Browse Items (169 total)

Collection: Commands & Colors: Ancients

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Crimissos River (341 BC) Scenario#: 514 Date: 341-BC Location: Fiumefreddo, Sicily Rather than pursue Darius after the victory at Issus (333), Alexander turned south to neutralize the Persian fleet. In a two-year campaign he captured Tyre and Gaza and conquered Egypt. In 331, Alexander marched into Mesopotamia, intent on attacking… Commands & Colors: Ancients — Expansion #5: Epic Ancients II
Gaugamela (331 BC) Scenario#: 513 Date: 331-BC Location: Erbil, Iraq Having gained control over all of the known civilized world, Alexander ventured into India in 326 BC. He met Resistance from Porus at the River Hydaspes. Porus’ large corps of 200 elephants thwarted all of Alexander’s attempts to cross the … Commands & Colors: Ancients — Expansion #5: Epic Ancients II
Hydaspes (326 BC) Scenario#: 512 Date: 326-BC Location: Punjab Province, Pakistan By 318 BC the Successors had formed two competing alliances: the “Royalists” who claimed to fight to maintain the empire for Alexander’s infant sons, and a rival coalition that sought to claim their own independent kingdoms. The opposing Successor… Commands & Colors: Ancients — Expansion #5: Epic Ancients II
Paraitacene (317 BC) Scenario#: 511 Date: 317-BC Location: Isfahan, Iran After the battle of Asculum, Pyrrhus left Italy for a three-year campaign in Sicily. Although he defeated the Carthaginians in every battle, he could not drive them off the island. Pyrrhus decided to return to Italy. Years of attrition and … Commands & Colors: Ancients — Expansion #5: Epic Ancients II
Beneventum (275 BC) Scenario#: 510 Date: 275-BC Location: Benevento, Italy After the battle of Asculum, Pyrrhus left Italy for a three-year campaign in Sicily. Although he defeated the Carthaginians in every battle, he could not drive them off the island. Pyrrhus decided to return to Italy. Years of attrition and … Commands & Colors: Ancients — Expansion #5: Epic Ancients II
Bagradas (253 BC) Scenario#: 509 Date: 203-BC Location: Medjerda, Tunisia The Romans are on the verge of defeating Carthage and ending the First Punic War. Regulus and a veteran Roman army landed in Africa, and, though woefully short of cavalry, defeated several Carthaginian forces. Desperate, the Carthaginians turned to… Commands & Colors: Ancients — Expansion #5: Epic Ancients II
Clusium (225 BC) Scenario#: 508 Date: 225-BC Location: Faesulae, Italy The Cisalpine Gauls (those living south of the Alps) had sacked Rome in 390 BC and fought intermittently with Rome for the next 150 years. After a series of defeats early in the 3rd century BC, the Gauls remained quiet … Commands & Colors: Ancients — Expansion #5: Epic Ancients II
Lake Trasimenus (217 BC) Scenario#: 507 Date: 217-BC Location: Perugia, Italy Much of Hannibal’s “genius” for warfare lay in his ability to take the measure of his opponents’ abilities and intentions. His opponent in 217 BC was Roman Consul Gaius Flaminius, a vain and incompetent patrician. Armed with this knowledge, Hannibal… Commands & Colors: Ancients — Expansion #5: Epic Ancients II
Dertosa (215 BC) Scenario#: 506 Date: 215-BC Location: Dertosa, Spain After Cannae, Rome struggled to rebuild its armies, but needed time. In Spain, Hannibal’s brother Hasdrubal commanded an army large enough to possibly let Carthage win the war – if it united with Hannibal’s victorious veterans. Standing in his way, … Commands & Colors: Ancients — Expansion #5: Epic Ancients II
Arausio (105 BC) Scenario#: 505 Date: 105-BC Location: Arausio, France Following the Punic Wars, Rome set out to consolidate the territories it had captured beyond the Alps. At the same time, a major migration by the Cimbri, Teutons, and Ambrones, under the Kings Boiorix and Teutobod, was moving south, reportedly … Commands & Colors: Ancients — Expansion #5: Epic Ancients II
