Capture the Centurion

While the Senones are still marshalling their forces, Roman Tribune Marcus Manlius Lupus has established a fortified camp on the border of Etruscan territory. He has been sending out patrols to gain intelligence on Etruscan dispositions and movements.

One such patrol, led by Centurion Quintus Licinius, is returning to camp when it is ambushed by the Etruscans.

Tribune Lupus leads a rescue force out from the camp to help bring the patrol in to safety.

With reinforcements coming up, Quintus falls back to hold a position on the top of a hill. Aule Vipinas leads his Etruscan 2^nd class hoplites against them as Velthur Macstarna’s cavalry begin to work around Quintus’ flank.  The Etruscan cavalry shower the Romans with javelins, scoring a few lucky hits.

The fight for possession of the hill is brutal but gradually the Etruscans gain the upper hand. Quintus is wounded and his men first fall back then they begin to break.

With his men dead or fleeing Centurion Quintus Licinius is captured. The Etruscans have also taken heavy casualties and amongst them is the gallant Purth (general) Aule Vipinas. Now leaderless the Etruscan Hoplites withdraw.

Velthur Macstarna’s cavalry move up the hill to plug the gap but they are countered by a devastating Roman cavalry charge. Suffering 50% casualties, reeling from shock, and with Macstarna wounded, the Etruscan cavalry break.

Meanwhile on the other flank Tribune Lupus leads his elite pilani (hoplites) up against Prince Larth Ulthes’ phalanx. The fight is at first inconclusive as the high status citizens lock shields and engage in a shoving match. Beginning to get the worst of it, the Roman pilani disengage and Tribune Lupus starts to re-order their ranks ready for another go.

The Romans had not counted on the accuracy of the Etruscan slingers on the edge of some nearby woods. The slingers loose a devastating hail of stones that leaves the Roman Pilani in even worse shape.

In the centre of the field the Roman and Etruscan 3^rd & 4^th class levies face each other off.

The Etruscans let loose a deadly hail of javelins against the Roman levies. They respond in kind, supported by skirmishers. The leaders on both sides want to advance their men to finish it off hand to hand but reeling from the shock of repeated javelin volleys, neither side's men are in any condition to do so. They remain facing each other and exchange missiles with decreasing effectiveness.

The denouement comes when Larth Ulthes leads his 1^st Class hoplites forward again against Lupus’ pilani. Still suffering from the shock of the previous combat with the added casualties inflicted by the Etruscan slingers, the Romans begin to fall back.

The Romans are eventually broken and make for the safety of their camp.

The day has been won by the Etruscans who have driven the enemy from the field and managed to capture a Roman centurion in the process.

It was an exciting game which swung both ways and the outcome was not clear until the very end. This was another test game of Andy Hawes’ Dux Italica rules — an adaptation of Dux Britanniarum for skirmishes in 4^th C BC Italy. The rules worked really well and I look forward to their next outing.