The Pyrrhic Dynasty : A Makedonian AAR

[MarcusAureliusAntoninus]

The Pyrrhic Dynasty

Yes, that's right, the Pyrrhic Dynasty of Makedonia. This is a continuation of my last AAR, which can be found here: https://forums.totalwar.org/vb/showthread.php?t=92870. I'm playing on an internal version of EB that is just pre-v1.0, so there are many things that are v1.0 and some that are still v0.8x. The Pyrrhos in question is not Pyrrhos of Epeiros but another Pyrrhos, Megas Pyrrhos Argeades the Crippled of Makedonia. This AAR starts at 175BC and is about the Makedonian Civil War, where the corrupt decendants of Antigonos fight the family of Pyrrhos, who is a hero to the people and a great leader of the military. Now for a "quick" overview of the situation so far...

Introduction: The Reign of the Antigonids

After the death of Megas Alexandros, the land of Makedonia traded many hands. When Keltic forces attacked Makedonia and looted Hellas, it was Antigonos Gonatas who defeated them and claimed the throne of Makedonia.

The Reign of Antigonos Gonatas (ruled Makedonia 277-241BC)

Antigonos had enough problems controlling Makedonia itself, at first and trouble only increased when Pyrrhos of Epieros returned from his failed campaigns in the west. Looking for money, angry over Antigonos not supporting him, and claiming the Makedonike throne, Pyrrhos invaded Makedonia. By 272BC it looked like the Antigonid line would end and Pyrrhos would take control of Makedonia, but then Pyrrhos became distracted. Before his campaign in Makedonia had ended, he withdrew his forces and began a campaign in Illyria.

This gave Antigonos the chance to take on his other enemy, the city-states of Hellas. Gathering all the forces he could, Antigonos marched on the two greatest of the Hellas polis, Athenai and Sparte. Within two years, the forces Hellas had been all but defeated. Antigonos did not subjugate the cities or occupy them by force. Instead, Antigonos set up Makedonia-friendly tyrants or councils that would run the city with almost entire autonomy. A portion of taxes and trade income was due to Makedonia, but the amount of economic and infrastructure improvements that Antigonos made to Hellas more than made up for this.

Pyrrhos then shifted his attention back to Epeiros. Pyrrhos and the bulk of his army had been lost in Illyria and the little nation of Epeiros was now broke and leaderless. In a quick strike, Antigonos conquered all of Epeiros. Rather than subjugate them, and not feeling like giving them direct autonomy such as in Hellas, Antigonos instead added Epeiros into the greater territory of Makedonia and granted the people the same rights as those that lived in Makedonia. Even though this upset many Makedones, it completely won over the people of Epeiros.

By 260BC, Antigonos had emerged as the only true power in greater Hellas:
https://img155.imageshack.us/img155/1763/hxmak260ct3.jpg

Antigonos then rested and shifted his attention to rebuilding the broken economies of Makedonia, Hellas, and Epeiros. The next decade and a half were slow. During this time, Antigonos' third son, Euboulides, was born. Antigonos' second son Demetrios, during this time, was able to raise a second army and use it to consolidate power in Hellas, as well as conquer Crete, Milos, and Rhodos. With the economy then rebuilt, Antigonos left his son Alkoyneus in charge of Makedonia and invaded Thraikia and conquered it. By 250BC, Antigonos and his sons had established a powerful base of power, but to the east their ally in the Arche Seleukeia had lost the Syrian Wars and was now being pushed back ever further:
https://img297.imageshack.us/img297/4553/hxmak250zj6.jpg

At this time, Alexandros, nephew of Antigonos led an invasion of Illyria, not only to capture its resources but to put an end to raids and pirate attacks from Illyria.

When Babylonia and Anatolia fell to the armies of Ptolemai, Antigonos assembled his armies and marched eastward. He and his son, Demetrios, then led an invasion of Ptolemai-controlled Anatolia. After taking the city of Sardis, Antigonos fell ill, and died a few months later.

The known world at the death of Antigonos Gonatas, in 241BC:
https://img297.imageshack.us/img297/9287/hxmak241lt0.png

The Shared Reign of Alkyoneus and Demetrios (241-228BC)

When Antigonos died, he named both his sons as his heirs. The brothers were really close and they both accepted the shared leadership, but there was much competition between them. When Hellenic trade cities along the coast north of Thraikia requested assistance from the Getic Confederation, Alkyoneus quickly responded. Alkyoneus had assumed that this would start a war, in which he could gain territory and fame, but the Getic Confederation simply withdrew and respected their alliance with Makedonia.

Demetrios, on the other hand, gained many victories, first against the Ptolemaioi then against the lesser kingdoms of Anatolia. In less than five years since his father's death, Demetrios had securred all of western Anatolia, even making Pergamon a client state. In the next five years, Demetrios pushed eastward, defeating the Ptolemaioi at every encounter. Eventually joined by his son, Aristotelis, Demetrios invaded Syria and liberated the city of Antiocheia in 233BC:
https://img155.imageshack.us/img155/9514/hxmak233bx9.png

It was then that the Kingdom of Pontos betrayed the Antigonids and attacked her Galatian allies and Makedonike cities in Anatolia. Alkyoneus responded to this while Demetrios secured the borders against Ptolemaioi agression. Taking a newly formed elite army from Makedonia, Alkyoneus countered the Pontic forces, and won many victories, took lands, and restored "autonomy" to the Galatians. All went well until one unfortunate day. Outside the last city of the Kingdom of Pontos, a huge battle was waged. Although the Makedones won, Alkyoneus fell dead on the field.

The known world at the death of Alkyoneus, in 228BC:
https://img297.imageshack.us/img297/7967/hxmak228wq5.png

The Reign of Megas Demetrios (241-204BC)

Taking the throne at 35 (at first with Alkyoneus), the reign of Demetrios would be the longest and most successful of any Makedonike Basileus, rivalling even the acomplishments of Megas Alexandros. The majority of Demetrios' life was dedicated to the distruction of the Ptolemaic Dynasty and the crushing of its armies. After Demetrios took Anatolia and Syria, he began work rebuilding the city of Antiocheia and the lands of Syria.

When Alkyoneus died, Demetrios left his son, Aristotelis in charge of Syria and sailed to Makedonia to ensure the sons of Alkyoneus didn't divide what was now being called the Arche Makedonia in civil war. Once there, both his brother Euboulides and his nephews Perseus and Chrysoloras accepted him as Basileus. Demetrios then sent Euboulides eastward to finish off the kingdom of Pontos and get revenge for their brother.

Once Pontos fell, what was left of Alkyoneus' elite army returned to Makedonia, where Demetrios rebuilt it. Leaving Makedonia in the hands of Perseus and Chrysoloras, Demetrios sailed south to the Hellenic colony of Kyrene. Taking Kyrene, Demetrios opened up a new front with the Ptolemaioi. From there, Demetrios began taking Lybia from the Ptolemaioi.

During the next decade, Demetrios waged war with the Ptolemaioi, but war also came from the west and the east. Both the city of Kart-Hadast and the Kingdom of Hayasdan attacked the Arche Makedonia. Defences at Kyrene held off the Qarthadastism, while Euboulides fought Hayasdan in the First Armenian War. Back in Makedonia and Illyria, the families of Alkyoneus and Alexandros gained territory to the north and built up a defensive barrier along the Istros River.

220BC:
https://img297.imageshack.us/img297/3631/hxmak220eu6.jpg

The next five years gave the Arche Makedonia some of the greatest territorial gains. With forces finally ready, Demetrios began his invasion of Aigyptos. First the great city of Alexandreia fell, then Demetrios worked his way up the Neilos wiping out ever last Ptolemaic soldier. Finally, he turned for the deserts and made a trek to the Oracle at Ammonion, where he received several messages of prophecy. As this happened, his son Aristotelis invade the Ptolemaic holdings in the Levant and established a client state in Ioudaia. Eventually the Ptolemaic Dynasty was isolated to Assyria. Finally the big three powers of the Hellenistic world met and ended all wars between the Arche Makedonia, the Arche Seleukeia, the Ptolemaioi, and the Kingdom of Hayasdan.

215BC:
https://img181.imageshack.us/img181/9071/hxmak215wgc5.png

There would be no peace in the life of Demetrios, however. With only the city of Kart-Hadast remaining as an enemy, Demetrios made plans to invade Sikilia and liberate the Hellenes there. Though as he planned, the Romaioi in Italia made their own plans and betrayed a long standing treaty, invading Illyria. The Romaioi had conquered all of Italia, had failed in an attempt to take Sikilia, and then invaded Gaul. They had established themselves as a power in the west, only rivalled by Kart-Hadast, their ally.

Prior to this time, all wars in the Arche Makedonia had been fought directly by the Basileus or someone close to him. With Demetrios in Sikilia, Euboulides defending against the Kingdom of Hayasdan, and Aristotelis defending to prevent renewed Ptolemaic agression, this war fell to a distant branch of the family. In Illyria, the descendants of Alexandros had seen this war coming for a long time and were ready for it. So, Demetrios gave permission to Nepos and his three sons (Neikolaos, Gelon, and Pyrrhos) to invade Italia. With three large armies, the family of Alexandros brought war back to the Romaioi. Demetrios attacking from the south, Nepos from the north, the Romaioi military was broken by 210BC:
https://img155.imageshack.us/img155/62/hxmak210ca9.png

Demetrios established a Syrakousian military force to defend Sikilia and then sailed north. Taking the islands west of Italia, then the city of Massalia, Demetrios arrived in Gaul. With the Romaioi territories cut in half, the Gallic tribes began fighting back and defeating the Romaioi occupation. With help from Nepos' son Neikoloas, Gaul was liberated and the Romaioi there completely defeated.

In 207BC, the Ptolemaioi, having rebuilt their military, betrayed the cease-fire and invaded Syria. Aristotelis was ready, however, and within a year the Ptolemaic Dynasty had been put to an end. Or so it was thought. It turned out some Ptolemaioi had survived and had escaped to Nubia when Demetrios had invaded the Neilos valley. They then lived in Nubia, in exile.

As 204BC came along, Nepos was growing too old to fight and the command of the Romaioi War was given to his youngest son, Pyrrhos. Pyrrhos renewed the war by invading southern Italia with a new army of Pezhetairoi from Epeiros.

Dispite success across the Arche Makedonia, the year 204BC was a sad one. Having stayed in Massalia for half a decade, Demetrios fought sickness and finally succome to illness. As the Oracle of Ammonion predicted, he died quitely with only his grandson, Neokles, at his side. Demetrios had done what no man had done since Megas Alexandros. But unlike Alexandros, Demetrios had ensured security for his conquered regions and successfully handed them off to his heir.

The known world at the death of Megas Demetrios, in 204BC:
https://img297.imageshack.us/img297/2259/hxmak203yy5.png

The Reign of Aristotelis (204-183BC)

Aristotelis had grown up in Makedonia, attended the Spartan Agoge, and been educated in Athenai. When he was in his early twenties, he made a trip to Thraikia, Dacia, and into the Getic Alliance. There, he assembled and army of Thraikioi and defeated many brigands. When his father invaded Syria, he quickly followed with his mercenaries. Before taking command of Antiocheia, Arisotelis personally conquered Kypros and established the short-lived client state of Sophene. Later he ruled Syria, conquered the Levant, established the client kingdom of Ioudaia, and defeated the Ptolemaioi in Assyria.

As Aristotelis came to throne, there was no real enemies left for the Arche Makedonia. There was the city of Kart-Hadast to the southwest, but those distant arid lands would have to be completely conquered and subjugated to put an end to the menace, and that task was a large unwanted one. To the east there was the Arche Seleukeia. The two Arche had long been allies, which worked well when there was an enemy between them, but now the Arche Seleukeia was looking westward at the territories they once held and the Arche Makedonia was looking eastward to reuniting the empire of Alexandros. Aristotelis had long dreamed of recreating Alexandros and hostilities with the Arche Seleukeia would give him that chance.

In Bosphoria, Euboulides began taking control slowly, but in the first few years of the reign of Aristotelis, the only true military successes were those of Pyrrhos over the Romaioi. By 200BC, the Romaioi had lost all of their conquered territories and all of her allies had fallen:
https://img155.imageshack.us/img155/8659/hxmak200fm9.png

Urged by Aristotelis, Lysippos (son in-law of Euboulides) invades Armenia and brings an end to the Kingdom of Hayasdan. The war is quick and the rich lands of Armenia quickly fall into the hands of the Arche Makedonia.

The Arche Seleukeia then suffers a series of setbacks that encourage Aristotelis. To the south, the Seleukid army is crushed and the Kingdom of Sab'yn retakes lands conquered by the Arche Seleukeia. In the east, the Indians invade Seleukid Iran and push all the way to Persis. And in the north, territories rebel and a renewed Median Empire declares itself free of Hellenistic control.

While Aritotelis and his second born son, Bykoli, perpare for an invasion of Babylonia, Aristotelis' first born son, Neokles, fights in Iberia. With an alliance with the Iberian Confederacy, Neokles fights to push all influence of the city of Kart-Hadast from these lands.

194BC:
https://img297.imageshack.us/img297/5417/hxmak194wkf3.png

War is finally declared with the Arche Seleukeia, when the Seleukids lay claim to land in Assyria. Aristotelis uses this opertunity to invade. Over the next few years, most of Babylonia falls into the hands of the Arche Makedonia. Most of the fighting, however, is done by Bykoli, his friend / son-in-law Pefkolaos, and their army. Seeking a fight, Aristotelis takes his army and marches deep into Seleukid territory. At this point, his two sons are cut off from him and forced to run the Arche on their own from opposite sides of the know world.

190BC:
https://img297.imageshack.us/img297/4089/hxmak190editak8.png

Aristotelis eventually arrived at the city of Sousa and took it by force. Retreating into the palace of Sousa, Aristotelis became a recluse while his army ran the city and the land of Elymais.

Meanwhile, his first born son, Neokles had planned an invasion of Africa and the holdings of Kart-Hadast. While Neokles landed in the west, Pyrrhos and his sons landed to the south of Kart-Hadast and Antisthenes Gortynois came by land from Kyrene. City after city fell to the Arche Makedonia with most battles being fought by Pyrrhos. Eventually Neokles marched against the great city of Kart-Hadast itself, but was unable to seige it due to its massive walls. Before the city fell, he received word that his father had died and he was now Basileus.

The known world at the death of Aristotelis, 183BC:
https://img291.imageshack.us/img291/2818/hxmak185sd0.png

The Reign of Neokles (183-177BC)

In the first years of the reign of Neokles, both conflicts on either side of the Arche were quickly consolidated. The city of Kart-Hadast eventually surrendered and Neokles marched in victoriously. Leaving the city and region in the hands of Pyrrhos, Neokles then sailed for Makedonia. In the east, Bykoli and Pefkolaos conquered the last Seleukid hold-outs in Babylonia and secured the eastern front. Bykoli and Pefkolaos then began an invasion of the new Median Empire and strove eastward to finish Aristotelis' dream of reuniting the empire of Alexandros.

In Makedonia, Neokles began his reign. Seeking to establish an era of peace, Neokles negotiated peace with his neighbors in Numidia, Mauretania, Nubia, and with the Arche Seleukeia. Neokles then lowered taxes, decreased the military, and attempted to reform the government.

What had started as a dream of a new era quickly turned, however. Old wars started up again, new wars began with allies betraying agreements, natural disasters struck, and a great plague his Makedonia and Hellas. Overworked and tired, the plague eventually took Neokles and his reign ended short.

The Arche Makedonia's greatest extent under Neokles, 177BC:
https://img291.imageshack.us/img291/9967/hxmak177wg0.png

Civil War (177BC- )

When Neokles died, the whole Arche was shaken. Neokles and Bykoli were the last of the line of Megas Demetrios and only they and the line of Euboulides remained of the descendants of Antigonos Gonatas. Neither Neokles or Bykoli had a son. Neokles had not been a great man, but Bykoli was far worse. The council of nobles in Pella had long disliked Bykoli, for he was stupid, decadent, and was easily manipulated by his friend / son-in-law Pefkolaos. Bykoli had also been accused of hiring assassins to kill ruling members of the council and even some in the royal family, including Pyrrhos' elder brother. Fearing Bykoli's control of the Arche, the council of nobles turned to Pyrrhos to lead them. With this, Pyrrhos had to act, for even if he had turned them down, it meant that he would be seen as an ememy to Bykoli's and he and his family would be in danger of retribution.

So in 177BC, three men set out on a trek to Pella, with their armies, to get the support of the council. To the north, there was Herakleon, first born son of Euboulides, who should have been next in line after Bykoli. Herakleon did not live long, however, as he died from poisoning while being visited by "envoys" from Bykoli. Second was Pyrrhos, who quickly gained support from subjugated Kart-Hadast, the nobles of Sikilia, and the Romani client-state. With his own family ruling northern Italia, southern Gaul, the Iberian holdings, Illyria, and Epeiros, his movement for support was quick. Then there was Bykoli, who travelled slowly across Babylonia, Assyria, Armenia, and Syria to ensure support for his cause. During his withdraw from the east, Lysippos negotiated a ceasefire with Media in exchange for the return of all Median lands.

When Pyrrhos arrived in Pella first, it appeared that Bykoli had lost. Bykoli considered retreating to Babylonia, but Pefkolaos urged him forward, to confront Pyrrhos in battle. Bykoli died, however, when one of his own men stabbed him while he walked through their camp. The assassin died quickly and nobody was sure why he did it or if anyone hired him. It seemed Pyrrhos was left the only option for Basileus, but Pefkolaos did not give up. Claiming his own son, grandson of Bykoli, was the rightful heir, Pefkolaos pushed forward and met Pyrrhos. So, in Thraikia, the two men met with their massive armies...

The division of the Arche Makedonia at the end of 176BC:
https://img135.imageshack.us/img135/4307/hxmak1763editca5.png

Other Noteworthy Men of the Arche Makedonia

Perseus and Chrysoloras: The two sons of Alkyoneus, who did not challenge Megas Demetrios in his claim as Basileus. They were left to administer Makedonia, Thraikia, and Hellas. During their lifetimes, not only did the improve infrastructure and the economy, but added to the Arche Makedonia just to the north by annexing all lands south of the Istros. These two brothers also brought an end to autonomy in Hellas, removing tyrants, kings, councils, and puppet-rulers and replacing them with direct control from Makedonia. There were some rebellions and rioting during this time but the direct control greatly improved the region for all people. Neither of the brothers had any sons and they both died quietly, ending the line of Alkyoneus.

Euboulides: The third born son of Antigonos Gonatas. Euboulides was born when Antigonos was already an old man and saw little of his father. Educated in Makedonia, Euboulides did little noteworthy until he took control of the leaderless war against Pontos. Pontos was already all but defeated and Euboulides only finished it off. Euboulides then took control of Pontos and later defended the region in the First Armenian War, taking Egrisi in that war. After another long stretch of administration, Euboulides took his three sons and invaded Bosphoria, claiming it for the Arche Makedonia. He died not too long after and left his sons to run the newly conquered region.

Lysippos: Lysippos was son-in-law to Euboulides and the only member of the Euboulides branch of the family that did not participate in the Bosphorian invasion. When the Second Armenian War started, it was left up to Lysippos to defend Egrisi and during the Third Armenian War it was Lysippos who conquered all of Armenia and defeated the Kingdom of Hayasdan. Later Lysippos assisted in Aristotelis' war with the Arche Seleukeia and Bykoli's war with Media. When civil war seemed all but unavoidable, Lysippos made peace with Media for the Arche and withdrew to Egrisi with two large armies. His loyalty is definately to his brothers-in-law in Bosphoria who ended up siding with Pyrrhos.

The Family of Pyrrhos: Descended from Antigonos Gonatas' nephew Alexandros, the "Illyrian Branch" of the royal family lacked much power for a long time. When the Romaioi War came, however, the head of the family, Nepos and his son led the war. The eldest son, Neikolaos, took an army of Keltic mercenaries and went northward, liberationg Gaul. Nepos and his second born son, Gelon, took the Makedones and went for the center and conquered northern Italia. Pyrrhos, a man crippled since birth, took an army of Illyrians and struck center Italy, then an army of Pezhetairoi and worked his way up from the south. Pyrrhos conquered the city of Roma, but did not kill and loot. He restored the Romani Senate and relinquished central Italia to their control. For this, the Romani hesitantly loved him, especially those he raised to power in the reformed Senate. When Nepos died, Gelon took over administration of nothern Italia, Neikolaos took over control of the holdings in southern Gallia, and Pyrrhos moved to Sikilia. When war with Kart-Hadast began again, Pyrrhos and his first-born son, Sotades joined in on the invasion and fought the majority of the battles. Pyrrhos then gained control of newly conquered Africa when Neokles ascended to the throne. Pyrrhos had planned an invasion of Numidia, but it was cut short when Neokles died.

Philippos: Second son of Pyrrhos, Philippos was just too young to join in on the war in Africa. While his father and brother fought, Pyrrhos trained in the Agoge with the Spartans and learned from the greatest minds of Athenai. When was in his early twenties, Philippos gathered an army and began his military career fighting random rebels, pirates, brigands, and thieves. While in Aigyptos, Philippos assisted in the defense from Nubians sent by the young king of Meroe, Ptolemai. Having grown up in Italia and trained with Spartans, Philippos had a different outlook on military composition. He experimented with different army compositions and attempted to form a more flexible army without pikemen. When his father requested he go to Iberia to fight the Iberian Confederacy, who had betrayed the alliance, Philippos assembled an army of Thorakitai. After several battles in Iberia, Philippos began to change his army yet again. When the civil war started, Pyrrhos ordered his son to stay in Iberia. Not only did he not want the Iberian front to fall, but he wanted at least one of his sons to stay out of the dirty politics that were about to come. When the council of Pella declared Pyrrhos Basileus, Pyrrhos declared Philippos his heir.

Antisthenes Gortynois: Son-in-law to Megas Demetrios, Antisthenes was the governor of Kyrene for decades. During his time there, he fended off dozens of invasion attempts from Kart-Hadast. Dispite his poor military skills, he gained the support of his armies and the peoples of Kyrenaia and Lybia. Dispite having closer family connections with Bykoli, Antisthenes Gortynois sided with Pyrrhos in the civil war due to Pyrrhos' ability to defeat the armies of Kart-Hadast. The support of Antisthenes gained Pyrrhos the coast of Lybia from nearly Kart-Hadast to Alexandreia, where he had their loyalty.

The Delphikos Family: An unimportant family of nobles that were given the job of defending the Makedonike colony at Bostra. When the Kingdom of Sab'yn invaded, it was this family, led by Eulandros, who defended the borders of the Arche. Since Aristotelis and Bykoli gave them no support in the war, they decided to support Pyrrhos once forced to join sides. Now isolated passed the client-state of Ioudaia, they don't expect to hold out long.

Next: Chapter 52 : The Battle of Thraikia

[Chirurgeon]

Awesome...been waiting for this for a while MAA. I liked your progression pictures. Im going to do that soon in my AAR. This should be a fight for the ages...

[Siruso]

I'm gonna go ahead and declare this the greatest thing ever.

[Reverend Joe]

Holy damn, Marcus. You just graduated to genuine alternative-history novella writer. Congratulations. :2thumbsup:

[chairman]

Seconded!

The only problem that I see with starting a new thread is that it doesn't show new people how huge the old one was. Oh well.

Awesome!

Chairman

[hrrypttrbst]

amazing that you have chosen to play out the civil war and good introduction of new AAR!!!!!!!!:2thumbsup:

[Strategos Alexandros]

You carried on, great! :2thumbsup: :2thumbsup: :2thumbsup:

[paullus]

great, Marcus!!

[CaesarAugustus]

Thank you for deciding to continue with this AAR! :beam: I can't wait for the battle...

[MarcusAureliusAntoninus]

Thanks for the comment everybody, I'll try to have the next/first/52nd chapter up in a couple days.

I kind of wrote too much there. I've got a whole alternative history set up for a kingdom that never existed... :egypt:

[Chaotix]

Awesome, Marcus! I'm so glad that you decided to continue the AAR!

[Korlon]

Just how exactly did you formulate this civil war? I would like to be able to do such a thing as well in a game.

[MarcusAureliusAntoninus]

To get the civil war, I actually just used forced diplomacy. I first crushed all of the forces of Baktria in the east and gave away all her territories but Baktra. Then I used forced diplomacy to give Baktria all of the territories I wanted to in my empire. Since Makedonia and Baktria share factional MICs, they will spawn and be able to train normal units in those regions at the same levels I previously could. I disbanded all of my stuff from those regions then waited. They moved their capital, trained new troops, gathered those spawned in the FD, and magically spawned new family members in the way the AI seems able to. By altering the text files, the name and colors were changed and I had a whole new faction to have a civil war with. The eastern side still controls the city of Baktra, but I edited that photo so that it looks like the old color only over there.

[Korlon]

Ah, I thought it might've been something like that, just that with Baktria on the map it made me wonder about that.

By the way, what's with the Sweboz? Their lands are disjointed and weird.

[MarcusAureliusAntoninus]

I don't know if it is my version, a v1.0 thing, or just by rare chance but Sweboz has been basically broke the whole game. They were stagnant for a long time, then when threatened to the west the decided to expand eastward to Silengoz. After I gave them all the Rhineland and Netherlands after buying them from the Aedui (this was before I installed FD), they invaded Kimbrioz (Denmark). The weird thing is in the Baltic is a territory that rebelled from the Sauromatians. For the last couple decades they have been having a cold war with the two Gallic factions. Sweboz has generally been a disappointment in my campaign.

[Teleklos Archelaou]

You are batshit crazy. Has anyone ever told you that Marcus? :laugh4: Really awesome though!

[Vorian]

Oh my God!!!!


I can hardly wait for the second part of this AAR

[DeathEmperor]

Looks like another masterpiece is in the making! :2thumbsup:

Can't wait to see this story unfold.

[MarcusAureliusAntoninus]

Thanks guys!

I think that's a compliment from Teleklos... :laugh4:

[Frodge]

Magnificent, i can hardly wait :laugh4:

[MarcusAureliusAntoninus]

Chapter 52 : The Battle of Thraikia

It is already after the harvest when Pyrrhos, old and exhausted from his long trek to Pella, and Pekolaos, newly appointed leader of the east, meet in Thraikia. Both have elite armies, Pyrrhos with the royal army of the Basileus and Pefkolaos with the Syrian army that was originally raised to fight against the Arche Seleukeia. The majority of both armies is Makedones, meaning this battle would be a true battle of brother against brother. If Pefkoloas wins this battle, he would take Thraikia and push the family of Pyrrhos back to Makedonia, where he could wipe them out. If Pyrrhos wins this battle he can move into Anatolia and restore this rich portion of the core of the Arche Makedonia. Dispite his exhaustion and sickness, Pyrrhos engages the battle:
https://img72.imageshack.us/img72/1584/maa2666dq4.png

The two armies line up on a flat plan, bisected by the east-west trade route of Thraikia:
https://img297.imageshack.us/img297/1559/maa2679we1.png

On Pefkolaos' left flank is his one true advantage, the elephants from Syria, which rush forward:
https://img238.imageshack.us/img238/8210/maa2680pf2.png

On Pefkolaos' opposite flank, his cavalry rushes forward, ahead of the main force, and moves to Pyrrhos' left flank:
https://img87.imageshack.us/img87/979/maa2681tj4.png

And at the center, with arrows bouncing off them, Pefkolaos leads his army forward with his frightening new Hetairoi Kataphraktoi:
https://img238.imageshack.us/img238/3520/maa2682vf3.png

As Pefkolaos' main force slowly moves forward, Pyrrhos takes his Hetairoi and moves to his left flank to counter the enemy cavalry:
https://img87.imageshack.us/img87/5268/maa2683fg1.png

Rather than engage Pyrrhos' line, Pefkolaos' main battle line comes to a halt and waits as both flanks begin to engage eachother:
https://img87.imageshack.us/img87/9260/maa2684ah6.png

To the north, Pyrrhos personally leads a cavalry charge in at the flank cavalry:
https://img87.imageshack.us/img87/9158/maa2685oq8.png

The charge is a huge success, but Pyrrhos quickly pulls out of the battle, not loosing a single man in the fighting. Then he lines up his Hetairoi again and charges in a second time:
https://img87.imageshack.us/img87/553/maa2687no1.png

To the south, the heavy Peltastai of the Basilikon Agema attempt to skirmish against the enemy elephants, but the great beasts charge in and attack the unit before they are able to withdraw:
https://img87.imageshack.us/img87/4910/maa2686wo8.png

The heavy Peltastai fall back but the elephants regroup and charge forward directly at them:
https://img297.imageshack.us/img297/2777/maa2688mj7.png

As was planned prior to the battle, the wing holds their ground against the elephants. Soon the Hypaspistai charge in and javelin and spear are thrust into the sides of the beasts. As they start to fall, the surviving elephants panic and run away, toward the west:
https://img87.imageshack.us/img87/8030/maa2690dm4.png

With half their elephants dead or fleeing and their entire cavalry force wiped out, the army of Pefkolaos has no choice but to move forward:
https://img238.imageshack.us/img238/702/maa2693wx9.png

They Syrian Pezhetairoi move forward and form a pike line. Halted just before the Makedonike line, they begin to skirmish:
https://img87.imageshack.us/img87/294/maa2695gq1.png

The battle then comes to a pause. Pyrrhos tries to take the time to rest his men and horses, but noticing Pefkolaos moving to the southern flank, he rushes his Hetairoi to counter. As he moves, he gives the order for his men to march forward and engage the enemy. The Makedonike Pezhetairoi slowly move forward, with their pikes down:
https://img87.imageshack.us/img87/9018/maa2696gd8.png

Finally, the two lines clash. Across the entire length of the field, two great masses of men and pike collide against eachother:
https://img87.imageshack.us/img87/6373/maa2697og1.png

A battle of Makedonike pikemen, unseen since the Aigyptos Wars, begins as the two sides push against eachother and thrust their sarrisa across at their enemy:
https://img87.imageshack.us/img87/1249/maa2698hm0.png

On the southern flank, Pyrrhos moves forward to confront Pefkolaos, but in the north it is Pefkolaos' men who make their move. Pushing through their own men, the remaining elephants move in to make a hole in the battle line. This section of the line falls into disorder and a hole begins to form. Tasked with filling any hole that develops in the line, the Bosphorians rush forward into the gap to confront the giant beasts:
https://img87.imageshack.us/img87/8978/maa2700sr0.png

Facing a great number of men, the elephants fall back again, but the northern side of the battle is already in chaos.

Back in the center, men begin to tire and many fall dead. With Pyrrhos' Hetairoi tied down and Pefkolaos' elephants unable to push through, neither side is able to circle around the flanks or push through the line to deal a killing blow:
https://img87.imageshack.us/img87/9339/maa2702qc8.png

As the battle begins to drag out and men begin to suffer from the lack of any resolution. Pyrrhos is stuck on the southern side of the battle, tied down by Pefkolaos' Kataphraktoi. Pyrrhos' Hetairoi have skill and experience on their side, but the heavy armor of their enemy proves to be a difficult challenge:
https://img87.imageshack.us/img87/531/maa2701rk7.png

While the infantry suffer, the Hetairoi finally manage to cut through their enemy and eliminate most of the heavy horsemen, surrounding Pefkolaos:
https://img297.imageshack.us/img297/103/maa2704by9.png

With his men almost entirely wiped out, Pefkolaos turns and flees from the battle, breaking out of the Hetairoi. If Pefkolaos falls, this could end the war right now. Knowing this, Pyrrhos and all the Hetairoi give chase, abandonning the infantry:
https://img297.imageshack.us/img297/4007/maa2705kz8.png

The infantry battle streches out and sections of both sides begin to break and run from the field of battle:
https://img297.imageshack.us/img297/3285/maa2703ep0.png

Ironically weakened by their own elephant attack, Pefkolaos' northern flank begins to falter. The Bosphorians and Pezhetairoi on the flank push forward and break the line. The elephants move in to assist, but they quickly fall to the Makedonike charge. The flank then circles around to surround the center of Pefkolaos' line:
https://img87.imageshack.us/img87/3362/maa2707ow0.png

Soon sections of Pefkolaos' line are breaking, then reforming, then breaking again. The Makedonike line breaks formation and charges forward to surround small groups who still stand and try to break them quickly:
https://img87.imageshack.us/img87/3127/maa2709lr1.png

Several groups of Pyrrhos' line charge forward randomly at enemy groups trying to reform and break them again before they can regroup. Pyrrhos' men take heavy losses but deal even greater losses on their enemy. With the entire Syrian infantry line broken, the Bosphorians chase the enemy archers, last men standing, from the field:
https://img297.imageshack.us/img297/9417/maa2710ns6.png

Pefkolaos manages to escape and takes the remnants of his army back into Anatolia, where he rests in the city of Nikaia:
https://img238.imageshack.us/img238/5273/maa2715xe2.png

At first glance it would appear that this battle was a success for neither side. Both leaders still live and both armies were almost entirely wiped out. Though it will turn out to be a great victory for Pyrrhos. The Syrian army was the only standing professional army that Pefkolaos and the Demetrids had. Pyrrhos, on the other hand, had two professional armies in Thraikia and another in Iberia, as well as a great number of allied armies ready to assist him in his war.

