Re: In the year 258 BCE ...
Phase 2
In the year 262 BCE. Having taken the City State Demetrias in the previous year, the Koinon Hellenon now prepared for the attack on Pella, the capital of the Makedonioi.
Areus Eurypontidos Lakedaimonios, sends forth diplomats to renew the continued support by Sea to the Ptolemaioi, as well as a diplomatic delegation to Epeiros. It is rummored that the Makedonians have a massive army in their home territory with several branches of it hiden in defensive positions. Finding them will not be easy, instead, Areus thinks that it would be better to incite them out of their hiding places, in order to make a better assessment of their forces. Interfearence from another faction could endanger this plan. As such Areus sought an unninterupted thrust in to the heart of Makedonia.
In the year 261 BCE. An alliance is established with Epeiros, and with the arrangement of a small Tribute Areus insures non-interference during the upcomming thrust in to Makedon's heart.
This phase of the Makedonian Campaign starts in the winter of the same year. The mission is entrusted to the young Eugenios Rhodios, the plan consists of luring the hidden Makedonian armies in to the open.
Eugenios is not expected to take Pella and is instructed to retreat to the west taking the passes of the Pindus mounten range back to Demetrias, hopefully luring a large portion of the Makedonian army with him, and thus opening the way for a second army to strike Pella.
In the year 260 BCE. Chremonides Aithalidos Attikos dies peacefully in his bed. The Young general Eugenios Rhodios beseiges Pella in the spring.
Summer of the same year, everything seems to go according to plan when a large army surprises Eugenios from the east supported by the armies of Pella, the rouse to lure them out worked. However Eugenio's army does not have the time for an orderly retreat and is forced to fight.
He is greatly outnumbered. And victory looks very slim, so his plan consists of harming the enemy as much as possible reducing opposition for the next attack.
Eugenius placed his army in a tight formation, himself occupying the left wing, expecting a cavalry charge, giving the order to advance.
In the insuing battle Eugenios would run from one pocket of resistance to the other, trying to boost his men's morale, who fought very valiantly.
"Men! Hellenes! Fight! Fight for your honor, hold the lines with your last breath! You shall be remembered for paving the way to a new Era! An Era of Unity! For all Hellas!" Eugenios repeated at every opportunity.
The battle was long and hard, yet the combined forces of Makedon eventually prevailed, it is at this moment that Eugenios called for general retreat. - The enemy had been hurt enough, further sacifice was not necessary.
Fall, 260 BCE. Following the "First battle of Pella", Eugenios's retreating force headed west and through the mounten ranges of the Pindus. There, they were ambushed by another Makedonian force, confirming the rumors once again of Makedon having covered their intire province with hidden forces.
The enemy outnumbered Eugenios almost 2 to 1. Eugenios gave the word to fight, quickly reacting to the situation.
"Run Men, Run! Take the highgrounds!"
The Makedonians reacted to this maneuver by trying to redeploy their line, Eugenios seized the opportunity as reports from his captains came in.
"We shall pit our strengths against their weaknesses!" he yelled, and gave orders for the heavyer troops to charge on the ranged Makedonian units, while his own ranged units would pummel the heavy Makedonian troops from the highground. Himself stood at the highground observing the movements.
The Makedonian line had split as the their ranged units fled from the charging Hoplitai, their own melee troops desperatelly trying to avoid ranged fire. And as the bulk of the Makedonian force routed, Eugenios gave the order for a General charge! Sweeping the Makedonians downhill.
Victory is ours!
The road back to the City of Demetrias was now open.
In the Year 259 BCE. Having assessed and diminished Makedons forces the Koinon Hellenon were now in a better position to mount a decissive strike and take Pella.
Troops from Hellenic City States were sent to assemble in Demetrias, Hoplitai Haploi mainly. There was little time to train better troops and the last battle had tought Eugenios few lessons.
The assembled army was maid by fresh troops comming from as far as Sparta plus the surviving and retrained troops of the "First Battle of Pella". Eugenios set forth to the north by the end of Fall of the same year, once there he setup camp for the winter not far from Pella. Makedon seemed to have taken a defensive position and would not give it up.
In the year 258 BCE. Eugenios hired a third lochos of Misthophoroi Phalangitai to bolster his army. He marched his army out of camp as soon as the snow's melted and the pastures were open.
