The Battle of Median Apamea, 206BC

Background

Hearing that King Antiochus was planning to invade the Bactrian kingdom to bring it back under Seleukid authority, the Bactrian king, Diadotus, ordered his army to launch a pre-emptive attack upon Antiochus. However, fearing the numbers of troops Antiochus was able to field Diadotus arranged an alliance with the neighbouring Saka tribe who agreed to supply a horde of horse archers to aid him. With the arrival of the Saka Diadotus ordered forth his army under his generals Eumenes and Antipater to invade the land of Media and bring Antiochus to battle.

For his part Antiochus had gathered his army in preparation for his invasion of Bactria. Although surprised to hear of the invasion he quickly gathered his forces and advanced to meet the enemy. A rapid march brought him to the village of Apamea situated near to a narrow river in a fertile plain. It was here that the invading army met the Seleukid king.

The Armies Deploy

Aware of his opponents better mobility Antiochus determined to deploy as early as possible so as to make the most of the limited terrain advantages present. Therefore, the order was issued for the army to muster at dawn and advance to position as quickly as possible. This was done.

Antiochus drew up his army between Apamea and a small hill next to the river. Not trusting his levies to an open battle with the fierce Bactrian horsemen he deployed all 5000 in the village itself, on the side nearest the enemy so to at least delay them should they attempt to take it. Supporting them were 400 Kyrtii and 400 other Asiatic archers also inside Apamea. Next to the village, just beside where the cultivated fields began, were the light horse of Antiochus' own command; 200 Skythians and 600 Tarantines. Behind them in a wide column were 600 Galatian horsemen and a like number of desert Bedouin riding camels not horses, and behind all of these was the king and 1400 horse including both the Hetairoi and Agema. Deployed beside the king were the troops of his son, Seleukos. These were the Argyraspides and the Katoikoi phalanx, however, in order to fill the space allotted to them they could not be drawn up in their traditional formation. On the right were half the Argyraspides, only 8 ranks deep, next to them the Katoikoi, 12 ranks deep due to their lesser experience, and finally the rest of the guard drawn up as the others. Prince Seleukos stood at the right hand of the line behind the guard with a small number of Hetairoi. Finally the left wing was moved into place under the veteran general Nearchos. To the left of the phalanx he deployed the elephants and the remainder of the Katoikoi horse, and to their left the Thureophoroi. Behind these were the Thracians, 400 Tarantines and the general himself. On the extreme left of the line, next to the river, were 400 Skythians.

The Bactrian deployment was delayed by the difficulties in getting the Saka into position. In the end they were deployed as the right flank of the army on both sides of the river, and, owing to their numbers, filled nearly half the battle line. Some 1200 were on the far side of the river whilst a huge horde of at least 4000 filled the plain on the other. Behind these were 800 more and a small number of armoured nobles led by their chieftain Qutlugh. Beside the Saka the senior Strategos Eumenes placed his troops. To his front, extending the Saka line, were the fierce Bactrian horse archers who, unlike their Saka allies, were just as happy to charge into combat as to skirmish with the bow. These number some 2500. Behind them was Eumenes with a similar number of Bactrian lancers. Finally to their right was a body of 1500 levy archers from India. The last troops into the field were those of Antipater comprising most of the Katoikoi troops. First came a phalanx of 3000 Greeks armed in the Makedonian manner. Formed to their left in a column were 800 Indian hillmen and lastly to their left a like number of Arachosian horsemen.

The Generals Plans

Eumenes planned to use the Saka to outflank Antiochus' line beside the river whilst the Bactrian horse in the centre punched holes in the phalanx. The left flank was to contain any troops in the village and use the phalanx to push other troops out of the way.

Antiochus intended to refuse his weaker left flank and delay the Saka using the elephants as a major threat. The right flank was to draw in the enemy past Apamea so that they could be taken in the flank. The phalanx was to present itself as a hopefully irresistible target for the impetuous Bactrians as Antiochus was confident in its ability to defeat them. He would use the horse under his direct control to exploit success.

The Battle

The battle opened with cautious moves by both sides, each aware that a mistake would play to the others strengths, Eumenes in particular suspected that Apamea was held in force. The first really positive move was by Nearchos who threw the Skythian horse archers forward in an attempt to hold up the advancing Saka horde for as long as possible; but for how long could a few hundred hold up the thousands opposing them? However, this bold move seemed to unnerve the Saka who approached slowly and cautiously as if expecting some unforeseen onslaught.

