Battlereport Athens vs Sparta 2016

[ErikG]

This time a classic battle between the two Greek powers, Athens against Sparta, the previous time we played this period it was a hard-fought victory for Sparta, Athens was out for revenge.
Sparta was led by Sander with aid from Abe and Justin



Athens was led by Alex, supported by Joost and Erik



The opposing armies


After a previous defeat Athens had amassed a new army, this time under the leadership of Alexotopolus, he had survived the earlier defeat and was cast away from his own family and friends, he had waited three years for revenge, requesting the gods to avenge himself on Sparta, and finally he got his chance. His last possessions were sold and that brought him enough coins to buy the last votes that he needed, democratically he was elected as new leader of the Athenian army, this time it would be Spartan blood that would flow.
Athenian ships brought the army into Spartan dominated lands, Sparta sent an intervention force, led by none other than the intrepid, but sometimes a little too aggressive, Sanderidas, butcher of the penopolessos. Both armies formed opposite each other and called upon the gods for victory to their sides.




The first turn was for Sparta, these had two divisions on the left bank of the stream, and a third Division was placed on the right bank of the stream. The goal was to also bring the third division on the right bank across the stream, with three divisions on that side of the stream they could crush the Athenians. A single Cavalry Division was positioned far on the right flank. Sanderias moved his Division on the left flank around the forest, on the other side of them was a single Athenian infantry division, Justinacasius moved through the middle with his Perioikoi towards these Athenians, the two Spartan divisions would envelop and destroy this single Athenian division. Abedias moved his Division that still stood on the other side of the stream in the direction of the stream and the first troops marched into the refreshing water, the Sun was shining it was a beautiful day to teach Athens a new lesson to in humility.






Erikcibiades stood alone with his Division across a Spartan force majeure that would be strengthened even further by Abedias. Alexotopolus had found Erikcibiades in Athens, where he was engaged in writing and directing of the most fantastic tragi-comedies for the stage, a drunken bet caused him to end up here now. With a voice that was more suitable for a stage than for a battlefield he yelled to his troops, somewhat surprised the seasoned troops ran through each other towards the Centre where a kind of line was formed. Alexotopolus saw the shift to the other flank and moved his troops forward, he wanted to put pressure on the troops of Abedias, and he sent his cavalry to Erikcibiades to support him there. On the other flank Joostantinos saw how the Spartan Cavalry made obscene gestures to them, this the ever proper Joostantinos could not accept, rather than also sending his divisions  towards the Spartans, he send his troops forwards after the cavalry, a first volley of arrows managed to kill the first Spartans, while the Spartan cavalry was driven back bloodied.





Both armies moved forward, Erikcibiades brought his troops in line and he moved forward, hoping to be able to defeat Justinacasius before Sanderidas could finalize his encirclement, Justinacasius had placed his troops in line opposite Athens but a blunder in his orders caused his Division to shift to the left. Sanderias now moved forward in a steady pace. Alexotopolus also moved his troops forward but he had not been able to prevent Abedias to cross the stream, Abedias placed his troops on the other side of the stream and closed the door for a circling attack from Alexotopolus. Joostantinos put additional pressure on the Spartan cavalry that kept making obscene gestures towards him, his Division was split so as to be able to better pursue the cavalry.
 





Justinacasius was done manoeuvring, his Spartan troops stormed towards the phalanxes of Erikcibiades, the phalanxes from both sides clashed with each other, a wall of shields formed while Spears above and below the shields were thrust towards their enemies, looking for unprotected flesh. Both sides were filled with seasoned veterans and as a deadly machine they fought each other, men fell to the ground to be quickly replaced by new troops. Two Athenian units were driven back, a third managed to push the Spartans back but both divisions fought on unabated.








