Roman Civil War - Backs to the Sea!

 

Defence of Leptiminius. Pompeians sieze the initiative

The Caesarian advance upon Utica, the main city of the Africa Proconsularis north of Carthago, having been checked and driven back, Gaius Curio led his army back into the Byzacena district towards Thapsus. Before reaching that seaport, he determined upon a stand close by the town, at the village of Leptiminius. Forming close under the town precincts, he placed I Auxilia in the village itself, and the heavy horse backed up by II Auxilia to the left of the place. Placing IV Legion in reserve behind the village, he placed himself with II Legion on the right, with the velites - light infantry - in close support.

Caesarian Army:

Left front: Equites = 2SP
Left rear: II Auxilia = 2SP
Centre front: I Auxilia = 2SP (in the village)
Right front: IV Legion = 3SP led by Gaius Curio
Right rear: Velites = 2SP in direct support
Reserve: II Legion = 2SP (under strength)
    Totals: 6 units, 13SP

Caesarians

As expected, Publius Varus stood in the centre with XXIII Legion, with Auxilia in the second line. The understrength XXI Legion he placed in support of the heavy horse on the right, facing the Caesarian mounted troops. On the left, XXIV Legion was supported by the second unit of auxiliaries.

Pompeian Army:

Right front: Equites heavy horse = 2SP
Right rear: XXI Legion = 2SP (under strength)
Centre front: XXIII Legion = 3SP led by Publius Varus
Centre rear: I Auxilia = 2SP 
Left front: XXIV Legion = 3SP
Left rear: II Auxilia = 2SP
    Totals: 6 units, 14SP
 

Pompeians

As the attackers, the Pompeians advanced bravely into the battle, and were at once checked. XXIV Legion was stopped, then driven back by Curio's own IV Legion. So began a fierce to-and-fro action on the Caesarian right wing.

Pompeian assault

Following up his early success, Curio struck the Pompeian II Auxilia formation to receive a rude and costly check in his turn. 

To and fro fighting on the Caesarian right

This failed to discourage the Caesarians, who seized the initiative (the 5-3 die roll in the following pic)...

Caesarians seize the initiative

... and visited upon the Pompeian auxilia unit an equally punishing requital. 

Curio pushes back the Pompeian wing

The auxilia falling back brought XXIV Legion back into the fray. Following up, the Caesarians also forced back the opposing legionaries (the 1-1 dice roll becoming 3-1 owing to the presence of Curio himself, and the direct light infantry support).

Pompeian wing barely hanging on!

In the meantime, there had been little movement elsewhere. The Caesarian left drove off the enemy horse, but found themselves face to face with XXI Legion. Though losses were heavy, the fighting remained undecided for a considerable while.  

Indecisive blood letting on the Caesarian left

Meanwhile, the garrison having withstood the Pompeian attack, Curio took advantage of a pause in the action to order II Legion to relieve the Auxilia, thence to take the fight to the enemy. This they did in fine style, throwing Varus and XXIII Legion back behind the supporting auxiliaries, then following up to engage this second line.

Overview: Caesarians advancing

Success now followed upon success all along the front. Having driven the Pompeians back beyond their deployment line, Curio withstood the furious counter attack XXIV Legion mounted, and drove them with loss from the field.

Pompeian attempt to restore their line fails

On the opposite wing, the equites' final charge crushed XXI once and for all. The follow-up failed, however, to sweep the enemy horse from the field. The Pompeians managed to hold up this front. 

XXI Legion collapses in rout

In the final act of the day, the stout IV Legion held Varus's counter attack. Barely holding their right and centre, the Pompeians lost the day on their left. Curio had crushed XXIV Legion and II Auxilia both, and inflicted 3 casualties for each received. It was time for the Pompeians to quit the field. The Caesarians had won.

A Decisive Caesarian victory!

It was only in camp that evening that Curio discovered how essential that victory was. His fleet having been decisively defeated at sea, a defeat on land might well have ended the African campaign right there with the loss of the whole expedition. In view of recent events, he'd got off lightly, just 1SP lost from his horse, and 1SP from IV Legion. Pompeian losses were XXI Legion destroyed, and 6 SP overall. 

