Asgaroths Research

[ahowl11]

ILLYRIANS:

They were known as crafty shipbuilders in ancient times and controlled much of the Adriatic and Ionian Sea using their numerous warships. Illyrians had affective weapons such as the sica, which was a curved-tip sword originating in Illyria but adopted all over the Balkans and later by the Romans.

I saw that you intended to make a pirate unit for them-you can name them dalmatian,dardosi or liburnian pirates because thease three tribes were mostly known in the adriatic sea for their raids of roman ships.

According to Greek writer Herodianus from 3rd century , Illyrians were very strong, tall and always ready to fight but lazy. Strabon reported that Illyrians used tattoos to paint their bodies.

According to Greek historians (they described Dardan tribe) they were very filthy. They would take a bath twice in their life. When they got married and when they died.

Plague and similar diseases were common to Illyirians.

They knew a lot of herbs which they used in healing processes.

Varon wrote that Illyrian women had childbirths with ease.

They used drinks a lot.

FACTION GOALS:
Short-Hold(number) of settelments and destroy or outlive Macedon and Rome.

Why?

Since historically the illyrians were in war with Greek Macedon,Rome(three wars against the Romans!) and from time to time they would get in conflict with Gauls,because the Gauls wanted their lands mostly the city of Aquileia(see the first map-top left)

FACTION LEADER NAMES:
This leaders written here all historically existed-add more by imagination or if you find anything,because this won't be enough or will?

These first five were the most important:

Bardylis(First illyrian king-he was killed by Phillip II,father of Alexander the great)
Glaukias(after the death of alexander the great he freed the illyrian lands of greek rule and drive of the greeks from the city of Skodra,which under his rule become the capital city of Illyria)
Agron(he was the most capable leader-he united the Illyrian tribes and in his rule Illyrian kingdom was the strongest)
Teuta(she was agron's wife.She ruled insted of Agron's young son Pineus.At her time the romans started the war with Illyrians,she lost most of the provinces and she was betrayed by her military commander-Demetrius Hvaranius)
Genthius(last Illyrian king,romans inslaved him and after that Illyria was divided into four parts,which late again become one roman province with the main city Skodra)

Other leaders
Baton
Pineus
Epulon
Grabos
Pleuratus
Pleurias
Monunius
Etuta(daughter of Monunius)
Mytilus
Pleuratus
Pinnes of Pannonia
Baton II
Triteuta(mother of Pinnes)
Skerdilaidas
Gentius
Ballaios
Bardyllis
Audata
Cleitus the Illyrian
Bardylis II
Bircenna(female)
Longarus
Bato of Dardania
Agis
lycceius
Patraus
Audoleon
Ariston
Leon
Dropion
Bastareus
Audata(once wife of Phillip II!!)
Cynane(half sister of Alexander the great!!)

ILLYRIAN CITIES:
You choose which cities will you make I will just post pictures and text!

Important cities of the Illyrians:

Scodra-Capital city of the Illyrians

Rhizon-stronghold of many kings, high degree of Hellenization

Tarsatica-After the romanization of the land the romans turned it into a fort

Salona (central Illyria) was a stronghold and a harbour of the Illyrian Dalmati which quite early came into the sphere of influence of the Greeks on the Adriatic. It was well known for piratical activities. In the Illyrian Wars of 229-228 BCE and 220-219 BCE, Rome overran the Illyrian settlements in the Neretva river valley and suppressed the piracy that had made the Adriatic unsafe for Italian commerce. The Romans were often faced by rebellions of various Illyrian tribes even after 168 BCE when the province of Illyricum was formed. However the majority of sailors in the Roman military navy originated from that area.

Aemona (northern Illyria-Amona on the lowest map); region includes Histrians as Italic-like northern Illyrians (aka Venetic Illyrian tribe). The Romans described the Histrians as a fierce tribe of pirates, protected by the difficult navigation of their rocky coasts. The Romans to conduct their first campaign against them as early as 221 BCE, after they had conquered the north of Italy and the territory of the Veneti who became faithful Roman allies. To strengthen their defences the Romans created the military settlement of Aquileia in 181 BCE, and the Histrians were finally beaten in 181-177 BCE. This region includes also other Illyrian tribes like Liburnians who were renowned seafarers, notorious for their raids in the Adriatic Sea, which they conducted in their swift galleys. Besides there was a mixed Celtic-Illyrian culture in the northern part of the region.

Delminium-Importan for tradeing


These were Liburnian Illyrian cities-In the northern part of their kingdom



These(red) are cities in the southern part of the Illyrian kingdom on te border with the greeks and thracians



A better all round map of Illyria(green border)




ILLYRIAN TRIBES

Here is the position of all Illyrian tribes throughout the Illyrian kingdom



ILLYRIAN RELIGION-GODS(so you can make shrines!)

These aren't all the gods just the most part of them-2-3 are missing!

Illyrian gods were the objects of worship of the Illyrians, an Indo-European people in ancient history who maintained a polytheistic religion. Central to their beliefs was the concept that everything was "born" by Mother Earth, who was represented by the Goddess "Genusus". The name of the goddess is believed to have a relation of the Greek word of "Genesis" which is translated as "the beginning" of an object, or act.(short description!)

List of Gods

Boa
Illyrian deity in serpentine form in Epidaur. His cult has survived until the fourth century AD.This snake was called by the local people with this name precisely (Hieronimi in "Vita Hilarionis" lib.9, scores "Boas vocant sermonte GENTILI quo" - "that people in their language called Boa").-That's why they had snakes illustrated on some of their shields!

Bindus
The god of water and sea,the equivalent of Poseidon or Neptune.

Thana
she is a goddess of beasts,hunting and moon-similar to the greek Artemis

Anzotica
She was a goddess that in terms of belief, seems to have been restricted to the Illyrian tribe of the Liburnae. She's the Illyrian equivalent of Aphrodite/Venus!

Prema
She was the goddess of fertility/birth. Her equivalent in the Greek mythology is Demeter. She is also honored with a week-day; e premte (friday). This is also interesting since the Germanic people have also named Friday after their fertility goddess, freya; examples are Freitag in German, Fredag in Scandinavian languages and Friday in the English language.

Enji - He was the god of fire & war. He's equivalent in Greek & roman mythology might be Ares/Mars.

Dualos - The god/goddess of whine.Dionisius is the greek god of wine

Ika,Boria,Iria- goddesess of rivers

Armatus-god of war

Sylvan-god of forests

Tadenus-God of the Sun

Terminus-god of borders

Medaurus-god of healing

Grabovia- war triumph, war- Illyirians used human sacrifices to this god

ILLYRIAN ARMY:

Liburnian pirates were famed cause they were high skilled archers and seamen.

Dalmatian warriors were most warlike, and easily drawn to fight. They used spear called Sibyna which they thrown before engaging in close combat in which they used very often two weapons in combat, one of them was broad swords (celtic influence). Dalmatians were great smiths and their soldiers had high quality armor. Combination leather and metal. Something like splint mail.

Illyirians used shields quite often.

Japodes warriors were great ambushers. Bloodthirsty barbarians, used axes and swords.

Tautalan soldiers were feared. We can say that they were something like berserkers.

Liburnica navis (liburnian bireme) was respected and Romans used that ship in combat. Fast, agile ships.

Dardans and Breucs were great horsemans .


If there are two names choose the one you like better.

Illyrian pirates

Naked fanatics


Illyrian Noble spearman(these are not hoplites!)


Illyrian footmen or hoplites








Illyrian fighting style didn't very differe from the greek!





