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Ha, are you kidding? Of course people are still following. People fear following an aar that just began, because you know, most aars end shortly. Yours has over 700 comments and 35000+ views? People are still following this EPICNESS (for lack of a better word). :2thumbsup: :clown: ... now get to work. :whip:Quote:
Originally Posted by MarcusAureliusAntoninus
Chapter 131 : An Era of Peace
As the First Persian War came to a close, Basileus Philippos V was approaching seventy years in age. Though he had neither lead men into battle for many years nor fought in the war, the war in the east had put a great stress on him. While his son waged a war against Persian soldiers on a battlefield, Basileus Philippos waged war against the nobles of the Ruling Council. Although supreme power still remained in the hands of the Basileus, Philippos did not wish to risk directly countering the commands of the Ruling Council. Instead, Basileus Philippos did what he was good at and manipulated the council from the shadows. Through his actions, the war continued to receive the needed funds. Even as the war raged, Philippos managed to finish rebuilding the Arche. For the first time since before the Makedonia Civil War, the Arche was peaceful and rich. The people of the Arche loved their Basileus, even if they didn't know exactly how he accomplished what he did.
https://img269.imageshack.us/img269/3062/maa4698.jpg
Though he was old and occupied with the matters of ruling a massive empire, Basileus Philippos V continued to expand his skills. In his spare time, he preferred to read about military tactics and speak with his generals. Although there was a good chance he would never again lead an army into battle, he continued to better his skills as a general.
https://img197.imageshack.us/img197/2770/maa4605.jpg
As he awaited his son's returned from the war, he managed the Arche. Both victory and tragety were put before him and he had to deal with it all. Soon after the end of the First Persian War, Basileus Philippos learned of the death of the great Galatian general Protogenes Datos.
https://img268.imageshack.us/img268/964/maa4606.jpg
It had been Protogenes who had lead the Galatian kings soldiers into battle during the Makedonian Civil War. General Protogenes had expanded the domain of the Galatians in Anatolia (though Philippos had taken the newly gained territories away during his provincial reforms), and lead his battle hardened soldiers to victory in many battles against the Demetrids. The war may have not turned the way it had if the Galatians had not chosen to side with Pyrrhos II. Even decades later, the site of Protogenes' greatest battle was still remembered and celebrated. Travelers who passed looked at the field where thousands had died and ensured the fall of Demetreia to Philippos during the war.
https://img268.imageshack.us/img268/1553/maa4686.png
Another tragedy was news of a widespread plague in the city of Korinthos. All of Hellas began to panic but the Council's order to isolate the city kept the plague from spreading beyond her walls. Thousands died.
https://img118.imageshack.us/img118/2115/maa4621.png
In happier news, the great Gymnasion in Athenai was completed. In the new capital, this rebuilt Gymnasion Akademaikon was unique in the Arche, specially designed for both exercise and learning. This was but one of the great building projects of the era.
https://img269.imageshack.us/img269/4509/maa4637.png
With the war against the Persians ended, the Arche began to overflow with funds. For the first time since the rule of Basileus Aristotelis, the Arche brought in more money then she could spend.
https://img43.imageshack.us/img43/236/maa4688.jpg
For the second time in his rule, Basileus Philippos V lowered taxes across the Arche. Yet, still the treasury overflowed. To spend some of the money, Philippos commissioned another series of building projects, including port expansions, new academies, and an Romaioi styled road that would connect Demetreia in Syria to the old Persian Royal Road in Assyria.
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On the opposite side of the Arche from Assyria, in the lands of Iberia, there was a growing problem. When Philippos had first invaded southern Iberia as a youth, the Iberians had fled before him. This left many lands and field free to settle. A great influx of Hellenes, Makedones, and other citizens traveled to Iberia and set up farms and settlements. They settled in many areas of southern Iberia but did not cross into the lands of the Lusotanni and Arevaci.
When the Lusotanni and Arevaci tribes were defeated by Philippos, many of the refugees from southern Iberia had nowhere left to run to and chose to returned to their land. When they arrived, they found their lands occupied by Hellenes. The refugees were forced to settle in the cities, which were growing ever more Hellenistic. As time passed, more Hellenes arrived to the lands of Iberia. Many Iberians who regained their land or had not fled at all were force off their lands in favor of Hellenistic settlers.
