ADLG Gallery: Somewhere in Anatolia, 205 BC

Toward the end of the 3rd Century BC, Antiochus III cemented Seleucid control of Anatolia, launching his forces eastward toward Bactria. During this part of his career, he forged an alliance with King Xerxes of Armenia, giving his sister Antiochis to the king in marriage. This scenario posits a rebellion in the area of Armenia (Cappadocia), despite this alliance - an event which never actually took place.

The Seleucids were a Hellenized army, much along the lines of Alexander's forces. The Cappadocians were a mix of Persian types and Hellenized ones, with a strong emphasis on heavy and medium cavalry. Thus, this battle - conducted using the Art de la Guerre (Version 4) rules, using 300-point basis armies - pits a strong pike army, the Seleucids, against one which is primarily composed of cavalry. Figures are Old Glory and Crusader 28mm. Pictures are in no particular order.

Seleucid Companions and an armored elephant

The pike phalanx moves up in support

Scythed chariots!

And a few cataphracts to keep the Cappadocians honest...

Cappadocian infantry: a mix of Persians, Thracians, and Galatians

The phalanx has formed, and crunch-time approaches!

The Cappadocian heavies swing around to the right of their line, to see if they can break through and get behind the Seleucid phalanx

The battle is fully joined

Thracian reserves with their rhomphaia

The Cappadocians await their foes

The clash in the center

In the event, the battle was well-fought, with the Seleucids coming away triumphant, but not easily. The Cappadocians pushed with all of their cavalry on the right of their line, and if they had gotten through things might have ended differently.