Transcript Romans - The Art of Battle

Pydna
June 22, 168 BC
Strategic Context
Following the death of Philip V of Macedon in 179 BC, Perseus of Macedon hopes to renew his
father’s ambition of conquering Greece. This leads to tensions and eventual war with Pergamum,
which is expanding quickly under the leadership of King Eumenes. Rome, more concerned with
Macedonian power and its alliances with anti-Roman factions in Thrace, sides with Pergamum,
resulting in an indecisive war 171-170 BC. Dissatisfied with this result, the Roman Senate appoints
Lucius Aemilius Paullus as commander of the army to properly subdue Macedon. In June 168 BC,
Paullus advances, outflanking Macedonian mountain positions, and forcing Perseus to retreat to
Pydna. There the two armies encamp for days until a skirmish erupts into a full-scale battle.
Stakes
+ A Macedonian victory would preserve
its existence and end Roman influence in
Greece.
+ A Roman victory would effectively end
Macedonian independence and pacify
Greece.
By Jonathan Webb, 2011 ©
Pydna, 168 BC
Strength
Macedonians
Romans
Perseus
Lucius Aemilius Paullus
21,000 phalangites
19,000 other infantry
4,000 cavalry
20,000 legionnaires
15,000 other infantry
2,000 cavalry
22 war elephants
Well
Well
By Jonathan Webb, 2011 ©
The
simply
pushes
the
Roman
legionnaires
back,
their
long
spears
continuing
outrange
theGreek
Roman
as
the
Paullus
deploys
alongside
his experienced
heavy
infantry,
the
legionnaires,
atinfiltrate
the
center.
They
are
flanked
by
lighter
infantry
onslow-moving
each
side,
allies
on
theirHowever,
left,
Latin
allies
on
Perseus
Paullus
orders
orderswar
the
his phalanx
infantry
legionnaires
forward
to break
without
down
committing
into
smaller
his
cavalry.
units
to
The
Thracians
the
on
disrupted
the
rightleft
phalanx
surge
ahead
though
ofto
the
many
of
which
are
phalanx
already
to
engage
doing
solegionnaires
Paullus’
on
their
Greek
own
The Macedonian
Roman
elephants
smash
the
Macedonian
mercenaries,
hitting
their
flank
and
rear.
Meanwhile,
thesword.
Roman
their
right.
Paullus
places
his few
cavalry
on
each
flank,
and
his
waras
elephants
on
the right
wing.down
Perseus
deploys
his
compact
infantry
phalanx
at
the
center.
It The
isineffective
flanked
by
lighter
Roman
legionnaires
fall
back,
the
Macedonian
phalanx
becomes
increasingly
disordered
as
it
advances
over
rough
hilly
terrain.
tight,
dense
allied
initiative.
infantry.
The
Roman
The
Macedonian
legionnaires
phalanx
exploit
advances
any
and
gradually
all
gaps,
forcing
a
single
the
mass,
Macedonian
pinning
phalangites
the
Roman
to
drop
legionnaires
their
long
and
spears
gaining
and
an
resort
early
to
advantage
their
with
its
short
long
continue
to slaughter
the onMacedonian
phalangites
as their
formation
disintegrates
and
routs; only
a small
unit
of thethephalanx
infantry
on
side,
mercenaries
its left,
Thracians
onthe
right.
Perseus
deploys
experimental
anti-elephant
unit
the
Roman
warto
elephants
hopes
of
spears over
swords.
Theeach
their
Roman
swords.
attack
The
is disruption
particularly
Pelignians,
stationed
effective
on
with
the
phalanx’s
Latin
allied
exposed
infantry,
leftan
attempt
flank.
Paullus
a the
counter-attack
also
orders
–atheir
war
commander
elephant
charge
resorting
which
routs
tossing
their
anti-elephant
standard
formation
begins
to
show
and
breaks
inits
its
cohesion;
a gap
between
phalanx
and
theopposite
left wing
also
widens
as thein
Roman
war
maintains
its
resolve
and
fights
to
the
last.
the
collapse
phalanx,
Perseus
and
the
cavalry
neutralizing
them;
Perseus holds
his
cavalry
back
on
eachWith
wing awaiting
the resultofofthe
this experiment,
himself occupying
a position
on flee.
the right wing.
into the
corps
and
enemy
threatens
ranksthe
to incite
entire them
Macedonian
– but are
left
repulsed
wing. With
withwar
heavy
elephants
loss andonpushed
the field,
back
Perseus
by the cannot
Macedonian
commit
mercenaries.
his cavalry and influence the battle.
elephants prepare to enter the battle.
Romans
(Paullus)
N
Macedonians
(Perseus)
21,000 phalangites
19,000 other infantry
4,000 cavalry
Romans
(Lucius Aemilius Paullus)
20,000 legionnaires
15,000 other infantry
2,000 cavalry
22 war elephants
Macedonians
(Perseus)
Pydna, 168 BC
Casualties & Aftermath
Macedonians:
Romans:
31,000
1,000
or
or
70%
3%
The Romans captured Perseus shortly after the battle, ending the war. The Roman Senate
decided to deal with Macedon harshly to avoid any future troubles, occupying its territory and
disarming is citizens. The Romans imprisoned anyone believed to have been involved with
Perseus indefinitely and even vilified King Eumenes of Pergamum, whose territory became a
Roman vassal as a result of the power shift in the region. In 150 BC, Macedon again became a
problem for Rome when Andriscus claimed to be heir to Perseus and led a popular uprising;
the uprising was crushed once again near Pydna in 148 BC.
By Jonathan Webb, 2011 ©
The Art of Battle:
Animated Battle Maps
http://www.theartofbattle.com
By Jonathan Webb, 2011 ©