Armies for Ancient Warfare Part 1 [Saga 90]

Numidian and Early Moorish: 215 BC-46 AD

Erstwhile allies to Carthage and then Rome, the Numidians were an important source of mercenary skirmisher cavalry. Though prone to have ambitions of their own, the Numidian generals were effective and tough fighters…so long as they did not decide to change sides. They were a powerful army to be reckoned with in their own right.

Tactical Hints

The huge numbers of skirmisher cavalry are augmented by heavy cavalry, loose order foot, skirmisher foot and even elephants. This is an interesting army. Upgrade the heavy cavalry and take out the enemy centre with elephants supported by foot. Use the cavalry on the flanks. This is a fair army for beginners.

Enemies

Early and Later Punic War Carthaginian, Early Moorish, Camillan, Marian and Early Imperial Roman.

Marian or Caesarian Roman: 100-25 BC

Gaius Marius was known for two things; his abilities as a general and his ability to gain popular support for his political career. It was the first truly professional army raised by Rome and its allies, and employed men from all classes of Roman and Latin society. Soldiers were expected to join for a career of up to 20 years or more. Considering the massive variety of enemies that the Romans managed to acquire, their armies had to be versatile and adaptable. This army is both.

The majority of the soldiers were legionarii, now armed and armoured at public expense with standardised equipment. Cavalry were provided from the same sources as earlier Roman mounted units supplemented by allied and mercenary contingents. A variety of specialised troops were hired to act as skirmishers and scouts. These were usually native forces of the area in which the Roman army was campaigning. These included Spanish javelinmen, Balearic slingers, Cretan archers, Greek peltasts and psiloi, Spanish, Gallic and Numidian cavalry.

Tactical Hints

The legionarii formed the bulk of these forces. Use them in the centre and perhaps to push a flank. Cavalry and Loose Order troops take on the other flank and delaying terrain. Elephants and artillery as well as camels can be very effective. One thing is for certain, you will never get bored trying out new tactics with this army. This is highly recommended for beginners.

Enemies

Later Illyrian, Thracian, Celtic Gaul, Armenian, Ptolemaic, Parthian, Spanish, Numidian, Early German, Marian/Caesarian Roman, Celtic Britons, Mithridatic, Galatian.

Notes

Players are encouraged to select their non-Roman troops from the various regional groups representing locally raised contingents. Some ethnic groups such as Gallic and Spanish troops were more likely to serve outside their normal territory because of the long-term affiliation with the Romans.

Early Germans: 115 BC-250 AD

A constant source of aggravation to Rome, especially after the Battle of Teutoberger Wald in 9 AD, the Germans never accepted Roman rule and were always tough, arrogant foes. The Roman frontier with the Germans (the Rhine and Danube Rivers) were heavily fortified and garrisoned, although trade was permitted with friendly Germans. Any weakening of the defences usually resulted in German attacks into Roman provinces. Despite their long-standing conflict, the Romans eagerly recruited Germans into their military.

An army can be representative of a local tribal chief with his personal comitatus (retainers or retinue) and a levy of all able bodied men (accompanied by a large cheering section comprising the wives, mothers, girlfriends and children), or a larger allied army of clans of the same tribe or even a confederation of tribes. Members of a comitatus were both relatives and followers of a chief, and warriors attracted by the prestige, power, charisma and successes of a chief or king. Despite their origin, warriors of the comitatus were generally very faithful to their leader at least until he lost status or was killed!

A leader was expected to reward loyal service with land, wealth and victories. This tended to inspire the Germans to pick on weaker neighbours and the wealthy Romans.

Tactical Hints

The warbands are the backbone of the German armies, supported by more of the same. The cavalry are useful on the flanks or as support for the warbands. Upgrading to fanatics is always an adventure in command and control. This is an army for any level of player.

Enemies

Early German, Celtic Gaul, Sarmatians, Marian/Caesarian, Early and Middle Imperial Roman.

Mithridatic: 110-45 BC

The Pontic king, modestly called Mithridates the Great, managed to battle against Rome, and defeated several Roman armies over the course of three wars. His kingdom on the coast of the Black Sea in northern Asia Minor was used as a springboard for the conquest of the various neighbouring states and the growing Roman province of Asia. Mithradates’s armies even invaded Greece before being defeated and crushed by the Romans. After which Mithradates fled to his remaining territory in the Crimean Peninsula.

His son Pharnaces attempted to re-establish the kingdom during the civil war between Julius Caesar and Pompey the Great. Caesar was able to defeat Pharnaces after one of his subordinates was defeated and sent the famous message to Rome to inform the Senate of his victory; “Veni, Vidi, Vici” (I came, I saw, I conquered).

The Pontic army was very exotic, combining Hellenic and barbarian troops. Its core was made up of mounted Persian and Kappadokian nobles and reportedly large numbers of infantry, both Pontic and mercenary. Additional cavalry were drawn from the Rhoxolani (a Sarmatian tribe), various Asian groups including Parthians, Armenians and Skythians, and Galatians. Included among the infantry were Bastarnae (a Thracian tribe), Galatians, Greeks, Roman deserters, Armenians and even freed slaves. The latter were armed as Makedonian phalangites.

Scythed chariots, heavily armoured lancers (Armenian cataphracts) and imitation Roman legionarii were employed in vain attempts to defeat the veteran soldiers of Rome.

Tactical Hints

This is a multi-dimensional army and can be infantry or cavalry-heavy or a more balanced force. The cavalry, scythed chariots, Galatians and Bastarnae are the shock troops. Support them with the legionarii, peltasts and phalangites. Crush the flanks and hold the centre. Its versatility is increased by the ability to make use of just about any type of terrain or tactic. This is a decent army for beginners, but very dangerous in the hands of an expert.