Meanwhile, at Luca, in the north of Italy, the Pompeian fleet having driven the Caesarian towards Rome, found itself in a quandary. A Roman army lay in that town, which rather discouraged any notions of following up. The fleet carried no ground troops, so could effect nothing ashore. Learning of the Afranius's failure to restore the situation at Narbo, the Pompeian fleet turned westward...

To be continued:
Having, more or less, weathered the Pompeian counter-offensive, The Caesarian forces carry the fight to their adversaries. There is some talk in Rome of converging what is left of the Caesarian fleets into one. Even then the Pompeian fleet in Spain would be the greater.

The next posting will include the state of the opposing forces, as Caesar tries to bring the war to a rapid conclusion...

Roman Civil War - Optimates Resurgent

Battle of Luca

The Third Month of the War between Optimates and Populares having closed with the former's victory in Africa, the Fourth Month began with the determined Optimates drive to seize the initiative on all fronts. The initiative rolls 6-3 in their favour permitted all formations to advance against the enemy. The result was four battles being fought within the first fortnight.

Facing 6 Pompeian units, 4 Caesar try to protect
the transport ships.

Having defeated the Caesarian navy off Massilia, the Pompeian pursued eastwards along the coast until reaching Luca, in Italy itself. There, they caught up with the much weakened Caesarian fleet, together with the transports. As the Pompeians drove forward, the Caesarian galleys formed a screen in the hopes that, outnumbered as they were, they might yet save the non-combatant ships. 

Fourth Month: Pompeian moves 

The view from behind the Pompeians. the heavy
ships are in the centre and on the left.

The shoreline protecting the northern flank, the Pompeian fleet drew up in a single line with their heavier units mixed in the left and centre squadrons. The Caesarians placed their heaviest weight in the centre, looking, perhaps, to a diekplus breakthrough to discomfit the foe. 

These formation were decided by dice roll, it being assumed, of course, that all three sectors had to contain at least one unit.  The Caesarians lined up their three medium galley units along the whole front, and a die roll determined that the heavy unit, together with Decimus Brutus, attached itself to the centre.

Of course the initiative goes to the Pompeians!

Having seven units available, the Pompeians left one medium out of the battle. The location of the two heavy units were determined by dice rolls to be left and centre; and the four mediums filled the gaps.

Pompeians damage the Caesarian shoreward wing!

At once the Pompeians seized the initiative, and scored immediate successes all along the line. The Caesarians began at once to back water, just one unit holding its original position. Now, the reason for the transports being lined up in the reserve area might now become apparent. I enacted a rule that, a unit victorious in the enemy start zone might follow up into the reserve area and attempt to sink a transport. But, in order to follow up, it was not enough to drive the enemy off the board: the enemy unit had to be sunk.

Most of the Caesarian fleet driven in amongst the transports -
but they remain afloat!

The Pompeians never quite managed it. Although a tactical victory - driving the Caesarian escort galleys into the transport fleet - they sank no units. Having lost 3 Strength Points to 1SP inflicted, and forced to retreat from Luca, the Caesarians saved the transports. 

A tactical Pompeian victory, but they fail
to reach the transports betimes...

However, when the news arrived at Caesar's camp near Narbo, he was not pleased to learn that his army was nor far separated from his fleet, now somewhere about Rome. For their part, unable to do anything on land, the Pompeian fleet commander bethought himself that perhaps he should return to the support of Afranius.

Pompeian Counter-Attack at Narbo

Having been defeated at Narbo, L. Afranius determined upon vengeance. His army was still a match for Caesar's (so he reckoned). G. Julius Caesar awaited him just south of Narbo, at Collis Viridis. Upon the eponymous eminence, Caesar stationed himself, with his veteran XII Legion. Having just one other regular Legion with him, the XI, he supported that unit with the velites. The horse he placed upon the open left. The auxiliaries formed reserve supports on both flanks.

Caesar's line at Collis Viridis

For his part, Afranius covered his whole front with his three Legions. The weakest of the three, the IInd,  he placed upon the right, facing the Caesarian cavalry. III Legion stood in the centre, directly supported by the velites. He himself faced Caesar himself with IV Legion, a unit of auxiliaries in support.