Illyrian heavy infantry


Illyrian light infantry

Illyrian heavy peltasts



Illyrian light peltasts or Japodian light peltasts







ilyrian skirmishes


Illyrian light infantry


Illyrian heavy swordsman



Illyrian slinger



Illyrian archer


Illyrian light cavalry



Illyrian heavy cavalry


Illyrian spear warband or illyrian light infantry


so it looks little different from the britons

ILLYRIAN WEAPONS-ARMOR

Illyrian shield symbols



Illyrian bronze helmet


Illyrian pot helmet




Illyrian armor and helmets



small pelta shield


Other shields



Sica sword



Illyrian spears

[ahowl11]

BOSPORAN KINGDOM

The Bosporan Kingdom or the Kingdom of the Cimmerian Bosporus was an ancient state, located in eastern Crimea and the Taman Peninsula on the shores of the Cimmerian Bosporus (see Strait of Kerch). It is interesting as the first truly 'Hellenistic' state in the sense of one in which a mixed population adopted the Greek language and civilization.

Greek cities of the Bosporus started as independent poleis(city states like Sparta and Athens),united in 480 BC under the rule of an aristocratic family of Archeanactids.

FACTION GOALS

Capture(number of settelments) and outlive or destroy faction/faction's:Scythia,Thrace

Why?

Scythia-they were historically in war with them!

Thrace-Don't have proof that they have ever been in war with Thrace,but-a tyrant Spartocus (438 BC - 431 BC), apparently a Thracian. He founded a dynasty which seems to have endured until c. 110 BC. The Spartocids have left many inscriptions which indicate that the earlier members of the house ruled as archons of the Greek cities and kings of various native tribes, notably the Sindi of the island district and other branches of the Maeotae.

Greek cities allys maybe-They maintained close relations with Athens, their best customers for the Bosporan grain export, of which Leucon I set the staple at Theodosia, where the Attic ships were allowed special privileges.


So I think they can fight against Thrace,but however Spartocus has to remain on of the faction leaders of Bosporan Kingdom!(because that's the way it was!)

FACTION LEADER NAMES

Different faction kings ruled the Bosporan Kingdom-Greeks,Scythians,Pontians and Romans(but I won't put Romans since it doesn't have sense,because in the game period Rome has yet to spread)...

These four are the most important:

Spartocus(Thracian tyrant.His dynasty-The Spartocids have left many inscriptions which indicate that the earlier members of the house ruled as archons of the Greek cities and kings of various native tribes)

Satyrus(the successor of Spartocus, established his rule over the whole district, adding Nymphaeum to his dominions and laying siege to Theodosia, which was a serious commercial rival because of its ice-free port and proximity to the grain fields of eastern Crimea)

Paerisades V(important because of their connection with Pontus and he was the last King of the everlasting dynasty of the Spartocids-unable to make headway against the power of the natives, in 108 BC called in the help of Diophantus, general of King Mithridates VI of Pontus, promising to hand over his kingdom to that prince. He was slain by a Scythian named Saumacus who led a rebellion against him and later also became the King of the Bosporan Kingdom!.)

Rhescouporis II(conquered the Scythians and proudly called himself "king of the entire Bosporus and of the Tauroscythians")
Other Kings:

Genger
Franco
Esdron
Gelio
Basabiliano
Plaserion I
Plesron
Eliacor
Gaberiano
Plaserion II
Antenor
Priam II
Helenos II
Plesron II
Basabiliano II
Alexander
Priam III
Teushapa
Getmalor
Lygdamis
Sandakhshatra
Almadion
Diluglion

Here come the Spartocids:

Spartocus I
Satyrus I
Seleucus
Leucon I
Gorgippus
Spartacus II
Pairisades I
Satyrus II
Prytanis
Eumelos
Spartacu III
Pairisades II
Spartacus IV
Leucon II
Hygiainon
Spartacus V
Pairisades III
Pairisades IV
Pairisades V

Scythians:

Saumacus

-I don't know if there were any other

Pontids:

Mithridates I
Pharnaces
Mithridates II
Asander
Scribonius

After this came the roman leaders which as explained above I won't put!

BOSPORAN KINGDOM CITIES

These are the Greek Colonies along the black sea!

Most important Bosporan cities:

Panticapaeum(capital city of the Bosporan kingdom)
Nymphaion(tradeing center-from here they trade with Athens)
Phanagoria(second capital)

Ruins of Panticapaeum-the capital city of Bosporan Kingdom


BOSPORAN KINGDOM RELIGION-GODS

The religion of the Bosporus is viewed in this monograph as a blend of Greek and indigenous Iranian traditions.

Gods were dressed in more persian(iranian)and scythian way.But as you can see most of them were greek!

Aphrodite-Aphrodite was not the only deity worshipped in the Greek cities of the Bosporus, but she was the only one who had distinct local connections even at the early stages of the Greek colonization of the area.she was the most high god of the Bosporan Kingdom!!

Poseidon-greek god of the sea.He was depicated on a number of Bosporan coins,especially those struck by Suromates II

Heracles-He was also on the coins as Poseidon.He was the son of Zeus and half brother of Perseus.He was a demigod that was worshiped as a god and he represented courage and strength.

Demeter- is the goddess of the harvest, who presided over grains, the fertility of the earth, and the seasons.Though Demeter is often described simply as the goddess of the harvest, she presided also over the sanctity of marriage, the sacred law, and the cycle of life and death.She was mostly worshiped in the city of Nymphaeum!

Cybele-goddess of the fertile Earth, a goddess of caverns and mountains, walls and fortresses, nature, wild animals (especially lions and bees)

Zeus-Greek highest god.God of lightning and storm that was also worshiped on Bosporus,but the highest goddess in Bosporan kingdom as said above was Aphrodite!

Hera-was the wife and one of three sisters of Zeus in the Olympian pantheon of classical Greek Mythology. Her chief function was as the goddess of women and marriage.

Eros-God of love and sexuality.His figures appear in Bosporan tombs.His image was sometimes "barbarized".The winged youthwas shown armed,wearing a torque,and dressed in a typical Sarmatian costume!

There are more of them but I can't find a clear description for them.I think six are enough since I think you plan to make only three shrines?

BOSPORAN KINGDOM ARMY

It's clear that the army of Bosporan Kingdom will be a mix between Greek,Scythian,Sarmatian and Pontic troops.

Greek heavy peltasts



Pontic medium cavalry


Greek phalanx



Scythiyn Noble cavalry



thracian light peltasts



Sarmatian horse archers



Greeko-scythian hoplites


Bosporan hoplites


Falxman


scythian archers warband



Sarmatian foot archers



Sarmatian levy spearman



pontic Bosporan heavy infantry


Scythian axman


WEAPONS AND ARMOR

Bosporan sword(barbarian-sarmatian style)



Scythian recurve bow



scythian armor



scythian bronze axe



scythian arrows


Greek shield



Greek brestplate and helmet




Sarmatian armor


scythian bronze helmet

[ahowl11]

NABATAEAN KINGDOM

The Nabataean kingdom was a political state of the Nabataeans which existed during Classical antiquity and was annexed by the Roman Empire in Ad 106..

Diodorus describes the Nabataeans as nomads who 'range over a country which is partly desert and partly waterless, though a small section of it is fruitful... It is their custom neither to plant grain, set out any fruit-bearing tree, use wine, nor construct any house... Some of them raise camels, others sheep, pasturing them in the desert... They themselves use as food flesh and milk and those of the plants that grow wild from the ground which are suitable for this purpose'.

Straddling the northern end of the caravan route from South Arabia to the Mediterranean, the Nabataean kingdom emerged as a great merchant-trader realm during the first centuries B.C. and A.D.



FACTION GOALS

Hold(number)of settlements and destroy or outlive faction/factions Ptolemaic empire,Seleucid Empire...

Why?

Seleucids-The Nabataeans were allies of the first Hasmoneans in their struggles against the Seleucid monarchs.

Ptolemaic empire-"Some Nabataeans indulged in piracy on the Red Sea, profitably attacking the merchant ships of Ptolemaic Egypt."
-During the King Malichus II reign, in 32 BC Herod the Great started a war against Nabatea, with the support of Cleopatra. The war started with Herod's army plundering Nabataea and with a large cavalry force, and the occupation of Dium. After this defeat the Nabatean forces amassed near Canatha in Syria, but were attacked and routed. Athenio (Cleopatra's General) sent Canathans to the aid of the Nabateans, and this force crushed Herod's army which then fled to Ormiza. One year later, Herod's army overran Nabataea.

