This is the continuing recreation of the Ionian Revolt. The Ionian Revolt was a revolt against the Persian Empire by the Ionian Greeks and their allies prior to the Greco-Persian War. It took place from 499 to 493 BCE. It was a land and sea affair, so I am using a combination of Poseidon's Warriors and Men of Bronze to re-create the campaign. Both are from the Osprey Wargaming Series. In addition, Men of Bronze has a specific supplement for the conflict called The Ionian Revolt.
The details of the campaigns in this region are sparse. According to Herodotus, the Persians divided the campaign up between three generals. The first went to Cyprus, the other dealt with Caria, and the third moved into the Hellespont on Propontis to regain control of the region. We must assume that their were a series of sieges and negotiated surrenders after symbolic resistance. The re-taking of the area was relatively swift and appears to have taken place prior to the attacks on Caria. Once the General Daurises turned his attention to the Carians, a new Persian general came to the region to finish the job.
Due to the speed of the campaign, we can only assume that the majority of the sieges were symbolic in nature, or we resolved as soon as the Persian army showed up. For today's battle, we will assume that the Persians have managed to "trick" the Ionians out from behind their walls to defend their fields from being ravaged. If the Persians manage to ravage the fields, the Ionians would quickly fold. However, if their logistics could be saved then perhaps the city could hold out a bit longer!
Forces:
The rebellious Greeks will use a relatively standard Hoplite force to defend the city:
Ionian Greeks
1 Drilled Hoplite - 1 General
2 Militia Hoplites
3 Peltast Hoplites
The Persians are using a fast moving siege force. Therefore, the cavalry has been left back at camp:
Persians
2 Archers
1 Drilled Infantry - 1 General
2 Warband Infantry
1 Psiloi
Set-up:
Today's game is set-up on a 72MU by 48MU board. The Greek side of the board is the long wall of their city, with the city gates on the left side of their deployment zone. They have a small area to deploy, and have three Peltast units and a Militia Hoplite unit ready to move out. The rest are still in reserve. The field is under the protection of their wall on the opposite short board edge, about 48 MU away. A road leads from the gates of the city, to the Persian deployment zone.
On the opposite side, the Persians deploy across the board. They have the Drilled Infantry spread out near the road, screening the two archer units. Next to them are the two Warband infantry and the Psiloi. 
Mission:
This battle uses the Reserves special rules and follows the format of the Ravage the Fields scenario from the Men of Bronze rulebook.
For this battle, I will not be following every detail. I have found this method really hampers and slows down the game play! Instead, I will be covering the action in three main phases; the Maneuver phase, the Battle phase, and the End Game. The Maneuver phase is where the armies are mostly closing the gap and set-up their attack plans and is typically turns 1-3. The Battle Phase is typically where most of the fighting occurs and normally falls in turn 4-6, and the End Game is the final moves to determine the ultimate victor and often are turns 7-8.
The Maneuver Phase:
The Persians won the initiative during the opening three turns of the game. With that, they pushed forward and managed to get troops into the old ruins before the walls. The former villa of the landlord of the fields was overrun with Persian troops.
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| Reserve Greek troops deploy from the City |
The Greek Peltasts rushed across in front of the wall towards the fields backed up by a Militia Hoplite unit. The Drilled and second Militia Hoplite unit tried to pin the main Persian body on the Greek left, close to the gate. However, the Persians used their mobility to provide a refused flank.
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| Greek Peltasts rush to stop the Persian raid |
In the beginning of the 4th turn, a Persian Peltast managed to get to the fields. The rolled poorly and it would take another 2 turns for them to wreck the field there. A Persian warband infantry unit stood by to try to hold off the Greeks.
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| Persian light troops get to the fields and start ravaging them |
Battle Phase:
The Persians bid high enough to win initiative again! They peppered the foremost Peltast unit with a barrage of arrows from the ruins, causing some courage loss. This was followed up with the Persian Warband near the fields charging the same unit. In fierce fighting the Persians were pushed back with heavy losses and began to waver. The Peltasts were down to 1 courage as well.
The Peltast unit closest to the wall dug deep into Arete Points, and managed to come to grips with the Peltasts in the fields. The combat there was indecisive as both sides lost 1 courage. Peltasts tried to hold back the Persians in the ruins with a Javelin barrage, to no avail.
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| The Greeks try to repel the Persian troops |
The Greek Militia Hoplites on the Greek left managed to chase down and charge into the Persian Drilled Infantry. The Persians did not have enough Arete Points to counter-charge and they lost two Courage in the fight. The Greeks pushed the Persians back.
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| Greek Hoplites manage to bring the Persian infantry to battle on the Greek left |
Despite being caught on the Greek left, the Persian had all ready successfully shifted their archers tot he opposite flank under the cover of their infantry screen.
As Turn 6 began, the Greeks had to make sure those Persian Peltasts were pushed out of the fields before the end of the turn. It did not look like they could get additional troops into the fight there, but they threw almost all of their Arete Points into going first. The Persians saved them for re-rolls in the combat. The Greeks started things off with the Peltasts and the Warband infantry, if they won there they perhaps could push back far enough to help with the Psiloi battle. Precious re-rolls were used, and both sides ended up routing.
With that, the Greeks moved to the decisive Psiloi fight, with both sides unable to get any reinforcements over to that side of the board. The Greeks were clearly victorious, and forced the Persians to waver and pushed them back. The Greeks best chance was for the wavering Persians to fail a Discipline check in the End Phase from seeing their fellows run for it!
The Greeks decided to try to break the Persian army, and threw a Peltast into the ruins to try and root out the Warband Infantry there. The Persian Archers supported their fellows, and with the help of some re-rolls managed to push the Peltasts back 2 MU.
The last Militia Hoplite unit legged it for the fields, hoping they could keep any other marauding Persians from getting there, as the second Persian Archer unit was threatening a run.
End Game:
The Persian Psiloi managed to stay in the fields for three turns. However, the Greeks still had a chance if they could cause my army to Collapse!
Realizing this, the Militia Hoplites by the wall decided to charge into the fight into the fight in the Ruins! Despite the help, both sides still lose 2 Courage and reduce them to 1 courage. Nether side is wavering.
The Drilled Hoplite rush into to support the Militia Hoplites against the Persian Drilled Infantry. It is too much for the Persians, and they are sent packing. With the backbone of their army fleeing, The Persian army starts to collapse.
However, it is too little, too late as the Persians fighting in the ruins hold it together to finish off turn 8.
Conclusion:
Wow, that was a fight to the finish. One more turn and my army would have folded like a paper napkin. The Greeks had the advantage at the end, but time was against them. My Psiloi earned their pay ravaging the fields for the win, but the rest of the army did its part holding together.
The Persian armies mobility allowed them to have a refused flank that drew the Greek heavy infantry out. In addition, it allowed me to threaten the fields early, with multiple units and occupy the ruins. Being in the ruins helped stiffen my weak warband infantry units.
That was the 4th win for the Persians in the Revolt. They have been victorious on land and sea. However, each game has been a close run thing. Now, they have their biggest challenge, the Carians ahead of them. Can the Persians keep this win streak going?
Despite the Greek forces managing to push the attackers back, the damage had been done. The city could not maintain itself for a the rest of the season. The destruction of their fields forced them to the bargaining table. Thankfully, the Persians were magnanimous in victory. They only forced the rebel leaders to be taken captive, and then tortured to death. The city and its inhabitants were spared the sword. They appointed a new Persian friendly tyrant, and moved onto the next city in the region.
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