422 Immae (272 AD)

Details
Written by: GMT Games
Category: Palmyrene War
Hits: 15335
Total Plays: 57
Top Army
(40%)
Bottom Army
(60%)

Historical Background
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 repelling the Romans at the same time. Queen Zenobia believed that she and her general Zabadas could take Egypt while the Romans were busy with the Germanic tribes of the north. In 272, Emperor Aurelian, fresh from his dramatic victory over the Alemanni, marched east to end the threat from Zenobia and restore the eastern provinces. After overrunning Syria, Aurelian met the main Palmyrene army at Immae, a short distance east of the city of Antioch.
The Battle of Immae began with a Palmyrene cataphract cavalry charge led by Zabadas. After a short struggle, the lighter Roman cavalry formation fell back into a marshy area. Here, as planned, the Roman infantry was waiting to attack the now tired, disorganized cataphract cavalry, who routed and fled. Zenobia and her infantry made a stand on a series of hills until the Romans advanced and cut them apart. The queen and her general retreated to Antioch. After some additional campaigning, Aurelian captured and sacked Palmyra, bringing an end to Zenobia’s empire and restoring the rule of Rome in the East.
The stage is set. The battle lines are drawn and you are in command. Can you change history?

    Light Bow Auxilia           Light Cavalry         Heavy Cavalry       Leader  
    4 2           4         3       2  
  Light Sling   Auxilia         Heavy Infantry Light Cavalry     Medium Cavalry           Leader  
  3   3         3 2     4           3  

War Council

Palmyrene
Leader: Zenobia and Zabadas
5 Command Cards      
Move First

Roman Army
Leader: Emperor Aurelian
6 Command Cards 

Victory
6 Banners

Special Rules
Imperial Legions rule is in effect for the Roman army.

Caltrops rule is in effect for Roman light foot units.

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Discuss this article in the forums (7 replies).
Posts in discussion: 422 Immae (272 AD)
Elitesim replied the topic:
#193549
4 months 6 days ago
I managed to win this one as the Palmyrene today.

My right advanced on his left, using the marsh areas to protect their flanks. I pushed his Cav back and some damage but nothing fancy. My opponent responded by moving his 3 infantry units forward on his right.

My right advanced again, killing his Light Cav that could not retreat because the infantry were behind them. A Heavy Cav advanced to his Heavy Infantry and was wiped out when it attacked by a First Strike card (my opponent gets those a lot). My other Heavy Cav hit his Medium Cav, knocking it down to 1 block.

My opponent responded by moving forward his right and doing some missile fire.

I played a Mounted Charge and advanced in the center and right again. My Heavy Cav on my right did 2 blocks to his Heavy Infantry and was destroyed. I threw my Light Cav on my right at his Heavy Infantry, doing 2 blocks and destroying the unit (yes, that was very lucky). And I killed his leader as well. Then My Light Cav on my right moved to a blocking position against his Slinger and killed it too. One Light Cav destroyed 3 units in one move. It probably isn't a record, but it was memorable.

The units in the middle did some damage while his Cav units retreated, clumping his units without easy retreat paths. He tried to recover the situation and played Spartacus but was only able to activate 2 Heavy Infantry and 2 other units and wasn't able to clear the clogged retreat paths but he killed the Light Cav that had done so much damage.

I activated 2 units in the center and destroyed 2 units in the middle to win the game.  The block count was 23-12 in my favor.
RiverWanderer replied the topic:
#24165
2 years 11 months ago
Zenobia leader should be added to Auxilia on Palmyrene left hill.
Riclev replied the topic:
#18818
3 years 2 weeks ago
In the return match, a completely duff Palmyrene hand allowed the Romans to disrupt the enemy line, and the fifth card played was a Roman cavalry charge which eliminated 6 Palmyrene units for a 6-1 victory. There wasn't much they could have done to prevent this.
Riclev replied the topic:
#17272
3 years 3 weeks ago
The Romans concentrated on eliminating the Palmyrene cataphracts and auxilia infantry, at which point the rest of the battle became a mopping-up operation. However, in the process the Roman medium cavalry was largely destroyed, which together with the loss of a Roman general, made the victory closer than it should have been at 6-5.
GF1954 replied the topic:
#4148
4 years 5 months ago
2 more solitaire games with each side winning one. In the first, Palmrene won 6 - 2, with two of the cataphracts just destroying the Romans in the center. In the rematch, the Romans had better luck against them, winning 6 - 3.
GF1954 replied the topic:
#3824
5 years 3 months ago
2 solitaire games, with the Romans winning both, 6 - 4, and 6 - 5.
driddle01 replied the topic:
#2564
8 years 1 month ago
Similar to history, the Romans eliminated the Palmyrene left flank while maintaing center. The cataphract cavalry came into play, but too late to salvage victory for the Palmyrene force.
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