The Pompeian line. Despite their defeat a fortnight
earlier, they manage to assemble an army marginally stronger
(by 1 SP) than the Caesarian!

The Armies:

Caesarian:
Left front: Equites Heavy cavalry = 2SP
Left rear: II Auxilia Foot = 2SP
Centre Front: XI Legion = 3SP
Centre rear: Velites light infantry = 2SP (direct support)
Right front: XII Legion = 2SP (veteran) with Julius Caesar commanding overall.
Right Rear: I Auxilia = 2SP
     Totals: 6 units; 13SP

Pompeian:
Right front: I Legion = 2SP
Right rear: I Auxilia = 2SP
Centre front: III Legion = 3SP with Lucius Afranius commanding overall
Centre rear: Veleites = 2SP (direct support)
Left front: IV Legion = 3SP 
Left rear: II Auxilia = 2SP
     Totals: 6 units; 14SP

That, despite his earlier defeat, Afranius managed to assemble an army slightly stronger than that of his adversary, was partly determined by the roll of the dice. His overall force reduced by one legion, he could still select 6 units of the 7 remaining. His horsed unit, presumably operating at some distance from the main army, was left out of the action. Still with 8 units to choose from, Caesar had but 2 Legions immediately available, and one of those the veteran XII Legion, numerically weaker than their comrades.

Caesarians push back the Pompeian wings...

Although the Pompeians began the battle briskly enough, the Caesarians held the line, then counterattacked strongly on the flanks. Although taking an early loss, XII Legion gave as much hurt to the enemy opposing them. Passing I Auxilia through the line, Caesar kept up the pressure on the Pompeian left. On the other wing, the heavy horse threw back the I Legion with loss, but were in turn driven off by the supporting auxilia.

XI Legion, perhaps wishing to emulate XII, begin
a drive against the Pompeian centre...

The decisive action developed in the centre. The august presence of Afranius himself was not enough to prevent XI Legion holding the centre against the first attacks, then driving back his III Legion, with heavy losses, well past its start line. A desperate attempt to recover the ground inflicted heavy loss among XI Legion, but the effort exhausted III Legion. The Pompeian centre collapsed, and Lucius Afranius slain in the rout. 

...that leads to the rout of the Pompeian III Legion
and the death of Lucius Afranius.

This was a great victory for the Caesarians, that more than made up for the naval defeat earlier in the week. The Pompeians lost 6 Strength Points, 3 from the destroyed legion. Of the remaining 3SP lost, then, the Pompeians could receive back 2SP - 1 legion and 1 auxilia.

Total victory for Caesar, who is now able to march 
into Hispania.

The Caesarians lost but 2SP, both from the Legions. They get one back. The temptation is, subtracting 1SP from XI Legion, to award its superb performance in this battle with veteran status. Yes: I rather think that Caesar's congratulatory post-battle address to that legion will chuff those fellows no end, and confirm its sense of worth...

Meanwhile...

Africa: Pompeian Naval attack at Thapsus

The Pompeian commander in Africa, Publius Varus, determined to wipe out the Caesarians, ordered attacks by both army and navy. Victorious a week or so ago, Publius Varus followed up towards the sea port of Thapsus, finally to put to the sword the rebellious Populares. Meanwhile the fleet, though depleted by losses earlier, brought to battle the Caesarians, seeking to destroy latter fleet: galleys and transports all.

The depleted navies face off, the Caesarians
defending their transports

The opposing fleets were almost a match: just four units apiece. But the Pompeians enjoyed a marginal advantage in weight: half the units comprising septiremes, against just a quarter of the Caesarian. Nevertheless, earlier successes had filled the latter with confidence. 

Caesarians hope to envelop the Pompeian seaward wing;
the Pompieans to crush the Caesarian centre.

The Pompeians placed their main strength in the centre, the septiremes being taking station there and the shoreward flank. The Caesarians hoped that by weighting their seaward wing with the septiremes augmenting the mediums, they could envelop the enemy line before the latter could break through to the transports (note that the placements were determined by dice rolls; the interpretive narrative merely a rationalisation of the results). 

