Victory Results:
 17 %
Record a victory for BOTTOM ARMY  83 %
Total plays 6 - Last reported by Fencer on 2023-02-20 13:14:31

Marisa - 163 BC

Maccabean vs Seleucid

Historical Background
Judas Maccabaeus was campaigning with his brothers, Jonathan and Simeon, to rescue the Jews from the Gentiles in Galilee and Gilead. He left a force to guard the homeland of Judea under the commanders Joseph and Azaria, with strict instructions to take no offensive action. The two men, however, took the opportunity to advance on the coastal city of Jamnia, which was garrisoned by the Seleucid general Gorgias along with 3,000 infantry and 400 cavalry. Gorgias came out to engage the Jews and defeated them in a battle near the village of Marisa, inflicting approximately 2,000 casualties on them. The Author Bar Kovcha believes that the casualty total of the Jewish army suggests that their army may have been as much as 10,000 men strong, although they would probably have been of a poorer quality than the soldiers with the three brothers.
As usual the sources on the battle are confusing, with one even stating that the battle was a Jewish victory led by Judas, which was impossible as he was elsewhere at the time. We are also told that a Maccabi cavalry man, called Dositheus, attempted to single handidly kill Gorgias, but he was thwarted at the last moment and killed by a Thracian mercenary. Bar Kovcha says that this is evidence that the Jews did field cavalry, despite a general and deliberate absence of them in Jewish sources.
The stage is set. The battle lines are drawn and you are in command. Can you change history?

War Council

Maccabean Army (Use Carthaginian blocks)
Leader: Joseph and Azaria
Take 4 Command Cards     .

Seleucid Army (Use Greek blocks)
Leader: Gorgias
Take 5 Command Cards      .
Move First .

Victory
4 Banners

Special Rules
Maccabean auxillia infantry units may not use missile fire.

If the Maccabean light cavalry unit marked "Dositheus" makes a close combat attack on a Seleucid unit with Gorgias attached, then Gorgias must make a one dice leader casualty check, in addition to any check that may be required due to losses. If Gorgias and his unit survive the attack and do not retreat, then the cavalry unit will suffer the loss of 1 block before any battleback.This is a once per game event.

HERE you will find a complete list of all scenarios by Jim Duncan.

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