03-23-2005, 09:19 AM
<strong>"I think Crassus was too rash and did not prepare properly for the campaign."</strong><br>
<br>
As I understand it, though, he did make paintstaking plans. Not necessarily the right ones, but he did make the effort! He did have more allied cavalry with him, but they cleared off before the battle (claiming they were going off to harass the enemy!).<br>
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<strong>"What would Crassus have done, had the Parthians withdrawn at Carrhae? Would he have followed them? I think he would have."</strong><br>
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I agree. He was deterimed to equal the glories of Caesar and Pompey, and he had already shown this overcame his reason (not only marching across open desert but also force marching).<br>
<strong><br>
"Would Caesar have fared any better (as he planned to invade Parthian lands shortly before he got killed)?"</strong><br>
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Yes. He was no fool, and would probably have learned from Crassus' mistakes. He would have known why the Romans lost the battle, and I suspect he would have taken more missile and/or cavalry troops to compensate. He could still have been unlucky (allies deserting, bad intel and so on), but the chances are he'd have given a better account of himself. <p></p><i></i>
<br>
As I understand it, though, he did make paintstaking plans. Not necessarily the right ones, but he did make the effort! He did have more allied cavalry with him, but they cleared off before the battle (claiming they were going off to harass the enemy!).<br>
<br>
<strong>"What would Crassus have done, had the Parthians withdrawn at Carrhae? Would he have followed them? I think he would have."</strong><br>
<br>
I agree. He was deterimed to equal the glories of Caesar and Pompey, and he had already shown this overcame his reason (not only marching across open desert but also force marching).<br>
<strong><br>
"Would Caesar have fared any better (as he planned to invade Parthian lands shortly before he got killed)?"</strong><br>
<br>
Yes. He was no fool, and would probably have learned from Crassus' mistakes. He would have known why the Romans lost the battle, and I suspect he would have taken more missile and/or cavalry troops to compensate. He could still have been unlucky (allies deserting, bad intel and so on), but the chances are he'd have given a better account of himself. <p></p><i></i>
Rob Grainger
