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Great Battles Module GREAT BATTLES MODULE Alexander the Great in Italy, 319-318 B.C. BY RICHARD BERG Aware of this simmering pot of political In 323 BC, in Babylon, Alexander the Great died, problems, Alexander plans accordingly. thereby ending whatever further plans the Allowing Agathocles to live out one of young king's restless muse had engendered. his tyrantial fantasies, he directs the Speculation thereupon has continued ever since, Syracusans, together with the army of another powerful Siceliot state, Acragas, and one of the joys of simulation gaming is that to attack the Bruttians across the Straits we often get a chance to work out some of those of Messana as a diversion, while he, and possibilities. So, let us assume that Alex survived his army, lands at Metapontum, just west of Tarentum, in the spring of 319 the rigors of a Persian lifestyle and went BC The Tarentines, as ever, employ the westward, as historians have stated he would do. cloak of neutrality, waiting to see what will happen. They have heard of It is 322 BC. Alexander finalizes his plans to conquer North Alexander's conquests, and they agree that his interests lie more with the Africa first, plans which included the amassing of a huge galley Greeks than the Romans, but the traders fleet. With this fleet clearing the Mediterranean west of Egypt of Tarentum are cautious to a fault. and Greece, he leaves his base at Alexandria and heads down In Rome, where the Senate is busy the coast, in 321 BC, quickly gobbling up the Libyan tribes on making plans for renewal of the Samnite the borders of Egypt. War, the news of Alexander's landing is greeted as less of a threat and more of He now faces the growing trading In typical fashion, now, Alexander folds an annoyance. The Greeks in Italy have power of the Mediterranean, the city- Carthage into his ever-growing empire always been troublesome, and the state of Carthage. Carthage has been and sails to Sicily to seal his alliance ruling classes agree that, when the waging a seemingly endless war with with the Greek-oriented Syracusans. He Samnites are despatched, something the Greek colonies, and mostly the does this by allowing them a large will have to be done to quell the power powerful city-state of Syracuse, for measure of self-control and "reinforc- of the Greek colonies. As the Samnites control of Sicily. Carthage, not unaware ing" their army with a garrison of 5000 appear to be quiescent for the time of Alexander, had even threatened to of his Greek-ally hoplites. He then being, the Senate votes to send a send aid to her sister-city of Tyre during spends the winter planning his invasion reinforced consular army, under Consul Alexander's siege of that Phoenician of Italy. L. Papirius Cursor, south to put a quick stronghold. Likewise, however, end to the invasion. Several of the His timing is extremely propitious, as Alexander becomes aware that the Senators remind Papirius that this is the political situation in Syracuse has just Italy is in turmoil. The growing military army of the "Greek" who just recently changed. While previous Syracusan power of the city-state of Rome is being destroyed the Persian Empire. Papirius, regimes were attempting to seek some tested by her Samnite neighbors, with however, assures them that the Roman common ground with Carthage, power the other tribes waiting around to see military system, unlike that of any in the is now in the hands of a military which way the wind will blow. Despite known world, will soon make short dictator, the Tyrant, Agathocles. a stunning defeat by the Samnites at the work of the invaders. After all, it is a Caudine Forks, in 321 BC, the vaunted large Roman army, the equivalent of Alexander, spotting an opportunity, Roman legions, about which Alexander three double legions ... even if more send envoys to Syracuse to conclude a is starting to hear much news, have than half of those legions are recently treaty with Agathocles, assuring the recovered and are planning to strike raised Alae Sociorum legions. And word latter's political hegemony in Syracuse back at Samnium. In the middle of all of has reached them that this Alexander, by promising him military support. this - and much to Alexander's delight - With his rear thus secured, Alexander whose army is certainly not more than his spies have informed him that the 20,000, is desperately trying to raise begins a protracted, but not overly very Greek - and powerful - trading difficult, year-long land campaign, support from the locals, with little city of Tarentum has sent envoys to both success. helped by a massive naval victory by sides demanding they desist from his admiral, Nearchus, off Utica. Finally, continuing this war. Tarentum has in September, 320 BC, Alexander