Julian´s Field Army
This actualy bellong to two distinct battles on the same bridge but i wanted to try out for a short story so...
361 AD – Danube Border
A chill wind blew on the margins of the river on that day. After urgent messages of warning the emperor Julian had brought his field army with the aim of intercepting an invading Quadi tribe.
For weeks their rout was followed and it had come to this. This bridge had to be crossed in order for them to invade our lands. This bridge had to be defended in order for them not to. Do or die. The tribe had no supplies left to look for another path, the Quadi commander needed to make a decision. As we noticed the tribe advance the Emperor deployed our army in our side of the river.
The phalanx was deployed several ranks deep with the heavy armored front rankers supported by lighter armed infantryman equipped with verutas and lanceas. At the last ranks archers were ready. Our emperor kept two cuneos in reserve and deployed equites sagitari in both sides of the phalanx in order to guard the river and abort any attempt to cross. Swimmers would feed the fish. The heavy cavalry was held back in reserve. We waited.
In the front ranks Marcus watched the massed tribe moving on the bridge and wonder how did life managed to take him from his origins in Iberia to this moment. A pedes belonging to the Herculiani for one year now this was to be his first battle. His prowess demonstrated in training earned him the first line. Right now this seemed a dubious honor as the cries of the barbarians reached is hears. Nervously the young boy checked his equipment trying to keep his mind away from what was about to happen. The shield, the plumbatae, his spatha, the laces of the mail were checked again and again. The commotion on the stomach was ignored. “Please, don’t let me throw up, not now” he thought in desperation. A few sounds around them revealed that if he did, he wouldn’t be the first.
-It will start soon now. - Almost in a whisper, said Rutilius right next to him. A veteran from Strasbourg, he was watching the approach of the tribe as if it were a parade of some kind.
-Remember boy, keep your shield up, and stay sharp next to me. If we live trough this maybe we will be richer man tomorrow. Leave my side to run and i will kill you myself and then you will have nothing to fear from my countrymen. - He added as if he was joking. Marcus looked on the big Germanic man and replied sharply-Don’t worry I will wait for you to be hacked by one of those guys, before fleeing.
-AH, little man if I fall then you will already be dead. -Said Rutilius smiling -so let us both try to get out of this alive.-Remember-said the Ducenarius, - Silence, observe orders, do not worry, keep your position and follow the standard. Do not leave the standard to pursue the enemy. You have been trained for this. Those barbarians ahead are many but they have no training, no armor. Commilitiones If you keep the line we will win. We will kill them and take their loot. After this they will scatter like wind. Here they come. CLOSE RANKS AND HOLD YOUR GROUND!
Shield front and sword on the right Marcus assumed his position on the shield wall. The barritus of the Quadi echoed in his ears and the legion replied in the same manner. Warlords danced in front of their man teasing and showing their prowess like heroes of hold. And suddenly in began. The Quadi rushed on the bridge and Julian ordered the archers to fire.
The light cavalry of the Quadi took stormed the bridge under a rain of fire and steal hitting men, maiming horses, causing havoc in what had been a powerful charge. The few that reached the infantry line were cut to pieces or fled in terror.
All was happening fast in front of Marcus eyes as he fought to maintain control of his body ordering him to run away. The heavy horse and the infantry were now following eager to avenge their tribesman. The Ducenarius shouted-Plumbatae ready….THROW. The front ranks threw their darts followed by the javelins of the following ranks. It was chaos.
Deprived of armor or protection other than a few helmets and shields, the Quadi infantry suffered losses in masse. Their better protected cavalry suffered but still charged the line.-HOLD THE LINE NOW, GET READY! -As the Quadi charged the line Marcus thought it was over. But the horses wouldn’t charge the solid mass of infantry and the momentum was lost.
The fight expanded trough the line as the riders looked for a gap where to push. Marcus and Rutilius were now in a fight for their survival. Holding is ground Marcus exchanged blown with the enemy in front of them. A rider tried to hit him with a spear blow. Crouching while raising his shield, Marcus felt the impact reaching his arm. Thrusting is sword he hit the exposed leg of the rider. As the rider tried to flee Rutilius spatha was on his flank and the Quadi fell. As he looked for a new enemy, the pedes on his right jerked when an arrow pierced is throat. A huge Quadi bearing an axe threw a slashing cut on Rutilius. Rutilius blocked it with his shield splintering it on the process. As the warrior raised his axe for a new strike, Marcus hit him with the shield and finished him with a thrust of his sword.
On their backs Julian was following the battle closely. All was going well but infantry was crossing the shallows of the river. Quickly he sent a messenger ordering the Equites Sagitari to attack this new threat. Then seeing that the Quadi charged was losing ground he said to his staff -Let’s end this, order the reserves cuneos to charge their center and our lighter cavalry to pursue the routing enemy. The day is won. -As he watched the routing Quadi flee Julian himself charged with his Candidati in pursuit.
The battle was not at the end and two tired legionaries paused regaining their breath, while the Ducenarius and the Draconarius reformed the line. The fresh reserves after a brief pursuit of the enemy had been already called off leaving that task for the cavalry.
-Is it over?-asked Marcus still gasping looking for air. -Yes, today it’s over.- Rutilius replied. -Come lets, tend our wounded and then we will try to find some valuable loot among all this, drink some wine because today we won and today we are alive.
As they returned to the line, Rutillius added -Oh and try to find a nice helmet in all this will you? Mine took a huge dent.