Clù Rìogh Bua!

A Roman Legion Visits Éire

A game for Dogg Robber by Colum

What could possibly go wrong?

So, Dog Robber wanted to run a remotely played wargame, but we needed a game system that would
work. The Age of Arthur is an expansion system based on the Warhammer Ancient Battles historical
gaming system. The purchase of a Roman legion box set and a Romans vs Celts box set and the addition
of the Celtic “Age of Arthur” army that I already owned will allow for this.
Historically, nobody really knows what happened to the IX Legion and a lot of Arthurian theory notes
that if the IX Legion went “native” instead of returning to Rome, then Arthur could have been Legate
“Artorius”, I’m sure you’ve all seen a movie or a dozen about that.

Around 81 AD, Gnaeus Julius Agricola is reported to have stated that Hibernia (Ireland) could be
conquered with a single legion. This statement was recorded by a relative named Publius Cornelius
Tacitus, who wrote:

Now imagine a campaign of the IX Legion

invading Ireland and what that could look like. I
think it’s interesting, do you?

I imagine something like this: Several armies

maneuvering around Ireland attempting to engage
in a battle at advantage. Let's see you would need
a Roman Legion for one army and the armies of
the Kings of Ireland (known as Ard-Rí and Mór-
Rí). Each Irish King would have a Dark Age Irish
army.

How many Irish Kings were there? A bloody lot!

However, Ireland had five kingdoms in this
period (only the gods know how many tribes).
There was a High King, the Ard-Rí, located in
Meath with his seat of power being Tara and four
Great Kings, the Mór-Rí controlling the
kingdoms of Ulster, Connacht, Leinster and
Munster. Each Mór-Rí had a seat of power
(Emain Macha, Cruachain, Dun Ailline and
Nenagh, respectively).
I downloaded a satellite image of Ireland and then placed markers for the locations of historical
fortifications from the first century.

I arbitrarily decided each Mór-Rí would also control four supporting strongholds. The reason for this is
that each Mór-Rí army would consist of four units, in example, 1 unit of light cavalry, 2 war bands of
infantry, 1 unit of archers and command units for each specific army. Each unit would be dispersed in
garrison at beginning of the campaign and would need to gather to be effective.

I overlaid the map of Ireland with a hex grid system to track army movements and travel times.

The map is VERY abstract because it is easier than using a Google Earth image to move units around.
Travel times will be based on the following map with a point cost to maneuver an army into a hex.
Rules for Movement:

The Roman IX Legion would spend 6 movement points each day, the Irish Kings 5. Each General would
issue orders to his army. Forces move at the following rates:

Terrain Roman Movement Point Cost Irish Movement Point Cost

Clear 1 1
Hilly 1, 1 ½ with artillery 1, 1 ½ with chariots
Mountainous 2, 3 with artillery 2, 3 with chariots
Forest 2, No artillery allowed 2, 3 with chariots
Marsh/Swamp 2, No artillery allowed 2, No chariots allowed
Sea Lane 1 2
Road Add 1 ½ Movement points Add 1 Movement Point
River Crossing Bridge 1 1
River Crossing Ford 2 2
River Crossing Ferry 2 2
River Crossing 4 5
The referee would calculate movement times and any battles that would occur. The Campaign map is
examined to pick a battlefield layout. The terrain is mapped out for a table top, built and fought. The idea
Dogg and I have is that the combating generals would Zoom or Skype for a video feed of the table top.

In this example the Ard-Rí departs Tara

and moves north to consolidate with the
Mór-Rí from Ulster departing Emain
Macha. The Roman IX Legion departs
Drumunagh in pursuit.
 The two forces become engaged on
the road north of Tara in a hilly
wooded area with some marsh lands
to the east.

Place of battle is determined The layout of the battlefield is examined

 The examined terrain is turned into a
war gaming table by the referee

The Battle of the Eblana Hills is fought!

The Generals observe the battle and issue orders via video call.

What could possibly go wrong?

