Time Commanders was a television series produced by Lion TV for BBC Two. Each episode featured a team of four (two commanders and two lieutenants) playing a major historical battle through a modified version of the game Rome: Total War. The show ran for two seasons from 2003 to 2005. The shows was originally hosted by Eddie Mair and later by Richard Hammond. Tactics and commentary were provided by the historian Dr. Aryeh Nusbacher now known as Dr. Lynette Nusbacher of the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst and another supporting historian. The second position was rotated between Mike Loades, Saul David, Mark Urban and Dr. Adrian Goldsworthy.
List of Episodes[]
Series One[]
| # | Episode | Airdate | Faction Played | Historical Result | Episode's Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Battle of the Trebia | 4 September 2003 | Carthage (vs Rome) | Carthaginian victory | Carthaginian victory |
| 2 | Battle of Watling Street | 11 September 2003 | Rome (vs Icenii and Other Britons) | Roman victory | Roman defeat |
| 3 | Battle of Bibracte | 18 September 2003 | Rome (vs Helvetii and Other Gauls) | Roman victory | Roman victory |
| 4 | Battle of Mons Graupius | 25 September 2003 | Caledonians (vs Rome) | Caledonian defeat | Caledonian defeat |
| 5 | Battle of Tigranocerta | 2 October 2003 | Armenia (vs Rome) | Armenian defeat | Armenian victory |
| 6 | Battle of Pharsalus | 9 October 2003 | Pompeius (vs Julius Caesar) | Pompeiian defeat | Pompeiian defeat |
| 7 | Battle of Cannae | 16 October 2003 | Carthage (vs Rome) | Carthaginian victory | Carthaginian defeat |
| 8 | Battle of Raphia | 23 October 2003 | Egypt (vs Seleucids) | Egyptian victory | Egyptian victory |
| 9 | Battle of Qadesh | 30 October 2003 | Hittites (vs Egypt) | Hittite defeat | Hittite defeat |
| 10 | Battle of Leuctra | 6 November 2003 | Thebes (vs Sparta) | Theban victory | Theban victory |
| 11 | Battle of Adrianople | 13 November 2003 | Rome (vs Goths) | Roman defeat | Roman defeat |
| 12 | Battle of Telamon | 20 November 2003 | Gauls (vs Rome) | Gaulish defeat | Gaulish defeat |
| 13 | Battle of Gaugamela | 8 December 2003 | Macedon (vs Persia) | Macedonian victory | Macedonian victory |
| 14 | Battle of Chalons | 15 December 2003 | Huns (vs Rome and Goths) | Hunnic defeat | Hunnic defeat |
| 15 | Battle of Marathon | 22 December 2003 | Athens (vs Persia) | Athenian victory | Athenian defeat |
| 16 | Battle of the Silarus | 29 December 2003 | Slaves (vs Rome) | Slave defeat | Slave victory |
Series Two[]
| # | Episode | Airdate | Faction Played | Historical Result | Episode's Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Battle of the Teutoburg Forest | 16 January 2005 | Rome (vs Germans) | Roman defeat | Roman victory |
| 2 | Battle of Stamford Bridge | 23 January 2005 | England (vs Vikings) | English victory | English victory |
| 3 | Battle of the Hydaspes River | 30 January 2005 | Macedonians (vs Indians) | Macedonian victory | Macedonian defeat |
| 4 | Battle of Cynoscephalae | 6 February 2005 | Rome (vs Macedon) | Roman victory | Roman victory |
| 5 | Battle of Dara | 13 February 2005 | Persia (vs Byzantium) | Persian defeat | Persian defeat |
| 6 | Battle of Troy | 20 February 2005 | Greeks (vs Trojans) | Greek victory | Greek victory |
| 7 | Battle of Hastings | 27 February 2005 | Normans (vs England) | Norman victory | Norman defeat |
| 8 | Battle of Sarmisegetusa | 13 March 2005 | Rome (vs Dacia) | Roman victory | Roman victory |