Beyond that, Pyrrhos controls Makedonia. When his professional army of Makedones is wiped out, he can simply fall back and build a new army from the sizable, though plague weakened, population of Makedonia. The number of Makedones in the east is small, and the closest center of Makedonike population is in Syria. Pefkolaos cannot assemble and move a professional force forward nearly as quickly.

While Pyrrhos falls back to Pella to rebuild his army and get some personal rest, his son Sotades takes his old army and moves forward to put pressure on the Demetrids the following spring:
https://img87.imageshack.us/img87/8316/maa2716em8.png


The known world in the spring of 175BC:
https://img72.imageshack.us/img72/4193/hxmak1763editqh5.png

Next: Chapter 53 : Arabian Problems

[CaesarAugustus]

Damn that was a good battle! Great chapter, MAA!

[paullus]

yep...the AI even did *decently* with what it was given, at least in comparison to what I normally expect from the AI. Beautiful shots too.

[DeathEmperor]

Incredible chapter MAA! :2thumbsup:

Reading your AAR has inspired to right my own about my Arche Seleukeia campaign.

[Reality=Chaos]

Still amazed at the truly epic scope of this AAR, very tense battle that was! I'm still loving this very very much

[BerkeleyBoi]

Wow! This is great!

[hrrypttrbst]

Amazing, good battle!!!!!!!And was it a heroic victory or just a clear victory?

[Ayce]

Wow, I didn't even notice this great AAR until now! Civil War in the Macedonian Empire, now that's class.

[Chirurgeon]

MAA that was amazing! A truly Epic chapter. It reminds me of the Roman civil wars. You must have been smiling ear to ear with that fight. Two lines of Sarissa wielding men as far as the eye can see locked onto each other to the death. Truly, a glorious battle.

[Olaf The Great]

Arche Phyrros vs Arche Syria?

How long do you think It'll take to reclaim the Empire, and, eventually, reunite all of Alexandros's Empire?

Also, what do the Median Kingdom's Army look like?

[Frodge]

:2thumbsup: :2thumbsup:
Well Done with this

[MarcusAureliusAntoninus]

Thanks for following, everyone, and thanks for commenting. :bow:

yep...the AI even did *decently* with what it was given, at least in comparison to what I normally expect from the AI. Beautiful shots too.
Yeah, the AI behaved quite well, all things being relative. The only things they didn't do well was: 1- Their cavalry looked like it was moving it to flank me and could have easily done so, but stopped and did nothing in stead. 2- Their infantry kept moving forward a little at a time but never engaged me, I had to do it. And 3- They charged their elephants through their own battle line...

Amazing, good battle!!!!!!!And was it a heroic victory or just a clear victory?
Actually, it was a "Close Defeat". I was never able to catch up to those Syrian Archers and chased them around the map for about ten minutes until the timer ran out and the defender won by default. I then took a small army and auto-calc'd against Pefkolaos twice, getting him to retreat to Nikaia.

MAA that was amazing! A truly Epic chapter. It reminds me of the Roman civil wars. You must have been smiling ear to ear with that fight. Two lines of Sarissa wielding men as far as the eye can see locked onto each other to the death. Truly, a glorious battle.
I find myself thinking of the Roman civil wars and the east-west split, but I'm trying not to exactly recreate them with another nation. It is indeed nice when the AI behaves and you're able to have an actual sarrisa battle. Too bad I wasn't ever able to deliver the cavalry hammer to the sarrisa anvil.

Arche Phyrros vs Arche Syria?

How long do you think It'll take to reclaim the Empire, and, eventually, reunite all of Alexandros's Empire?

Also, what do the Median Kingdom's Army look like?
Right now I'm calling them the Pyrrhic Dynasty and the Demetrid Dynasty (after Megas Demetrios)(though it seems like it should be Demetri-id). Once Pyrrhos conquers enough, I intend to restore the name "Arche Makedonia".

I've played about five years and I've lost one territory while gaining about five, so it will be slow to reclaim...

The Medians were fielding mostly Pantodapoi and Pantodapoi Phalangitai when I last fought them. Although, I tore down all of their regional MICs and spawned them L3 factional MICs in all of their towns when I restored all that territory to them. Hopefully, they will have at least some form of eastern army in the future. (Most of their current standing army is "slaves" that spawned when I gave them their towns.)

[Olaf The Great]

I remember you're on a slightly outdated build, and that the general skins are of KH's style

Well, just so you know, changing skins is save-game compatible

[MarcusAureliusAntoninus]

I remember you're on a slightly outdated build, and that the general skins are of KH's style

Well, just so you know, changing skins is save-game compatible
Yeah, I know. I've thought about doing it before too, but the model was changed to accomodate the variations in different factions. I just haven't cared about the appearance enough to go to the effort...
I've also considered updating the strat map models, but haven't.

[Olaf The Great]

Yeah, I know. I've thought about doing it before too, but the model was changed to accomodate the variations in different factions. I just haven't cared about the appearance enough to go to the effort...
I've also considered updating the strat map models, but haven't.
Well cool, anyway when can we expect a new update

[Vorian]

Well cool, anyway when can we expect a new update


I cross my fingers for tomorrow

[Centurio Nixalsverdrus]

Great chapter Marcus!:2thumbsup:

Sorry for being late. I just found the time today to read the massive introduction and the first chapter. The battle was really cool and reminded me of the numerous phalanx-battles I fought Makedonia vs. Seleukeia.:bow:

I'm glad you continued your AAR and I hope to read more soon.:yes: :yes: :yes:

[MarcusAureliusAntoninus]

Thanks, Centurio. :bow:




I'll have the next chapter up tommorrow...

[hrrypttrbst]

That's good to hear:2thumbsup:

[Vorian]

Aaaaaaaarghhhh....for me tomorrow is here already

[MarcusAureliusAntoninus]

Chapter 53 : Arabian Problems

The Arche Makedonia is torn apart by civil war. Foreign powers begin to recongnize that two seperate powers have taken the place of the one. They realize that while united the Arche Makedonia was undefeatable, torn in two they are weak both internally and externally. For the first time in decades, the Arche Seleukeia becomes the most powerful nation in all of the known world, secure in Persia and winning their war against Gandhara:
https://img137.imageshack.us/img137/4512/maa2726uw8.jpg

While Pyrrhos rebuilds his army that winter, his son defends the Bosphoros and Hellespontos. With no imediate push eastward in Anatolia, the areas loyal to Pyrrhos in the east are isolated and forced to fend for themselves. In Egrisi, Lysippos and his massive force is not even threatened. In Galatia, the Galatians begin increasing the size of their army and are quite secure. Meanwhile in Iuodaia, this poor client kingdom and the Makedonike colonies to the east are completely isolated and powerless:
https://img292.imageshack.us/img292/893/maa2717sf2.png

With a garrison of Syrians and Anatolians, the city of Hierosolyma begins to experience disertion and rioting. Faced with the problem of defense, the Hellenized Phoenician King of Ioudaia begins recruiting spearmen from amongst the Jewish population, something that had never been permitted before in the Arche Makedonia.

East of there, the Delphikos family is forced to defend the Makedonike colonies, centered in the city of Bostra, from Arabian and possible Demetrid agression. Cut off from reinforcements and unable to equip newly trained men, the family is forced to defend the city with what Klerouchoi he has standing. As the desert summer begins to reach its high, an army from the Kingdom of Sab'yn once again reaches the Delphikos doorstep:
https://img137.imageshack.us/img137/9308/maa2719vq0.png

Once again, Chrysoloras Delphikos takes command of the army and lines the men up to defend the city. The army of Sab'yn ignores the fact that they are outnumbered and charges forward at full speed:
https://img137.imageshack.us/img137/59/maa2720iz8.png

Their charge proves to be a success, as the Arabians charge through the sarrisa line and start killing the Delphikos' Klerouchoi phalangitai:
https://img292.imageshack.us/img292/865/maa2721eu7.png

Chrysoloras orders his Klerouchoi peltastai to circle around from the flank and attack the enemy rear, but as soon as they move forward they are countered by enemy cavalry:
https://img143.imageshack.us/img143/3308/maa2722pi2.png

With the center of the line completely breaking, Chrysoloras orders the flanks of his line to move in and behind to reinforce the newly formed hole:
https://img292.imageshack.us/img292/5559/maa2723nu8.png

Facing a second line, though the Arabian attackers are winning they decide to give up the fight, turn, and flee. Chrysoloras gives the order to pursue:
https://img292.imageshack.us/img292/2323/maa2724fc6.png

Chasing the enemy from the field, the Delphikos family manages to once again wipe out an Arabian army. Although their losses are small, they are all from amongst the Klerouchoi phalangitai who are vital to the defense of the city and irreplacible:
https://img137.imageshack.us/img137/3333/maa2725ij6.jpg

To the west, Antisthenes Gortynios arrives in Kyrene and is warmly welcomed. The old governor of Kyrene was son-in-law to Demetrios, but the death of his wife Artemidora distances him from the Demetrid branch of the family. That and his respect of Pyrrhos in the African Invasion had pulled him over to the Pyrrhic side, bring all of Lybia with him. Antisthenes Gortynios immediately goes about the business of defending Lybia from Demetrid forces in Aigyptos:
https://img292.imageshack.us/img292/9173/maa2728sv4.png

In far off Iberia, Philippos, second-born son of Pyrrhos and heir to the throne, besieges the capital of the Lusotannan tribe at the city of Oxtraca. Attempting to bring the majority of Iberia under Makedonike control quickly, Philippos rushes his war, hoping to finish it and soon join his father in Anatolia:
https://img292.imageshack.us/img292/5779/maa2729oi2.png

Other than his arm of Thorakitai, Philippos has with him two similarly sized armies of coastal Iberia allies and mercenaries, as well as sizable garrisons in every Iberian city. Such forces take huge sums of money to maintain and pay wages. A few years prior, the resources of Anatolia and Armenia were enough to support huge standing armies and military forces all across the Arche. With the loss of these regions, the economy of Pyrrhos' Arche is falling apart and the treasury has all but vanished.

From Pella, Pyrrhos has to start making cutbacks. The war in Iberia was vital to the Arche, for it is one of the only resource and silver rich regions in the west and taking control of those resources is a priority. Leaving the standing forces alone in Iberia, Pyrrhos starts making cuts elsewhere. Standing armies of locals or mercenaries all across the western half the Arche Makedonia, who had been on retainer, would have to be removed from the payroll. There are many standing armies that had once had purpose, then were forgotten, and are now no longer needed. There were mercenaries in northern and southern Italia prepared to defend against a Romaioi rebellion, armies in Sikilia who had been trained in case of a counter attack from Kart-Hadast, and heavy defensive forces along all borders, even those of allies. Unable to pay all these men and needing money for his war in the east, Pyrrhos quickly dismisses these locals and mercenaries. Even with this act, however, the economy only balances itself and no profit is seen. Refusing to confiscate property and make enemies of the nobility, Pyrrhos is forced to take out loans from the noble Makedones and acquire debt.

Far from Philippos or Pyrrhos is an odd man, Isidoros Oresteus. Isidoros had already planned and started an invasion of eastern Arabia when the civil war first started. He had taken with him the army of Babylon, originally raised to prove their loyalty to their new masters, they had taken the city of Charax at the end of the campaign in Babylonia. With Elymais secured, as it was at the time of Isidoros' planning, and no need for a standing army in southern Babylonia, Isidoros Oresteus had gathered the Babylonian force and marched it into the desert to confront the Kingdom of Sab'yn. When the civil war began, Isidoros had simply ignored it and continued with his campaign.

Reaching the oasis city of Gerrha, Isidoros and the Babylonians besiege it. And within a year, a few scattered troops cross the desert from Maka and attack them:
https://img143.imageshack.us/img143/4741/maa2731zk8.png

Isidoros does not have any desert fighting experience but he is no fool. He and his men take up position on a dune and wait for the enemy to come to them:
https://img143.imageshack.us/img143/9095/maa2733gl1.png

His force, heavy in archers, quickly eliminate the bulk of the first force. As the enemy numbers become low, Isidoros orders his cavalry on both flanks to charge forward and wipe out all those who are left:
https://img137.imageshack.us/img137/7381/maa2734zs9.png

The enemy quickly fall and the cavalry once again returned to their positions on the flanks. Soon the other forces of the enemy arrive, and unlike the previous army, they are able to reach Isidoros' battle line:
https://img137.imageshack.us/img137/342/maa2736pq3.png

Even though they get to the top of the dune and attack Isidoros' men, they are no match for them and soon flee. Isidoros and the entire cavlary force then quickly rush forward and give chase:
https://img292.imageshack.us/img292/4244/maa2737ab9.png

In the pursuit, Nawfim Il Watar falls dead along with all of his men. So the coast of eastern Arabia falls into the hands of Isidoros:
https://img143.imageshack.us/img143/1129/maa2739bu1.jpg

Isidoros quickly establishes control of the city and moves his men south, heading for Maka and to the lands that control the opening of the Persian Gulf. The city of Gerrha and the conquered lands along the coast then default to the Demetrids, although Isidoros Oresteus simply says that he is handing them over to "the Arche Makedonia" when he leaves.

Back in Iberia, the Iberian Confederation once again attacks the city of Emporion. Unable to move their men down to Lusotannia to relieve one of their capitals, they instead attempt to draw Philippos north. Even when he hears news of an invasion in northern Iberia, Philippos does not change his plans. He has faith in the garrison of Emporion and continues his siege of Oxtraca:
https://img292.imageshack.us/img292/4655/maa2741zk5.png

South of there, another border is threatened when Numidian forces attack the African city of Ippone. There too there is no army to come to their relief and the garrison is forced to fend for itself:
https://img137.imageshack.us/img137/9287/maa2740nr3.png

Even though war still wages on the borders of the Arche Makedonia, the attention of all those within the Arche Makedonia is still focused on the civil war itself. With the defeat of Pefkolaos and the loss of the Syrian army, many in the east begin to think that they are on the loosing side, but most remain loyal to Pefkolaos.

https://img292.imageshack.us/img292/7245/maa2742uf6.png

In Armenia, where Bykoli and Pefkolaos had never been able to sure up support, some regions decide that it is time to switch sides. In the north, those living in the central Caucasus mountains and the northern edges of Armenia decide to switch sides. They send messengers to Lysippos in Egrisi and request his assistance and protection. With his army of Pontic Hellenes already moving into Pontos, Lysippos orders his army of steppe cavalry, Armenians, and Medians to move to the city of Mtskheta and defend the region.

Just south of there, there is rioting in Armavir and all across the territory of Hayasdan. Here, however, they do not wish simply to switch sides but rather yearn for independance from either side. In the Lake Van region, the Armenian locals and Thraikioi settlers begin to take up arms and declare the region under their control in support of Pyrrhos.

Finally, in the far south of Armenia, the territory of Sophene expels their Demetrid-friendly garrison and declares the region loyal to Pyrrhos. They send word to Lysippos, but he is unable to send reinforcements to assist the area at this time.

Although news is good in the north for Pyrrhos, south of the area the Delphikos family is forced to abandon Bostra. Under threat of invasion from the Demetrids to the north and continued threat to the south from the Kingdom of Sab'yn, the Delphikos family is forced to abandon their claim to Bostra and falls back to Ioudaia. Since most of their army is Klerouchoi with their homes in the area, very few men choose to follow their generals when the retreat. With the family's withdrawl, the region defaults to Demetrid control:
https://img137.imageshack.us/img137/7100/maa2743ud8.png

As this happens, envoys from the Demetrid capital of Demetreia reach southern Arabia and met with the king of Sab'yn. The Sab'yn king recognizes the Demetrid claim to the Arche Makedonia and promises a ceasefire:
https://img143.imageshack.us/img143/8587/maa2727wp3.jpg

Both the Delphikos family and Isidoros Oresteus are outraged by this act. The Delphikos family travels to Hierosolyma and receive assylum from the king, but meanwhile, Isidoros finally chooses his side. Turning his army around, Isidoros marches his Babylonian force back to Babylonia, promising to get revenge on those who betrayed him...

Pyrrhos finally retrains, replenishes, and assembles his army in Makedonia. Leaving the city of Pella in command of his third-born son, Pyrrhos marches east. Pyrrhos' third-born son, Euphrantos is crippled like his father, but besides that doesn't take after him too much [dispite having the "Takes After His Father" trait]. Having been raised in Italia and Africa, Euphrantos is overjoyed to be in a huge city of his own culture. He quickly falls into womanizing and wasting his time and money on pleasures:
https://img292.imageshack.us/img292/2417/maa2744pq9.jpg

Unwilling to cross the Bosphoros, Sotades instead had crossed the Hellespontos and moved against Pergamon. While he besieges that city, his father Pyrrhos moves to the Bosphoros to move against the city of Nikaia where Pefkolaos hides:
https://img292.imageshack.us/img292/5927/maa2745tl3.png

The two men and their massive armies finally begin the core of the civil war as the winter hits. Seeing Pyrrhos approaching, Pefkoloas calls for as many reinforcements he can gather from Anatolia. Meanwhile, he sends his advisors and government administrators to Demetreia where he sets up a government for his son. While Pefkoloas leads the war, this government takes control of management of the territories.

Several months after Pyrrhos begins his offensive, that the Demetrids decide to begin their own counter-attack in Sophene and Armenia:
https://img292.imageshack.us/img292/9855/maa2746ip9.png


The known world in the winter of 175BC:
https://img137.imageshack.us/img137/8002/hxmak1751editfc4.png

Next: Chapter 54 : Philip's War (Part II)

[DeathEmperor]

Wow awesome chapter! I hope Phillipos manages to finish his war in Iberia in time to help his father.

[hrrypttrbst]

historical chapter just amazing

[Centurio Nixalsverdrus]

Very good. I hope Orestheus eats the dirty buggers up from behind.:grin:

[Chaotix]

Great chapter! Oresteus could really be useful to you. If he can take Babylon and Seleukeia back, then you'll have the Demetrids pretty much surrounded from all sides.

[MarcusAureliusAntoninus]

Thanks for following.

My plan for Philippos is to take Lusotannia and Celtiberia, then halt. Hopefully, the Iberians will have enough forces to defend the region and Philippos can move eastward.

The funny thing about Isidoros Oresteus is that I had originally planned to take Gerrha and Maka, then disband his army, kill him, and hand the territories over to the Demetrids. When they made peace with Saba before I could do that, I saw it as a great roleplaying oppertunity.

[paullus]

cool shot:

https://img292.imageshack.us/img292/865/maa2721eu7.png

nice update.

[MarcusAureliusAntoninus]

Thanks, paullus.

The weird pathfinding in cities without walls leads to the AI actually pushing through my phalanx. I think it is one of the few AI oddities which actually proves useful to them.

[Chirurgeon]

Just caught up on this MAA! Looking good and there should be some major tension forthcoming. Excellent job

[MarcusAureliusAntoninus]

https://img182.imageshack.us/img182/8120/maa2757edittq7.png
Chapter 54 : Philip's War (Part II)

The Pyrrhic Dynasty had been suffering from attacks from Numidia, Mauretania, and Iberia, but the Demetrid Dynasty had their own border problems too. The Demetrids had managed to make peace with the Kingdom of Sab'yn and had managed to not provoke any of their other neighbors, however, they were surrounded by those who hated the Arche Makedonia. South of them, Ptolemai VII and his Nubian forces assembled on the weakened border of their old enemy:
https://img255.imageshack.us/img255/2220/maa2747ei5.png

In Media and Elymais, the reformed Median Empire was building up their forces and looking north to Armenia, west to Babylonia, and east into Seleukid Persia:
https://img255.imageshack.us/img255/9753/maa2748oj8.png

In Anatolia, the Demetids in Pegamon had been besieged by Sotades and now Pyrrhos had pushed east with his rebuilt army and cornered Pefkolaos in Nikaia. Although Pefkolaos had managed to assembled a decent force, almost none of them were professional soldiers:
https://img110.imageshack.us/img110/567/maa2759rl4.png

East of there, the Galatians had begun to move. Taking their entire army, they moved against Demetrid Pontos, where there was a minority of their Galatian brothers:
https://img166.imageshack.us/img166/9438/maa2760ju8.png

In Lybia, Antisthenes Gortynios had set up a series of desert forts, beginning at the coast and extending south until the circled Ammonion. Isolated in the desert, supplies and water were short. Due to this, the garrison of each fort had to be small and relatively self sufficient. These garrisons were made up of Hellenic Thorakitai or loyal Aigyptian peltastai:
https://img110.imageshack.us/img110/5683/maa2761ks2.png

And near Lake Van, forces of the Demetrids had arrived and surrounded the newly rearmed force of Thaikioi settlers. The Thraikioi took refuge behind a hastily assembled palisade and waited:
https://img166.imageshack.us/img166/2803/maa2763vx8.png

Even with a civil war, the center of action for the Pyrrhic Dynasty during this time is centered in Iberia. When the civil war started, the war in Iberia was already well underway. Unable to negotiate peace and seeking the resources of inland Iberia, Pyrrhos ordered his second-born son and heir, Philippos, to remain in Iberia and draw the war to a conclusion. While Pyrrhos marched eastward to Pella to be declared Basileus, his son conquered the Iberian city of Baikor then moved into Turdulia. For a couple years he had waited and established military control over the conquered regions [Type3 governments].

Just as Philippos had moved against Lusotannia, the Iberians attacked the Hellenic city of Emporion. Now, after a short seige, the Iberians decide to attack:
https://img110.imageshack.us/img110/4251/maa2749hw1.png

With a ram, siege tower, and many ladders, the Iberians move to take the city by force. As soon as they move forward, the ram is targetted by the men in the towers and is quickly destroyed:
https://img110.imageshack.us/img110/9519/maa2751vr0.png

Unable to get through the gateway, the Iberians are forced to scale the walls. Positioning ladders along the length of the western wall, they begin moving up:
https://img110.imageshack.us/img110/4454/maa2752lz9.png

Their tower, however, is not as lucking and is set on fire, just to the south:
https://img166.imageshack.us/img166/1336/maa2753rb7.png

On the walls, the Hellenes, descendants of colonists, defend their home and fight all those who come over the walls:
https://img166.imageshack.us/img166/8760/maa2754lz2.png

The battle on the walls lasts only a short time and the Iberians who climb over the walls are easily defeated. As the second wave of Iberians moves in to attack, the Helenic Hoplitai move outside the city and confront them on open ground:
https://img110.imageshack.us/img110/75/maa2755tq8.png

The Iberian spearmen are no match for the Hoplitai phalanx. The Hellenes surround the last of their enemy and kill them there, before their walls:
https://img255.imageshack.us/img255/5664/maa2756fh2.png

The city is easily defended and relieved from the siege:
https://img166.imageshack.us/img166/6378/maa2758cr8.jpg

West of Emporion, Philippos decides to take the city of Oxtraca by force. Oxtraca, capital of the Lusotannan tribe is one of the key cities of the Iberian Confederacy. Although the capital of the Iberian Confederacy had been moved to Numantia, the Lusotannan tribe were one of the founding tribes of the Iberian Confederacy and the contributer of most of the elite infantry for all their wars. The fall of Oxtraca would be a huge blow to the Iberian Confederacy, militarily, economically, as wells as psychologically:
https://img110.imageshack.us/img110/2862/maa2775aj3.png

As mid-day approaches, Philippos lines his men up along the eastern wall and moves his towers towards the enemy city:
https://img110.imageshack.us/img110/9251/maa2776sl8.png

They approach the walls and the small garrison of elite soldiers throw their javelin as they prepare to fight to defend their city:
https://img255.imageshack.us/img255/9435/maa2777ga4.png

Ready for battle, the gates lower and all four Makedonike siege towers open up. Thorakitai rush out and face the city defenders:
https://img110.imageshack.us/img110/8293/maa2778xv8.png

The Makedones quickly take a foothold on the wall and push their enemy back:
https://img166.imageshack.us/img166/2158/maa2779de1.png

The Iberians to the south of the gateway soon fall, but elite Iberians hold their ground to the north. Reinforcing the one unit holding them down, more Thorakitai rush in to assist. Soon, the single group of Iberian elites are facing the men from three separate siege towers and are completely surrounded and outnumbered:
https://img110.imageshack.us/img110/2998/maa2781ta6.png

While the battle still rages on the walls, Philippos orders his Iberian mercenaries through the captured gateway. On the other side of the walls, they only encounter light infantry and quickly take ground:
https://img255.imageshack.us/img255/971/maa2782ak4.png

Iberian cavalry rush to the gateway to assist in the defense, but the Thorakitai on the walls pelt them with javelin, causing them to retreat:
https://img255.imageshack.us/img255/7705/maa2783wn5.png

As the last Iberian elite falls dead on the walls, Philippos orders his army forward and into the city:
https://img166.imageshack.us/img166/7266/maa2785fz6.png

The mercenaries move forward first and encounter a group of defenders half way between the walls and the city center:
https://img255.imageshack.us/img255/3453/maa2787uo7.png

Outnumbered three to one, these men quickly break and flee.

Slowing marching forward, the mercenaries and Thorakitai spearmen move toward the city center, where the last defenders hide:
https://img255.imageshack.us/img255/7821/maa2788kn7.png

While the mercenaries and Thorakitai spearmen draw the attention of the enemy, the Thorakitai swordsmen approach the city center from the rear and the elite Peltastai from the flank:
https://img110.imageshack.us/img110/5426/maa2789ha0.png

Surrounding the enemy, Philippos orders all his men to charge forward and finish them off:
https://img166.imageshack.us/img166/506/maa2790gg0.png

The few enemies left standing quickly fall and soon the city does as well:
https://img255.imageshack.us/img255/9514/maa2791si0.jpg

With the fall of Oxtraca, not only does Philippos take control of a fortress, but completely conquers the Lusotannan tribe. A few nobles escape, but the majority of the tribe and the vast lands they claim fall into the hands of the Arche Makedonia:
https://img255.imageshack.us/img255/5875/maa2792hm9.png

Next: Chapter 55 : Death of a Basileus

[Africanvs]

Great Update, I love that line of forts!

[DeathEmperor]

Excellent as always MAA :2thumbsup:

[General Appo]

Great, but the titel of the next chapter somewhat worries me.

[Centurio Nixalsverdrus]

Looks like Pyrrhos is going to meet his ancestors. He was old anyway.

[MarcusAureliusAntoninus]

Thank for commenting! :bow:

[Eyes330]

Looks like Pyrrhos is going to meet his ancestors. He was old anyway.

Not necessarily. Remember Pefkolaos is besieged in Nikaia and he is a Basileus too, of the Demetrids. If the siege is successful, it will be Pefkolaos who dies, not Pyrrhos. Then again, it could be Pyrrhos, but both of them are in danger, one from age and the other from (very likely) death in battle.

[hrrypttrbst]

Great update!!Ilove it!!

[Wolfman]

Just catching up on this. Makedonian Military Discipline in action! Good update MAA! My question is how is the commander of the Babylonian army going to exact his revenge? His armies are outnumbered and outclassed against the Demetrids forces.

[MarcusAureliusAntoninus]

Thanks for following.

There are still many Basileou[sp?] alive. I could be refering to Ptolemai VII in Nubia... :egypt: ...or not...

Just catching up on this. Makedonian Military Discipline in action! Good update MAA! My question is how is the commander of the Babylonian army going to exact his revenge? His armies are outnumbered and outclassed against the Demetrids forces.
Well the Babylonians have two advantages. First of all, they have tons of archers. Secondly, the Demetrids are sending all of their armies to Armenia (because of revolts), Anatolia, or southern Aigyptos, thus leaving Babylonia nearly defenseless. (I wish "Media" would take advantage of this weakness, but they don't.)

[MarcusAureliusAntoninus]

bump to the next page...

[MarcusAureliusAntoninus]

Chapter 55 : Death of a Basileus

Although the Demetid Dynasty and the Pyrrhic Dynasty are two parts of what was once the united Arche Makedonia, they each have their own strengths and weaknesses militarily. The east-west division separated one side or they other from a certain technology or resource, while at the same time the differences of culture and regional forces bring new technology or tactics into use.

The defining characteristic of the Pyrrhic military is chain armor. This armor had been brought eastward by the Galatians to Thraikia and Galatia. In the Arche Makedonia quality chain armor is produced in the western territories or by Galatian smiths. With all the western territories falling into the hands of Pyrrhos and the Galatians swearing loyalty to Makedonia, all quality chain production is cut off from the Demetrids. In the Pyrrhic army chain is used widely by all classes of soldiers, but mostly by the Pezhetairoi and the Thorakitai. The Demetrid Thorakitai instead is forced to adapt to the east and begins to use scale armor or reverts to linothorax.

The Demetrid military, on the other hand, begins to include eastern influences in their military. Aristotelis had always been facinated with the east and Bykoli had continued his dream of warfare in the east. Already with an interest in eastern warfare, the Demetrids are quick to exploit eastern technology and tactics to help fill their gaps. This shows itself in three different ways. First of all, the Demetrids begin recruiting eastern natives into their Pantodapoi phalangitai, as well as hiring natives to fight in their particular traditional way, to make up for their shortage of of Hellenes and Makedones. Secondly, much of their armor and equipment becomes more eastern, most notably the use of scale armor. And finally, the use of eastern tactics in their core forces. These showed themselves most of all in their Hellenikoi Kataphraktoi and Hellenikoi Hippotoxotai, two elite units of mixed men fighting in the ways of the east. [I changed the name of the Baktrian Hippotoxotai and allowed for recruitment in the same areas as the Hellenikoi Kataphraktoi.]

No matter the differences in technologies, this war is to be decided by resources and number of elite soldiers. As the civil war starts, Pyrrhos has more Makedones under his control, but Pefkolaos controls the resources of Anatolia. Kappadokia, and Armenia. To gain the upper hand in resources, Pyrrhos had ordered his son to conquer the resources of Iberia and moves all other standing armies eastward to Anatolia.

