| Battle of the Thisian Bridge |
| Date |
RY765 Resplendent Earth |
| Location |
Thisian Bridge, Madura |
| Result |
Scarlet Empire successfully accomplished its objectives. Azerban secured the territory after Legion withdrawal. |
|
| Belligerents |
| Scarlet Empire (4th Imperial Legion) |
Azerban |
| Commanders |
| Sesus Dochao |
Rolstovik the Axe of Azer |
| Strength |
625+ Realm Legionnaires
1 Simhata
9 Dragonblooded |
850 Azerbani soldiers
350 Maduran soldiers
1+ Godblooded |
| Casualties and losses |
| 56 Realm Legionnaires |
104 Azerbani soldiers
196 Maduran soldiers
1 Godblooded |
|
Thisian Bridge
The Thisian Bridge is a village and stone bridge on the banks of the river Thisia, a medium-sized but fast-flowing river in southern Madura. It has long been a trading market, located along the land route from Ceben to the Maduran capital of Rabenna.
Preceding Events
Resplendent Earth RY765 had seen a collapse of the 4th Imperial Legion's defense of the satrapy of Madura in the Campaign against the Anathema-Voivode, after Azerbani troops in service to the Anathema-Voivode swept across the border in the Battle of Birch Temple and shattered the Legion's command in the Battle of Varad. 4th Legion formations were in retreat across Madura, and the command in Isesu refused to push its reserves beyond Ceben's borders to assist, the fate of strategoi Sesus Abeisha still unknown.
For some units in Madura, knowing that no support would come and with chaotic retreat making coordination difficult, preserving strength became the priority, pulling back to join the rest of the Legion until a plan of attack could be drafted. The Azerbani attackers were aware of this as well, and determined to engage Imperial soldiers when they were at their weakest, attempted to cut off lines of retreat and force vulnerable units to battle.
The Thisian Bridge, the only easy crossing of the Thisia, was ideal for cutting off several units of the 4th on retreat from the Maduran capital at Rabenna, and so Azerbani forces pushed hard to take it.
The 10th Dragon of the 4th Legion, under Sesus Dochao and including an infantry talon under Sesus Zhoutai and a mounted talon under Sesus Septimus, had managed an orderly fighting retreat against the Azerbani advance, and had crossed the Thisia and marched south towards the border with Ceben. However, some scattered troops, concentrated around the 2nd talon of the 2nd wing of the 4th Dragon, had struggled to make good time on the march, and now faced the risk of Azerbani troops cutting them off entirely. The talonlord of the 2nd Talon, Blade of Ascending Iron, sent riders ahead across the river to plead for troops to secure the retreat, and on receiving the message dragonlord Dochao gave the order to press north and provide cover for the retreat.
At the time, some officers in the 10th Dragon had been convinced that the unit had been ordered by Legion command to hold position and not re-enter Madura, but with the ascent of Dochao to strategoi soon after such suspicions fell silent.
The Battle
The Battle of the Thisian Bridge was not a pitched engagement, but rather a series of skirmishes. Legion troops gained the bridge just before the arrival of Azerbani scouts, and mounted soldiers along with well-rested infantry allowed them to press ahead quickly against the tired warriors of Azerban and the weak-willed Madurans, pushing back any concentrations as Blade of Ascending Iron led the Legion troops around him to stagger on towards safety. The Azerbani massed for a final assault as the retreating Legionnaires were stepping onto the bridge, but the lines of the 10th held firm. Talonlord Zhoutai claimed the head of the Anathema's lieutenant, Rolstovik the Axe of Azer, in personal combat, breaking the morale of the Madurans and shaking even the Azerbani into falling back while the 10th itself withdrew over the bridge.
Aftermath
The Battle of the Thisian Bridge saved nearly a talon of troops from the 4th Dragon, at the cost of less than 60 Legionnaires, and hobbled the advance units of Azerban so they were forced to recuperate rather than pressing their assault into Ceben. Soon after, Dochao was elevated to Strategoi of the 4th, and a number of individuals involved in the battle (including talonlords Blade of Ascending Iron, Zhoutai, and Septimus) were promoted to posts within the elite 1st Dragon.
