Historical Overview Section
Syracuse was founded by Greek Corinthians as the Greek Cities were expanding their influence to other areas of the Mediterranean in step with the expansion of sea-borne trade. Syracuse' location meant it became a very powerful city-state, forming a ever-shifting pattern of alliances with powers including Sparta and Corinth and exerting influence over the entire Magna Grecia (Greek-speaking southern Italy) area of which it was the most important city. Unlike many democratically governed Greek city states, Syracuse was usually controlled by powerful Tyrants or Despots, one of the first of which, gelo clashed succesfully with the Carthaginians around 480BC. Gelon was succedeed by his brother Hiero, who fought against the Etruscans at Cumae in 474 BC. The city continued to expand in Sicily, fighting against the rebellious Siculi, and on the Tyrrhenian Sea, making expeditions up to Corsica and Elba. In the late 5th century BC, Syracuse found itself at war with Athens, which sought more resources to fight the Peloponnesian War. The Syracusans enlisted the aid of a general from Sparta, Athens' foe in the war, to defeat the Athenians, destroy their ships, and leave them to starve on the island. In 401 BC, Syracuse contributed a force of 3,000 hoplites and a general to aid Cyrus the Younger's Army of the Ten Thousand in the battle for Persian succession.
Successive Tyrants (interrupted only by the rule of a democratic government under Timoleon installed in 345 BC) fought successive wars against Carthage as their sphere's of influence repeatedly clashed, which in 275 led to the citizens of Syracuse calling on Pyrrhus of Epirus for help. This didn;t work out quite as they hoped, and after a brief period under the rule of Epirus, Hiero II seized power in 275 BC ushering in an era of prosperity that was to last some 50 years. Hiero's successor, the young Hieronymus (ruled from 215 BC), broke an alliance with the Romans forge by Hiero (possibly seeing advantage in challenging them after the Romans defeat at the Battle of Cannae) and allied instead with Carthage. The Romans, led by consul Marcus Claudius Marcellus besieged the city in 214 BC. The city held out for three years, but fell in 212 BC. It is believed to have fallen due to a peace party opening a small door in the wall to negotiate a peace, but the Romans charged through the door and took the city, killing the most famous resident Archimedes in the process. After conquest Syracuse maintained the status of capital of the Roman government of Sicily and seat of the praetor. It remained an important port for the trades between the Eastern and the Western parts of the Empire
Using the army in ADLG
- +5 command is huge in this era, but for an army with lots of spearmen it may allow you to rally them in combat more successfully rather than maneuver around
- Terrain is the enemy of this army - which may seem counter intuitive. You can easily get enough spearmen to fill most of the table, so too much closed terrain allows your opponent to concentrate their best troops against you and protect their filler. Very little terrain leaves nowhere to hide, so you can overwhelm their filler with spearmen whilst your own spearmen lose slowly against their good troops
- The Carthaginian ally is quite handy, both for more decent spearmen, and for the comedy elephant
- The Greek ally gives you a cutting edge of Pikemen
- You can fit the 2 LH to give an extra initiative point in pretty easily
- Unreliable generals are a decent way to save points, as if one is placed in the middle its hard for the enemy to ignore them
- A good crust of LF will help prevent debilitating casulalties from enemy shooting eroding the resilience and effectiveness of your spearmen before combat.
