Tales of the Hegemonia Athenaioan
The prologue to this AAR can be found at TWC, basically a civil war has left the two sons of Chremonides with only Rhodes and Krete under their control. The faction name was suggested by Maion, I also refer to them as "the exiles".
Tales of the Hegemonia Athenaion, Part One:
An exile returns.
One year prior to the one hundred and thirty second Olympiad.
For almost twenty years the Aithalidos brothers had ruled the two Greek islands of Rhodes and Krete. Neither made any effort to pretend to share their fathers love of democracy. Nikanor may have been like his father in some ways, Doros barely resembled him in any fashion, but both men were aware that his legacy had given them the authority to rule these islands.
The Royal Family was growing, Doros' two daughter (one adopted) had both married, neither to an Athenian. His youngest daughter was married to a native of Rhodes, from an old and respected family in the city.
His eldest married a native of the hellenic city of Sinope on the Pontus Euxines. He had fled the city when his father was deposed in a brutal coup, it was his fiercest wish to return to the city and reclaim his birthright.
The Palace of the Hegemonia Athenaion, Rhodes.
The gatherings in the old Koinen Hellenon building were now simply the two brothers meeting once a year to drink wine and boast about how great their city was doing. Neither needed to exaggerate, virtually all trade in the eastern Mediterranean passed through either port and they were fabulously wealthy. The peace and prosperity the rule of the Athenians had brought the two islands meant both tyrants were beloved by peasant and noble alike, so long as the money kept flowing and taxes were paid neither was too interested in how the locals lived, died, worshipped or any other non money related facet of life. This meeting would be a little different however.
How many men do you think you could raise for next year Nikanor?
Huh? Well, just as many as you probably.
Let us see about that then. I think it's time we expanded our horizons. Young Kaliaros has been a good son to me, I think it's time I gave him a little present.
You want to take Sinope? Pretty ambitious. I had thought Kypros would have been a better target, it's lightly defended and we would take the Ptolemies by surprise. Any army we raise would have little experience, surely we should give them something less lofty to attain first?
We can take Kypros any time, the longer we wait to take Sinope the more likely it is to be in the hands of the Pontics, Seleukids or even the Ptolemies, rather than the usurper.
True, but taking it from him will draw us into that never ending cycle of war in Asia.
Do you want to sit on your ass in Krete forever?
Nikanor smiled. So long as I'm making money and the citizens have a festival in my honour every year, then yes.
Hmph, only a festival. Rhodes has games in my honour.
Well you are an Olympic hero, me, I'm a mere mortal.
So long as you remember that, dear brother. Doros replied with a chuckle.
I take it you have a spy in Sinope?
Of course, he's been there five years.
Planning that long eh. Well let's see, whats he say about the defenses?
Seems possible, what about this usurper, Aigicoros was it?
So his influence in the city isn't what it could be, interesting. Anything else?
My man in the city is pretty well integrated into their society. He believes he can open the city gates for us.
Excellent. Who get's to have the fun then?
Kaliaros should go of course, I will lead the assault and Euaimon can govern Rhodes in my absence.
Nikanor's face fell as he thought of the fame and glory he would miss out on.
Don't worry, you can take Kypros when the time comes, I promise.
Well then, I'd better get back and raise you an army.
You know what I would really like, some of those nice archers your little island is famous for.
Just make sure you raise some of those slingers your even littler island is almost famous for.
https://i405.photobucket.com/albums/...odelarmy-1.jpg
The exiles embraced, then left to raise their forces. Finally the Hegemonia Athenaion would begin to do more than tax the trade of the eastern Mediterranean. They were ready to enter the bloody realm of Asia Minor politics.
The battle for Sinope when it came was an anti-climax, the slingers and archers did most of the work from afar, the defenders being cut down in narrow streets by hails of arrow and stones. Few men of Doros fell that day, it was a crushing victory and the Hegemonia Athenaion took it's first steps onto Asian soil. It would be a testing time for the fledgling nation, Seleukian, Ptolemy, Makedon, Pontic and some smaller states fought over the land. Holding on to their first city here would be daunting enough, expanding would be a bloody business.
Re: Tales of the Hegemonia Athenaioan
Tales of The Hegemonia Athenaion, Part Two:
Halikarnassos' plea
The year of the one hundred and thirty second Olympiad.
The city of Halikarnassos had become something of a punchbag in the Seleukid/Ptolemy conflict. It passed hands between the two on an almost yearly basis, even rebelling and claiming protection from the Hegemonia Athenaion-prompting Doros to take everything he could from the city and abandon it to the Successor States' continuing conflict.
Desperation forced the city to once again claim allegiance with the Athenian exiles, the city was in an excellent location and the famous Mausoleum drew thousands of visitors every year, despite the fact there was usually an army camped outside the city.
