The Battle of Adrianople 378AD After Action Report
Posted: Sat Dec 26, 2009 10:02 pm
In 378AD the Emperor Valens marched against the Goths to quell a rebellion in Thrace. The battle began as the Roman left wing cavalry and their second line of infantry were still deploying. The Emperor was to lose his life and two thirds of his army in a battle which would have far reaching consequences for the future of the Empire.
Initial positions:
Gothic Turn 1:
The Alan and Hun LC shower the Romans with arrows, then the Gothic HC charge the Roman left flank, driving back the LC and impact the Scutarii Prima which takes heavy casualties. The Gothic right flank archers advance and let loose on the Roman left flank infantry, after which the right flank Gothic infantry charge down the hill and impact the Romans. On the other end of the line, the Gothic archers shower the Roman cavalry with arrows.
End of Gothic Turn 1:
Roman Turn 1:
The Roman cavalry on the left try to hold back the Gothic onslaught, while their second line of infantry are still trying to get into a proper battle formation. The Roman right wing cavalry slowly begin to advance...
Beginning of Gothic turn 2:
Gothic Turn 2:
The Alan and Hun LC again shower the Romans with arrows, softening them up for another charge. The Comites Sagittarii Iuniores are routed, as are the Scutarii Prima, who disrupt the Scutarii Secunda who just happen to be in their way. The Equites Promoti Seniores and the Scutarii Secunda both evade when charged. The Gothic archers on both flanks continue showering the Romans with arrows. The Sagittarii Seniores Gallicani are routed after being charged in the flank, while the Constantiani has been fragmented. The Roman first line of infantry is beginning to waver...
End of Gothic turn 2:
Roman Turn 2:
The Roman right wing cavalry finally charge, driving one of the Gothic archers off of the map (it evades). The Roman first line of infantry are now fully engaged. The fighting is getting desperate, as the Mattiaci Seniores are fragmented and several units in the second line are disrupted as the Constantiani is routed and the Sagittarii Seniores Gallicani continues its rout. The Equites Promoti Seniores charge the Gothic cavalry, attempting to stop the disaster that is unfolding before their eyes.
Beginning of Gothic Turn 3:
Gothic Turn 3:
The Alan and Hun LC maneuver around the Comites Clibanarii showering them with arrows. The Scutarii Secunda are softened up by the Gothic archers before being charged by the HC. They are fragmented, as is the Equites Promoti Seniores. The Roman advance up the hill has been repulsed, as the Mattiaci Seniores and the Tertii Sagittarii Valentis have been routed. The Roman second line of infantry is in disarray, but the Gothic left flank is wide open. Can the Roman cavalry take advantage of this in time?
End of Gothic Turn 3:
Roman Turn 3:
The Romans throw their second line of infantry into the fight, but it is too little too late. There are fragmenting and routing units everywhere. The Roman left wing cavalry has all but disappeared, while their
right wing did nothing. There is nothing left to stop the Gothic cavalry from encircling and destroying the Roman infantry.
End of Roman Turn 3:
The End:
I played the Gothic side.
Initial positions:
Gothic Turn 1:
The Alan and Hun LC shower the Romans with arrows, then the Gothic HC charge the Roman left flank, driving back the LC and impact the Scutarii Prima which takes heavy casualties. The Gothic right flank archers advance and let loose on the Roman left flank infantry, after which the right flank Gothic infantry charge down the hill and impact the Romans. On the other end of the line, the Gothic archers shower the Roman cavalry with arrows.
End of Gothic Turn 1:
Roman Turn 1:
The Roman cavalry on the left try to hold back the Gothic onslaught, while their second line of infantry are still trying to get into a proper battle formation. The Roman right wing cavalry slowly begin to advance...
Beginning of Gothic turn 2:
Gothic Turn 2:
The Alan and Hun LC again shower the Romans with arrows, softening them up for another charge. The Comites Sagittarii Iuniores are routed, as are the Scutarii Prima, who disrupt the Scutarii Secunda who just happen to be in their way. The Equites Promoti Seniores and the Scutarii Secunda both evade when charged. The Gothic archers on both flanks continue showering the Romans with arrows. The Sagittarii Seniores Gallicani are routed after being charged in the flank, while the Constantiani has been fragmented. The Roman first line of infantry is beginning to waver...
End of Gothic turn 2:
Roman Turn 2:
The Roman right wing cavalry finally charge, driving one of the Gothic archers off of the map (it evades). The Roman first line of infantry are now fully engaged. The fighting is getting desperate, as the Mattiaci Seniores are fragmented and several units in the second line are disrupted as the Constantiani is routed and the Sagittarii Seniores Gallicani continues its rout. The Equites Promoti Seniores charge the Gothic cavalry, attempting to stop the disaster that is unfolding before their eyes.
Beginning of Gothic Turn 3:
Gothic Turn 3:
The Alan and Hun LC maneuver around the Comites Clibanarii showering them with arrows. The Scutarii Secunda are softened up by the Gothic archers before being charged by the HC. They are fragmented, as is the Equites Promoti Seniores. The Roman advance up the hill has been repulsed, as the Mattiaci Seniores and the Tertii Sagittarii Valentis have been routed. The Roman second line of infantry is in disarray, but the Gothic left flank is wide open. Can the Roman cavalry take advantage of this in time?
End of Gothic Turn 3:
Roman Turn 3:
The Romans throw their second line of infantry into the fight, but it is too little too late. There are fragmenting and routing units everywhere. The Roman left wing cavalry has all but disappeared, while their
right wing did nothing. There is nothing left to stop the Gothic cavalry from encircling and destroying the Roman infantry.
End of Roman Turn 3:
The End:
I played the Gothic side.