Umma versus Lagash - Sumerian Mortem et Gloriam Game

 

Armies deployed - Umma left, Lagash right

Battle cars on the Lagash left flank

Battle cars on the Umma right flank

Armies advance

Battle cars of Lagash declare a charge

They charge the battle cars of Umma

Last Wednesday I played a solo game out in the shed, with the city of Umma taking on Lagash. This was a Magna sized MeG game with the army of Lagash under King Eannatum and that of Umma under King Ur-luma (actually the troops of Ur). Both sides had fairly similar armies, Umma had a slight advantage in numbers, while Lagash had a unit of retained rather than all militia spearmen. The Sumerian Shakespeare site has a great page on the Sumerian "Hundred Years War" between Lagash and Umma which was fought over the possession of the fertile fields of Guedena:

A History of the Wars between Umma and Lagash

The armies advanced and the battle cars of Lagash charged those of Umma. Combat was level pegging for a while before the battle cars of Umma eventually broke. Meanwhile Umma's infantry on the left flank and in the centre charged the Lagash infantry and casualties quickly mounted. Umma's left flank and centre then collapsed handing a decisive 15-2 victory to Lagash.

Battle car combat is level pegging

The infantry close on the left and in the centre

Umma's infantry on the left flank and centre charges

Battle cars of Umma break

Infantry casualties mount quickly

Umma's left flank and centre collapses