Papirius thus quickly heads south to declared she will side with whichever prevent Alexander from moving north. smashes a Carthaginian army, under side is attacked. one of Carthage's many Hamilcars, He intends to bar his way across the outside Tunes. river Siris, outside the city of Heraclea Great Battles of History Module and, to that end, he reaches the western "named" Companions (see Hydaspes) too busy fending off Roman attacks on banks of the Siris just as Alexander's • Prodromoi LN: 1 their towns, while the northern tribes Macedonians are approaching, some 5 • Greek Allied LC: 1-2 are too beaten down and attached to miles to the east. Papirius, aware of their • Numidian LC (green/SPQR): 1-2 Rome to attempt to send troops so far approach, now deploys his army in • Carthaginian HC (SPQR): 6-7 south. However, Alexander does receive textbook Roman fashion, on the western • Indian Elephants (from Alex): 1-4 additional reinforcements from Syra- side of the wide, but shallow, Siris and cuse, with Agathocles, all of which waits confidently for the enemy. • Leaders: Alexander, Ptolemy, Craterus allow him to replace the losses incurred • MCC's: Cleander (Greek Allied HI), at The Siris. He then spends the remain- Alexander, informed of the Roman Leonatus (Indian units), Nicanor der of 319 subduing the local, Roman- army across the Siris by his prodromal (Hypaspists), Philotas (Companions). allied towns before heading north to scouts, does not intend to stand on The Macedonian Army numbers take Rome. ceremony. He will make a short, rapid approximately 23,300 men. march, screened by his new allies, his The Romans, meanwhile, are now aware Numidian Light Cavalry, and, as he The Macedonian Army may set up they have, at least, two big problems. has done so often before, make a anywhere it wishes, east of the river. The first is, of course, Alexander cross-river attack. However, no unit may be closer than himself, whose combined-arms style three hexes to the river except for Macedonian army is, at least, the equal Skirmishers, which may deploy any- of their manipular system, especially if The Battle of the Siris where on the eastern bank. Alexander can use his cavalry effectively. May 22, 319 BC The second problem is what to do about Special Rules: the Elephants. The latter brings forth a Play Note: In order to play the battles 1. The Alexander Elite Initiative Rule is host of ideas, none of which seem discussed below, you will need to have at in Effect promising, as the Romans have no your disposal Deluxe Alexander, SPQR, elephants on which to practice them. As as well the modules Pyrrhic Victory and 2. The Seeing the Elephant Rule from for cavalry, there is only one solution. Africanus, plus some Tarentine counters the Heraclea scenario in PV is in full Avoid combat in any location other than we included in C3i Nr.2), although the effect!! And see PV for terrain effects of one that will reduce the effectiveness of latter are needed only for the second battle. the Siris river. Alexander's striking force. Fortunately, this will be easier than it seems, as Map: 3. Romans must use the Triarii Doctrine virtually all roads toward Rome lead rule in SPQR II. through difficult terrain. The only Use the Heraclea map from Pyrrhic question is, which road will Alexander Victory. 4. Indian Archers do not use Slippage. take, and can the Romans react in time to take advantage of their knowledge? Deployment: 5. Romans use the SPQR Missile Chart; The Romans use all the units, and the otherwise, use the Alex Missile Chart. Actually, there is a third problem. exact deployment, given for the battle of Having won the initial battle, one of the Heraclea in Pyrrhic Victory, with the 6. There is no Personal Combat. reasons that Alexander has waited to following exceptions: resume the campaign is that his immense 1. The cavalry for the III, AS/VII and Siege Train is now just arriving from AS/XIX set up, with Drusus, in 2238-41 Victory: Africa and Sicily. The Romans, having and 2138-40. They do not start off-map. •The Romans Withdraw when they heard of Alexander's successes at Tyre, 2. For Papirius, use the Paullus consul exceed 175 RP's Gaza, Halicarnassus, etc., know that leader from SPQR. •The Macedonians Withdraw when they exceed 110 RP's simply hiding behind the walls of Rome will not do. They must defeat him, or at The Roman army numbers approxi- least cripple him, in the next battle to mately 29,000+ men. If Alexander is killed, the game is over. stop the Macedonians from taking Rome. The Macedonians have the following Dear Reader: If the Romans have won the Ready to move are two consular armies, units: Battle of The Siris, there is no need to read four double legions, under the com- • Phalanxes: Attalus, Meleager, on.
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