Zama (202 BC) Scenario#: 504 Date: 202-BC Location: Siliana, Tunisia Carthage is on the verge of defeat. Spain has been lost, Scipio has landed in Africa and beaten a large, but inexperienced, Carthaginian army at the Battle of the Great Plains. Masinissa has taken his vaunted Numidian light horse over … Commands & Colors: Ancients — Expansion #5: Epic Ancients II
Raphia (217 BC) Scenario#: 503 Date: 217-BC Location: Raphia, Gaza Strip The Wars of the Successors led to the establishment of three Hellenistic Kingdoms: the Antigonids (Macedon), the Ptolemies (Egypt), and the Seleucids (from Asia Minor to India). The Seleucid Empire began to fragment, losing Judea and most of its… Commands & Colors: Ancients — Expansion #5: Epic Ancients II
Ilipa (206 BC) Scenario#: 502 Date: 206-BC Location: Seville, Spain Hasdrubal's departure to join Hannibal in Italy left only two Carthaginian armies in Spain under mediocre commanders (Hasdrubal yes another one, and Mago). Scipio made steady progress against them, securing territory and prompting many Spanish tribes… Commands & Colors: Ancients — Expansion #5: Epic Ancients II
Cannae (216 BC) Scenario#: 501 Date: 216-BC Location: Cannae, Italy Finally aware of the true threat posed by Hannibal, the Romans assembled a truly large army, perhaps up to 80,000 strong, lead by two consuls and two pro-consuls. When both consuls were present, Roman tradition was for them to alternate … Commands & Colors: Ancients — Expansion #5: Epic Ancients II
Cibalae (314 AD) Scenario#: 424 Date: 314-AD Location: Vinkovci, Croatia In the years after Milvian Bridge, Constantine gradually consolidated his military superiority. Licinius emerged as Constantine’s chief rival. After defeating Daia, Licinius gained control over the entire eastern half of the Roman Empire. Relations… Commands & Colors: Ancients — Expansion #4: Imperial Rome
Milvian Bridge (312 AD) Scenario#: 423 Date: 312-AD Location: Rome, Italy While emperor Diocletian’s “Tetrarchy” system of shared power maintained calm for 20 years, eventually rivalries took over again. In 306 Maxentius proclaimed himself emperor, setting off another confused civil war. He gained great power when F.V… Commands & Colors: Ancients — Expansion #4: Imperial Rome
Immae (272 AD) Scenario#: 422 Date: 272-AD Location: Antioch, Turkey The Palmyrene Empire (260–273) consisted of the (former) eastern Roman provinces of Syria, Palestine, and large parts of Asia Minor. This breakaway kingdom was ruled by the famous Queen Zenobia and had won many victories over the Sassanids, while… Commands & Colors: Ancients — Expansion #4: Imperial Rome
Pavia (271 AD) Scenario#: 421 Date: 271-AD Location: Pavia, Italy After the victory at Fano, Emperor Aurelian sent his troops in pursuit of the defeated Alemanni horde, which was racing back to its homeland. Aurelian had the mountain passes blocked and then proceeded to destroy almost the entire Alemanni army. … Commands & Colors: Ancients — Expansion #4: Imperial Rome
Fano (271 AD) Scenario#: 420 Date: 271-AD Location: Fano, Italy After his serious defeat at the Battle of Placentia at the hands of the Alemanni, Emperor Aurelian rallied and re-grouped his troops and started in pursuit. The Alemanni were moving towards Rome, producing great fear in the city. Rome had … Commands & Colors: Ancients — Expansion #4: Imperial Rome
Placentia (271 AD) Scenario#: 419 Date: 271-AD Location: Piacenza, Italy Aurelian became emperor in 270, and is remembered as one of the “soldier-emperors” who restored the empire after its near collapse. During his five-year reign, Aurelian re-united the empire after two-thirds of the provinces had broken away from… Commands & Colors: Ancients — Expansion #4: Imperial Rome
