1/32 Battle of Pydna (Part 3/3)
Date: January 31, 2011
Hi,
Here is the battle of Pydna 168BC in 1/32.
Inspired by an earlier ETS publication by Steve Cady (http://www.hat.com/Othr7/Cady01P.html), I transformed 3 boxes of Carthaginian heavy infantry into Macedonian phalanx. African light infantry into Greek light infantry/peltast, Roman ally (with shields) and Iberian cavalry act as Macedonian cavalry. I wanted to recreate the battle of Pydna 168BC, the battle that ended Macedon's military power and Greek independence. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Pydna
Acting as empire I later took over as player on the Macedon side in the battle. As we had many players, Carthaginian heavy infantry was used as heavy peltasts. Al Roman hastatii and principes were veteran, the triarii as elite. On the Macedon side, the companions were elite, as also one of the phalanx units, one also being veteran. All Roman figures, the elephants Numidians, Carthagian figures are are Steven's.
Mark, Bart, Ronny Thomas and Patrick VDB took place on the Roman side, Steven, Otavio, Alberik and Kristof on the Macedon side.
The battle started with the advance of the African light infantry of the Romans right. They were charged by the Macedon cavalry, with one evading, the other one chased off with heavy losses. The Macedon cavalry was charged by the elephants, one unit was routed the other one withstood the charge but with heavy losses, the elephant starting a stampede towards its rear. A charge of the Numedian light cavalry on the remaining Macedon's cavalry saw the latter routed too. The Macedon's left was already in trouble.
On the Roman left, the allied warbands started a charge chasing back with losses the Macedon light infantry. Heavy peltasts and one of the pikes countered the advance, demonstrating the power of a phalanx, decimating the warbands. The center and far Macedonian right remained immobile.
Finally, the centers moved toward each other. And collided. In the meanwhile, the victorious Roman right turned towards the center, forcing the heavy peltasts to face them and the hastatii to their front as well. On the Roman left, Perseus took the lead of the companions and charged, together with the other cavalry units the Roman cavalry. The companions swept away their opponents without losses, also one of the other Macedon cavalry units did the same, making a breakthrough charge on Italian allies, but was stopped.
In the center, part of the hastatii were driven back with losses, others being able to push back disordered phalanx units... It came down to the triarii. The heavy peltasts were broken and the entire Macedon left defeated, , the front line of pikes interrupted, hastatii turning into the flank of the remaining pike formations and Perseus isolated in the Roman rear with the companions and facing more Roman units, the battle was over.
Regards
Dirk Donvil
Belgium
Many thanks to Mr. Donvil.