This article is my personal interpretation of events in this era. Any mistakes are my own.
Having won the battle at the “ The City of Legions” ( Caerleon, Arthur’s Headquarters.) Arthur sets his remaining warriors in pursuit of the Picts and Scots-Irish. Having started the pursuit, the Infantry take over from the Cavalry as the ground becomes more rugged.
There are tough skirmishes as the Commitatus chases down groups of Picts and Scots-Irish.( known as the Del Riata). The tribesmen are following the route back to Aberaeron. There are no prisoners. Gradually the Picts and the Scots-Irish make it to Ciliau Aeron. Here they are met by the 1600 warriors who were guarding the fleet.
As Arthur comes up with his men he calls a halt. The 1600 warriors have formed a battle line. They are joined by about 1200 Picts and 1600 Scots -Irish survivors from the pursuit. Arthur brings up his cavalry. He gives Owain instructions not to attack but to be seen to be ready. By doing so the Picts and Riartans dare not break their shieldwall.
On their south-western flank the Picts have the river Aerfon. On the north-eastern flank the Riatans have the slopes of Banc Y. Carnau. Once again Arthur rests his Army under arms overnight, with the Cavalry dismounted but ready to go at a moments notice. Arthur has lost roughly a thousand men in killed and wounded, still leaving him 4000 men to face the enemy.
As the sun rises over the mountains, both sides ready their weapons. For the Scots-Irish and Picts they know this is a fight to the death. The tribesmen are tired and hungry.They cannot outrun the Briton Commitatus.There is no escape. Already they can see the smoke rising from their anchorage as the British fleet destroys their ships.
In turn Arthur knows he must have complete victory to owerawe the Kings who he knows are plotting against him.
THE BRITON COMMITATUS; 4000 men = 4pts x 10 = 40 points.
The Pendragon ( Arthur ) @ 3 points.
4 stands of Veteran Infantry @ 3pts = 12 points.
3 stands of Auxilliary Infantry @ 2pts = 6 pts.
2 stands of Light Archers @ 1pt = 2pts.
Cadwy @ 1pt.
Owain the Cavalry Commander @ 2pts.
Iddon,s Militia;
Rogatainus @ 1pt.
2 stands of Militia Light Archers @ 1pt = 2pts.
2 stands of Militia Infantry @ 2pts = 4pts.
2 stands of Auxilliary Cavalry @ 2pts = 4pts.
Arthurs Bucellarii, 1 stand @ 3pts.
REINFORCEMENTS:
12 of the Briton ships have come into shore and destroyed the Tribal boats. Now the 600 Warriors from the fleet led by Geraint Llyngesic ( the Briton “Navarch” ) are rushing to help Arthur in his destruction of the tribal Army.
600 men = 0.600pts x 10 = 6pts = 2 stands of Warriors @ 2pts = 4pts. 1 stand of archers @ 1pt. 1 Warleader ( Geraint ) @ 1pt.
* The reinforcements will come onto the table at the Tribal baseline from Game-Turn 3 onward. At the start of a Game-Turn, the Briton player will throw a 12 sided die. On a score of 10,11 or 12 ,the reinforcements are positioned on the base edge. the Briton Player can move them when the Briton Army is moved.
THE TRIBAL ARMY.; 4,300 = 4.3pts x 10 = 43pts r/d.
THE PICTS; 1,200 + 800 from the Fleet = 2,000 =
2.0 x 10 =20 points
Briacat @ 1pt.
5 stands of Warriors @ 2pts. = 10pts.
3 stands of Seaxon Warriors @ 2pts = 6pts.
1 Seaxon Leader ( Audulus: fictional ) @ 1 point.
2 stands of Light Archers @ 1pt. = 2pts.
THE SCOTS¬IRISH,1,600 + 800 from the Fleet = 2,400 =
2.4 x 10 =24pts.
Laun Mac Eric @ 2pts.
2 stands of Archers/Slingers @ 1pt = 2pts
10 stands of Warriors @ 2pts = 20pts.
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THE HISTORY;
As with all the previous articles this is complete conjecture. The numbers involved are my own estimates. However I',m going to stick my neck right out on this one. The Welsh name that Nennius gives for this battle is Treath Tryfrwyd. The AI says that the name is pronounced. “ Treh-ath Tru-vroo “ . It means "The strand of the pierced or broken place".
Given that I think the "City Of Legions" is Caerleon ( Arthur’s Headquarters) and that Arthur pursued the enemy, the battle of the river Tribuit [ the name given to the battle ] could not have been far away. The Picts and Scots-Irish warriors would have followed the Roman Road back in their haste to get away from the pursuing Britons.
My reasoning for deciding on this location is firstly, that the river Aerfon has a lot of bends in the area of Cilliau Aerfon. [ Nennius: The Broken Place? .] it could be that in that time period the terrain was more broken despite the Roman Road. Ciliau in Welsh means “ corners”.
The village of Ciliau Aerfon has a long history possibly dating back to Roman times. The village is on the south western side of the river, so is not shown on the battle map.
Cilliau Aerfon sits in a "Cut" in the hills that form the southern end of the Cambrian Mountains in Wales. These Mountains run south west to north east [ Nennius;" pierced through" ] with the mountain of Banc Y Carnau dominating the locality. The really tricky part is the river Tribuit. My personal theory is that Tribiut is an interpretation of the Germanic word Tribut meaning tributary river.
Was that meant that the Aerfon was a tributary river?. ( the AI says that it is..) Plenty of very good theories exist about other battle sites. However there is no question that it was a personal victory for Arthur. The action destroyed the Pictish and Scots-Irish threat to the Briton Kingdoms for good. ( I’ve strayed away from the established line that Arthur fought the Saxons at this battle ). The Scots -Irish and Picts were just as much a threat if not more so because of their naval proximity to the Briton Kingdoms, ( which I think were known collectively as Cambria).
In earlier times the Scots-Irish had dominated the area so this battle finally killed off any chance of that happening again.