Naissus (268 AD) Scenario#: 418 Date: 268-AD Location: Naissus, Serbia The Goths, a Germanic people, were migrating southward and crossed the Roman frontier in the province of Pannonia. The emperor Gallienus, fresh from his victory over another Germanic tribe, the Alemani, managed to check the Goth’s advance early in… Commands & Colors: Ancients — Expansion #4: Imperial Rome
Edessa (259 AD) Scenario#: 417 Date: 259-AD Location: Edessa, Turkey The Battle of Edessa was another round in the on-going Roman- Persian Wars. In 258, Shapur I, King of Sassanid Persia invaded Roman territory, overrunning Armenia and continuing into Syria. In order to stop his repeated plundering, In 259, Emperor … Commands & Colors: Ancients — Expansion #4: Imperial Rome
Abritus (251 AD) Scenario#: 416 Date: 251-AD Location: Abrittus, Bulgaria After repeated incursions into Moesia and Dacia by the Goths under Cniva, the Roman Emperor Gaius Messius Quintus Decius (often called “Trajan Decius”) moved to confront the barbarian invaders. Accompanied by his son Herennius Etruscus and his… Commands & Colors: Ancients — Expansion #4: Imperial Rome
Carthage (238 AD) Scenario#: 415 Date: 238-AD Location: Carthage, Tunisia In 235 AD, the Roman army in Germany mutinied and murdered the last Severan emperor, Alexander Severus, after a reign of fourteen years. This led to another succession crisis and civil war. The legions in Germany acclaimed a professional soldier, … Commands & Colors: Ancients — Expansion #4: Imperial Rome
Hormuz (226 AD) Scenario#: 414 Date: 226-AD Location: Ahwaz, Iran Around 220 AD Ardashir I, a Persian vassal, considered the state of the Parthian Empire. Ardashir knew about dissensions in the Parthian royal house and reasoned that the losses which Artabanus had sustained in his battles with the Romans and … Commands & Colors: Ancients — Expansion #4: Imperial Rome
Nisibis (217 AD) Scenario#: 413 Date: 217-AD Location: Nusaybin, Turkey For centuries, Rome and Parthia contended for dominance in the Middle East. Nisibis 217 AD was a three-day battle with the Romans led by their new emperor Marcus Opellius Macrinus against the Great King of Parthia, Artabanus IV. On the … Commands & Colors: Ancients — Expansion #4: Imperial Rome
Lugdunum (197 AD) Scenario#: 412 Date: 197-AD Location: Lyon, France The civil war that began with the “year of the five emperors” continued. Septimus Severus, after defeating Pescennius Niger at Issus (194), now turned on his other rival, Clodius Albinus, governor of Britain. Albinus took his legions east and added … Commands & Colors: Ancients — Expansion #4: Imperial Rome
Issus (194 AD) Scenario#: 411 Date: 194-AD Location: Issus, Turkey The Roman Empire lacked an accepted institutional system of succession whenever an emperor died. This typically led to multiple claimants to the throne and civil war. So, when the erratic and eccentric emperor Commodus was murdered in 193 AD, it … Commands & Colors: Ancients — Expansion #4: Imperial Rome
Mons Graupius (84 AD) Scenario#: 410 Date: 84-AD Location: Mons Graupius, Scotland After years of campaigns in northern Britain, Gnaeus Julius Agricola subdued all the tribes except the fierce Caledonians. Agricola maneuvered to bring the Caledonians to open battle. Determined to restore the security of his Highland home, the… Commands & Colors: Ancients — Expansion #4: Imperial Rome
First Bedriacum (69 AD) Scenario#: 409 Date: 69-AD Location: Calvatone, Italy The “year of four emperors” (68-69 AD) began when Nero, the last member of the Julio-Claudian dynasty, committed suicide to avoid execution. Servius Sulpicius Galba, governor of Hispania, was proclaimed emperor, but did last long, for Marcus Salvius… Commands & Colors: Ancients — Expansion #4: Imperial Rome