Erikcibiades was blinded by anger, in a smooth and ear pleasing rhetoric he shouted to his troops, Athens fought back hard, two Spartan units were driven back. Erikcibiades himself fought back hard against a third Spartan phalanx that increasingly put pressure on the hard-fought Athenian phalanx that was driven backwards, Erikcibiades could not accept this, screaming and pushing with his heels in the sand he pushed the Spartan shields back, while his spear pierced a Spartan Warrior, filled with joy, he moved forward, while Sparta also pushed forward, this brought Erikcibiades out of balance, he tried to restore it but had no time left for he was hit in his side by an iron spearhead which pierced his lamellar, he looked up terrified, the he was struck by a second spear, like a dying swan the artistic Athenian general fell to the ground where he closed his eyes for good.
Alexotopolus saw that Sanderidas had almost completed his encircling move and now the flank of the troops of the killed Erikcibiades was endangered. Athenian cavalry moved forward and a cavalry Division emplaced themselves in front of the troops of Sanderidas, it was a battle they could not win but perhaps they could slow the Spartans down long enough to buy time for the Athenians to push the Spartan units from Justinacasius back.




Justinacasius continued the fight, especially now that Sanderidas had arrived, he wanted to prove himself, he was a "perioikoi" and thus no Thoroughbred Spartan, though he had, over the years, by his zealous commitment gained much respect from Sanderidas with whom he regularly ate a "blood soup". The Athenian troops of the fallen Erikcibiades now fell under the command of his "second in command", a sneaky and conniving man, called Erikagapitos, who had built up a dubious reputation in the "less decent" neighbourhoods of Athens, Erikagapitos possessed none of the better qualities of man with the exception of an aggressive fighting spirit that he would be able express this day.
The Athenian cavalry had no chance against the warlike Sanderidas, like a well-oiled machine the Spartan Phalanx moved forward, the Athenian cavalry could not withdraw because they would leave the soft flank of Erikagapitos lines open and they braved the Spartan attack, they were no equals however, riders were torn from their horses or were struck down with horse and man by the extremely violent Sanderidas, who did not believe in mercy and ignored the begging while he massacred the Athenian cavalrymen, then he turned his Phalanx and smashed into the side of a unit of unsuspecting Athenian Peltasts.
 

[ErikG]

Justinacasius and Erikagapitos fought on desperately without further thought to their own safety, both divisions showed fatigue, while the casualties accumulated and shields and Spears were broken exhaustion hit both phalanxes, both divisions pulled back, both needed time to reform their lines. Alexotopolus crossed the river with fresh troops and brought his troops in line opposite the Spartan troops of Sanderidas that had just wiped out an Athenian unit of Peltasts with a smile from ear to ear, he then formed opposite Alexotopolus, the second part of the battle was about to begin.






Abedias now also brought a Spartan phalanx towards the fight, Justinacasius tried to rally his troops to get them back into combat, however, he was permitted little time thanks to the Athenian skirmishers that put a continuous fire on his Division, the Spartan skirmishers were in the woods near the river and could not provide any cover against these irritating Athenians.
Sanderidas now had a choice, wait until everyone was in line and then attack but that would also give Joostantinos time to bring his troops towards the fight, or attack immediately so that he could break the Athenians before they could regroup. For Sanderidas there was no choice, phalanxes stormed towards the phalanxes of Alexotopolus. A bloody fight broke out but Athens held their ground, both phalanxes suffered casualties but both phalanxes held, the Spartans did eliminate a unit of Athenian Cavalry.
In addition to the troops from Alexotopolus, the phalanxes of Erikagapitos also formed, they were heavily bloodied and weakened but not yet out of the fight, Alexotopolus attacked and phalanxes crashed into other phalanxes, Sanderidas fought in the front of his phalanx and created a bloody carnage, three Athenians were slain within minutes. The other Spartans could not keep up with the fiery attacks from Sanderidas, an opening formed and the ever observant Alexotopolus made good use of it, with a thrust of his shield, he brought Sanderidas out of balance and he fell down, even during his fall he still managed to kill an Athenian Hoplite, Alexotopolus kicked sand in the eyes of the Spartan General that struggled to remove the sand from his eyes, with a well-aimed kick Alexotopolus kicked Sanderidas in his face while he laid helplessly on the ground, soon followed by other Athenian Hoplites that also kicked into him, quickly followed by multiple spear thrusts. Pierced and bloody Sanderidas was filled with an unprecedented strength, as a man possessed, he managed to get up, and other Spartan troops rushed toward their leader and fought him to safety.






