The Battle of Telamon, 225 B.C.
The Battle of Telamon, 225 B.C. Rulebook
Table of Contents
Table of Contents
Map
Use the Cynoscephalae Map. The west map edge is the coast.
Counters
All units are from SPQR. Equivalent leaders from SPQR can be used (specific leader counters for Telamon will be included in a future C3i insert).
A Note on the Celtic Army
Obviously, there are not enough Celtic counters in SPQR to represent the massive army at Telamon. Therefore, a variety of MI and LI are used to represent the 4 major tribal groupings. Iberian LI, with their higher TQ rating, are used for the Gaesatae, who were considered the elite of the army. Being naked, they should obviously be LI. The Boii, Insubre and Tauricsi, are represented by various MI and LI. Again, to find 10,000 cavalry, Celtic and Iberian LN along with Carthaginian HC were used.
The Roman Army
The Roman army consists of two standard consular armies. The Northern army has one veteran and one recruit legion. The Southern Army includes a consular army of two recruit legions and the remnants of the Praetor's army with Italian MI as the Etruscan militia.
Celtic Leadership
The two Kings, Aneroestes and Concolitanus, are both Overall Commanders with a Strategy Rating of 4. They may issue orders to any and all units and Princes. The identities of the subordinate Celtic princes at Telamon are unknown. However, the names used are those of prominent members of the Celtic tribes. Magilus was the chieftain of the Boii who crossed the Alps in 218 B.C. to meet Hannibal in France and offer his support. Ducarius was a famous Insubres noble, who slew the Roman consul Flaminius at the Battle of Lake Trasimene in 217 B.C.. Finally, as no Tauricsi noble names are known from this period, Brennus was chosen. Brennus was the name of the Celtic commander who sacked Rome in 390 B.C..
Roman Leadership
Consul Atilius Regulus is Overall Commander (OC) for the Northern Army. The Consul Aemilius (Dentatus) is the OC for the Southern Army. Each Consul and his subordinates may only issue orders/LC's to units of their own army. Rule 4.46 Proconsuls, applies to the Praetor (Proconsul Servilius) in this scenario.
Line Command Eligibility
Same as Cannae for the Romans, except that only units of the same army may combine to form lines; and cohorts extra may join a line of velites. The Etruscan militia may form a line, but may not combine with any other units.
Celtic lines are as follows:
- Gaesatae Infantry (Iberian LI)
- Insubres Infantry (North African LI, Mauretanian & Cartage Levy MI)
- Boii Infantry (Celtic MI)
- Tauricsi Infantry (Ligurian LI)
- Any and all Cavalry
Retreat Edges and Celtic Dissolution
The Northern Roman Army uses the North edge; the Southern Roman Army uses the South edge. Celtic cavalry use the East edge.
Celtic Dissolution: Celtic Infantry have no retreat edge. Celtic infantry units that rout are automatically eliminated instead. Exception: If either Roman Army is routed, the Celtic Infantry may use its retreat edge. (i.e., if the Northern Roman Army is routed, the Celtic Infantry may use the North map edge as a retreat edge.)
Army Withdrawal and Victory
The Northern and Southern Roman Armies are independent; losses must be recorded separately. If one Roman Army is forced to withdraw, the other may continue to fight on. The Celtic Army has one combined withdrawal level, as usual.
The Roman player wins by forcing the Celtic Army to withdraw.
The Celtic player wins by forcing both Roman Armies to withdraw; or, by forcing one Roman Army to withdraw and exiting the map (from any edge except the West) with units with TQ totaling 250.
Celtic Army: Withdraws when units with TQ totaling 180 have been eliminated.
Northern Roman Army: Withdraws when units with TQ totaling 120 have been eliminated.
Southern Roman Army: Withdraws when units with TQ totaling 95 have been eliminated.
Sources
Polybius is the primary source. However, I have followed the consensus of most modern historians in reducing Polybius' four double legions per consular army to the standard two. Otherwise, this scenario is faithful to his description of the battle.
Initial Deployment
The Celtic Forces (Southern Battleline – all units face south)
| Unit(s) | Hex(es) |
|---|---|
| Gaesatae: Iberian LI (1-15) | From hex 2100-2010, along the south edge of the Level 3 terrain |
| Insubre: North African LI (1-6) | From 1910-1814, along South edge of Level 3. |
| Mauretanian MI (1-4) | From 1815-2116, along South edge of Level 3. |
| Carthage Levy MI (1-8) | From 2217-2122, along South edge of Level 3. |
The Celtic Forces (Northern Battleline – all units face north)
| Unit(s) | Hex(es) |
|---|---|
| Boii: Celtic MI (1-21) | From 3100-3116, along North edge of Level 3. |
| Tauricsi: Ligurian LI (1-6) | From 2917-3022, along North edge of Level 4. |
The Celtic Cavalry
| Unit(s) | Hex(es) |
|---|---|
| Gaesatae: Iberian LN (1-5) | Within one (1) hex of 2531 |
| Insubre: Carthage HC (6-10) | Within one (1) hex of 2527 |
| Boii & Tauricsi: Celtic LN (1-10) | Within two (2) hexes of 3130 |
The Celtic Leaders
| Unit(s) | Hex(es) |
|---|---|
| King Concolitanus (Nicanor) | With any cavalry unit |
| King Aneroestes (Athngras) | With any infantry unit |
| Ducarius (Tychaeus) | With any Insubres (Carthage, N.African or Mauretanian) unit |
| Magilus (Hasdrubal) | With any Boii (Celtic) unit |
| Brennus (Bostar) | With any Tauricsi (Ligurian) infantry or (Celtic) cavalry unit |
The Northern Roman Army
| Unit(s) | Hex(es) |
|---|---|
| Gaius Atilius Regulus (use Regulus) | With any Cav., Velite or cohort extra |
| Tribune (2) | With any Has, Prin or cohort |
| Pr. Soc | With any cohort |
| Pr. Equit | With any cavalry |
| VII Double Legion | |
| Cohorts | 3700-04, 3802(2), 3804(2) |
| Hastati | 3704-07 |
| Principes | 3806(2), 3808(2) |
| Triarii | 4005-09 |
| V Double Legion | |
| Cohorts | 3713-17, 3814(2), 3816(2) |
The Southern Roman Army
| Unit(s) | Hex(es) |
|---|---|
| Lucius Aemilius Papus (Dentatus) | With any unit |
| Tribune | With any Has, Prin or Triarii |
| Praetor (use Proconsul Srvilius) | With any unit of his army |
| Pr. Soc (2) | With any cohort |
| Pr. Equit | With any cavalry unit |
| XIV Double Legion (Consular Army) | |
| Cohorts (9) | 1400-1404, 1302(2), 1304(2) |
| Hastati (4) | 1405-08 |
| Principes (4) | 1306(2), 1308(2) |
| Triarii (5) | 1204-1208 |
| XV Double Legion (Consular Army) |
Size and TQ Levels
| Army Ratio | Size | TQ Points | Withdrawl | Quality |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Celtic | 356 | 448 | 40%* | 1.26 |
| Northern Roman | 192 | 354 | 35%* | 1.84 |
| Southern Roman | 242 | 373 | 25%* | 1.54 |
- The Celtic Withdrawal Ratio is unusually high to account for their desperate situation, and to compensate for the Celtic Dissolution Rule. The Northern Roman Army's Withdrawal Ratio is high to reflect their recent victory in Sardinia and advantageous strategic position. Finally the Southern Roman army's Withdrawal Ratio has been lowered to reflect the demoralization of the defeat at Faesulae and their failure to protect Italy from being plundered.