THE BATTLE OF CUNAXA gaining the Persian throne for Cyrus.

Clearchus refused this

Mesopotamia, Persia ~ September 3, 401 BCE owing to the insecurity that the Greeks had for their right
flank, which tended to drift. That Clearchus did not obey
this order is a sign of the level of control that Cyrus had
over his army.
Historical Background

The Greeks, deployed on Cyrus’s right and outnumbered,

The Battle of Cunaxa was fought in 401 BCE between Cyrus
charged the left flank of Artaxerxes’ army, which broke
the Younger and his elder brother Arsaces, who had
ranks and fled before they came within arrowshot.
inherited the Persian throne as Artaxerxes II in 404 BCE. The
However, on the Persian right the fight between
great battle of the revolt of Cyrus took place 50 miles north
Artaxerxes’ army and Cyrus was far more difficult and
of Babylon, at Cunaxa, on the left bank of the Euphrates
protracted. Cyrus personally charged his brother’s
River.
bodyguard and was killed by a javelin, which sent the rebels
into retreat. Only the Greek mercenaries, who had not
Cyrus gathered an army of Greek mercenaries, consisting of
heard of Cyrus’s death and were heavily armed, stood firm.
10,400 hoplites (which formed in phalanx of 18 ranks) and
Clearchus advanced against the much larger right wing of
2,500 peltasts, under the Spartan general Clearchus, and
Artaxerxes’ army and sent it into retreat. Meanwhile,
met Artaxerxes at Cunaxa. He also had a large force of
Artaxerxes’ troops took the Greek encampment and
levied troops under his second-in-command Ariaeus.
destroyed their food supplies.
Xenophon gives the strength of the Persian army at an
impossible 1,200,000 men. No modern commentator finds
Design Note: Several sources say that the leftwing of Cyrus’
this figure credible, but Artaxerxes certainly seems to have
army was still approaching the battlefield and was not yet
enjoyed a great numerical and frontage superiority.
“in Line” when the battle started (with Clearchus’ charge).
Other sources do not mention it, and this battle is tough
Cyrus placed the Greek mercenaries on the right, near the
enough for Cyrus without this further distraction.
river. In addition to this they were supported on their right
by some cavalry, 1,000 strong, as was the tradition of battle
Initial Deployment
order in that day. To the Greeks, this was the place of
honor. Cyrus himself with 600 bodyguards was in the
The map used is “GAUGAMELES”. North edge is 01xx (rout
center, to the left of the Greek mercenaries—the place
edge for Greek Army); South edge is 33xx (Rout edge for
where Persian monarchs traditionally placed themselves in
Persian Army). Unit color codes are irrelevant.
the order of battle. Cyrus’ Asiatic troops were on the left
flank.
The Army of Artaxerxes II the Great King of Persia
(62 units – 39 Inf / 23 Cav+Ch)
Xenophon says that Cyrus ordered Clearchus to deploy
facing the King, but Clearchus saw the good order of the
Darius III (Commander) Any hex between
troops protecting the Persian King, and fearing
2218-2222
encirclement from Artaxerxes huge army, refused. The
Ariacès
Greeks positioned quickly to the right while Ariaeus’ troops
6x Ca Bactriens (5-4-6) 2234-2239
were still deploying from march column.

