ancient greece mediterranean ruler

Chapter 550 Battle of Mayaro ([-])

Hyparinus believed that the rebels such as Herolis were now powerful, and the courtiers loyal to Dionysius such as Philistus were missing, so he chose conservative measures.

In fact, at this time, the Syracuse riot troops in the city were retreating steadily under the fierce attack of mercenaries.

Herolis was a good organizer and instigator, but not an excellent general. He did not take decisive measures to reorganize the command and organization system of this new army, and divided his troops to bypass the streets and encircle the enemy. , instead took the lead in the battle from the beginning. As a result, the citizen soldiers were disorganized, and the injuries and deaths of their companions made the vicious image of Dionysius's mercenaries left in their hearts for many years once again become clear.

Unfortunately, Hyparinus was too cautious at this time and wanted to protect his daughter and grandson first, so he missed the opportunity to send mercenaries on the island to defeat the citizen army.

Originally, a small number of nobles and citizens in the city who supported Dionysius were imprisoned because of Philistus, and no one took the lead in organizing them to assist the mercenaries in fighting. As a result, although a thousand mercenaries fought fiercely in the city, they occupied They had the upper hand, but lacked subsequent support and could not completely defeat the opponent.

Just as Herolis was leading the citizen soldiers to support themselves, the Dionian spies who had been paying close attention to the movements in the city immediately informed the poor and free people in the port area. They quickly organized a team, and there were no mercenaries. Entered the Puska Gate in front of the guarded Epipole Highlands, quickly passed through the Epipole Highlands, rushed to the main city, went around behind the mercenaries and launched an attack.

The mercenaries were attacked from the front and back, and their formation was in chaos. After a fierce battle, most of them were wiped out, and a very small part fled to Ortygia Island.

Herolis did not continue to pursue. At this moment, he was aware of the problems in the army he led. This shortcoming almost ruined the resistance he led.So he ordered the troops to stop the offensive, and with the assistance of other leaders of the rebellion, appointed officers at all levels for this huge team of more than 14000 people, composed of citizens, poor people and free people, and asked his friends, Kuzias, a democrat with rich combat experience, served as his assistant, reorganizing the army and discussing attack plans.

Kuzias suggested to him that the walls and fortresses of Ortigia were tall and strong and difficult to capture.In the case that Mathias may lead his army to return at any time, the troops should not attack the island with all their strength, but should send troops to control the gates and walls of Syracuse. At the same time, they should clear out the forces supporting Dionysius in the city and unite The whole city fought against these mercenaries of Dionysius...

Herolis and others approved Cuzias's suggestion and sent him to lead a team to the isthmus of Ortygia to urgently build a wall and completely block Ortygia to Syracuse. After marching outside the city, Herolis began a clearing operation inside the city.

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Just as the riots broke out, the Dionian spies lurking in the port had already sent people to take a fast boat, departing from the big port and sailing straight north, arriving in Catanai more than two hours later.

In the port of Catanai, there lurks Dionia's spy leader in Sicily, Antrapolis. He did not go to Syracuse in person to participate in the riots, and even ordered his men not to enter Syracuse during the riots. La Cuza City, so as not to have bad associations with the people of Syracuse.

But in Catanai, Antrapolis did not have these scruples, because most of the mercenaries, the ruler of the entire city, were recruited by Mathias to Mearo, leaving the city defense empty.Antrapolis even blatantly summoned freedmen and slaves at the port and called on them to overthrow the rule of the outsider mercenaries.

Dionysius destroyed Catanai and gave the land to some of the mercenaries who helped him fight.These soldiers have been fighting and killing all year round, and they don't know how to take care of the fields. Catania's land is vast, and their few manpower cannot handle it, so they can only rely on slaves and free people.The slaves mainly came from the people of the city-states captured when Dionysius conquered the east coast of Sicily. The mercenaries themselves often sent troops to the western mountains to capture exiles and Sikels to work for themselves as slaves.Many of the free people were former citizens of the city-states on the east coast, but now they have lost their homes.Therefore, the mercenaries of Catanai ruled this large group of slaves and free people who were far more numerous than them and hated them. It was only because of the powerful force of Syracuse and the ferocity of the mercenaries that they repeatedly crushed the resistance of the slaves and forced They had to choose to obey.

As an exile from Catanai, Antrapolis returned to his hometown after several years. He felt like a fish in water. He was familiar with many slaves and free people here and could even name them. Soon he was in The port opened up. With the help of his former compatriots, he formed his own team and sent more people to neighboring city-states such as Syracuse, Leotini, Siculi, and Taunis to spread rumors and find allies. Waiting opportunity.

