Victory Results:
 38 %
Record a victory for BOTTOM ARMY  62 %
Total plays 26 - Last reported by Thermopylae on 2023-03-02 20:14:47

The Battle of Adrianople, 378, is one of the more decisive battles of the late empire, sometimes mistakenly called the “beginning of the end of the Empire.”
While its effects are well known, its details are surprisingly vague. We can be confident that the battle started before the Romans had their army entirely ready, due to an impatient subordinate commander, but reports vary on whether this happened on the right or the left flank! Perhaps the details are murky because so many of the Roman leaders died, including the emperor himself. What we do know is that the Romans blundered their way into the fight.
We therefore present two Commands & Colors: Ancients interpretations of this Epic historical battle for your gaming pleasure.
Richard Borg & Kevin Duke.

Historical Background
A collection of mostly Goth tribes with some allies petitioned Valens to be allowed land and foederati status to escape the Huns. Valens badly needed allies and agreed, aided in the decision because the Goth leader, Fritigern, had accepted Christianity. Unfortunately, the greed and brutality of the provincial commanders quickly prompted a Goth rebellion. Two years of running battles against subordinate Romans ensued, with no clear winners or significant victories. Valens petitioned the Western emperor for help and took the field himself. In August, his scouts reported finding a large Goth camp and Valens moved in for the kill, electing not to wait—as requestedfor the supporting Roman army Gratian was leading to help. We can surmise Valens wanted to gain the victory himself and recognized he had significant superiority over the Goth camp and laager. We do not know if he believed the Goth cavalry were off on a raid or what, but clearly he aimed to defeat the camp quickly. His troops made a seven-hour march over difficult terrain and met with a variety of emissaries and delaying tactics from Fritigern. When a hasty attack began on one (or the other) flank, Valens launched a general attack on the position. His army was heavily engaged all along the laager position when the Goth cavalry returned, hitting first one flank and then the other. The Roman cavalry was first to rout, leaving the infantry to be surrounded and cut down. About 2/3 of the entire Roman army was destroyed, including Valens and most of the top generals. The disaster changed the very character of the empire and made certain the Goths would be major players for the next several centuries.
The stage is set. The battle lines are drawn and you are in command. Can you change history?

War Council

Goths (Use green Barbarian blocks)
• Leader: Fritigern
• 7 Command Cards 

Roman Army (Use purple Roman blocks)
• Leader: Valens
• 7 Command Cards 
• Move First

Victory
16 Banners

Special Rules
• A Roman unit that occupies an enemy camp hex at the start of the Roman player's turn, may remove the camp hex and gain 3 Victory Banners that cannot be lost. Remove the camp hex before playing a Command card.

Imperial Legions rule is in effect for the Romans.

• The Laager is controlled by the Goths and may be destroyed by Roman units.

 

all materials from C3i Magazine is Copyright ©Rodger B. MacGowan (RBM Publication)

all C&C Ancients Scenarios in C3i Magazine are Official and Approved by Richard Borg

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Thermopylae replied the topic:
1 year 1 month ago
The Battle of Adrianople – 378 AD (Somewhere in modern day Turkey)

Battle 1
Roman Left (Gary) centre (Vince) and right (Paul) + overall Command
Goths Right (Andy P) Centre (Ian) and Left (Wayne) + overall Command

Battle 2
Roman Left (Ian) Centre (Andy P) and Right (Wayne) + overall Command
Goths Right (Gary) Centre (Paul) and Left (Vince) + overall Command

The night before the “Adrian Octopus” battle the Goths general Fritigern (Wayne) sleep was
disturbed with frightening visions.

He had seen a Roman attack on his camp. His men had assembled a laager (circle of Wagons) to
defend it but his cavalry were still some way off, when the Romans arrived.
The Imperial Romans hurled their pilums at his defenders on the Laager, fired their ballista at his
scouts posted in the trees and charged with their cavalry on his right. His light troops not protected
by the laager scattered and then the Roman cavalry charged some more cutting down his light
troops in the open. Parts of his own cavalry arrived only to be repelled by the Roman heavy cavalry
and then pursued and destroyed.

The Romans then advanced on the laager and the killing began. With a Clash of shields the Goths
threw back the first assault but further assaults followed. The Goths fought bravely but their losses
were higher than the Romans. His own cavalry on the left joined the battle but were thrown back by
Roman cavalry and he saw his own death (Wayne) cut down trying to rally the line. The fighting was
heavy and more desperate all across the line and the Goths dead mounted to the point of defeat.


Fritigern (now Vince) awoke this was not an Omen of defeat but a blessing from the Gods. They had
spoken directly to him telling him what he must do. Word was sent out to the cavalry still some
distance away to advance as quickly as they could, his field commanders must stand where the
fighting would be the heaviest and every Double Hard Bxxxxxds (DHB) the Goths could muster must
defend the Laager like their very lives depended on it. He would be ready for the Romans and
wouldn’t be surpri……..The Romans double advanced in the centre and crashed through the Goths
line. There were Romans on the laager before the Goths make-up was dry. Men were thrown into
the fight only to be met by a Clash of Shields (That was supposed to be a Goths move) and now
DHB’s were dying in their droves. Even weakened Roman units were advancing and destroying
entire fresh Goth units. It was every man for himself in a desperate battle for survival to defend the
camp until Entoyment closing time. But where were the cavalry?

With the battle slipping away from them before it had even begun the Goths left cavalry finally
joined the fray. A lone Roman cavalry unit had advanced and was vulnerable. Roman cavalrymen
heads would adorn the Goths spears before nightfall. Surrounded, cut off and outnumbered the
Roman unit saw off everything the Goths could throw at it.

The Goths centre was destroyed, it’s cavalry now disheartened and the Romans were inside their
camp. Now or never was the Goths last “ALL IN” move to try and turn the day. With only a handful of
Goths here and there and a couple of slingers with one stone between them. “ALL IN” became “ALL
OUT” and the Goths were defeated.
Rome: 2 Vs Goths: 0
Tristelune replied the topic:
3 years 5 months ago
The assault agains the Goth center fail, but the roman wings fight hard and pusgh the goth cavalry out of board. The luck with dices help a lot. Roman victory 16-15.
Really nice fight
esparver73 replied the topic:
3 years 10 months ago
The Romans assaulted the Goth center but the laager defense is too strong to take it easily and while there was some attrition the Goth wings crushed the Roman units. The final was very tight with a Goth victory 16-15.