For quite some time, neither side had actually fought eachother, but as both sides make their battle plans and move their troops against the other, the fighting began. In Armenia, the Thraikioi, who had been settled in the Van Lake region after the end of the Third Armenian War and the defeat of the Kingdom of Hayasdan, had mobilized and garrisoned themselves in a fort near their homes along the lake shore. The Thraikioi didn't exactly join the side of Pyrrhos but rather fought against the Demetrids. Laying claim to all of Armenia, the Demetrids sent a military force to wipe out this rebel army:
https://img166.imageshack.us/img166/2803/maa2763vx8.png

Besieged by their enemy, the Thraikioi sally out of their camp and move to meet them:
https://img88.imageshack.us/img88/4892/maa2764tt6.png

This battle gave the Demetrids a chance to try out one of their new cavalry squads of kataphraktoi. These kataphraktoi move forward to confront the Thraikioi to the west of the fort. The Thraikioi counter them by moving forward and throwing their javelin, but they have no effect and simply glance off the heavily armored men:
https://img205.imageshack.us/img205/1482/maa2767li8.png

Their javelin doing nothing, the Thraikioi rush forward to confront the kataphrakoi in melee, but as the move forward they are countered by enemy spearmen who help the kataphraktoi get clear of combat:
https://img241.imageshack.us/img241/7361/maa2768kc5.png

On the eastern side of the battle field, the heavy Thraikioi move forward to confront the bulk of the enemy battle line:
https://img241.imageshack.us/img241/6641/maa2769qn1.png

As the heavy Thraikioi hold down the Demetrid infanty, the Thraikioi on the western edge of the battle finally manage to break through and confront the kataphraktoi:
https://img88.imageshack.us/img88/1020/maa2770jf4.png

The Thraikioi engulf the kataphraktoi and begin cutting through their armor with their large blades:
https://img241.imageshack.us/img241/152/maa2771gi4.png

The kataphraktoi don't stand a chance against the Thraikioi weapons and soon the entire group, including their enemy leader is dead. Confronted with a huge amount of elite troops and now leaderless, the rest of the Demetrid forces in the center break and flee while the Thraikioi give chase:
https://img241.imageshack.us/img241/810/maa2772lr9.png

As the enemy attempts to flee, the Thraikioi cavalry chases down the routers:
https://img205.imageshack.us/img205/1676/maa2773yl6.png

Although it is not a fair trial, the first usage of kataphraktoi for the Demetrids turns into a complete defeat. The Thraikioi manage to defend their homes and continue to be a thorn in the side of the Demetrids in Armenia:
https://img88.imageshack.us/img88/9179/maa2774rn5.jpg

Soon after the battle near Lake Van, the Demetrids attempt to capture the client state of Ioudaia by besieging Heirosolyma as well as the Delphikos military camp to the north near Megiddo:
https://img205.imageshack.us/img205/7682/maa2815cr1.png

Forced to break from their own besiegement before they can rescue Heirosolyma, the Delphikos family quickly prepares their men and sally out to meet the enemy:
https://img88.imageshack.us/img88/7211/maa2817us1.png

As the first enemy force approaches the fort, the Kretikoi open fire with their arrows and completely wipe them out. When the second Demetrid force arrives to find all their own men dead and confronted by a large force of Kretikoi and Hetairoi, they decide to withdraw rather than fight:
https://img88.imageshack.us/img88/9116/maa2818bx8.png

The Delphikos manage to relieve their own siege but must rest and gather supplies before they can rescue Hierosolyma:
https://img241.imageshack.us/img241/1497/maa2819hw9.jpg

Faced with constant war, Eulandros tires of fighting and desires simply to govern a town again. He then places his sons in command of the army:
https://img205.imageshack.us/img205/1663/maa2820jx2.jpg

It is around the same time as the battle in Ioudaia that Pyrrhos and Pefkolaos met eachother on the battlefield for a second time. Pefkoloas had sent his advisors, administers, and son to Demetreia and barricaded himself in Nikaia, where he was gathering an army. Before he could build any substantial force, however, Pyrrhos had arrived with his rebuilt army and besieged the city. When reinforcement seige equiptment arrives to find the city besieged, Pyrrhos moves to wipe it out before it can reach the city or retreat. Pefkolaos takes this oppertunity to sally out of the city and try to catch Pyrrhos unprepared:
https://img88.imageshack.us/img88/5944/maa2793ii9.png

Facing only a single group of seige weapons, Pyrrhos sends in his Hetairoi and charges:
https://img88.imageshack.us/img88/4481/maa2795vy1.png

These unarmored, poorly equiped men quickly fall dead, but Pyrrhos then notices Pefkoloas' army approaching from the city. Pyrrhos withdraws his Hetairoi behind the battle line and prepares his Pezhetairoi for battle. Pefkolaos sends his cavlary forward, ahead of the rest of his army to meet Pyrrhos:
https://img205.imageshack.us/img205/5416/maa2796pf0.png

While one group of cavalry is wiped out in the center by the archers, a second hits the left flank while Pefkolaos personally leads his kataphraktoi in a charge at the right flank:
https://img88.imageshack.us/img88/9413/maa2797xf0.png

The Basilikon Agema charges in and confronts the elite kataphraktoi as the right flank Pezhetairoi begins to break formation:
https://img88.imageshack.us/img88/8109/maa2798qf2.png

While the Basilkon Agema and Pezhetairoi hold down the Demetrid kataphraktoi and Pefkoloas, Pyrrhos circles his Hetairoi around the right flank. Preoccupied by battle, Pefkoloas doesn't notice this move and Pyrrhos gains the upper hand. Pyrrhos lines up his Hetairoi and orders a charge at full speed, which he personally leads:
https://img205.imageshack.us/img205/3915/maa2799wo8.png

The force of the initial charge alone kills half of the kataphraktoi and then Pyrrhos and his Hetairoi completely encircle Pefkolaos and switch to their swords. History records that the crippled 55 year old Pyrrhos and 35 year old Pefkoloas personally duel eachother and Pyrrhos deals the killing blow against his enemy. It is however, more likely that a random Hetairoi was the one to deal the killing blow and the duel is a myth written by a historian who never actually witnessed the battle. Either way, Pefkoloas falls dead and his army desolves into chaos:
https://img241.imageshack.us/img241/7817/maa2800wd4.jpg

Pyrrhos falls back and reestablishes his battle line, expecting the rest of the army to either surrender of fall back to Nikaia. Instead, they hold their ground, though disorganized and devided into many separate groups:
https://img241.imageshack.us/img241/2389/maa2802ui2.png

Random groups move forward, seemingly without any any plan or organization:
https://img241.imageshack.us/img241/3808/maa2803li4.png

All of these groups break quickly, but then reform and try again. Seeking a surrender, Pyrrhos once again leads his Hetairoi forward to convince the enemy they have lost:
https://img241.imageshack.us/img241/941/maa2805vg6.png

Once out from behind his line, Pyrrhos is confronted by the remaining cavalry force who fight bravely against Pyrrhos' vastly superior Hetairoi who outnumber them three to one:
https://img241.imageshack.us/img241/5161/maa2807fr4.png

The enemy cavalry retreat, but still there is no surrender or retreat. Pyrrhos orders his battle line to defend the hill and returns to a familiar tactic he hasn't used since Italia: superiority though masses of cavalry in quick strikes. Separating his Hetairoi, Pyrrhos charges in at isolated groups:
https://img241.imageshack.us/img241/8535/maa2808pl5.png

Meanwhile, the Basilikon Agema moves forward to counter the largest group of enemy men still standing:
https://img88.imageshack.us/img88/8558/maa2809hw4.png

On the far side of the battle Pyrrhos charges and breaks groups again...
https://img241.imageshack.us/img241/261/maa2810it7.png

...and again:
https://img241.imageshack.us/img241/2383/maa2812cg3.png

Pyrrhos successfully kills or routes the bulk of the Demetrid army, while the Basilikon Agema charges at the remaining enemy:
https://img241.imageshack.us/img241/1545/maa2813kz0.png

At last the remnants of the army finally break and surrender. Pyrrhos has his men collect their dead and march to the city of Nikaia:
https://img205.imageshack.us/img205/4563/maa2816dc3.png

Pyrrhos honors Pefkoloas with a grand funerary pyre, with all the rights due to a great leader. He does not, however, send the remains to Aigai but instead has them taken by envoy to Pefkolaos' family in Demetreia. Once in Demetriea, Antigone (wife of Pefkoloas and daughter of Bykoli) and and Euktimenos Idomeneus (4 year old son of Pefkoloas and Basileus of the Demetrids) honor Pefkoloas and place his remains in the tomb of Bykoli, which had been built there only a few years earlier.

The envoy of Pyrrhos also requests the terms on which the Demetrid family will surrender, but he receives none. The Demetrids ridgidly refuse to surrender and insist on continuing this war. The advisors, nobles, and generals of the Demetrids continue to wage the war, insisting that neither the death of Bykoli, Pefkoloas, nor any man will deter them in their claim at the Arche Makedonia. The court of Euktimenos and especially his mother Antigone rule in his stead. Pyrrhos receives nothing and the war continues. However, with the closes Demetrid army on the far side of Kappadokia, it is only a matter of time for Anatolia to become Pyrrhos'.


The known world in the summer of 174BC:
https://img88.imageshack.us/img88/6661/hxmak1741editxk5.png

Next: Chapter 56 : The Galatians' War

[DeathEmperor]

Gotta admit I thought it was going to be Pyrrhos who descended into Hades, but i'm glad I was wrong :yes:

[Tyrfingr]

I see that you still have the Ptolemy alive, how 'bout they sees the opportunity and re-etablishes their kingdom through conquest of Egypt?

[hrrypttrbst]

good chapter and really amazing battles:2thumbsup:

[Ayce]

Whoah, great chapter! (btw who used to be the median kingdom?)

[Reality=Chaos]

Whoah, great chapter! (btw who used to be the median kingdom?)
The armenians Ayce... and yeah it was another great chapter. You sill keep us glued to this thread MAA

[Chirurgeon]

I guess I should say good update. However my heart goes out to my Iberians. They put up a good fight against overwhelming odds.
I didnt see page three so I will say that was some good fighting there MAA. Truly amazing screenshots and I can almost hear the epic music in the background. Keep it up!

[Centurio Nixalsverdrus]

Great chapter! I like it epic. :smiley: I'm a bit astonished by the funarary honours you gave to the dirty usurpator. I would have had him dragged behind a chariot seven times round Nikaia... like in the good ol' days you know...:whip: But I'm nasty and unforgiving. Pyrrhos on the other hand is a man of honour. :grin:

Btw, I thought the Baktrian Pefkolaos was just somebody who by pure chance resembled the real Pefkolaos optically? Did you bring him over to the other side somehow, or how did you manage that part?

[Chaotix]

Great chapter Marcus, keep it up!
Oh, and Centurio, it's kind of hard to see, but I think he photoshopped in Pefkolaos's name.

[MarcusAureliusAntoninus]

Thanks for all the comments, everyone. I tried to make that battl more epic than it was, the AI actually acted extremely stupid, as reinforcement armies often do.

I see that you still have the Ptolemy alive, how 'bout they sees the opportunity and re-etablishes their kingdom through conquest of Egypt?
In a few chapters, there is a whole lot of content on Ptolemai VII and his young son... :egypt:

Great chapter! I like it epic. :smiley: I'm a bit astonished by the funarary honours you gave to the dirty usurpator. I would have had him dragged behind a chariot seven times round Nikaia... like in the good ol' days you know...:whip: But I'm nasty and unforgiving. Pyrrhos on the other hand is a man of honour. :grin:

Btw, I thought the Baktrian Pefkolaos was just somebody who by pure chance resembled the real Pefkolaos optically? Did you bring him over to the other side somehow, or how did you manage that part?
Pyrrhos was trying to win over some support from the family and friends of Pefkoloas so that he might get a surrender and end the war. The court and especially Pefkoloas' wife, however, would not have peace.

That guy was actually just a random Baktrian general who happened to look like Pefkoloas, just looking the other way. I teleported him over to Thraikia and gave him an army that matched the one that Pefkoloas had had. After that I just let him act as he wanted. (I edited the pictures to include his name.)

[Wolfman]

Excellent Update Again MAA! Though I must agree with Centurio Nixalsverdrus on your treatment of Pefkolas (spits as he says the name). Pah! It leaves a disgusting taste in my mouth to say his name. I would've done what Centurio suggested, than i would've sent his head as a nice present to your Galatian allies :evil:. The title of the next chapter is making me think that extreme brutality is going to be present. Me like!

[Maion Maroneios]

Excllent chapter, as always MAA!!! Wonder what the future of the Arche will be...

[General Appo]

Very nice update. Just got to ask, what are you doing about the Spartans? Such insolence cannot be allowed so close to Makedonian homeland. The Rhodioi too, should be severely punished.
I´d think now that Pefkolaos is dead at least some cities should go over to Pyrrhus again, especially those in Asia Minor, now largely unprotected.

[MarcusAureliusAntoninus]

Thanks for commenting. :bow:

Excellent Update Again MAA! Though I must agree with Centurio Nixalsverdrus on your treatment of Pefkolas (spits as he says the name). Pah! It leaves a disgusting taste in my mouth to say his name. I would've done what Centurio suggested, than i would've sent his head as a nice present to your Galatian allies :evil:. The title of the next chapter is making me think that extreme brutality is going to be present. Me like!
Pyrrhos is just the kind of guy to be gracious to his enemies. He's never exterminated a town or punished a defeated enemy. When he took Roma, the capital of the people who he had waged war with for two decades, he didn't purposely harm anyone. He ever returned the Senate back to power. And even after Neokles had enslaved Kart-Hadast, Pyrrhos took over the town and tried to be kind to the remaining people. If he is kind to these levels of enemies, he would respect a fellow citizen of the Arche Makedonia.

I based his kind behaviour on traits he had when younger. (Though, he is getting a lot of weird old age traits that a dropping every single one of his stats. He used to have five or six command stars, now he's down to two or three. I've decided to just ignore the bad traits and pretend he still has the same stats as a decade ago, though...)

Very nice update. Just got to ask, what are you doing about the Spartans? Such insolence cannot be allowed so close to Makedonian homeland. The Rhodioi too, should be severely punished.
I´d think now that Pefkolaos is dead at least some cities should go over to Pyrrhus again, especially those in Asia Minor, now largely unprotected.
I had hoped the Spartans would cause more trouble and give me a story, but they've been very quiet. Though, seeing as they aren't a threat, I can wait to deal with them. Rhodos is a bigger problem. Rhodos was my main naval base and it is very important strategically (roleplaying, gameplay wise navies aren't that important). Interestingly enough, the AI is actually been building a fleet at Rhodos...

[MarcusAureliusAntoninus]

Chapter 56 : The Galatians' War

When the envoy returned to Pyrrhos to inform him there will be surrender, Pyrrhos realizes that he is in for a very long war. Pyrrhos thus makes plans for the future. First, he plans to ensure the safety of his current holdings by securing his borders and ensuring no further foreign conflicts. Then he'll take all of the forces he can and take control of Anatolia, Pontos, and Kappadokia. With the resources of these regions, he'll be able to restore the strength of the Arche Makedonia as well as restore many of the border forts in the west that were taken down due to shortages of funds. Once the greatness of the Arche Makedonia is fully restored, he'll strike at Syria and cut the head from the snake at Demetreia.

To begin his plan, Pyrrhos sends word to foreign powers that were once hated enemies of the Arche Makedonia, but now are far from lands controlled by Pyrrhos. First he sends word to Ptolemai VII in Nubia and easily gets an agreement to a ceasefire and restored Lybia-Nubia trade:
https://img253.imageshack.us/img253/8303/maa2821ta7.jpg

Then word is sent to Arabia and to the Kingdom of Sab'yn. A ceasefire is achieved but not much more, seeing as the Kingdom of Sab'yn had already allied with the Demetrids:
https://img291.imageshack.us/img291/5471/maa2822lr7.jpg

Pyrrhos himself takes a break from fighting and secures the city of Nikaia, but his son besieges Pergamon while a newly arrived army of Illyrians moves into Bithynia and then moves south:
https://img253.imageshack.us/img253/9746/maa2823ly3.png

To the east, in Pontos, another front had been opened. Old Lysippos had moved his force, after being rebuilt in Trapezous, to attack Sinope. The Galatians had moved into Pontos, as well, hoping to unite with some of their brothers who live outside of the Kingdom of Galatia and to fight for Pyrrhos.

Now, while besieging the city of Amaseia, the Galatians are attacked by a small Demetrid army:
https://img185.imageshack.us/img185/8896/maa2824cv2.png

While the enemy approach, the Galatians line up in three rows, infantry in the front, followed by the archers, then the cavalry:
https://img291.imageshack.us/img291/3847/maa2825tq4.png

The elite spearmen guard the flanks with the swordsmen in the middle, but in the exact center the general, nephew of the Galatian king, deploys his elite heavy swordsmen:
https://img291.imageshack.us/img291/6134/maa2826by8.png

The enemy approach without much order and the archers in the second line open fire on them over the heads of their own soldiers:
https://img253.imageshack.us/img253/5763/maa2827zs5.png

When the enemy get near the line, they attempt to get into formation. With the second enemy army in view, the cavalry breaks off to the left flank to get around the back of the enemy:
https://img291.imageshack.us/img291/6528/maa2828en1.png

The Demetrid phlangitai halt for a moment then decide to reorganize their line. While they are between formations, the Galatian general orders the charge and they attack their unorganized enemy:
https://img291.imageshack.us/img291/6706/maa2829bz1.png

The unorganized phalangitai are unprepared to fight and choose instead to flee. As they turn to flee, they are confronted by the Galatian heavy cavalry who had circled around their rear.

While the cavalry mop up the retreating enemy, the Galatian swordsmen regroup. The reinforcement army from the city of Amaseia chooses to charge this reformed line and completely ignores the elite spearmen who are still in possition guarding the flank of the archers:
https://img185.imageshack.us/img185/8052/maa2830ji4.png

Both the main line and the flank of elite spearmen charge in. The Demetrid reinforcements, like the first army, choose to flee rather than face the Galatians:
https://img253.imageshack.us/img253/8650/maa2831uq5.png

The Galatians give chase and follow the Demetrid garrison all the way back to the gates of Amaseia:
https://img291.imageshack.us/img291/6291/maa2832br5.png

The Galatians win an easy victory, but the fail to take the city and return to their siege:
https://img291.imageshack.us/img291/3604/maa2834lm8.jpg

While the Galatians wait, events unfold elsewhere. In Iberia, the Iberian Confederation once again takes advantage of the open front in the north. This time they attack the city of Seguntum and once again Philippos leaves the city garrison to deal with the problem:
https://img185.imageshack.us/img185/3900/maa2835of2.png

South of there, Numidians once again attack the port city of Ippone:
https://img185.imageshack.us/img185/9218/maa2847ng9.png

In eastern Arabia, harsh treatment of the locals causes a loyalist uprising in the city of Gerrha. Requesting help from the Kingdom of Sab'yn, the town is reinforced. Quickly, the region is reintegrated into the their kingdom and war breaks out between the Kingdom of Sab'yn and the Demetrids over the region:
https://img291.imageshack.us/img291/5551/maa2846my4.png

A while later, back in Pontos, the Galatians are once again under attack. This time, the Galatians are confronted by the largest Demetrid army that side of Syria:
https://img253.imageshack.us/img253/8782/maa2836kz4.png

The Galatians once again line up in the same formation as before and await their enemy. This time, however, they are attacked by ballistae from behind the advancing enemy line:
https://img253.imageshack.us/img253/1791/maa2838uu6.png

The Demerid army approaches in a long thin line, but the Galatians allow the light infantry to go around the flanks and concentrate on the heavier enemy infantry in the center:
https://img185.imageshack.us/img185/968/maa2839yf8.png

The Demetrid kataphraktoi charge in at the left flank, and the elite Galatian spearmen hold their ground:
https://img291.imageshack.us/img291/3707/maa2840vv6.png

The Galatians have heavy cavalry that could have countered the kataphraktoi, but they are busy on another mission. Avoiding the battle and circling a long way around the whole battlefield, the Galatians cavalry charges the undefended ballistae:
https://img185.imageshack.us/img185/9934/maa2841pz6.png

Even without cavalry support, the Galatian spearmen make quick work of the kataphraktoi while the swordsmen wipe out the enemy infantry in the center:
https://img291.imageshack.us/img291/4473/maa2842ag6.png

When the light enemy infantry circle around the flank and attack the rear, they expect to make quick work of the Galatian archers, but the archers fight back. The archers charge their attackers and defend the rear of the line with great skill:
https://img185.imageshack.us/img185/2066/maa2843my5.png

Once again the Galatians defeat their enemy. This time, they take the city of Amaseia and gain control over central Pontos:
https://img253.imageshack.us/img253/7104/maa2844jm9.jpg

Rather than peacefully restore central Pontos to Makedonike control under Pyrrhos, the Galatians begin a campaign of terror. The Galatians raid and terrorize the countryside, killing vast numbers of people and enslaving many. The Hellenes, Makedones, and Galatian inhabitants are mostly unharmed, but the natives and Persians of the region are slaughtered. After gaining control through fear, the Galatian king sets up a different one of his nephews as king of the region and enforces Galatian laws [Type4 government].

The act is looked down upon by all those in both side of the Arche Makedonia, but is actually an act of revenge. Several generations back, the Kingdom of Pontos had exterminated vast amounts of the Galatian population during two separate attacks on Galatia and when the Arche Makedonia conquered the Kingdom of Pontos, the Galatians felt they went unpunished. Generations of hatred finally boiled over into the uncontrolled, unordered violence that followed the fall of Amaseia.

Pyrrhos is privately outraged by the violence and perhaps even more so by the installation of a Galatian king. Although he does not say anything publicly, out of fear of loosing the Galatians as allies, Pyrrhos definately changes his mind about the Galatians and his plans for the future of Galatia.


The known world in the summer of 173BC:
https://img185.imageshack.us/img185/388/hxmak173editao2.png

Next: Chapter 57 : King of Babylon

[Wolfman]

Excellent Update again MAA! It never ceases to amaze me how you can revive a dead campaign. It's seems as if Pyrrhus has had it with his Galatian "allies". I can see a Makedonian Type 1 or Type 2 government being instituted in Ankyra in the near future. From the title of the next chapter I guess the commander of the Babylonian Army is going to take back Babylon. Just a question this may be asking to much. Is it possible for you to mod your campaign so that you can recruit babylonian spearmen?

[Maion Maroneios]

It is, actually. You must enable the recruitement of them in EDU (add macedon), then alter the EDB file as to be able to recruit them in your local or regional barrackses. Dunno if this is active or retro-active, though...

[General Appo]

Beautiful. Though my weak spot for the Galatians still make me wish they were allowed to continued a life in relative freedom. And after all, they did conquer Amaseia, perhaps they deserve to rule it.
And if Pyrrhus refuses them this right, perhaps some frustrated galatian will decide to end his rule, with force. Mohahhaha!! A suitable end to a great Basileus, killed by Galatians.

[Centurio Nixalsverdrus]

Excellent storyline, MAA.

[MarcusAureliusAntoninus]

Thanks for the comments.

The Babylonian heavy spearmen are quite easy to mod in. Since they are using the merc slot, all you have to do is add recruitment to the EDB and any faction you want can use them. As long as the unit is preexisting, almost any unit can be modded to your faction while remaining compatible. I have since added them to "macedon," in my campaign. :2thumbsup:

Only Roma, Galatia, and Ioudaia remain as semi-autonomous client kingdoms of the Arche Makedonia. Because of the cultural (and recruitment) differences, there is no rush to remove their status. If the Galatians don't leave Pontos or if they continue to cause problems, though, there will be troubles for them. :juggle2:

[Wolfman]

Ok thats good. With Those Babylonian spearmen in your army plus some syrian archers it looks like you'll have a truly eastern army.

[Olaf The Great]

Ah, Seleukia , they seem to be the only remnant of the "Old" Makedonian Empire.

What does their Military look like, and who is more "Important" to the people, Alexander or Demetrios?

[MarcusAureliusAntoninus]

Ah, Seleukia , they seem to be the only remnant of the "Old" Makedonian Empire.

What does their Military look like, and who is more "Important" to the people, Alexander or Demetrios?
The Arche Seleukeia seems to be doing quite well now that they no long have to worry about fightin me. They're pushing back Gandhara and have only been gaining power over the years. Their army is mostly Klerouchoi phalangitai, archers-spearmen, and persian archers, though I haven't looked at many of their armies.

I would say that Demetrios is more important and best loved by the people of the Arche Makedonia. Many people still live who were alive when he ruled, yet enough time has passed for any bad espects of his rule to forgotten and the good aspects enhanced. Alexandros was just too distant and the founder of a nearly completely different empire.

[Centurio Nixalsverdrus]

As how I see the Makedones (and not only the Makedones of yours :grin:), they would have been open to recruit just about anybody into their troops, had they been able to fulfill what you fulfilled for them. I'll never understand why they aren't able by default to recruit Thorakitai, which is really only one tiny tiny mental step from Thureophoroi; and why not Babylonian Spearmen, which are an excellent and valuable troop for both defence and AP-attack, when the can recruit Syrian archers? I'm glad you told how to mod those in, and I will use it.

Edit:
The only sad thing about the civil war is that it's outcome is already so determined. Pyrrhos has the mines, Pyrrhos has the trade, and Pyrrhos has Makedonia - the so-called Demetrids are pretty much dead and FUBAR.

[jhhowell]

When the Galatians sacked Amaseia, did you RP it so far as to sack the old Pontic royal tombs? Purely from gameplay, I'm sure you'd rather keep the law bonus rather than the 10000 mnai (or whatever it is for that building) but it sounds like something the Galatians would do, the way you're playing that army... ~:)

[MarcusAureliusAntoninus]

As how I see the Makedones (and not only the Makedones of yours :grin:), they would have been open to recruit just about anybody into their troops, had they been able to fulfill what you fulfilled for them. I'll never understand why they aren't able by default to recruit Thorakitai, which is really only one tiny tiny mental step from Thureophoroi; and why not Babylonian Spearmen, which are an excellent and valuable troop for both defence and AP-attack, when the can recruit Syrian archers? I'm glad you told how to mod those in, and I will use it.
The reason many units are not given to Makedonia is because they historically didn't use them and they are not a standard regional that everyone gets. Since the Seleukids and Makedones have basically the same military system, I've been trying to integrate many Seleukid units that Makedonia lacks into my Makedonike roster. I wish I could use the Pantodapoi Phalangitai and Machomoi Phalangitai, but since they share a model with the Deuteroi Phalangitai I can only have one of the three. Though, I've basically gotten all Seleukid units into my roster, that I can, already...

Edit:
The only sad thing about the civil war is that it's outcome is already so determined. Pyrrhos has the mines, Pyrrhos has the trade, and Pyrrhos has Makedonia - the so-called Demetrids are pretty much dead and FUBAR.
Yeah, I was noticing that too. Right after I started the war I realized it wouldn't be as much of a challenge as I wanted. I think I probably should have given the Demetrids Lybia and Thraikia (especially since the ruling family in the Thraikia was from the Demetrios branch of the family and was amongst those I killed off). Oh well, the Seleukids have done a good job rebuilding themselves and I can get another challenge trying to reunite Alexandros' empire again.

When the Galatians sacked Amaseia, did you RP it so far as to sack the old Pontic royal tombs? Purely from gameplay, I'm sure you'd rather keep the law bonus rather than the 10000 mnai (or whatever it is for that building) but it sounds like something the Galatians would do, the way you're playing that army... ~:)
I "enslaved" (exterminated) the city of Amaseia, but I didn't destroy any buildings. I don't like destroying unique buildings since they can't be brought back. It would make good role-playing, but I just can't bring myself to destroy uniques.

[paullus]

have the demetrids built up armies of any size down in Sparta? I'd love to see a knock-down dragout fight down there...you might make sure the Demetrids can recruit decent troops there...Spartans especially. you could also give the baktrian agema recruitment in some western territories, or give them access to the Seleucid uber thorakitai.

[General Appo]

He, maybe spawning a full stack of Spartan Hoplites would be enough of a challenege, the last great fight of the Spartans.
I´ve tried to find it, but I´m not sure if the Spartans were allowed to live on and train their kids in the Agoge.

[MarcusAureliusAntoninus]

I made sure that they could recruit Hoplitai in Sparte and I was going to give them move options (such as Spartan Hoplites), but they just sat there and didn't do anything, so I didn't end up doing anything. I could give them Spartan Hoplites, because it fits with my roleplaying. They were I Type4 for a long time and when I integrated all of Hellas, I never did so to Sparta.

I was thinking about resurrecting the super Thorakitai, but they wouldn't fit for the Demetrids, since the Demetrid military lacks chainmail...

[Olaf The Great]

I made sure that they could recruit Hoplitai in Sparte and I was going to give them move options (such as Spartan Hoplites), but they just sat there and didn't do anything, so I didn't end up doing anything. I could give them Spartan Hoplites, because it fits with my roleplaying. They were I Type4 for a long time and when I integrated all of Hellas, I never did so to Sparta.

I was thinking about resurrecting the super Thorakitai, but they wouldn't fit for the Demetrids, since the Demetrid military lacks chainmail...
Well, I'd assume all the maile goes on the elites(hence cataphracts) so Super-Thorakitai would fit.

[MarcusAureliusAntoninus]

But the Demetrids (Baktria) doesn't have any units with chainmail. All of their elites use either scale or lammolar... segmented armor. Their kataphraktoi use a mix of both and even their Thorakitai have scalemail. Since chainmail is a western invention, I didn't want to add it to any of the eastern Arche Makedonia troops.

[General Appo]

I made sure that they could recruit Hoplitai in Sparte and I was going to give them move options (such as Spartan Hoplites), but they just sat there and didn't do anything, so I didn't end up doing anything. I could give them Spartan Hoplites, because it fits with my roleplaying. They were I Type4 for a long time and when I integrated all of Hellas, I never did so to Sparta.


Hmmm.... I see. But sometime you´re going to have to take back the city, ´cause I don´t recon the Spartans as the kind to just roll over and admit defeat. So when you do, spawning a few Spartan Hoplites should be quite... adequate, right?

[MarcusAureliusAntoninus]

I'm just about to deal with Sparta at the point I'm playing in the game. Not quite sure what all I'm going to do...

[MarcusAureliusAntoninus]

Chapter 57 : King of Babylon

All across Anatolia, Kappadokia, and Pontos the Pyrrhic offensive is at its highest. After ensuring the reign of the new Galatian king in Amaseia, the Galatian army moves south to conquer Kappadokia and cut the supply line to Anatolia by cutting the Persian Royal Road. The Illyrians who had been heading into southern Anatolia are then ordered by Pyrrhos into Kappadokia. There, they would assist and keep an eye on the Galatians. After the fall of Amaseia, the Galatians had promised that all Arche Makedonia land conquered by them would be returned to Pyrrhos, but the Illyrians, who were extremely loyal to Pyrrhos personally, are sent in just to be sure.

To the north, Lysippos continues his siege of Sinope, where the last Demetrid forces in Pontos are hiding:
https://img370.imageshack.us/img370/223/maa2862qc0.png

To the west, Sotades, first-born son of Pyrrhos, continues his own siege on Pergamon. There, the Pergamese are beginning to show signs of complete surrender. Pyrrhos, himself, also moves forward again. This time he corners a small Demetrid army within the city of Ipsos. In the back of his head Pyrrhos remembers that this is the very city where his own ancestors had lost there chance at reuniting an empire more than a hundred years prior:
https://img370.imageshack.us/img370/680/maa2863kd2.png

Far from Pyrrhos' offensive, another man apposes the Demetrids. In Babylonia, Isidoros Oresteus had marched his men across the deserts and back to the Euphrates river. Now he comes to the home of his men, in Babylon:
https://img370.imageshack.us/img370/4776/maa2865zp9.png

He rests his men, but his supply line is nonexistant and an army of this size cannot survive on foraging and looting alone. He'll have to make his move quickly, whatever it may be:
https://img370.imageshack.us/img370/7056/maa2867za0.jpg

In Makedonia, while his family and nation fights a civil war, Euphrantos, third-born son of Pyrrhos, administers the region. While there, he spends some time on training and education but even more of his time on corruption. Being the son of a great man, he is given leniency and grows ever more corrupt:
https://img357.imageshack.us/img357/3921/maa2866uq7.jpg

On the far side of a sea, Herodes, son of Herakleon, comes of age in Bosphoria. His father had once been a candidate of the throne, but now his family is only consumed with the goal of making his killers pay. Before being murdered, Herakleon had gathered his forces but they had sense dispersed to defend from attack. Herodes quickly calls them back, takes command, and prepares to sail to Pontos and fight the Demetrids:
https://img357.imageshack.us/img357/5577/maa2868ip5.png

While the friendly forces of his nephew gather across the sea, Lysippos decides to finally finish off the Demetrids in Sinope:
https://img370.imageshack.us/img370/8172/maa2888cn9.png

Lysippos' army of veterans had originally been formed in Pontos, and many of his men's homes were in or near the city of Sinope. Dispite this, they had decided to stay loyal to their general and now march against their own homeland.

Engaging the battle, Lysippos tries to take the walls with siege towers. As they approach, the city defenders manage to damage one and set it on fire:
https://img370.imageshack.us/img370/2932/maa2889sm8.png

Though one tower is lost, the rest easily make it to the walls and Lysippos' men charge onto them. In one section fighting breaks out, but for the most part the walls are taken without fight:
https://img357.imageshack.us/img357/5665/maa2891ez3.png

Once the walls are taken completely, Lysippos moves his archers and slinger onto them. The city defenders attempt to make one last counter attack with their elephants but they are easy targets for the men on the walls:
https://img357.imageshack.us/img357/1904/maa2893se1.png

The city easily falls and elephant meat is used to feed those within the city who had been living off only grain reserves during the siege. The city happily welcomes Lysippos and her long lost sons:
https://img370.imageshack.us/img370/7973/maa2894hd5.jpg
https://img357.imageshack.us/img357/4623/maa2895ps8.png

The fall of Sinope is the last step in a vital part of the war. With the fall of this region into Pyrrhos-friendly forces the lands of Lyssipos and Pyrrhos are connected, trade is restored, and with the help of Herodes' fleet the Euxeinos Pontos is completely restored to Makedonike control.

Though Lysippos is a war hero, he is getting old and tired of fighting. With this last battle, however, Lysippos finally decides to retire from military command and simply govern Pontos.

