Battle of Mynydd Maendy Fort - or Not..?

Hillfort Highjinks.

So, some research (usual sources:"Royal Commission on the Ancient and

Historical Monuments of Wales" website & similar, Google Earth etc.).

The fort is is a rough oval 110m x 98m, rubble-built, at the end of a ridge, with steep slopes to the north, north east and south east. Although a path from the valley winds up the northern elevations the only decent approach for attackers is from the south west.

Inside we have a smaller enclosure, but in engineering terms it seems pretty basic (from what we have remaining) with no obvious tower bases etc.

At first glance the locals seem to have placed themselves in a trap - but the steep slopes mentioned above will likely prevent a close pursuit if they cut and run.

The straight feature without and within the compound and the woodlands to the north are likely modern and can be ignored.

Given the difficulty of mounting the steeper slopes the Roman approach will clearly have to be from along the ridge. The nearby rise to the main ridge could provide a position for the Roman scorpions (albeit at long range) and a rallying place for the attackers if things don't go their way.

However, to make doubly sure, and since the Romans have a two cohort strength, have marched over ten miles and ascended more than a thousand feet [as assessed by the good old walking route website] it is decided to postpone the attack till tomorrow. The legionaries therefore dig-in on the ridge, in the vicinity of the spring line, overlooking the saddle between Maendy hill and the main ridge.

Doing so will also give the locals a view of what the Roman army can do ("They've only gone and built a fort, look you...!!!"), and their numbers; which MAY affect the rebel's confidence, desertions, will to fight etc. come the morrow. 

So, to the Table, or not...? 

Simple enough on the table. One needn't build the whole fort, just the elevations likely to be the focus of the attack. I don't have a rubble-built hillfort wall model, but I could use my "normal" palisade lengths.

HOWEVER....

With the locals now knowing they are clearly outnumbered, perhaps having been informed of Twrch's defeat overnight (bad news travels quickly), certainly having heard of Burriena's victory and of neighbouring zones throwing in the towel (plus now having seen the Roman military machine at work on their doorstep) it seems reasonable for them to have a rethink.

[I dice (1x6D) to see how many area leaders they have (three) and host another Council of War session (the usual card "game" process)...]

The arguments go on for four hours into the night.

At first the valley chief and one of the sub chiefs are for giving in, and only one for fighting on. But then the valley chief is persuaded to reconsider. He now plumps for fighting to the death... However, THIS prompts the more reluctant sub chief into digging his heels in even further - to the point of him storming out of the meeting, and leading his warriors out of the back of the fort and sending his people home. Oh dear.... 

With their forces suddenly reduced by a third this knocks the stuffing out of the remaining chiefs, and after reconsidering they decide to give in. At dawn they send an embassy to Albinus. However, he isn't in the mood for chat, let alone clemency, and sends it away [Dice test.].

While the Romans prepare for battle the chiefs and the bulk of the warriors make off down the steep north slopes and disperse, leaving only a scatter of die-hards, the halt and the lame behind in the fort.

With no opposition, the birds having flown, Albinus orders the remaining occupants of the fort dealt with, the huts burned and the walls slighted. He then unleashes his auxiliaries and horse to ravage up and down the valley, resting his men another night at Maendy.

So ends another day.....

Summary:

Such is campaigning... I thought I was going to have a battle, and then....

However, in retrospect, even if the Silures had made a sortie to pep things up, it promised to be a rather one-sided fight.... 

Version 1: Romans soften up with artillery. Romans assault. Enemy break and flee, or it dissolves into complicated, but one-sided, street fighting among huts.

Version 2: Romans soften up with artillery. Enemy make a sortie and are smashed. Romans assault. Enemy break or flee, or it dissolves into complicated, but one-sided, street fighting among huts.

I feel I would have been there before, with the mopping-up in my Judean revolt campaign. Given that I don't have enough 6mm Romans yet, which meant table action would be a 1/72 game (so a lot of setting up) or another board game exercise, I'm not overly disappointed - and I enjoy the research. Onwards we go...

Day Twelve:

Twrch flees north west, with what's left of the Silurian southern force. Caeog pulls east (to meet him - or has he just lost his bottle?).

Albinius ravages the Caenona Valley, using the camp at Maendy as a base.

Caesitius regains control of the hills east of Serovium.

Caninia, at Nidenum, moves his vexillation north east - i.e. towards where Caeog now ISN'T. 

Is it time I left Isca to take control myself? Perhaps so....