BYZ04 Ophlimus (622AD)

Details
Written by: Mark McG
Category: Byzantine–Sasanian War (602-628)
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Battle of Ophlimus (622AD)

HISTORICAL BACKGROUND


On April 5, 622, Heraclius left Constantinople, sailed to Bithynia and then marched into the interior of Anatolia where he began to concentrate his forces. He trained them in drill and maneuver, revived their broken moral and launched a counter-offensive, which took on the character of a holy war.
He marched to the east in order to outflank the Persians in Armenia. Shahbaraz was able to block in time the passes to the east, but Heraclius out-maneuvered them and placed his forces in the rear of the Persians who realized this only 2 weeks later. The Persian general Shahbaraz attempted a night attack that a lunar eclipse canceled. 
Heraclius held a position on the hill Ophlimos (or Ophelimos) in the eastern Bithynia (or Pontus) at the Lycus river valley. The Persians did not like to fight in open field and they did not engage in battle.
After some waiting and maneuvering,Heraclius realised that a Persian detachment was spying their moves, and faked a retreat. The Persians left their defensive positions and rushed to chase the fleeing enemy and they were attacked by the elite Optimates and had to retreat, suffering an unexpected defeat.

BYZ04

War Council
Sassanid Army (Use Tan blocks)
• Leader: Shahrbaraz
• 5 Command Cards
• 2 Inspired Action tokens

Byzantine Army (Use Purple blocks)
• Leader: Heraclius
• 6 Command Cards
• 4 Inspired Action tokens
• Move First Move First

Victory
6 Banners
Super Heavy units are worth 2 banners

Special Rules
*The Sassanid Medium, Heavy and Super Heavy Cavalry units are armed with bows.
*The Byzantine Medium, Heavy and Super Heavy Cavalry units are armed with bows.
*At the start of the Byzantine turn, by expending an Inspired Action token, they may place a HC and leader in any vacant woods hex. This counts as the turn token use.
The leader may never leave the HC,and if the HC is destroyed, so is the leader. 
* Byzantine Battlefield Action: During the order phase on a Byzantine turn, the Byzantines  may use a Battlefield Action to Order a Leader (and any attached unit) in addition to their  Command card. This counts as the turn token use.

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