alternatehistory.com

June 7, 168 BC: Third Macedonian War--King Perseus of Macedon is informed that a little over eight thousand Roman soldiers led by Publius Cornelius Scipio Nasica Corculum are approaching his position on the river Elpeus from the rear. A force of sixteen thousand Macedonians, led by the king himself(1) and featuring the elite Sacred Squadron cavalry force(2), quickly takes up position on the approach road to the main Macedonian position.

June 9, 168 BC: Battle of the Elpine River--Corculum's force clashes with the Macedonians. The battle is more difficult than expected by Perseus and his advisors, as superior Roman swords and armor nearly turn the tide in close-quarters combat. As the battle is gradually turning against the Macedonians, a well-timed charge of the Sacred Squadron devastates the Romans; Corculum falls under the thundering hooves of the royal cavalry. The Romans are routed-- approximately five thousand are killed or captured.

June 11, 168 BC: Disturbed by the Romans' near-success in attacking his rear at the Elpeus, Perseus orders the Macedonian force--forty-four thousand strong--to encamp instead at the village of Katerini, south of the city of Pydna. The area is mostly level plains, good for both the phalanx and the Macedonian cavalry. Mistakenly believing the Romans are to the south, Perseus deploys his forces in that direction.

June 12, 168 BC: The survivors arrive at the main Roman encampment north of Callinicus. There, the consul Lucius Aemilius Paullus is dismayed to learn of the fate of Corculum's force; upon hearing of Perseus' relocation, however, Paullus is emboldened, and orders his forces southwards, to meet the Macedonians at Katerini.

June 20, 168 BC: A Macedonian scout sees the Roman forces northwest of Katerini and reports back to Perseus. Realizing his error, Perseus orders his forces to redeploy. However, when the Romans arrive two days later, they are not yet fully in position due to recent rain storms muddying the plains(3).

June 22, 168 BC: Battle of Pydna--The superior discipline and long pikes of the Macedonians successfully deflect the first few Roman attacks, forcing them from the level plains onto the more difficult terrain closer to Pydna. Here, however, the swords and armor of the Romans again proves the better--furthermore, a gap opens up in the phalanx, cutting off the Macedonian left flank. The Thracian Odrysian light cavalry deployed on the left are forced back, but manage to stay in good order despite the use of elephants by the Romans(4). The gap widens, however, and the Macedonian center is in threat of encirclement. In the nick of time, Perseus, emboldened by his successful tactics at the Elpine River, leads a desperate charge in to the Roman left from his position on the Macedonian right. The Romans are shattered, and begin retreating in disarray, pursued by Perseus' cavalry. Paullus, desperately attempting to rally his troops, is killed by a Macedonian pikeman. The Roman retreat turns into a full rout. By nightfall, only six thousand of the approximately twenty-thousand-strong force will have escaped to the mountains, led by Salvius, a Roman officer. The Romans have been forced out of Macedon yet again.

Notes
(1) This is our POD. The army is about 4,000 men larger, includes cavalry, and is led by Perseus himself instead of the much less talented Milo.
(2) That is their actual name. Weird, right?
(3) In OTL, Perseus didn't realize they were approaching from the northwest and the army was completely deployed in the wrong direction. Here, it's a little better.
(4) The left flank does not rout, unlike OTL, due to better preparations. However, as in OTL, the elephants are ineffective against the mercenary Thracians.
* * *

Yeah, so basically Macedon wins the Third Macedonian War. Yay! Comments? Criticisms?
Top