Enemies

Sarmatian, Marian/Caesarian Roman, Bosporan Kingdom.

Notes

Pontic cavalry consisted of Persian and Kappadocian nobles, and their retainers. They may have fought with javelin as did their ancestors under the Achaemenid Persians or as lance-armed like their Armenian and Hellenistic neighbours or with spear and shield like Roman cavalry.

Kushan Indian: 130 BC - 400 AD

The Kushan or Kuei-shang were one of the five major Yueh-Chih groups that moved westward into Central Asia. The Kushan became the most dominant of the Yueh-Chih and also controlled the easternmost Saka. The Kushans invaded Bactrian Greek territory, captured northern India, then invaded Iran and western Asia before their power declined in the face of the Sassanians, Indians and others. The remnants of their empire fell to the Chionite Huns by the late 4th Century AD. The Greeks and Romans referred to the empire as that of the Indo-Sykthians.

This is another powerful army with cataphracts, chariots, elephants and Indian archers. The majority of the Kushan troops were horse archers and armoured lancers supported by allied or subject troops.

Tactical Hints

I feel that this is the strongest Indian army because of the vast variety of powerful troop types. Elephants and heavy chariots should be in the center, with cavalry on the flanks and the foot in support. This is tough to beat. It is a good for any level of player.

Enemies

Indian, Graeco-Bactrian, Graeco-Indian, Hun, Parthian and Sassanian Persian.

Notes

Elephants do not affect Indian horses.

Spartacan Revolt: 73-70 BC

Republican Rome faced several major slave revolts and that of Spartacus the gladiator was the most serious. It rocked the very foundations of Roman security. Not since the 2nd Punic War had such panic swept through the Italian peninsula. Seventy thousand vengeful ex-slaves running rampant throughout the heart of the empire put the Roman field armies to the supreme test. They ultimately passed. The army of Marcus Crassus defeated the bulk of the rebels and the forces of Pompey the Great mopped up the remnants (and then garnered most of the credit).

The army consisted of various ethnic groups, whose common language was Latin. Only some of the slaves were experienced fighters, particularly the gladiators of whom many filled key command positions. The remainder made up for their lack of combat skills with their strong and passionate anti-Roman feelings.

Tactical Hints

If you are an excellent commander and need a challenge, this army is for you. Try keeping the poor quality troops out of trouble! Try to force a flank with the pitifully few cavalry available. Upgrade everything and hope that your opponent is so busy salivating at the prospect of facing your army that he makes a disastrous error in tactics. Good luck.

Enemies

Marian/Caesarian Roman.

Scots-Irish: 55 BC-450 AD

The Romans soon found that they could defeat the Celtic Britons, but the Scots (or Picts and Caledonians) were another story. Frustrated by their raids and border attacks, the Romans built two walls (that of Claudian and Hadrian) across Scotland to keep the enemy from pouring into Romanised territory.

Tactical Hints

This army is similar to the Celtic Britons in composition. Tactically, following British tactics is the best bet. Tough and unpredictable, the Scots are always a challenge to command.

Enemies

Early, Middle and Late Imperial Roman, Celtic British.

Early Imperial Roman: 25 BC-195 AD

This is the army of the early Roman principate and one of the most well known armies of history. Though the empire continued to expand, civil war and barbarian incursions kept the Roman armies in a constant state of preparedness. These armies are among the best the Romans ever fielded.

You must decide between an Eastern or Western force

Tactical Hints

I recommend experimenting with this army. Tactics can be quite diverse, as the army is well balanced though a bit light on cavalry. There is no shortage of enemies! This is a good army for any level of player.

Western enemies

Sarmatian, Spanish, Numidian, Early Germans, Celtic Britons, Later Moorish, Scots-Irish.

Eastern enemies

Armenian, Parthian, Sarmatian, Dacian, Jewish Revolt, Alan.

Notes

Praetorians may also represent the guards of senior generals or provincial governors. The Praetorian cavalry may be depicted as the Germans of the Equites Augusti Singulari.

Celtic Roman: 55 BC-75 AD

The Celtic tribes of Briton were originally from the continent and migrated to Briton during the same period as other Celtic groups settled in Northern Italy, Eastern Europe and Asia Minor. They dominated the earlier inhabitants of Briton, many of whom were pushed into the western coastal areas of Cornwall, Wales and Scotland. Despite close ties with their continental relatives, the British Celts continued to rely on nobles in war chariots accompanied by their retainers on foot. When Caesar and Claudius landed on the shores of Britain, they were met by Celtic armies made up of light chariots, cavalry and fanatic foot. Though highly undisciplined and likely to break formation and attack anything in range, the Britons were fearsome to face.

The Celtic Britons fought several major wars with the Romans before the latter were able to establish a relatively peaceful province covering most of modern England and Wales. The initial Roman attempt was opposed by a coalition of tribes led by Caractacus. One of the most colourful characters was Boadicea, queen of the Iceni. Her army destroyed the Roman colony of Colchester and slaughtered most of the Legio IX Hispania before its defeat at the hands of provincial governor Suetonius and the bulk of the Roman provincial army.

Tactical Hints

Use the Druid altar to stabilise morale. Upgrade the chariots to fanatics and use them to smash into the enemy center. Cavalry are best on the flanks, supported by warbands, while Gaesati are best used for supporting the chariot attacks. This is a tough army to control, but always exciting and visually spectacular.

Enemies

Celtic Britons, Scots-Irish, Early Imperial Roman.