 The Washington Area DBA Gamers (WADBAG)
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Carrhae - Cantabrian Revolt - Teutoberger Wald - Emesa - Adrianople - Chalons - Dara The Battle of Dara was fought between the Sassanids and the Byzantine Empire as part of the Iberian War. The Byzantine Empire was at war with the Sassanids from 527, supposedly because Kavadh I had tried to force the Iberians to become Zoroastrians. The Iberian king fled from Kavadh, but Kavadh tried to make peace with the Byzantines, and attempted to have Justinian adopt his son Khosrau. Justinian refused and sent his generals Sittas and Belisarius into Persia, where they were initially defeated. Justinian tried to negotiate but Kavadh instead sent 30,000 men towards Dara in 529. Belisarius was sent back to the region with Hermogenes and 25,000 men in 530; Kavadh replied with another 10,000 troops under the general Firouz, who set up camp about five kilometers away at Ammodius. Despite being outnumbered, Belisarius decided to attack the poorly-armed Persians. He dug a number of ditches on the road towards Dara to block the Persian cavalry, and organized most of his infantry in a single block. Initial Deployment
This is a view of the Persian cavalry (left) opposite the Byzantine forces arrayed behind the system of ditches, but in front of Dara's city walls. [Close-up]
Another view from the opposite side of the initial setup Persian battleline. Two elements of Horde and a psiloi guard are in the rear. [Close-up]
Here's a stunning view from behind the Persian army. [Close-up]
This view shows the Byzantine forces gathered in front of Dara's city walls, [Close-up]Dara Results(Early Byzantines 5, Sassanid Persians 2)
Battle Highlights
John Passiglia points out the end of his stalwart Byzantine blade line. [Close-up]
Tim Hladon (left) rolls for PIPs. Bill Fisher (right) [Close-up]
Tim Hladon points out a particularly tough element of Persian Cav. [Close-up]
There was a lot of pointing in this scenario. Rich Baier (left) points out his '6' combat roll. We know how rare those are for the diceman! Jonathan Bostwick (right) has moved his Byzantines out in a very aggressive attacking posture. [Close-up]
This is a close-up of Jonathan's Byzantines attacking on [Close-up]
Rich and Jonathan resolve their combat while David Kuijt looks on. [Close-up]
Peter Sheriff (left) doesn't look nearly as happy with his opponent, Jason Bostwick (right), as he did when putting the hurt on his dad in the Chalons scenario. [Close-up]
Jack "the Butcher" Sheriff (right) contemplates redeployment of his Byzantine line to counter David Bostwick (left) and his aggressive run at the Byzantine left. [Close-up]Last Updated: 27 July 2006 The author David Schlanger may be contacted at buckynduke@comcast.net Please do not use any pictures or text |