Knowing that the forces from Pella will once again act as reinforcements on the upcomming battle he marched his army to the southeast and then directly north to meet Makedon's forces head on.
Eugenios deployed his army in a wide U formation. On the center he placed the Phalangitai, supported by Akontistai, in the front center there were 3 lochoi of Sphendonitai. On the left wing were deloyed the Hoplitai Haploi in four squares, their role would be to intercept any Makedonian Cavalry trying to outflank from the Makedonian Right. On his right wing he deployed the better Ekdromoi Hoplitai each lochos supported by a lochos of Peltastai, their role would be to sweep any forces held in the center by the phalanx. Eugenios himself occupying the rear center position ready to commit himself in support of either flank or the center as needed.
On the Makedonian Side, Alkyoneus constituted the first line reinforced by Demetrios from Pella. Confident by their first victory against Eugenios, had deployed their lines in a classic Makedonian fashion.
Eugenios gave the order to advance and the complete formation moved in unisson descending the slope towards the center tree line where Alkyoneus had taken position.
The Makedonian cavalry consisting of two units advanced first in an attempt to flank the Sphendonitai, as expected by Eugenios. At the right moment the Sphendonitai retreated and as the Makedonian cavalry attempted to adjust its charge, Eugenios gave the order to the Hoplitai Haploi to charge the cavalry. Two squares of Hoplitai charged the first cavalry unit while the other two the second, effectivelly pining them down.
Eugenios himself moved in support of the Hoplitai Haploi, The Makedonian Cavalry was experienced and the moral of the Hoplitai not great. At the same time the order was given for the center and right wing to press forward.
Having lost their Cavalry's initiative the Macedonian line broke up in an attempt to save their cavalry and General but were pinned down by the Hellenic Phalangitai and Akontistai in the center. The Sphendonitai now repositioned in the rear center had a clear view of the macedonian army rear center not yet enganged by the Hellenon phalangitai, and wrecked havoc to them with outmost accuracy.
The right wing commited two units of Hoplitai and one unit of Peltastai in support of the center phalanx in a sweeping maneuver. The Makedonians found themselves sourounded.
The Makedonian Center routed in panic, Alkyoneus desperatelly tryed to disengage from the forces shadowing him without succes and found himself to the rear left and too far from his own troops. As the makedonians fled through the middle treeline the faster Ekdromoi Hoplitai pursued them, while the Phalangitai now were instructed to support the right wing and engage the forces of Demetrios which were trying a flanking maneuver of their own.
The forces of Demetrios were met by a shower of javelins from the Peltastai aswell as the Pikes of the Phalangitai. And soon after ouflanked by the remaining Ekdromoi Hoplitai of the Hellenon right wing. The forces of Demetrios routed in panic towards Pella. And the day was won!
Eugenios engaged the siege of Pella following the victory of the "Second Battle of Pella". The siege lasted during the remainder of the spring and the following summer. In the mean time reinforcements were sent from the city of Demetrias.
Having replaced the units that had taken the most casualties, Eugenios Rhodios ordered the assault of the City of Pella during the winter of the year 258 BCE.
And thus ended the Macedonian Campaign, in the Hellenic peninsula, singlaling the closing of the first chapter of this new Era. The Koinon Hellenon managed to successfully complete the first step of the vision of Kleomenes of Sparta for a reunited Hellenikon Laos.
Aftermath
In the aftermath of the fall of Pella, the Koinon Hellenon pursued their plans in securing the Greek peninsula and preparations were already under way for the second Chapter of their plan, the Conquest of Seleukia, which will be revealed in the next chronicle.
Re: In the year 258 BCE ...
What does thar Greek word say?
Re: In the year 258 BCE ...
It means "Chronology" :) {Hronologia}
Re: In the year 258 BCE ...
:2thumbsup: Good AAR. KH campaigns always start out with a bang. I guess that might be one reason the faction is so popular.
Re: In the year 258 BCE ...
Thank you :bow:
It is my first attempt to writte one ever, I wrotte it on the fly, and had to go back and correct it once I read it myself :shame:
I was reading some of the AAR's from other people here which inspired me, they are all great. Plus I am pretty excited by EB atm :)
Re: In the year 258 BCE ...
Its great. Makes me wanna play the Greeks ~:)
Re: In the year 258 BCE ...
Nice Suraknar! and what a formation you used...:2thumbsup:
