08-06-2012, 02:53 PM
Thanks for the plans - it looks like a nice position for a battle! As for it being the position of this battle, though, I'm not so sure... :wink:
I'll pass over the matter of the distance from London - this is one of those points that you either accept or don't, and I won't labour it!
The main problem appears to be the orientation of the Roman line. If we can accept that this valley is a 'narrow defile' (and it looks more like a gentle river valley to me), then the position was either in it or approached by it (depending on translation). In your plan, though, the position is actually above the 'defile', along the top of the hillside overlooking the valley. You've got the wood in the rear okay, but unless you consider that Savernake forest extended much further north in antiquity (very possible), there's a large area of flat open ground behind and to the east of the Roman position.
If we consider that the British are coming from the east, along the Kennet valley, they'd be travelling on the south side of the river where the ground is flatter - so they'd approach the Roman position with gently rising ground ahead of them up to the Roman right flank. Your disposition would need them to cross the river around Axford, descend across the valley and array themselves along the facing slopes of the valley to confront the Romans. They may well have done such a thing, of course, in a confrontational spirit - but you are asking the British to effectively place themselves in the Roman trap, with a river crossing and an uphill charge against the Roman line. Why not attack from the flank?
Talking of flanking, it would appear quite easy for the British to move upstream a little, recross the river around Marlborough and send a force to occupy the complex of earthworks around Postern hill and Forest hill, which would command the Roman position. Or would the Romans have occupied these first, further depleting their numbers?
Then there's the river, of course - although it could be waded, would such an obvious terrain feature not have been mentioned in the account of the battle? Same problem for Mancetter, I believe.
I'll pass over the matter of the distance from London - this is one of those points that you either accept or don't, and I won't labour it!
The main problem appears to be the orientation of the Roman line. If we can accept that this valley is a 'narrow defile' (and it looks more like a gentle river valley to me), then the position was either in it or approached by it (depending on translation). In your plan, though, the position is actually above the 'defile', along the top of the hillside overlooking the valley. You've got the wood in the rear okay, but unless you consider that Savernake forest extended much further north in antiquity (very possible), there's a large area of flat open ground behind and to the east of the Roman position.
If we consider that the British are coming from the east, along the Kennet valley, they'd be travelling on the south side of the river where the ground is flatter - so they'd approach the Roman position with gently rising ground ahead of them up to the Roman right flank. Your disposition would need them to cross the river around Axford, descend across the valley and array themselves along the facing slopes of the valley to confront the Romans. They may well have done such a thing, of course, in a confrontational spirit - but you are asking the British to effectively place themselves in the Roman trap, with a river crossing and an uphill charge against the Roman line. Why not attack from the flank?
Talking of flanking, it would appear quite easy for the British to move upstream a little, recross the river around Marlborough and send a force to occupy the complex of earthworks around Postern hill and Forest hill, which would command the Roman position. Or would the Romans have occupied these first, further depleting their numbers?
Then there's the river, of course - although it could be waded, would such an obvious terrain feature not have been mentioned in the account of the battle? Same problem for Mancetter, I believe.
Nathan Ross