The Rí of Éire and their Armies

The game would need an Ard-Rí (High King) with his Army based in Tara of Meath. The Irish could
have up to four subordinate armies of the Mór-Rí (Great Kings) in Ulster, Connacht, Leinster and
Munster.
The five Irish Armies would total 5000, with the Ard-Rí commanding 2000 points and each Mór-Rí
commanding 750 points. Total Irish Forces = 2000 + 750 +750 +750 +750 = 5,000

Character Advantages: Boats +10, Fearsome Blow +20, Goad +15, Javelin of Hurling +10, Salmon Leap
+15, Chieftain’s Chariot +50, Finest Horses +20, Hail of Blows +20, Piercing Dart +5, Veteran +10
Armies of Éire
The Romans and the IX Legion in Hibernia

Roman invasion force would be 4000. I decided to divide the Roman Army into two divisions to allow for
strategic and tactical flexibility.

Total Roman Forces = 2400 + 1600 =4,000 points

Roman Legion needs to defeat in detail while the Irish Kings maneuver INDEPENDENTLY around
trying to consolidate their forces before losing.

The game would have the Romans start at Drumunagh.

Drumunagh

Drumunagh is an archeological site that has not been excavated yet for political reasons (it is south of
Dublin). The sight is promising proof that the IX Legion landed in Ireland in the first century and didn’t
return. Pictured below is a satellite image:

The site indicates the following features:

The theory for the game is that the site was an Irish trading post:
The IX Legion took possession of the site an

d fortified it like good Roman soldiers:

The IX Legion Available Units

Character Advantage: Born to the Purple (+30), Fearsome Blow (+20), Finest Horses (+20), Loyalty
(+40), Professional (+ 25), Fabricae (+15), Finest Armor (+15), Knight Commander (+20), Man of the
People (+40), Veteran (+10),
Roman Invaders
 The Roman General and the Ard-Rí start the game consolidated at
their respective strongholds and may maneuver as they wish.

The Roman General’s Army is stronger than the Ard-Rí’s Army.

The Ard-Rí’s Army combined with a single Mór-Rí’s Army is

stronger than the Roman General’s Army.

The Legate’s Army is equal to two Mór-Rí’s Army, but is weaker

than the Ard-Rí’s Army.

The Mór-Rí forces are scattered and must consolidate ASAP.

Offensive operations cannot begin until the armies are in hand!

Tactical Objectives:

The Roman General would want to destroy the Ard-Rí or the Mór-Rí in detail and avoid a battle with a
consolidated Army of Eire

The Ard-Rí would want to consolidate a force and then defeat the Roman Army in detail and avoid a
battle with any superior Roman formation.

Starting Tactical Positions:

IX Legion:
General’s Division and Legate’s Division located at Drumunagh

Ard-Rí:
Army located at Tara

Mór-Rí Ulster:
Emain Macha: Mor-Rí, Toiseach, Filidh and Druid Dun Libbse: Marcra Rua
Beal Feirste: Coisithe Carrick Fargus: Ceithern Dun Drum: Pagenses

Mór-Rí Connacht:
Cruachain: Mor-Rí, Toiseach, Filidh and Druid Clochan: Marcra Dubh
Gallimh: Coisithe Ennis: Ceithern Dumsna: Pagenses

Mór-Rí Munster:
Nenagh: Mor-Rí, Toiseach, Filidh and Druid Innis Fallen: Marcra Gorm
Adare: Coisithe Lumneach: Ceithern Corcaigh: Pagenses

Mór-Rí Leinster:
Dun Ailline: Mor-Rí, Toiseach, Filidh and Druid Cluain Meala: Marcra Dubh
Drum Rusk: Coisithe Ross Laire: Ceithern Cill Mhantain: Pagenses
The starting positions of the armies involved in the campaign:
IX Legion in Drumunagh
Ard-Rí in Tara
Mór-Rí of Ulster in Emain Macha
Mór-Rí of Connacht in Cruachain
Mór-Rí of Munster in Nenagh
Mór-Rí of Leinster in Dun Ailline