Amongst the band of rebels who had overthrown the Seleukid puppet were some mercenaries of interest to Doros, Celto-Hellenic Spearmen and Gallic Swordsmen.
He integrated these men into his army and met with an agent of Ptolemy within the city. An agreement was struck, the city was turned over to the Ptolemies and Kypros was given to the Hegemonia Athenaion in return. Doros left the city and travelled to Salamis, which would be his capital on Kypros, believing he had gotten much the better of the deal. No doubt Halikarnassos would be back in Syrian hands by the end of the year, whilst his trading monopoly in the eastern Mediterannean was now even more secure.
Doros was proving himself an able heir to his father, his leadership had enabled the Hegemonia Athenaion to grow and develop into a nation with power in the region that belied it's small size. They had powerful friends and no enemies of any note, of course as they grew in size and influence that would likely change, but for now they were in no imminent danger of being attacked.
Euaimon had emulated Doros achievements in becoming a winner at the Olympic Games. Unfortunately, unlike Doros, his win hadn't been comprehensive and there were doubts as to the validity of his achievement. His prestige had undoubtedly been enhanced, though his detractors had something they could use to cast doubt on his glory.
Re: Tales of the Hegemonia Athenaioan
Tales of The Hegemonia Athenaion, The Asian War:
Prologue.
One year prior to the on hundred and thirty seventh Olympiad.
Halikarnassos had been one of the great Greek cities, the birthplace of Herodotus, it's famous Mausoleum sparked wonder and awe in all who gazed upon it. The numbers gazing upon it were dwindling, it was a brave, or foolhardy, man who made the trip. Now the only men who travelled to the city were soldiers, surely no city in history had been fought over so frequently in such a short period of time. It changed hands seemingly every campaign season, three times it had overthrown Seleukid overlords and petitioned for help from the exiles. Three times it had been refused. Three times the Syrian payback had been brutal. Surely a fourth rebellion was futile, a ludicrous gesture of defiance? It came anyway, a small band of men drove out the Seleukid garrison and sent an ambassador the short boat ride to Rhodes. The difference this time was a new Hegemon, Doros was dead and his brother was in charge. Nikanor was fifty four and wanted to make history in the short time fate seemed to have alloted him.
This time the petition was accepted, Nikanor took an army with him into south western Asian Minor. This was Seleukid territory, taking an army in here was an unambiguous declaration of war. There was no chance of "Oh sorry, this is your land" going down well, this would mean a long, bloody war, which would only be won by driving the heirs of Alexandros' general out of the entire region. The presence of Makedone and Pontic settlements in the region would only complicate matters.
Nikanor arrived in Halikarnassos and immediately set about rebuilding the shattered city. The only building in good order was the Mausoleum, virtually every other building was either partially or entirely collapsed. Nikanor was in his element, his governance had seen Kydonia in Krete become one of the worlds finest metropolis', he could do the same here. The question was, would he have time? The Seleukids would not give up without a fight, he would finally get the chance to show he was a great general as well as a great ruler.
The army was camped north of the city, guarding the only river crossing into Karia. A smaller Seleukid force attacked the camp, probably believing these decadent traders couldn't fight. After all, what had they been doing all these years while the Seleukids were humiliating the Ptolemies and forging an empire to rival Alexandros'?
Nikanor's nephew commanded the forces in the Hegemons absence, and his bravery showed as he led his hoplites out of camp first.
The Seleukid commander was still trying to get his forces in position.
The Greeks were able to get the entire force out in good order and Kretan archer and Rhodian slinger pelted the enemy from a distance. The meeting of skirmishers was brief, the meeting of infantry even more brief before the Seleukids broke off and left the field, harried all the way by the Greeks. It was a comprehensive victory for the exiles in a battle that would have warranted little comment had it not been the first engagement of the war.
The army was ordered north east, to the city of Sardis and laid seige. For too long the Hegemonia Athenaion had been a passive observer in world affairs, that was about to change, they had singed the Basileus' beard and intended to burn his house down around him.
Re: Tales of the Hegemonia Athenaioan
Excellent start, john. I congratulate you on this. One minor correction though: Kyprios means Man from Cyprus, Cyprus is just Kypros in Greek. Basically, "c"s become "k"s, -us becomes -os and -um becomes -on in Greek. Actually it's vice versa (seeing that Latin in derived from a Greek dialect from Euboia), but anyway.
Maion
Re: Tales of the Hegemonia Athenaioan
Quote:
Originally Posted by
Maion Maroneios
Excellent start, john. I congratulate you on this. One minor correction though: Kyprios means Man from Cyprus, Cyprus is just Kypros in Greek. Basically, "c"s become "k"s, -us becomes -os and -um becomes -on in Greek. Actually it's vice versa (seeing that Latin in derived from a Greek dialect from Euboia), but anyway.
Maion
U should read the prolouge aswell, Maion. Like he said it can be found in the TWC EB/aars section. Quite a good read with many twists.
