Ancient Spanish

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Historical Overview Section

The Iberians were a set of peoples that Greek and Roman sources (among others, Hecataeus of Miletus, Avienus, Herodot and Strabo) identified with that name in the eastern and southern coasts of the Iberian peninsula at least from the 6th century BC. These included: the Airenosi, Andosini, Ausetani, Bastetani, Bastuli, Bergistani, Castellani, Cessetani, Ceretani, Contestani, Edetani, Elisices, Iacetani, Ilercavones, Ilergetes, Indigetes, Lacetani, Laietani, Oretani, Sedetani, Sordones, Suessetani plus the unlikely (unless you are in a Carry on Film) named Turdetani and Titii.

After the First Punic War, the Early Carthaginian family descending from Hamilcar Barca began the effective subjugation of Hispania which would extend over the greater part of the south and the west of the peninsula. This subjugation was achieved through tributes, alliances, marriages or simply by force. The peninsula would go on to supply both the Early Carthaginian and Later Carthaginian armies with significant numbers of troops — both mercenaries and draftees — to help out in their wars with the Mid Republican Romans. The Celtiberians were the most influential ethnic group in pre-Roman Iberia, but they had their largest impact on history during the Second Punic War, during which they became the allies of the Later Carthaginians in their conflict with the Mid Republican Romans, and crossed the Alps in the mixed forces under Hannibal's command.

The Romans considered Spanish help and manpower provided for the Later Carthaginians as sufficient motive to invade Hispania. The Roman conquest of Hispania began with the Mid Republican Roman landing at Empúries in 218 B.C. and ended with the conclusion of the Late Republican Roman conquest of the Iberian Peninsula (or Hispania) by Caesar Augustus in 17 B.C.

Roman General Scipio Africanus learned his trade in generalship Iberia, suppressing both the Spanish and the Later Carthaginian colonies there in a series of brilliant battles which paved the way for his subsequent success in destroying Carthage. After the ultimate defeat of Carthage, the Celtiberians first submitted to a Mid Republican Roman army in 195 BC; Sempronius Gracchus spent the years 182 to 179 pacifying (as the Romans put it) the Celtiberians however, conflicts between various semi-independent bands of Celtiberians continued after the city of Numantia was finally taken and destroyed by Scipio Aemilianus Africanus the younger after a long and brutal siege that ended the Celtic resistance (154 - 133 BCE), Roman cultural influences increased. The war with Sertorius, 79 - 72 BCE, marked the last formal resistance of the Celtiberian cities to Late Republican Roman domination, which submerged the Celtiberian culture.

Useful Links

User-contributed links about this army:

• V2.0 change The following armies (but not ally contingents derived from them) can have up to 1/3 of their battle groups of the specified type upgraded to Superior, representing separately deployed picked warriors. Such battle groups cannot exceed 8 bases. Ancient Spanish (Scutarii or heavy caetrati)

• 650 ap match report with lists from the Slitherine site
• Appian translated contemporary historial of Romes Spanish wars
• DBA Site thank you again to Fanaticus
• Ancient Iberians DBA Figure Gallery for this army - from Fanaticus
• Ancient Spanish DBA Figure Gallery for this army - from Fanaticus
• Ancient Spanish DBA Figure Gallery for this army - from Fanaticus
• Ancient Spanish (6mm) DBA Figure Gallery for this army - from Fanaticus
• Ancient Spanish DBA Figure Gallery for this army - from Fanaticus
• Celtiberians (Anc. Spanish) DBA Figure Gallery for this army - from Fanaticus
• Iberians (Anc. Spanish) DBA Figure Gallery for this army - from Fanaticus
• Iberians DBA Figure Gallery for this army - from Fanaticus
• Lusitanians (Anc. Spanish) DBA Figure Gallery for this army - from Fanaticus

Using the Army In FoG

• Not an easy army to use
• Celtiberian HF work well in 10s (4-4-2) or 8s (3-3-2). The 10s have the benefit of needing 4 hits to cause a CT. Two of these BGs side by side, with a 6pak for rear support, make the best centre block the Spanish can muster
• With plenty of undrilled, protected troops loads of generals are a must, with an IC if you can.
• The Sertorius list with drilled BG's of 4 gives the Spanish their best chance of winning in many players view. In this list just Lusitanian Heavy Caetrati can be upgraded, so limit is 12 BGs in 4 (or 48 bases)

Allied Contingents

• Spanish, Ancient : Date restrictions None Book: Rise of Rome Page: 30 - A cheap sub commanders make this sort of half-sensible, so have one from a different (MF vs HF) tribe I guess

UK Tournament Results for this army 2008

5 / 41 Ancient Spanish BHGS Challenge 2008 (open)

France Tournament Results for this army 2008

1/ 22 Ancient Spanish Clichy (France) 2009 (Rise of Rome + Immortal Fire)
2/ 10 Ancient Spanish Rueil (France) 2009 (Rise of Rome + Immortal Fire / Team Competition)

15mm Manufacturers supplying figures for this army

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You can see some of the figures in the Ancient Spanish Photo Gallery also on this site

• Essex Miniatures - dedicated range of Spanish , 13 figure codes available
• Donnington -
• Corvus Belli- dedicated range, usually regarded as the best out there
• Gladiator Miniatures by Fighting 15's (Previously Black Hat)
• Old Glory 15's,
• Magister Militum
• Minifigs
• Irregular Miniatures
• Lancashire Games
• QRF Models Spanish range. A range of 13 packs due to be released in May 2010, includes dedicated Celtiberians.
• Tin Soldier - dedicated range
• Pass o' The North. - dedicated range
• Viking Forge
• Xyston - new Spanish range as of 2010

28mm Spanish from AJ's blog

Army Lists

Sample army lists for this army

Sertorius Lusitanians

• 1 Caetrati LF Unprotected Average Undrilled Javelins Light spear - - 6
• 2 Slingers LF Unprotected Average Undrilled Sling - - - 6
• 3 Drilled heavy caetrati 1 MF Protected Average Drilled - Impact foot Swordmen - 4
• 4 Drilled Heavy caetrati 3 MF Protected Average Drilled - Impact foot Swordmen - 4
• 5 Caetrati LF Unprotected Average Undrilled Javelins Light spear - - 8
• 6 Small shield cavalry 3 LH Unprotected Average Undrilled Javelins Light spear - - 4
• 7 Small shield cavalry 1 LH Unprotected Average Undrilled Javelins Light spear - - 4
• 8 Drilled heavy caetrati 2 MF Protected Average Drilled - Impact foot Swordmen - 6
• 9 Small shield cavalry 2 LH Unprotected Average Undrilled Javelins Light spear - - 4
• 10 Large shied cavalry Cv Protected Superior Drilled - Light spear Swordmen - 4
• 12 Heavy caetrati 2 MF Protected Average Undrilled - Impact foot Swordmen - 8
• 13 Heavy caetrati 1 MF Protected Average Undrilled - Impact foot Swordmen - 10
• 11 Légion HF Armoured Superior Drilled - Impact foot Skilled swordmen - 8
• 14 Celtiberian Mercenaries HF Protected Average Undrilled - Impact foot Swordmen - 12
• Subbie TC - - - - - - - 2

General IC - - - - - - CinC 1
Camp - - - - - - - 1

Used by Lionel Colin at BHGS Challenge 2008

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