Although it seemed clear that the tension came form the settlers, the true tension was actually generated from amongst the Iberians. The tension grew from the disagreements between two groups who had begun to form. First were those Iberians who embraced Hellenistic culture and moved into the cities, generally the youth. Then there were those who still held onto their own culture. They saw the Hellenes as an enemy and the Hellenized Iberians a traitors.
https://img38.imageshack.us/img38/7600/maa4581.png
Tensions only grew in Iberia when two Makedonian governors mysteriously died at the same time. At first the Iberians were blamed and the army began looking for local assassins. As time passed it began to looked less like murder and more like random chance and bad luck. The settlers were outraged at the mere thought of Iberian assassins, and the Iberians were outraged when the Hellenes blamed them for something they did not do.
https://img194.imageshack.us/img194/7454/maa4635.jpg
Adding to the troubles in Iberia were the Lusotanni and Arevaci tribes themselves. For more than forty years, these and other tribes in central and western Iberia had been occupied by the armies of Makedonia. Even after the reforms of Basileus Philippos V and the creation of "Provinces", these more hostile lands of Iberia continued to be ruled by generals, through the blades of their soldiers. Especially amongst the Lusotanni, a wave was building up again and all it needed was the right occasion to break across all of Iberia.
Amongst the Arevaci, there was less tension with the Arche directly. Some even began to embrace Hellenistic culture of their own will. Some wished to be given the rights of a Satrapy, to be ruled locally by themselves but still loyal to the Arche. In the city of Numantia, a Hellenistic temple was built and co-dedicated to Dionysos. Some welcomed this huge sign of Hellenistic culture, but this temple alone nearly tore the city apart.
https://img37.imageshack.us/img37/2897/maa4702.jpg
In financial news, the already profitable region of Kantabria completed an expansion of a complex of old Iberian mines. Through trade with the Tin Isles and now with her mines, the region added greatly to the income of the Arche. Because of this, it was heavily occupied and governed by the military.
https://img15.imageshack.us/img15/2499/maa4715.jpg
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An earthquake shook Epeiros a year after the end of the First Persian War, killing thousands...
https://img31.imageshack.us/img31/470/maa4684.png
...but most people feared the spreading plague. Another or perhaps the same plague that was hitting Korinthos hit a couple cities in Africa. Because of the overpopulation of the region, tens of thousands became ill and thousands died. Even a Makedonian governor fell sick.
https://img24.imageshack.us/img24/7277/maa4687.png
More trouble came when rioting broke out in the isolated village of Ammonion that year. The cause was unknown, but many believe it was due to the oracle there. Even after the rioting was stopped by soldiers from Kyrenaia, the people remained discontent. The troops was forced to remained in the city and permanently garrison the small outpost.
https://img43.imageshack.us/img43/5104/maa4692.jpg
A tragedy hit the royal family as Basileus Philippos waited for his son to return from the east. In the old capital of Pella, Makedonia, Euphrantos died quietly after a short bout of illness.
https://img10.imageshack.us/img10/7097/maa4714.jpg
Euphrantos was the younger brother of the Basileus and had governed Pella since the capital had been moved to Athenai. Though he had been a lover of the shadier aspects of life and never competent at any given task, he had remained loyal to his father and his brother throughout his life. He left behind a wife, two daughters, and a son who was no more than ten years in age. With the death of Euphrantos, only Basileus Philippos and his brother Laandros survived of the sons of Pyrrhos II. Six males now remained in the royal family and three where children.
A plague broke out in Syria, hitting the Klerouchoi city of Bostra the hardest. It was uncertain if this was the same plague that had hit Hellas and Africa, but many believed another massive plague was going to hit the Arche once more. Plagues had catastrophically hit the Arche before. In the last great plague, tens of thousands died in Hellas and Basileus Neokles had died, triggering the Makedonian Civil War.
https://img34.imageshack.us/img34/9632/maa4719.png
The peaceful years continued and so did the massive building projects. In Syrakousai, the main trading port between Hellas and the west, an enormous expansion of the port itself was completed. The project had taken many years and cost a great deal. Many said it was not worth the effort, but Syrakousai was proud of their effort and their new port.
https://img194.imageshack.us/img194/9311/maa4717.jpg
In the lands of Assyria, Euktimenos of the Demetrids and his son continued to claim to be loyal to Basileus Philippos V and his dynasty. Euktimenos was growing old like Philippos, and like Philippos he continued to study the ways of war. No matter what he said, as long as Euktimenos lived, the people of the Arche feared another civil war.
