Command: A Roman Tribune Directs the Primus Pilus

The first command stand for my Republican Roman is complete. Seen here is one of the legion's military tribunes directing the primus pilus. Six tribunes command the legion, each taking turns for two months at a time to be in the overall command. The tribunes received their orders directly from the consuls. The primus pilus, or senior centurion, was the very first of the legion's thirty elected centurions. With them is a signifer carrying a standard with an image of a laurel wreath. Affixed atop the standard is the a scene containing the Capitoline Wolf and Romulus and Remus.

Mago Barca, God Sent

Having finished the last of the three figures from the Carthaginian Veteran Command kit from Relic, I was able to get them completely based together and photographed this morning. In the Relic kit, this last figure is simply a generic commander, one of the many forgotten men that made up the command structure of ancient armies. However, in my own Carthaginian army, this character will be playing the role of Mago Barca, the youngest son of Hamilcar Barca and brother to Hannibal. Here on his command stand, Mago is accompanied by a musician and his standard bearer.

Mago was born in 239-240 BC and arrived in Spain, the center of Barcid power, at the age of thirteen. It is likely that he accompanied Hannibal in his early Spanish campaigns between 221-219 BC, before setting off with his brother for the invasion of Italy in 218 BC. Mago took part in Hannibal's early victories at the Ticinus, Victumulae, Trebia, Lake Trasimene and Cannae.

Mago was given an important task by his brother at Trebia, and during the night before the battle, he set out with 1,000 handpicked infantry and 1,000 cavalry with the task to conceal himself within a watercourse between the two camps which had steep banks overgrown with brambles. Polybius tells us it was a perfect place for an ambush: the place was admirably adapted for putting them off their guard; because the Romans were always suspicious of woods, from the fact of the Celts invariably choosing such places for their ambuscades, but felt no fear at all of places that were level and without trees...(3.71)

Mago successfully concealed his force during the night and awaited the time to strike. The next day Hannibal successfully lured the Roman army from it's camp with his Numidian cavalry, who feigned a retreat drawing out the Romans across a cold river (and without breakfast) to the ground of Hannibal's choosing. The Roman army, led by T. Sempronius Longus, consisted of 16-18,000 Roman infantry, 20,000 allied Latin infantry, 4,000 cavalry, and a contingent of Celts from the Cenomani. As the armies lined up and the infantry lines closed and locked in combat, Mago attacked. His timing was perfect, and the charge into the rear of the Roman lines threw the whole Roman army into confusion (Polybius, 3.74). By the end of the battle, most of the Roman army had been destroyed, save some 10,000 Romans who had managed to cut through Hannibal's lines and fled towards Placentia.

At the famed battle of Cannae, Mago stood shoulder-to-shoulder with Hannibal near the front lines of the Carthaginian center while commanding the Celtic and Spanish infantry, drawing them back in an organized and planned retreat thus encouraging the Romans into a trap.

After the victory over the Romans at Cannae, Hannibal sent Mago to Carthage, where he made quite an impression when he poured out hundreds of golden rings at the entrance of the Carthaginian Senate building that had been taken from the bodies of the Romans killed in action.

Mago later commanded all Carthaginian forces in Spain and lead a third invasion of Italy (this time by sea) in 205 BC. Wounded in a battle in Cisalpine Gaul, he was recalled back to Carthage along with Hannibal to aid in its defense. Before arriving, however, he died at sea.

Hannibal & His Horse

Hannibal, supreme commander of the mighty Carthaginian army, enjoys a rare moment of solitude and comfort beneath a large shade tree. Perhaps he is surveying the readiness of the army as it marches toward the day's destination. Perhaps he is awaiting the coming of a Gallic chieftain or other envoy to discuss alliance and terms. Perhaps he is watching the construction of mighty siege works that will bring down the walls of yet another city that was foolish enough to turn him away. But for now it is quiet, and he finds himself thinking of both the past and the future....

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Originally, I had planned to populate Hannibal's command stand with other interesting characters - a Greek historian, a standard bearer and even other decorated army commanders. A scene of war and preparation, perhaps a council. But after painting the models I thought the scene you see here more appropriate. Hannibal is alone beneath a tree, his shield propped up against the tree trunk while his horse waits patiently nearby . A scene of temporary peace and introspection amidst war and chaos.

The painting and construction of command stands has become my favorite part of this hobby. It offers a chance to construct a scene and to tell a story. I hope you like this one of Hannibal and his horse.

The General Hannibal Barca

This is Hannibal Barca, general and supreme commander of the Carthaginian army during the Second Punic War against the Romans. His name, Hanba'al in his Punic language, means Mercy of Ba'al. He is widely considered the greatest strategist and military commander of all time - although when asked by his rival Scipio to list the greatest military commanders, Hannibal is said to have responded by naming Alexander the Great, Pyrrhus and then himself.

This is a Relic miniature that was an absolute joy to paint. The amazing detail, the fabulous pose and the quality of the sculpt made this figure an instant favorite of mine. I hope I did it justice. I had originally thought to use a white and purple color palette, but in the end I decided to go with a more dramatic black and red palette which I think worked very well.

Hannibal will be placed on a command stand with some other figures and will be the general of my Carthaginian army for Hail Caesar.

Carthaginian Cavalry Commander

This is the completed commander for the Carthaginian heavy cavalry unit. This was an incredibly fun figure to paint because of the armor, plumage, flowing cape, and a great pose. The shield's design of a crescent moon above the sun is taken from the symbology of the goddess Tanit, which was the god held to be most important to Carthage.

The full unit should be completed later this week.

Ewen Macpherson of Cluny

This is the completed command base for my Badenoch Royalists - led by Ewen Macpherson of Cluny attended by his piper and a flag bearer. The painted tartans are meant to represent the ancient tartan of clan Macpherson, however it is impossible at this size to paint an exact likeness of the complex tartan, and so I attempted to simply capture the spirit of the clan's white tartan as best as possible.

In the English Civil War the Macphersons played a gallant part on the side of the King. From the register of the provincial synod of Moray it appears that Ewen Macpherson of Cluny had joined with Alastair Macdonald, the Marquess of Huntly, and the Great Marquess of Montrose in their daring military enterprise; that he had been present at the battles of Tibbermuir and Aberdeen, in which he had been in command of all the loyal forces of Badenoch.

My family on my mother's side are the Archibalds of Scotland, a sept of the great Clan Macpherson - so this history has some very personal meaning to me.

Carthaginian Command Base Finished

"[Hannibal] was not alone, never alone. Relatively little is known about the officers and unit commanders who left with him on the great adventure, but as with many other illustrious captains, they appear to have been a close group of friends and family, and with few exceptions they appear to have stayed with him for the duration.... They formed a cadre brilliantly attuned to their commander's intent, instinctively carrying out his will with timing that could only have come from complete and mutual trust. Without them Hannibal never would have made it to Italy, and with them, he would win victory after victory."

~ Robert L. O'Connell, The Ghosts of Cannae