Now is your chance.The army of Syracuse suffered heavy losses in Magna Graecia, and almost all the armies of Syracuse and its southeastern allies were deployed to encircle and suppress the landing Dionian army. The reason why Antrapolis did not immediately launch a rebellion was that For fear of alerting Dionysius's supporters in Syracuse, the Catanans had urged him several times.

Now news of the riots in Syracuse comes, and Antrapolis immediately announces: Action begins!
The people of Catanai burst into cheers, they gathered their troops and launched an attack on Catanai City.

At the same time, the Catanai slaves in the city were also organized and launched a fierce attack on the mercenaries on the city top to collect blood debts for their dead relatives.

There were not many mercenaries left behind, but they were suddenly attacked from both sides and were quickly defeated.

Antrapolis led the uprising team to occupy the city of Catanay. He did not participate in the victory celebrations of his former compatriots. Instead, he immediately sent people on horseback to the three city-states of Leotini, Taunis, and Sikuli to inform the lurking The news from their men there that "riots had broken out in Syracuse and Catanay and were successful" inspired their confidence and urged them to take immediate action.

Antrapolis believed that these three city-states had surrendered under the powerful military attack of Syracuse, and were also supported by Dionysius as puppets to establish tyrant regimes one after another, with heavy tribute and military tax pressure. As for the people, their resentment towards Syracuse can be imagined. All it takes is a flame to ignite a raging fire, and the news of the successful riots in Syracuse and Catanay will undoubtedly inspire their confidence and Fighting spirit.As long as the rebellions in these three city-states are successful, it will be difficult for the army led by Mathias to return to Syracuse.

For this reason, Antrapolis sent people to take a fast ship and quickly went north to the port of Mearo to inform Antonios, the commander of the First Army, of the "successful riots in Syracuse and Catanai" in order to give him peace of mind. Prepare.

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In the early morning of this day, there was heavy fog in Siliting, but there was only mist in Mayaro.

Mathias has received a report from the reconnaissance cavalry: more than 5000 reinforcements from the south coast city-states of Gela and Camanlina are about to arrive.

Therefore, the cautious Macias did not continue to bombard the south bank of the Alcantara River with crossbows, nor did he lead his army across the river to attack directly. Instead, he led his more than 1 soldiers and more than 50 crossbows. The pack team headed west along the river bank and crossed the Alcantara River in a hurry from a flat area far away from the town of Mearo and close to Mount Etna, leaving the First Army in the section of the river near the town of Mearo. All the traps were in vain.

Antonios did not send an army to intercept on the other side of the river, because the mercenaries of Tao Romenion also rushed out in time. In order to avoid being attacked from both sides, Antonios chose to continue to huddle in the dilapidated town of Mearo, even though he They also recalled the two hundred soldiers who had built a temporary checkpoint in the north the day before yesterday, and sent people to the western mountains to inform the exiles not to go eastward for the time being.

Mathias's army easily joined forces with the Tauromenian mercenaries, whose strength reached 13000.

Macias still chose a safe tactic, placing the remaining ballistae in front of the formation and continuing to fire stone projectiles to the west of Mearo, while waiting for the arrival of reinforcements.

For a moment, stone bullets roared in the air, and the town roared continuously.

In order to avoid being accidentally injured by the scattered gravel and sawdust, the soldiers of Dionia and the exiles in the town had to retreat and retreat to the east.

Mathias calmly asked the soldiers to clear the traps and obstacles of the Dionians outside the town west of Mearo.

The soldiers of the First Legion felt suffocated.Since the establishment of the First Legion, it has won many battles and is invincible. It is a hero praised and yearned for by the people of Dionysia. It has never experienced such a battle. In addition to avoiding the ballista, it is constantly retreating.

As a result, the soldiers began to protest to the team officers and demanded that they rush out of the town and engage in head-on combat with the enemy.

Not only the soldiers protested, but the exiles were also dissatisfied. They were trapped in this town with their wives and children. There was no river blocking the west, so the ballistae could be pushed completely to the front of the town. In this way, the entire Mayaro The town was within range of the ballistae.

When everyone's protests and dissatisfaction were conveyed to Anton Rios through the team officers and exile leaders, one can imagine the pressure he endured.

"Legion Commander, we can no longer be passively beaten like this! We must fight out and destroy their ballistae!" Tagetinos suggested loudly.

"Kill out?! That just fell into the enemy's trick!" Trotilas immediately objected: "What we have now is not 8000 legionnaires, but a force composed of 5000 legionnaires and more than 3000 exiles. Fighting on the plains, it is very easy to be surrounded by enemies who outnumber us! These exiles are not like us, who can continue to fight bravely even if they are surrounded!"

　Thanks to those who looked up at the stars for their generous rewards and became the master of this book!

　　Thanks to Death Beast Sky Suzaku for the reward!Your support is my biggest motivation for writing! !

　　
　
(End of this chapter)