legions in reserve. The battle opened with Agricola’s cavalry charge against the barbarian chariots while the infantry moved forward and engaged in an exchange of missiles with the enemy. When the charioteers began to give ground, the Roman auxiliary infantry closed to hand-to-hand combat, which drove the enemy line back. A desperate attempt to outflank the Roman line was turned back by another cavalry charge.

The Set-up

This is scenario 410 from Commands & Colors Ancients - Expansion 4. The Romans have 2 glory points from the previous scenario and the Britons have 1 glory point. Glory points in our campaign rules are an addition to the standard C&CA rules.

The Romans had initially planned to keep their legionaries in reserve and let their lighter troops do the work. However the Roman commander immediately changed the plan, and brought forward his legionaries, positioned in the centre behind the light troops.

Coordinating his troop movements, the Caledonian commander ordered his light infantry to occupy the woods on his right flank and joined the Cavalry to advancing on his left centre.

The Roman general ordered his light troops into action, the bowmen to remain stationary and shoot while the auxilia and light cavalry advanced and threw javelins.

On the left flank, the Caledonian leader inspired his cavalry and chariots to charge the Roman light cavalry.

With very few losses to themselves, the Caledonians eliminated first the light cavalry and then destroyed the medium cavalry supporting them (although allowing their commander to escape) and finally caused the auxila to retreat.

The Roman commander order his cavalry, auxilia and light infantry units to attach the Caledonian mounted troops. The light infantry got behind the rear of the Caledonian cavalry.

Although the Romans took heavy losses, the attack we a success. The Caledonian cavalry unit and one of the chariot units were wiped out and their leader killed. Even the remaining chariot unit took casualties.

The Caledonians advanced two units in their centre, preparing for a new attack.

The Roman general ordered his flanks into action. On his right flank, the auxilia and light infantry cut of the retreat for the chariots and attacked. On the left flank, a warband of allied southern British warriors charged into the Caledonian infantry. 

The chariots were wiped out. Half the Caledonian infantry were killed, but the southern British warriors took losses too.

In the centre, the desperate Caledonians charged into the Roman line, the warriors were eliminated without causing any enemy losses and the light infantry fled without doing any damage.

With a Clash Of Shields, the warband of allied southern British warriors charged into the Caledonian infantry, wiped them out and then turned on the chariots who desperately tried to evade but without success and even they were destroyed.

The victory was complete, the Caledonians were demoralized, all thanks to the brave and valiant charge of the British warriors.

The outcome was considered remarkable because solely auxiliary forces had achieved the victory. Following the battle, Agricola proclaimed that all tribes in Britain had been conquered.

Scenario Result 

Roman Victory: Romans 6 - Britons 2

Campaign Result 

	Victories	Banners
Romans	4	49
Britons	6	51

Final Result

BRITISH CAMPAIGN VICTORY

Queen Boudica, speaking at a feast later in her life, described this campaign as a "the nearest-run thing you ever saw in your life", a quote that was stolen, many years later, by a general with funny boots.

The Roman Invasion of Britain - Scenario 9

Watling Street (61 AD)

This is the ninth scenario in our campaign representing the Roman Invasion of Britain based on my own campaign rules. 

The scenario was played using the Commands & Colors Ancients rules but on hex terrain from Kallistra and using paper figures from Peter Dennis instead of blocks.

While many of the tribes of Britain resisted Rome until they were conquered and crushed, a few tribes, like the Iceni, formed pacts with the Romans to remain semi-independent. The Iceni client-king Prasutagus died while the Roman governor, Gaius Suetonius Paulinus, was campaigning in what is now northern Wales. In Suetonius’ absence, the procurator, Catus Decianus, took advantage of these to events seize lands, recall loans, and generally revoke all the advantages the clients had obtained from Claudius. When Prasutagus’ widow, Boudica, complained, she was flogged and her young daughters raped in front of her. Instead of suppressing dissent these barbarous acts fanned the fires of revolt. The Iceni, Trinovantes, and others rose up, sacking the legion colony of Camulodunum, defeating several small Roman forces, burning Londinium and Verulamium (St. Albans), and killing as many as 70,000 people.

Suetonius summoned reinforcements from all over Britain until he was strong enough to fight on a carefully selected defensive position offering a narrow front that would minimize the enemy numbers. Flushed with success, Boudica’s Celtic host may have numbered as many as 50,000 fighting men, followed by their families and baggage wagons loaded with plunder. She deployed these wagons at the rear of her army. The men would fight all the harder knowing that their families were watching and would be in grave danger if the Romans triumphed. 

