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208 BC part1. The two battles of Cabelio.
208 BC part 1
Gaul theatre
Scipio tried to use diplomacy to pacify the Gallic tribes in the ex Allobroges lands but the local population was rather hostile. From there he marched South to Mesachora were he meet fierce resistance from the locals. After a small siege he sacked the city. From Mesachora he marched to Avenio were after a small battle with the local garrison he conquer the city.
Meanwhile in Massalia a new army of four tagmata under Pantaleon(a total of thirty thousands)was raised fast to march against Scipio. Another army of three tagmata (a total of twenty thousands) was raised by Palaioi company in Tolosa and an army of two tagmata (a total of twelve thousands) was raised by Dynatoi company in Emporion. The two armies meet North of Agathe and marched under Strategos Nikephoros to Arelate.
By the time that the companies army reached Arelate, Scipio and Pantaleon armies meet each other in Durance river near the city of Cabelio.
After reaching the North bank of the river, Scipio decided to rest for one day. The Romans collected boats and built rafts as they prepared to cross the river. Pantaleon army encamped in the South bank and awaited the Roman crossing attempt.
Scipio put Phillo in charge of a mobile column made up of infantry and cavalry and sent this force upriver(East) under cover of darkness to find another suitable crossing place. Phillo located a crossing about 20 km to the East of the Roman camp and crossed the river undetected with the aid of hastily built rafts. Some even crossed the river using inflated animal skins. This detachment then rested for a day. They moved south on the following night (the second night after leaving the main army) and arrived behind the League camp at dawn.
Phillo signalled Scipio by lighting a beacon and using smoke. A small Roman decoy force started to cross the river by small boats. The League, seeing the boats being launched, massed on the South riverbank to oppose the Romans. An artillery rain started to hit the Romans pretty hard. Phillo, timing his attack, sent part of his force to set the League camp on fire while the rest of his force fell on the rear of the League army and especially in the artillery of the League. Some of the Massaliotes then moved to defend the camp and the artillery. At the same time the main Roman army started to cross the river. The rafts carrying the “elite” cavalry units were furthest upstream,while boats carrying dismounted cavalry crossed below them, with three or four horses in tow, tied to their boats. These took the brunt of the river's current and the mobile infantry in canoes were placed below them. Some soldiers crossed the river by swimming. Scipio himself was among the first to cross, and the rest of the Roman army assembled on the North bank to cheer their comrades while they waited their turn to cross. Battle was soon joined on the South shore but the Romans despite heavy losses managed to establish a foothold. After an hour that Scipio’s group established a foothold, a Massaliot tagma ,of new recruits, that caught in the middle of Scipio’s and Phillo forces panicked and started to root. Soon after the whole League force started to root. It was a great victory for Scipio although a costly one. The League lost twenty thousands troops and Scipio around nine thousands. His army now was less than twenty six thousands.
***The map above is 208 BC and not 209 BC***
After this victory Scipio rushed to march against Massalia itself. The next day, the companies army caught up with him and blocked his way to the capital. The same night, Scipio tried to ambush the League army by approaching by stealth and setting fire to their camp, but the attempt failed due to league’s scouts reports. The next day the two armies meet in the battle field. Scipio led a pre-Marian Roman army quincunx, along with a body of stirrup/war saddle cavalry. Nikephoros led an army composed of tagmata, stirrup/war saddle heavy cavalry,stirrup/war saddle cavalry archers and artillery. Nikephoros deployed his troops facing northeast, while Scipio deployed his troops in front of the Massaliot League army facing southwest. Both armies put their infantry in the center and the cavalry on the flanks.The greatest concern for Scipio was the League artillery. He came up with an ingenious plan to deal with them. He put most of his cavalry on the flanks but kept a significant number in the center behind the infantry. When the battle started he ordered his center infantry, after the initial march, to move slightly back before the skirmish start and then split in the middle and charge in the left and the right leaving an open spot in the middle of the center. Then his cavalry charged the middle. This unorthodox move made the Massaliot league artillery confused and thus delayed to start shooting. The center of the League surprised and heavily pressed by the Roman cavalry was close to route. At that moment Nikephoros ordered his artillery to start shooting in that area, without caring about shooting even the League troops! This was the turning point of the battle. The roman cavalry in the center was almost annihilated. Meanwhile in the left flank Massaliot league cavalry rooted the Roman cavalry. Then the League cavalry attacked the Roman line from behind.This was the beginning of the end for the Roman army.The Roman infantry was encircled and annihilated. Still few thousands of Romans, including Scipio, managed to escape the slaughter. The League army lost seven thousands and the Romans more than fifteen thousands plus four thousands prisoners.
