Clash of Empires: The Battle of Carrhae 53 BC

In this article I’m going to use the Clash Battle System to recreate the Roman disastrous defeat at the hands of the Parthians at Carrhae in 53 BC. This battle is significant because it demonstrates how vulnerable the Roman Legion could be when fighting in an unfamiliar environment and against an enemy using sound military tactics.

Background

Marcus Licinius Crassus was the richest man in Rome and the third member of an unofficial coalition formed between himself, Caesar and Pompey in 60 BC. Envious of Caesar’s victories in Gaul Crassus wanted to try and make a name for himself as a great military commander. For this reason, he decided to invade Parthia which was Rome’s main rival in the east. At his own expense Crassus raised and equipped an army of 39,000 which was assembled in the Roman province of Syria which he governed as proconsul. From here Crassus planned to take a direct route into Parthia. In so doing he dismissed good advice to take a longer route through the Armenian mountains which would have denied the Parthians the advantage of using their cavalry army to good effect. Instead, Crassus crossed the Euphrates into the vast open expanse of northern Mesopotamia which had been the heartland of the ancient Persian empire. Here the Romans were confronted by a Parthian army under the inspired leadership of Surenas. The size of this army is unclear, but it is generally considered to have consisted of about 10,000 horse archers and fully armoured Cataphract lancers. Upon making contact with the enemy Crassus ordered his legions to form a huge hollow square which provided all round defence against cavalry. In response to this the Parthians surrounded the Romans and subjected them to a sustained and murderous hail of arrows from their horse archers. This was made even more effective by a constant resupply of arrows brought up from the rear in bundles carried by a camel train. Any attempt to come to grips with their elusive tormentors only resulted in more casualties as even when retreating the horse archers were able to turn in the saddle and shoot behind. Hence the famous ‘Parthian Shot’. To extricate himself from an assured defeat Crassus ordered his decimated legions to make a night-time retreat. However, this turned into a disaster when on the next day the Roman general was killed during an attempted negotiation with the enemy. Thereupon, the remainder of the Roman army continued to be harassed by the horse archers and was finally mercilessly ridden down and massacred by the Cataphract lancers. Less than 5,000 Romans returned from the disastrous campaign.   

Clash of Empires

Using the Clash of Empires rules the battle strength and capabilities of the belligerents can be shown as follows: -

Later Republican Roman Army

Following the reforms of Caius Marius, the Roman army is now a professional Standing Army type with a Combat Rating (CR) of ❸, which based upon the number of army units i.e., 28 converts to a +22 Fighting Bonus (FB). They also get +1 to Initiative for Forced March. Battle Dice 2D6 (highest scoring die only). Fighting Technique: Legion which gives the Romans a +2/+4 modifier to their Battle Dice score for Heavy Infantry. The second modifier is used if FB greater than that of the opponent. Also, a Standing Roman Legion can save against defeat by rolling 4-6 on 1D6 which is owing to their Special Ability Relentless. They also have Heavy Cavalry which gives them a 1D6+2 Advantage Die as well as the normal +1 to Initiative for cavalry. The Roman commander Crassus is ranked as competent and rolls 1D6 for Initiative. Therefore, the Later Republican Roman army rolls 1D6 +2 for Initiative. The Roman army outnumbers its opponent by more than 2-1 so gets 2D6 Battle Advantage Dice.

Parthian Army

Mounted Feudal Army type with a Combat Rating of ❷, which based upon the number of army units i.e., 12 converts to a +6 Fighting Bonus (FB). Battle Dice 2D6 (highest scoring die only). Mixed Fighting Techniques (MFT) consisting of Cataphract Mounted Impetus and Mounted Skirmishers Deadly Shots which gives the Parthians a +6/+9 modifier to their Battle Dice score. The second modifier is used if FB greater than that of the opponent. The Mounted Impetus element of their Fighting Technique means that the Parthians can double an Enhanced Bonus score on an Initiative win and odds or evens Battle Dice. In addition, the Parthians get a 1D6+3 Battle Advantage Die for Cataphract Cavalry as well as the normal +1 to Initiative for cavalry. As for the Parthian commander Surenas he is ranked as a Great Commander and rolls 2D6 (highest scoring die only) for Initiative. Therefore, the Parthian army rolls 2D6 +1 for Initiative. As can be seen the Parthians are lethal if fighting a battle on their own terms i.e., on ground of their own choosing and against an enemy unfamiliar with their tactics.

Clash Battle System

After rolling for Initiative the Battle Roll for each army consists of the following procedure:

• Roll Battle Dice 2D6 (highest scoring die only)

• Plus, Combat Rating (CR) to Fighting Bonus (FB) (conversion dependent upon number of units)

• Plus, Battle Bonus calculation determined by the army type and FB.

