The Battle of Tarentum - 474 AUC
Background
After the fall of Cannae, Tiberius and Aulus could not afford to bask in their success. A far more dangerous foe than the city state loomed before Rome in the form of Pyrrhus of Epeiros, a Greek king of worrying talent and power. Tarentum, requesting his help, had got more than they bargained for with part of the Epirot army garrisoned in their city. The kings own son Kreon was in charge of this force, while Pyrrhus himself led the main army.
Knowing the vast damage this invader could cause to Roman lands, the two consuls decided to advance on Tarentum itself, and force a battle before the Greeks could entrench themselves. Therefore, in a risky manouver, both halves of the Republican Legio I marched south in an attempt to draw Pyrrhus away from the reinforcement garrison. However, the king would not be enticed by this action, and eventually the decision was made to attack his position, in the hope that they could destroy his army before any reinforcements could arrive.
The Battle
Pyrrhus had positioned his army so that the Romans would have to charge uphill into a wall of pikes. On his right flank were fearsome war elephants, terrifying to the Roman eyes since they had never before seen such creatures. Even worse for the Romans was that their original plan of annihilating the main Epirot force before reinforcements arrived seemed ruined by the sight of Kreons force coming in from the right.
However, though Tiberius had lined up his force in the centre against Pyrrhus, Aulus and his legion marched in from the left, hoping to outflank the Greek army. The battle could no longer be avoided, and a Roman defeat meant all southern Italia lay open to the invaders.
The two main armies soon closed the gap between them, and the Roman lines gave a roar as pilum were hurled through the air, thudding into metal and bone with horrific sounds. However, the Epirots gave their own war cry, and steadily marched down the slope, pikes gleaming in the sunlight.
Tiberius was fully aware of the danger posed by the war elephants, and had positioned all of his velites on his left flank to try and counter the beasts. As the mighty animals rumbled forward, hundreds of javelins whistled through the air as the Romans opened fire. Shrieks came from the elephants as iron found its mark, and soon each of them lay dead on the ground. Tiberius tactic prevailed.
With battle joined, Pyrrhus tried to outflank his enemy by sending a contingent of Aetolian cavalry swinging around to the right. However, this move was countered by Tiberius who ordered his depleted equites to engage them in a ferocious cavalry battle. The fight grew ever more desperate as Kreons army moved ever closer to the scene.
As the battle wore on, the Roman centre began to buckle, outnumbered as they were. Pyrrhus himself saw them weakening, and led a tremendous charge with his cavalry bodyguard in an attempt to rout the brave Roman soldiers. However, the sons of Rome stood their ground, even in the face of such overwhelming odds, and Pyrrhus cut down from his horse and slain.
As the Greeks were reeling with the news of their dead king, disaster struck yet again for them. Aulus' legion had finally reached the battle, and drove hard into the flanks of the pikemen. Kreon was still a fair way from the fighting, and could do nothing to stop the roman infantry and cavalry from sweeping in en masse, and quickly routing the main Epirot force.
With the main army in flight, Kreon's men were faced with overwhelming numbers of Romans. The small garrison was very quickly surrounded and destroyed, with Kreon himself dying on the same field as his father.
The Roman cavalry chased down and slaughtered the fleeing invaders, and stood triumphant on the blood soaked field. The Epirot king and his son were dead, their bodies among the many lying in the grass.
Roma Victor!
The Aftermath
Nearly two and a half thousand Greeks were killed on the plains outside of Tarentum in the winter of 474 AUC. A great king and his son were among them, and Tiberius was hailed as a saviour of Rome, and promised a Triumph on his return to the hallowed city. Tarentum, defeated and humiliated, surrendered to Rome, and lost four thousand of their number to the slave traders.
However, the victory was bitter, with Legio I down to half strength, and even worse, the death of a consul. Aulus Maxentius, son of Tiberius Maxentius was killed in heroic battle with the Epirot invaders. His blood too stained the fields, but his death gave life to the Roman Republic. We honour his memory, and those of his fallen comrades in this book. Jupier, bless their names.
[RS AAR] An Encyclopedic History: The Rise of Rome
Reply With Quote
Originally Posted by Rebel Jeb
