Historical Background
After repeated incursions into Moesia and Dacia by the Goths under Cniva, the Roman Emperor Gaius Messius Quintus Decius (often called “Trajan Decius”) moved to confront the barbarian invaders. Accompanied by his son Herennius Etruscus and his general Trebonianus Gallus, Decius led a major military expedition into the lower Danube, where he forced Cniva with his main army to abandon the siege of Nicopolis. Decius and the Romans pursued Cniva through difficult terrain and after a series of forced marches caught Cniva near Abritus. The Battle of Abrittus is also known as the Battle of Forum Terebronii.
Cniva had divided his forces prior to the battle, and even though the Romans easily defeated the enemy front line, when they pursued the retreating enemy into the swamps, Cniva’s concealed forces attacked. Cniva’s tactical maneuver proved to be very successful and the Romans were surprised and slaughtered. Decius’ son Herennius was killed early in the battle, but the emperor proclaimed that “the death of one soldier is not a great loss to the republic” and continued fighting. Decius himself was slain soon thereafter, gaining the distinction of being the first Roman emperor killed in battle against a foreign enemy.
After the battle, Trebonianus Gallus was acclaimed the new emperor. With his army shattered, Gallus was forced to allow Cniva to leave with his spoils and promised to pay tribute in order to keep the Goths from invading the empire again.
The stage is set. The battle lines are drawn and you are in command. Can you change history?
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
|||||||||||||||
| 2 | 2 | 8 | 2 | 3 | |||||||||||||||
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
|||||||||||
| 2 | 3 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 3 |
War Council
Goths
Leader: Cniva
5 Command Cards 
Roman Army
Leader: Decius
4 Command Cards
Move First 
Victory
6 Banners
Special Rules
Imperial Legions rule is in effect for both armies.
