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| Armies deployed - Umma on the left, Lagash on the right |
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| Opposite end |
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| Umma infantry advance in the centre |
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| Lagash infantry attack |
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| Umma infantry forced to retreat and units are destroyed |
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Last Sunday afternoon I played a solo Command and Colors Ancients game with my Sumerians out in the shed. I noticed recently on the Command and Colors Ancients website that there were some new Sumerian scenarios. I thought I'd try this battle, Eannatum of Lagash versus Ush of Umma c.2450 BC, which was a great victory for Eannatum and Lagash. The famous Stele of Vultures, now in the Louvre, actually commemorates this battle. Both sides had similar forces with a slight advantage in cards and numbers for Lagash. There was a reduction in shooting range for LI bow and some special rules for Sumerian Commander Chariots. I didn't worry about any terrain, it was most likely fought on a flat plain. The infantry of Umma advanced confidently in the centre, two double time cards in their hand, no doubt bolstering their belief in the favour of the gods! The infantry of Umma were forced to retreat and after several turns had two units destroyed. The Lagash infantry pressed the attack in the centre, while Ush of Umma responded by ordering the advance of his infantry on the right flank. Shooting, casualties and retreats followed but Umma finally had some success clawing back a couple of victory points. It was too little, too late, however and Eannatum of Lagash won easily 6-2 victory points. |
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| Lagash attack again |
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| Umma advances on the right flank |
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| Shooting, casualties and retreats on the Lagash left flank |
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| Umma finally has some success |
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| Umma claws back a couple of victory points |
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| Lagash win 6-2 victory points |
Awesome looking battle as always sir!
ReplyDeleteThanks Michal, good to get the troops out.
DeleteWhat a great way to spend a Sunday afternoon!
ReplyDeleteThanks Aaron, it was fun.
DeleteAn interesting battle, I know very little about the Sumerians, so nice to see this one. Great looking armies.
ReplyDeleteThanks Donnie, if you’re in the UK a trip to to the British Musuem with the Standard of Ur and other Sumerian objects is pretty amazing.
DeleteYour painted figures/units look great! what I like about your battles the units look clean and organized to be able concentrate and stay focus on command control. lovely photos and battle report - Awesome!
ReplyDeleteThanks Phil, there are so many great 28mm and 15mm Sumerian ranges around now. Solo games are easier in some ways, the table tend to get messier the more people involved.
DeleteLovely looking ancients battle!
ReplyDeleteBest Iain
Thanks Iain, it was a quick fun game.
DeleteWow! Amazing Ancients gaming again, Mike. This has to be one of the earliest recorded battles in history.
ReplyDeleteThanks Dean, you probably right about that.
DeleteWhat a top looking game! A really decisive win for the Lagash too. I was surprised to see so few chariots. Were there more in later battles, or have I been misled by game of others around this period (broadly speaking)?
ReplyDeleteBest wishes, James
Thanks James, I just followed the scenario, they may have had more. According to Armies of the Ancient Near East (p.17.) ‘There is little indication of the total number of battle-cars that could be mustered by any one city state, aside from Umma. However, even if no individual city could afford to maintain more than 60, this would suggest that a powerful Lugal…could conceivably field over 600 battle-cars.’
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