https://img7.imageshack.us/img7/570/maa4729.jpg
Good news for the Demetrid Dynasty came in the thirty fifth year of the reign of Philippos, when Euktimenos' son Synlekteinos married. Although it was a joyous day for their family, many feared the thought of the Demetrid line continuing or growing stronger.
https://img22.imageshack.us/img22/8826/maa4725.jpg
Euktimenos had always been weak, even when he held the title of Basileus in Demetreia. His lands then had been ruled by his mother and his advisers. Now in this old age, he truly had no plans to begin another civil war. He simply wished to prove himself in the First Persian War and then live peacefully until the end of his days. His son Synlekteinos was another matter. He had been raised on stories of the greatness of his ancestors and truly believed his right to rule had been striped from him before he was even born. If he ever built support, he could be a problem for the Arche, but so far his father had kept him from doing something disastrous.
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The known world during the thirty sixth year of the reign of Basileus Philippos V (129BC):
https://img35.imageshack.us/img35/748/hxmak129edit.png
Next: Chapter 132 : Out of Arabia
Great chapter, MAA! :2thumbsup: Where do all these earthquakes and plagues come from? In 115 years I cannot remember more than one plague in my campaign.
QFT. The Anabaseis ain't dead by the way. :beam:Quote:
Originally Posted by Vasiliyi
What is QFT?Quote:
Originally Posted by Centurio Nixalsverdrus
Quote For Truth, I think.
Up until the release of v1.0 the disasters were working fine. My disasters work just like Teleklos programmed them to (on this pre-v1.0 version of EB that my campaign is played on). I have no idea why people have been having problems with the disasters. Maybe some tiny change was made in some file on accident before the release and nobody has been able to find it.Quote:
Originally Posted by Centurio Nixalsverdrus
That's good to hear. :beam:Quote:
Originally Posted by Centurio Nixalsverdrus
I always thought it was "Quite F-ing True", but Apraxiteles is probably right. Same basic meaning, though.Quote:
Originally Posted by Vasiliyi
If it's in a single or two files and savegame-compatible, perhaps you might want to share your disaster file with us? (Or at least with me)Quote:
Originally Posted by MarcusAureliusAntoninus
Since I'm pretty sure that Teleklos went over the main files when the error was first reported, I would think they are working fine and the error would be in some minor file. Although, I've never modded disasters and I'm not entirely sure what all the files that are associated with disasters are. I wouldn't even know all the files to copy and post.Quote:
Originally Posted by Centurio Nixalsverdrus
This AAR is great and inspired me alot to write my own one. Fun to see what happens when the king dies if peace will last or civil war will break out. :beam:
wow. had no idea this was still going on. i've got reading for all day!
Good luck writing, keiskander.
Yep, been going for nearly two years now. A nice little alternate history I've got going. Thanks for following... to everyone.Quote:
Originally Posted by paullus
I haven't even started on the next chapter. I've been using the time I usually write to write a story, but I still plan to continue. I haven't played a whole lot for the last few months, either. I have about two more chapters left to write before I catch up to where I'm playing. You might have noticed that the last chapter covered four years of the campaign. Without any wars, the game doesn't have much to write about but still takes about as long to play. I get several more years along before I'm caught up, though...
Chapter 132 : Out of Arabia
Although the latter years of Basileus Philippos V's rule were dominated by peace, there was still conflict in the world and wars still raged outside and along the edge of his Arche. Though unorganized, the Numidians and Mauretanians still raided the Arche's coastal cities in Africa. The Iberians, too, continued to threaten the Arche's borders with raids and ambushes, but they could never be found when pursued. In Gallia, the tide of warfare had shifted for the first time in decades, and the war amongst the tribes threatened to overflow into territories held by the Arche. The Median borders with the Persian Empire remained suspiciously quiet. It was in Arabia that troubles brewed. There, a true war waged between the Arche's allies and the Arche's enemies.
For more than a decade, the city of Carna had requested aid from her Hellenic allies but had received very little. Several times the city and her king had fended off invading armies and withstood sieges. There had been great challenges for the city during the Arche's war with the Persians, but for several years the Kingdom of Sab'yn had left Carna alone. For only a couple years the city saw peace, and once again the Saba returned to besiege the city.
