JD81 Elasa (160 BC)

Details
Written by: Jim Duncan
Category: Maccabean Revolt (167-160 BC)
Hits: 5744
Victory Results:
 50 %
Record a victory for BOTTOM ARMY  50 %
Total plays 12 - Last reported by SimSportPlyr on 2024-04-13 22:35:02

Historical Background
With his victory at Edasa, Judas Maccabaeus consolidated his control over Judaea and Jerusalem, except for the isolated Seleucid garrison in the Acra fortress. Judas even secured a pact with Rome. Meanwhile in Antioch the former heir to the throne, Demetrius I, had escaped his captivity in Rome and siezed the kingship by killing Lysias and Antiochus V. The eastern satrapies rose in revolt against Demetrius under the leadership of Timarchus. Demetrius headed east and crushed the rebellion, and assigned Bacchides and Alcimus to deal with the Jewish problem. Bacchides had 20,000 foot and 2,000 horse. Judas apparently had only 3,000 troops of whom all but 800 fled before the battle, a clearly ridiculous number considering Judas met the Seleucids in the open and that the battle lasted a long time. Bar Kovcha believes the Jews had rough parity with the Seleucids and therefore felt confident to meet them in open terrain north of Jerusalem. In the account of the battle the Jewish left wing attacked and broke the Seleucid right with Bacchides, and pursued them for a long distance, until the Seleucid left wing cavalry came to the rescue and killed the now surrounded Judas. It is the belief of Bar Kovcha that Bacchides's retreat was feigned in order to draw Judas into the trap where he could be killed thus ending the revolt, but with Judas's death command of the revolt passed to his brother Jonathan and the rebellion continued.
The stage is set. The battle lines are drawn and you are in command. Can you change history?

War Council

Seleucid Army
Leader: Bacchides
Take 5 Command Cards      
Move First

Hasmonean Army
Leader: Judas Maccabaeus
Take 6 Command Cards 

Victory
5 Banners

Special Rules
The Seleucid heavy cavalry unit is cataphract heavy cavalry.

 

Read more notes/rules HERE.

Original PDF : click here to download Jim Duncan maps/scenarios (JDxx)

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Posts in discussion: JD81 Elasa (160 BC)
ozzie replied the topic:
#53055
6 months 2 weeks ago
Game 7, and last, of the Maccabean Revolt campaign. Once again, after my disaster at Beth Zacharia, I am commanding all that heavy infantry pike. What can go wrong....

A resounding 5-1 win to the Hasmoneans. Bacchides and his heavy cavalry charged Judas and his supporting Auxilia and were promptly destroyed. Bacchides fled back to the Seleucid medium infantry who were promptly destroyed. Bacchides fled back to the auxilia unit who were promptly destroyed - every Hasmonean shot hit a mark and Judas charged in to destroy the final block, including the unlucky Bacchides. In desperation the Seleucid left flank of warband and medium cavalry chased the Jewish light cavalry off the board and then were cut to pieces by Simeon and his auxilia unit. Another embarrassing Seleucid loss with the heavy infantry pike spending the battle stationary after the Seleucids failed to draw and any centre, leadership or move heavy troops for the game (again).

The Maccabean Revolt campaign ended with a resounding 28-10 Hasmonean victory.

I cannot recommend enough playing through a succession of linked games. We played 7 in the evening, starting at 7:30 and finishing at 11:30 with drinks and snacks. It is a relaxing way to end the working week. Love this game.
ozzie replied the topic:
#46416
8 months 2 weeks ago
It's tough for the Maccabees - pinned to the baseline and their troops outclassed in all sectors. Line Command got them off the baseline but the Seleucids were already one hex closer. The Judaean cavalry spread out but kept Auxilia in support (or sacrificial protection?). Judaean shooters got some hits on the phalanx and, in a lucky break, hit them first in melee with their medium foot. It was a bloodbath with on phalanx going down, two badly beaten up, but the hits back telling. In the follow-up Seleucid turn, the phalanx crushed the survivors. The Judaean right held but Judas got caught on the left and he and his cavalry punished hard. 5-2 to the Seleucids.
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