This article is my personal interpretation of the events at that time. Any mistakes are my own.
During the Winter Solstice of 487AD, Arthur, with Merlin in attendance meets with the Kings at Caerleon. They are;
Tutagaul, King of Alclud.
Einon, King of Gwynedd.
Cadell, King of Powys.
Geraint Llyngesic, King of Dumnonia.
Iddon Ap Ynyr, King of Gwent.
At this time, the Seaxons were not staging any major incursions into Briton territory apart from sporadic raiding. Reluctantly, the Round Table Council have come to the conclusion that they cannot dislodge the Seaxons from the South and East coast, with more arriving every month. Arthur tells the Council that he cannot go on the offensive, lacking the troops to do so.
The decision is made to stay on the defensive with the border along the river Trent and Ouse being patrolled. King Geraint confirmed that his fleet would continue to cover the West Coast in order to deter Irish raiders.
As 488AD commences, the new recruits and Veterans are bought together at Caerleon for formation training. The Commitatus numbers 4,800 men. Arthur is still the Pendragon. By now the Suebians under Rogatainus are an established part of the Army
THE BRITON ARMY; 4,800 = 4.8pts x 10 = 48 points.
Arthur,s Bucellarii = 400 = 0.4 pts x 10 = 4 pts. 1 stand of Heavy Cavalry @ 4 pts.
Light Cavalry Regulars = 400 = 0.4 pts x 10 = 2 stands of Regular Light Cav @ 2 pts = 4pts.
Line Infantry Veterans = 1,200 = 1.2 pts x 10 = 12 points = 4 stands of Regular Infantry @ 3pts = 12pts.
Auxiliary Infantry ( the Suebians ) = 1,200 = 1.2 pts x 10 = 12 points = 6 stands of Auxilliary Infantry @ 2pts = 12 points.
Regular Lt Infantry Archers = 800 = 0.8 pts x 10 = 8 points = 8 stands of Archers @ 1 point = 8pts.
Arthur @ 3 points.
Owain @ 2 points.
Rogatainus @ 2 points.
Cadwy @ 1 point.
As the Army trains, raiding and counter-raids continue across the frontier. Merlin is also using his powers of perception and network of spies to ascertain movements of the enemy. Merlin has quietly warned Arthur that Medreut with Cadwallons help, is fomenting discord among the Kings to the detriment of Arthur’s position as Pendragon.
As April turns into May of 488AD the relative calm at Caerleon is shattered by the unexpected arrival of Tutagaul accompanied by 300 of his Bucellarii and a troop of horse warriors from Gwynedd.
In a hastily assembled Council, Tutagaul relates the events in Alclud. Tutagaul has been deposed in a coup led by a noble named as Caw, assisted by his son Hueil. Both have gained the support of Drest 2nd, a high King of the Picts. Also supporting Caw is Loarn Mac Eric, the High King of the Dal-Riata ( the Scots-Irish ). Loarn has sent Briacat, Grandson of Hengist and son of Pascent!.
The conclusion is reached that Caw will not invade Gwynedd. Einon has a powerful army lately reinforced by troops loyal to Tutagaul. The “ Caledonian “ Army could head south-east to attack the territory of the Votadinii, a Briton tribe on the eastern side of Alclud. The possibility is that the Caledonians could ally with the Seaxons of Lindsey.
Arthur’s mind is set. He is aware that his army is not strong enough for a major offensive, but he cannot let the Caledonians rampage south or link up with the Seaxons. Five days later, the army is marching north to Luguvallium ( Carlisle ). Along the way Arthur has requested troops from Einon, who sends 1,000 Gwynedd Militia backed up with 1,000 troops of Tutagaul,s.
From Luguvallium, the army marches east to Onnum ( an old cavalry fort ). This position is between Lindsey to the south, and any army approaching from the north. Scouts are sent north along Dere Street and The Devils Causeway. It is not long before they come back on lathered horses. The Caledonian Army is a days march away, camped on the north bank of the Coccuueda ( river Croquet ) and spread out east to west across the Causeway road.
The next day Arthur orders a short march and encampment with the troops sleeping under arms. The following morning the army, in full panopoly appears at the river. Greeting them with a huge roar is an 8,000 strong Caledonian army of Picts, Scots-Irish, and bolstered by 2,000 Saxons. Once again, Arthur is facing an enemy army across a small river in desolate country, quietly praying that his men will prevail.———-.
THE ALLIED CALEDONIAN ARMY; 8,000 = 8pts x 10 = 80 points.
Chieftain; Caw @ 2 points.
THE PICTS 2,300 = 2.3 pts x 10 = 23pts.
9 stands of Pict warriors @ 2 points = 18 points.
2 stands of archers/crossbows @ 1pt = 2 points.
2 stands of Light Cavalry @ 1pt = 2 points.
1 Warleader, ( Hueil ) @ 1 point.
THE DAL RIATA ( Scots-Irish ); 3,500 = 3.5pts x 10 = 35 points.
12 stands of warriors @ 2 pts = 24 points.
4 stands of Light Chariots @ 2 pts = 8 points.
2 stands of Light Archers @ 1pt = 2 points.
1 Warleader ( Briacat ) @ 1 point.
THE SAXONS; 2,000 = 2pts x 10 = 20 points.
9 stands of warriors @ 2 points = 18 points.
1 stand of Light Archers @ 1 point
1 Warleader ( Aelfhere ) @ 1 point.
GWYNEDD MILITIA: 1,000 = 1 point x 10 = 10 points.
