Clash of Empires: The Battle of Cynoscephalae 197 BC
- martinboulter2020
- Oct 21, 2025
- 6 min read
Updated: Jan 12
In this article I’m going to use the Clash Battle System to recreate the Roman victory over the Macedonians at Cynoscephalae in 197 BC. This battle is significant because it was a contest for supremacy between the two superpowers of the day namely Macedonia and Rome each of which used a different type of warfare. These being the old and ridged Macedonian Phalanx versus the new and flexible Roman Legion. The battle also marked the start of Roman domination over the Hellenistic World.
Background
During the Second Macedonian War (200 - 196 BC), while campaigning in the hilly country of Thessaly a Roman army led by Titus Quinctius Flamininus clashed with that of the Macedonian King Philip V at Cynoscephalae in 197 BC. Both armies were approximately equal in strength at about 26,000 men although the Romans did have a few war elephants. While trying to locate each other in an early morning mist the two armies were separated by a range of low hills over which an initial period of skirmishing gradually developed into a full-scale battle. Philip seized the initiative by taking the high ground with the Macedonian phalanx of his right wing. He then took a gamble by sending this formation in a charge down the slope at the left wing of the Roman army. The legions on this side of the battlefield shook under the impact of the phalanx and began to give ground. In reply to this Flamininus personally led his right wing which was reinforced with the war elephants up the slope in an attack upon the Macedonian left wing the phalanx of which was still in the process of forming up. The elephants burst through the Macedonian ranks which began to disintegrate. At this point an enterprising Roman tribune saw an opportunity and led 20 maniples (probably of triarri) in an attack against the rear of the Macedonian right wing which was now more or less at the bottom of the slope and still fully engaged with the Roman left wing. Unable to turn and face this new threat the Macedonian phalangites were slain in great numbers and it wasn’t long before the entire army lost all cohesion and broke. The Macedonians lost about 13,000 men whereas the Romans lost a few hundred.
Clash of Empires
Using the Clash of Empires rules the battle strength and capabilities of the belligerents can be shown as follows: -
Republican Roman Army
Part-Standing Army type with a Combat Rating (CR) of ❷, which based upon the number of army units i.e., 22 converts to a +10 Fighting Bonus (FB). 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 Part-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 and 1D6 for War Elephants. The Roman commander Flamininus is ranked as competent and rolls 1D6 for Initiative. Due to combat experience the army under his command has a superior command structure +2 Initiative. Therefore, the Republican Roman army rolls 1D6 +3 for Initiative. Both sides are nearly equally matched in number so there is no advantage for outnumbering an opponent.
Successor Macedonian Army
Mixed Army combination with a Combat Rating (CR) of ❸ for Primary Standing and CR ❶ for Secondary Citizen, which based upon the number of army units i.e., 21 converts to a +12 Fighting Bonus (FB). Battle Dice 2D6 (highest scoring die only). Mixed Fighting Techniques (MFT) consisting of Macedonian Phalanx and Hoplite Phalanx (Mercenaries) which gives the Macedonians a +5/+8 modifier to their Battle Dice score. The second modifier is used if FB greater than that of the opponent. For Battle Advantage Dice the Successor Macedonian army has 1D6 +2 for Heavy Cavalry as well as the normal +1 to Initiative for cavalry. As for the Macedonian King Philip V he is ranked as a competent commander and rolls 1D6 for Initiative. For this battle he has decided to put everything in offence and doesn’t keep 20% of his army’s FB in reserve to mitigate the -2 penalty to Initiative for unwieldy Macedonian Phalanx. Furthermore, unlike the battle-hardened Roman army the Macedonian army of this period doesn’t have a superior command structure. Therefore, the Macedonian army rolls 1D6 -1 for Initiative.
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 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
Republican Roman
Initiative | Battle Dice (Modifiers) | CR to Fighting Bonus | Battle Bonus | Battle Advantage Dice | Total Score |
1D6 +3
4+3 = 7
| 2D6 Legion (+2/+4) 5 and 2 (Highest die only)
5+2 = 7 | ❷x 21 = +10 FB
Relentless 5-6 1D6 = N/A | No odds or evens
1D6 = 5
| Tactical Advantage 1D6 Heavy Cavalry 1D6+2 War Elephant 1D6
5+(3+2) +6 = 16 | 7+10+5+16 = 38
|
Successor Macedonian
Initiative | Battle Dice (Modifiers) | CR to Fighting Bonus | Battle Bonus | Battle Advantage Dice | Total Score |
1D6 -1
6-1 = 5
| 2D6 MFT (+5/+8) 2 and 4 (Highest die only)
4+8 = 12 | ❸/❶x 21 = +12 FB
| Evens Dice
2D6
3+2 = 5
| Heavy Cavalry 1D6+2
3+2 = 5
| 12+12+5+5 = 34
|
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: - As a result of their +3 bonus the Romans snatch the Initiative from the Macedonians, and this yields a 1D6 Tactical Advantage. The Macedonian right wing has some success against the Roman left as shown by their Enhanced Battle Bonus which is activated by evens Battle Dice. However, this is not enough to break the Romans whose subsequent counterattack against the ill prepared Macedonian left wins them the battle. Particularly grievous was the impact of the War Elephants. Hence a disastrous defeat for the Macedonians who lose 50% (11 units) of their army, whereas the Romans lose 3 units. Thus, a great victory for the Romans.
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.
Goldsworthy, A. 2001: Cannae. Cassell & Co.
Hackett, J. 1989: Warfare in the Ancient World. Sidgwick & Jackson Ltd.
Head, D. 1982: Armies of the Macedonian and Punic Wars 359 BC to 146 BC. A Wargames Research Group Publication.
Mellersh, H.E.L. 1995: Chronology of the Ancient World, 10,000 BC – AD 799. Helicon Publishing Ltd.
Wise, T. and Healy, M.1999: Hannibal’s War with Rome. The Armies and Campaigns 216 BC. Osprey Publishing Ltd.
Article Front Page Picture
Roman Legion. A Roman general and his Legion returning to Rome in triumph. Wood engraving, 19th century. After Alamy (IY04447310).
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