***The map above is 208 BC and not 209 BC***
Iberia theatre
The Dynatoi company expedition on the way to Hercules pillars took an open sea route to avoid any conflict with the Carthaginians near Gadir. After some time they reach the pillars and defeated the small Carthaginian fleet. With the pillars again secure they marched to liberate Lixus. In a battle near Lixus the won easily the Carthaginian army. The Trinovantes mercenaries made quite an impression in that battle.
Meanwhile In Iberia Hannibal marched to Malaca where after a small siege liberate it. From there he marched to the ex Carpetani lands where he was seen as a liberator. The Vettone,Carpetani and Celtiberian tribes rebelled and joined Hannibal army. With a massive army of fifty five thousands marched to liberate Carthago Nova.
South Italy theatre
In a battle near Croton, the Massaliot League,Megale Hellas and Spartan coalition army of forty thousands crashed the thirty thousands Roman army.The coalition lost only four thousands troops while Romans more than fourteen. During the battle, The Roman consul Flaccus charged directly against Spartan general Philopoemen with his spear. Bravely, Philopoemen didn't retreat, but waited with his lance, which he mortally thrust into Flaccus chest. By this action, Philopoemen’s fame increased across the coalition troops. After that major victory the Greek coalition planned to liberate the South Italy but under Philopoemens suggestion and huge support from the troops they decided to use Massaliot League, near by, major fleet and go direct for Rome! So After a few weeks of preparation an army of thirty five thousands sailed for Ostia(The port of Rome).
Gaul theatre
Scipio tried to use diplomacy to pacify the Gallic tribes in the ex Allobroges lands but the local population was rather hostile. From there he marched South to Mesachora were he meet fierce resistance from the locals. After a small siege he sacked the city. From Mesachora he marched to Avenio were after a small battle with the local garrison he conquer the city.
Meanwhile in Massalia a new army of four tagmata under Pantaleon(a total of thirty thousands)was raised fast to march against Scipio. Another army of three tagmata (a total of twenty thousands) was raised by Palaioi company in Tolosa and an army of two tagmata (a total of twelve thousands) was raised by Dynatoi company in Emporion. The two armies meet North of Agathe and marched under Strategos Nikephoros to Arelate.
By the time that the companies army reached Arelate, Scipio and Pantaleon armies meet each other in Durance river near the city of Cabelio.
After reaching the North bank of the river, Scipio decided to rest for one day. The Romans collected boats and built rafts as they prepared to cross the river. Pantaleon army encamped in the South bank and awaited the Roman crossing attempt.
Scipio put Phillo in charge of a mobile column made up of infantry and cavalry and sent this force upriver(East) under cover of darkness to find another suitable crossing place. Phillo located a crossing about 20 km to the East of the Roman camp and crossed the river undetected with the aid of hastily built rafts. Some even crossed the river using inflated animal skins. This detachment then rested for a day. They moved south on the following night (the second night after leaving the main army) and arrived behind the League camp at dawn.