First clashes: honours even

The Caesarian effort began well enough, containing the initial Pompeian assault, and even forcing back their seaward wing, and causing some loss in the centre. But things were already going badly there, and upon the inshore wing.

Caesarians successful on the seaward wing - is victory in sight?

Although the Caesarian seaward units were victorious, and finally sank their adversaries, this did not make up for the disasters elsewhere. The centre and the seaward wing were both sunk, and the Pompeians successfully followed up into the transports. Having sunk a third of the Caesarian transports, the Pompeians finally drew off  (unfortunately, I seem to have forgotten to take the appropriate pictures; I thought I had!).

No. Pompeian plan successful. Caesarian lose the 
half their galleys, and a third of their transports.
Disaster!

This was an undoubted disaster for the Caesarians: two galley and two transport units sunk, for just one enemy galley unit. The depleted naval force could not hope to bring off Curio's army, at least not all of it - and that army, defeated once already, was facing an imminent attack...

To be continued: Africa: Backs to the Sea!

Roman Civil War - Curio's African Expedition

 

The Caesarians under Curio having successfully landed in North Africa close by the sea port of Thapsus, the local Pompeian forces under Attius Varus set out to throw them back into the sea. The armies met some distance from the town, close by the village Ignominium, where Varus offered battle. Lined up along a wadi, the XXI, XXII, and XXIII legions formed the front rank, right to left. Varus stationed himself in the centre with XXII Legion. XXI Legion formed up on rising ground to the right, covering a ford; XXIII Legion on the left with the velites in direct support. The light horse formed the reserve.

Optimates:

XXI Legion = 3SP
XXII Legion = 3SP, plus commander Attius Varus
XXIII Legion = 3SP
Auxiliaries = 2SP
Velites light infantry = 2SP (direct support)
Equites light horse = 2SP
- 6 units, 15SP

For his part, Curio decided to place the weight of his attack on the right, with I Legion directly supported by the velites. In the centre stood his other three legions, II in the front, III forming a second line, and IV in reserve. I Auxilia garrisoned the village.

Populares:

I Legion = 3SP with commander Gaius Curio
II, III, IV Legions @3SP = 9SP
I Auxiliaries = 2SP
Velites = 2SP (direct support)
 - 6 units, 16SP

So: to the initiative roll. Now, although the Caesarians were supposed to be the attackers, it occurred to me that in the given situation either side might take the initiative. Sure enough, after rolling three successive doubles - presumably the armies waited three days for the other to make a move - the initiative roll went 4-2 in far of the Pompeians (white dice). OK, what to do with it? Wait and do nothing - my first thought - or a wholesale offensive across the river? The narrative to come pretty much tracks with the pictures.

Fighting at the village (Ignominium) and on the 
Caesarian right

.

The outcome was a compromise: a 'surprise attack' across the river against the town. That was stopped cold. At this point Varus declined to test fate further, whereat the Caesarians launched their own limited attack. The fighting continued to rage inconclusively about the town, but Curio's attempt to force a crossing on the right was also held comfortably.

Second Turn initiative roll - little action so far

So - to the next initiative roll - 6-4 to the Pompeians. His prayers to Fortuna Hexahedra being answered in such fashion, Varus could not decline further to take the fight to the enemy. On the right, XXI Legion surged into the town, and drove the garrison, with loss, through it and out into the fields beyond.

Auxiliary garrison driven out of town. The place was to change 
hands twice more

Thus encouraged, and with Varus urging them on, XXII Legion smashed into the Caesarian centre. Beating back II Legion after hard fighting (both sides lost a SP), Varus lit up against III Legion where, for the moment they were held. 

Varus's successful drive begins

Following up, Varus threw back the second line - III Legion - as well: a disaster for the Caesarians. There being now FOUR units in the Reserve Zone, one had to be eliminated. Last in, first gone: III Legion dissolved in rout. This left the onus upon one of the remaining three to fight their way back into the battlefield in their turn, but meanwhile, there was still action on the Caesarian right to be resolved. 