Around the same time, the great city of Pergamon falls to Sotades. Never strongly in the Demetrid camp, the rulers of Pergamon arrest the Demetrid military garrison and surrender the city of Sotades. Sotades moves into the city and the city uneventfully trades hands:
https://img398.imageshack.us/img398/1381/maa2864vy9.jpg

On the other side of Demetrid territory, Isidoros finally reaches Babylon:
https://img398.imageshack.us/img398/7540/maa2869pb7.png

The city of Babylon is a strange place. The city was founded thousands of years ago, but had been destroyed and rebuilt countless times. It had been the capital of many nations and empires. It was where Megas Alexandros died, and had afterward fallen into the hands of Seleukos. When Seleukeia had been founded on the Tigris, many people had moved from Babylon to the new regional capital but Babylon remained at least somewhat important. The Arche Seleukeia had mostly forgotten the city, but when the Ptolemaioi conquered Babylonia and held the city for several years, it regained its importance and was used as a headquarted for Ptolemaic forces. Demetrios' attack on Ptolemaic Anatolia had weakened the Ptolemaioi enough for the Seleukids to retake all of Babylonia and the city was once again forgotten. During Aristotelis' attack on Baylonia, Bykoli and Pefkoloas had conquered the city and lived there a couple years. In that time, they used funds from the Arche Makedonia treasury to rebuild the city. Now, the city is a mix of many cultures and peoples, rebuilt as a Hellenic city:
https://img398.imageshack.us/img398/428/maa2879ul5.png

The people of the city had been expecting Isidoros Oresteus and his army for a long time. Isidoros' wife had secretly left Seleukeia, where they had lived and moved into the city. Once there, she helped an underground of anti-Demetrid agents who caused riots, discontentment, and disrupted the military. By the time Isidoros and his men arrive, the city is ready to welcome them. The people simply leave the gates open, and Isidoros is able to quickly move his men into the city as soon as he arrives:
https://img398.imageshack.us/img398/217/maa2871iw0.png

He then orders his medium spearmen along the northern wall, where they meet slight resistance...
https://img398.imageshack.us/img398/558/maa2872yq2.png

...and his archer-spearmen to the south where they meet resistance:
https://img398.imageshack.us/img398/3059/maa2873zk7.png

The medium spearmen quickly break their foe and the archer-spearmen corner their enemy in a sidestreet:
https://img370.imageshack.us/img370/6880/maa2875qq4.png

Circling around to the northern side of the city, near the library, the medium spearmen once again face an enemy:
https://img370.imageshack.us/img370/4752/maa2877nb2.png

There, medium infantry unit of Makedones face off against Isidoros' men:
https://img357.imageshack.us/img357/2079/maa2878ir4.png

Meanwhile, the archer-spearmen move near the city center and open fire on the remaining city garrison, who are waiting there:
https://img398.imageshack.us/img398/5756/maa2880rk6.png

And a small group of Demetrid spearmen circle around the side of the city and attempt to hit the rear of Isidoros' line, but before they can strike Isidoros orders his cavalry to counter:
https://img370.imageshack.us/img370/9454/maa2881jb3.png

The cavalry wipe out the light spearmen, the medium spearmen break the Makedones, and the archer-spearmen lay waste to their enemy from afar:
https://img357.imageshack.us/img357/9941/maa2882lh2.png

Isidoros then gives the signal for all of his men to move in to finish off the enemy. As the killing blow aproaches, the defenders put up a feable defense:
https://img370.imageshack.us/img370/2973/maa2883ve0.png

While his men surround the last of the enemy, Isidoros personally moves in to witness the end:
https://img357.imageshack.us/img357/533/maa2884ek4.png

And the end comes when the archer-spearmen charge in from the rear of the last standing foes:
https://img357.imageshack.us/img357/9117/maa2885vj7.png

Isidoros wins himself an easy victory, loosing only a few men:
https://img398.imageshack.us/img398/7008/maa2886nn9.jpg

The battle also brings out Isidoros' skill in the ability to lead men in battle:
https://img398.imageshack.us/img398/7200/maa2887gh5.jpg

Having conquered the ancient city, Isidoros sets himself up as king of Babylon. Not only does Isidoros Oresteus lay claim of the city itself but also to the cities and villages following a descent length of the Euphrates both upstream and downstream from Babylon. Declaring Bablyon an autonomous state, Isisdoros quickly sends envoys to Pyrrhos and begins strengthening the city's defenses. Another client state is the last thing Pyrrhos wants to deal with at this time, but he agrees to an alliance as long as Babylon promises to follow Pyrrhos' lead in all matters.


The known world in 172BC:
https://img370.imageshack.us/img370/8573/hxmak172editme3.png

Next: Chapter 58 : In Defense of the Arche

[Frodge]

Oh thats very nice Marcus, when i read your stories it's like theres a little movie playing out in my head.

[Vorian]

I really enjoyed this chapter....I am looking forward to see what is going to happen with the Galatians.
Do you plan for them to rebel???

[Centurio Nixalsverdrus]

Very nice chapter MAA.:smiley:

[MarcusAureliusAntoninus]

Thanks, guys. :bow:

The Arverni are being defeated in Gaul (somehow the Aedui who nearly fell to the Iberians more then recovered from their losses) and I was thinking of transplanting the Arverni to be Galatia, but I think the Arverni will hang on for a while longer. I'll wait until the civil war is over to deal with the Galatians, anyways.

Next chapter is going to be just random events, then a Philippos chapter, then finally back to the civil war...

[Strategos Alexandros]

A great few updates :2thumbsup: I'm looking forward to seeing what happens to the Galatians too.

[Chirurgeon]

awesome job maa. Very interesting developments in the war. Keep it up :)

[Wolfman]

Excellent update MAA! How did you manage to make him King of babylon? It being a client state wouldn't he get the interloper trait? Though that little red blob down in southern hellas is annoying me. Are you planning to invade sparta anytime soon or are you saving it for last?

[MarcusAureliusAntoninus]

Thank again.

I set up a Type3 in Babylon so that I can get basically all the regional troops but don't have to worry about the client-ruler system.

[Olaf The Great]

Since Phyrros is from..Eperios, is there any chance of a Chaeonian Agema-ish unit or something coming back?

[General Appo]

Wouldn´t that interfer with some other unit due to shared model?

[MarcusAureliusAntoninus]

Since Phyrros is from..Eperios, is there any chance of a Chaeonian Agema-ish unit or something coming back?
Pyrrhos is the great grandson of Demetrios I and is a "Makedone Argeades". However, he was raised in Illyria and educated in Epieros. I was thinking about writing into the story that his mother of grandmother was Illyrian or something though... And his father's hero was Pyrrhos of Epeiros (thus why he was given the name)...

I think the Chaeonian Agema shares a model with another Hellenistic phalangitai and probably isn't available to me. Elite Epeirotes will just have to join the reformed Pezhetairoi. (The reformed Pezhetairoi in Sotades' army, that took Pergamon, were all recruited in Epeiros.)

[MarcusAureliusAntoninus]

Chapter 58 : In Defense of the Arche

While civil war rages in Anatolia, Pontos, Kappadokia, and Babylonia, the western side of the Arche is forced to repel attacks from foreign forces. With no powerful mobile army in these areas, the cities are left to fend for themselves and repel attackers with their own garrisons. After more than half a year of being besieged, the defenders of the city of Seguntum finally are confronted by their enemy:
https://img297.imageshack.us/img297/8959/maa2848rq0.png

The forces of the Iberian Confederation, having completed contruction of their siege equiptment, move forward toward the huge walls of the city. Once they are in range, the defenders throw all they have down on their foe:
https://img86.imageshack.us/img86/9458/maa2850gr5.png

The wall defenders do quite well and manage to destroy both enemy towers and both rams:
https://img297.imageshack.us/img297/62/maa2852rd2.png

The Iberians now know that the only option to enter the city is breaching the walls with their mines they had begun outside the walls. Collapsing the foundation of the walls by destroying their tunnels, the Iberians breach the wall just west of the northern gate:
https://img372.imageshack.us/img372/1024/maa2853za9.png

The Iberian troops rush into the breach...
https://img297.imageshack.us/img297/1713/maa2854qf1.png

...where they confront coastal Iberian spearmen who are defending their homes:
https://img86.imageshack.us/img86/6167/maa2855pp4.png

While fighting continues to the west, the Iberians make a second hole in the wall and attack to the east. Here, Iberian swordsmen loyal to Makedonia face Iberian swordsmen loyal to the Iberian Confederacy:
https://img86.imageshack.us/img86/6264/maa2857vj5.png

Taking to the offensive, once their enemy breaks, the spearmen to the west charge out from the city and confront the enemy general outside the walls. There, they surround and kill him:
https://img297.imageshack.us/img297/6962/maa2859fu3.png

With only a few losses of their own, the defenders of Seguntum kill or capture ever last one of their attackers:
https://img372.imageshack.us/img372/8581/maa2861qb5.jpg

A few months later, to the south another city garrison is forced to defend itself. The city of Ippone and its mixed garrison of Sikilians and Numidians must once again fend off an attack from Numidia:
https://img86.imageshack.us/img86/1403/maa2897tq0.png

On a calm autumn day, the defenders of Ippone awaken to find that the enemy has moved siege equiptment into position just out of range of the walls. Then suddenly the silence is broken and they move foward and toward the city. Once the towers are in range, the local archers on the walls open fire with flame arrows:
https://img372.imageshack.us/img372/254/maa2898an2.png

The flame do not catch and the towers and ram reach the wall. However, the oil at the gateway kills enough Numidians that they are forced to abandon their ram and fall back:
https://img297.imageshack.us/img297/3849/maa2899ku3.png

On the walls, the enemies rush from the towers and attacks the Sikilian defenders:
https://img86.imageshack.us/img86/3020/maa2900it4.png

Then, suddenly, with a loud crash, the walls come crashing down, completely surprising the defenders:
https://img297.imageshack.us/img297/45/maa2901nd2.png

The reserve defenders quickly rush to the breach and hastely line up in formation, just in time to receive the enemy charge:
https://img297.imageshack.us/img297/3237/maa2906ok3.png

While they fight below, the defenders above on the walls are suffering huge causualties but manage to push the enemy back and gain a slight advantage:
https://img86.imageshack.us/img86/722/maa2904ej7.png

Perhaps seeking to take down the gate with their elephants, the Numidians move the great beasts forward toward the city. When they get in range, however, they are pelted by great masses of javelin from the walls. This panics the beasts and causes them to charge at the closest thing they see, their own men:
https://img297.imageshack.us/img297/8264/maa2905yd0.png

With the attackers at the breach repelled, the city defenders rush forward. Outside the gates of the city, the local skirmishers unleash a deadly volley of javelin at the last elephant, riden by the enemy leader:
https://img372.imageshack.us/img372/6347/maa2907dm1.png

Both the Numidian general and the elephant fall dead and the defenders turn their attention to the siege towers. Compromising the base of the tower, they manage make the whole thing come crashing down, killing the last of the Numidian attackers within:
https://img86.imageshack.us/img86/3455/maa2908te5.png

Although they hold the city, great losses are taken amongst the Sikilians and the garrison is greatly weakened:
https://img372.imageshack.us/img372/2855/maa2910ym5.jpg

Though these battles are of little importance to the Arche and little is gained or lost by either side in either conflict, it does have effect. Seeking to ensure a more secure border and to knock the Arevaci out of the war, Philippos moves forward with his attack in Iberia.

This time, Philippos sends an allied army of Iberians forward first. This is both a military, social, and economic move. Philippos plans to have the coastal Iberian allies weaken the garrison of the Iberian capital of Numantia while at the same time allowing glory to his allies and decreasing the amount of men on his military payroll because of the inevitable friendly losses. The Iberian allies readily agree, even though they know many of them will die, seeking to do their part in the war. The Iberians move forward and besiege the city of Numantia. A few months later Philippos mobilizes his Thorakitai army stationed in Lusotannia and follows:
https://img372.imageshack.us/img372/1772/maa2896ns2.png

Next: Chapter 59 : Philip's War (Part III)

[Africanvs]

Another great update. What a massively epic campaign. :2thumbsup:

[Aaldaemon]

Beyond epic stuff...

https://img88.imageshack.us/img88/8109/maa2798qf2.png

Been a long time since I last saw these men... Brought warmth to my heart to see those awesome cats.

[Centurio Nixalsverdrus]

How did you manage to destroy the siege tower with infantry from the outside? Only option I get in this case is to enter the siege tower, not to destroy it.:shrug:

[MarcusAureliusAntoninus]

Thanks for following. :beam:

If you have a unit selected, the icon will turn to a sword when over a siege tower (I think you have to place the icon about halfway up the tower). Then your guys will think about attacking it, then slowly move a couple guys to surround it, then start poking it. After a few minutes it will collapse. I would advise never attacking any siege equiptment with multiple groups as the multiple units sometimes get "confused".

[Centurio Nixalsverdrus]

Aaahhh... thanks.:smiley:

[Ibrahim]

de'iqtu!!

[DeathEmperor]

I come back from a short vacation and find not one but TWO updates! :beam:

A truly magnificent story MAA.

[Maion Maroneios]

Excellent update, as always MAA!!

[MarcusAureliusAntoninus]

Thanks for following.

Btw, I recently fought the battle against the Spartans (two battles actually). :egypt:

[Maion Maroneios]

Cool, any of those famed hoplitai present in them?

[MarcusAureliusAntoninus]

Cool, any of those famed hoplitai present in them?
Maybe... :beam:

[Maion Maroneios]

Hope you turned them into dust!!:laugh2:

[Hooahguy]

wow- i just discovered this... now i am ashamed i didnt see this sooner... i should get back to my AAR as well.....

[MarcusAureliusAntoninus]

Thanks for following...

[MarcusAureliusAntoninus]

Chapter 59 : Philip's War (Part III)

His father and elder brother fight the civil war in Anatolia and his younger brothers live in Makedonia, but Philippos, second-born son of Pyrrhos and heir to the throne, fights his own war in Iberia. The Iberian Confederacy started the war when they attempted to conquer the Hellenic colonies along the coast and with that any oppertunity for peace in Iberia was lost. The first acomplishment of the war was conquering the mineral rich southern regions. Then Philippos moved north to defeat the two lead tribes of the confederation, the Lusotanni and the Arevaci. The Lusotanni had been conquered quite easily while their army was in the north preparing to attack the Hellenic colonies. Since then, Philippos had moved his army forward to prepare to attack the Arevaci.

In order to weaken his enemy and in order to give some of the glory to his allies, Philippos had sent forward his coast Iberian allies first, to draw the Arevaci and Lusotanni refugee armies out. The coastal Iberians had only besieged their capital city of Numatia for a few months when the counter attack comes:
https://img228.imageshack.us/img228/1292/maa2911ys6.png

The Makedonia-friendly coastal Iberians line up just outside of a wooded area on a hillside near the road leading to Numatia. In the center are the swordsmen, with the spearmen on the flanks, and the slingers of the Baleric islands behind the line:
https://img165.imageshack.us/img165/4770/maa2915pf9.png

The wait is short and soon the enemy army is near, which the Baleric slinger open fire on:
https://img155.imageshack.us/img155/4470/maa2916sn5.png

While the enemy infantry attacks the center of the line, the Iberian cavalry circles around the left flank and charge in:
https://img155.imageshack.us/img155/672/maa2917ey8.png

While additional Arevaci cavalry waves hit the flank, the entire flank of spearmen rush in to assist:
https://img138.imageshack.us/img138/397/maa2918hs5.png

The huge number of spearmen make quick work of the cavalry and cut them down, causing the them to flee:
https://img155.imageshack.us/img155/5766/maa2921av9.png

Meanwhile, in the center the enemy infantry begin fleeing as well:
https://img155.imageshack.us/img155/6194/maa2922zv8.png

The coastal Iberians chase their enemy into to the forest for some distance but soon stop and fall back. The first enemy army starts to regroup and is reinforced by the forces from the city itself. The coastal Iberians collect themselves and return to formation. They wait, but it is only a short time before the enemy army is upon them once again:
https://img165.imageshack.us/img165/4194/maa2924rr4.png

As before, the enemy infantry hits the center of the line and the two side begin to fight:
https://img165.imageshack.us/img165/3870/maa2925uu6.png

The enemy is disadvantages this time, however, as they now lack any cavalry. Instead of cavalry, the Arevaci army circles spearmen around the right flank and attacks. This move is quickly countered by the coastal spearmen and the flanking is out flanked:
https://img138.imageshack.us/img138/7268/maa2926ly3.png

The Arevaci send more forces to the battle on the flank but fail to regain the advantage. This move, however, weakens the center of the Arevaci line and the infantry in the middle gives and begins to flee back to Numatia. While half the forces from the coastal Iberians' center and left flank chase their fleeing foe, the rest charge in at the rear of the fight on the right flank:
https://img155.imageshack.us/img155/245/maa2927iy2.png

Soon the whole of the Arevaci force is broken and fleeing back to their capital:
https://img165.imageshack.us/img165/7164/maa2928ip5.png

When news reaches Philippos that the coastal Iberians have won a crushing victory, he is surprised. Not only did the coastal Iberians win the battle, they manage to crush two huge armies of the Iberian Confederacy, taking only a few losses themselves:
https://img138.imageshack.us/img138/7130/maa2929xc0.jpg

Philippos then moves his Thorakitai army into Arevaci territory and plans his next move. As the war in Iberian hits another high point, the civil war in Anatolia continues. On the isle of Lesbos, the citizen expel the Demetrid garrison, declare themselves loyal to Pyrrhos, and assemble a small army of Thorakitai. This action allows the army of Sotades, stationed in Pergamon, to move forward and besiege the city of Sardis, capital to the Anatolia Satrapy:
https://img165.imageshack.us/img165/1159/maa2930pi1.png

Back in Iberia, Philippos decides to change his plans. Rather than take the city of Numatia with his own army, Philippos instead moves to command the coastal Iberians, personally, in an attack on the city of Numantia. While his army of Thorakitai guard against the possiblity of an enemy army outflanking the attack from the rear, the coastal Iberians build seige equiptment then attack:
https://img165.imageshack.us/img165/8389/maa2931ik9.png

With a half dozen seige towers, Philippos plans to take the city walls by force:
https://img165.imageshack.us/img165/846/maa2932bn2.png

The battle starts off on a low mark, however, as half the towers are destroyed before they even reach the walls:
https://img155.imageshack.us/img155/5015/maa2934rh5.png

Although, near the city's western gate the towers reach the walls and the coastal Iberian spearmen quickly surround the Arevaci forces defending the wall:
https://img155.imageshack.us/img155/3105/maa2935mp5.png

While the spearmen kill the men guarding the wall and take control of the gateway, Philippos and the rest of the army moves forward:
https://img138.imageshack.us/img138/897/maa2937ti3.png

Then with the walls taken, the coastal Iberians chase the last defenders of the walls away with a rain of javelin:
https://img138.imageshack.us/img138/3562/maa2941zp9.png

Philippos then splits his men into three groups. The first group are the spearmen who took the walls, who head straight to the city center. Although the plan is for them to rest before scalling the hilll, they are countered by Arevaci levy spearmen:
https://img95.imageshack.us/img95/769/maa2942om4.png

Even though they are tired, this group quickly pushes back the Arevaci counterattack:
https://img95.imageshack.us/img95/6554/maa2943ls9.png

The second group consists of spearmen whose towers were destroyed before it reached the walls. These men circle around the edge of the city to the south. They too meet an Arevaci counterattack:
https://img95.imageshack.us/img95/2547/maa2944lt1.png

Since some of the second group circled around the outside of the city and came in the southern gate, they manage to hit their enemy in a pincer attack, surround them, and wipe them out:
https://img95.imageshack.us/img95/960/maa2945op0.png

The third and final group is the coastal Iberian swordsmen who circle around the northern edge of the city. This group manages to get half-way up the city's center hill before they around countered:
https://img239.imageshack.us/img239/9735/maa2946qj8.png

All the fighting quickly ends and the last of the Arevaci forces fall back to the center of the city. There, they are surrounded and outnumbered, but the Arevaci refuse to accept surrender. Philippos' forces of allied Iberians charge in at the city center from all sides:
https://img239.imageshack.us/img239/5686/maa2948hn8.png

The coastal Iberians slowly move forward and surround their enemy, who fights to the very last man:
https://img239.imageshack.us/img239/1504/maa2949kz1.png

When the last man falls, he does not fall alone. Not only does he fall, but the city falls. With the city falls the Arevaci tribe. With the fall of the tribe, the lands they ruled fall into the care of the Arche Makedonia:
https://img95.imageshack.us/img95/2226/maa2950bm0.jpg
https://img95.imageshack.us/img95/5489/maa2951fr6.png

With the fall of the Arevaci the Iberian Confederacy itself almost falls apart and fades away. In-fighting within the remaining tribes and rulers begin. Although the territories and people of the tribes of Lusotanni and Arevaci fall, many of their soldiers and nobility retreat into the lands of the northern tribes. Although there is chaos, the leadership of the Iberian Confederacy falls to the defacto king of the Arevaci in exile, the young king Atu.

Meanwhile, Philippos takes the in-fighting of the Iberian Confederacy as a chance to ensure strong control over all of his Iberian conquests. While government controls is established in the south, with plans for settlement [Type2], the lands of the Lusotanni and Arevaci remain in military control [Type3]. With this, Philippos also plans to set up an easily defendable border and finally bring an end to his war in Iberia.


The known world in the autumn of 172BC:
https://img239.imageshack.us/img239/8766/hxmak1722editwh6.png

Next: Chapter 60 : Around the Known World

[General Appo]

Kill that damn Atu, never liked guys with that name.
I can´t believe the Rhodioi have not seen the stupidity of supporting the Demetrids, usually they are such clever fellows.

[Maion Maroneios]

Maybe if Karia is conquered, then the Rhodioi may see reason?

[Reverend Joe]

Doin' good, MAA.

Now that Iberia is all but subdued, what's your economic situation like? Is the money rolling in, or are you still stretched thin?

[MarcusAureliusAntoninus]

Rhodos seems to be quite an important city allied to the Demetrids. They built a sizable army and are curning out ships there. I'm role-playing that Rhodos is allied with the Spartans.

When the civil war first started I quickly fell into debt, but after I disbanded most of my unused armies and excess border guards I managed to climb out of debt and break even. But I had to stop all building construction. With the cost of retraining armies, rebuilding captured towns, and building a couple economic structures in key locations, I break even about this point in the game. At this point, money is still a problem and I sometimes have to take out loans for critical things ('take out loan' = "add_money 40000", buy what I need, "add_money -40000").

[Tyrfingr]

Rhodos seems to be quite an important city allied to the Demetrids. They built a sizable army and are curning out ships there. I'm role-playing that Rhodos is allied with the Spartans.

When the civil war first started I quickly fell into debt, but after I disbanded most of my unused armies and excess border guards I managed to climb out of debt and break even. But I had to stop all building construction. With the cost of retraining armies, rebuilding captured towns, and building a couple economic structures in key locations, I break even about this point in the game. At this point, money is still a problem and I sometimes have to take out loans for critical things ('take out loan' = "add_money 40000", buy what I need, "add_money -40000").

For even funnier role-playing, have Pyrrhos taking out loans from merchants and nobels, then having to repay them with a huge interest. His debt might be a crucial factor in the civil war.

[Chirurgeon]

Kill that damn Atu, never liked guys with that name.
I can´t believe the Rhodioi have not seen the stupidity of supporting the Demetrids, usually they are such clever fellows.

Well I am hurt...that is my current leaders name :cry: Just kidding...damn I wish those Iberians would put together a good force...damn milites

[Olaf The Great]

Well I am hurt...that is my current leaders name :cry: Just kidding...damn I wish those Iberians would put together a good force...damn milites I take offense to that, Iberi Milities are the only people MAN enough to wear chicken head-dresses, I would only respect them more if they wore the dreaded ORLY? hat

http://www.kaboodle.com/hi/img/2/0/0/22/0/AAAAAq2X7-kAAAAAACILCA.jpg

[MarcusAureliusAntoninus]

With the mines of Makedonia, Illyria, and now Iberia, I'm able to repay my debt every turn and any loans are quickly payed off. When I "take out a loan", I'm just not able to do anything the following turn.

"The Iberian Confederacy" had good MICs in Sucum-Murgi and Oxtraca, and mediocre MICs in Numantia. Since they are churning out one unit a turn from each settlement, it unfortunately results in crappy units in most of their armies. I wrote a little script and spawned L4MICs (both types) in both of their Ireland towns though, to prevent the same spamming of little units once they are kicked from the mainland.

[Chirurgeon]

With the mines of Makedonia, Illyria, and now Iberia, I'm able to repay my debt every turn and any loans are quickly payed off. When I "take out a loan", I'm just not able to do anything the following turn.

"The Iberian Confederacy" had good MICs in Sucum-Murgi and Oxtraca, and mediocre MICs in Numantia. Since they are churning out one unit a turn from each settlement, it unfortunately results in crappy units in most of their armies. I wrote a little script and spawned L4MICs (both types) in both of their Ireland towns though, to prevent the same spamming of little units once they are kicked from the mainland.

so happy that they have a new homeland...any plans for Gaul after the civil war?

[MarcusAureliusAntoninus]

I had planned to take another 'layer' of territories in Gaul, but I was pleasantly surprised that they haven't betrayed my alliances after the Romani War ended. Since the Aedui seem to be winning, I was thinking of transplanting the Arverni somewhere else when they die. Maybe make the Boii or the Lugians, or maybe make them a rebel Galatia...

[MarcusAureliusAntoninus]

Chapter 60 : Around the Known World

While a great civil war wages within the Arche Makedonia, the rest of the world does not simply sit back and await the outcome. While the Arche Makedonia tears itself apart, the nations, empires, and tribes across the world continue their lives. Very few are even interested in the internal goings-on of the Arche Makedonia.

In the far off islands of Britannia, a loose alliance of tribes had managed to unite the main island. Although they worked together, the tribes of the island are far from a unified nation. Many places, especially in the north, the alliance exists in name only. Attempts to unify all of the islands had so far failed. The much more unified Goidilics nearby had so far resisted. Although no war had begun yet, it seems all but inevitable:
https://img442.imageshack.us/img442/3732/maa2952jq8.png

Between there and the western Arche Makedonia, in the lands of Gallia, the war amongst the tribes had once again resumed. When the Romani invaded the region, it tore the place apart physically but unified the people politically against the invaders. After Pyrrhos' elder brother, Neikolaos, defeated the Romani in Gaul and restored the lands to their previous owners, peace seemed in sight. For a long time there was an uneasy peace between the Confederation, headed by the Aedui tribe, and the strongest apposing tribes, the Arverni and her allies. The invasion by the Iberian Confederation dealt even more damage to the Gallic Confederation and nearly tore it apart. Somehow, in the wake of their near destruction, the Gallic Confederation pushed back the Iberian Confederation and then turned on their longtime enemy, the Arverni tribe. Even though they should have been in a weakened state, they succeeded and devided the territories of their enemy and continue their old war:
https://img104.imageshack.us/img104/9624/maa2953nd2.png

On the opposite side of the western Arche Makedonia, the peoples of Numidia and Mauretania remain unified. They had once been client kingdoms of the city of Kart-Hadast and when the city fell they remained allied with eachother. Their unification seemed odd at first, but it turned out that nobles of the city of Kart-Hadast retained military control of the regions and continued the foreign rule. By manipulated the locals, this minority managed to start a war with the Arche Makedonia. Although the entire exiled army and majority of nobles from Kart-Hadast had been killed in battle, the Numidians and Mauretanians continue to push back against the Arche Makedonia:
https://img442.imageshack.us/img442/4346/maa2954za4.png

In Arabia, poor management of conquered territory and ill treatment of locals had resulted in a war between the Demetrids and the Kingdom of Sab'yn. Throughout the early rise of the Antigonids, the Kingdom of Sab'yn had been quiet. Though, through some unknown turn of events, they managed to become the top power in southern Arabia. Over the next century they spread and took control of all of Arabia, with trade outposts in Aithiopia. They had attempted to expand northward, but armies of the unified Arche Makedonia had always stopped them. Now, they move against the splintered Arche, in Babylonia:
https://img104.imageshack.us/img104/6324/maa2955zk6.png

...as well as once again attempting to push against the Hellenic colonies in southern Syria, now ill defended by Demetrid forces:
https://img526.imageshack.us/img526/3346/maa2958rc0.png

The Nubians, as well, sought to profit from the fracture. For years the Kingdom of Meroe had been a minor kingdom on the edge of Ptolemaic Aigyptos. However, when the Ptolemaioi were finally defeated, a distant branch of the Ptolemaic family had managed to escape into exile in Nubia. When a failed attempt to conquer Makedonike holdings in northern Nubia ended up costing the lives of both the king and heir to the throne of Meroe, the oppertunistic young Ptolemai saw his chance. With no clear replacement to their king, Ptolemai managed to convince the people to make him king. He thus became Ptolemai VII and declared himself Pharoah of all the Neilos. Years later, seeking to make good on that claim, he sends men north to take advantage of the devided Arche Makedonia, though his armies are hesitant to atttack:
https://img104.imageshack.us/img104/8506/maa2956el8.png

In the far east, the Arche Seleukeia is once again on the rise. The dynasty of Seleukos, only a generation earlier, had been all but defeated. The Median rebels had taken territories in the west and the Gandharan Indians had pushed all the way to the wall of Persepolis. Then Aristotelis attacked the Arche Seleukeia's key Babylonian holdings. It looked as though the Seleukid line would disappear from this world and fade away, but it was no so. When the Makedonike civil war started, the threat to the west vanished. Many Makedonike lands were given to the Median Empire and when an alliance between Media and the Arche Seleukeia was achieved, the Seleukids could consentrate on one front. Pushing back in the east, the armies of the Arche Seleukeia had won victory after victory over Gandhara and are beginning to push them all the way back into India:
https://img442.imageshack.us/img442/2546/maa2959ni5.png

Despite all of the achievements of the surrounding world, and even though Pyrrhos had crushed the Demetrids every time they met in combat, the Demetrids manage to emerge as the most advanced people of the known world:
https://img526.imageshack.us/img526/4867/maa2960ka5.jpg

In a time of defeat, one victory over Pyrrhos was not directly that of the Demetrids. In Hellas, the Spartans had chosen to stand against Pyrrhos. After almost five years of defiance, they had slowly managed to achieve the support in the rest of the Peloponnesos and make alliances with the major cities there. Although the Spartans had been nothing to worry about, the alliance of a dozen Hellenic cities finally started to worry Pyrrhos:
https://img104.imageshack.us/img104/8677/maa2957xf3.png

The first-born son of Pyrrhos, Sotades, had been put in charge of Pyrrhos' old army and tasked with taking Ionia and Lydia, however it did not appeal to Sotades. Sotades believed his talent lay in governing large cities and grew tired of combat:
https://img526.imageshack.us/img526/1363/maa2961ba1.jpg

It is not much of an issue, however, as Sardis soon surrender. All of central Anatolia, west of Galatia, falls to Pyrrhos and his son without a fight, while at the same time southern Kappadokia surrenders to the combined force of Galatians and Illyrians. This is once again a great blow to the Demetrids, costing them many resource rich provinces.

In the rioting against the Demetrids in Sardis, the great Temple of Artemis was damaged. Many saw this as a sign, though every mystic translated the meaning differently. A mystical omen of the future is no worry to Pyrrhos and his family, the main concern is the loss of prestige as the people find out that Makedonia lacks the money to repair the damage and restore the temple:
https://img526.imageshack.us/img526/841/maa2962tf6.png

Finally arriving in Pontos, Herodes, son of Herakleon, grandson of Euboulides, great-grandson of Antigonos Gonatas, moves his army forward for combat. Herodes manages to push through Pontos to attack Demetrid-controlled northern Kappadokia with his Bosphorian army, but he does not get there soon enough. As the autumn draws to a close, he prepares to winter his army within friendly territory:
https://img442.imageshack.us/img442/2070/maa2973oj5.png

The same autum, an earthquake hits Italia. It is small and few are injured, and fortunately the Romaioi legion is unharmed, as they are already far from their homes, sailing eastward:
https://img104.imageshack.us/img104/324/maa2971cd4.png

As the people of Ippone prepare to settle in for their mild winter, the Numidian-Mauretanian forces attack once again, lead by Kart-Hadast nobles:
https://img526.imageshack.us/img526/8402/maa2972nw7.png

The only actual combat within the Arche Makedonia, during this time, occures in a distant region without much importance. The steppe horsemen, allies of Lysippos, had been tasked with defending the Armenian holdings from the Demetrids. When the Demetrids started to reinforce the Hayasdan region, the horsemen moved south in an attempt to draw the infantry heavy army into a skirmish. After a short while, they succeed when a reinforcement army from Babylonia arrives to confront them near Armavir:
https://img442.imageshack.us/img442/8342/maa2963js7.png

The steppe cavalry army is quite fortunate when the reinforcements from the city fail to arrive on time:
https://img442.imageshack.us/img442/3931/maa2964ue8.jpg

Exploiting their mobility and long range, the cavalry mounted archers circle all around the Demetrid army and fire at them from all sides:
https://img104.imageshack.us/img104/2793/maa2965xn0.png

The Demetrid army takes heavy casualties and the battle begins to look good for the side of Pyrrhos. Then, the Demetrid general leads his personal kataphraktoi in a charge. As the steppe horse archers fire upon them, they do no harm and are forced to fall back:
https://img442.imageshack.us/img442/5516/maa2966si7.png

Continuing to fall back, the steppe cavalry pull the enemy kataphraktoi into a trap and surround them. They then move in with a great charge:
https://img442.imageshack.us/img442/9789/maa2967lv0.png

Surrounded and with the lost the advantage of the mass of their charges, the kataphraktoi are slowly wiped out, though at great cost to the steppe cavalry. Eventually the enemy general is surrounded and killed:
https://img526.imageshack.us/img526/6184/maa2969sr9.png

Just as the enemy general falls dead, the reinforcements from the city finally arrive. While firing the last of their arrows, the steppe cavalry turn and flee back northward. Due to the fact the Demetrids take the field, a great number of Demetrid wounded are recovered and manage to recouperate:
https://img526.imageshack.us/img526/2992/maa2970im2.jpg


The known world in 171BC:
https://img526.imageshack.us/img526/2316/hxmak171editkz1.png

Next: Chapter 61 : Nubians and Romans

[Centurio Nixalsverdrus]

Very good update! :2thumbsup::2thumbsup::2thumbsup: In one image you forgot to colour the real Bartix in Bartix-blue. :beam:

[General Appo]

Very good. I noticed you´ve left Athenai and Chalkis unguarded. Do you intend to let the Spartans and their allies take them, to unite all of Hellas against Pyrrhos? Surely the wise philosophers of Athenai must see the foolishness in joining the losing side, for that is indeed what the Demetrids are.

