Byzantiad - Trouble at Antioch

"Whilst the crisis in Thrace was being played out (see previous postings), another developed at the other end of the Empire, when the Amir of Tripoli, Doumai Ed Din, brought an army across the Orontes River, and began raiding about the ancient city of Antioch.  Hastily gathering a column to oppose the Fatimid incursion, the Commandant of this remote region of the Empire, Constantine Constantinopoulos, gathered hastily what strength he could and set out to bring the invaders to battle.  

The battle lines drawn: Fatimids on the right.

Upon a flat plain, the Romans (Byzantines) drew their array with the centre standing upon the only significant feature all around, the gentle eminence of St Symeon. In his haste to encounter the Islamic invaders, Constantine lacked some of his heavy cavalry. Nevertheless, he hoped to give a good account of himself in this first action..."

Michael Psellophanes, Byzantiad.

Byzantine Army upon the Hill of St Symeon

One slight problem with this part of the campaign, as I've mentioned before: I don't have  Fatimid Egyptian army. I am tempted to get one, if only to field a unit of Sudanese ghulams - black men dressed uniformly in black - hard to resist! For the moment, though, this Fatimid army is made up of 'ring-ins' to represent the disparate troop types. The mixed arms infantry units were formed by an element of spears fronting one of bows; the spears of course by two elements of spears.

The 'Fatimid' army

It so happens this army is very similar in make-up to the Byzantine, so this particular invasion looked to have a fair chance of success. However, the Byzantines fought the first battle with just five units facing the Fatimids' six. The army comprised:

Byzantine:

Commander, Constantine with Heavy Cavalry - 3SP
1 Heavy Cavalry unit (kavallarioi - lance bow)- 2SP 
1 Light Cavalry unit (prokoursatores - lance, bow) - 2SP
1 Protected Bowmen unit (skoutatoi - spear, bow) - 2SP
1 Loose Order Spear unit (peltastoi - spear, javelins) - 2SP

5 units, 11SP

Fatimid Egyptian:

Commander, Doumai Ed Din with Heavy Cavalry - 3SP, elite
1 Heavy Cavalry (ghulam - lancers, lance, bow) - 2SP
2 Protected bowmen ('abid - spear, bow) - 4SP

1 Loose order spearmen (Dailami - spear, javelins) - 2SP
1 Light Cavalry (Berbers - lance, bow) - 2SP

6 units, 13SP

Early clashes result in very heavy casualties
to both sides!

The Byzantines formed up with the infantry on either flank, skoutatoi on the right, pelstastoi on the left, whilst upon the hill stood a heavy cavalry unit fronted by the light horse. Constantine remained with his personal unit in reserve, ready to intervene where he was most needed. For their part, the Fatimids led off with the skirmishing light horse in the centre, the infantry forming the whole forward battle line - Dailamis in the centre, the 'abid on the flanks. Behind these the heavy cavalry remained in reserve.

A rare win of the initiative by the Byzantines.
They were not to keep it long...

As was their wont, the Fatimids opened the ball, surging across the plain and loosing forth volleys of arrows against the Byzantines. Down came the cavalry from the hill, forward came the foot, to meet the Egyptians in a mighty clash upon the plain. A considerable blood letting it turned out to be; both sides losing 3SP. But the peltastoi lost 2 of them; and routed from the field.  In the centre, the prokoursatores fled also, where they were intercepted by Constantine and brought back in hand. For these Fatimid successes, the Byzantines exacted a heavy toll, all along the front. 

Constantine intervenes (far flank)

Wresting the initiative from the enemy, Constantine led his reserve against the victorious Fatimid right wing.  There they were at once successful, the 'abid collapsing into a cloud of fugitives scattering along the plain. The fighting elsewhere was beginning to go against the Byzantines. Although crushing the light horse before them, the heavy cavalry were in turn put to flight by Dailami javelinmen.  On the Egyptian left, the 'abid began gradually to force back the Byzantine right.

The blood letting continues - three units 
eliminated, and the Byzantine centre gone

So far, the Fatimid reserves had stood aloof, but with the Byzantine wings separated by a large gap in the centre, the opportunity to isolate and conquer both was not to be denied.  

The difference between victory and defeat:
the Egyptians have reserves in hand; the Byzantines don't.

Whilst the heavy horse charged Constantine's personal unit front and flank, the Dailami foot kept the prokoursatores busy. In the distant corner of the field, the 'abid continued to drive the skoutatoi altogether from the field.

Byzantines beleaguered 

Fighting back hard, the embattled Byzantine horsemen were giving rather better than they got, inflicting an SP loss on the Fatimid heavies, but the battle was really already lost. Regaining the initiative, the Egyptians were able to forestall any attempted counterattack by the skoutatoi. The Byzantine reserve areas could not be defended nor the base line recovered. The surviving units drew off to fight another day.

Egyptians seize the initiative, and prevent 
a Byzantine recovery.  The battle is over...

This was an undoubted Fatimid success, although, had the Byzantines won that final initiative roll, they might yet have fought on. Yet the losses in strength points came down in Byzantine favour. It 4SP lost eliminated the peltastoi and a unit of kavallarioi. The Fatimids also lost 2 units (light horse and foot) and took an extra 2SP hits - a total of six.  

As it transpired, the next battlefield proved identical to this one (quite randomly, I assure you!). In the circumstances it seemed reasonable to suppose that both sides withdrew from hence, the Byzantines to reorganise and accept a reinforcement; the Egyptians to continue raiding around about. In a few days, a second battle would be fought around the Hill of St Symeon.

To be continued...