Middle Roman vs Pyrrhic - from Michael Stonyer, 11 October 2023

A battle report from Michael Stonyer not as roving reporter but as the Middle Imperial Roman vs Paul Graham, Pyrrhic. Mike's report is in the captions to the photos. The result? Pyrrhus did not survive – was it the apocryphal old women hurling a tile off a roof? 23-2 to Rome. Ave. 

https://www.facebook.com/groups/824840264342234/posts/2448900975269480/

The general deployment of the armies.

Three commands for the Pyrrhic army with Pyrrhus himself leading the cavalry on the left flank. Pyrrhus's command was a mixture of knights in wedge and cavalry supported by the two left hand side phalanx blocks.

The Romans deployed in four commands. Three Roman and an allied command of light horse.

Surprisingly deploying first the Romans make the first move. The gods of dice favour the Roman defenders with high dice.

The blade superior on the left, deploy right and together with the more ordinary blade assault the pyrrhic centre and engage the phalanx. A mixture of ordinary and inferior pike.

Six elements of Roman light horse gallop out on a flank march around the pyrrhic left and charge the knights in wedge. About this time in support of the light horse the Roman's fully armoured knights X walk briskly into the Pyrrhic cavalry.

The Roman assault on the Pyrrhic centre does not initially go well. The phalanx takes the Initiative and attacks the Roman blade. As a result the superior blade loose two elements
Pressure is also brought to bear on the Roman right.

But as casualties begin to mount the gods suddenly desert Pyrrhus. While the Roman Pips remain consistent the Successor army's Pips are reduced to ones and twos. Their attacks stall and the more ordinary men of the Roman blade take up the fight where the blade superior failed in the centre. 

At the same moment the left wing of the Pyrrhic army collapses. The fast walking knights X superiority over ordinary cavalry proves decisive. The light horse overlap the knights in wedge and soon after Pyrrhus, allegedly, is struck by a roof tile and unhorsed and
an elephant is destroyed in a fair fight with the blade X.

With Pyrrhus dead, the left wing collapses.
The command shattered, the fight moves to the centre. But with their commander in chief deceased PIPs have become scarce and the Pyrrhic assault on the right stalls.
The centre phalanx command breaks soon after and the Pyrrhic army lays down its arms.

The Roman centre only half an M E from becoming disheartened.

An awesome opponent.
A brilliant day.
A great battle. 

• Andrew Bennetts

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  Nice report

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• Alastair Duncan

  Top contributor

  But is the Roman baggage finished.????...just saying

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    Vincent Cholewa

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    Admin

    +2

    Alastair Duncan I believe Roman baggage is not finished in a day

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• Kelly Gay

  You really have to look out for those Tile Throwers (s), they are surprisingly dangerous....