On Antiochus' right there was more activity but little indication that either side wished to commit themselves to the judgement of combat. Antiochus sent forward his light horse to create room for his other troops to manoeuvre in and in this space deployed the Galatian cavalry and Bedouin tribesmen in such a way as to threaten the advance of the Bactrian light horse.

Eumenes responded by finally making a positive move with the Bactrian light horse. He sent half forward to skirmish with the phalanx whilst the other half moved to threaten the Seleukid light horse advancing on them. At the same time Antipater sent the Arachosians forward to contain whatever troops were hidden in the village, supported by the Indian hillmen. Antiochus watched this with some relief as these movement combined to cover the front of the Bactrian phalanx so preventing its movement. In the centre Seleukos ordered the phalanx forward so as to pin the Bactrian light horse, at the same time he wheeled the whole line partly to the left so as to create the impression that he could threaten the Saka as well.

On the Seleukid left the Skythians fell back slowly before the Saka horde while Nearchos placed the Thracians so as to extend his line towards the river in an attempt to prevent being outflanked. However, the Saka advance was as slow as ever, the troops on the far side of the hardly moving at all.

Finally in an attempt to force some action Antiochus pulled back his light horse and moved up the Galatians and Bedouin into their place. At the same time he ordered forward the Asiatic levies from their ambush in Apamea with the intention of pushing the Arachosians back allowing the supporting psiloi to move to attack the Indians and the flank of the phalanx. He also moved his reserve cavalry up to support the Galatians.

These actions finally provoked combat in a number of places along the battle line. On the Seleukid right the levies managed to charge home into the Arachosians who were so surprised at the temerity of these ill armed peasants that they retired quickly in some disorder, although with little loss. This unforeseen action caused Antipater to panic and extended the frontage of the phalanx to prevent it being outflanked whilst the Indians were rushed towards the victorius and confident levies. Almost at the same time the Bactrian light horse rushed wildly to rain arrows upon the Galatians and Bedouin facing them. However, this proved to be a rash action. Although the Bactrians were fierce and fearless warriors the horses were panicked by the close proximity of the camels of the Bedouin and many were thrown from their mounts and trampled underfoot. Not to be outdone by a group of naked tribesmen from the desert the Galatians charged into the Bactrians with all the ferocity of their foot warriors of ancient renown. The combined onslaught of these barbarians was too much for the Bactrians who fled the field in disorder leaving scores dead upon the field; only a small band of 200 had the courage to remain and face the enemy.

Stung by these reverses Eumenes rashly ordered the Bactrian Katoikoi forward to attack the phalanx whilst encouraging the Saka forward with threats and promises. Seleukos and Nearchos smiled grimly at the sight of the Bactrian advance knowing that baring some outrageous event the enemy was making a mistake. To reinforce the advantage Seleukos ordered the phalanx forward to barely a sarissa's length from the light horse to their front so making it difficult for them to get out of the way of their compatriots. At the same time Nearchos managed to get his elephants into a line extending the front of the Argyraspides.

Into this wall charged the Bactrians, as brave a sight as any had seen. However, the outcome was as predicted. Although the charge was furious the dense array of the phalanx in locked shield formation, with the hedge of sarissa points before them, there was no way through. Horses fell impaled on the sharp points whilst others shied away at the last moment brining disorder to the mounted ranks. Some made a vain effort to draw their bows and shoot into the phalanx but were carried away by their comrades. Those that charged the elephants fared even worse. Terrified by the size and sight of these beasts the horses became uncontrolled with their riders fighting to stay mounted. Into this confusion strode the grey beasts crushing men and horses while their crews speared and shot down scores more.

In less than half an hour the finest of Bactrians cavalry were dead upon the filed or fleeing in uncontrolled rout. Buoyed by victory the whole Seleukid line moved forwards as one led by the elephants who now charged upon the Saka who had finally closed to bowshot. Despite their numbers the Saka fared no better than the Bactrians and soon withdrew to avoid the rampant beasts. On the right Antiochus had now brought all his horse to threaten the enemy phalanx from the front whilst the psiloi and levies threatened the flanks. Seeing the position as hopeless the Greeks surrendered to the king whilst Eumenes and Antipater fled to exile. Seeing their allies surrender the Saka withdrew hastily from the field.

Aftermath

Prudent in victory Antiochus accepted the surrender of the enemy phalanx and marched them off to Katoikoi settlements in Babylonia with the promise that their families would be sent on after the conquest of Bactria. Such troops would be valuable in future campaigns.

On the enemies side their army had been destroyed. The Saka deserted them as quickly as they joined pausing only to loot the camp on their way back to the steppe. Bactria now lay open to reconquest.

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