Abedias also brought a phalanx towards the Athenians, Justinacasius sent two units of peltasts while his phalanxes were still being harassed by skirmishers and his troops could not recover or join the fight. The fight between Alexotopolus and Sanderidas continued in all its bloody ferociousness, the Spartans were still somewhat Dazed by the injuries of their leader and were thereby unprepared for the unprecedented violent attack of Alexotopolus, a unit Spartans broke, Sanderidas, badly injured but not yet defeated was the only one who managed to fight his way past the Athenian lines while his other troops were massacred and he joined another unit of Spartans that had just destoyed an Athenian unit of Cavalry.
 




The crucial part of the battle was about to begin, Alexotopolus was reinforced by Erikagapitos and fights broke out along the lines, the Spartans began to feel the pressure of the Athenian attacks, Sanderidas encouraged his troops but the pressure began to overwhelm them, while the Spartans, led by Sanderidas, destoyed the last Athenian Cavalry before smashing into the flank of a phalanx of Erikagapitos, Alexotopolus furthered his revenge by destroying a second Spartan Phalanx. Meanwhile the skirmishers of Erikagapitos threw everything they could find in the direction of Justinacasius, he was able to stand the blood and misery but he could not bear the large amount of pollen in the air, it became too much, his hay fever would become fatal to the brave general, a hard sneeze resulted in the lowering of his shield, too low, a javelin struck the fearless leader in his neck, Gurgling he went down in a pool of blood.
Joostantinos continued his march towards the troops of Abedias that came under fire by the peltasts and skirmishers of the energetic Alexotopolus that suddenly seemed to be everywhere on the battlefield.











Sanderidas fought on against Erikagapitos but these Athenians refused to give in, Alexotopolus turned and rammed in the flank of the troops of the former Justinacasius who, after the death of their leader, were already badly demoralised. This attack they could not deal with, and the Spartan Division was lost. The Division of Sanderidas was broken and two-thirds of the Spartan army was broken, Sanderidas by now had lost consciousness because of the loss of blood, the Spartans decided to accept a strategic retreat.















Alexotopolus had had his revenge, a great victory was achieved, after plundering the Spartan countryside for another week, the Athenian ships brought the Athenian victors back home where they displayed a number of Spartan survivors in Athens in an iron cage for the entertainment of the Athenian citizens. 
Sanderidas would survive the battle, the anger and hatred that had fed his heart for so long strengthened his recovery, Athenian blood would have to flow for this insult.

[A Lot of Gaul]

Very nice battle report and pics, Erik! A hard-won victory for the forces of democracy. 

Cheers,
Scott

[Phil Robinson]

Well that was a titanic tussle indeed. Great pics and narrative.

[Erik]

Truely amazing to see so many beautifully painted Greeks on one table. Love the pics.

thank you for sharing 

[Dr. Zombie]

By Zeus' mighty beard!

That is a lot of minis

Splendid pictures and write up. Thanks for sharing.

[Colonel Tubby]

A great report on a hard fought battle!

A really nice collection you have there.

[armchairgeneral]

Excellent report and pictures.

Good to see Athens victorious. How will Sparta cope with this shame?

[Miantanomo]

What a colossal battle! Well done!

[Old Guy]

Now that's a wargame! Brilliant stuff.

[ErikG]

Thanks for all the positive comments !

only two turns before the end we (Athens) would have settled for a draw but all of a sudden the tide turned and Sparta broke.  It was great fun

[Steam Flunky]

Impressive battle!