Phillo signalled Scipio by lighting a beacon and using smoke. A small Roman decoy force started to cross the river by small boats. The League, seeing the boats being launched, massed on the South riverbank to oppose the Romans. An artillery rain started to hit the Romans pretty hard. Phillo, timing his attack, sent part of his force to set the League camp on fire while the rest of his force fell on the rear of the League army and especially in the artillery of the League. Some of the Massaliotes then moved to defend the camp and the artillery. At the same time the main Roman army started to cross the river. The rafts carrying the “elite” cavalry units were furthest upstream,while boats carrying dismounted cavalry crossed below them, with three or four horses in tow, tied to their boats. These took the brunt of the river's current and the mobile infantry in canoes were placed below them. Some soldiers crossed the river by swimming. Scipio himself was among the first to cross, and the rest of the Roman army assembled on the North bank to cheer their comrades while they waited their turn to cross. Battle was soon joined on the South shore but the Romans despite heavy losses managed to establish a foothold. After an hour that Scipio’s group established a foothold, a Massaliot tagma ,of new recruits, that caught in the middle of Scipio’s and Phillo forces panicked and started to root. Soon after the whole League force started to root. It was a great victory for Scipio although a costly one. The League lost twenty thousands troops and Scipio around nine thousands. His army now was less than twenty six thousands.
***The map above is 208 BC and not 209 BC***
After this victory Scipio rushed to march against Massalia itself. The next day, the companies army caught up with him and blocked his way to the capital. The same night, Scipio tried to ambush the League army by approaching by stealth and setting fire to their camp, but the attempt failed due to league’s scouts reports. The next day the two armies meet in the battle field. Scipio led a pre-Marian Roman army quincunx, along with a body of stirrup/war saddle cavalry. Nikephoros led an army composed of tagmata, stirrup/war saddle heavy cavalry,stirrup/war saddle cavalry archers and artillery. Nikephoros deployed his troops facing northeast, while Scipio deployed his troops in front of the Massaliot League army facing southwest. Both armies put their infantry in the center and the cavalry on the flanks.The greatest concern for Scipio was the League artillery. He came up with an ingenious plan to deal with them. He put most of his cavalry on the flanks but kept a significant number in the center behind the infantry. When the battle started he ordered his center infantry, after the initial march, to move slightly back before the skirmish start and then split in the middle and charge in the left and the right leaving an open spot in the middle of the center. Then his cavalry charged the middle. This unorthodox move made the Massaliot league artillery confused and thus delayed to start shooting. The center of the League surprised and heavily pressed by the Roman cavalry was close to route. At that moment Nikephoros ordered his artillery to start shooting in that area, without caring about shooting even the League troops! This was the turning point of the battle. The roman cavalry in the center was almost annihilated. Meanwhile in the left flank Massaliot league cavalry rooted the Roman cavalry. Then the League cavalry attacked the Roman line from behind.This was the beginning of the end for the Roman army.The Roman infantry was encircled and annihilated. Still few thousands of Romans, including Scipio, managed to escape the slaughter. The League army lost seven thousands and the Romans more than fifteen thousands plus four thousands prisoners.
***The map above is 208 BC and not 209 BC***
Iberia theatre
The Dynatoi company expedition on the way to Hercules pillars took an open sea route to avoid any conflict with the Carthaginians near Gadir. After some time they reach the pillars and defeated the small Carthaginian fleet. With the pillars again secure they marched to liberate Lixus. In a battle near Lixus the won easily the Carthaginian army. The Trinovantes mercenaries made quite an impression in that battle.
Meanwhile In Iberia Hannibal marched to Malaca where after a small siege liberate it. From there he marched to the ex Carpetani lands where he was seen as a liberator. The Vettone,Carpetani and Celtiberian tribes rebelled and joined Hannibal army. With a massive army of fifty five thousands marched to liberate Carthago Nova.
South Italy theatre
In a battle near Croton, the Massaliot League,Megale Hellas and Spartan coalition army of forty thousands crashed the thirty thousands Roman army.The coalition lost only four thousands troops while Romans more than fourteen. During the battle, The Roman consul Flaccus charged directly against Spartan general Philopoemen with his spear. Bravely, Philopoemen didn't retreat, but waited with his lance, which he mortally thrust into Flaccus chest. By this action, Philopoemen’s fame increased across the coalition troops. After that major victory the Greek coalition planned to liberate the South Italy but under Philopoemens suggestion and huge support from the troops they decided to use Massaliot League, near by, major fleet and go direct for Rome! So After a few weeks of preparation an army of thirty five thousands sailed for Ostia(The port of Rome).
- Sersor
- Word Count: 1.2k