Because of the desert heat, the armies of the Kingdom of Sab'yn had always tried to take the city by force before the summer began. This siege was no different from those that came before. As the summer approached, they attacked the city walls with their siege equipment.
https://img193.imageshack.us/img193/8205/maa4704.png
Though his army had been cut in half by previous battles, the King of Carna rallied his men and prepared them for whatever came. When the Sabaean soldiers began moving their siege equipment for the walls, the soldiers of Carna threw everything they had down at them. From their place atop the walls, they were able to cause heavy damage to the enemy siege equipment and to the army itself.
https://img269.imageshack.us/img269/8336/maa4708.png
Only a few Sabaean ladders even made it to the walls. Only death awaited at the top for those who climbed them.
https://img42.imageshack.us/img42/1564/maa4710.png
While his soldiers defended the walls, the King of Carna personally lead what was left of his cavalry force out from the city to engage the Sabaean cavalry. Like he had before, the king lead his cavalry to a victory just outside the walls of his city.
https://img42.imageshack.us/img42/2081/maa4711a.png
Barely loosing any men, the King of Carna once again was able to defend his city and wipe out an army of the Kingdom of Sab'yn.
https://img269.imageshack.us/img269/6481/maa4713.jpg
The city of Carna celebrated their victory, but even greater news came soon after. After years of preparation, an army of Syrians from the Arche had begun their march southward. Almost half the army had been equipped to fight as Thorakitai directly by Arche funds, but most of the soldier were of generally low quality. This did not matter greatly, for the Kingdom of Sab'yn had not been able to field a well trained army since the days of the Makedonian Civil War.
As summer came to the deserts of Arabia, the Syrian army came to a halt. Not wishing to risk marching in the heat of the summer sun, the army stopped at a small town that was allied to the Arche. Known mostly for an odd rock, the city was of little importance strategically but did have some importance in trade. The city hesitantly became the home of the army of foreigners for the summer.
https://img198.imageshack.us/img198/4313/maa4723.png
The summer came and went but the soldiers of the Kingdom of Sab'yn just kept coming. Leaving nothing to chance, the Saba sent three armies to take the city of Carna. With the Syrian army still in their camp far to the north, the army of Carna had to fight alone when the attack came once more.
https://img195.imageshack.us/img195/4459/maa4738.png
The Sabaeans took heavy casualties when they came at the walls, but they had the numbers to withstand the losses. Still they were able to storm the walls. The soldiers of Carna fought with all they had, but they could not hold out against the overwhelming force that was coming over the walls on ladder and tower.
https://img268.imageshack.us/img268/4682/maa4742.png
After several hours of fighting, the soldiers of Carna were forced to give up the walls and the Sabaeans took the city gate. With the gates opened, the Sabaean cavalry charged forward and into the city.
https://img199.imageshack.us/img199/6193/maa4743.png
There was little resistance for the cavalry, but a handful of spearmen tried to hold back the swarm of horses that poured into their city. Although, as more and more horsemen joined the battle, the spearmen's effort proved futile. Most fell dead and the rest retreated back to their homes, giving up the fight.
https://img268.imageshack.us/img268/9871/maa4745.png
The Sabaean cavalry then charged into the city, believing that it was theirs. When they came upon the city palace, they found themselves to be mistaken. Rallying all the men he had left, the King of Carna managed to ambush the Sabaean cavalry and cut them down.
https://img268.imageshack.us/img268/5974/maa4748.png
Soon, almost all the Sabaean horses lay dead but the enemy infantry marched down from the conquered walls and through the opened gates. Into the city they marched and down her streets. From all sides they marched against the King of Carna and the few men that still stood with him.
https://img42.imageshack.us/img42/579/maa4750.png
The soldiers of Carna who still stood after the battle they had fought against the Sabaean cavalry tried to stop the Sabaean soldiers in the narrow streets but did not have the numbers needed to hold their enemy back. When they panicked and started to run, the King of Carna finally surrendered his city.
https://img268.imageshack.us/img268/6130/maa4752.png
Failed attempts to take the city of Carna had cost the Kingdom of Sab'yn many armies. Even success had cost them greatly. With their army almost entirely wiped out, the had finally won.
https://img197.imageshack.us/img197/6246/maa4753.jpg
Although he had surrendered, the King of Carna was executed. In the days that followed, a large portion of the peoples of the city were slaughtered and many more were rounded up and sold into slavery. The Saba treated the people of Carna so poorly that even those people in the Arche, who had not cared of the events in Arabia, were outraged.
https://img42.imageshack.us/img42/1060/maa4754.jpg
Without a city to rescue and lacking the resources or will to retake it, the Syrian army remained where they were and began to barricade the city. The Kingdom of Sab'yn conquered many minor kingdoms along the coast but waited to attack the garrisoned city in the north. They knew that these soldiers were from the Arche and not simply allied to her. Attacking that city may have begun a war with the Arche, one the Arche was willing to fight, a war that the Kingdom of Sab'yn could not win.
