Historical Background
During the Iberian War against the Sassanid Empire in the year 528 AD, Emperor Justinian dispatched Belisarius and a small force of infantry from Dara to guard a workforce constructing a fort at Thannuris. The Sassanids heard of the movement and dispatched a proper army to take back the area. These soldiers were not to be taken lightly. Prior to the Hun’s defeat in Gaul, the only nation to defeat the Huns had been the Sassanids. Belisarius sent calls for reinforcements. Bouzes along with his brother Coutzes, assumed to be sons of General Vitalian, marched into the desert to reinforce Belisarius. When the Sassanid troops came into view, the two young and ambitious brothers acted rashly and attacked. Sources are unclear as to whether the Sassanids waited behind obstacles that disordered the Byzantine cavalry and then attacked it, or simply used their larger force to encircle the Byzantines as they charged out of range of Belisarius and his infantry. Whatever the stratagem, the Byzantine cavalry was mauled and fled in disorder. Coutzes was killed. Belisarius wasted no time in ordering the remainder of his forces to disengage and retreat to Dara.
The stage is set. The battle lines are drawn and you are in command. Can you change history?
War Council
Sassanid Army (Use Tan blocks)
• Leader: Not Known
• 5 Command Cards
• 4 Inspired Action tokens
Byzantine Army (Use Purple blocks)
• Leader: Belisarius
• 5 Command Cards
• 2 Inspired Action tokens
• Move First
Victory
6 Banners
Special Rules
- The Sassanid Medium, Heavy and Super Heavy Cavalry units are armed with bows.
- The Byzantine Medium, Heavy and Super Heavy Cavalry units are armed with bows.
