Rome vs Palmyra, who is the Strongest?

After last week’s decisive Muslim victory in Outremer, our reporter had a mere trip of circa 130kms but a time-shift of 853 years to return to the Roman Province of Syria. After several decades of civil war and war with the Sassanids, the Roman Emperor Aurelian had come East to deal with the rebel Palmyran "Empire" and Queen Zenobia. After a victory at Immae the Romans were pursuing the Palmyrans south towards Apamea. As ever in the Levant control of clean water was vital. A Roman advance force had been sent forward to seize an oasis and its wells to support the rest of the army on its march. The Palmyrans moved to stop them.

The Palmyrans got off to a great start. Low chits meant most of the army obeyed orders and moved into position seizing various pieces of terrain. 

The Romans were less fortunate. Tony and Chris managed to stall the army in its tracks much to Rob’s frustration. The Palmyrans began an arrow-storm onto the Roman forces...

Two units of light troops were lost, one on the left and one in the centre. Steve commanding the Palmyran right also managed several disruptions on Tony’s Roman cavalry whilst all the Palmyran cataphracts carefully manoeuvred into position to charge. 

Tony’s wing again faltered. Chris’ Roman right started to advance but had little room due to the rapid Palmyran advance. Rob’s legionary-heavy centre found itself in trouble with two units advanced forward of the others. More missile fire saw the Romans disordered and then a cataphract charge. One veteran unit was destroyed and another broken as its morale was shattered. Rob complained piteously from St Neots whilst Chris and Tony just grinned manically and continued to draw crap chits. 

With a gaping hole in the Roman centre the Palmyrans poured through. Light cavalry took one camp and three victory medals,

whilst two cataphracts units turned to attack the Roman right and centre from flank and rear respectively. On Tony’s wing vs Steve things degenerated further for the Romans. The Roman cavalry inflicted a solitary disorder but lost their cataphracts and a cavalry unit, with the general twice having to re-locate. This marked the end. All Roman victory medals were surrendered. The Palmyrans had lost precisely zero.

As the Palmyrans turned to thank the Sun-God Bel, we could only imagine Aurelian reprising Augustus immortal lines from AD9 and the Teutoburger Wald debacle..."Tony, Chris, Rob...where are my legions?" I still remember Brian Blessed’s iconic outburst in the 1976 BBC series "I Claudius". Try to track it down. Great viewing.

A mighty Palmyran victory. Tony and Chris blamed the chits, and each other. Rob blamed Tony and Chris. Chris added insult to injury pointing our that he had lost only a single light infantry unit. Tony tried to claim his wing was in good order, but was clearly delusional. I sense a civil war coming on. Malcolm and Steve’s deployment and tactics had proved excellent, but it must be said that the chits last night did favour Zenobia. Maybe evidence that Bel is more powerful than Sol Invictis.

By mutual consent next week will see a re-match but with Malcolm leading the Romans.

Simon