Syracuse (410-210 BC)
DBA 34

Early Carthaginian (31a), Late Carthaginian (31b), Pyrrhic (43), and Camillan/Polybian Roman (46)

This list presents several puzzles. First, Pyrrhus didn't fight Syracuse during his time in Sicily as far as I am aware, so the inclusion of his army is odd. Also several opponents have been left out: Syracuse (34) (i.e. the civil wars), Later Hoplite Greek (32) (i.e. rival Greek colonies) and Campanian or Apulian (30d) (i.e. incursions into southern Italy).

Army List

Note on Auxiliaries. These could be:

• Mercenary Greek Peltasts or Theureophroi
• Campainian or Samnites from southern Italy
• Ligurians from Northern Italy
• Sikels who were natives from the interior of Sicily

Other notes:

Having the Artillery compulsory does not accurately reflect the composition of Syracuse's army during the period covered, not least because it wasn't invented until 399 BC. I would suggest replacing it with the following; 1x 2Ps or 1x Art.

Greek Peltasts may have first appeared in this army when Thracian peltasts were first hired in 390 BC. Theureophroi appeared during the third century BC. Spanish troops at first may have been Celtiberians. So during Dionysius reign you may replace Spanish Aux with Celtiberian 1x 3Wb. Whether they were Celtiberians or not the first Spanish Mercenaries appeared in Syracuse army about 396 BC. Celts seem to have first appeared in Syracuse army during the 370's BC.

The following amended army list is suggested based upon the above:

Note on Auxiliaries. These could be:

• Mercenary Greek Peltasts After 390 BC or Theureophroi after 300 BC
• Campainian or Samnites from southern Italy
• Ligurians from Northern Italy
• Sikels who were natives from the interior of Sicily

Note Syracusan citizen forces in the civil wars shouldn't use Gauls and Spaniards.

Hoplites -- White Armour, bronze helmets and greaves. Tunics white, red, brown, grey, black, green, yellow possibly with a coloured band at the edge. Shields were bronze but could be painted all would be decorated.

Peltasts -- Bronze helmets. tunic as above. Shield crescent shaped or round. Made out of wicker and sometimes left uncovered, most would be covered. Could be covered with goat, sheepskin or polished bronze and decorated. Patterns include simple faces or stars.

Theurophroi -- As peltast but with larger oval Celtic style shields.

Archers and slingers -- Tunic without sleeves, possibly white for the archers but more likely the usual tunic colours. Some slingers and archers will have small round shield.

Javelinmen -- As archers and slingers but poorer with tunics in shades of grey, brown and off white. All carried small round or crescent shaped shields.

Greek heavy cavalry -- Bronze armour and helmet. Tunics in the usual colours but given that these represented the richer citizens white would be more likely. Shields were only adopted for cavalry use in the third century BC these would be Hoplite style round shields.

Greek light cavalry -- May have bronze helmet a hat or be bare headed. Wears the sleeveless tunic. Adopted shields at same time as heavies.

Campanians and Samnites -- They wore short tunics (the ancient version of miniskirts) the basic colour of which is usually red or white but could also be red-brown, ochre, light grey or blue-grey. The tunics were decorated along the hems, sleeves, neck and across the shoulders or could have patterned fabric. The colours used for this were as for the tunic base colour plus black, yellow and blue. Bronze helmets and belts were worn, the helmets having crests and feathers. The richer warriors would have a bronze plate protecting their chest. This could be round, square, square with fake muscles or made of three discs arranged in a triangle. Bronze greaves could also be worn. A variety of shields were used ranging from large round Hoplite style ones, smaller round ones, oval ones and a one that looks like a medieval kite shield with the top flattened. These would be painted and bore decorations.

Ligurians -- They wore long sleeved tunics with a broad leather belt and a cloak. These were probably fairly plain for the ordinary warriors but more varied for the richer ones. Their shields were Gallic style but chopped of at the top and bottom. Archaic conical helmets may have been worn.

Celts, Celtiberians and Spanish -- see Painting Carthaginians.

Tactics

Like their Carthaginian opponents, Syracuse provides a combined arms army in which you need to match the most appropriate troops to your opponents and to the terrain. As you may have guessed this is not an easy task so what follows is some general advice for you to use or ignore as you wish.

Your first choice will be to take four spear elements or two. If you take four it will give you a solidly dependable core around which the rest of your army can work. If you take two it means your army will have three auxiliary elements and two psiloi elements this makes it more suited to fighting in rough terrain. It might also make it better against warband heavy armies.

This army has two cavalry elements and one element of light horse, which is just sufficient. This means there are two ways to use it, as flank guards or as a strike force. If your opponent has more mounted troops than you and especially if he has light horse then the first method will be best to save you being out flanked. If you have more mounted troops than your opponent or perhaps if you are on equal terms and you have a secure flank then the latter method should be used. In this case you use your mounted troops mobility to pounce upon any enemy elements that become isolated or to attack the flanks of enemy units fighting your foot. You could also try an outflanking manoeuvre or dash for the enemies camp.

Finally there is the artillery. Historically at this period artillery would be used on the battlefield if you knew where your opponent was going to be coming from. In practice this meant it was used to defend passes and fords. Unfortunately in DBA you don't always have that luxury. My experience with artillery has led me to conclude that it is best used to disrupt your opponent's formation. To do this to advantage you need an enemy who uses large groups since your aim is to break them up just before he reaches you. This not only spoils his plan of attack but should allow you to attack him at a advantage. It should be obvious that this works well with the use of your mounted troops as a strike force. The hard part is deciding where to site your artillery to use it to maximum effect.

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Last Updated: Oct. 12, 1999

My thanks to Stephen Montague for another excellent army essay. Questions, comments, suggestions welcome. Send them to Chris Brantley, brant@erols.com.