Wargaming the Jewish Revolts: The Siege of Jerusalem

One of the aspects of the Jewish Revolts against Rome in the 1st and 2nd centuries AD are the numerous opportunities for creating a variety of interesting wargaming scenarios. In particular, the siege of Jerusalem, one of the most pivotal events in Jewish history, is a fascinating period worthy of exploration as it offers a range of different sorts of wargame opportunities depending on what sort of game you are looking for.

The siege saw Titus, son of the (soon to be) Emperor Vespasian, lead a vast Roman force against a city wracked by internal division and on the brink of starvation. Jerusalem’s defenders included a mix of Zealots, Sicarii, and other rebel factions, who to begin with seemed more often at odds with each other than the Roman legions building siege works encircling the city. The Romans brought siege towers, battering rams, and disciplined formations; the defenders countered with their own artillery (captured from their opponents with expertise provided by deserters) sudden sallies, fire attacks, making good use of their intimate local knowledge of the terrain.

Roman Triumphal arch panel copy showing Roman soldiers carrying loot from the Second Temple

ReOne notable sally recorded by Josephus during the siege saw the Jewish defenders launched a daring and unexpected attack on the Roman siege lines. Led by a group of Zealot rebels, the defenders took advantage of a small gap in the Roman siege perimeter, exploiting a moment of Roman complacency following a day of heavy combat. The besieged defenders snuck out under the cover of darkness, falling upon the Roman camp with ruthless efficiency. Their primary target was the Roman siege equipment, siege towers, battering rams, and catapults, which were vital to the Romans’ strategy. Using torches, fire arrows, and oil-soaked materials, they set fire to the siege towers and battering rams that were poised for the final assault on the city's walls. The fires spread quickly, throwing the Roman forces into confusion and forcing them to abandon their positions to contain the flames. The sudden destruction of these critical pieces of siege equipment dealt a severe blow to the Roman plans, delaying their progress and providing a brief but valuable respite for the defenders.

For wargamers, this siege provides fertile ground for a range of engaging scenarios depicting some of the key moments of the battle for the city. Urban skirmishes in narrow alleyways contrast with set-piece battles at the gates or under the looming shadow of the Temple Mount. Picture Roman cohorts breaching the outer walls while Jewish rebels scramble to man inner defences, with battle lines of heavy infantry fighting within the city. At a smaller scale gamers could play small skirmish games depicting one of the smaller sallies or skirmishes, or even a small part of a wider engagement. For the more ambitious gamer you could use the siege as the setting for a campaign, introducing mechanics for factional infighting, dwindling supplies, or the strategic destruction of resources.  

Over the next few months I plan to start writing scenarios and a mini campaign covering the siege, probably using a blend of Midgard, Infamy, and Gangs of Rome (or similar small skirmish game). However, if you have anything you would like to see from me in particular then please let me know. In the meantime, if you are interested in finding out more about this siege then I would recommend "Apocalypse: The Great Jewish Revolt Against Rome AD 66-73" by Neil Faulkner, or, of course, Josephus’ "Jewish War".