Pyrrhus's Last Chance

Part 3 of a Dominion of the Spear Campaign

Following up from the last post.

Background

Pyrrhus lost his first battle against the Carthaginians outside Syracuse. The Carthaginians pursued and Pyrrhus made a stand. This time, he won a decisive victory.

Now he advances along the north coast of Sicily. The Carthaginians block his way outside the city of Panormus.

Battle of Panormus

The army compositions are unchanged.

• Pyrrhus (blue) - Elephants (ferocious armored), archers, elite cavalry, armored pikes, spears

• Carthaginians (red) - 2 armored spears, 1 chariots (elite armored), 2 spears (representing javelins)

Pyrrhus initiates the attacks with his elephants, but they are stymied by the hill. They rout from the field.

Note: I added the hill for variety. It provided a defense bonus if the occupying unit did not already have one. In the above case, it was superfluous. I still used it in the narrative just because.

Then Pyrrhus leads his cavalry in a charge that destroys the enemy chariots.

Pyrrhus's archers drive the spears from the hill. But his cavalry breaks against the javelin men.

Pyrrhus's spears drive off the javelin men. But the archers in turn get routed.

The remaining Carthaginian javelin men flank Pyrrhus's pikes. The attack proves too much and the pikes flee.

A Carthaginian victory!

Aftermath

His army decimated, Pyrrhus returns to Messana, boards his ships, and sails back to Epirus. His foreign adventures have proven disastrous.

What's Next?

Let's see if Pyrrhus can hold onto his throne. Given my luck with him, I doubt it.