426 BC The Battle of Olpae

It was the battle in the Peloponnesian Wars where the Athenian general Demosthenes beat the Spartan Eurylochos with a simple trick. So we decided to give it a go in 28mm using Hail Caesar (plus some new useful rules for the era) Bart played the Athenians while Alisdair played the Spartan king with the help of Mike who played the Ambracians and some Peloponnesian auxiliaries. The set up was almost historical as we decided to beef it up with a dash of greek cavalry for both sides (and I swapped the line build up form left to the right).

Now in history (in short) Demosthenes hid some of his peltasts and some lighter hoplites behind some hills and they sprung the trap after the main stay of the spartan army was way behind them, thus be able to roll up the line from the weakest point up.

Bart and the Delians got the 1st turn as the Spartans decided to "pray" a bit longer - but Bart failed to move his command. Then the Peloponnesians moved slowly forward while Bart still couldn't move his line. It seemed the gods didn't like the scheming way of Demosthenes. By the time the Spartan army triggered the hidden units of the Athenian allies to spring forward - these Amphylochians were on their own, because Barts army was still way behind ...

And thus it continued, while Alisdair as Spartan king and new found hero of the gods rolled and played very well, Barts rolls got worse. He was able to hold off the Spartan King‘s body guard for quite a remarkable while, but to no avail. Previously he lost his cavalry clash (yes, I know a first for Bart as well) and then his auxiliaries won over Mikes, but he could not really capitalise on this.

So in short the Athenian army was decaying slowly, along with Barts dice luck, in front of our very eyes. Still he fought bravely on until the very last phalanx, but in the end it was a sounding victory for Alisdair and Mike and the Peloponnes. I guess I can say we all had our fun or at the very least a new experience.

Next time we will do the battle of Amphipolis (422 BC, it will be Brasidas vs Cleon). But I guess we better will be all praying to the gods to give us their favour and more luck in rolling the dice than Bart had in his battle.

Barts Delian line

Alisdairs Spartan line

The changed set up

the original set up

the Delian stats

the Peloponnesian stats

the trap springs out of their hiding ground

But the Delian line is fragmented

The cavalry will clash

The Athenian slingers pepper the Kings bodyguard

But still the Athenian allies hardly move

first clash of hoplites

The Spartan king advances

More push of doris

a temporary set back for the Spartan allies

and another clash of phalanges

slowly the battle line entwines

but the Athenian centre is holding!

The Spartans are almost hesitant

still the Delians hold

The Athenians have now a free flank ... but cannot exploit it

soon all the lines are in fight

the Peloponnesian auxiliaries hesitate

The Delian elite city guard, the 500 schefel man, are getting enclosed by Sparta

soon  the Spartan Horse will attack their back

The Delians getting pushed back

The regular Spartans arrive

the Delian guard holds out

aaand holds out

but then has to have a break test ... you guessed it ... 

the last unit of the Delian centre must do a break test ... its over!