Glad to see you posting this here John. :2thumbsup:
Re: Tales of the Hegemonia Athenaioan
Tales of The Hegemonia Athenaion, The Asian War:
Sardis.
One year prior to the one hundred and thirty seventh Olympiad.
Halikarnassos was a grim place, scarred from countless assaults with a populace who had known no peace for two generations. Nikanor knew this place needed him to rebuild it brick by brick, rebuild it's shattered people as well. These men had been too proud to leave and Nikanor respected that kind of reckless pride in a man. After all he had not been too proud to flee his home, Doros claimed they had been doing what their father wished, Nikanor had always been ashamed. Sometimes at night he wished he had stayed behind and died alongside his father, however pointless it may have been there was no denying the glory and honour in the stance. In many ways these battered and bruised people were better than him, he would not leave Halikarnassos until they had the life they deserved, the home they deserved. Other men could lead his armies. He quietly cursed his brother, wishing he were still alive so he could do it to his face. Doros could have saved this city years ago. Damn him.
The army that attacked his army had been pushed back and the road to Sardis was open. Who would lead this army though? His son would be a great leader one day, he was needed in Krete though, He would have to lead many cities one day and needed to learn administrative skills as well as marshall. He would join the Asian campaign but not yet. That left his nephews, Doros' son in laws. None were Athenian, Nikanor never understood how Doros allowed that. Luckily he himself only had sons, both married to good Athenian girls. One had accompanied him on the campaign and had beaten back the Seleukid attack, he would have to lead the assault. To describe him as mediocre would have been an insult to mediocre men everywhere, however it would have to be him leading the army. Nikanor hoped he at least had the sense to listen to his officers.
The army marched to Sardis, as Nikanor expected the outnumbered garrison stayed within the city. Three months passed.
https://i405.photobucket.com/albums/...R/Sardis-1.jpg
Another Seleukid force attacked the beseigers, Ameinokles would be forced to fight two armies coming from different directions. A native of Byzantion, by the name of Isidoros, led the the attack and Ameinokles marched to meet him before he could join with the defenders.
Ameinokles deployed his army in a typical fashion for the battle, he wouldn't be trying any tactical masterplans today.
He watched shocked, as his two detachments of barbarians, Galatians from the centre of Asia, ran off from his army.
What on earth are they doing? he demanded of an officer next to him.
No idea sir replied the officer, who had seen as little action as Ameinokles.
Are they planning to betray us?
That wouldn't make any sense sir, they were part of the Halikarnasson rebellion.
An entire army watched as the barbarians ran to a thick group of trees they had spotted and didn't emerge from the other side.
Ah! said the officer, smiling.
What, what are they doing?
An ambush sir.
Ah... recognition dawned in his eyes. Then he saw the enemy approach through the trees in the distance, the Galatians had made it just in time.
The army of the exiles watched in surprise as the Seleukid general led his cavalry in a charge toward the psiloi who unloaded into the horsemen and then ran behind the spearmen.
The cavalry was beaten back and the skirmishers moved forward to face another hail of missiles.
They were quickly beaten back by the barrage of missiles coming their way and let the phalanx moved to engage the Greek spears. As they saw them move the Galatians started to emerge from their hiding place to surprise the enemy.
The two Seleukid armies had finally converged and eastern Greek met true Greek as the Seleukid line engaged in disjointed fashion.
The army of Seleukos' heirs were shocked to see the Galations emerge and attack them, one phalanx was able to meet them spear first and were even more shocked the barbarians still came at them, no fear showing. If anything they seemed pleased to have a real man to man fight at hand, rather than charging into an enemies unguarded back.
The Seleukid general had lost his horse and taken a dead man's sarissa, joining the phalanx in combat. His tactics may have been suspect, there was no doubting the man's courage. Sometimes personal courage is not a good thing in a general and he found himself isolated and was cut down by a barbarian sword.
At that the enemy morale was shattered, they fled the field in terror, chased all the way by bloodthirsty barbarians. It was a comprehensive victory, and of course Ameinokles claimed he had ordered the barbarians to move to the ambush spot.
The victory also gave the Hegemonia Athenaion control of the important city of Sardis and the surrounding regions. Ephesus, another city in the region was famous the world over for it's temple of Artemis. Ameinokles travelled to see it a few days after taking Sardis and found it to be everything he had heard and more.
The Hegemonia Athenaion had proved they could take a city by force and the Seleukid Basileus would have to take them seriously now, what would his next move be?
Re: Tales of the Hegemonia Athenaioan
Quite an intresting story so far John. Keep up the good work and I'll give you a red balloon. :laugh4:
Re: Tales of the Hegemonia Athenaioan
Finally. v I had to replace my harddrive but i used a program to save my eb files:laugh4::laugh4::laugh4:t took my dad a week to get around to helping me with it. Nice story
