Crossing the River Calycadnus : Blood in the Sand

The ancient world is never a stable one and border regions are often the scene of confrontation. The Great King Bamdada of Pamphylia has often coveted the wealth of his neighbor Shabaan el-shabazz a despotic ruler kept in power by his masters in the Far East and the money he can generate from the flat fertile lands which form the southern part of Cilicia. But more than wealth the two kingdoms share a different heritage and a different set of beliefs and ideology reaching back into the distant past. This is the cause of frequent friction as local villages and towns on the borders seek to assert their dominance.

News has reached the ears of the Great King that craven statues and the worship of false gods is moving ever closer to his borders. Urged on by the oracle at the Temple of Artemis in his capital Perge he has led a substantial part of his army through the mountains into the upper valley of the Calycadnus River. A portion of this army has been sent forward as an ‘advance guard’ to capture the crossings for the main army. His plan then to move down to the plains of Seleukeia to sack the temple of Tarku where it is believed a huge golden statue has been erected.

He is not aware that a spy has informed the enemy of his intentions and the upper crossings of the Calycadnus river will be contested.............

The advance guard of King Bamdada approaches the river led by the Royal Chariots these are powerful scythed affairs pulled by the best horses

But it is obvious the Tyrant from the east has hired an exotic mix of troops to defend Cilicia’s borders, horse archers from the barren lands in the far north

Persian spearmen and huge warbeasts 

Sending his light cavalry out to the right the rest of his troops advance towards the river.

The first Royal Chariot crashes through the shallows across the river

Closer to the bridge another chariot driven by the Kings son and accompanied by heavy cavalry also break out across the river

Mercenary spearmen form into blocks to defend the main bridge and to receive the charge......but will they hold ?

Spearmen clash on the bridge as numbers of infantry are gradually reduced

On the right Pamphylian troops have pushed right over the river and the left flank of the Cilician army is held by a single Persian spear unit.

The General of the Cilician army, having spent much of the battle in the rear final charges forward pushing back the light Pamphylian cavalry, in the distance the remaining war elephant has cross the river and although wounded it has completely outflanked the Pamphylians it could prove decisive 

With many dead already the remaining Pamphylian troops are mainly lightly armed 

They are no match for the Cilician Heavy cavalry which pushes them aside easily clearing all the enemy from this side of the river

The final stand at the southern crossing.......

The Cilician general is no match for the heavy Royal chariot and he chooses to retreat back to the main army.

The crossing has been won but it has cost many lives. Bamdada is aware that with his gold El-shabazz will have hired many more mercenary troops to defend the temple at Seleukeia.............

This was a fantastic battle  which swung backwards and forwards for control of the crossings. We played with Lion Rampant rules slightly modified for Chariots etc... the objective for both armies was to get as many troops across the river as possible. Infantry and Chariots weren’t allowed to cross the river. The battle had a lovely natural feel with space to manoeuvre. The main battle will hopefully take place this weekend. When King Bamdada will lead his army onto the plans of Seleukeia.