Boudica's Revolt (61 AD) Scenario#: 408 Date: 61-AD Location: Wroxeter, England While many of the tribes of Britain resisted Rome until they were conquered and crushed, a few tribes, like the Iceni, formed pacts with the Romans to remain semi-independent. The Iceni client-king Prasutagus died while the Roman governor, Gaius… Commands & Colors: Ancients — Expansion #4: Imperial Rome
Medway (43 AD) Scenario#: 407 Date: 43-AD Location: Kent, England In 43 AD, Aulus Plautius led an expedition of four legions to Britain. His army advanced with only minor skirmishing as far as Rutupiae on the coast of Kent. Late in the season, Roman scouts finally found the enemy camped … Commands & Colors: Ancients — Expansion #4: Imperial Rome
Anthony's Siege Train (36 BC) Scenario#: 406 Date: 36-BC Location: Phraaspa, Armenia Fresh from his dalliance with Cleopatra, Antony set out to conquer the Parthian empire, following a battle plan he discussed years before with Caesar. Avoiding Crassus’ mistake of striking directly through Mesopotamia, Antony took his massive army… Commands & Colors: Ancients — Expansion #4: Imperial Rome
Cilician Gates (39 BC) Scenario#: 405 Date: 39-BC Location: Anatolian Plateau, Turkey After his victory at Philippi, Mark Antony was intent on waging war against the Parthians and avenging the defeat at Carrhae. Anthony sent Pubulius Ventidius Baussus ahead to pave the way. Ventidius was one of the most successful Roman generals … Commands & Colors: Ancients — Expansion #4: Imperial Rome
Philippi II (42 BC) Scenario#: 404 Date: 42-BC Location: Filippoi, Greece After the first battle of Philippi, a fleet bringing supplies to Anthony and Octavian’s army was destroyed and supplies for the Triumvirate legions began running out. Brutus was content to watch the army of Antony and Octavian starve. However, the … Commands & Colors: Ancients — Expansion #4: Imperial Rome
Philippi I (42 BC) Scenario#: 403 Date: 42-BC Location: Filippoi, Greece Caesar’s assassination plunged the Roman world into chaos and civil war. On one side was the Second Triumvirate of Mark Anthony, Aemilius Lepidus, and Octavian, Caesar’s nephew, which aimed to avenge Caesar’s murder. Opposing them were the assassins… Commands & Colors: Ancients — Expansion #4: Imperial Rome
Carrhae (53 BC) Scenario#: 402 Date: 53-BC Location: Carrhae, Turkey Along with Pompey and Julius Caesar, Marcus Licinius Crassus formed the secret “Triumvirate” which all but controlled Rome. Reputedly the richest man in Rome, Crassus lacked any great military achievement to compare with Caesar’s conquest of Gaul and… Commands & Colors: Ancients — Expansion #4: Imperial Rome
Tigranocerta (69 BC) Scenario#: 401 Date: 69-BC Location: Diyarbakır, Turkey Mithridates VI of Pontus challenged Rome for control of Asia Minor and Greece while the Romans were distracted in the Italian War. Although Rome defeated Mithridates in the First and Second Mithridatic Wars, he was allowed to maintain his kingdom … Commands & Colors: Ancients — Expansion #4: Imperial Rome
Munda (45 BC) Scenario#: 319 Date: 45-BC Location: Andalusia, Spain Following Julius Caesar’s victory at Thapsus, the remnants of the Pompeian army under Titus Labienus fled to Spain. Here, the garrison legions had revolted in favor of Gnaeus Pompey, the eldest son of Pompey the Great. Pompey gathered a large … Commands & Colors: Ancients — Expansion #3: The Roman Civil Wars
Thapsus (46 BC) Scenario#: 318 Date: 46-BC Location: Thapsus, Tunisia Following his set-back at Ruspina, Julius Caesar spent some time regrouping before making a surprise night march of 16 miles and camping near the Pompeian-held coastal town of Thapsus. Caesar immediately placed Thapsus under siege. Though numerically… Commands & Colors: Ancients — Expansion #3: The Roman Civil Wars