II Legion defeated, now it's the turn of III Legion 

This involved Curio's wing being attacked from across the river, and in the flank by the Pompeian light horse. The lights went in first, and scored an immediate success. Back went I Legion, one strength point the poorer. 

Punishing flank attack by Pompeian light horse
against Curio and I Legion

XXXIII Legion came hurtling across the stream to complete the rout, but Curio was going back no further. I Legion held.

I Legion holds up XXIII 

The battle so far had been going badly for the Caesarians: a legion destroyed, and two more strength points lost. The Pompeians were down just one SP, but that was from Varus's own legion.

II Legion driven in and III Legion routed, IV Legion
about to restore Caesarian fortunes - if they can!

Now, with 4 activations available, the Caesarian launched their counter-attack. IV Legion took over the fight in the centre and shoved back Varus's centre, inflicting with it another SP loss on XXII Legion.

...They can! Varus's legion loses a second Strength Point...

As the Pompeians reeled back, IV Legion followed up. Taking a loss themselves, they completed the destruction of XXII Legion. Attius Varus was slain in the rout.

... and their third, along with Varus himself. But IV Legion
knows it has been in a fight!

The counterattack by II Legion retook the Ignominium village, driving back XXI Legion with loss.

II Legion comes out of reserve to retake Ignominium

Following up, they hoped to throw the enemy back across the ford, but the Pompeians seemed disinclined to retreat further.

XXI Legion stops II Legion at the ford.

I Legion drives off the enemy
light horse

On the right, Curio hoped to chase off the light horse - returned once more into the fray. Driving them back across the river, the Caesarians followed up and, after tough fighting in which both sides took losses, chased the light horse from the field. Again, as this was a 'follow-up' action, the Caesarians were unable to cross the wadi themselves.

Following up, I Legion throws the enemy light horse back and 
across the ford. Both sides take losses.

Have the Caesarians restored the battle?

To Gaius Curio, the situation now looked fairly promising. Early defeats had been largely avenged, and the enemy line looked ragged. But against the 5SP lost to the Pompeians, the Caesarians had so far lost 7SP. The situation was poised on the edge of Curio's gladius.

Sure enough, the Pompeians won the initiative dice - another 6-4. The chance to do some hurt was not to be missed. This was to be a second turning point of the battle.

Initiative roll: 6-4 to the Pompeians

On the left, XXIII Legion, with the close support of the velites. shovelled the opposing Auxiliaries out of their line and off the battlefield.

XXIII Legion pushes in the Caesarian right...

But the decisive action was on the Pompeian right. Returning to the fray, XXI Legion once again forced their way into the village (against the 3 rolled by XXI Legion, the obscured red die had actually rolled a 1). Following up, the Pompeians defeated the Caesarians in the reserve zone and drove them completely from the field.  

XXI Legion storms the village a second time 
(the red die, hidden behind the house, was a '1')

Defeated on both flanks, the Caesarians had lost the battle outright - a disaster. 

II Legion driven finally from the field

This was probably the toughest battle of the campaign so far. The Caesarians had lost a legion and 8SP in total; the Pompeians lost 5SP, including a legion and their commander. Destroyed legions count as a total loss; of remaining SPs lost, half are returned. So, out of 5SP lost, the Pompeians get 1SP back; out of 8SP, the Caesarians get back 3SP(half rounded up). Net losses, then: Pompeians 4SP, Caesarians 5SP. 

The Next Moves

As the campaign passed into the fourth month, the Pompeians embarked upon a concerted drive once and for all to smash the Populares faction. From the point of view of campaign mechanics, they won the initiative roll 6-4, even though only four formations - two armies and two fleets - were available to move.  

Fourth Month: Optimates Resurgent.

They determined upon a wholesale offensive everywhere. Now, I probably ought to treat Curio's defeat in battle really as a failure of the Caesarian African expedition as a whole. But I think it will be more fun if Curio has to fight with his back to the sea, and for the Pompeian fleet to (try and) get in amongst the Caesarian transports. 

In the north, Afranius's army is still close to a match for Caesar's; and the Pompeian fleet outnumbers the Caesarian. So: two land battles and two fleet actions to come...

To be continued...