Victory Results:
 25 %
Record a victory for BOTTOM ARMY  75 %
Total plays 8 - Last reported by mk20336 on 2024-06-11 21:18:05

Historical Background

Responding to a request for help from the Goths, the Alemanni chieftains Leutharis and Butilinus invaded central Italy in 554. Leutharis soon turned back home, laden with spoils. Butilinus, possibly persuaded by the Goths to restore their kingdom with himself as king, resolved to remain. The following summer he marched to Campania and erected a camp on the banks of the Volturnus. When Narses found out about the location of the Alemanni camp, he set forth at the head of an 18,000 strong force. His army included infantry, heavy cavalry, horse archers and a contingent of Heruli mercenaries. While both sides were forming up for battle, a Heruli captain killed a servant and was executed by Narses, causing the refusal to fight of the rest of the Heruli. However, this did not stop Narses who, faced with the solid and deep-arrayed Alemanni infantry, chose a disposition similar to that of the Battle of Taginae, with the infantry in the center, backed by archers, and the cavalry on the wings. The Alemanni advanced in a large wedge formation and smashed into the Byzantine center. They quickly penetrated the gap left by the Heruli, but Narses commanded his cavalry to wheel on their flanks and attack the Alemanni from their exposed rear. The Alemanni, already engaged with the Byzantine infantry, were unable to turn and face their more mobile enemies. As confusion started to spread amongst the Alemanni, the Heruli finally returned to the fray. The Alemanni defeat was already certain; it was now to be annihilation.

War Council
Alemanni Army (Use Tan blocks and Byzantine Inspired Actions)
• Leader: Butilinus
• 5 Command Cards
• 4 Inspired Action tokens
• Move First

Byzantine Army (Use Purple blocks)
• Leader: Narses
• 5 Command Cards
• 3 Inspired Action tokens

Victory
6 Banners

Special Rules
• If at any moment the Byzantine player has two more victory banners than the Alemanni player, two Byzantine Warrior units and one attached leader are placed in two baseline hexes of the central section, on the Byzantine side. The Heruli enter the battle.
• The Byzantine Medium and Heavy Cavalry units are armed with bows.
• The river Vulturnus is impassable.


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