So the Ptolomaic empire can be allys and enemies,you choose?


FACTION LEADER NAMES

I couldn't find many of them so you will have to make up some names yourselvs along with these historical names.

These three were the most important leaders:

Aretas I(first known king of the Nabataeans- His name appeared on the oldest Nabataean inscription dating from 168 BC which was found at Halutza.)

Rabbel II Soter(Soter-"Savior of the People" was the last ruler of the Nabataean Kingdom")

Aretas IV Philopatris(at his time Nabataean kingdom was the stronges-he was in bad relations with the Romans)

Other leaders:
Malichus I
Erotimus
Aretas II
Obodas I
Rabbel I
Aretas III Philhellen
Obodas II
Malichus I
Obodas III
Chuldu(female-queen)
Malichus II
Shaqilath(queen)
Gamilath(queen)

After Gamilath Nabataean Kingdom was annexed by Trajan becoming the Roman province of Arabia Petraea!

NABATAEAN CITIES

Not all these are Nabataean cities-look at the border map below!



Important cities

Petra(capital of the Nabataean kingdom-)
Bostra(first Nabataean city-it was important because of the trading roots that passed through the city)


Nabataean Kingdom border(so you can better point it out on the campaign map)


Remains of the capital city of the Nabathaean Kingdom-Petra



NABATAEAN RELIGION-GODS

Being a trade junction, the Nabateans were effectively exposed to many different belief systems, whether from Egypt, Syria, Canaan, Assyria, Babylon, Greece or Rome. This situation was decisive for the development of Nabatean religion.

Their religion was as most other religions of the time, polytheistic. Gods were represented as rocks, both in a symbolic but also in a literal sense. The rocks were holy in themselves and a part of the divine, but also a link to a dimension beyond. The rocks can be understood as a sort of altar.

Dushara-the highest,most important Nabataean god
-he was the god of the sun and wine

Atagatis-goddess of fertility( so if you choose this shrine-population growth +)

Allat-God of the Moon

Manat-God of fate

Uzza-god of water

NABATAEAN ARMY

Nabataean desert infantry



Judean slingers



Arabian slingers



Judean Zealot heavy infantry



Canaan skirmishers




Egyptian native slingers




Eastern light cavalry(just attach a horse in the scripts)

Assyrian allied infantry

Nabataean noble spearman

Nabataean eastern infantry

Assyrian cavalry(put the bow insted of the spear)


Bedouin camel archers



WEAPONS AND ARMOR

Eastern helmets(The big one in the bottom left is of a slinger



Eastern shields



Swords




Spears




Bows

[ahowl11]

ATROPATENE KINGDOM

-was an ancient kingdom established and ruled by Iranian dynasties in the 4th century BC in modern Iranian Azarbaijan and Iranian Kurdistan.Atropatene also was the nominal ancestor of the name Azarbaijan.


Atropatene Kingdom-green



FACTION GOALS

Capture(number)of settlements and destroy or outlive faction/factions:Seleucid Empire

Why?

No armenia- "It does not seem to have given border conflicts with the western neighbour Armenia."

However Parthia did fought against Armenia but Atropatene didn't and Atropatene was directly an ally of Parthia.In 20 BC Atropatena became fully dependent on Parthia as one of its provinces and lost its statehood!


Seleucid Empire-it is written that they opposed the hellenization and preserved its Iranian tradition...So by this they must have been at war?

FACTION LEADER NAMES

Artavasdes III,Artavasdes I and Aristobanes II later become kings of Armenia,but I couldn't find how.

There are no leaders that stood out mostly for this faction!

Atropates(first king)
Artabazanes
Mithridates I
Aristobanes I
Darius
Artavasdes I
Aristobanes II
Artavasdes III
Artabanos
Bagayash
Pakoros
Vonones
Artabanos III
Ariovast
Artavasdes II
Ariobarzanes II
Artashes
Ariobarzanes I
Dareios
Gotarzes
Artabazos

ATROPATENE CITIES



map of the cities(I couldn't find a bigger map of the cities)

important cities:

Ghazakka(capital city of Atropatene Kingdom)
Phraaspa(However isn't on the map,but you know where it is from playing RTW-It was the most important fortress of the Atropatene Kingdom!)

ATROPATENE RELIGION-GODS

Atropatene people(mostly persians) had Ahura Mazda religion...Zoroastrism and Ahura Mazda are relate but however different religions.Atropatene Kingdom and Parthia had Ahura Mazda religion and Sassanids in BI had Zoroastrism and at that time Ahura Mazda stop existing!..Ahura Mazda is described as the highest deity of worship in Zoroastrianism(so it is part of Zoroastrism but from the begining it was a religion for itself!), along with being the first and most frequently invoked deity in the Yasna!!!!...

Keep the religion of the Parthians from RTW

And as you can see this religion wasn't polytheistic like most of them from this time,it was monotheistic(one god)...So keep the one shrine and description for it from RTW!

ATROPATENE KINGDOM ARMY

Persian archers



Iranian foot archers



Persian infantry



Elite spearman



Nomad archers



Eastern infantry



Persian royal guard



Hillmen



Parthian medium sperarman



Horse archers



Heavy cavalry



light peltasts


desert skirmishes



Levy spearman




Atropatene slingers



light cavalry



Persian elephants

[ahowl11]

THRACE

The biggest part of Thrace is part of present-day Bulgaria. In Turkey, it is also called Rumelia. The name comes from the Thracians, an ancient Indo-European people inhabiting Southeastern Europe.They spoke the Thracian language – a scarcely attested branch of the Indo-European language family.

The indigenous population of Thrace was a people called the Thracians, divided into numerous tribal groups. Thracian troops were known to accompany neighboring ruler Alexander the Great when he crossed the Hellespont which abuts Thrace, and took on the Persian Empire of the day.

The Thracians did not describe themselves as such and Thrace and Thracians are simply the names given them by the Greeks.

Like Illyrians, Thracian tribes of the mountainous regions fostered a locally ruled warrior tradition, while the tribes based in the plains were purportedly more peaceable.

Although the concept of an urban center wasn't developed until the Roman period, various larger fortifications which also served as regional market centers were numerous. Yet, in general, despite Greek colonization in such areas as Byzantium, Apollonia and other cities, the Thracians avoided urban life.

Thracians were regarded as warlike, ferocious, and bloodthirsty.They were seen as "barbarians" by other peoples, namely the ancient Greeks and Romans. Plato in his Republic considers them, along with the Scythians,extravagant and high spirited and his Laws considers them war-like nations grouping them with Celts, Persians, Scythians, Iberians and Carthagianians


FACTION GOALS

Short:Take(number)of settlements and destroy or outlive faction/factions:Macedon,Dacia,Gauls or at least some Gaul settlements!

Why?

Macedon-the region(thrace) was conquered by Philip II of Macedon in the 4th century BC and was ruled by the kingdom of Macedon for a century and a half...

Dacia-Apart from conflicts between Thracians and neighboring nations and tribes, numerous wars were recorded among Thracian tribes too...Dacians were a Thracian tribe!...

And apart from the game if you are a leader-to be strong you first must unite the tribes and the only way to do that is by diplomacy(which is toooooo bad in every RTW serial)or to defeat them in war...

Gaul-n 279 BC, Celtic Gauls advanced into Macedonia, Southern Greece and Thrace. They were soon forced out of Macedonia and Southern Greece, but they remained in Thrace until the end of the century. From Thrace, three Celtic tribes advanced into Anatolia and formed a new kingdom called Galatia.

Tylis was founded by Gauls!!!

Or we can put gaul faction goals:Thrace?


FACTION LEADER NAMES

All these were historical leaders of Thrace

These were the most important leaders:

Teres I(He was the first king of Thrace who united the 40 or more Thracian tribes under one banner, was well-known for his military abilities and spent much of his life on the battlefield. He died during a military campaign in 445 BC.)

