Baetis River 80 BC

Sertorian vs Romans

Historical Background
Quintus Sertorius was a Roman noble who gained a reputation as a skillful military commander in the wars with the Cimbri and Teutones, and then in the Social War. Sertorius supported Marius’ “populares” and opposed Sullas’ “optimates” during the first Roman civil war, 88-81 BC. After being driven from Italy by Sulla and then expelled from Spain by Sulla’s lieutenants, Sertorius conducted a successful campaign in Mauritania, creating a well-trained army in the process. At this time, Lusitanian emissaries approached Sertorius to beg him to lead them in a rebellion against Sulla’s harsh rule in Spain. After winning a naval battle against Aurelius Cotta, Sertorius landed in southern Spain with a small force of Roman infantry and Moorish cavalry that was quickly joined by Lusitanian tribal levies of horse and foot. The Sullan governor of Hither Spain, Lucius Fufidius, gathered his forces and moved to cut Sertorius off at the Baetis River. Although Fufidius commanded a larger army that also included Roman legionnaires, Sertorius outmaneuvered him with his more mobile irregular force. Sertorius won a great victory. Fufidius retired and thousands more flocked to join Sertorius after his stunning victory.
The stage is set. The battle lines are drawn and you are in command. The rest is history.

War Council

Sertorian Army
• Leader: Quintus Sertorius
• 5 Command Cards
• Move First

Roman Army
• Leader: Lucius Fufidius
• 4 Command Cards

Victory
6 Banners

Special Rules
• The Baetis River is fordable river.

• Marius Legions Rule is in effect for both armies.

Tags: Banners: 6 Army: Roman Army: Sertorian Terrain: forest Terrain: river Special Rule: Marian Legion Game Box: Expansion 3

Last Updated on Thursday, 15 July 2010 14:05

Discuss (2 posts)

Tuscan Centurion

Re:302 Baetis River (80 BC)
Oct 17 2010 03:25:55

Played this yesterday as the Sertorian side against a regular opponent - King Billy's 14 yo son.

Both sides exchanged missle fire and slowly manoeuvred their troops to get into a good position. Roman Ranged Fire was more telling and eventually forced the Sertorian slingers and archers from the field (2-1).
The Sertorians keep plugging away and used the cavalry to clear their side of the Baetis River to start outflanking the Roman line. (2-2)
That started a slide in fortune for the Sertorians as the Roman legion and warriors started to cut through the left of the Sertorian line like a knife through butter taking out the Lusitanian levies (Auxilia and archers)(5-2).

Sertorius saw the importance of intervention and moved his heavies into the line to hammer the Roman cohorts. Heavy losses for both sides made the game a much closer affair (5-4) and victory finally came to the Sertorians after the heavy infantry took out a Roman cohort and leader in one combat. A narrow win!

#949

King Billy

Re:302 Baetis River (80 BC)
Aug 13 2010 22:12:46

Pete and I decided to play the Sertonius campaign, 4 games in a row, countering the number of banners overall.

Baetis River is the first.

I got the Romans. Pete learnt a lesson about putting light infantry into the battle line. He used a Line Command to move all of this main line forward. I used a Counter attack to move mediums and warriors into contact. He evaded with his lights as much as he could, but a couple were pinned with other units blocking retreats and died. This allowed me to advance and battle again against his heavies.

Pete's dice abandoned him. they were just bad. His heavies killed one of my mediums, but then both died. I spent the rest of the game rounding up light infantry to win 6-2. A four flag advantage to me. This was gunna be easy! well, not so.......

#929

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Baetis River 80 BC

Sertorian vs Romans

War Council

Other battles in Sertorian War (82-72 BC)