[MarcusAureliusAntoninus]

Thanks.

Oops, didn't notice that red in Baktria. :wall: Oh well...

I left Korinth, Athens, Chalkis, and Thermon (I believe that picture was taken just after an army engaged the Spartans, lost, and retreated back to Thermon [in an attempt to get them mad and moving]) unguarded in an attempt to get the Spartans to get agressive and perhaps unite Hellas. Since I'm roleplaying that Hellas is allied with the Demetrids and not necessarily part of their empire, it would kind of make since for them to come together in an attempt to regain autonomy. In the end, however, things turn out bad for them, especially for the Athenians.

[Aaldaemon]

Thanks.

Oops, didn't notice that red in Baktria. :wall: Oh well...

I left Korinth, Athens, Chalkis, and Thermon (I believe that picture was taken just after an army engaged the Spartans, lost, and retreated back to Thermon [in an attempt to get them mad and moving]) unguarded in an attempt to get the Spartans to get agressive and perhaps unite Hellas. Since I'm roleplaying that Hellas is allied with the Demetrids and not necessarily part of their empire, it would kind of make since for them to come together in an attempt to regain autonomy. In the end, however, things turn out bad for them, especially for the Athenians.

Nice plotting there to be sure... This gives me an idea, I'm going to use. :yes:

Out of curiosity, how much does it cost to repair the Artemision? I've noticed that at times wonder repairs are quite mindblowing.

[Maion Maroneios]

Yep, it had occured to me as well when sabotaging a Seleukid settlement with my assasin. You see, those chaps had made me real angry and I destroyed part of the Mausoleon in Halikarnassos, which cost me near 10.000 mnai to fix upon taking the city for myself...

[MarcusAureliusAntoninus]

Yeah, the repairs were something like 15,000. I could afford it, but I wouldn't be able to recruit any units or build any buildings that turn.

[Chirurgeon]

Wow that last fight was brutal. Great update!

[MarcusAureliusAntoninus]

Thanks, Chirurgeon.

---

I was doing some more modding to the game, this time trying to add in the v1.0 general skins that I just missed out on in this internal version. I managed to do this:
https://img338.imageshack.us/img338/7950/maa3180qo7.png
https://img338.imageshack.us/img338/5980/maa3181sv5.png

Since the v0.8x model and the v1.0 model are different, they are missing their swords and parts of their crests. I would just save over the model, but the weird thing is that the v0.8x models don't seem to exist anywhere to save over...

I guess I'll just play with guys who have odd crests and no weapon.

[General Appo]

Lovely. Though that Baktrian Generals shield just look wierder and wierder every time I look at it, and I´ve played Baktria extensively.
From this angle it looks like one girl is doing... ya know, fellatio while being spanked while another girl is about to him in the back with a... whip?
Whoever designed that shield has some seriously wierd sexual fantasies, that he is handling in the wrong way.

[Lysimachos]

Whoever designed that shield has some seriously wierd sexual fantasies, that he is handling in the wrong way.

Maybe there is absolutely nothing wrong with the shield and you are the one with seriously weird sexual fantasies :laugh4:

[MarcusAureliusAntoninus]

It is actually a direct copy of an actual picture (coin or something). It really isn't sexual, and when you look at the actual picture, that is easy to tell.

[General Appo]

Okay... but not from where I am standing. I mean, just look at that screenshot. Oh well, I guess it´s just the angle or something.

[Centurio Nixalsverdrus]

You are a ruthless person MAA to let your precious Generals ride into battle without even a pity little sword. But now they can distract their foes with their shiny new shields... Is that a blow job depicted on the Bartix/Demetrid shield? :grin:

[General Appo]

YES! Told you, I´m not the only one!

[Gaivs]

http://img37.picoodle.com/img/img37/9/9/17/f_generalbaktm_2b53e19.jpg

http://img02.picoodle.com/img/img02/9/9/17/f_shieldbaktrm_077422e.jpg

[Aaldaemon]

By the Dragon's tail, I guess I need to look at shields more closely from now on. :dizzy2: I guess if Hugh Hefner were an ancient general, that would be his preferred shield design. :sweatdrop:

[Centurio Nixalsverdrus]

Ok it's not but I love it nevertheless. Naked girls kneeling in front of you and swinging those branches while you put your foot on the decapitated head of your worst enemy... always been one of my favourite fantasies!:yes:

[MarcusAureliusAntoninus]

...please discontinue this conversation... :sweatdrop:

[MarcusAureliusAntoninus]

Chapter 61 : Rebirth of the Ptolemaioi

Ptolemai I - IV had been of a direct line, but it had been cut short when the last of them were killed by Demetrios in his conquest of Aigyptos. Though, Ptolemai V and VI of Assyria were of a side family. When Aristotelis killed Ptolemaioi VI in Assyria, it seemed that the family of the great general Ptolemai I had been destoryed, but it had not been. There was one survivor of the direct line of Ptolemai I - IV. When just a child, he and his mother had fled to Nubia during Demetrios' conquest. This boy, now a man, is Ptolemai VII, King of Meroe.

Meroe had been but a nuisance on the southern border of the Ptolemaioi, then a trade partner with the Arche Makedonia. When they betrayed the Arche Makedonia and lost their king and heir in a single battle, Ptolemai VII seized power. Since then, Ptolemai VII has reformed the government, military, and economy. Now, with his only true enemy, the Arche Makedonia distracted, he makes his move for power.

https://img365.imageshack.us/img365/6485/maa2975ts2.png

First is a declaration of war on the Kingdom of Sab'yn, who had has trade colonies on the coasts of Nubia and Aithiopia:
https://img359.imageshack.us/img359/6959/maa2974cg7.jpg

While king, Ptolemai VII had also begun rebuilding his family line. His Makedonike wife had given him two sons. His first born son comes of age just as his plans begin. So, while the majority of the army is in the north, Ptolemai VII gives his son a small army and sends him south the take Aithiopia and the Sab'yn trade colonies:
https://img365.imageshack.us/img365/5849/maa2980mp4.png

Meanwhile, to the north, the armies of Ptolemai take ground without a fight. In northern Nubia the people are burdened by taxes, war, and oppressive foreign rule. Without any forces of their own, the people turn to the closest thing they have to a local power. Thus in a series of rebellions, territories of the Demetrids throw off their small garrisons and appeal to Ptolemai VII for protection:
https://img365.imageshack.us/img365/2559/maa2976bu4.png

Northern Nubia as well as the oasis of Hibis fall into the hands of Ptolemai without a fight. Although the rebellions are lead by Nubians and Aigyptians, the majority of the Klerouchoi Makedones and Hellenes, settled by the old Ptolemaioi or Antigonids, choose to remain. This alone is a giant gain for Ptolemai VII, as he gains access to Makedones to field as phalangitai in battle.

While he consolidates power in the north and wages war in the south, Ptolemai VII negotiates peace with his enemy. Even though they just lost cities to him, the Demetrids agree to an alliance, which Ptolemai VII decides to use to buy time:
https://img246.imageshack.us/img246/7145/maa3008pa6.jpg

After a short time, news comes to Meroe from the south. Ptolemai VII's son has succeeded, and all of northern Aithiopia is now in his hands. With no threat from southern Aithiopia and not fearing naval invasion from the Kingdom of Sab'yn, Ptolemai VII now has but one battle front:
https://img365.imageshack.us/img365/2414/maa3010jt6.png

Next: Chapter 62: Back in the Arche Makedonia

[Lysimachos]

Uh-oh, they are back in the game... :skull:

[Hax]

Cool. Awesome chapter, great to see.

[Centurio Nixalsverdrus]

Short and good. Did you cheat that or was this "really" the course of history?

[MarcusAureliusAntoninus]

I wish I could say it happened like that. I sent four spies to each of the cities Pselkis, Diospolis-Megale, and Hibis. But after about ten turns of 0% public order without rebellion, and Ptolemaic troops outside that don't attack, I gave up. I force diplomacy'd them to me then gifted them to the Ptolemaioi. I think the fact that Baktria and Ptolemaioi have the same culture prevented the rebellion from occuring as easily.

[MarcusAureliusAntoninus]

Chapter 62 : Back in the Arche Makedonia

While the Ptolemaioi rebuild themselves under Ptolemai VII, the events within the Arche Makedonia are much less eventful.

The Demetrids

In Syria, Euktimenos Idomeneus, son of Pefkoloas is still a child. While he is technically the Basileus, his government is ruled by his advisors and his strong-willed mother. While her father (Bykoli) and her husband (Pefkolaos) were off fighting wars together, Antigone was left at home, alone. Due to her status and the lack of a man in her household, Antigone quickly gained control of all aspects in the home, then in the family. Together with her inclination for power and her feeling of abandonment, she has developed into quite a strict ruler.

The loss of northern Nubia does not concern the Demetrids, who quickly make an alliance with the Ptolemaioi. The Demetrids also realize that Anatolia, Pontos, and Kappadokia are lost. They therefore decide not to even reinforce the remaining garrisons. Instead, they send large garrisons to Kilikia and Armenia. There, they wait for the forces of Pyrrhos to advance.

The Pyrrhids

After the fall of central Anatolia and Kappadokia, things are slow in the Arche Makedonia civil war. Seeking to prove their loyalty, the army of Lesboi march south into Karia and take the city of Halikarnassos in the name of Pyrrhos. The city falls without a single loss to the Lesboi:
https://img246.imageshack.us/img246/6493/maa2979qx9.png

While the war is fought just to he east, in Pella, Pyrrhos makes sure money is set aside for building projects. Since the support of the nobles of Makedonia and Hellas, especially those living in Pella, are so important to the continued efforts and finances of Pyrrhos, he builds great structures and and revises of the capital. Around the time Karia falls, huge event structures are completed in Pella, dedicated to Megas Demetrios. Here, games are held that trump those of even Olympia:
https://img365.imageshack.us/img365/4363/maa2982ic5.jpg

With Anatolia and Kappadokia in his hands and a few building projects once again underway, Pyrrhos and his dynasty once again make Makedonia the greatest people in the known world:
https://img359.imageshack.us/img359/6121/maa2981od3.jpg

The Romaioi

To show support for their "allies", Tiberius Aurelius Cotta, consul of Roma, sails the Romani Legion from Capua to assist in the Arche Makedonia civil war. When news reaches Pyrrhos that the Romani are in the Aegaen Mare, he decides to give them a key task. With the conquest of Anatolia, the only Demetrid military harbor west of Aigyptos is the great harbor at Rhodos. From there, they control the eastern Mesogeios Sea and supply the Spartan rebels. So, the important and difficult task of taking the city of Rhodos is given to Tiberius Aurelius Cotta and his legion:
https://img365.imageshack.us/img365/9381/maa2983aa5.png

The Romani quickly land on the western edge of the island and immediately move against the army of Rhodoi, who meet them in the open field:
https://img246.imageshack.us/img246/5128/maa2989bz6.png

While the infantry moves forward, Cotta leads his cavalry in a charge of the reinforcements, coming from the city. Having misjudged the placement on the field, the small group of Rhodoi archers from the city come in from the rear of the Romani, where they are easily wiped out by the Romaioi cavalry:
https://img365.imageshack.us/img365/8634/maa2991jl8.png

While Cotta returns the line, the skirmishers on both sides begin to throw their javelin and the battle begins:
https://img359.imageshack.us/img359/234/maa2993py9.png

The skirmishing lasts quite a while, giving the Romani cavalry time to circle completely around the rear of their own line and attack around the opposite flank. There, they charge the Rhodoi siege equiptment and kill all those manning them:
https://img359.imageshack.us/img359/8039/maa2995cx3.png

When the javelin of the skirmishers finally run out, Cotta orders his battle line forward:
https://img246.imageshack.us/img246/4269/maa2996yq6.png

While the enemy is still disorganized, the first line of Romani throw their pila...
https://img359.imageshack.us/img359/7237/maa2997ad7.png

...and charge in to engage their enemy:
https://img246.imageshack.us/img246/631/maa2999wn1.png

Meanwhile, the cavalry once again circles the flank. This time they charge in and challenge the governor of Rhodos and his kataphraktoi bodyguard:
https://img246.imageshack.us/img246/5075/maa2998kr5.png

When the Rhodoi skirmishers attempt to circle around the opposite flank from the cavalry battle, the Romaioi skirmishers move out and defend the flank:
https://img365.imageshack.us/img365/6131/maa3001xq3.png

While the first line of Romani hold down the enemy, the second line spreads out and attacks from the side as well as reinforceing the first line from the rear:
https://img246.imageshack.us/img246/6025/maa3002vv4.png

Having fought this whole time, the cavalry clash finally comes to an end when the governor of Rhodos falls dead on the field:
https://img359.imageshack.us/img359/5929/maa3003mc0.jpg

With their general dead, the Rhodoi attempt to fall back, but all are quickly wiped out or surrender when surrounded by the Romani.

While the cavalry and first two lines chase the last of the Rhodoi, the third line slowly moves forward, not having been needed in the battle:
https://img359.imageshack.us/img359/5426/maa3004rr2.png

Tiberius Aurelius Cotta wins himself a victory, though it lacks too much granduer as it is in the name of a foreign king:
https://img359.imageshack.us/img359/1722/maa3005en4.jpg

The Romani then march into the city of Rhodos and take the city without a fight. Had the armies of Rhodos stayed behind their walls, they may have stood a chance. Fighting in open field cost them their whole army and forced the city to surrender. As per Pyrrhos' orders, the town is left unharmed, dispite the complaints of the Romaioi soldiers:
https://img359.imageshack.us/img359/9477/maa3006le0.jpg

Next Phase of the War

In southern Anatolia, Sotades besieges the city of Side, the last garrison between him and Kilikia:
https://img365.imageshack.us/img365/1613/maa2986ht5.png

In northern Kappadokia, Herokles, son of the murdered Herakleon, takes his Bosphorian army up against another small Demetrid garrison:
https://img246.imageshack.us/img246/5064/maa2987vy4.png

In Iberia, Philippos sets up a series of forts to defend the critical river crossings that mark the edge of Makedonike power. After turning over power to the local governors and coastal Iberian allies, Philippos gathers his men and makes for the eastern coast:
https://img246.imageshack.us/img246/5118/maa2988yq3.png


The known world in 170BC:
https://img246.imageshack.us/img246/5572/hxmak170editse2.png

Next: Chapter 63 : The Next Generation

[Reverend Joe]

Are you ever going to do anything about the Dacians? Like, have a bored, power-hungry leader in Makedonia engineer a war with them further down the road in order to gain more prestige, only to draw the Arche into a decades-long border war?

:wink:

[Centurio Nixalsverdrus]

While Cotta returns the line, the skirmishers on both sides begin to throw their javelin and the battle begins:
https://img359.imageshack.us/img359/234/maa2993py9.png

Ahhh, the mountains of Karia.... Nice picture. :2thumbsup:


The skirmishing lasts quite a while, giving the Romani cavalry time to circle completely around the rear of their own line and attack around the opposite flank. There, they charge the Rhodoi siege equiptment and kill all those manning them:
https://img359.imageshack.us/img359/8039/maa2995cx3.png

Romani Cavalry? Those behind surely look like Hetairoi! Is that an issue of your build?

The next Generation I think indicates the death of Pyrrhos!?

[Olaf The Great]

Ahhh, the mountains of Karia.... Nice picture. :2thumbsup:


Romani Cavalry? Those behind surely look like Hetairoi! Is that an issue of your build?

The next Generation I think indicates the death of Pyrrhos!?
It's his generals cavalry

BTW how did you get a roman general with a roman portrait+name?

[MarcusAureliusAntoninus]

I've thought about conquering Dacia, and if they ever betray our long-lasting alliance they will fall very quickly. However, there are many other places on my list of what I want to conquer first. The Aedui will more likely force me to intervene in the Gallia situation and cause border problems soon, too.

When I conquered Roma, one of their family members was outside the city and became rebel. I then bribed him to join me and since he was 16 or 17 at the time he is still alive to lead his armies. Since you cannot have different bodyguards for Family Members, he looks like my generals and has a Hetairoi bodyguard.

[Centurio Nixalsverdrus]

When I conquered Roma, one of their family members was outside the city and became rebel. I then bribed him to join me and since he was 16 or 17 at the time he is still alive to lead his armies. Since you cannot have different bodyguards for Family Members, he looks like my generals and has a Hetairoi bodyguard.
:stupido2:

[Chaotix]

Keep it up, MAA, the AAR is great!

But speaking of bodyguards, don't the KH ones have two different kinds- spartans and non-spartans?

[General Appo]

Yes, but the Spartan ones only come for some of the starting generals. You could give a starting general anything as bodyguards, but the ones born in the game all get the same.

[MarcusAureliusAntoninus]

Chapter 63 : The Next Generation

While Pyrrhos and his sons fight the civil war, his brothers' families continue to rule in Northern-Italia, Gallia, and Iberia. A great blow comes to the family when Gelon dies in Bononia. Gelon was the second-born of Nepos' three sons and brother to Pyrrhos. With the death of Gelon, Pyrrhos is left the last member of his family in the older generation:
https://img365.imageshack.us/img365/3941/maa2984ic0.jpg

The rule of the western satrapies falls to Pyrrhos' nephews, sons of Neikolaos and Gelon. Due to the long lives and early successes, both of Pyrrhos' brothers leave many sons, who rule in their fathers' places.

Around the same time in Bosphoria, Pythianos dies. Pythianos was second-born son of Euboulides' three sons and uncle to Herodes, who fights in Kappadokia:
https://img359.imageshack.us/img359/8690/maa3007ti9.jpg

Isolated in far off Babylonia, Isidoros Oresteus rebuilds the city walls of Babylon. The construction of the walls being only the first part in Isidoros' plan to restore Babylon to its former glory:
https://img365.imageshack.us/img365/5787/maa3009zx7.jpg

During the winter of 170BC, Sotades decides to take the garrison at Side by force. Having fought wars since he was young, Sotades tires of war but continues to do his father's bidding. Hoping to quickly complete his task of taking southern Anatolia and then switch to defending tactics, Sotades attacks the city to seize it by force:
https://img186.imageshack.us/img186/1530/maa3011aq3.png

With such a small garrison, the walls are attacked and taken with almost no effort:
https://img48.imageshack.us/img48/5024/maa3012xo8.png

Then the Pezhetiaroi march into the town and toward the city garrison hiding within:
https://img186.imageshack.us/img186/889/maa3013hg1.png

While the Pezhetairoi attack the enemy infantry...
https://img186.imageshack.us/img186/4063/maa3015xk4.png

...the Thraikioi circle around the rear and take out the slingers:
https://img148.imageshack.us/img148/2141/maa3016gb6.png

The city falls quickly and easily, with the majority of causalties falling to arrow fire from archers within the towers at the very beginning of the battle:
https://img186.imageshack.us/img186/512/maa3019ck7.jpg

As the spring of 169BC comes around, Pyrrhos decides to return to Makedonia. As he grows older, his ledgendary skill at battle begins to fade. Rather then risk his health, he turns over the war effort to Sotades and makes his way back to Pella. Pyrrhos ruling in Pella marks the first time a Basileus has ruled from the capital since Alkyoneus did during the shared rule of he and Demetrios.

Sotades is not very earer to lead in his father's stead and sets up defensively in southern Anatolia. After securing the territory in Anatolia all the way up to the edge of Kilikia, Sotades shifts to plans of defence in case of a counter-attack without any plan for advancing. The war on this front comes to a standstill.

In Pella, Laandros, fourth-born son of Pyrrhos' four children comes of age:
https://img186.imageshack.us/img186/2899/maa3020ch3.png

At the same time, Anaxagoras comes of age. Anaxagoras is second-born son of the murdered Herakleon and brother of Herodes:
https://img186.imageshack.us/img186/107/maa3021tf7.png

Anaxagoras moves to Pella for his education, there he meets Laandros and the two become friends. Pyrrhos encourages their friendship in hopes of solidifying the alliance between his family and the family of Euboulides. Due to the troubles in Hellas, they are not sent to the Spartan Agoge or to the schools of Anthenai, but the schools in Pella are nearly as advanced anyways.

While getting their education in Pella, the two youths are adversly influenced by Laandros' elder broter, Euphrantos. Euphratos introduces the two to the vices of Pella's underworld and the pleasures of the ruling class. Thus the two are torn between the day-time world of their education and the night-time world of pleasure. They do not develop into the outstanding men that Pyrrhos had hoped for.

In northern Kappadokia, Anaxagoras' elder brother, Herodes, attacks the city of Ani-Kamah. The city of Ani-Kamah had originally been a fort city of the Armenian peoples, but since its capture by the Arche Makedonia it had begun to develop into a decent sized city:
https://img166.imageshack.us/img166/276/maa3024sx3.png

With many seige towers, Herodes attacks the enemy walls. The seige starts off on a bad note, as many seige towers are destroyed and many men lost to missile fire at the base of the enemy walls:
https://img166.imageshack.us/img166/386/maa3025kz2.png

Once on the walls, however, the Makedones wipe out the enemy archers with little effort:
https://img186.imageshack.us/img186/851/maa3026dq6.png

With the walls in their control, the attacking force takes a pause to rest and await the possible surrender. When the surrender doesn't come, Herodes orders his Bosphorian archers onto the walls.

Once on the walls, the Bosphorian archers open fire on the enemy below. With archers, who are superior to even those from Persia, the enemy is quickly wiped out:
https://img166.imageshack.us/img166/3905/maa3028hj5.png

The Makedones then advance on the city center, where they attack from multiple sides and surround the remaining enemy:
https://img148.imageshack.us/img148/7372/maa3030nf5.png

The city falls and Herodes dedicates the victory to his fallen father as well as Basileus Megas Pyrrhos. Few men die, but the cost is far more than originally suspected:
https://img166.imageshack.us/img166/8749/maa3031po8.jpg

With this victory, the regions between Kappadokia and Armenia are conquered, and Pyrrhos gains an easily defendable border:
https://img186.imageshack.us/img186/2984/maa3032rp8.png

Just after his victory, Herodes receives word from Bosphoria that his uncle Polyades has died. With the death of his two uncles, and having no cousins, Herodes and his brother are the last of the line of Euboulides:
https://img186.imageshack.us/img186/8150/maa3033pc0.jpg

Around the same time, a great blow is dealt for Lybia. In the city of Kyrene, Antisthenes Gortynios, governor of Lybia, dies. Although he is not well known across the Arche, in Lybia, Antisthenes is a hero. After marrying into the family of Demetrios, Antisthenes spent almost his whole life defending Lybia from the agression of the city of Kart-Hadast. When Neokles invaded Africa, Antisthenes helped in the invasion, winning more support in Lybia. Later, he provided Lybia to Pyrrhos at the outbreak of the civil war due to his respect of Pyrrhos' fighting in the African invasion:
https://img166.imageshack.us/img166/2394/maa3035vp1.jpg

The deaths during this era take the lives of the majority of the important people of the former generation. The three families of the Arche Makedonia are almost completely shifted to the younger generation. The family of Demetrios had lost their older generation, as well as most of their younger generation, at the very onset of the war. The death of Herakleon had crippled the family of Euboulides at the beggining of the war, and in the last, year both his brothers have died. Pyrrhos is now the last of the sons of Nepos, the three brothers who had defeated the Romaioi. Besides Pyrrhos, only Lysippos surrives of the older generation and both these men are done with warfare.

As Pyrrhos looks to the younger generation, he is glad he sent Philippos to Iberia. The civil war and the excesses of the homeland seem to have corrupted his two younger sons and war fatigue tired his first-born. When news reaches Pyrrhos that Philippos is returning eastward, Pyrrhos sends word to him to hurry, for he is needed.


The known world in 169BC:
https://img166.imageshack.us/img166/7130/hxmak169editqx8.png

Next: Chapter 64 : A Lull In the War

[General Appo]

Damn the curses of age.
What will Philippos do when he comes home? Retake Hellas? Land at Antiocheia (or Demetreia as I believe you´ve renamed it) or just get corrupted.
The title on the next chapter sounds strange, but at least we will perhaps see what exactly Orseteus has in mind. King of Babylon? Strange man indeed.

[MarcusAureliusAntoninus]

Philippos attended the Spartan Agoge, so when he gets back to Hellas, there will be a chance for some good roleplaying. Although I haven't done it yet, my plan is to take all of 'greater' Syria in one quick move.

Isidoros Oresteus is in a weird situation. I've made a nice army for him, but he doesn't really have anywhere to go. If he goes south, Sab'yn will attack me. If he takes Seleukeia, Media will attack me. And he can't go north because the Demetrids have huge numbers of forces in Assyria. Until the next big push in the war comes, I guess he'll just sit in Bayblon, rebuilding the city.

[Chirurgeon]

Great installments!! You do this so that it seems almost feaseble from a historical perspective. Well done!

[MarcusAureliusAntoninus]

Great installments!! You do this so that it seems almost feaseble from a historical perspective. Well done!
Thank you, Chirurgeon.
Ironically, you said you will be doing more updates now that it is summer, I'll probably be doing less updates now that it is summer.
That said, :clown: here's an update:

[MarcusAureliusAntoninus]

Chapter 64 : A Lull In the War

With the complete conquest of Anatolia and Kappadokia, the armies of Pyrrhos come to a halt. Due to Pyrrhos' age and health, he has retired from warfare and moved back to Pella. His first born son, Sotades, who he has left in command of the armies also becomes tired of warfare. Sotades settles down and sets up a defensive line between Anatolia and Kilikia, where he rests. While in the city of Side, Sotades begins to develop skills for governing:
https://img260.imageshack.us/img260/6092/maa3057wi2.png

To the north, the young Herodes also halts. Young and inexperienced, Herodes does not wish to fight a war all by himself. There too, defensive lines are made and Herodes defends the Kappadokia - Armenia border.

In Babylonia, Isidoros Oresteus is forced to remain on the defensive, as well. With secret contact to Makedonia established, Isidoros keeps informed of the status of the war and is ever ready for the day when orders come from Pyrrhos that the final invasion of Syria is coming. While he waits, Isidoros also becomes quite attuned at governing Babylon:
https://img171.imageshack.us/img171/576/maa3056rp6.jpg

Back in Pella, Makedonia, Pyrrhos runs the political and economic affairs of the Arche Makedonia. Now retired from warfare, Pyrrhos becomes quite satisfied managing the internal runnings of the Arche:
https://img260.imageshack.us/img260/1316/maa3055rx6.jpg

Still seeking to impress the local nobility, Pyrrhos builds a great gymnasion. Built to complement the games, that were established the previous year in Pella, Pyrrhos once again out does the city of Olympia:
https://img136.imageshack.us/img136/15/maa3058bj1.png

Although the war slows down and the eastern borders remain stagnant, three important points of interest appear. The first is in Armenia, where the allied army of steppe cavalry continues to pester the Demetrid garrison at Armavir. Originally dispatched by Lysippos, these men are tasked simply with weaking the Demetrid hold on Armenia. Although direct confrontations are rare, as the snow piles up on the ground, the two apposing armies of the region meet:
https://img171.imageshack.us/img171/9595/maa3036bb9.png

Taking the initiative, the steppe cavalry quickly surround the Demetrid detachment and fire their arrows at them from all sides:
https://img263.imageshack.us/img263/7996/maa3038ja0.png

The lightly armored soldiers are quickly wiped out and soon only heavy phalangitai remain:
https://img263.imageshack.us/img263/108/maa3039ft2.png

Once the phalangitai are severly paniced from being surrounded and from taking losses, the steppe horsemen charge in from all sides:
https://img171.imageshack.us/img171/9622/maa3040gy5.png

The enemy stand no chance and are all eliminated. When the garrison from Armavir arrives, the steppe cavalry fire their few remaining arrows at them and then turn northward to retreat:
https://img171.imageshack.us/img171/1578/maa3041ny1.png

The short hit-and-run battle is a great success and about a third of the Demetrid forces in Armenia are lost:
https://img263.imageshack.us/img263/9691/maa3042fl4.jpg

The second eventful region of the time is the city of Ippone. The city itself was an important port for Kart-Hadast and was one of the first cities taken in the African Invasion, but now it is simply a problem site. The city itself is isolated along the Numidian coast, with a large discontent population, under constant attack from the Numidians. Fed up with the region, the previous governor had resigned and returned to Kart-Hadast, leaving the young Zaikedenthes Echinaieus in command of the garrison as the city is once again attacked by Numidian forces:
https://img260.imageshack.us/img260/7136/maa3043gv5.png

With great walls around the city, the enemy are forced to try and take the city with siege equiptment. The Numidians begin the battle and start moving their equiptment forward. To counter them, the local archers set their arrows on fire and attempt to light up the enemy equiptment:
https://img260.imageshack.us/img260/8210/maa3044lc7.png

Just as they get near the wall, the first tower is caught on fire and begins to burn to the ground:
https://img260.imageshack.us/img260/8104/maa3045ho4.png

Though one tower goes down, at the other side of the gateway, the Numidian seige tower safely reaches the walls and the enemy rush onto them:
https://img171.imageshack.us/img171/1268/maa3046sf0.png

Firing great distances, the local archers set on fire a Numidian mining entrance. The wooden entry way collapses, killing all inside:
https://img263.imageshack.us/img263/48/maa3047xm3.png

As more men rush to climb the last remaining tower, the archers finally set it on fire, too:
https://img260.imageshack.us/img260/1005/maa3049ou1.png

The wall defenders easily wipe out the last of the enemy, who are now trapped on the wall and surrounded:
https://img260.imageshack.us/img260/8585/maa3050xg9.png

With no more siege equiptment remaining, the last of the Numidian army retreats and Ippone remains in the hands of the Arche Makedonia, for now:
https://img260.imageshack.us/img260/4908/maa3051zt7.jpg

The third, most important, and most tragic event of the time occurs in Hellas. The Spartans had managed to form an alliance with almost all of the Hellenic city-states in the Peloponnesos. With an alliance to the Demetrids, the Sparatans' Peloponnesos Alliance directly apposes Pyrrhos, but there had yet to be combat in Hellas.

After a short time, the Peloponnesos Alliance turns to Athenai to join them. The Athenians are hesitant, but reluctantly join the alliance. In order to "defend" the city, the Spartans then send an army to Athenai. Because the hesitance to join the alliance and the long standing rivalry between the cities of Sparte and Athenai, the Athenians rejected the idea of Spartans inside the walls of Athenai. Though, when the Spartans arrived, they are allowed into the city. In short order, those who apposed the alliance start causing a upheaval in the Agora. The events in the agora quickly spread and soon their is rioting all across the city. It is only a matter of time before that anger is then shifted toward the Spartan garrison.

