Bank Holiday Cunaxa

Cunaxa is one of the very few Persian v Persian battles where we have anything like a decent record, and that's because there were lots of Greeks there. As I was looking to put on a Bank Holiday large Shedquarters refight, after a gap of several years, I chose Cunaxa as since I last ran such a game I've painted lots of Persian infantry and Hoplites.

My guide as usual was Phil Sabin's "Lost Battles", and the chosen rules were Neil Thomas' AMW with the force limits removed.

Each army was 19 units a side, with Artaxerxes (nearest camera) having an extra one as scythe chariots. 

Cyrus has lots of hoplites.

Phil sat down behind the Greeks. He was helped by Chris K, who took most of the rest. Patrick dropped out at the last moment, so I shared the other side with Chris A.

Chris A stood firm on our left whilst I tried to envelope there's. He has a tricky task. He needs to ensure he gets as much archery into those hoplites as he can before they hit his line, so he needs to try everything to slow them down. First up, scythe chariots.

Our heavy cavalry in the distance gets into a tussle with their horse archers as our scythe chariots charge across the plain. In the centre we're attacking with our other cavalry. If we can break through there we can cause the hoplites more troubles. BTW Chris K is the only one of us who doesn't know what happens in the actual battle.

Some of their light archers heroically throw themselves under the hooves of our cavalry to slow us down.

The scythe chariots perform beyond expectations, and destroy half the unit they collide with. They are then removed as destroyed.

Their light cavalry in the distance extract themselves from the melee, and depart, shooting behind themselves.

In the centre the initial clash destroys half of Cyrus' guard cavalry.

The light archers are removed, at the cost of half of one of our heavy cavalry units.

Cyrus' bodyguard takes more punishment. If he doesn't get out of there soon, this could be a short, historical, battle.

Whilst Artaxerxes steadily erodes his opponents, the surviving cavalry from the light infantry combat are overwhelmed.

It's taking a while, but my wing is steadily closing the distance between the two armies. Chris K swings his Persian infantry round to meet the threat.

Cyrus, realising his bodyguard is about to go down fighting...

...hurriedly scampers behind some Greeks.

As the cavalry battle rages in the centre, my archers are gradually getting into range.

Chris A's cavalry on our left have taken a mauling but are doing the business. The hoplites are stalled in front of our massed bowmen.

Our heavy cavalry is caught in the flank by their horse archers.

They take more casualties.

Artaxerxes men have broken through in the centre, and are turning to roll up their left wing.

The Greeks press forwards. Our cavalry is caught by the peltasts.

For illustrative purposes only. Our cavalry is overwhelmed.

Chris attacks the inner end of my right flank infantry with his cavalry. My archery is having effect elsewhere.

Despite losing his horse, Chris A's position looks good.

The Greeks press forwards, but they are in a bad way. I think we're looking at grinding out a win.

And then, as the consequence of a slight miscalculation by me and some favourable dice rolling for Chris K, Artaxerxes is slain. A complete reversal of the historic events sees Cyrus take the throne.

Which brought it all to a convenient end after nearly three hours of not particularly intense play, as we pushed toys around, rolled dice and chatted.

That'll do.