Useful Links
User-contributed links about this army. Add links in this format:
- Building a viable list for this army : A Madaxeman.com Podcast
- Syracusan DBA Figure Gallery for this army - from Fanaticus
- Syracuse DBA Figure Gallery for this army - from Fanaticus
Army Lists
Sample army lists for this army
Steve's PAW-winning Archimedean Artillery list
Competent
2 Guard Mercenaries Heavy spearmen Elite
2 MercenaryHoplites Heavy spearmen ------
2 Greek horsemen Heavy cavalry ------
2 Heavy Artillery Heavy artillery ------
1 Tarentines Light cavalry javelin ----
2 Syracusan Hoplites Heavy spearmen Mediocre
==
Brilliant
2 Gallic Mercenaries Medium swordsmen impetuous
2 Thureophoroi Medium spearmen
1 Greek Horsemen Heavy cavalry
2 Tarentines Light cavalry javelin
1 Light infantry bow Light infantry bow
==
Competent Carthaginian Ally
1 Numidians Light cavalry javelin Elite
2 African Spearmen Heavy spearmen ------
1 Elephant Elephant Mediocre
3 Libyans Light infantry javelin Elite
200 Points - CCJH 2022
Strategist (Timoleon)
2 Spanish Scutarii : medium swordmen Impetuous
3 Gallic mercenaries : medium swordmen Impetuous
1 Mercenary Peltasts : javelinmen
2 Light Infantry : light infantry javelin
3 Greek cavalrymen : medium cavalry
1 Tarentans : Light horse javelin
==
Ordinary
3 Greek cavalrymen : medium cavalry
1 Tarentans : Light horse javelin
==
Brilliant
1 Heavy Artillery
2 Mercenary Guard : heavy spearmen Elite
2 Syracusan Hoplites : heavy spearmen Mediocre
2 Greek and Campanian Hoplites : heavy spearmen
3 Ligurian and Sardinian : medium swordmen
1 Balearic slingers : light infantry sling Elite
1 Light Infantry : light infantry bow
"12 Hoplites" Podcast List
Brilliant
1 Greek MCv
1 Tarantine LCv Javelin
6 Hoplites
1 Baleric LF Sling Elite
1 LF Bow
==
Ordinary Unreliable
6 Hoplites mediocre
2 Lf Bow
==
Agathocles Strategist
2 HCv
2 Tarentine LH Javl;ein
3 Gauls MF IMpetuous Sw
2 Spaniards MF Impetuous Sword
2 Peltasts LF Javelin
200 Points
ALC 2019
Strategist
1 Mercenary Guard : heavy spearmen Elite ------
3 Syracusan Hoplites : heavy spearmen Mediocre
2 Spanish Scutarii : medium swordmen Impetuous
1 Ligurian and Sardinian : medium swordmen
2 Light Infantry : light infantry javelin
2 Greek cavalrymen : medium cavalry
1 Tarentans : Light horse javelin
Ordinary Incl. & Unrel.
1 Greek cavalrymen* : medium cavalry Elite
3 Greek cavalrymen : medium cavalry
4 Greek and Campanian Hoplites Heavy spearmen ------
Brilliant
3 Greek and Campanian Hoplites : heavy spearmen
1 Ligurian and Sardinian : medium swordmen
1 Light Infantry : light infantry javelin
1 Light Infantry : light infantry bow
2 Gallic mercenaries : medium swordmen Impetuous
1 Mercenary Peltasts : javelinmen
1 Tarentans : Light horse javelin
Strategist
1 Medium Cavalry Medium cavalry ------
4 Greek and Campanian Hoplites Heavy spearmen ------
1 Guard Hoplites Heavy spearmen Elite
1 Syracusan Hoplites Heavy spearmen Mediocre
2 Light Horse Light cavalry javelin ----
Competent Incl. & Unrel.
1 Medium Cavalry Medium cavalry ------
4 Greek and Campanian Hoplites Heavy spearmen ------
1 Syracusan Hoplites Heavy spearmen Mediocre
1 Guard Hoplites Heavy spearmen ----
2 Light Infantry Light infantry javelin ------
Competent Allied Greek
5 Hoplites Mercenary Heavy spearmen
1 Light Infantry Light infantry javelin
1 Heavy Chariot Heavy chariot
1 Makedonian Garrison Pikemen
Strategist
2 Medium Cavalry Medium cavalry ------
4 Greek and Campanian Hoplites Heavy spearmen ------
2 Guard Hoplites Heavy spearmen Elite
1 Syracusan Hoplites Heavy spearmen Mediocre
Competent, Included, Unreliable
2 Gallic mercenary Heavy swordsmen impetuous ------
4 Greek and Campanian Hoplites Heavy spearmen ------
1 Syracusan Hoplites Heavy spearmen Mediocre
1 Light Infantry Light infantry bow ----
Cartho Ally, Competent
2 Numidians Light cavalry javelin ----
3 African Spearmen Heavy spearmen
2 Gauls Heavy swordsmen impetuous ------
1 libyan warriors Light infantry javelin ----
1 Ligurian and Sardinian Medium swordsmen ----