When the Spartan garrison is attacked by rioting Athenians, they are quick to respond. To calm the rioting, the Spartans turn to their old friend, violence. Soon, all the city is behind the rioters and against the Spartans, but it does not matter. By the time the violence ends, almost all of the inhabitants of Athenai lie dead and half the city is on fire:
https://img260.imageshack.us/img260/4006/maa3052sz1.png

The day is remembered throughout time as one of the worst events of the Hellenistic world. Athenai, the center of education, democracy, culture, art, and the very heart of Hellenism itself is destroyed. Not since the burning of Persepolis has such a horrid event taken place. With the loss of the cultural center of the Arche, the Arche Makedonia looses its top place. The Arche Seleukeia, rising from their own ashes once again takes the place of the most advanced Hellenistic people in the known world:
https://img260.imageshack.us/img260/2489/maa3053ay2.jpg

The destruction of Athenai does have a possitive side effect for Pyrrhos, though. With the destruction of Athenai, the Peloponnesos Alliance begins to fall apart. Wanting nothing to do with those who destroyed Athenai, many cities seek to leave the alliance and those not yet in it swear loyalty to the Arche Makedonia. Some cities within the Alliance even secretly contact Pyrrhos and request aid against Sparta. To deal with the problem, the Spartans set up garrisons and occupy all cities who are seeking to leave the alliance and begin a campaign of conquest. The rest of Attike quickly falls, then Euboia, and finally the islands of the Aegean. When the city of Chalkis resists the Spartan rule, it too is burned to the ground and its citizens slaughtered:
https://img136.imageshack.us/img136/7677/maa3060jz6.png

After such events in Hellas, events in the other regions seem moot. But in Numidia, the city of Ippone is once again attacked...
https://img260.imageshack.us/img260/8087/maa3062au4.png

...and Zaikedenthes Echinaieus successfully defends the city once again:
https://img263.imageshack.us/img263/2679/maa3063fb2.jpg

This battle marks a change in the policy of those adminstering the region from nearby Kart-Hadast. The losses received from defending the city of Ippone has cost the lives of many Hellenes and Makedones. Wishing no more losses, the remaining Hellenistic forces are withdrawn to Africa. Dispite the withdrawl, Zaikedenthes Echinaieus remains in Ipone as governor and leads the all local garrison. On the positive side, Zaikedenthes learns from the battle and becomes a better leader:
https://img260.imageshack.us/img260/2261/maa3076kx7.jpg

In Armenia, the steppe cavalry once again gets into a fight with the local Demetrid forces:
https://img260.imageshack.us/img260/6173/maa3064gy1.png

Isolating a small detachment, the steppe horsemen surround and rain arrows down upon their enemy:
https://img136.imageshack.us/img136/1522/maa3066hh4.png

Soon, only a few kataphraktoi remain. Due to their heavy armor, the steppe horsemen decide to cease fire and charge in to fight the kataphraktoi, hand to hand:
https://img260.imageshack.us/img260/6529/maa3067wy0.png

Although the kataphraktoi are stronger in all categories, the superior numbers of the steppe cavalry win the day. The kataphraktoi are quickly wiped out and General Boxos Zariaspaios is killed.

As the garrison from Armavir approaches, the steppe cavarly once again fire their remaining arrows and flees back to friendly territory:
https://img136.imageshack.us/img136/7594/maa3069kn3.png

The steppe cavalry win another fight and continue their campaign to annoy the Demetrids in Armenia:
https://img260.imageshack.us/img260/1226/maa3071ph7.jpg

Around the same time, an earthquake hits the cursed city of Ippone. As one of the largest quakes to hit the area, ever, great losses are taken and damage dealt:
https://img260.imageshack.us/img260/4760/maa3072qa0.png

Outside of the Arche Makedonia, other wars continue. The Arche Seleukeia continues their war with Gandhara and continues to push them back, retaking Iran. The Kingdom of Sab'yn, however surprises the Arche Seleukeia, when they suddenly attack Persis with a large attacking force:
https://img260.imageshack.us/img260/508/maa3054wj5.png

In Aigyptos, Ptolemai VII and his son bypass the territories of their Demetrid allies and move their armies northward, into the deserts of Lybia. Now, the forts set up by Antisthenes Gortynios become a barrier for not only the Demetrids but for the rebuilt Ptolemaioi:
https://img136.imageshack.us/img136/338/maa3061ky4.png

The era of little activity by the royal family comes to an end when Philippos lands in Epeiros. With his veteran army, reinforced by new recruits from Massalia and Syrakousai, Philippos is finally home. He eyes turn southward to Hellas:
https://img136.imageshack.us/img136/6360/maa3074zs1.png


The known world in 167BC:
https://img260.imageshack.us/img260/544/hxmak167edityk6.png

Next: Chapter 65 : Illyrians and Indians

[Swordmaster]

Flashy stuff. Which faction are the Indians? Pontos? Hai?

[Lysimachos]

Flashy stuff. Which faction are the Indians? Pontos? Hai?

Palahvans. The violet Media is Hayasdan.

[Olaf The Great]

After Phillipos reclaims hellas, perhaps you can reinforce the garrison in Iudaia, and possibly attack Egypt.


That war doesn't seem to be going well for the Demetrids....(Maybe you can spawn a few experienced and heavily armed armies in Syria, as the AI doesn't seem to be able to cope well with recruiting..)

[Maion Maroneios]

I think that, in terms of reality, it would be extremely difficult for the Demetrids to respond to such repeated attacks from all sides. So giving them elite stacks will probably just end in their fragmentation into smaller units and spread to the ''pseudoarche's'' cities. Apart from the fact that it will further drain their economy. I don't know if you have ever played as a phalanx nation, but if you haven't I can tell you that an elite Alexandrian phalanx army requires huge amounts of cash. It really is a pain in the @$$, especially if you have many of them:laugh4:

[MarcusAureliusAntoninus]

Pahlav as Gandhara, Hayasdan as Media, and the Ptolemaioi as the Kingdom of Meroe.

I was hoping that Aigyptos would be taken away from the Demetrids without me doing anything, but as you can see by the second to last picture, the AI hardcoding programming is screwing up my plan.

I would have thought that Ioudaia would have been conquered by now, but the AI just can't get their stuff together. They'll besiege it now and then, but rarely ever complete the siege. The whole AI for the Demetrids is acting quite stupid. But I'm adding that to the roleplaying that they lack any true leadership. They aren't really a challenge, but the AI rarely ever is.

I was thinking about spawning some armies for the Demetrids when I attack them next. But I should probably wait so that I fight an actual army all at once and not just groups of two Pezhetairoi here an there.

[Swordmaster]

Pahlav as Gandhara, Hayasdan as Media, and the Ptolemaioi as the Kingdom of Meroe.

I was hoping that Aigyptos would be taken away from the Demetrids without me doing anything, but as you can see by the second to last picture, the AI hardcoding programming is screwing up my plan.

I would have thought that Ioudaia would have been conquered by now, but the AI just can't get their stuff together. They'll besiege it now and then, but rarely ever complete the siege. The whole AI for the Demetrids is acting quite stupid. But I'm adding that to the roleplaying that they lack any true leadership. They aren't really a challenge, but the AI rarely ever is.

I was thinking about spawning some armies for the Demetrids when I attack them next. But I should probably wait so that I fight an actual army all at once and not just groups of two Pezhetairoi here an there.

Nothing beats the AI willingly agreeing on a ceasefire and attacking the same turn again. I try to keep my calm, but if I ever met the AI in person, I'd give him a serious beating for being so bewilderingly stupid.

[Centurio Nixalsverdrus]

:2thumbsup::2thumbsup::2thumbsup:

Cool update. Did you have to cheat to create that Lakonian aggression, or did they act on their own?

[Chaotix]

I think they did it on their own, but MAA definitely left the southern Greek cities completely undefended to encourage them.

[MarcusAureliusAntoninus]

The Spartans didn't really do anything until I started "poking at them". That is to say, they just stood there in a half stack next to Sparte for a long time. Then I took the tiny garrison of Thessaly and attacked their half stack, auto-calc'd, and lost. Then, they started moving and took most of Hellas, which was undefended.

[Europe]

I have been reading this AAR since chapter 4 or 6, (The Antigonid Dynasty). Because I have been lurking for a year now I guess I should say
Very Nice!:2thumbsup:

[Strategos Alexandros]

Haven't read this for a while (exams=:wall:) but good updates, I really want to see what happens to Sparta.

[Reverend Joe]

I say, burn it to the :daisy:ing ground. Not out of retribution for their rebellion, but out of revenge for the movie "300." :smash:

[ezekiel2517]

Can't wait for next update. I joined the .org because of this AAR :2thumbsup:

[MarcusAureliusAntoninus]

Thanks, everyone.

I've been working on the next chapter and I might have it up as soon as today.

[MarcusAureliusAntoninus]

Chapter 65 : Illyrians and Indians

Peloponnesos League, led by the Spartans, had taken most of Hellas, but the destruction of Athenai and Chalkis had cost them a great deal of support. They are now faced with a strong enemy border. Thessalia is a strong supporter of Makedonia but Aitolia is still available for conquest. In order to prevent another region joining, falling to, or being destroyed by the Spartans, Philippos quickly moves his army to Aitolia and occupies the city of Thermon. Because of the destruction of Athenai, the Spartans have lost all support in the area and Philippos is welcomed to the city as a protector:
https://img386.imageshack.us/img386/7282/maa3077ak5.png

Before he can challenge the Spartans, Philippos has to sure up control of Aitolia and prepare for what will happen to Hellas once it is retaken. Only a fool gets into a war without a plan for what comes after. Philippos also begins secret negotiations with the Athenians, the Korinthians, and a few other city-states who are ready to betray the Peloponnesos League.

The Eastern Front

While Hellas awaits a war, allied forces move in the east. After taking control of Kappadokia and restoring the region to Makedonike control, the Galatians and Illyrians moved into Kilikia. The Galatians moved south and the Illyrians moved east. After wandering through the mountains of eastern Kilikia for a while, the Illyrians decide to move south into the plains of Syria and pick a fight:
https://img258.imageshack.us/img258/8059/maa3079wd0.png

In a lightly forested region, the Illyrians corner a small Demetrid army of mostly levies. While the spearmen move forward, the slingers open fire on the enemy to weaken them up:
https://img386.imageshack.us/img386/62/maa3081ns0.png

Then, as they come close to the enemy, the spearmen throw their javelin and prepare to charge:
https://img261.imageshack.us/img261/4875/maa3083jp4.png

The Demetrid army tries to fall back, but the Illyrians give chase and catch them just inside a small grove to trees:
https://img386.imageshack.us/img386/176/maa3085ha7.png

The fighting goes on for a short time, but the Demetrid army lacks much strength. While moving around the flank of the battle, the Illyrian cavalry notice a flanking manuever by the enemy. While their infantry hold down the Illyrian spearmen, Demetrid kataphraktoi are moving around the rear to charge. The Illyrian cavalry quickly move to counter the flanking and charge in at the kataphraktoi before they can charge the battle line:
https://img258.imageshack.us/img258/1877/maa3086gb8.png

The kataphraktoi hit the battle line but are quickly followed by the Illyrian cavalry who hit them from behind. Loosing their mass and speed, the kataphraktoi get tied down in melee combat. Seeing their elite kataphraktoi surrounded, the Demetrid infantry panic and the whole battle line gives way and begins to flee, with the Illyrian spearmen giving chase just behind them:
https://img261.imageshack.us/img261/9430/maa3087qu0.png

The kataphraktoi soon break as well, but the Illyrian cavalry do not follow. Rather, they join the spearmen in chasing down the enemy infantry:
https://img386.imageshack.us/img386/1041/maa3089wd1.png

Although few are elites, the Demetrids have lost a great deal of men by the end of the day:
https://img261.imageshack.us/img261/7770/maa3090dd1.jpg

In Aigyptos and Lybia, Ptolemai VII and his son move into the desert, only to encounter a line of desert forts and a defense force well aware of their movements:
https://img258.imageshack.us/img258/3001/maa3091no2.png

In Armenia, the army of steppe cavalry continue their campaign of destruction and annoyance against the Demetrids. Having surrounded the city of Armavir and cut off outside supplies, the Demetrids send in reinforcements to relieve the city. The steppe horsemen turn to meet their enemy and prepare to fight from two sides:
https://img258.imageshack.us/img258/5351/maa3092jq3.png

The horse-mounted archers once again use their tactic of firing at the enemy from all sides...
https://img261.imageshack.us/img261/6889/maa3094vw4.png

...then charging in and attacking the few demoralized men left standing:
https://img261.imageshack.us/img261/8835/maa3095fh0.png

Repeating this tactic twice in one day, the steppe horsemen greatly damage the two small Demetrid armies but fail to wipe them out and take back the city of Armavir:
https://img261.imageshack.us/img261/3459/maa3096cn4.jpg

The Arche Seleukeia and Gandhara

Divided and engaged in constant war, neither half of the Arche Makedonia can claim to be the sole greatest people in the known world. With the destruction of Athenai and the heart of Hellenic culture, Pyrrhos looses the lead. Meanwhile, the Arche Seleukeia rises from the ashes and is able to call themselves the most advanced people once again:
https://img258.imageshack.us/img258/4056/maa3097px8.jpg

After more than a year of siege, the Arche Seleukeia manages to defeat the armies of Arabia in Persis. With their army wiped out, the Kingdom of Sab'yn negotiates a ceasefire with the Arche Seleukeia but does not give up on their goal of invading Iran:
https://img386.imageshack.us/img386/2223/maa3098ss6.jpg

Although there is no alliance with Media, Media has an alliance with Baktria and Baktria an alliance with the Arche Seleukeia. With this delecate peace and the defeat of the Sab'yn army, the Arche Seleukeia has peace on their western border. Now, they once again shift their whole focus to their eastern border.

Ever since the fall of the Mauryan Empire and the isolation of Gandhara, the war had shifted. The forces of India had at one point pushed all the way to the gates of Persepolis, but now the tides have turned. In a series of victories over the last couple decades, the forces of the Arche Seleukeia manage to push the Indians all the way out of Iran and Arachosia:
https://img386.imageshack.us/img386/6434/maa3099cq1.png

The Arche Seleukeia then starts to push into India itself and to the Indus River. In a few places, they even manage to cross the river and begin a campaign to conquer India itself:
https://img258.imageshack.us/img258/5788/maa3100my3.png

From the Gandharan capital of Taksashila, however, the Seleukid forces are pushed back:
https://img261.imageshack.us/img261/8361/maa3101cu3.png

To the north, the Seleukids have a new problem. Though silent for a great deal of time, the nomads of the eastern steppe begin to move once again:
https://img258.imageshack.us/img258/87/maa3102nx5.png

Back West

In Aigyptos, the envoys of Pyrrhos in Meroe manage to negotiate a deal. Promising the reborn Ptolemaic dynasty many things, they manage to get the Nubians to break their alliance with the Demetrids:
https://img386.imageshack.us/img386/3145/maa3119ru7.jpg

Then, in an even greater move, they manage an alliance between Meroe and Pyrrhos in exchange for even more promises and the agreement of a joint invasion of lower Aigyptos:
https://img261.imageshack.us/img261/387/maa3118ms3.jpg

Meanwhile, having withdrawn back to the mountains of Kilikia, the Illyrians are attacked by Demetrid forces. This battle takes place near a ridge where Demetrios himself had set up a small fort to look down on Assyria so many years ago:
https://img258.imageshack.us/img258/5609/maa3120rq2.png

Taking up position on a hill, the Illyrians wait for their enemy to come to them:
https://img258.imageshack.us/img258/6791/maa3121ov4.png

Although the Demetrid phalangitai slowly move forward, the Demetrid kataphraktoi charge in on the left flank of the Illyrian line:
https://img261.imageshack.us/img261/7689/maa3122on6.png

The charge is absorbed and the Illyrian spearmen begin their fight with the heavily armored horsemen. Meanwhile, the Illryian cavalry moves out from behind the line and begins to make their flanking move:
https://img386.imageshack.us/img386/6986/maa3123bd8.png

Although they are slow to move up the hill, the Demetrid phalangitai eventually join the battle and attempt to hold back the Illyrian spearmen:
https://img386.imageshack.us/img386/2350/maa3124ox0.png

On the left flank, the kataphraktoi gain the advantage and begin to push back the Illyrian battle line, but their victory is short lived. Soon, the Illyrian cavalry charge in from behind and completely decimate the kataphraktoi numbers:
https://img386.imageshack.us/img386/2873/maa3125vu5.png

In the center of the line, the Makedonike commander of the Illyrians falls dead, but the Illyrians fight on:
https://img386.imageshack.us/img386/6261/maa3126id6.jpg

With the left flank now clear, those on the left flank circle around the rear of the enemy phalangitai and begin throwing their remaining javelin:
https://img258.imageshack.us/img258/7149/maa3127xl9.png

Tired from fighting and frightened from javelin fire from behind, the Demetrid phalangitai are quite easy to break and wipe out with a single cavalry charge:
https://img386.imageshack.us/img386/3184/maa3128uy6.png

Although their general dies, the Illyrians win the day and manage to hold the small fort in the hills of Kilikia:
https://img261.imageshack.us/img261/8537/maa3130vf9.jpg

Next: Chapter 66 : The Spartan War

[Leviathan DarklyCute]

Nice one. Were will you go next?

[Hooahguy]

been a while since ive been here- wow- so much has gone on!!!
very good!

[Centurio Nixalsverdrus]

Nice update. However, two things irritate me:

1. "Your forces are attacked by an army of Makedonia"??? I thought you called them Demetrids?

2. In one picture of the last battle, there is the watchtower visible in the background. How did you achieve this? I never see the watchtowers on the battle map in EB, only once as Sweboz in 1.0... but never as Makedonia or Karthago.

[Swordmaster]

2. In one picture of the last battle, there is the watchtower visible in the background. How did you achieve this? I never see the watchtowers on the battle map in EB, only once as Sweboz in 1.0... but never as Makedonia or Karthago.

Good job spotting that. I'd never thought of watchtowers being visible in battles. I'll have to look out for that.

[MarcusAureliusAntoninus]

Thanks for commenting, everyone.

As the next chapter title says, the next step is on to Hellas. Then I'm waiting to gather my forces and take all of greater syria at once.

It is the Demetrid dynasty, but they are still the eastern half of the Arche Makedonia. Though changing all of the entries in the text file to "Makedonia" was just easier, for one thing.

Watchtowers have been in the game for a while, perhaps since the beginning of RTW. Though, you can only see them if you are on the same tile as them and they will appear off the battle screen. If you are fighting a battle on an tile just next to one, they don't seem to show up at all.

[MarcusAureliusAntoninus]

Chapter 66 : The Spartan War

It had been only a decade and a half since Philippos had completed the Spartiatai Agoge, but to Philippos, his training had been many lifetimes ago. It was in Sparte that Philippos learned the basics of warfare and leadership, but he had since built upon that knowledge and become a great leader with many victories. Now, with a successful campaign of conquest behind him, he returns to Hellas to confront the very masters who began him on his journey.

The Spartiatai rebellion and the Peloponnesos League had reached its highest point and lowest point at the same time. The destruction of Athenai would be as far at the Spartiatai would expand. After meeting with his father and brothers to devise the future plans for Hellas, Philippos makes his move. With Aitolia and Thessalia firmly behind him, Philippos takes his army to Attike. Between the Sea of Korinthos and the mountains, Philippos encounters the army of Sparte and her allies. Not far from the ruins of Thebes, the battle is waged:
https://img154.imageshack.us/img154/4936/maa3103qy2.png

Philippos sets up his battle line and prepares for battle, but it is the Spartiatai who make the first move. Surprisingly to Philippos, the entire Spartiatai army charges forward at his line. Philippos orders his men to hold their ground, and they absorb the initial impact:
https://img105.imageshack.us/img105/9594/maa3105lv7.png

In the center are the elite of Sparte, who charge the line of short pikes without fear:
https://img185.imageshack.us/img185/1397/maa3106se9.png

While less than half the Spartiatai force holds down the pike wielding Makedones in the center, the bulk of the Hellenic force circles around both flanks of the line. Philippos quickly sends his sword thorakitai and elite peltastai to counter, but in this move leaves Philippos without any reserves:
https://img105.imageshack.us/img105/496/maa3107um3.png

Leaving orders with his aging Syrian archers to act as the reserves if needed, Philippos takes every last cavalry and moves south. Circling between the southern edge of the battle and the sea, Philippos manages to circle his cavalry around the Spartiatai rear:
https://img105.imageshack.us/img105/8928/maa3109ux0.png

Without any Spartiatai cavalry or even any infantry kept in reserve, Philippos encounters no resistance for his cavalry and is able to arrange an orderly charge. With a single order, ever last horse of the giant Makedonike cavalry devision charges forward at the center of the Hellenic line:
https://img105.imageshack.us/img105/1952/maa3111hb2.png

The charge is a great success and Hellenes fall dead all around the horsemen. With so many horses all around them, moving at great speed, the center of the Spartiatai line breaks and even the most trained soldier turns to run for his life:
https://img154.imageshack.us/img154/4508/maa3112wq0.png

At first, Philippos pulls his cavalry away and lets the center of his line give chase while the flanks of both armies continue to fight. While the Spartiatai retreat, Philippos slowly moves the cavalry parrallel to the fleeing enemy. Then, as the Hellenic forces begin to regain their senses and consider regrouping to confront the pursuing Makedonike thorakitai, Philippos speeds up his cavalry. After gaining a good distance ahead of the fleeing Hellenes, Philippos wheels his cavalry quickly around to the left and charges straight at the routing men. Seeing the cavalry coming at them, the Hellenes pause or even turn around. Soon they find themselves surrounded. On one side are the thorakitai and on the other a huge division of Makedonike horses:
https://img154.imageshack.us/img154/6435/maa3113ib4.png

With these soldiers being the very same who burned Athenai and slaughtered its people, Philippos orders his men to show no mercy and to wipe out every last enemy. Soon the remaining fighting on the flanks of the battle dies down and the Skythian cavalry chase down the very last of the Spartiatai. By the end of the day, almost the entire Spartiatai army is no more:
https://img154.imageshack.us/img154/24/maa3116zk0.jpg

With the victory, Attike and all of the conquered islands of the Aegean expel or kill their Spartiatai garrisons and declare themselves loyal to Pyrrhos and Philippos:
https://img154.imageshack.us/img154/4514/maa3117mt3.png

Philippos then moves to Athenai, where he enters the city as a great hero and is greeted as the savior to the people. Philippos immediately begins to rebuild the city and promises that Athenai will be even great than it was before. Fortunately, for the first time since the beginning of the war, the funds are there to back up the promise. From Athenai to Ephesos to the far reaches of the Arche Makedonia, the renewed treasury funds the repairs and even some new buiding projects. The mines of Iberia, Anatolia, Pontos and Kappadokia finally begin to restore monetary security to Makedonia.

After spending spring and summer in Athenai, Philippos moves to the straights of Korinthos in autumn and into the peloponnesos. After a short siege, Philippos takes the city of Korinthos by force and defeats the Spartiatai garrison. The battle is quick and easy, and ends up being the fatal blow to the Peloponnesos League:
https://img154.imageshack.us/img154/9602/maa3133sa8.png

With the fall of Korinthos, the cities of Argos, Elis, Olympia, and all the remaining allies of Sparte surrender and beg for mercy from Makedonia. After exiling any rebellious leaders, Philippos forgives all of the cities of the peloponnesos and restores them to the control of the Arche Makedonia. The surrender of the Hellenic cities is as much a pyschological victory as a military victory. In asking for Philippos' help and swearing loyalty to Makedonia, the cities give up all future claim to independence from Makedonia, and the act thus solidify the Makedonike control of Hellas.

Now only Sparte remains to resist the Arche Makedonia, but Philippos waits. As winter sets in, Philippos replenishes his army with citizens of Athenai or the peloponnesos who are anxious to prove their loyalty through military service. While the Illyrians fight in Syria and his father negotiates peace with Nubia, Philippos waits and prepares:
https://img154.imageshack.us/img154/284/maa3165eb1.png

Finally, in the spring of 165BC, Philippos moves his army to Argos then Olympia. By summer, Philippos crosses into Lakonike to confront the Spartiatai for the finally time:
https://img105.imageshack.us/img105/1318/maa3182ym7.png

The battle begins when Philippos confronts a small army of Spartiatai outside of the city Sparte. The Spartiatai hold the high ground and Philippos is forced to march up the hill:
https://img105.imageshack.us/img105/1729/maa3183un7.png

At first the Spartiatai hold their ground and don't seem willing to move forward, but then a small group begins to move down from the hill and charges the Makedonike line:
https://img154.imageshack.us/img154/8900/maa3184pw4.png

Assuming this is a feint, Philippos does nothing, but the Spartiatai detachment charges in at the marching thorakitai and disrupt the formation. Philippos orders his men to stop and reform, but the small attack is suddenly joined by another unseen force that comes out of the tree cover. Once again, the Spartiatai surprise Philippos:
https://img185.imageshack.us/img185/570/maa3185md1.png

In order to fill the gap, Philippos rushes his sword thorakitai in, once again giving up his reserves for later use. Once there, the sword thorakitia confront more elite Spartaitai Hoplitai:
https://img185.imageshack.us/img185/7259/maa3187ga1.png

The situation only gets worse for the sword thorakitai when another group of Spartiatai Hoplitai charge in at the flank of the fight, forcing them to fight in multiple directions:
https://img185.imageshack.us/img185/291/maa3188jb5.png

While the battle wages in the center of the clearing, a small group of Spartiatai attempt to move around the flank of the Makedonike line, through a small grove of trees:
https://img185.imageshack.us/img185/8711/maa3189he5.png

However, they are quickly countered by the flank guarding force of spear thorakitai, sword thorakitai, and elite peltastai:
https://img105.imageshack.us/img105/3559/maa3191eo7.png

Throughout the battle, the cavalry attempt to circle around the flank of the battle, but they are constantly countered by light Hellenic troops and unable to make an effective charge. Althought the cavarly cannot charge in at the rear, a small group of sword thorakitai manage to break through the battle and attack a group of elite Spartiatai Hoplitai from the rear:
https://img154.imageshack.us/img154/9056/maa3192hb5.png

This charge leads to the entire Makedonike line bending around the side of the Spartiatai line and causing them to fold in a chain reaction down their line. Finally free from battle, the cavarly quickly circles in and runs down the routing enemy, once again giving no mercy. Yet again, the army of Sparte is completely wiped out:
https://img185.imageshack.us/img185/5774/maa3197ys7.jpg

The victory is so great that no a single Spartiatai who flees the battlefield regroups and takes up arms. Every last Spartiatai soldier disbands and disappears:
https://img154.imageshack.us/img154/5595/maa3198mr3.jpg

After the battle ends, Philippos walks the fields and views the masses of dead or dying. The military surgeons attempt to help those who can be saved, but most are already dead. As he walks, a well adorned Spartiatai body catches his eye and he walks up to it. It is not until he is right next to the body that he realize he knows the man... knew the man. There, covered in blood and far older than he remembered is one of the masters who had instructed him in the ways of warfare so long ago. It would seem the knowledge has come full circle. For a moment Philippos is lost in his thoughts, thinking of both his training and of the battle he just fought. For the first time, Philippos is glad his father kept him out of this civil war as long as he did. Philippos is pulled from the moment when an aid calls to him and he returns to his men, who are already preparing to make the last push to the city of Sparte.

The next day, Philippos and his army marches into the undefended city of Sparte and retake the rebel town in the name of Pyrrhos:
https://img105.imageshack.us/img105/9007/maa3199hl2.png

Many cry for the complete destruction of the city and the slaughter of every last Spartiatai citizen. Others say that they should be forgiven and left unpunished, just like the rest of the Hellenic cities. Philippos is young enough to want vengence but old enough to know that destroying the city would loose him more support in Hellas then it would gain, so he stays his hand. However, the city of Athenai must be avenged. Seeking the balance of his options, Philippos allows his men to loot the city but not destroy it. Once the city is firmly in the control of his army, Philippos collects a portion of the population and orders them relocated to distant colonies in the Arche Makedonia. The citizens of Sparte will live, but they are spread out so that they cannot unify in defiance once again.

The city of Sparte itself is never the same. It had long since stopped being the city of legend with undefeatable mythical soldiers even before the days of Philippos II. Since its conquest by Antigonos Gonatas it had always had some autonomy, even more than most of the cities of Hellas. Now, however, it is the most tightly controlled city in Hellas. The warrior tradition too, is to fade. With the destruction of most of the warrior class and the scattering of many more, Sparte would never again field any sort of elite hoplitai or have her own army. The agoge would remain for a while longer, but it too would not be what it used to be. Ironically, Philippos would be one of the last men of importance to complete the true Spartiatai Agoge.


The known world in 165BC:
https://img167.imageshack.us/img167/8464/hxmak1652editoc3.png

Next: Chapter 67 : The Battle for Ioudaia

[General Appo]

Good going. At least most of the Greeks were smart enough to realise which the winning side was.

[Centurio Nixalsverdrus]

Very cool update. I like it if you give it that immersion, not only telling battle after battle. After all they are "humans". You spawned the Spartans and the Hoplitai for them, right?

Pure coincidence that "The Spartan War" is the name of a chapter of my AAR too. The only difference is that for your chapter there are actually people who really read it... :laugh4: :laugh4: :laugh4: :2thumbsup:

[Swordmaster]

Very cool update. I like it if you give it that immersion, not only telling battle after battle. After all they are "humans". You spawned the Spartans and the Hoplitai for them, right?

Pure coincidence that "The Spartan War" is the name of a chapter of my AAR too. The only difference is that for your chapter there are actually people who really read it... :laugh4: :laugh4: :laugh4: :2thumbsup:

I have to admit honestly that I can't decide which of the two "Spartan Wars" is more enjoyable to read. MAA's is more of an epic battle scene, whereas the atmosphere in Nixalsverdrus' reminds me of a battle description in a history book (especially that governor's wife's window in there :laugh4:). Both make me eager to go out and capture Sparta myself. :whip:

[Chirurgeon]

been a while since I have been on the forums and it looks like the blue team is doing quite well. Impressive indeed :)

[Happy balroae]

great aar but why is ireland a kind of sickly looking yellow

[MarcusAureliusAntoninus]

I've been away for a while, but I'm back. Thanks for commenting/complimenting, everyone.

I had been wanting to write more immersion, but I don't really have any characters to write about. I had never really come up with a character in my head for Pyrrhos beyond him being a strict military man but smart. Also, Pyrrhos' traits have gotten horrible in old age and I wanted to avoid roleplaying them. Now that Philippos has entered the main part of the story, I'll try to focus on him more, as he makes his way to being Basileus.

I noticed the chapter titles were the same just before posting the last chapter, Centurio Nixalsverdrus. Don't give up on your AAR, just yet.

Good to see you're back, Chirurgeon.

I did a couple edits to my minimap before posting it. I've recolored the half of "Lusotanna" that I moved to Ireland so that they are the Goidilids.

[MarcusAureliusAntoninus]

Chapter 67 : The Battle for Ioudaia

Sparte has fallen. The Spartiatai are scattered. Hellas is firmly in the hands of Pyrrhos and once again part of the Western Arche Makedonia. Now only the Demetrid Dynasty of Syria lay between the Pyrrhids and reuniting the old Arche Makedonia.

For the first time in decades, Philippos returns to his homeland of Makedonia. Though he had met with his father before taking on the Spartiatai, it was but for a day. Now, this is the first true time he has to spend with his aging father. To Philippos, the image of this father Pyrrhos is almost that of a mythical hero. Pyrrhos had been a caring father when he raised his children in Italia, but the image and stories of him as a great hero had been repeated so many times during Philippos' childhood that Philippos had created an image in his head that not even Pyrrhos could fill.

They had seen eachother recently for a short time, but in fact, other than a few short visits Philippos had hardly seen his father since he was sent off to complete his training with the Spartiatai at sixteen. Even in Hellas, Philippos continued to hear stories of how heroic his father was. First in Pyrrhos' efforts in the war against the city of Kart-Hadast, then rumors and propaganda against the family of Aristotelis, and even the tales of the civil war he had heard while in Iberia.

Now, able to spend more time with his father, private time, when Pyrrhos didn't have to be an actor, Philippos began to see the true image of his father. Pyrrhos had now become an old man, crippled from birth but with many additional scars and injuries from a lifetime of warfare. His mind too seemed to be slipping. During their talks, Pyrrhos would occationally quickly change topics to something that didn't seem related or important, only to suddenly get back on topic. And there were times when Pyrrhos refered to the Demetrids and Eastern Arche Makedonia as the Romaioi or the Qarthadastism. Though, for the most part, Pyrrhos kept his wits about. His mind was dulling, but since he had always been sharp, he is still relatively sound of mind.

The topic of discussion was mostly what a father and son would normally speak of after a long time apart. Though one topic came up that was always on the mind of a ruler, succession. When the nobles of Pella had declared Pyrrhos their Basileus, Pyrrhos had appointed Philippos to be his heir, though he was not the first-born. Advanced in years, Pyrrhos now saw his own death coming and feared who would be the heir of Philippos. The younger brothers of Philippos were lazy, unintelligent, and sought only pleasure. Were they to rule, the Arche would fall apart. Pyrrhos' first-born son, Sotades clearly did not want power. He sought neither battle nor great responsibility. Both Sotades and Philippos had daughters, but only Philippos had a son and he was far too young to lead the Arche were Pyrrhos and Philippos both to die. After a lengthy discussion, it was decided that Philippos' son would be next in line, but Sotades would be his regent were Philippos to die before he came of age to rule. It was also decided that Philippos would find another heir were his own son to turn out dull or like his younger brothers. Never again would the Arche Makedonia have to suffer a series of horrible leaders simply because the blood line said it was their right.