Sitalces(son of Teres I who seemed to have taken on his fathers fighting prowess and used all the tribes to wage war with Macedon.)

Other leaders:

Abrupolis
Amadocus II
Amadocus I
Amatokos II
Amatokos III
Beithys
Bergaios
Berisades
Cersobleptes
Cetriporis
Cosingas
Cotys I
Cotys II Sapaean
Cotys II Odrysian
Cotys III
Cotys IV
Cotys V
Cotys VI
Diegylis
Dromichaetes
Getas
Hebryzelmis
Olorus
Pythodoris II
Rabocentus
Raizdos
Rhascus
Rhescuporis I Odrysian
Rhescuporis I Sapaean
Rhescuporis II
Rhescuporis II Astaean
Rhoemetalces II
Rhoemetalces III
Rhoemetalces I
Sadalas I
Sadalas III
Sadalas II
Seuthes I
Seuthes III
Seuthes II
Seuthes IV
Sparatocos
Spargapeithes
Teres II
Teres III
Ziselmius


THRACE CITIES

Thracians tended to build their walled cities and fortresses on the tops of hills!
Ancient map of Thrace







The little black house is Seuthopolis-the capital

Most important cities:

Seuthopolis(capital city of the Thracian Kingdom)
Ratiaria(was a city founded by Moesi, a Daco-Thracian tribe, in 4th century BC, along the river Danube. The city had a gold mine in the vicinity, which was exploited by the Thracians.)


THRACE RELIGION

Sabazios-highest god of the Phrygians and Thracians.He was a god of the sky and underworld.

Hera-goddess of the sky

Kotys-Goddess of vegetation

Cybele-Goddess of earth harvest and love...So we can see here that Thracian religion influenced the religion of Bosporan Kingdom.

Myndrytos-He is a god of thieves,shepherds,cowherds,literature and poets.His equivalent is Hermes.

Bendis-Goddess of the moon and fate

Zerinthia-Love goddess.Her equivalent was Aphrodite


THRACIAN ARMY

The Thracians are perhaps best known for introducing the use of Peltasts to the Greek world. A peltast carried a shield and helmet for protection, and fought with javelin and sword in loose order formations, emphasizing mobility over shock power. Thracians were also famed for their cavalary, as they had exceptionally fine horses, and employed the advanced light horse tactics of the Skythians.

Thracian men traditionally wore their hair in top-knots, and their pointed "alokepsis" hat was designed around this practice, as was the "Thracian" helmet pattern later popular throughout the ancient world. Thracians also wore long, colorful cloaks called "Zeira", which were brightly decorated with geometric patterns.

General's element comprised of well outfitted Thracian nobles. These nobles often had fine bronze armor imported from Greece. Early Thracian cavalry wore Chalcidian helmets if they wore helmets at all, only later exchanging them for the "Thracian" helmets often seen in pictures. Later Thracian nobles wore more advanced composite scale armor, similar to the Skythians.

The majority of Thracian cavalry was unarmoured javelin-armed light cavalry. These troops fought primarily with javelins, but could charge in the wedge formation used by the Skythians to some effect.

Peltasts and Thureophoroi make up the bulk of the Thracian army. Fighting in loose order and using melee weapons when necessary, they were very effective in broken terrain, but unable to stand up to heavy formed troops in the open.Their primary weapons were the javelin (of which they traditionally carried 2), and some sort of melee weapon. This weapon could be anything from a stabbing spear to a falx, to the "rhomphaia", which was a sort of battle scythe unique to the Thracians.Before 300BC, these soldiers would carry the crescent shaped Pelta, and wore no helmets. Later, the Pelta was exchanged for the sturdier Thureos: a thick, oval shield believed to have been copied from Celtic designs. They also adopted the "Thracian" helmet some time in the 4th Century BC.

Slingers were often the poorest troops, and dressed in little more than their tunics, which would be an earth tone in color.

Archers were very rare in the Thracian army, but were not unheard of.

Hoplites were adopted from the greek fighting style.



Getai light cavalry


Javelin cavalry


Elite infantry(with rhomphaia)


Thracian slingers



Getae slingers



Greek Hoplites


Bastarnae



Falxmen


Thracian peltasts


heavy javelins



Barbarian archer warband


Warband


Thracian hoplites



thracian Noble cavalry


Barbarian heavy cavalry


Thracian heavy infantry


THRACIAN WEAPONS-ARMOR

Thracian helmet


Pelta shield with traditional gorgon painting(Medusa)




Thueos shields





Boeotian helmets






Falx





rhomphaia

[ahowl11]

KINGDOM OF PONTUS

The Kingdom of Pontus or Pontic Empire was a state of Kurdish or Persian origin on the southern coast of the Black Sea. It was founded by Mithridates I in 291 BC and lasted until its conquest by the Roman Republic in 63 BC. The kingdom grew to its largest extent under Mithridates VI the Great, who conquered Colchis, Cappadocia, Bithynia, the Greek colonies of the Tauric Chersonesos and for a brief time the Roman province of Asia.

The coastal region was dominated by the Greek cities such as Amastris and Sinope, the latter which became the Pontic capital after its capture!

The coast was rich in Timber, fishing and the olive trade. Pontus was also rich in Iron and silver, which were mined near the coast south of Pharnacia, steel from the Chalybian mountains became quite famous in Greece.



FACTION GOALS

Capture(number)of settlements and destroy or outlive faction/factions:Seleucid Empire,Greek cities

Why?

Seleucid Empire-"Mithridates first went to the city of Cimiata in Paphlagonia and later to Amasia in Cappadocia. He fought against Seleucus I and in 281 (or 280) BC declared himself ruler of a state in northern Cappadocia and eastern Paphlagonia and ruled from 302 to 266."

No Armenians-i don't know how will this come up in the game but Armenia and Pontus were actually allys!!

Greek cities-"Pharnaces I of Pontus (189-159 BC) was much more successful in his expansion against the Greek coastal cities. He joined in a war with Prusias of Bithynia against Eumenes of Pergamon in 188 BC, but the two made peace in 183 after Bithynia suffered a series of reversals. He took Sinope in 182 B.C. and though the Rhodians complained to Rome over this, nothing was done. Pharnaces also took the coastal cities of Cotyora, Pharnacia and Trapezus in the east, effectively controlling most of the northern Anatolian coastline"

I have also found that Mithridates had a campaign in which he marched to Europe,but he was defeated by Sulla(Roman general) in Thessaly-but what was his goal?-it seems like he wanted to reconquer the lost Macedonian and greek lands from the romans?Or was his primary goal greece not depending the romans taken the land?...But still there is no word pointing on that,so it will stay Thrace,because it is in the original RTW short campaign and Seleucid that I found evidence for!

There isn't many information on Pontic wars.The hardest fights they had were against the romans known as the first,second and third Mithridatic war.Before that they fought mostly against Bithynia(and later as you can see became allys) and Seleucids.Since it doesn't exist in the mod I will leave the faction goals as listed above due to lack of historical evidence!!!

However I have found that they(Pontus-Mithridates i) have taken the settlement of Chersonesos,so in the long campaign you can put this city to be conquered as on of the goals when playing as Pontus.Pontus was in good relationship with Bosporan kingdom,but before Chersonesos was captured it had belong to the Scythians,not Bosporan Kingdom!


FACTION LEADER NAMES

These were the most important Pontic leaders:

Mithridates I Ctistes(founder of the Kingdom of Pontus!)
Pharnaces I(Captured Sinope which had been long an object of ambition to the Kings of Pontus and later it become the capital of the kingdom)

You will need to put those from RTW because here are few of them.There were 2-3 of them(1 queen and 2 kings) but they were Roman cilent kings/queen so that is illogical to put them.

