Europa Barbarorum Battle #7: Viriathus - Battle of Tribola

Punicus, Caesarus, Caucenus, Viriathus, are Lusitanian commanders to note in a long struggle that lasted ~50 years after the 2nd Punic War. The incursions would become so great that the Senate would send Consular armies as reinforcements. Some of these armies were annhilated in the hills of Iberia; in particular Caesarus dealt 9000 Roman casualties in a battle in 153 BC.

Viriathus was the product of two greedy Roman governors appointed in 151 BC who were exceptionally greedy even for Romans: Servius Sulpicius Galba, and Consul Lucius Licinius Lucullus. In 150 BC, Galba suffered a humiliating defeat costing 7000 Roman citizens. Teaming up with Lucullus to deal with the Lusitani, they embarked on a campaign of extermination that became so appalling and gained them so much wealth that even the Senate called them in for questioning. Bribery would aquit them, and Galba would later become Consul and his descendants leaders of Rome. Such is the power of money.

This video showcases the ambush at the Battle of Tribola (147 BC) years after the massacres of Galba and Lucullus. After Tribola, inspired Iberian tribes rose up once again to deal thousands of Roman deaths. It's said that Romans citizens became so afraid of service in Iberia that recruitment rates went down.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Viriathus

The battle isn't hard, so the video is more of a historical spot.

HD is available.

Category:

Gaming

Tags:

• Rome
• Total
• War
• Europa
• Barbarorum
• Ace
• Blazer
• ace_blazer
• mod
• modification
• Tribola
• Viriathus
• Viriato
• Lusitani

[wintersnoob]

Well seeing those strong troops, one thing I must say...Lusitania troops weren't near as tough as they are here...they barely used armors....they resembled somewhat with the early Germanian tribes...and used the hills and forests to hide and ambush the Romans...Also, we had no cavalry. Our archers were quite unorganized and all we had were good warriors and tacticians but awfully equiped.

[aceblazer25]

@wintersnoob, I'm going to trust the EB team on this one because they have a few historians from Spain/Portugal that specialize in the wars involving Iberian tribes. They have quite a few good sources. Also lusitancenturion has provided some good info. Iberian cavalry was excellent and widely used even in Roman armies. Hannibal used Iberian cav as well. Wealthy Lusitanian troops would have traded with Romans & Carthaginians to get good armor, and Iberian Iron was famous for it's strength.

[HeirofCarthage]

If only the Iberian troops in vanilla rtw were like this...

[aceblazer25]

@aced1592, the battle is mentioned on the page of Viriathus and "campaign history of the Roman military". Actions in Iberia don't really get a lot of attention these days for some reason.

[Thrashgu]

@aceblazer25 The Falcata was an iberian weapon (south/southeast). The Gladius Hispaniensis was a copy from the swords used by the Celts of the northwest of the Iberian Penninsula, Lusitanians and Celtiberians. Those swords were called atrophied antennas swords or biglobular swords, it was a style of celtic swords original from Iberia, The Falcata is very similar to the greek Machaira.

[aceblazer25]

@wintersnoob, the falcata was an excellent sword, maybe one of the best short swords in the ancient world. It was such a good weapon that the Romans copied it and called it the "gladius hispaniensis". The Iberians were much more advanced than the German tribes, especially after their many interactions with Carthage & Rome. I think you don't give your ancestors enough credit.

[aceblazer25]

@wintersnoob, M2TW was made by artists who used a historical background to provide an entertaining GAME. EB focuses on historical accuracy first and lets history provide the fun. I trust them, because some of them are professional historians, and like all good historians they provide excellent sources for all their arguments.

[lusitancenturion]

Some sources sended by pm, enjoy :P

[lusitancenturion]

Lol, not even half? Lusos were only one of the dozen iberian tribes! But while only few iberians were lusos, most lusos are iberians with celtic influence or even iberians mixed with celts (like the celtici in Alentejo). So I can refer to them as Iberians and they used equipment similar to other iberian tribes. Romans doubled their shields width during the 1st punic war because of the iberian falcatas (probably the most used sword by lusos) and late roman gladius was of iberian design.

[lusitancenturion]

@wintersnoob Lusos where the masters of javelin use. One of their main gods, Runescensious was associated with javelin throwing. Lusitanian probably didnt used as much cavalry as some southern tribes or the cantabrians but their horses were famous and still are today (Cavalo Lusitano). Even wikipedia will tell you a lot about Lusitanian armies but if you want I can send you some more hardcore sourses by pm.

[lusitancenturion]

@wintersnoob M2TW just like vanilla RTW goal was to make a game historicaly based that could appeal to a large audience and to sell a lot. EBs goal is to teach history and to make a piece of art. While they can also make mistakes not a single unit is put ingame without solid archeologic evidence.