Boudica in her chariot with the families and their baggage wagons

The Britons launched a massive frontal attack. Suetonius held his forces in place. As the charging Britons neared the Roman line, they were staggered and stopped by a storm of pila. Only then did the Romans attack the confused Britons, driving them back onto their wagons and cutting them down by the thousands. The exact location of the battle is uncertain, but most commonly held to have taken place at what the Anglo-Saxons called “Watling Street,” hence the anachronistic name.

This is a modified scenario based on 408 Boudica's Revolt from Commands & Colors Ancients - Expansion 4. As statistics showed that the Romans had a 91% chance of winning this scenario, I have adjusted it slightly to make it more balanced. Two Roman HI infantry units have been downgraded to MI and the Boudica Special Rule has been added.

The set-up

Suetonius addressed his troops, "Ignore the racket made by these savages. There are more women than men in their ranks. They are not soldiers - they're not even properly equipped. We've beaten them before and when they see our weapons and feel our spirit, they'll crack. Stick together. Throw the javelins, then push forward: knock them down with your shields and finish them off with your swords. Forget about plunder. Just win and you'll have everything."

Suetonius started the battle by ordering his light troops. The two bow units started shooting at the Britons but without any noticeable effect, while a unit of auxilia on each flank advanced into the woods.

On their right flank, the Britons advanced 3 units into the woods to counter the Roman advance.

The Romans attacked the British in the woods, both sides taking losses. The Roman archers on the hill, shot at the British light troops causing them to retire with losses.

The British moved forward two units on their left flank, to threaten the Romans advancing in the woods.

Suetonius ordered his bowmen to shoot at the Britons, while his auxilia in the woods went on the attack.

On the British left flank, their troops in the wood attacked the Romans.

The first British attack was beaten back, but finally the warriors pushed the auxilia out of the woods.

The Roman general commanding their right flank, ordered units of legionaries and cavalry forward to support the auxilia in the woods. The legionaries attacked the British warriors, both sides taking losses.

Boudica ordered her warriors to attack. This they did by the woods on both flanks.

The left flank was successful, causing the legionaries to retreat with heavy losses.

But on the right, the stalemate in the woods continued.

The Roman commander ordered a mounted charge, and his left flank cavalry attacked the Britons in the woods.

One unit of Britons was destroyed, but for a loss of one unit of Roman cavalry. The Romans decided not to follow up their gains and advance into the woods.

Boudica order the British mounted to attack. On the left flank two units of light cavalry charged the lone Roman medium cavalry.

The Roman cavalry retreated with loss. One unit of British cavalry retreated with serious losses.

While on the right flank, the British cavalry and chariots moved forward in preparation to attack the Romans.

The Roman general ordered his troops on the left. The legionaries advanced, the cavalry moved behind them in support and the auxilia attacked the British warriors in the woods.

The warriors withdrew after taking casualties.

Boudica commanded two foot units on the right flank, to attack the auxilia in the woods and push them out. She rode up in her chariot to encourage them.

The British attack was not successful, bot sides took heavy losses, but the auxilia held on to the woods.

The Romans attacked the lone British light cavalry, pushing them back to their own lines.

Boudica took command and finally wiped out the auxilia.

The Romans counterattacked, changing the lone warrior and eliminating it.

Boudica ordered a mounted charge, leading her chariots into the attack.

The legionaries fled with losses, and Boudica continued charging straight into the cavalry behind them which lost half their strength.

The Roman command ordered his legionaries to double time and attack the British mounted, which the British evaded with slight losses.

Boudica then led her chariots forward to attack the Roman cavalry.

The cavalry were destroyed and their commander fled to the safety of the legionaries to their rear.

Yet again, the legionaries double-timed to attack the British

The chariots couldn't evade, and together with some supporting infantry were destroyed. Boudica retreated back into a unit of warriors.

While this was happening, on the British left, the warriors were still trying to push the Roman auxilia out of the woods. Both sides took losses, but the auxilia hung on.

The Roman legionaries advanced in line to attack Boudica and her warriors, the warriors were destroyed and Boudica fled.

British chariots and light horse charged the Roman cavalry.

And wiped them out without loss.

The Romans ordered their medium infantry to see off the British light horse, these attempted to evade.

However one unit was not quick enough, and was caught in a hail of roman pila.

The Britons were demoralised and fled the field.

Boudica managed to escape in her chariot, but later committed suicide rather than be captured. 

Despite the victory, the emperor Nero was so shaken by these events that he considered withdrawing from Britain altogether. Fearing Suetonius' punitive policies would provoke further rebellion, Nero replaced him with the more conciliatory Publius Petronius Turpilianus. 

The defeat of Boudica ensured Roman rule in southern Britain; however, northern Britain remained volatile. 

Scenario Result 

Roman Victory: Romans 8 - Britons 5

Romans 8 victory banners and 2 glory points

Britons 5 victory banners and 1 glory point

Campaign Result 

	Victories	Banners
Romans	3	43
Britons	6	49