Other leaders:

Ariobarzanes
Mithridates II
Mithridates III
Mithridates IV Philopator Philadephos
Mithridates V Euergetes
Mithridates VI Eupator
Pharnaces II
Darius of Pontus
Arsaces of Pontus

PONTIC CITIES

Important cities:

Amasya-Amasis on the map below!( was a fortified city high on the cliffs above the river. It has a long history as provincial capital-(before Sinope was captured), a wealthy city producing kings and princes, artists, scientists, poets and thinkers, from the kings of Pontus)

Mazaca(the city served as the residence of the kings of Cappadocia. In ancient times, it was on the crossroads of the trade routes from Sinope to the Euphrates and from the Persian Royal Road that extended from Sardis to Susa. In Roman times, a similar route from Ephesus to the East also crossed the city.)-It is not on the map(I couldn't find a better map of the cities).You know where it is from RTW


PONTIC RELIGION

The interior of the kingdom had powerful Temples with large estates. The gods of the Kingdom were mostly syncretic, with features of local gods, Persian and Greek Deities.

Apollo-has been variously recognized as a god of light and the sun, truth and prophecy, medicine, healing, plague, music, poetry, arts and more. Apollo is the son of Zeus and Leto, and has a twin sister, the chaste
huntress Artemis.

Men-god of the Moon

Ma-goddess of hunting,caverns and mountains,walls and fortresses, nature, wild animals.

Zeus-God of lightning and storm

PONTIC ARMY

The Pontic army is a merging of the Persian with the Hellenistic, which one would expect form this area bypassed by Alexander’s conquests.That can by mostly seen by various use of the pike units armed with the long sarissa. Persian style cavalry may choose to have xyston or throwing spears. The phalanx is very ornate, but they look better than they fight. The army on the whole is brittle but is very large and seems appropriate for its quirky commander Mithridates VI eupator. The army uses an abundance of Scythed Chariots, but has no elephants.

Pontic chariots


pontic imitation legionnaires


Pontic pikeman


Pontic heavy cavalry


Greek heavy peltasts


Pontic heavy infantry


Royal pikeman(ponto-greek style)


Pontic bronze shield pikeman


Eastern archers


Eastern light peltasts(change color)



Hillmen


Pontic light cavalry

[ahowl11]

NUMIDIA

The name Numidia was first applied by Polybius and other historians during the third century BC to indicate the territory west of Carthage, including the entire north of Algeria as far as the river Mulucha (Muluya), about 100 miles west of Oran. The Numidians were conceived of as two great tribal groups: the Massylii in eastern Numidia, and the Masaesyli in the west


FACTION GOALS

Capture(number)of settlements and destroy or outlive faction/factions:Carthage

why?

Numidia wasn't a nation that was eager for expanding their lands.Even the relationship between the east and west tribes weren't excelent.The western tribe-Masaesyli mostly supported romans in their campaign and the eastern was supporting Carthage.That was clear in the second punic war when king Gala(leader of the eastern tribe) allied with Carthage and Syphax(leader of the western tribe) allied with the romans...so it will stay as it was-Carthage.

FACTION LEADER NAMES

important leaders:

Massinissa(first numidian king-fought as ally of the romans in the battle of Zama)

Other leaders:

Syphax
Vermina
Archobarzane
Zelalsen
Gala
Ozalces
Capussa
Lacumazes
Micipsa
Gulussa
Mastanabal
Adherbal
Hiempsal I
Jugurtha
Adherbal
Gauda
Hiempsal II
Juba I
Juba II

NUMIDIAN CITIES

this were the best maps of Numidia I could find


important cities

Cirta(capital of Numidia)
Tingis(Treading centar of the western part-had the most important port in the kingdom)
Siwa(main city of the eastern part of the kingdom-there was a huge oasis that was important for food harvesting)



Remains of ancient siwaNUMIDIAN RELIGION

The numidian religion was a mixof Egyptian and Phoenician(Carthage) bliefsso they honouredboth of them.

Baal-God of war
Amon-God of sun
Isis-Goddess of nature and magic
Milquart-God of the underworld
Astarte-Goddess of war,sexuality and fertility


NUMIDIAN ARMY

INFANTRY

Numidian kings were never able to come up with decent infantry, although they did succeed in some improvement under King Syphax. During the Second Punic War he was able to obtain the services of a Roman centurion Quintus Statorius. Livy has Syphax saying his army was quite shapeless and haphazard, a mere casual mob. The centurion went to work. "Statorius found ample material from which to enrol infantry soldiers for Syphax; he organized them very much after the Roman pattern, gave them instruction in forming up, maneuvering, following the standards, and keeping formation, and accustomed them to various military duties, including fortifications, and all so successfully that the prince soon came to trust his infantry no less than his cavalry, and that when an engagement took place on open ground he defeated his Carthaginian foe." [Livy, The History of Rome Book XXIV]


This was obviously too dangerous for Carthage who allied with the most famous Numidian prince Masinissa to annihilate Syphaxs army. Some vestige of the training of Statorius must have stuck, because the Numidian infantry is never referred to as a formless mass in later times. In fact, the formations do seem to echo the Roman maniples and although this can only be conjecture, the infantry fight in a mix of Roman and Numidian techniques as a sort of light infantry. Showing an ability to maintain unit cohesion and rally to standards like the Roman troops, while attempting to avoid direct contact in their native fashion.
"When Jugurtha saw that Metellus rearguard had passed the first lines of his own army, he stationed a force of some two thousand infantry on the hill at the point where Metellus had descended, so that the Romans would not be able to retreat to it and defend themselves there. Immediately afterwards he gave the order to attack.


The rear of Metellus column suffered heavy casualties and both flanks were assailed by mobile assailants who pressed home their attacks and spread general confusion in the Roman ranks. For even the men who resisted with the most dogged courage were disconcerted by this irregular manner of fighting, in which they were wounded at long range without being able to strike back or come to grips with their foe [Sallust, The Jugurthine War.51]


When the infantry had to wait for combat closer formations were favoured, because troops in close formations are less likely to run away. These would be extended to deliver an attack. This is more suggestive of light infantry troops. It should be noted
that the Numidians also made good skirmish troops. This type of fighting entirely suiting their nature. "Accordingly, he altered the formation of his battle line, which, because he distrusted his men's courage, he had drawn up in close order. He now extended it so he would be able to block the enemies line of march." [Sallust, The Jugurthine War. 53]


CAVALRY

The cavalry was always the more effective arm of the Numidian cavalry.. Each rider being familiar with the way he was required to fight. Both cavalry squadrons and infantry companies utilized standards to rally to after an evade and would form up on these. "Jugurtha took up his own position nearer the mountain with all his cavalry and the pick of his infantry. Then visiting each squadron and company, he earnestly besought them to remember the victory which their valor had already gained.


The Numidians had stationed themselves and their horses among the thickets and although they were not completely hidden by the low trees, it was difficult to distinguish just what was there since the men and their standards were concealed both by their surroundings and by camouflage." [Sallust. The Jugurthine War. 49]
The outcome of this was that the Numidians cavalry was able to retire swiftly from a charge, but return quickly to the attack. This method would be used whether the enemy was foot or mounted. "Whenever a squadron of Roman cavalry began to charge, instead of retiring in a body in one direction, they retreated independently, scattering as widely as possible. In this way they could take advantage of their numerical superiority. If they failed to check their enemies' charge, they would wait until the Romans lost their formation and then cut them off." [Sallust, The Jugurthine War. 51]


Even in formal battles as auxiliaries for Carthage or Rome, the Numidians maintained this loose manner of fighting. The metaphor of a pack of dogs springs readily to mind. Any charge would not be resisted, but the flanks and rear of the enemy would be savaged as the attack ran out of steam. The aim was to cut off the victim and force him to stand or run. To stand was to be shot to death. To run was fatal. The Numidian cavalry was deadly in pursuit. Even if the enemy was not dispersed they would be neutralised by the scattered Numidians.

