AspisPhalanx90
10-14-2010, 06:43
So, this is my first attempt at an AAR, so bear with me, its bound to get better :sweatdrop:
Firstly: much thanks to QuintusSertorius for the inspiration to make myself the Pergamenes with Epieros instead of Pontos. Secondly, I am attempting to SEMI-HISTORICALLY recreate the Attalid dynasty..unfortunately i havent figured how to rename my Epirote FMs, so it'll have to do having Aikaides for now. This is the First of many, and the first major engagement of the new Kingdom. It is written as a History, and im new at this so again, bear with...
The Histories starting in 272 BC.
The Rise of the Attalids
269 BC, Summer
Ptolemaios of Pergamon has been on an expedition in Lydia for 2 years now, advising the city of Ephesus on the Seleukid sitiuation. With Mytilene and Lesbos rid of Makedonian rulers with the aid of Attalid forces, Pergamon was secure from all danger other than the Seleukid Empire. The Seleukid stronghold of Sardis lay in the middle of a province that has much history. One of the wonders of the world, the Great Temple of Artemis at Ephesus lay in these lands, and the Ephesians, like true Greeks, desired greatly for their sovereignty. Finally, in 269, the Ephesians asked for the aide of the Pergamenes. With Ptolemaios at the lead, an army of Ephesus sets out through Lydia, picking up anyone willing to join…for the right price.
When the Ephesians reached Ipsos, it was besieged quickly relieved later that season by a Seleukid army led by Attalos Pergamou Mysiakes. Known throught Mysia and Pergamon as a traitor to their good city.
The battle of Sardis was waged on a field outside the city. The Ephesians would take the Seleukid army head on, and win…with Artemis’ blessings.
Ptolemaios formed his army up in a classic line formation. His army was very mixed, typical of the Pergamenes, consisting of Ephesian Hoplites in center, Illyrian auxiliaries flanking them, Galatian mercenaries on the flanks, and Anatolian hillmen in reserve. Along with Ptolemaios was his brother Helenos, recently arrived from Lesbos with a unit of Cretan archers and Cavalry. Although slightly outnumbered, Ptolemaios is confident that his troops are better trained, and more importantly, better led.
As the first Seleukid battle line approached in its standard line of pikes and skirmishers, Helenos orders his Cretan Archers to unleash hell on the Seleukid center line. Cretans are the finest archers of any Hellene, and they made it rain with the fury of Hephastos. https://img411.imageshack.us/img411/3782/cretansunleashhell.png
Panicked by the hail of arrows and stones and flames, the Seleukid pikemen break off to reform, but in a bold act their general begins riding directly towards the Ephesian line, shocking all who witnessed, and even inspiring a few units of levies to charge as well. However the hoplitai of Ephesus are well trained and battle hardened; the Seleukid cavalry smashed into the line, but the men of Artemis held fast.https://img524.imageshack.us/img524/5606/deathofaprince.png
It was at this time that Ptolemaios decided to begin riding towards his right flank, in anticipation of the arrival of the enemy pikes. Seeing as the only cavalry the seleukids had was tied up, they would be forced to leave the Pergamene cavalry alone. It was then that the entire enemy line broke ranks in panic and began to flee, their general, the Traitor, trying to rally with a bold ride down the line, met his end on the spear of an Ephesian hoplite. https://img408.imageshack.us/img408/4572/foolish.png
With the death of their leader, the Seleukid lines broke one at a time, and it was then that the Attalid cavalry rode in, scooping up all in their path and bringing the battle to a pleasant victory for Ptolemaios with few casualties, the removal of Seleukid influence in Lydia, and the death of an Attalid pretender. https://img261.imageshack.us/img261/6343/victoryatsardis.png
Added: Satisfied with the victory over the Attalid pretender, Ptolemaios and his allies decided it was time to remove all Seleukid influence west of the Taurus Mountains. By 264, Ipsos was under siege, and the Seleukid garrison there starving. In the Summer of 264, the Seleukids finally sallied forth against Ptolemaios. While the Seleukid garrison was composed of hardened medium phalanxes, they did not balance their forces accordingly, and were annihilated by Ptolemaios’s superior cavalry.
https://img841.imageshack.us/img841/2959/victoryatipsos.png
And so, by Autumn of 264BC, the Pergamene sphere of influence extended over all of central-western Anatolia. With the Pontid kings in control of Bithnyia, and Karia under protection of the Ptolemaioi, the Pergamenes would be forced to await a call for aid from yet another city-state wishing to be under more capable leadership.
https://img440.imageshack.us/img440/8694/attalids264bc.png
Firstly: much thanks to QuintusSertorius for the inspiration to make myself the Pergamenes with Epieros instead of Pontos. Secondly, I am attempting to SEMI-HISTORICALLY recreate the Attalid dynasty..unfortunately i havent figured how to rename my Epirote FMs, so it'll have to do having Aikaides for now. This is the First of many, and the first major engagement of the new Kingdom. It is written as a History, and im new at this so again, bear with...