Oxathrès
Inversely, Artaxerxes II placed his heavy cavalry on his left
4x Ar Sitacén. (3-3-4) 2230-2233
next to the river. Artaxerxes was supposedly in the center
of his line with his Persian cavalry (which were some of the
Atropatès
finest in the world and by far superior to anything Cyrus or
4x Ho Immortels (7-5-4) 2223, 2225, 2227, 2229
the Greeks could field) which was to the left of Cyrus, his
9x Ho Immortels (6-4-4) 2224, 2226, 2228,
line being so much the longer—but it is possible that
2324-2329
Artaxerxes was actually on the right wing of the Persian
Mauacès
army, which overlapped Cyrus’ line quite significantly, since
3x Cl Saces (5-3-6) 2220-2222
he was able to field many more troops.
1x Cl Cadusiens (5-3-6) 2219
1x Cl Cariens (5-3-6) 2218
Cyrus then approached Clearchus and ordered him to move
4x Ar Perses (4-3-4) 2214-2217
into the center to go after Artaxerxes. However, Clearchus,
not desiring to do this—for fear of his right flank—refused,
Orixinès
and promised Cyrus, according to Xenophon, that he would
6x In Babylon. (4-3-4) 2211-2213, 2312-2314
“take care that all would be well”. Cyrus wanted to place
10x In Perses (5-2-4) 2206-2210, 2307-2311
him in the center as the Greeks were his most capable unit
2x In Cariens (4-3-4) 2205, 2306
and were thereby most able to defeat the elite Persian
cavalry and, in the process, kill the Great King, thereby
Independent (activated by any Leader at command range) purpose, the following adjustments may be experienced
12x Ch Scythes (3-3-6) One unit every 3 hexes (highly favoring the Greek side):
from 2106 to 2139
The Army of Cyrus, the Younger, Pretender to the Throne Krateros
(41 units – 26 Inf / 15 Cav) 10x Ho Grecs (7-4-4) 1230-1239
2x Ho Kleandros (7-4-4) 1228-1229
Parmenion (Commander) 1220 12x Ph xxx (8-5-4) (*) (**) 1228-1239
1x Ca Philotas (4-7-6) 1220
2x Ca Kalas (3-6-6) 1219, 1221 Philotas
6x Ca Kalas (2-6-6) 1218, 1219, 1221, 1222 2x Ja Attalos (5-4-4) 1226-1227
2x Ar Antiokhos (3-3-4) 1321-1322 1x Ja Balakros (4-4-4) 1225
1x Ar Sitalkès (5-3-4) 1320 2x Ja Sitalkès (5-4-4) 1223-1224
4x Pe Thraces (4-4-4) 1224-1227
Krateros 1x Ja Balakros (4-4-4) 1223
10x Ho Grecs (7-4-4) 1230-1239
2x Ho Kleandros (7-5-4) 1228-1229 Parmenion
6x Ca Kalas (2-6-6) 1218, 1219, 1221, 1222
Philotas 4x Ca Kalas (2-6-6) 1219, 1221, 1222
2x Ja Attalos (5-4-4) 1226-1227
1x Ja Balakros (4-4-4) 1225 Amyntas
2x Ja Sitalkès (5-4-4) 1223-1224 4x Pe Thraces (4-4-4) 1214-1217
2x Cl Philippos (3-4-6) 1128 2x Ar Balaktos (4-3-4) 1116-1117
2x Cl Koeranos (3-4-6) 1126 7x Ho Grecs (7-4-4) 1214-1218, 1116-1117
2x Cl Menidas (3-4-6) 1124
(*) Phalanges rules for orientation change (2 MP) and
Amyntas Melee bonus if adjacent to other Ph units do not apply. In
4x Pe Thraces (4-4-4) 1214-1217 this battle, these units are actual Hoplites, though keeping
2x Ar Balaktos (4-3-4) 1116-1117 the benefit of Phalanges DRM for unit type.

Activation Markers (**) Still for play balance, the Persian 6x Ca Bactriens (5-4-
6) units from Ariacès formation, facing Krateros’s
Mazelos  Darius III Phalanges, can be changed to 6x Ca Bactriens (5-5-6).
Rhoesacès  Ariacès
Spithridatès  Oxathrès
Thymondès  Atropatès
Pharnacès  Mauacès
Omarès  Orixinès

Alexandre  Parmenion
Agathon  Krateros
Philippos  Philotas
Kleandros  Amyntas

Battle Duration & Victory Conditions

Same as § 13.3.3 from The Battle of ISSOS, with the

following exceptions:

- There is no Sudden Death Victory for killing the

Greek Commander Parmenion (rewards 5 VP).

- Greek baggage hexes, though costing +1 MP to

enter, reward no VP for possession by Persians.

Variant (for better historical value)

The Greek Mercenary Hoplites present at the battle were

disciplined and experienced. Therefore, for play balance