In public, Pyrrhos, Philippos, as well as the nobles, advisors, generals, and the rest of the royal family talked of the plans against the Demetrids and the reconquest of Syria. The Demetrids had armies in Kilikia and Syria, with decent defenses in Aigyptos. Armenia used to be a strongly garrisoned region, but over time it had been weakened by allies of Pyrrhos as well as foreign enemies. If Syria were to fall to Pyrrhos, both Armenia and Babylonia would be weakened and fall with little effort. So, the plan was made to use all available forces and take Syria all at once, but first a staging ground would be needed.

Numidia

Not only on the east did enemies of the Arche Makedonia take advantage of the civil war. In Numidia, the Numidian-Mauretanian Alliance had continually sent forces against the city of Ippone in attempts to take the city. After repelling the enemy many times, the governor and Hellenic garrison were withdrawn, leaving the young Zaikedenthes Echinaieus to defend the city with a purely local garrison. When yet another attack comes, the local garrison is put to the test:
https://img244.imageshack.us/img244/8749/maa3135fc5.png

With heavy flame-arrow fire, the majority of the siege equiptment is destroyed, but not all. A lone tower reaches the walls, but the true problem for the defenders comes when a breach is made in the outer city walls:
https://img244.imageshack.us/img244/4349/maa3140ya0.png

The unarmored local garrison defends the breach and even manages to kill off the enemy on the walls, but soon the heavy enemy cavalry comes through:
https://img244.imageshack.us/img244/4880/maa3145yc7.png

The spearmen attempt to hold the enemy in places, but the heavy cavalry quickly cut through the poorly armored defenders. In a last ditch effort, Zaikedenthes Echinaieus gathers his Numidian cavalry and circles around the far edge of the city. Then, surprising the enemy, attacks from the rear of the fight:
https://img244.imageshack.us/img244/4676/maa3148hp6.png

After throwing their javelin, Zaikedenthes' Numidian cavalry charges in at the rear of the enemy cavalry. Now stuck in an unexcapable pincer attack, the enemy finally begins to fall:
https://img244.imageshack.us/img244/5177/maa3150qm3.png

In the process of the fighting most of the garrison falls, but soon every last enemy horseman falls as well. Not only do the Numidians loose their elite cavalry, but two exiled nobles of the city of Kart-Hadast fall dead in that fight.

Although the enemy cavalry is destroyed, the rest of the Numidian infantry manage to reform and attack once more. Exhausted and low on numbers, Zaikedenthes orders his men to fall back to the city center:
https://img244.imageshack.us/img244/3854/maa3155aq8.png

The enemy marches the streets of the city as though they have already won...
https://img174.imageshack.us/img174/1594/maa3156mh2.png

...but when the met with the remaining city garrison, now rested, they are forced to flee:
https://img174.imageshack.us/img174/1053/maa3157cy7.png

Many men die in the defense of Ippone, but fortunately many who fall are only injured and are able to fight again another day:
https://img174.imageshack.us/img174/7013/maa3158sy8.jpg

With only a short window to resupply, the city of Ippone is once again besieged and given no rest from constant warfare:
https://img501.imageshack.us/img501/8593/maa3159jw5.png

Across the sea, to the north, a plague hits the trade city of Emporion and many citizens of the city begin to die as it sweeps through the streets:
https://img501.imageshack.us/img501/6864/maa3161jq4.png

And far off to the east, Sotades contently governs Anatolia. With his so desired repreave from the constant warfare of the civil war, Sotades manages to gain a sizable personal wealth from managing the rich lands of Anatolia:
https://img501.imageshack.us/img501/5255/maa3163jq1.jpg

Ioudaia

Ioudaia, one of the three client kingdoms of the Arche Makedonia and the most rebellious. The region had been ruled by Egyptians, Assyrians, Babylonians, Persians, by Megas Alexandros and his generals, then by the Ptolemaioi. When the region fell into the hands of the Arche Makedonia, it was in a state or rebellion. The rebellion made the region easier to conquer, but simply trading hands of Makedonike dynasties wasn't enough for the locals who were rebelling. In order to establish a sense of autonomy, Demetrios autorized the region's conversion into an "independant" state under Makedonike protection. This had established quick control and most of the natives were fine with their situation, but those rebels and their descendants continued to cause problems.

Over the years, two generations of Hellenized Phoenician kings ruled over Ioudaia. Over that time, rebellions had occured and rioting in the streets of the major cities, but never to the point where it seemed as though the region would fall or the rebels would throw off the Makedones. When the civil war came, the king decided to remain loyal to the land of Makedonia and whoever was declared Basileus there. When Pyrrhos was declared Basileus but the eastern part of the Arche sided with the Demetrids, Ioudaia became surrounded by the enemy. Although it had never happened before under Antigonid rule, the king of Ioudaia began organizing the locals to defend they region by themselves. These locals, along with the isolated Delphikos family and their army were all there was between them and defeat, and all knew the Demetrids would make the region a directly controlled satrapy and not a client kingdom, with even less freedoms for the locals.

Attacks from the Demetrids had come before, both on the king of Ioudaia at Heirosolyma and at the Delphikos family at Megiddo. Prior attacks had been repulsed, but while Philippos battles the Spartiatai, the Demetrids once again attacked Ioudaia:
https://img174.imageshack.us/img174/2460/maa3160lx1.png

As winter hits and snows fall in the hills of Lebanon just to the north, the Delphikos family sallies forth to meet their besiegers with hopes of lifting the siege:
https://img501.imageshack.us/img501/5536/maa3166iq4.png

Eulandros Delphikos leads the army, dispite his age, but he is assisted by his son Chrysoloras and his son-in-law.

Eulandros waits for the enemy and the attack begins when the Demetrid forces move too close to the walls. With the enemy in range, the mercenary Cretan archers open fire while the infantry and cavalry rush out the gates:
https://img244.imageshack.us/img244/8103/maa3167bg8.png

The klerouchoi infantry form a battle line, but the enemy does not confront them. While the infantry hold their ground, the Cretans move out and take up a safe possition behind the battle line where they once again open fire on the enemy:
https://img244.imageshack.us/img244/8040/maa3168or2.png

Attempting to weaken the battle line, the Demetrids launch attacks on the flanks of the line then quickly withdraw. They hope to distract the center, but the peltastai on the flanks hold their ground and do their job:
https://img244.imageshack.us/img244/4756/maa3169lm4.png

While the infantry distract the army and the archers pester them with arrow fire, the hetairoi manage to circle around the side of the battle and charge in, seemingly out of nowhere, at the flank of the Demetrid line:
https://img174.imageshack.us/img174/235/maa3170in5.png

In a series of charges and retreats, the hetairoi manage to frighten and break the Demetrid light infantry guarding the rear, then chase down the routers:
https://img174.imageshack.us/img174/7499/maa3173lh9.png

Forced into a fight, the Demetrid infantry advance forward and attack the Delphikos line. At first, the superior number of Demetrid men seem to be winning the battle, but all changes when the hetairoi return and charge the now unguarded rear of the enemy:
https://img174.imageshack.us/img174/2739/maa3174oy3.png

Although the majority of the enemy army is klerouchoi and light native infantry, the fact that the Delphikos wipe out an army in a defensive battle is still a great feat:
https://img244.imageshack.us/img244/7947/maa3176lc9.jpg

None of the men who survive the battle even return to fight for the Demetrids again. Even the lowest level of soldiers can see the way the war is going and know the inevitable result:
https://img501.imageshack.us/img501/259/maa3177gr7.jpg

Dispite being low on supplies, low on men, and wary of ambushing, the Delphikos family and their army makes ready to march south and assist the city of Heirosolyma. Before they can march, however, tragedy strikes the Delphikos family. Eulandros dies:
https://img244.imageshack.us/img244/3084/maa3235nh2.jpg

Chrysoloras takes command of the army, but delays the march to Heirosolyma. When summer comes, the march is further delayed due to lack of safe water in the war torn region. By autumn, the Demetrids prepare to take the city by force and the garrison is forced for fight alone. Though, fortunately the Demetrid had already pulled the bulk of their attacking force away to quell rebellions in Nabataia:
https://img174.imageshack.us/img174/5871/maa3202xe9.png

As the enemy siege tower moves forward, the local defenders prepare themselves on the walls. These men are neither mercenaries, nor foreign conscripts, or even professional soldiers. They are something more fearsome, they are men protecting their homes and families:
https://img501.imageshack.us/img501/4172/maa3204gm5.png

The lone tower reaches the wall and the attackers pore out, but they are quickly surrounded by the city defenders who push from all sides:
https://img501.imageshack.us/img501/8459/maa3205xv1.png

The first group of men from the tower is wiped out with not too many losses, but the second wave out of the tower is made up of much better trained men with better equiptment:
https://img174.imageshack.us/img174/4016/maa3207si8.png

While the fighting still rages on the walls, the Demetrid attackers also manage to break a hole in the walls and charge through it. The defenders wait and allow the enemy through the hole before charging, leaving the attackers surrounded:
https://img244.imageshack.us/img244/2118/maa3208ez9.png

Although, due to the superior training and equiptment of the attackers, they manage to gain the advantage in both fights and begin pushing the defenders back:
https://img244.imageshack.us/img244/5422/maa3209xx2.png

With the entire Demetrid force engaged in the battle, it is an easy task for the king of Ioudaia to circle his cavalry around the outside of the wall and position himself behind the enemy:
https://img174.imageshack.us/img174/7588/maa3210cy4.png

The king charges his cavalry in at the rear of the enemy, who quickly turn to face the cavalry with their spears:
https://img501.imageshack.us/img501/7289/maa3211qf1.png

The king's cavalry takes losses, but the avantage shifts to the city defenders. The attacking Demetrid forces have now turned their backs on the king's infantry. Even after the king pulls his cavalry out, the attackers are unable to regroup again and face the infantry. Unorganized and surrounded, the last of the Demetrids panic and try to flee but are quickly cut down.

The battle takes a great toll on the city garrison, but the city is defended:
https://img244.imageshack.us/img244/9559/maa3213cb2.png

In one of his first real battles, the king of Ioudaia manages to win a great victory:
https://img174.imageshack.us/img174/3407/maa3216xq1.jpg

The celebration is short, however, as another army arrives soon after to replace the defeated besiegers. Ths time though, word comes from the Delphikos family that this time they are on their way to relieve the siege:
https://img244.imageshack.us/img244/3307/maa3217re3.png

On the edges of Demetrid territory, rebellions begin to grow. Nubia and southern Aigyptos had already chosen to side with the Ptolemaioi. Riots continue in Armenia. In Babylonia, a rebel general raises an army in open rebellion and claims to be a descendant of Seleukos I:
https://img501.imageshack.us/img501/2060/maa3179tr5.png

Rebellions continue for the west, as well. Ever since Philippos and his army left Iberia, things gradually have slipped out of control. Even the long held coastal regions have begun seeing unrest, though ironically the Lusotanna and Arevaci have remained quiet due to the fact they are unders such strict military control:
https://img244.imageshack.us/img244/2306/maa3200dq7.png

While the edges of the Arche falter, all eyes look to Syria. In order to gain a supply base for the Pyrrhic fleets and to knock out the Demetrid fleets, the Romaioi once again attack in the name of Makedonia. Landing in Kypros, the Romaioi begin a campaign to retake the island in preparation of the invasion of Syria:
https://img244.imageshack.us/img244/8894/maa3218pt6.png


The known world at the end of 165BC:
https://img167.imageshack.us/img167/8464/hxmak1652editoc3.png

Next: Chapter 68 : A New Era

[Chaotix]

Epic AAR, Marcus! Keep it up!

[Justinian II]

Man, this is AWESOME.

[General Appo]

How many times have you fooled me into thinking that Pyrrhus might finally die by using a chapter title like that? Perhaps this time it´s actually for real.

[Chirurgeon]

God this thing never ends!! And that my friends is a good thing :) Must be hard to stay under that 50 screenshot limit MAA. Anyway keep up the most excellent work!

[Gaivs]

Probably the best AAR ever written just for sheer epicness!

[MarcusAureliusAntoninus]

Thanks everybody. :bow:
I've been trying to show less battle pictures to get more stuff in each chapter, so I've been having less problems with the picture limits.
I'll try to get the next chapter up faster than it took me for this last one. I'm taking more time in the writing phase to get more story of the characters in.

[Centurio Nixalsverdrus]

Good update, MAA. Thanks for the encouraging, we'll see...

[MarcusAureliusAntoninus]

Thanks, Centurio.

[MarcusAureliusAntoninus]

Chapter 68 : A New Era

While Pyrrhids prepare for an all out invasion to finally crush the Demetrids and end the civil war, the Demetrids do all they can to try and counter attack. The first attack on Ioudaia failed, and soon the second fails as well when Chrysoloras Delphikos arrives at Heirosolyma with a newly recruited mercenary army. So, the Demetrids turn north from Syria. In the hills of Kilikia, the Illyrians loyal to Pyrrhos hold an old outpost from which they spy on Syria and Assyria. Seeking to retake this outpost, the Demetrids send a large army from Syria to crush the Illyrian army:
https://img529.imageshack.us/img529/5364/maa3219bi0.png

Unlike their previous battles, the Illyrians now face an organized Hellenistic army, fighting in the Makedonike style:
https://img224.imageshack.us/img224/2092/maa3221zz0.png

The Illyrian spearmen hold their ground and await the enemy line. So, the Demetrids are forced to march forward and meet the Illyrian line, all the while oblivious to the fact that the Illyrian cavalry had already circled around their rear:
https://img529.imageshack.us/img529/7692/maa3223ao9.png

The Illyrian cavalry charges from the rear, but they do not achieve complete surprise. The Demetrids quickly send their reserve forces back to confront the cavalry while at the same time charge the static line of Illyrian spearmen. The battle begins in full force:
https://img224.imageshack.us/img224/373/maa3225aa0.png

While the spearmen hold down the bulk of the Demetrid force, the cavalry manages to break the reserve units:
https://img224.imageshack.us/img224/1091/maa3226io8.png

With the reserves broken, the Illyrian cavalry now have an open way. They line up and charge at the rear of the enemy phalangitai at full force:
https://img529.imageshack.us/img529/2661/maa3227zn7.png

After a series of successive charges, the enemy forces are wiped out or flee. Although though the victory is clear and the Illyrians win the day, the bulk of the Illyrian force is wiped out. The act of holding down phalangitai took too long and cost the lives of many Illyrians. Now they simply hold their outpost and await the invasion, hoping to avoid further conflict:
https://img529.imageshack.us/img529/8919/maa3231ad6.jpg

While Pyrrhos and his family make ready for war, there are also a great many changes in diplomacy around the known world. Tired of raids from the north and having pushed the Indians back into the Indus valley, the Seleukids turn northward and attack the tribes of the north-eastern steppes. In order to retain their alliance with the Seleukids, the rebel Baktrian dynasty also betrays their alliance of steppe tribes:
https://img529.imageshack.us/img529/4424/maa3232st9.jpg

Soon after this, the alliance of steppe tribes manage to create an anti-Seleukid alliance with the Indians of Gandhara:
https://img529.imageshack.us/img529/7121/maa3237bv1.jpg

Already allied to Gandhara, the Arche Makedonia under Pyrrhos jumps at the oppertunity and also joins this alliance against the Seleukid dynasty:
https://img529.imageshack.us/img529/5138/maa3271ag9.jpg

Dispite the alliance against them, the Seleukids continue to push north, retaking territories lost to them more than a hundred years passed:
https://img237.imageshack.us/img237/7448/maa3239dl4.png

Diplomacy remains hostile in Numidia, where former citizens of the city of Kart-Hadast continue to encourage hostilities against the Arche Makedonia. The city of Ippone is attacked once more:
https://img224.imageshack.us/img224/7002/maa3233uq0.png

And once more, the local garrison manages to repel the onslaught:
https://img237.imageshack.us/img237/5697/maa3234wq6.jpg

In the family of Eouboulides, only the murdered Herakleon managed to have any sons. Hearkleon is murdered but his two sons continue the family as the only surviving direct descendants of Antigonos Gonatas. Herodes gathered an army and invaded Pontos to assist Pyrrhos in the war, but the younger son, Anaxagoras is sent to Pella for education. In Pella, Anaxagoras meets and befriends Laandros, the youngest son of Pyrrhos, and the two adopt vices together in the big city. Although, after the fall of Sparte the two are split up. Laandros is sent to Hellas to assist in administration at Athenai and Anaxagoras returns to Bosphoria where he grew up.

While administering Bosphoria, news reaches Anaxagoras that the city of Olbia has rebelled and cast off their Skythian overlords. Now the city is divided on whether to declare themselves independant or join the Arche Makedonia. Seeking to expand his satrapy, his glory, and his purse, Anaxagoras quickly gathers and army of many types of people and marches north into Skythian territory to "rescue" the city of Olbia:
https://img237.imageshack.us/img237/3451/maa3236sg9.png

Preparations for the invasion of Syria are well underway. In Iberia, the unconquered tribes are still hostile, but silent. In Numidia, constant defensive battles are fought. Now, another war had started in the northern steppes to rescue Hellenistic cities. All these conflicts and the Arche Makedonia is still strong. With the wealth of Iberian, Anatolia, and Kappadokia the war funds are secure and all debts have been repaid.

In the east, however, the Demetrid dynasty was in trouble, the loss of Anatolia, Kappadokia, and Armenia had cost them all of their wealthy satrapies. Aigyptos still provided a profit, but the distant members of the royal family and nobility in Aigyptos had begun to disagree with the leadership in Demetreia and at times was near rebelling against the Demetrids. Young Basileus Euktimenos and his mother Antigone were even begining to loose support in their own court. With forces gathering on their borders, the war's end is approaching and the most oppertunistic of the nobles of Syria begin turning on those who seem to be the losers.

The war's end is so evident that in the areas controlled by Pyrrhos, the Demetrids are called "the rebels" and the domain controlled by Pyrrhos has regained the name "the Arche Makedonia" as though he had already unified the fractured empire. It would seems that Pyrrhos is invincible and that nothing can stop him.

As the finally preparations come to a close, with the armies already heading east, Pyrrhos and Philippos prepare to leave Pella and head east as well. One night, during a late meal with some nobles, Pyrrhos announces that he isn't feeling well and wishes to get some sleep. With Pyrrhos' personal slave not nearby, Philippos decides to help his father stand up and helps him by taking him to his room. They speak little and Philippos leads his father to his bed. Once he is laying down, Pyrrhos looks at his son, touches him on the side of his face, and smiles. Philippos smiles back, but before anything is said Pyrrhos' personal slave rushes into the room to offer any assistance to his master. Philippos takes his leave and returns to the banquet.

Philippos is awoken abruptly in the early morning when one of his own slaves wakes him violently. Telling him that he must come quickly. The slave leads Philippos to Pyrrhos' chambers. When he enters the chambers, there he sees a collection of slaves and bodyguards along with a doctor from Athenai. On the bed, Pyrrhos lays motionless and Philippos knows what has happened.

By midday, it is announced to the city of Pella that Pyrrhos is dead:
https://img529.imageshack.us/img529/3796/maa3240pj5.png

Pyrrhos's body is taken to Aigai and burned on a great funerary pyre, then his remains are taken to the tomb of Demetrios, where they are kept until a new tomb is built for Pyrrhos, by order of Philippos. Many attend the funeral, but due to the divide of the Arche it does not reach the size or granduer of Demetrios' passing.

As soon as the time of mourning has come to an end, it is announced that Philippos will succeed his father as Basileus. Due to the fact Pyrrhos announced his successor long before his death and that Philippos is nearly the only logical choice, the transition is an easy one. Philippos is readily accepted by all, even those in the nobility. And so, Philippos, son of Pyrrhos, is crowned Basileus of the Arche Makedonia and is remember by history as Philippos V:
https://img224.imageshack.us/img224/541/maa3241cy5.png

As Philippos becomes leader of the Arche Makedonia, it is once again clear who are the greatest people in the known world:
https://img529.imageshack.us/img529/5851/maa3243yy1.jpg

While Philippos gets used to his new power, events around the edges of the of the Arche continue to unfold. In Numidia, the city of Ippone is once again besieged by forces of the Numidian-Mauretanian alliance:
https://img237.imageshack.us/img237/5096/maa3247br9.png

And in Iberia, the city of Kotais is besieged by a small army of the Demetrids:
https://img529.imageshack.us/img529/3260/maa3248ho4.png

Although, in Armenia, it is clear who is winning. The allied army of steppe cavalry continue their campaign of hit and run attacks. Having wiped out almost all forces that can oppose them, the army starts isolating small groups of Demetrid soldiers and wiping them out before they can group together. In the winter, they meet their first group in the mountains:
https://img529.imageshack.us/img529/9703/maa3244ak9.png

Quickly circling around the flanks of the enemy, they rain arrows down on them from above:
https://img237.imageshack.us/img237/7783/maa3245oi4.png

The allied steppe army easily defeats the little group and moves on to other targets:
https://img529.imageshack.us/img529/474/maa3246lb0.jpg

The army of mounted archers wipe out another army and eventually move to releave the siege of Kotais:
https://img529.imageshack.us/img529/1954/maa3251mi9.png

Once the arrows start to rain down on the enemy they begin to flee:
https://img237.imageshack.us/img237/4033/maa3253li5.png

The enemy manage to escape before many die:
https://img237.imageshack.us/img237/2346/maa3254am8.jpg

The steppe cavalry, though, chases the fleeing enemy army and confronts them once again just before they can reach the city of Armavir:
https://img237.imageshack.us/img237/3948/maa3255pr0.png

The Demetrid army attempts to form two defensive lines to protect against the attacks from both sides, but the mounted archers simply fire at the rear of the far line:
https://img224.imageshack.us/img224/6265/maa3258ca4.png

As all seems lost, the enemy commander attempts to flee and escape back to Armavir, but when his horse is killed beneath him and he falls to his death:
https://img237.imageshack.us/img237/7430/maa3259cm6.png

Once again, the steppe army wipes out a small enemy army:
https://img224.imageshack.us/img224/8521/maa3260jw6.jpg

After almost two years of siege, the last city that holds out on Kypros falls to the Romaioi, guaranteeing a base for naval support for the invasion of Syria:
https://img77.imageshack.us/img77/7915/maa3261xp4.jpg

About the same time, Olbia in the north falls to Anaxagoras as well:
https://img235.imageshack.us/img235/107/maa3262yx2.jpg

This region is an odd mix of Hellenic and Skythian, even more so than the Bosphoria region. With this conquest, the coastal regions from the Istros River to Bosphoria join the Arche Makedonia. The regions just north of the Istros River had been somewhat part of the Arche Makedonia for decades, but military force had never been sent to the region in order to prevent a war with the Getai Confederation. Although Anaxagoras only takes control of the coastal regions, a great deal of Skythian peoples and their culture now fall under the leadership of the Arche Makedonia:
https://img77.imageshack.us/img77/976/maa3329cu9.png

To the south of there, in Pontos, Anaxagoras' uncle Lysippos dies. With the recent deaths of Delphikos and Pyrrhos, Lysippos marks the final death of the old generation. For every commander in the armies of the Arche Makedonia, the civil war has been a fact of their entire adult life and now it is up to them alone to bring it to an end:
https://img185.imageshack.us/img185/930/maa3263eq5.jpg

Diplomacy once again becomes an issue as another year begins:
https://img185.imageshack.us/img185/5058/maa3264fk7.jpg

Most notably, the Medians invade lower Babylonia and attempt to capture Arab holdings:
https://img235.imageshack.us/img235/1492/maa3265li2.png

However, all world events are trumped when Philippos arrives in Kilikia and the invasion of Syria finally begins. To the north, the steppe forces and a conscripted Armenian force under the command of a general from Sophene attacks the last of the Demetrids in Armenia who hide in Armavir:
https://img185.imageshack.us/img185/1595/maa3266wf1.png

The Thraikioi of Armenia move south, into eastern Assyria, and attack the enemy garrison at Arbela:
https://img235.imageshack.us/img235/7900/maa3267os5.png

Herodes moves his Bosphorian army out of the hills and moves down into western Assyria to attack the large city of Edessa:
https://img77.imageshack.us/img77/5422/maa3268oj5.png

Chrysoloras Delphikos moves his mercenary army north from Ioudaia and attacks the ancient Phoenician city of Sidon:
https://img235.imageshack.us/img235/6929/maa3270me6.png

And in Kilikia, the Galatians lead the attack, followed by Philippos and his Thorakitai army, while his brother Sotades holds down the large Kilikia garrison in Tarsos:
https://img185.imageshack.us/img185/3716/maa3269mc8.png


The known world at the end of 163BC, a year after Pyrrhos' death:
https://img185.imageshack.us/img185/4700/hxmak1633editlk7.png

Next: Chapter 69 : The Syrian War (Part I)

[Hax]

Another great chapter, MAA!

I can't wait til the start of the Syrian wars.

[paullus]

wow.

i mean, what else can i say?

[General Appo]

Good going, but you have´t changed the "You are attacked by an army of the blablabal" in the text something for Numidia. You really should, incredibly easy (as you no doubt no).

[Europe]

This is the part were the Demetrids start to win right?:logic:

[Constantius III]

Excellent chapter - great stage-setting! Reminds me of that coordinated Corleone Family offensive at the end of the first Godfather movie. :smash: Though it's kinda weird to see a Ptolemaic Meroe full stack up by Bostra...got lost did they?

Hopefully this Phil V will live up to expectations and do a good deal better than the OTL Phil V. He's had a fantastic start in the West after all.

[Reverend Joe]

Phillipos Argeades, eh? A good omen indeed.

[Centurio Nixalsverdrus]

Excellent chapter. Baktria, huh?

[Ower]

Great Update MAA. You recolored the region at Olbia I asume. As the city controls a lot of Land and not just the costal strip.

[MarcusAureliusAntoninus]

Thanks everybody.

I was hoping to get this up sooner, but I got sidetracked and then had a little writers block on the events of Pyrrhos' death. I'd like to say I'll have the next on up soon, but I'm going to be away for the next week, starting tommorrow.

I had only changed the faction name for "Numidia" and not the rest of the text entries since the edit was made to the files back when I was planning an invasion of Numidia. I had planned to conquer Numidia and make the whole faction "Mauretania", but the civil war messed up my plans.

Philippos V is off to a good start. Even his in-game traits are great.

Baktria?

Yeah, I edited the map. There are actually four edits to that map at the end, though all for roleplaying purposes.

[Gaivs]

Whens this getting made into a movie haha.

[Centurio Nixalsverdrus]

Baktria?

Yeah, I edited the map. There are actually four edits to that map at the end, though all for roleplaying purposes.
Baktria made peace with the Seleukids (or was it the Saka?), although "Baktria" is the Demetrids. Did you photoshop that I think?

Good hint Ower, the fact that Olbia controls a really huge, clumsy and ill-shaped piece of steppe is the reason I'd never conquer it. :grin:

[General Appo]

Yet another victim of the region limit. Damn CA and their engine limits.

[Centurio Nixalsverdrus]

Yet another victim of the region limit. Damn CA and their engine limits.
Sacrifice Gaetulia then.

[Chirurgeon]

Truly amazing. What a great chapter to return to from vacation. How old was Pyrros when he died? Anyway keep up the good work and I look forward to the Syrian Wars!

[MarcusAureliusAntoninus]

Thanks.

Even though they are one faction, I'm roleplaying the Demetrids-Baktria as two different factions. When something happens that seems to involve one side more than the other, I roleplay it was that side. So, for that particular event I made it Baktria and editted the picture.

I roleplay my own borders and have recently decided to start altering my minimap pictures to show that. I just ignore many of the odd shaped regions that the region limit has resulted in. Had I started earlier, I would have edited the Danube as my northern border...

Pyrrhos was 66 years old or around there. For 4tpy, that's a pretty good age. I thought about reloading so he wouldn't die, but decided to just go with it and add it to the story.

[Chirurgeon]

I would like to nominate your AAR for the AAR of the month competition over at TWC. I need your blessing first. Here is the link if you want more info :) http://www.twcenter.net/forums/showthread.php?t=182706

[MarcusAureliusAntoninus]

I would like to nominate your AAR for the AAR of the month competition over at TWC. I need your blessing first. Here is the link if you want more info :) http://www.twcenter.net/forums/showthread.php?t=182706
Sure. That's cool.

[Che Roriniho]

I would like to nominate your AAR for the AAR of the month competition over at TWC. I need your blessing first. Here is the link if you want more info :) http://www.twcenter.net/forums/showthread.php?t=182706

AAR of the Year, much?

[Chirurgeon]

Added this AAR into the competition over at TWC. There are some really good ones there. Although I lean towards the EB ones :) Here is the link:
http://www.twcenter.net/forums/showthread.php?t=182706
I am doing this mainly to generate interest in EB. I have taken three of the most popular AARs here and posted them over there. I will try to do this each month. There are too many good AARs on this forum and its time to get the word out!

[PowerWizard]

I'm sorry guys, but you can only nominate AARs that are posted on TWC (due to forum policy).

This is awesome stuff though, and I would like to see it race in the competitions.

So MAA, if you could the repost it on TWC, like hooahguy did here:

http://www.twcenter.net/forums/forumdisplay.php?f=109

I'm sure it would finish in the top 3.

PM me if you have any questions.

(If you don't have an existing TWC account, registration takes about 2 minutes.)

[Lysimachos]

This AAR is already over there, in fact: http://www.twcenter.net/forums/showthread.php?t=162579
Adding a link to the twc-thread in the nomination would be a good idea, though.

[PowerWizard]

Thanks, I've corrected the link in the nomination thread! Good luck!

[MarcusAureliusAntoninus]

Bumping this to just say that I'm going to try and start working on this again. It's been a busy summer and I haven't been around the forums or able to play the game.

I played this campaign again yesterday, for the first time in months, and I got to a turning point. Its gotten a bit interesting again so I have more drive to write up what I did to get there. Hopefully I'll have the time...

[Chaotix]

w00t! That's awesome! This AAR is never going to end. (good thing) :2thumbsup:

[MarcusAureliusAntoninus]

Chapter 69 : The Syrian War (Part I):
The Fringes

Africa

While Philippos leads a huge invasion force of Makedones and allies in an invasion of Syria, a much smaller invasion into his own territory takes place in Africa. Numidian and Mauretanian forces once again attack the city of Ippone, but this time they are lead by an exiled noble from the conquered city of Kart-Hadast:
https://img91.imageshack.us/img91/4884/maa3276yl0.png

Dispite their skilled leader, they met the same fate as every other invasion attempt of the city:
https://img91.imageshack.us/img91/6605/maa3277uy1.jpg

In the city of Kart-Hadast, things are much different than what the exiles chose to believe. After the initial slaughter by Neokles, Pyrrhos had managed to achieve order in the city and managed a friendly peace with its Phoenician inhabitants as well as the Lybian and Numidian locals of the region. Though the region had been conquered, with many enslaved, there is almost no current discontentment from within the Makedonike controled territories. Many were even glad that the city had been conquered. The people of Kart-Hadast had always been traders and the inclusion into the Arche Makedonia had opened new trade routes to the eastern parts of the Arche that had been previously unavailable due to the war between Kart-Hadast and the Arche Makedonia.

The exiled nobles did not care what it was like back in their city, though. They only wanted their senate reinstated and the Makedones out of Africa. Although the war with Numidia and Mauretania had been a small issue for the Arche Makedonia, it was ever the small itch needing scratching.

Assyria

As part of the invasion of the Demetrid controlled east, the descendants of the Thraikioi who had settled in Armenia had taken up arms and marched south into eastern Assyria. While besieging the Demetrid garrison at Arbela, an army of reinforcements from Babylonia attacks these Thraikioi, marking the first battle in this new Syrian War:
https://img156.imageshack.us/img156/4936/maa3278tv6.png

The Thraikioi line up to face the reinforcement army attacking from the north, but are surprised when the Demetrid men simply stall for time. The Thraikioi are surprised again when it is actually the small number of phalangitai and kataphraktoi from the city that strike first:
https://img440.imageshack.us/img440/955/maa3279er4.png

While the bulk of the Thraikioi force hold the line, the cavalry and elite forces move to face the enemy forces approaching from the city of Arbela:
https://img440.imageshack.us/img440/5356/maa3280ni5.png

While the cavalry tie down the kataphraktoi, the elite Thraikioi attack the phalangitai. While the bulk of the elite force charging directly at the short enemy line, a small group sneaks around the rear and charge in at them out of a grove of trees:
https://img156.imageshack.us/img156/9260/maa3283dy9.png

Meanwhile, the reinforcements from Babylonia advance and face the Thraikioi main battle line:
https://img440.imageshack.us/img440/3059/maa3284db1.png

Soon the Demetrid general, Atrosokes Dionysopolites, falls dead and the forces from the city break and flee. Free from their battle with the enemy phalangitai, the elite Thraikioi join their brothers in battle with the larger army. Now overwhelmed, the large enemy army start to flee from the battle:
https://img91.imageshack.us/img91/2203/maa3285tn4.png

The Thraikioi cavalry chase down all those who try to escape and kill and capture nearly all of them:
https://img440.imageshack.us/img440/9150/maa3286mq8.png

Without any defenders, the city of Arbela surrenders and the Thraikioi gain a stronghold in eastern Assyria where they wait for the remaining invading forces to do their jobs as well.