• Plus, Advantage Dice (representing a numerical, tactical or other special advantage)

Highest score wins and the difference between the two Battle Rolls determines the number of casualties.

Combat Rating to Fighting Bonus Conversion and Casualty Tables not shown.

Battle Log

Later Republican Roman

Initiative	Battle Dice (Modifiers)	CR to Fighting Bonus	Battle Bonus	Battle Advantage Dice	Total Score
1D6 +2 2+2 = 4	2D6 Legion (+2/+4) 1 and 2 (Highest die only) 2+4 = 6	❸x 28 = +22 FB Relentless 4-6 Saving roll = 2	No odds or evens 3D6 2+2+1 = 5	Opponent outnumbered more than 2-1. 2D6 Heavy Cavalry 1D6+2 2+1+(3+2) = 8	6+22+5+8 = 41

Parthian

Initiative	Battle Dice (Modifiers)	CR to Fighting Bonus	Battle Bonus	Battle Advantage Dice	Total Score
2D6 +1 6 and 5 6+1 = 7	2D6 Mtd, Feudal MFT (+6/+9) 4 and 6 (Highest die only) 6+6 = 12	❷x 12 = +6 FB	Evens dice 1D6    6x2 = 12	Tactical Advantage 2D6 Super Heavy Cavalry 1D6+3 6+4+(5+3) = 18	12+6+12+18 = 48

Battle Bonus Calculation Table

FB	Warband	Feudal	Citizen	Part-Standing	Standing
1-4	1D3(1D6)	1D3(1D6)	1D3(1D6)	1D3(1D6)	1D6(2D6)
5-8	1D3(1D6)	1D3(1D6)	1D3(1D6)	1D6(2D6)	1D6(2D6)
9-12	1D3(1D6)	1D3(1D6)	1D6(2D6)	1D6(2D6)	2D6(3D6)
13-16	1D3(1D6)	1D6(2D6)	1D6(2D6)	2D6(3D6)	2D6(3D6)
17-20	1D6(2D6)	1D6(2D6)	2D6(3D6)	2D6(3D6)	3D6(4D6)
21-24	1D6(2D6)	2D6(3D6)	2D6(3D6)	3D6(4D6)	3D6(4D6)
25+	2D6(3D6)	2D6(3D6)	3D6(4D6)	3D6(4D6)	4D6(5D6)

(#D#) = Enhanced Battle Bonus on odds or evens Battle Dice.

For a Mixed Army Combination select the column to the left of the primary Army Type and use the bonus dice shown therein.

Note: - The Romans lose Initiative which negates their numerical advantage. The Parthians then surround the Roman squares and subject their enemy to a constant missile barrage. As indicated by their Initiative won tactical advantages and odds or evens activated double Enhanced Bonus this eventually wears the Romans down.  An attempted retreat by the Romans using their Relentless save fails dismally with a roll of 2 on 1D6 and they are subsequently massacred by the Parthian Cataphracts. This is a great victory for the Parthians who only lose 2 units, whereas the Romans lose 75% of their army which equates to 23 units.  

Bad omens before the campaign prove prophetic as the supposed invincible Roman legions suffer a humiliating defeat at the hands of the formidable Parthians at Carrhae 53 BC. Figures by Essex and Irregular Miniatures from their 25mm Greek & Roman range. Painted by Silurian and from the author’s own collection. The numerical strength of each army is denoted by the coloured plastic counters. Game board from the Clash of Empires: The Hellenistic World Game.

The formidable Parthian Cataphracts stand ready to exploit any weakness in the Roman square created by the deadly shots from their horse archers at the Battle of Carrhae 53 BC. Figures by Essex Miniatures from their 15mm Ancients range. Painted by Silurian and from the authors own collection.

Sources

Boulter, M. L. 2009/2025: Clash of Empires: The Hellenistic World. Silurian War Games Ltd.

Dupuy, R. E. and Dupuy, T. N. 1993: The Collins Encyclopaedia of Military History. Harper Collins Publishers.

Hackett, J. 1989: Warfare in the Ancient World. Sidgwick & Jackson Ltd.

Mellersh, H.E.L. 1995: Chronology of the Ancient World, 10,000 BC – AD 799. Helicon Publishing Ltd.

Wilcox, P.1986: Rome’s Enemies (3): Parthians and Sassanid Persians. Osprey Publishing Ltd.

Article Front Page Picture

Death of Crassus at the Battle of Carrhae, 53 BC. Marcus Licinius Crassus, 115-53 BC. Roman general and statesman. From Cassell’s Illustrated Universal History, published 1883. After Alamy (IY04575193).