Greek retreat to the Black Sea

Having had a week off, actually playing a game (and losing spectacularly), our trusty reporter packed his Leica and solar topee and headed for the heart of the Persian Empire in 401BC. He was following the Greek mercenary survivors of the battle of Cunaxa, where the usurper Cyrus the Younger had literally lost his head in battle against his brother Artaxerxes II. Post the battle, Artaxerxes’ wily General Tissaphernes had managed to lure the Greek commanders to discuss a truce and promptly killed them. Well, they do say “all’s fair in love and war”. A young Athenian named Zenophon was elected commander and has started the long “up-country march” (aka Anabasis) back to the Black Sea and the Greek colonies there. With Tissaphernes in pursuit the Greeks turned to give battle.

Our own version of Zenophon (Malcolm) was not so young, and time would tell if Tissaphernes (Chris) was as wily and cruel as his historical counterpart...

The battle commenced with the Persian left being surprisingly hesitant, whilst the centre and right advanced. Was the stench of treachery in the air? The Greek hoplite centre rumbled forward whilst the lighter flanks prepared to fight off the Persian cavalry. Turn two saw the Persian left again inexplicably reluctant to advance, whilst the centre pressed on. The right advanced cautiously whilst the Greeks seized the initiative and attacked. Light infantry missile fire killed a javelin unit and the hoplites crashed into the lightly equipped javelinmen. Where were the flanking cavalry, allegedly the cream of the Persian army? “This cream has certainly gone sour” mused the Supreme Being...

Finally the Persian right charged the weakly held Greek left, only to fall victim to a devious stratagem which saw the initiative fail and a disorder inflicted.

With no support from the left the Persian centre began to crumble, and the hoplites began to kill more units and even turned the flank. A rare moment of elation saw a hoplite unit destroyed by missile fire and close combat, but the relentless Greek advance continued. The late Persian attack on the camp failed as the Greeks continued to smash the Persian centre. The rout of a light slinger unit only confirmed the Persians comprehensive defeat.

It was all over in one hour twenty minutes...

Tissaphernes subordinate commanders fled the field leaving their General the face the Greek music. Would he regret his treachery from the days after Cunaxa?

Next week our reporter has a weekend off leaving the write-up to his assistant. Rumour has it he is being posted to the Russian Front. Oh dear!

Simon