Polybius gave an excellent account of this style of fighting in his account of the battle of Cannae. "The Numidian horse on the Carthaginian right were meanwhile charging through the cavalry on the Roman left; and though, from the peculiar nature of their mode of fighting, they neither inflicted nor received much harm, they yet rendered the enemy's horse useless by keeping them occupied, and charging them first on one side and then another. But when Hasdrubal, after all but annihilating the cavalry by the river, came from the left to the support of the Numidians, the Roman allied cavalry, seeing his charge approaching, broke and fled. At that point Hasdrubal appears to have acted with great skill and discretion. Seeing the Numidians to be strong in numbers, and more effective and formidable to troops that had once been forced from their ground, he left the pursuit to them; while he himself hastened to the part of the field where the infantry were engaged, and brought his men up to support the Libyans." [Polybios Book 3, 116.5]

ELEPHANTS

As previously mentioned, the Numidian army lacked real staying power and although the cavalry and infantry could deal very effectively with enemy mounted troops by use of formations working in close support, Disciplined infantry were another problem. In an effort to hold the Romans until the heavy missiles could destroy them with missile fire, the Numidians made extensive use of African elephants. Caesar describes some as having towers on their backs, Sallust is less clear, but both mention body protection.



That this combination of tactics was initially quite effective is apparent by the degree of trouble Julius Caesar took to accustom his legionaries to the beasts. "Caesar was rendered very anxious by these occurrences; because as often as he engaged with his cavalry, without being supported by the infantry, he found himself by no means a match for the enemy's horse, supported by their light-armed foot: and as he had no experience of the strength of their legions, he foresaw still greater difficulties when these should be united, as the shock must then be overwhelming. In addition to this, the number and size of the elephants greatly increased the terror of the soldiers; for which, however, he found a remedy, in causing some of those animals to be brought over from Italy, that his men might be accustomed to the sight of them, know their strength and courage, and in what part of the body they were most vulnerable.


For as the elephants are covered with trappings and ornaments, it was necessary to inform them what parts of the body remained naked, that they might direct their darts thither. It was likewise needful to familiarize his horses to the cry, smell, and figure of these animals; in all of which he succeeded to a wonder; for the soldiers quickly came to touch them with their hands, and to be sensible of their tardiness; and the cavalry attacked them with blunted darts, and, by degrees, brought their horses to endure their presence. [Caesar, The civil War Book 11.72]


Significant numbers of elephants are recorded in Numidian armies, ranging from four captured and 40 killed in one battle to 60 in another and even 120 with the troops fighting Caesar. Elephants have always been a two edged weapon, as the Romans were aware and once they had grown used to dealing with them the legions found that fleeing elephants would either trample their own troops in flight or generate a panic in units that had put their faith in the mighty beasts. Even after years of training, elephants could remain a dangerous proposition to all troops on the battlefield. "Caesar perceiving that the ardor of his soldiers would admit of no restraint, giving "good fortune" for the word, spurred on his horse, and charged the enemy's front. On the right wing the archers and slingers poured their eager javelins without intermission upon the elephants, and by the noise of their slings and stones, so terrified these animals, that turning upon their own men, they trod them down in heaps, and rushed through the half-finished gates of the camp

. At the same time the Mauritanian horse, who were in the same wing with the elephants, seeing themselves deprived of their assistance, betook themselves to flight." [Caesar, The Civil War Book 11.83]
Numidian cavalry and infantry were used to operating with elephants and capable of stiff resistance as long as the elephants stood fast. Little thought seems to have been given to placement of theses ancient tanks as is shown by the description of a battle where the elephants are deployed in rough ground. " As soon as the enemy came close both sides charged with loud shouts. The Numidians stood their ground only as long as they thought they could rely on their elephants for protection. When they saw the beasts getting entangled in the branches of trees, with the result that they were separated and could be surrounded by the enemy, they took to their heels. Most of them, dropping their arms escaped unhurt, thanks to the proximity of a hill and the approaching dark.. Four elephants were killed and all the remaining forty killed." [Sallust, The Jugurthine War. 53]

It is interesting to note that the later battles of the Jugurthine war do not feature elephants. Perhaps the supply had dried up, or the Numidian commanders no longer trusted them. Probably a combination of both.


Numidian imitation legionnaires

Numidian slingers


Numidian tribesmen infantry


Numidian javelinman


Numidian Masaesily caavalry


Numidian spear infantry



Numidian Massylii Cavalry


Numidian desert infantry


Numidian tribe peltasts


Numidian archers



Numidian elephants


SYMBOLS

Numidian war symbols

[ahowl11]

ARMENIA

Armenia is one of the oldest countries in the world with a recorded history of about 3500 years.
The oldest known ancestors of modern Armenians, the Hayasa-Azzi tribes, also known as Proto-Armenians, were indigenous to the Armenian Highland in Eastern Anatolia. These tribes formed the Nairi tribal union, which existed

until late 13th century BC. The legendary forefather of Armenians, Hayk, famous for his battles with Babylonian ruler Bel, most likely was one of the Hayasa tribal leaders.

FACTION GOALS

Capture(number)of settlements and outlive or destroy faction/factions:Seleucid empire

why

Due to lack of historical evidence I leave this goal as I only found that Armenia was later on in war with Rome.

ARMENIAN FACTION LEADER NAMES
Orontes I Sakavakyats
Tigranes Orontid
Vahagn
Hidarnes I
Hidarnes II
Hidarnes III
Ardashir
Orontes II
Mithranes
Perdiccas
Neoptolemus Orontid
Eumenes
Orontes III
Sames
Arsames
Xerxes
Abdisares
Orontes IV
Artaxias I
Tigranes I
Artvasdes I
Tigranes II the great
Artavasdes II
Artaxias II
Tigranes III
Tigranes IV
Artavasdes III
TigranesIV
Erato
Sohaemus
Zariadres
Mithrobuzanes
Artanes

ARMENIAN CITIES




important cities:

Tušpa(or often called Van was the capital of the Armenian Kingdon under rule of Orontes I Sakavakyats)




Border map




ARMENIAN RELIGION

The pantheon of Armenian gods formed during the nucleation of the Proto-Armenian tribes that, at the initial stage of their existence, inherited the essential elements of paganism from the Proto-Indo-European tribes that inhabited the Armenian Plateau. Beliefs of the ancient Armenians were associated with the worship of many cults, mainly the cult of ancestors, the worship of heavenly bodies (the cult of the Sun, the Moon cult, the cult of Heaven) and the worship of certain creatures (lions, eagles, bulls).


Aramazd(The father of all the gods and goddesses, Aramazd created the heavens and the earth. The first two letters in his name, "AR", are the Armenian root for sun, light, and life. Worshiped as a sun-god, Aramazd was considered to be the source of earth’s fertility. His feast Am'nor, or New Year, was celebrated on March 21 in the old Armenian calendar. Aramazd's main sanctuary was one of the principal cult centers of Ancient Armenia.)


Anahit(The goddess of fertility and birth, and daughter or wife of Aramazd, Anahit is identified with Artemis and Aphrodite. "Great Lady Anahit", one of the most loved and honored Armenian goddesses, was often sculptured with a child in her hands, and with a particular hair style of Armenian women. Temples dedicated to Anahit were established in Armavir, Artashat, Ashtishat. A mountain in the Roman district of Sophene was thought to be Anahit's throne (Ator Anahta))

Vahagn(The third god of the Armenian Pantheon, Vahagn is the god of thunder and lightning, and a herculean hero noted for slaying dragons. He was also worshiped as a sun-god and a god of courage. Vahagn's main sanctuary was located in the Ashtishat (a region in ancient Armenia). Vahagn was also a god of war to whom Armenian kings and warlords would pray before engaging in battle.)

Astghik(Goddess of love, beauty and water, wife or lover of Vahagn and often sculptured without clothes. Her temple in Ashtishat was called "the room of Vahagn", where she met her lover. Astghik is still honored nowadays by Armenians worldwide by the Vartavar feast where people celebrate by Water fights.)