Ruspina (46 BC) Scenario#: 317 Date: 46-BC Location: Monastir, Tunisia Following his victory over Pharnaces at Zela, Julius Caesar returned to Rome where a crisis was brewing – the surviving veterans had grown very war-weary and were refusing orders to deploy overseas yet again. Caesar’s personal appeal sparked a… Commands & Colors: Ancients — Expansion #3: The Roman Civil Wars
Zela (47 BC) Scenario#: 316 Date: 47-BC Location: Zile, Turkey Following his decisive victory at Pharsalus, Julius Caesar pursued Gnaeus Pompey to Egypt. Pompey was assassinated, effectively ending the civil war in the Eastern Mediterranean, but Caesar became involved in factional fighting in Alexandria in… Commands & Colors: Ancients — Expansion #3: The Roman Civil Wars
Pharsalus (48 BC) Scenario#: 315 Date: 48-BC Location: Farsala, Greece After Dyrrhachium, Julius Caesar pulled back to regroup his army. Gnaeus Pompey failed to follow up his victory and pursued slowly. After a winter of maneuvering through Thessaly, Pompey encamped at the foot of the mountains near Pharsalus and was … Commands & Colors: Ancients — Expansion #3: The Roman Civil Wars
Dyrrhachium (48 BC) Scenario#: 314 Date: 48-BC Location: Durres, Albania Julius Caesar crossed the Adriatic with seven depleted legions in order to confront Gnaeus Pompey’s main army and bring the civil war to an end. Antony, with the remaining five legions, was delayed (see Brindisi Raid). Caesar followed Pompey to … Commands & Colors: Ancients — Expansion #3: The Roman Civil Wars
Brindisi Raid (48 BC) Scenario#: 313 Date: 48-BC Location: Brindisi, Italy While Julius Caesar was campaigning in Spain, Gnaeus Pompey was building a new army in Greece. After returning to Italy, Caesar made a risky January crossing of the Adriatic with a portion of his army, resolving to defeat his rival … Commands & Colors: Ancients — Expansion #3: The Roman Civil Wars
Bagradas River (49 BC) Scenario#: 312 Date: 49-BC Location: Bagradas River, Tunisia King Juba of Numidia continued to support the Pompeians, even after Varus’ defeat at Utica. Curio led his Caesarian army after Varus, catching up with him at the Bagradas River. Curio attacked and routed the demoralized Pompeian army, and Varus … Commands & Colors: Ancients — Expansion #3: The Roman Civil Wars
Utica P2 The Valley (49 BC) Scenario#: 311 Date: 49-BC Location: Utica, Tunisia Caesar had sent his general, Gaius Curio, to attack Pompey’s lieutenant, Attius Varus, in Africa. Varus was in camp below the walls of Utica. When a relief army sent by King Juba of Numidia arrived to reinforce Varus, Curio had … Commands & Colors: Ancients — Expansion #3: The Roman Civil Wars
Utica P1 Delaying Action (49 BC) Scenario#: 310 Date: 49-BC Location: Utica, Tunisia The First Triumverate of Crassus, Pompey and Julius Caesar collapsed soon after Crassus was defeated and killed by the Parthians at Carrhae in 53 BC. With Crassus gone, the rivalry between Pompey and Caesar steadily grew until civil war erupted … Commands & Colors: Ancients — Expansion #3: The Roman Civil Wars
Ilerda (49 BC) Scenario#: 309 Date: 49-BC Location: Lleida, Spain After driving Gnaeus Pompey from Italy, Julius Caesar moved against Pompey’s forces in Spain. Caesar had sent Gaius Fabius ahead to secure the passes over the Pyrenees and at the Sicoris River. Fabius succeeded, and his opponent, Pompey’s lieutenant… Commands & Colors: Ancients — Expansion #3: The Roman Civil Wars
Gergovia (52 BC) Scenario#: 308 Date: 52-BC Location: Gergovia, France Julius Caesar had conquered Gaul in just six years of campaigning (58-53 BC). However, in 52 BC most of the tribes of Gaul rose in a general revolt. Vercingetorix, a chieftain of the Averni, became overall commander of the rebel … Commands & Colors: Ancients — Expansion #3: The Roman Civil Wars