The Histories starting in 272 BC.
The Rise of the Attalids
269 BC, Summer
Ptolemaios of Pergamon has been on an expedition in Lydia for 2 years now, advising the city of Ephesus on the Seleukid sitiuation. With Mytilene and Lesbos rid of Makedonian rulers with the aid of Attalid forces, Pergamon was secure from all danger other than the Seleukid Empire. The Seleukid stronghold of Sardis lay in the middle of a province that has much history. One of the wonders of the world, the Great Temple of Artemis at Ephesus lay in these lands, and the Ephesians, like true Greeks, desired greatly for their sovereignty. Finally, in 269, the Ephesians asked for the aide of the Pergamenes. With Ptolemaios at the lead, an army of Ephesus sets out through Lydia, picking up anyone willing to join…for the right price.
When the Ephesians reached Ipsos, it was besieged quickly relieved later that season by a Seleukid army led by Attalos Pergamou Mysiakes. Known throught Mysia and Pergamon as a traitor to their good city.
The battle of Sardis was waged on a field outside the city. The Ephesians would take the Seleukid army head on, and win…with Artemis’ blessings.
Ptolemaios formed his army up in a classic line formation. His army was very mixed, typical of the Pergamenes, consisting of Ephesian Hoplites in center, Illyrian auxiliaries flanking them, Galatian mercenaries on the flanks, and Anatolian hillmen in reserve. Along with Ptolemaios was his brother Helenos, recently arrived from Lesbos with a unit of Cretan archers and Cavalry. Although slightly outnumbered, Ptolemaios is confident that his troops are better trained, and more importantly, better led.
As the first Seleukid battle line approached in its standard line of pikes and skirmishers, Helenos orders his Cretan Archers to unleash hell on the Seleukid center line. Cretans are the finest archers of any Hellene, and they made it rain with the fury of Hephastos. https://img411.imageshack.us/img411/3782/cretansunleashhell.png
Panicked by the hail of arrows and stones and flames, the Seleukid pikemen break off to reform, but in a bold act their general begins riding directly towards the Ephesian line, shocking all who witnessed, and even inspiring a few units of levies to charge as well. However the hoplitai of Ephesus are well trained and battle hardened; the Seleukid cavalry smashed into the line, but the men of Artemis held fast.https://img524.imageshack.us/img524/5606/deathofaprince.png
It was at this time that Ptolemaios decided to begin riding towards his right flank, in anticipation of the arrival of the enemy pikes. Seeing as the only cavalry the seleukids had was tied up, they would be forced to leave the Pergamene cavalry alone. It was then that the entire enemy line broke ranks in panic and began to flee, their general, the Traitor, trying to rally with a bold ride down the line, met his end on the spear of an Ephesian hoplite. https://img408.imageshack.us/img408/4572/foolish.png
With the death of their leader, the Seleukid lines broke one at a time, and it was then that the Attalid cavalry rode in, scooping up all in their path and bringing the battle to a pleasant victory for Ptolemaios with few casualties, the removal of Seleukid influence in Lydia, and the death of an Attalid pretender. https://img261.imageshack.us/img261/6343/victoryatsardis.png
Added: Satisfied with the victory over the Attalid pretender, Ptolemaios and his allies decided it was time to remove all Seleukid influence west of the Taurus Mountains. By 264, Ipsos was under siege, and the Seleukid garrison there starving. In the Summer of 264, the Seleukids finally sallied forth against Ptolemaios. While the Seleukid garrison was composed of hardened medium phalanxes, they did not balance their forces accordingly, and were annihilated by Ptolemaios’s superior cavalry.
https://img841.imageshack.us/img841/2959/victoryatipsos.png
And so, by Autumn of 264BC, the Pergamene sphere of influence extended over all of central-western Anatolia. With the Pontid kings in control of Bithnyia, and Karia under protection of the Ptolemaioi, the Pergamenes would be forced to await a call for aid from yet another city-state wishing to be under more capable leadership.
https://img440.imageshack.us/img440/8694/attalids264bc.png