Nane(he daughter of Aramazd, Nane was considered thegoddess of war, motherhood and wisdom. Her cult was closely connected with that of Anahit, and her temple was located in Gavar, near Anahit's temple.)

Ara( 'Ara the Beautiful’- the god of spring, flora, agriculture, sowing and water. He is associated with Osiris, Vishnu and Dionysus, as the symbol of new life.)

Mihr(The god of light, heaven and sun. He was the son of Aramazd, the brother of Anahit and Nane. His main worship was located in Bagaharich. The pagan temple of Garni was dedicated to him)

Tir(God of wisdom, culture, science and studies, he also was an interpreter of dreams. He was the messenger of the gods and was associated with Apollo. Tir's temple was located near Artashat.)

Amanor( or Vanatur (same god with different names)Amanor was the deity of Armenian new year. His feast, Navasard (New year), was held at the end of July. His temple was located in Bhagavan.)

Tsovinar(Also called Nar, she was the goddess of rain, sea and water, though she was actually a fiery being who forced rain to fall.)

Spandaramet(The god of the dungeon and the kingdom of the dead, he was identified with the Greek god Hades.)

Hayk(Legendary archer and forefather of the Armenian people, Haik slew the Titan Bel. Haik was identified with the Sun-god Orion.)

Aray( A little-known war god.)

Barsamin(God of sky and weather, probably derived from the semitic god Baal Shamin)

Vanatur(God of hospitality.)


ARMENIAN ARMY

Armenian cataphract cavalry





Armenian chariot archer(change color)





Armenian heavy infantry(hoplites)


Armenian cataphract archers



Armenian hillmen


Armenian militia



Armenian heavy archers


Persian archer


Armenian peltasts


Eastern infantry


imitation legionaries

[ahowl11]

IBERIANS

The Iberians were a set of peoples that Greek and Roman sources identified with that name in the eastern and southern coasts of the Iberian peninsula at least from the 6th century BC.

Were made up of different but related tribes whose presence stretches from the south of the peninsula and runs in an arc along the east and into the south of France.There were about 23 or more Iberian tribes.

The Iberians lived in isolated communities based on a tribal organization. They also had a knowledge of metalworking, including bronze, and agricultural techniques. Among the most important goods traded by the Iberians were precious metals, particularly tin and copper.


Iberian women were charged with domestic tasks, husbandry of small livestock and cultivated the land together with the men. In some tribes, they participated in the assemblies, and their decision was considered in important issues. Sometimes, women fought together with the men. In the Iberian society, women could also be priestesses. The famous Iberian carving called Lady of Elx, dated from the 3rd century BC and made of limestone, could represent a priestess. The woman wears several collars, and large wheel shaped earrings. A belt hides the hair, probably made into a bun.

FACTION GOALS

Capture(number)of settlements and destroy or outlive faction/factions:none

why?

In rtw they have no faction goals!(actually they have-in a longer campaign for every faction-hold 50 provinces and Rome)

As almost every other faction in that period they were in war when rome came to conquer them.Also:

Wars between tribes were frequent. Romans managed to conquest the Iberian fortresses only after long sieges (months, even years) that left hungry and exhausted the besieged warriors. Romans built a palisade around the circumvented fortress, which impeded the beleaguered Iberians to break the circle looking for help.!


IBERIAN CITIES

Iberian tribes and some costal cities





So these two maps show Iberian peninsula with their tribes and Iberian tribe cities(that as you can see weren't only on the Iberian peninsula).But this also show the time before Cartaghinian conquest(or occupation,how do prefere).But it also shows time before Numidian conquest as Tingis(later became the most important treading centar of the western part of Numidian kingdom because the city had the most important port in the kingdom)...That is also maybe the explaination why can you smetimes see in RTW Spanish/Iberians cross the Gibraltar gate and conquere the city of Tingis-of corse,because it was their before.


IBERIAN RELIGION

Iberians worshiped many deities of natural type (Sun, Moon, various stars) in whose honor they maintained fires in certain promontories, capes and islands. Another type of sanctuaries were visited by people offering bronze figurines (exvotos) to the god living inside the sanctuaries, asking for supernatural help in various tasks, for curing a disease or simply to thank for received favors.

Iberian mythology would encompass all the sacred myths of the cultures in the region of Iberian peninsula.They include Galician mythology, Asturian mythology, Cantabrian mythology, Catalan mythology and Basque mythology.

So gods will be from different tribal mythology instead all gods of one tribe:

Lurbira-goddess of Earth

Eacus-God of water

Eate-storm god

Mari-goddess of weather-she controls the drought and the rain

Gaizkin-god of disease and plague

Aide-goddess of the air-She could manifest herself in both good (gentle breeze) and evil (storm wind) forms.

Ataegina-goddess of spring and seasonality.

Cariociecus-god of war

Euri-god of the rain.Euri was also believed to control the reincarnation of the soul and was the protector of crops.

Inguma-God of dreams.He was regarded as a malevolent force who entered houses at night and plagued the residents with nightmares. He also kills people while sleeping.

Orko-god of tunder


IBERIAN ARMY

Iberians were skilled riders and each tribe had a cavalry unit.


Iberian warriors wore a woolen tunic, girt at the waist with a broad belt. The hem of the tunic was often dyed purple. Armour was usually only worn by noblemen and included mail, leather, lamellar and quilted variants. Some warriors wore armour woven from tough grasses. They protected their heads with bronze helmets, and many tribesmen wore highly distinctive headgear made from sinew.


Iberian infantry

Ancient Roman writers made two distinctions between Iberian infantry; scutarii carried the broad oval shield (scutum) and generally fought as heavy infantry, whilst caetrati used a circular leather buckler (caetra).
Most warriors used spears as their primary weapons - some carried spears and javelins. The Gladius Hispaniensis was a short stabbing sword which was so devastatingly effective that Rome eventually duplicated the design and made it the primary melee weapon of her legionaries. Another fearsome sword, the falcata, was a recurved sabre that was especially popular with Iberian warriors. It was easily capable of crushing helmets and lopping off limbs, and the sword skills of Iberian warriors made them fearsome opponents. Most warriors also carried a broad triangular dagger.

Balearic Slingers

Slingers from the Balearic Islands were famed for their skill. They commenced training at a very early age - their fathers would place a piece of bread atop a pole, and the child was not allowed to eat until he had knocked it down with a successful shot from his sling. Balearic slingers used three slings of different lengths - some hurled small but deadly projectiles of baked clay or lead from long range, whilst others hurled fist-sized rocks at closer quarters.
The Iberians also achieved great renown as horsemen. In fact, such was the repute of Spanish warriors that they formed a large part of Hannibal Barcas mercenary army in the 2nd Punic War.

Iberian Tactics and Training

Their tactics emphasised raids and swift ambushes, followed by rapid withdrawals into wild and broken terrain. All who faced the Iberians found their methods of waging war unnerving. If forced into open battle, they fought in a loose, non-linear formation, attacking and withdrawing, making feints and then attacking somewhere else. This could apparently go on for days.

Training started early in a warriors youth, and skills were honed in raids on neighbouring tribes and the performance of gymnastic exercises. Being a proud people, warriors frequently settled disputes between themselves with honour duels, which often ended with the death of one of the combatants. If facing capture, many warriors took lethal poison rather than fall into the hands of enemies: extracted from the plant Ranunculus sardonia, it caused the dead man's lower jaw to set in a rictus resembling a sardonic grin -an especially unnerving sight.
Iberians served in the armies of Carthage, and later in Rome's legions.


