Titus Marcellus Scato
08-03-2010, 13:46
Just an idea to provide some historically-flavoured background explanation why the AI factions behave differently from the historical timeline. Could be expanded - suggestions welcome!
The EB World - Differences from History due to AI faction strategy, 272-250 BC
Barbarians: Rise of the Casse, Aedui, Arveni, Lusotann, Sweboz and Getai.
These barbarian tribes achieve much greater unity and power in the EB world through much less internal fighting within their own factions (no civil wars.)
Greece: Pyrrhus of Epirus not killed in Argos
In the EB world, King Pyrrhus leaves Italy as historically. But this time he leaves a small army behind in Taras. As as result, the Tarantines refuse to surrender to Rome without a fight, and prepare to resist the Romans to the end. Pyrrhus himself prepares to make a sudden strike at Pella, hoping to take over Macedonia while the Macedonian army is away attacking Athens. After that, Pyrrhus will decide whether to attack the Illyrian barbarians in the north, or the Greek city of Thermon in the south (lead city of the Aeotolian League). But a seer has warned him to stay away from Argos, so he won't enter the Pelopponese (Korinth and Sparta) in his lifetime. So Pyrrhus will survive, and may even manage to hold Macedonia for a time (along with the title of King of Macedon.)
Rome and Carthage: First Punic War delayed, independent Syracuse
In the EB world, Rome is not keen to get involved in Sicily early in the campaign. The First Punic War is not likely to begin in 265 BC, as historically. This is because Rome is far more interested in expansion to the north, against the Boii and Ligurians, who in the EB world remain at war with Rome following the defeat of their Epirote allies in the south. Rome is too busy fighting the Gallic tribes in the north to send an army to Sicily in 265 BC.
Carthage, too, is otherwise occupied. In the EB world, she is fighting a long and bitter war with Numidia and Phasania (southern Libya), and has designs on coastal Mauretania too. Expansion in Africa is her immediate aim, not expansion in Sicily.
So in the short term, Rome will be satisfied with Taras and Rhegion in the south, and then focus on the north. Rome does not come to the aid of Messana against Syracuse in 265 BC. Carthage sends troops toward Messana and Rhegion, but this is only a show of force rather than a serious invasion, and the Carthaginians will withdraw without a fight as soon as they are confronted by a larger Roman force. So in the world of EB, Syracuse actually liberates Messana from the grip of the Italian-born pirates, and the original Greek population of Messana is restored. (As evidenced by the presence of Greek-style troops in Messana, and no Italian-style troops.)
This makes Syracuse more powerful than historically, she now dominates all of eastern Sicily. Syracuse is no longer prepared to become a vassal of Rome without a fight, as King Hiero did historically. Unlike the historical situation, Rome will actually have to defeat both Messana and Syracuse before she can consider expansion into western Carthaginian Sicily. And Syracuse with her stone walls will not be an easy target! This will delay the First Punic War even further.
Sometimes (if using the BI engine) Rome will become interested in Corsica and Sardinia (due to them trading war supplies with the Ligurians, whom Rome is at war with) and invade the islands. This is another way the First Punic War might begin, instead of over Sicily. Carthage will not be very keen to fight a war over Corsica and Sardinia, due to their lesser value and greater distance from Carthage, and may send a diplomat to try and make peace. But this will likely fall on deaf Roman ears.