Phoenicia

With a hand full of his father's klerouchoi at the core of a mercenary army, Chyrsoloras Delphikos had marched north from Ioudaia and into Phoenicia. Having secured Tyre without a fight, the army marched north to Sidon, where the regional garrison is stationed. After only a few short months, Chrysoloras Delphikos and his army is attacked by an army of the Demetrids:
https://img156.imageshack.us/img156/289/maa3287ik4.png

The Demetrid army oddly charges forward...
https://img91.imageshack.us/img91/1888/maa3289ij0.png

...then suddenly stops a short way outside of skirmishing range:
https://img156.imageshack.us/img156/273/maa3290qe9.png

While the bulk of the enemy force watches from their possitions, the enemy cavalry make several suicidal charges directly at the pike line, testing the will of the mercenaries:
https://img440.imageshack.us/img440/6500/maa3291vh3.png

After waiting quite some time, Chyrsoloras finally makes his move and orders his entire cavalry force to the right flank. The enemy forces counter this by making a move against the now undefended left flank. Chyrsoloras' brother-in-law leads his cavalry in a charge in front of the battle line back to reinforce the left flank, but then halts. Noticing enemey kataphraktoi from the city, Chrysoloras' brother-in-law leaves the infantry on the left flank to fend for themselves and charge at the enemy cavalry instead:
https://img156.imageshack.us/img156/8439/maa3293tm7.png

The cavalry get into a scrape and begin hacking at eachother with their swords, both sides too afraid of a charge to let the other side disengage. Soon the fight is joined by Andragoras Dikaios, from Sidon, and his heavy kataphraktoi. Seeing his cavalry falter, Chrysoloras soon joins the battle as well, charging in at an exposed enemy flank of the elite kataphraktoi:
https://img156.imageshack.us/img156/2360/maa3296pu6.png

The fight lasts some time, with the enemy infantry all breaking and fleeing in the mean time, but eventually only Andragoras Dikaios and a small force remain. They try to flee back to the city but are too weighted down from their heavy armor and are easily caught and killed:
https://img440.imageshack.us/img440/1907/maa3297fe9.png

Late to the battle and unaware of their general's death are the phalangitai from the city of Sidon. Now fully refreshed, the mercenaries of Chrysoloras line up to face the new enemy:
https://img156.imageshack.us/img156/7911/maa3301ii9.png

A short battle in the Makedonian style takes place, but after a short time the Demetrid forces are become aware that their general is dead and the cause is lost:
https://img91.imageshack.us/img91/1734/maa3305db0.png

After a very long day, Chrysoloras Delphikos manages to hold the field:
https://img156.imageshack.us/img156/752/maa3306od7.jpg

Fully aware of the ultimate fate of the war, the garrison of Sidon disbands. Before Chrysoloras can take the city, however, another army from the north attacks:
https://img440.imageshack.us/img440/9572/maa3307qd6.png

Once again, on the plains of Phoenicia, two armies of Makedones face eachother and duel with [fields] of pikes:
https://img156.imageshack.us/img156/9954/maa3310sz1.png

Both sides deploy peltastai on the flanks who also face eachother in an attempt to outflank eachother:
https://img440.imageshack.us/img440/1087/maa3311px6.png

Taking a long route through the woods, the full cavalry force of Chrysoloras' army manages to win the game of outflanking and charges at the rear of enemy phalangitai:
https://img440.imageshack.us/img440/4826/maa3312hy7.png

In the style of Alexandros, Chrysoloras takes the field and moves to the city of Sidon:
https://img440.imageshack.us/img440/6981/maa3313fs2.png

Syria

In the city of Demetreia, Antigone, the royal court, and the young Basileus Euktimenos Idomeneus are well aware of Philippos and the invasion. Although they order their generals to fight with everything they have, they are well aware of the fact that it is only a matter of time before Syria is lost. The effort to hold Phoenicia had been an attempt to prevent themselves from being cut off from Aigyptos. If they can flee Demetreia and get to Aigyptos, there is still a chance that they can continue their fight. The loss of Tyre and Sidon have now cut them off from the coastal route. If Demetreia is threatened, the only choice now is to take the inland route and risk going near the they city of Heirosolyma or eastward and through the desert.

In the east, the remnants of the Illyrian army move to control the borders between Assyria and Syria, but soon face a huge army from Demetreia:
https://img361.imageshack.us/img361/4498/maa3314ux4.png

Unable to offer much resistance, the Illyrians are easily defeated and retreat back into Kappadokia:
https://img529.imageshack.us/img529/1456/maa3315bw5.jpg

With the southeast secure, the royal family and royal court in Demetreia prepare for a trip to Damaskos and ultimately to Aigyptos. Philippos once again surprises the Demtrids, though. Risking the winter seas, the Romaioi cross from Kypros and land in southern Syria. Meanwhile the Galatians force march through the cold and approach the city from the north:
https://img361.imageshack.us/img361/5576/maa3316qv3.png

Even in the dead of winter, the Galatians are ready for combat. Cornering an army of the Demetrids to the north of Demetreia, they move in to wipe them out before they can join with the garrison inside the city:
https://img529.imageshack.us/img529/6851/maa3318iz0.png

Oddly, it is the Demetids who go on the offensive and march uphill toward the Galatians. Perhaps they truely believe in their yound Basileus or perhaps they know they are going to die and simply wish to die with glory. Either way, the light force stands no chance against the Galatian warriors:
https://img529.imageshack.us/img529/346/maa3320ev5.png

The light Galatian infantry hold down the enemy combat line while the elites circle around the rear and crush them from behind while the cavalry wipes out the few reserves:
https://img529.imageshack.us/img529/9651/maa3322yh5.png

Without much effort, though some casualties due to carelessness, the Galatians crush their enemy and take control of the valley just north of Demetreia:
https://img529.imageshack.us/img529/7051/maa3324kt1.png

The Arche Makedonia

In Makedonia, an odd event takes place. A grandson of Neokles joins the ranks of generals in Philippos' armies. Although his father had joined Bykoli and Pefkolaos and died early in the war, young Abantes Skionaios ended up living in territories controlled by Pyrrhos and Philippos. After his education he had joined the military, where he was made a general due to his noble blood. As the descendant of Antigonos Gonatas to join side of Pyrrhos, he is welcomed but watched closely.

In Anatolia, vast numbers of kleroi are completed in order to make farming the the region much more efficient. The project to build the kleroi had been begun by Neokles in his reforms, but had stalled during the civil war. Restarted under Pyrrhos, the system of huge agricutural estates spread all across Anatolia are now complete:
https://img526.imageshack.us/img526/4874/maa3326ks7.jpg

As spring returns to Syria, Philippos once again begins his advance. Sotades besieges Tarsos, Herodes besieges Edessa, the Galatians move to block the borders between Syria and Assyria, the Romaioi cut of of way out of Demetreia to the southeast, and the fleet blockades the ports. With all the escapes from Demetreia removed, Antigone and Euktimenos have no choice but to remain behind the walls of the city. And soon those city walls are besieged by Basileus Philippos V of Makedonia, himself:
https://img526.imageshack.us/img526/7009/maa3327ps9.png

Around the same time, though late, Isidoros Oresteus, the self proclaimed king of Babylon, fulfills his promise to Philippos and joins in on the invasion. King Isidoros moves to besiege the city of Seleukeia, which is now deprived of most of its forces after the battle with the Thraikioi:
https://img526.imageshack.us/img526/5525/maa3328hd5.png


The known world in162BC:
https://img361.imageshack.us/img361/9075/hxmak162editac2.png

Next: Chapter 70 : The Syrian War (Part II): The Allies

[Chirurgeon]

Glad to have you back. The forums have been rather slow as of late. Excellent update. I like how you beat your enemies into submission but don't completely wipe them out. I have been doing that in my AAR and it makes for some interesting storytelling and scenarios. It seems more realistic too. Keep up the good work!

[Gaivs]

Awesome! Great to see this return.

[Centurio Nixalsverdrus]

I really missed your AAR lately. Great! I finally followed your footsteps partially and also modded Thorakitiai into my Makedonian game. It worked perfectly and I think it won't be the last modification. Thanks for all those inspirations. :bow:

[hrrypttrbst]

Fantastic that it's back, I can't wait to see the other part of the Syrian war.

[MarcusAureliusAntoninus]

Thanks for folllowing and thanks for commenting.

I like to keep factions alive so that I can use them again some day, or just to fill out what would be an empty region. In the next chapter I get the Ptolemaioi in Nubia to go to war with the Demetrids and they start to retake Aigyptos. :2thumbsup:

I'm constantly making changes to my game. I tried to do some skinning work, but I can only view and not alter to file format of the skins on my computer and was too lazy to look for a free program that could. I'm thinking of redoing my recruitment system again too, changing it so that non-Hellens can join the ranks of the Thorakitai, Romaioi style.

Hopefully, there won't be another large gap before I post the next chapter... :sweatdrop:

[NickTheGreek]

Wow excellent update Marcus :2thumbsup:

[MarcusAureliusAntoninus]

Chapter 70 : The Syrian War (Part II):
The Allies

In the time of Antigonos, the population of Makedonia had been depleted by the oppertunity of foreign settlement and what seemed like almost constant invasions and wars. Since the beginning of the Antigonid line and the reforming of the Arche Makedonia, foreign soldiers had been a neccessity in a Makedonike army. Over the years many foreign troops had done great things for Makedonia, such as Neikolaos' Keltoi or Pyrrhos' Illyrioi. Allied armies under the command of foreign commanders had also been a great help to the Arche Makedonia. In the Makedonike civil war, however, they have reached a greater amount of service but with a greater cost. Foreign forces such as those of the Galatioi, Ioudaioi, Romaioi, and Babylonians had served Pyrrhos and Philippos greatly in the war. However, each of those groups had gained greater autonomy and leverage against Makedonia. They now pose a greater risk to the stability of the Arche Makedonia in the post-war years to come.

Lesser known allied forces, such as the steppe cavalary, originally loyal to Lysippos, had also done great deeds for the Pyrrhids. Over the years of the civil war, the steppe forces in Armenia had almost single handedly harrassed the Demetrid forces in the region and prevented any meaningful profit return from Armenia. Now, with an Sophene Armenian general and his army besieging the city of Armavir, the steppe forces take once more to wiping out small isolated Demetrid forces before they can group together and provide a challenge:
https://img295.imageshack.us/img295/1159/maa3330xc6.png

Under the rain of arrows released from the swift horsemen...
https://img295.imageshack.us/img295/7779/maa3333vg6.png

...only death remains:
https://img295.imageshack.us/img295/8530/maa3334tk2.jpg

The steppe horsemen strike again, quickly:
https://img295.imageshack.us/img295/8381/maa3335zl7.png

This time their enemy brings better armor...
https://img295.imageshack.us/img295/8422/maa3337jk9.png

...but it is only a matter of time before an arrow falls at a weak point:
https://img399.imageshack.us/img399/1493/maa3340tk4.jpg

In Syria, the Demetrids are desperate to save their Basileus and relieve their capital. Gathering their forces, the Demetrids send a great army through eastern Syria but are halted by the Galatians:
https://img399.imageshack.us/img399/2892/maa3341bi1.png

With the Euphrates river to their left, the Galatians line up to block the avance of the Demetrid army on Demetreia:
https://img399.imageshack.us/img399/4382/maa3343gw7.png

Just like in past engagements with the Galatians, the Demetrids rush forward to meet them, judging the Galatians upon their numbers alone:
https://img187.imageshack.us/img187/559/maa3344vi7.png

As they approach, the Galatians throw their spears...
https://img368.imageshack.us/img368/7614/maa3345az2.png

...then charge in before the enemy can form a phalanx:
https://img295.imageshack.us/img295/3852/maa3346qa5.png

Unable to form a cohesive line, the Demetrid army breaks into several groups and begins to fight the Galatians. Using their superior numbers to their advantage, each group of Demetrid soldiers attempt to encircle each individual Galatian group, but they still underestimate their enemy:
https://img295.imageshack.us/img295/6020/maa3347vy9.png

The Demetrids ignore the Galatian archers as they move around their left flanks and concentrate on encircling the infantry, but then the archers lower their spears and prove the the Demetrids that you should not turn your back on any Galatian, no matter his perceived battlefield role:
https://img295.imageshack.us/img295/5213/maa3348hm6.png

Meanwhile, the cavalry succeeds at their own flanking along the river to the right flank of the Demetrids and crush the few men holding down the elites:
https://img295.imageshack.us/img295/5340/maa3350et8.png

Free from battle on both sides, both flanks charge toward the center and encircle those Demetrids who were attempting to encircle the Galatian center:
https://img368.imageshack.us/img368/6114/maa3351qa2.png

The center of the Galatian line, previously threatened by encirclement, falls back and allows for the flanks to completely encirlce the remaining enemy. While the encircled Demetrids are slaughtered, the cavalry chases down those who escaped and are trying to flee:
https://img368.imageshack.us/img368/1074/maa3352bs3.jpg

The Galatians move to protect the Euphrates crossing, but their battlefield is remembered as the sites of one of the greatest battles ever fought, both because of the odds and because of the tactics used:
https://img413.imageshack.us/img413/9372/maa3353vf6.png

Their good new is soon dwarved by bad news from their home, however. Their king, the king of Galatia, is dead:
https://img413.imageshack.us/img413/3613/maa3325yg2.jpg

This event posses a difficult situation to Philippos, who also gets a similar message just outside of Demetreia. Though the Galatians are allies and a client kingdom, they have used the war as an excuse to expand their power and territories, claiming part of the Pontos satrapy for themselves. It had been planned to disband their military after the war, then slowly reduce their powers until the point when Galatia could be formally added to the Arche Makedonia, removing their autonomy and the problem. However, now that the king is dead there is an oppertunity to take control of the region of Galatia. If Philippos does not seize this oppertunity and a new king is chosen it will be another generation before this chance comes again. After great thought, Philippos allows the Galatians to choose a new king. Philippos realizes there is far too much risk, with a large standing army, loyal to Galatia and not Makedonia. The first step must be to disband that army and reclaim Pontos.

One ally who had long since proven themselves loyal to the Pyrrhids are the Romaioi. Because of their fair treatment when conquered and their permitted internal autonomy, the people of Roma were friends to Pyrrhos and had proven a valuable ally. Not long after the Galatians repel one army of the Demetrids, a second attempts to break through to Demetreia. This time it is blocked by the Romaioi, under (indefinately extended) Consul Tiberius Aurelius Cotta:
https://img413.imageshack.us/img413/9799/maa3354eo6.png

Rather than face the enemy in the open field, the Romaioi take up the defensive possition at a river ford. The Romaioi assume the enemy will simply wait on the other side or try to find another way around, but he fanatical men, seeking to save their Basileus, decide to simply charge across the waters and into the waiting spears of the Romaioi Triarii:
https://img147.imageshack.us/img147/2373/maa3355bs9.png

While the Triarii take up the front line, the other ranks and Romaioi skirmishers let loose thousands of spears from behind:
https://img147.imageshack.us/img147/6729/maa3356le7.png

With the Demetrids unable to form up their lines in the river, the advantage goes to the Romaioi who hold the line at the river bank against everything that comes across:
https://img147.imageshack.us/img147/5256/maa3358wp2.png

With fanatical drive, every last Demetrid soldier throws himself against the Romaioi line. By the end of the day, on the river banks, at the bottom of the river, and floating down it toward Demetreia are thousands of corpses intermixed with the moans of dying men:
https://img353.imageshack.us/img353/8484/maa3361uu8.png

Tiberius Aurelius Cotta looses very few men and holds his defensive possition, easily winning the battle. When word reaches Philippos of the battle, he sends his personal congratulations:
https://img147.imageshack.us/img147/88/maa3362qv6.jpg

With the armies of Syria and Assyria wiped out and an army of Ioudaioi between him and Aigyptos, Chrysoloras Delphikos takes the remnants of his father's army and his own mercenaries and marches out of Phoenicia and eastward to the city of Damaskos:
https://img255.imageshack.us/img255/2035/maa3365iy4.png

Meanwhile in Makedonia, Euphratos, younger brother of Sotades and Basileus Philippos, manages to acquire a sizable wealth for himself managing the money of the Arche Makedonia:
https://img360.imageshack.us/img360/2056/maa3364or6.jpg

Over the years, the finances of Makedonia had greatly improved. Once Anatolia, Pontos, and Kappadokia were conquered, the fear of debt was gone. Now, with the invasion of Syria in sight, the days of a surplus in the royal treasury are within sight once more. Governors and Generals all across the Arche Makedonia prepare for the future and plan military build-ups and building projects.

To the far west, Zaikedenthes Echinaieus once again is forced to defend the city of Ippone from agression from the Numidians and exiled nobles of Kart-Hadast:
https://img360.imageshack.us/img360/1156/maa3367wk6.png

The city is defended once again, but it is only a matter of time before the garrison is weakened and the Numidians are able to throw a large enoug force at the city to break it:
https://img255.imageshack.us/img255/5324/maa3368zu9.jpg
[In case you hadn't guessed, I got tired of fighting this battles and just started to use "auto_win" on them.]

As the winter months set in, the generals of the Arche Makedonia in Syria and their armies settle into their camps and wait out the sieges of the few remaining Demetrid cities and their garrisons. In southern Syria, however, Chrysoloras Delphikos is surprised when a small army attacks from the south. It would seem that the small force had managed to pass through Ioudaia undetected, but it is little concern for Chyrsoloras and his large amry of klerouchoi and mercenaries:
https://img255.imageshack.us/img255/5186/maa3369gc0.png

On the hills outside of Damaskos, the two armies of phalangitai meet and begin their sarrisa duel:
https://img413.imageshack.us/img413/8617/maa3372wi9.png

As the phalangitai fight the army, from the south, coming from the city, the enemy general and his kataphraktoi cavalry charge in at the flank:
https://img214.imageshack.us/img214/6551/maa3374zf6.png

A group a phalangitai manage to move in and attack the enemy kataphraktoi, but in order to hold them down, Chrysoloras is forced to send in the Kretan archers, who are well capible of performing the task:
https://img505.imageshack.us/img505/7041/maa3377cc1.png

The first army breaks soon after and Chrysoloras Delphikos takes the cavalry to chase it down. The army from the city rushes in to save their general, but neither the general nor any of his men manage to flee the battlefield:
https://img505.imageshack.us/img505/6013/maa3381ox6.jpg

The next day, Chrysoloras Delphikos and his army takes the city of Damaskos. Those in the city are neither angry nor overjoyed. For most inhabitants, nothing changes with this change of power. Though for Chrysoloras and his men it is a plus. They are now able to weather out the rest of winter in the warmth of the city barracks.

Before the winter draws to a close, once again the Galatians are attacked as well. Rather than rescue Assyria from the army of Herodes, the forces in the east all attempt to move westward to their Basileus and to their capital:
https://img205.imageshack.us/img205/439/maa3382pe9.png

At first the two armies face off against eachother across the river, taunting eachother. It is only a matter of time before the Demetrids can take no more and make their move across the Euphrates and into Syria:
https://img505.imageshack.us/img505/9563/maa3383az9.png

The Galatians form an arc around the landing of the bridge and wait:
https://img413.imageshack.us/img413/1962/maa3385ex4.png

Once a sizable Demetrid force is across the bridge, they charge in from all sides:
https://img413.imageshack.us/img413/6527/maa3386cl5.png

The emeny is quickly slaughtered and the Galatians reform their line. Seeing the failure of the larger force, the smaller Demetrid force falls back and leaves the field of battle:
https://img205.imageshack.us/img205/7407/maa3388nh7.jpg

All across Syria, Assyria, Babylonia, and Armenia the garrisons and cities of the Demetrids are running out of supplies and nearing the point of forced surrender. Demetrid envoys from Syria who manage to get passed the armies of the Pyrrhids move to Aigyptos. From Aigyptos a few armies had moved north to assist Syria, but far more of the forces of Aigyptos had remained idle. With Syria doomed to fall and the Demetrid line end, the generals and nobles of Aigyptos turn their back on Demetreia and prepare to take power for themselves, rather than fight and fall with Syria. The Demetrid envoys are forced to return to their Basileus with new of no reinforcements.


The known world in161BC:
https://img413.imageshack.us/img413/9362/hxmak161editpl5.png

Next: Chapter 71 : The Syrian War (Part III): Reconquista

[Chirurgeon]

nice update MAA. Man you use alot of screenshots. Must take you a while to crop and organize that. My hat goes off to you on that one :)

[Centurio Nixalsverdrus]

Great update MAA! But don't you want to claim that tiny strip of Maeotis for yourself, as you already roleplayed your Skythian borders as well?

[MarcusAureliusAntoninus]

Thank you.

My last AAR had almost no pictures, so when I first started this AAR I made sure to have plenty of pictures and I guess I've just gotten used to the style. It doesn't take too long to edit. The battle shots are really easy. I just open them, resize them to 60%, crop them to 750x460, and save. The ones with multiple shots put together take a while longer, but eh I wouldn't do it if it wasn't somewhat fun.

I had originally planned to take Olbia and immediately move to Tanais, but Olbia had almost no infrastructure. I have to keep my army and governor there for now to keep it from falling apart. Plus I don't want to make an enemy of Sauromatae, so I'm going to have to get it to rebel or buy it from them...

[MarcusAureliusAntoninus]

Hey everybody. I've reach a new point in my midgame modding. I finally figured out how to reskin units. I'm not sure what I'm going to do with it, but it opens up a new oppertunity for brand new military reforms in my army. :beam:

I made these guys out of Thureophoroi, Roman Eastern Avxilias, and the Basilikon Agema:
https://img353.imageshack.us/img353/7840/maa3445mm1.png

[Centurio Nixalsverdrus]

Hey everybody. I've reach a new point in my midgame modding. I finally figured out how to reskin units. I'm not sure what I'm going to do with it, but it opens up a new oppertunity for brand new military reforms in my army. :beam:

I made these guys out of Thureophoroi, Roman Eastern Avxilias, and the Basilikon Agema:
https://img353.imageshack.us/img353/7840/maa3445mm1.png
Now you've finally run away.:grin: Though I think that phalanx-ability on anything other than a proper Makedonian phalanx doesn't look very good. What about giving them underhand spear, and approx. the stats of Sacred Band infantry?:smiley:

[||Lz3||]

wow damn it's as if you were playing ALL The factions in one!! :shocked2:

AMAZING :2thumbsup: :balloon::balloon::balloon::balloon3:

I love this story :beam:

[Reverend Joe]

MAA, you now kick twice as much ass.

[MarcusAureliusAntoninus]

I'd actually planned to make those guys use the underhand spear animation, but after altering the skin I found out they shared the model with the KH Thorakita Hoplitai, which I had already been using. That picture ended up just being a reskinning of that unit. The model didn't use the merc trick, though, so I'm now using the "roman infantry eastern auxilia" unit changed to use the merc trick:
https://img142.imageshack.us/img142/4459/maa3446tl3.png
I wanted to make a non-Makedone eastern Thorakitai unit out of these guys, which I can elist in my army Roman-style (though I'm having trouble finding a unit to convert into a non-Makedone western Thorakitai that I also wanted to make). Although I haven't had a good enough reason to make such a huge roleplaying change, yet.

Next chapter coming soon...

[MarcusAureliusAntoninus]

Chapter 71 : The Syrian War (Part III):
Reconquista

In the two years since Philippos had begun his Syrian invasion, things had turned from bleak to impossible for the Demetrid dynasty. All the garrisons in Syria, Assyria, and Babylonia had been tied down with sieges and the Galatians and Romaioi had managed to completely destroy the field armies of Syria. Without any assistance coming from Aigyptos, the only choice of the Demetrids is to wait for the inevitable.

In Tarsos, the elder brother of Philippos, Sotades, had tied down an army that had been meant to halt any Pyrrhid invasion from Anatolia. Instead of being halted by this army, Philippos simply ordered the city besieged and then bypassed by the bulk of his forces. Now, being the only large force remaining to the Demetrids, the army of Tarsos makes one last attempt to break the siege and move to rescue Demetreia:
https://img137.imageshack.us/img137/150/maa3389zf2.png

The Demetrids inside Tarsos where determined, but outside the city awaited a large army of old veterans who had fought with Pyrrhos himself in Africa, so many years earlier:
https://img137.imageshack.us/img137/6996/maa3390nw2.png

While the army of Sotades waits for the Demetrid infantry to line up outside their city walls, the Demetrid kataphraktoi make their move. Their attempt to break around the flank of Sotades' line is quickly countered by the Illyrioi, who pull out their axes to hack through the kataphraktoi armor:
https://img504.imageshack.us/img504/4318/maa3392hz5.png

The kataphraktoi quickly break and the Illyrioi do not pursue.

Along the infantry line, the Demetrid phalangitai attack the veteran Pezhetairoi from the west:
https://img504.imageshack.us/img504/9365/maa3394kn9.png

After flanking manuevers from Thraikioi and Samnici, the Demetrid infantry begins to take heavy losses and loose morale:
https://img90.imageshack.us/img90/7711/maa3396fh2.png

Sotades allows the enemy to retreat and reforms his line. Before too long, the Demetrids reemerge from the city and attempt another attack:
https://img137.imageshack.us/img137/7958/maa3398ge6.png

[This is the part of siege battles where the enemy marches out, breaks and retreats before even getting to me, marches back out, breaks before hitting my line and retreats, etc. :wall: ]

This time, the Samnici lead the counter attack and push the Demetrids back to the walls of the city...
https://img137.imageshack.us/img137/1337/maa3400ry6.png

...and even chase them into the city streets:
https://img504.imageshack.us/img504/6357/maa3401pb6.png

The day ends in a draw, with the few remaining Demetrid soldiers still in control of the city:
https://img504.imageshack.us/img504/6174/maa3402dg4.jpg

However, with losses from the battle and lack of supplies within the city, the few remaining Demetrids and their disgraced general decide to surrender the city. So, once again the city of Tarsos and all of Kilikia is returned to the hands of the Basileus of Makedonia, Sotades' younger brother Basileus Philippos V:
https://img504.imageshack.us/img504/5395/maa3403gj9.png

Soon after taking the city, Sotades learns what a desperate enemy is capible of. One night an assassin comes of his life but is narrowly thwarted. Aware of the risks, Sotades learns to be ready for anything, even in the dark of night:
https://img137.imageshack.us/img137/5586/maa3407uc8.jpg

Soon after the fall of Tarsos, the forces of Sophene report that the Hayasdan region has surrendered and the bulk of Armenia and its resources are now back in the hands of Makedonia:
https://img90.imageshack.us/img90/3534/maa3404jn8.jpg

Over the next couple months, there is little activity in the civil war as besieger and besieged await the inevitable. During this time, the city of Ippone is once again threatened...
https://img504.imageshack.us/img504/8822/maa3408hw6.png

...and in Hellas, Philippos' youngest brother, the troublesome one, begins to mature and even gain knowledge of governing and of warfare:
https://img504.imageshack.us/img504/9339/maa3409ne6.jpg

Laandros is soon exposed to his first crisis when an earthquake hits the area. Laandros is forced to deal with a real problem, being the man in charge of administering Hellas:
https://img137.imageshack.us/img137/4908/maa3414ny9.png

Back to the east, Herodes of Bosphoria manages to negotiate the surrender and disarming of the garrison at Edessa:
https://img504.imageshack.us/img504/9108/maa3410vr3.jpg

With the fall of the city of Edessa, the entire region of Assyria firmly falls into the hands of Philippos. This separates Babylonia and Syria, the only two regions with Demetrid garrisons still standing.

Doing his part in the war and seeking to remove the last army loyal to the Demetrids outside of Demetreia, King Isidoros Oresteus of Babylon launches an attack on the city of Seleukeia:
https://img137.imageshack.us/img137/526/maa3417dw1.png

With great siege towers pushed across the plains, Isidoros assaults the walls of the great city:
https://img504.imageshack.us/img504/6040/maa3420zy7.png

Once on the walls, his elite Babylonians meet with some resistance...
https://img504.imageshack.us/img504/1136/maa3421mt6.png

...but no matter the costs, the walls are taken:
https://img90.imageshack.us/img90/3503/maa3422hk4.png

And with the walls under their control, the assualt forces open the gateways of the city for the bulk of the Babylonian army to enter:
https://img504.imageshack.us/img504/4411/maa3423yz0.png

The battle at the gateway is short, with most enemies falling while attempting to retreat. The survivors retreat to the center of the city, where they reform their lines under the command of the local governor. Isidoros' men are well trained and don't give pursute to the center of the city, where rested enemy forces await. Instead, the army of Babylonians take their time to rest and slowly march on the city center. Once they are in possition on three sides of the city center, Isidoros gives the word for the archers to release their arrows:
https://img504.imageshack.us/img504/7854/maa3424cd5.png

Most of the remaining infantry of the city guard quickly fall. The governor of Seleukeia, under a rain of arrows from all sides, decides to take his chances and launches a counter attack against the southern force of Babylonians:
https://img504.imageshack.us/img504/7850/maa3425yr0.png

The spearmen absorb the charge and hold their ground against the assault by the heavy kataphraktoi:
https://img137.imageshack.us/img137/4941/maa3426nh4.png

While the kataphraktoi fight with the Babylonians to the south, the Babylonian forces to the east and west charge the city center and quickly wipe out the last of the city guards. These two forces then charge south toward the battle with the kataphraktoi and attack their enemy from the rear:
https://img90.imageshack.us/img90/3703/maa3427nn5.png

One at a time, the kataphraktoi fall dead. Soon only the governor remains:
https://img137.imageshack.us/img137/156/maa3429ua2.png

When the Makedonian governor falls dead, the city falls into the hands of the Babylonians and thus all of Mesopotamia is once again under the control of the city of Babylon, for the first time in centuries:
https://img504.imageshack.us/img504/8836/maa3431ws8.jpg

King Isidoros learns much from the battle...
https://img137.imageshack.us/img137/87/maa3432lb8.jpg

...but at this point in his life decides he much rather prefers governing over warfare:
https://img504.imageshack.us/img504/145/maa3433uq1.jpg

King Isidoros Oresteus of Babylon takes control of the city of Seleukeia as well as all of the territories along the two great rivers, from Assyria in the north to the border of Median control near the sea. Isidoros promises Philippos that the region will return to the Arche Makedonia, but until the war is over it is to be managed by Isidoros and the Babylonians. Philippos is worried at the thought of another uncontrollable client state, but at least Isidoros is getting old and has no sons.

With the fall of Kilikia, Armenia, Assyria, and Babylonia into the hand of Philippos, the western Arche Makedonia is once again the undisputed greatest power in the known world:
https://img137.imageshack.us/img137/8819/maa3415xa0.jpg

With his powerful mother at his side, Euktimenos takes control from the failure of his, court, advisors, and what remains of his generals:
https://img504.imageshack.us/img504/3213/maa3416mc9.png

With failure surrounding him and his own end quickly approaching, the young Euktimenos Idomeneus of the Demetrid line finally takes complete control of the eastern Arche Makedonia. However, now the eastern Arche Makedonia consists of only that which is within the walls of the city of Demetreia. Euktimenos Idomeneus is the direct line of Antigonos I Monophthalmos, Demetrios I Poliorcetes, Antigonos II Gonatas, Demetrios II Megas, Aristotelis, Bykoli, and Pefkolaos Idomeneus. Great men preceed him in his family line, but there is little greatness in the future of Euktimenos. The only choice left to Euktimenos is whether he will die fighting of surrender to the armies of his distance cousin, Philippos V.


The known world in160BC:
https://img391.imageshack.us/img391/4923/hxmak1602edit2xi2.png

Next: Chapter 72 : The Syrian War (Part IV): The Fall of the Demetrids

[Maion Maroneios]

Another great update, MAA! Finally we will see the Arche Makedonia united again!!

Maion

[Gaivs]

Finish the reconquest and then Destroy Numidia!!!

[satalexton]

ALL HAIL MAKEDONIA!!!