4 stands of Militia Infantry @ 2pts = 8 points.
2 stands of Light Infantry Archers @ 1pt = 2points.
ALCLUD MILITIA; 1,000 = 1 point x 10 = 10 points.
Tutagaul @ 1 point.
2 stands of Light Cavalry @ 1pt = 2 points.
1 stand of Light Archers @ 1 point.
3 stands of Militia Infantry @ 2pts = 6 points.
As the two armies face each other,the archers of both sides pepper each other with missiles. The Briton army wins the missile exchange. It is to much for the Picts, and Caw, seeing his warriors starting to surge signals his warriors to attack. As the Picts charge the Dal and the Saxons follow. The Chariots of the Scot- Irish try to skirmish and, although the river is shallow the chariots are either immobilised by missiles or forced away from the battle.
Arthur’s infantry have the advantage of ground on their side of the river and after a long fight the Caledonians and Saxons start to tire. Finally the Caledonian army starts to break and Arthur unleashes his Cavalry.————-.
GAMING THE BATTLE.
* The battle is played for 8 Game-Turns.
* The Britons retain the Initiative Point for the entire battle.
* The Caledonian Army moves first on the first Game-Turn. Game-Turns 2 to 8 are diced for as given in the rules.
* The river Coquet does not impede movement. The river is very shallow in June. Stands may also fire and engage in Close Combat with no restrictions while positioned in the river.
* The Britons win any tied results.
HISTORICAL NOTE;
When Nennius wrote of Arthur’s seventh battle he said;
“ Septimum in Silva Celidonis quae Bryttanicae cacoit celidan nominatur “.
This translates as; “ The seventh in the wood of celandine which is called the cacoit of Brittanicae celidan”.
All the established Historians put the battle north of Carlisle in the Caledonian Forest. I’m not so sure.
Celandine is a plant that looks like a giant buttercup. This plant grows in abundance on the eastern side of Britain because of the soil.
The word “Cat Coit” is given as Cacoit and I looked around the Ordinance Survey Map of Roman Britain, to see if I could find any similarity with Cacoit, and found the river Coquet. In a document called “ The Ravenna Cosmology” circa 700AD, the river is called the Coccuueda.
In a paper by the Bernician Studies Group published in 2021, the river was also called the Cocwudu. The river rises in the Cheviot Hills and flows eastward toward the east coast. As it does so the land becomes more open.
The Roman Road of Dere Street crossed the Coquet from Corbridge on Hadrians Wall, all the way north to the Antonine Wall. Dere Street ran through hill country. The Devils Causeway is further east, running from Corbridge, north- east, up to the Roman port of Certisnassa ( Berwick- upon- Tweed ). There was a further road running east to west connecting the two main roads. North of the Coquet the land gradually rises up toward Rothbury Forest and the start of the Cheviot Hills.
Why would the Caledonians fight here. My reasoning is;
* The Picts were concentrated on the eastern side of Caledonian and had the use of Roman roads which went through Briton territory.
* The Scots-Irish could not move by sea southward because of the Briton fleet guarding the west coast. They would move across country via Loch Lomond.
* The Caledonians would not want to move directly into Briton territory down the west side of Brittania.
* The ground within the Votadini territory was more open with settlements ripe for raiding.
* The possibility of joining up with Germanic groups to create a larger force to invade the Briton Provinces.
POSTSCRIPT;
During the last part of the battle Hueil was captured. Many of the Picts and Scots Irish were killed during the pursuit. Arthur carried on this action for two days before calling a halt. Caw and Briacat had managed to escape along with a number of Saxons. Arthur did not want the army to fragment because of the continual threat of Seaxon incursions.
On his return to Caerleon, Arthur encamps his army at Deva ( Chester ) where he meets up with King Einon. The King requests that Hueil be handed to him for royal execution. This is because Einon is of the Votodinii and wants revenge for the death of his kin.
Arthur was hoping to use Hueil as a bargaining chip with Caw, but realised that he needs to keep the peace with the Briton Kings knowing that treachery is ever-present. Einon has Hueil taken to Ruthin ( Castel coch yng Ngwern-for ) which is regarded as a mystical place. Tutagaul, in a ritual execution has Hueil put to death.
Note: There is a stone marker in Ruthin marking the place where Hueil was executed.
Arthur continues his march to Caerleon knowing he has only gained a breathing space for the Briton Kingdoms. Merlin has foretold of the storm coming once again.
Having made it back to Alclud, Caw calls all his supporters together. Realising that Arthur has not razed his territories, Caw uses the situation to point out how weak the Briton army has become. It can win battles but cannot win Wars! Now is the time to plan an attack on Arthur’s stronghold in league with the Seaxons and swears revenge for his son!
THE SET-UP;
The figures used are mostly from Hat Industries, using the Goth and Roman Medium Infantry sets. The Picts are from Red Box. The chariots are converted from Hat British Chariots..The Roman Light cavalry are from Hat and the Native Light Cavalry are from Hats Gothic Cavalry.
Arthur and some of the Roman light archers and the Bucellarii are from Newline designs, Nearly all the standards are homemade except for Arthur’s standard and the Bucellari shields which are from Little Big Man Decals. The shields are from Magister Militum.
The hills are a mixture of those made by Brian of Essex Miniatures and home made ones from cork tiles. The trees are made by various manufactures, Guagemaster being one of them. The road and river were cut from thin card. The battle was laid out on a 3 foot ( 90 cm ) x 2 foot (60 cm ) board of 2” ( 50cm ) squares.
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