Arche Seleukia: Earlier decline, no royal Seleucid army of elite units exists in 272 BCE - and the earlier rise of Pontus, Hayasdan, Pahlava and Baktria
274-273 BC - In the EB world, just before the start of the campaign, the Seleucid Empire falls into civil war and is seriously weakened. The war is between Antiochus I Soter and his eldest son Prince Seleucus, who Antiochus had made viceroy of the eastern empire but now suspected of planning his assassination. The prestige of Antiochus I Soter had declined since his great victory over the migrating Gauls in 278 BC, due to his failure to bring the satrapies of Bithynia and Pontos to heel, and serious setbacks in the ongoing First Syrian War with the Ptolemies. Prince Seleucus actually was innocent of plotting against his father, but to save his own life rebelled once Antiochus ordered him to surrender himself to justice. The civil war was very hard-fought, and Antiochus I Soter prevailed, but only at the cost of wrecking his own royal army, most of which had joined the rebel side. Nearly all the remaining elite troops of the Seleucid Empire, including elephants, elite light cavalry and crack phalangites, were destroyed in the climatic final battle in 273 BC. Only by employing his last reserves of hastily raised and poorly trained eastern levies was Antiochus able to win the battle and the war. Prince Seleucus was captured and put to death.
As a result of obvious Seleucid weakness, various powerful satrapies break away during the civil war and declare independence - Pontus, Hayasdan, Pahlava, and Baktria. All of these had sided with the defeated Prince Seleucus during the civil war, but following Antiochus' victory, offered to make peace with him, acknowledge his nominal overlordship, and serve him as loyal allies, provided he agreed to allow them to govern their own internal affairs, stop paying taxes to Seleukia, and conduct their own independent military operations against other rebel provinces and Scythian raiders. Since Antiochus' elite army had been destroyed and the Ptolemies were pressing forward in Syria and Asia Minor, he was forced to agree to this proposal, and allow the four satrapies become functionally independent kingdoms in all but name.
In 272 BC the Parnii (later to become the Parthians) are very aware of the weakness of the eastern Seleucid territories, and decide to go to war. Asaak is their first target. The other satrapies of Baktria, Hayasdan and Pontos do not wish to fight the Seleucids at this time, but don't wish to help them either. They refuse to honour their alliances with Seleukia and send no help to Antiochus against the Parnii, claiming that they are too busy with other rebel provinces to assist.
This summarises the situation in the East in 272 BC, in the EB world.
Notes: Historically, Antiochus put Prince Seleucus to death before Seleucus could start a rebellion, so actually there was no civil war. Baktria, Pontus and Hayasdan did not declare independence until 246 BCE, and Parthia not until 238 BCE.
The EB World - Differences from History due to AI faction strategy, 272-250 BC
Barbarians: Rise of the Casse, Aedui, Arveni, Lusotann, Sweboz and Getai.
These barbarian tribes achieve much greater unity and power in the EB world through much less internal fighting within their own factions (no civil wars.)
Greece: Pyrrhus of Epirus not killed in Argos
In the EB world, King Pyrrhus leaves Italy as historically. But this time he leaves a small army behind in Taras. As as result, the Tarantines refuse to surrender to Rome without a fight, and prepare to resist the Romans to the end. Pyrrhus himself prepares to make a sudden strike at Pella, hoping to take over Macedonia while the Macedonian army is away attacking Athens. After that, Pyrrhus will decide whether to attack the Illyrian barbarians in the north, or the Greek city of Thermon in the south (lead city of the Aeotolian League). But a seer has warned him to stay away from Argos, so he won't enter the Pelopponese (Korinth and Sparta) in his lifetime. So Pyrrhus will survive, and may even manage to hold Macedonia for a time (along with the title of King of Macedon.)
Rome and Carthage: First Punic War delayed, independent Syracuse
In the EB world, Rome is not keen to get involved in Sicily early in the campaign. The First Punic War is not likely to begin in 265 BC, as historically. This is because Rome is far more interested in expansion to the north, against the Boii and Ligurians, who in the EB world remain at war with Rome following the defeat of their Epirote allies in the south. Rome is too busy fighting the Gallic tribes in the north to send an army to Sicily in 265 BC.
Carthage, too, is otherwise occupied. In the EB world, she is fighting a long and bitter war with Numidia and Phasania (southern Libya), and has designs on coastal Mauretania too. Expansion in Africa is her immediate aim, not expansion in Sicily.