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The known world during the spring of the thirty seventh year of the reign of Basileus Philippos V (128BC):
https://img268.imageshack.us/img268/...mak128edit.png
Next: Chapter 133 : A Generation's Passing
Carna is always a slaughterhouse. Who are these archers you have there in Carna?
Theses guys?
https://www.europabarbarorum.com/i/u...an_archers.gif
Those archers are "Sabaean Archers". In my pre-release version, there was nothing available for recruitment in Arabia, so I had to manually mod all of the Arabian units in. The archers may not have been modded in for foreign factions in the official release version of EB.
Yes, I saw them in my 1.1 build yesterday too. I just could not remember them because they are so seldom! They always use slingers, and a few Arabian archers in between.
I've read from the "Down from africa" part to here and really like it. I also read the beggining up until the chapter: "Death of a Basileus." I look forward to readingm btween the 2 parts. Good luck and keep it coming.
I've finally started writing the next chapter of this AAR. It should be done in a few days.
A while back I mentioned some maps I had made for this AAR and I thought I'd post a few since they are now accurate for the time frame.
First is the divisions of the Arche:
https://img9.imageshack.us/img9/3487/provinces128.png
White are regions controlled by directly by the Basileus and Council (Type1 Government)
Red are Provinces controlled by representatives of the Basileus (Type2 Government)
Yellow are Satrapies (Type3 Government)
Orange are military controlled (Type 3 Government)
Green are Client Kingdoms and Allies (Type4 Government)
Then there is this one that shows the expansion of the Arche by rulers:
https://img10.imageshack.us/img10/204/expansion128.png
(Only territories that were held are shown.)
Black is territory held at the start of the game.
Red is the expansion of Antigonos II.
Orange is the expansion of the shared rule of Alkyoneus and Demetrios II.
Yellow is the expansion under Demetrios II after the death of his brother.
Green is the expansion under Aristotelis.
Light Blue is the expansion under Neokles. (there was more expansion eastward but that territory was lost during the Makedonian Civil War.)
Dark Blue is the expansion under Pyrrhos II. (other than the Civil War gains, there was only Philippos' conquest of Iberia.)
Violet is the expansion under Philippos V.
Then there is this map that is unrelated to the AAR or to RTW:
Spoiler Alert, click show to read:
What's the difference between the two different Type 3 governments??
Great story! Easily one of the best, if not the best, on here.
If memory serves, there isn't any difference gameplay-wise. They are only different for the purposes of the story. Of course, if I'm wrong someone correct me.Quote:
Originally Posted by Dutchhoplite
Thanks, Scipio Germanicus.
It is just a roleplay difference. In military controlled regions, I keep a large army and a general in the region, while in Satrapy regions I only have a few regional units and try to keep family members out of the town to represent local rule. Of course there are exceptions. I also won't often build any culture buildings in military controlled regions.Quote:
Originally Posted by Dutchhoplite
It's really a blessing you haven't run into a gamebreaking crash yet. It's always those campaigns that made the most work :no:
There's nothing that can compare with the epic-ness of this AAR. I'd really like to know how many screenshots you already used :laugh4:
You jinxed him.:clown:Quote:
Originally Posted by Lysimachos
These are great maps!
Chapter 133 : A Generation's Passing
The last years of the reign of Basileus Philippos V were years of peace for the Arche of the Hellenes. Before the Makedonian Civil War, the Arche had been expansionistic, militaristic, and constantly competing with other powers for dominance of the Mesogeios Sea and Mesopotamia. The Civil War changed all of that. Other than small annexations of regions for trade and stability, the only expansionistic exploits of the Arche following the Civil War was the failed conquest of Arabia. Without any aggressive wars and having achieved dominance in her defensive wars, the Arche was graced with an era of peace and prosperity.