Iberian Vettones militia infantry


Iberian spearman



Iberian velites


Iberian spear militia


Celtiberi light skirmishes



Astures heavy spearman


Celtici infantry


Iberian scutarii



Iberian heavy javelins


Iberian slingers


Balearic slingers


Celtic slingers


Long shield cavalry



Iberian infantry


Callaeci barbarian infantry


+ add this:

Round shield cavalry
Wardogs
Town militia
Naked fanatics


IBERIAN WEAPONS-ARMOR

The main weapons were the bow and the arrows, falcata,shield, helmet and a large spear (the Iberian sword and spear would later be adopted by Romans). The horse must have been introduced to Iberians by Indo-Europeans populations around 1,000 BC. When Romans conquered the peninsula, they introduced units of Iberian chivalry in the Roman army


Iberian flacata






Iberian round shield

[ahowl11]

MACEDON

was an ancient kingdom, centered in the northeastern part of the Greek peninsula,bordered by Epirus to the west,Paeonia to the north, the region of Thrace to the east and Thessaly to the south. The rise of Macedon, from a small kingdom at the periphery of Classical Greek affairs, to one which came to dominate the entire Hellenic world, occurred under the reign of Philip II. For a brief period, after the conquests of Alexander the Great, it became the most powerful state in the world, controlling a territory that included the former Persian empire, stretching as far as the Indus river; at that time it inaugurated the Hellenistic period of Ancient Greek civilization.

Ancient Macedonians have fought between themselves for territory.


The ancient Macedonians were an arrogant nation. Every spring the Ancient Macedonians were starting war with the neighboring tribes. Main targets were Illyria and the coastal Greek (Hellenistic) colonies (by this fact no one can say that the ancient Macedonians were a Greek people).


FACTION GOALS

Capture(number)of settlements and destroy or outlive faction/factions:The greek cities,Thrace,Illyrians

Why?

The greek cities & Thrace:"The Paionians and the Thracians had sacked and invaded the eastern regions of the country, while the Athenians had landed, at Methoni on the coast, a contingent under a Macedonian pretender called Argeus."."Using diplomacy, Philip the II pushed back Paionians and Thracians promising tributes, and crushed the 3,000 Athenian hoplites"

Illyrians:"Philip had married Audata, great-granddaughter of the Illyrian king of Dardania, Bardillys.However, this did not prevent him from marching against them in 358 and crushing them in a ferocious battle in which some 7,000 Illyrians died "


FACTION LEADER NAMES

Most important leaders:

Perseus(last king of Macedonia.After Perseus's defeat at the Battle of Pydna in 167 BC, Macedon was divided into four republics under Roman domination)

Alexander III the Great(by the age of thirty was the creator of one of the largest empires in ancient history, stretching from the Ionian Sea to the Himalayas.He was undefeated in battle and is considered one of the most successful commanders of all time)

Philip II( Father of Alexander the great.His most important innovation was doubtless the introduction of the phalanx infantry corps, armed with the famous sarissa, an exceedingly long spear, at the time the most important army corps in Macedonia..Philip received a military and diplomatic education from Epaminondas, became eromenos of Pelopidas,and lived with Pammenes, who was an enthusiastic advocate of the Sacred Band of Thebes.-click on it to see)

Perdiccas I(first king of Macedon,founder of Aegae-firs Macedonian capital)

Other leaders:

Karanus
Koinos
Tyrimmas
Argaeus I
Philip I
Aeropus I
Alcetas I
Amyntas I
Alexander I
Alcetas II
Perdiccas II
Archelaus
Craterus
Orestes
Archelaus II
Amyntas II
Pausanias
Amyntas III
Alexander II
Perdiccas III
Amyntas IV
Antipater
Philip III Arrhidaeus
Alexander IV
Polyperchon
Cassander
Antipater II
Alexander V
Demetrius I Poliorcetes
Lysimachus
Meleager
Antigonaus II Gonatas
Demetrius II Aetolicus
Antigonus III Doson
Philip V


MACEDONIAN CITIES

Macedonian border map-strating position-Larissa and Corinth not under Macedonian rule!




more greek cities


maps of Macedon showing the position of the first capital-Aegae(first map-red)





Most important cities:

Aegae(First Macedonian capital)

Pella(second macedonian capital-Transferring the capital of the kingdom from Aegae to Pella in around 400 B. C., King Archelaus made it the greatest of all Macedonian cities. Grandiosity characterized the whole structure of the city. The palace complex alone, situated on the hill dominating the city, occupied 60.000 sq. meters. )

Pydna(The first settlement of the regionand important major port)
MACEDONIAN RELIGION

The Macedonians might have originally possessed their own, native pantheon which was later Hellenized through the adoption of Greek deities.Thaulos (god of war), Gyga (later equated with Athena), Gozoria (goddess of hunting), Zeirene (goddess of love), Xandos (god of light), Totoes (god of sleep), Darron (god of healing), Arestos (local version of Heracles), Bedu (god of water or air).

The Macedonians worshipped the Olympic Pantheon, especially Zeus, Artemis, Heracles and Dionysus:


Zeus-Father of God and men,he is the god of sky and thunder.

Artemis-goddess of thehunz,wild animals,wilderness,childbirth,virginity and young girls, bringing and relieving disease in women.

Heracles-Son of Zeus.He was a demigod(half god-half human)worshiped by the people of ancient greece

Dionysus-god of grape harwest,winemaking and wine.


MACEDONIAN ARMY

Used alot of phalanx(sarissa equiped) units!


Macedonian chalkispides(more black color on them!)



Companion cavalry


Macedonian heavy phalangites


Macedonian hypaspists or macedonian sword infantry


Peltasts


Macedonian armored hoplites


Royal pikeman


Levy pikeman



archers


Macedonian heavy cavalry


militia hoplites


levy hoplites(give them black clothes)


militia cavalry


militia pikeman(new unit)


macedonian elite pikeman



WEAPONS-ARMOR

Round shield



Macedonian shield symbols






Helmet shapes

[ahowl11]

DACIA

Was the land inhabited by the Dacians or Gatae as they were known by the Greeks.

They became independent in 1-2 BC,before that they were part of Thrace!

Dacians (or Getae) were North Thracian tribes!


FACTION GOALS

Capture(number)of settlements and destroy or outlive faction/factions:Germans,Sarmatians,Thrace

Why?

Thrace-"Ancient chronicles recorded Dromichaetes victory over Lysimachus, King of Thrace, former general of Alexander the Great who held a fortress at Tirizis".


Dacian tribes had both peaceful and military encounters with other neighboring tribes, such as Celts(mostly Gauls), Ancient Germanics, Sarmatians and Scythians, but were most influenced by the Ancient Greeks and Romans.


DACIAN LEADERS

Important leaders:

Moskon(had close relations with the local Greek colonies and adopted the Greek style of administration.)

Burebista(Under his rule Dacia was strongest)

Other leaders:

Cothelas
Dual
Rhemaxos
Dromichaetes
Zalmodegicus
Rubobostes
Oroles
Dicomes
Rholes
Dapyx
Cotiso
Zyraxes
Deceneus
Comosicus
Scorillo
Coson
Duras
Decebalus

DACIAN CITIES

Border map of Dacia





Sarmizegetusa(was the capital and the most important military, religious and political center of Dacians. Erected on top of a 1,200 meter high mountain, the fortress was the core of the strategic defensive system in the Orăştie Mountains.)-as you can see I couldn't find the exact position on the map-I couldn't find better maps of Dacian that these.

Dacians used stone walls!!!!

Dacian wall



DACIAN RELIGION

Couldn't find more gods that aren't already thracian!

Zamolxis-Most highest god of the Dacins,he was the god of the sky and the rain.

Bendis-goddess of the moon and of the night.

Derzelas-the god of the vital energy.


dacian column bases used to support a temple



DACIAN ARMY

Was influenced by both roman and greek armies.


Warband(add some hats to the head)



Flaxmen(you can add clothes so that these are different from the thracians)



dacian phalanx




Heavy cavalry


Dacian skirmishes


elite skirmishes



Dacian noble cavalry


Naked fanatics



Barbarian chiftain cavalry


Dacian light horsemen


Noble spearman


Noble swordsmen


getai forest warband


Dacian archer warband


Heavy archers(put then some helmet like these choosen archers)


dacian militia hoplites



Getae slingers