So in the short term, Rome will be satisfied with Taras and Rhegion in the south, and then focus on the north. Rome does not come to the aid of Messana against Syracuse in 265 BC. Carthage sends troops toward Messana and Rhegion, but this is only a show of force rather than a serious invasion, and the Carthaginians will withdraw without a fight as soon as they are confronted by a larger Roman force. So in the world of EB, Syracuse actually liberates Messana from the grip of the Italian-born pirates, and the original Greek population of Messana is restored. (As evidenced by the presence of Greek-style troops in Messana, and no Italian-style troops.)
This makes Syracuse more powerful than historically, she now dominates all of eastern Sicily. Syracuse is no longer prepared to become a vassal of Rome without a fight, as King Hiero did historically. Unlike the historical situation, Rome will actually have to defeat both Messana and Syracuse before she can consider expansion into western Carthaginian Sicily. And Syracuse with her stone walls will not be an easy target! This will delay the First Punic War even further.
Sometimes (if using the BI engine) Rome will become interested in Corsica and Sardinia (due to them trading war supplies with the Ligurians, whom Rome is at war with) and invade the islands. This is another way the First Punic War might begin, instead of over Sicily. Carthage will not be very keen to fight a war over Corsica and Sardinia, due to their lesser value and greater distance from Carthage, and may send a diplomat to try and make peace. But this will likely fall on deaf Roman ears.
Arche Seleukia: Earlier decline, no royal Seleucid army of elite units exists in 272 BCE - and the earlier rise of Pontus, Hayasdan, Pahlava and Baktria
274-273 BC - In the EB world, just before the start of the campaign, the Seleucid Empire falls into civil war and is seriously weakened. The war is between Antiochus I Soter and his eldest son Prince Seleucus, who Antiochus had made viceroy of the eastern empire but now suspected of planning his assassination. The prestige of Antiochus I Soter had declined since his great victory over the migrating Gauls in 278 BC, due to his failure to bring the satrapies of Bithynia and Pontos to heel, and serious setbacks in the ongoing First Syrian War with the Ptolemies. Prince Seleucus actually was innocent of plotting against his father, but to save his own life rebelled once Antiochus ordered him to surrender himself to justice. The civil war was very hard-fought, and Antiochus I Soter prevailed, but only at the cost of wrecking his own royal army, most of which had joined the rebel side. Nearly all the remaining elite troops of the Seleucid Empire, including elephants, elite light cavalry and crack phalangites, were destroyed in the climatic final battle in 273 BC. Only by employing his last reserves of hastily raised and poorly trained eastern levies was Antiochus able to win the battle and the war. Prince Seleucus was captured and put to death.
As a result of obvious Seleucid weakness, various powerful satrapies break away during the civil war and declare independence - Pontus, Hayasdan, Pahlava, and Baktria. All of these had sided with the defeated Prince Seleucus during the civil war, but following Antiochus' victory, offered to make peace with him, acknowledge his nominal overlordship, and serve him as loyal allies, provided he agreed to allow them to govern their own internal affairs, stop paying taxes to Seleukia, and conduct their own independent military operations against other rebel provinces and Scythian raiders. Since Antiochus' elite army had been destroyed and the Ptolemies were pressing forward in Syria and Asia Minor, he was forced to agree to this proposal, and allow the four satrapies become functionally independent kingdoms in all but name.
In 272 BC the Parnii (later to become the Parthians) are very aware of the weakness of the eastern Seleucid territories, and decide to go to war. Asaak is their first target. The other satrapies of Baktria, Hayasdan and Pontos do not wish to fight the Seleucids at this time, but don't wish to help them either. They refuse to honour their alliances with Seleukia and send no help to Antiochus against the Parnii, claiming that they are too busy with other rebel provinces to assist.
This summarises the situation in the East in 272 BC, in the EB world.
Notes: Historically, Antiochus put Prince Seleucus to death before Seleucus could start a rebellion, so actually there was no civil war. Baktria, Pontus and Hayasdan did not declare independence until 246 BCE, and Parthia not until 238 BCE.