Even the Persian War had not been a war of expansion. After reclaiming lost territories, the Arche halted the march eastward. Having 'reclaimed' Elymais, the border with the Persian Empire was fortified and heavily defended. Even the armies that garrisoned those regions were defensive in nature, Alypios Antigonos III having taken his two armies with him when he returned to Hellas.
https://img14.imageshack.us/img14/9128/maa4732.png
During these years of peace, the Persian Empire remained quiet on the Arche's borders. They did, however, continued their own expansion elsewhere. In the northern and eastern steppes, the long lost sons of the nomads, who had invaded the Arche Seleukeia and formed half of the new Persian Empire, returned to the steppes to conquer their brothers. West of the Indus River, the armies of Persia burned the lands and terrorized the citizens of the the Indo-Hellenic Kingdom. Elsewhere, the Seleukids were under constant threat of attacked and besieging in the tiny enclave of power that was left to them.
https://img16.imageshack.us/img16/171/maa4730.png
Other than the western branch of the royal family, from which the Pyrrhic Dynasty came, there were two smaller branches of the family that still existed. Both of these branches were descendants of sons of Antigonos II Gonatas and had closer ties to the old Antigonid Dynasty.
In Assyria, even the remnants of the Demetrids were quiet. As long as the meek Euktimenos lived, he prevented his son Synlekteinos from taking any foolish action against the Pyrrhic Dynasty. Few feared betrayal from Euktimenos, but there was a concern of what would happen if he were to die and his son were to gain fame.
In Bosphoria and Skythia the descendants of Euboulides son of Antigonos II lived quietly as well. After giving up claim to the throne during the Civil War and joining the side of Pyrrhos II, the family had remained quiet. Herodes had fought in the Civil War and then retired to Bosphoria. His only noteworthy deed after then was the conquest of the Hellenic city of Tanais. His brother Anaxagoras had spent his life studying in Hellas and then governing Bosphoria. He conquered the city of Olbia, while his brother still fought in the Civil War. Even as he aged, Anaxagoras continued to study, though saw little chance of using his knowledge for anything other than governing:
https://img21.imageshack.us/img21/4933/maa4755.jpg
During this era of peace, Herodes died while on patrol for rebels. Having taken ill in the countryside, he died before he could return to Tanais. This left Anaxagoras as the last surviving member of his family and only surviving direct male descendant of Basileus Antigonos II Gonatas.
https://img193.imageshack.us/img193/7573/maa4792.jpg
Herodes' passing also meant that the Basileus himself was the only surviving man who had lead troops into battle during the Makedonian Civil War. The events of the Civil War had changed the lives of all it touched, but now it was finally beginning to fade into the past, only by the deaths of all those involved. Only Basileus Philippos V and Euktimenos of the Demetrids still lived that tied people to those events. Soon only one would remain.
The known world during the thirty seventh year of the reign of Basileus Philippos V (128BC):
https://img268.imageshack.us/img268/...mak128edit.png
Next: Chapter 134 : A New Basileus
Love it. :2thumbsup:
Excellent, again!
Thanks for following. I have another chapter ready for tomorrow.
Chapter 134 : A New Basileus
Another year of peace passed, but not even the gods could prevent Basileus Philippos V from joined his brothers and comrades who had passed on. As his father had, Philippos died quietly in his sleep at the capital.
https://img198.imageshack.us/img198/2822/maa4772.png
Basileus Philippos V had ruled for thirty seven years (only one year short of Basileus Megas Demetrios II's long rule), and in his years he had taken a shattered and war-torn Arche and reforged it into a powerful Empire. His father Pyrrhos II had been the beloved victor of the early Makedonian Civil War, but it was Philippos who had ended the war. He had expanded the domains of the Hellenes and brought prosperity back for the first time since the beginning of mad Aristotelis' rule. He had reformed the Arche and her armies. He brought democracy into the Arche while at the same time strengthening the position of the Basileus. Although his father was the man loved by the masses, Philippos would go down as one of the most accopmlished Basileau in the history of the Arche Makedonia.
A great funerary feast was given in Athenai and many speeches were given about him and in his honor. After debate, it was decided that Basileus Philippos V would be laid to rest with his ancestors in Aigai. After many days of feasting and mourning, the old Basileus was finally layed to rest and passed into the pages of history.
At the age of forty five, the only son of Philippos, Alypios, became Basileus Antigonos III. Antigonos was a great general and was loved by his soldiers and by the masses. He even had the charisma to influence those around him. He didn't, however, have any skill with management tasks. With his father gone, the task of managing the entire Arche now fell to him and his ineptitude.
https://img4.imageshack.us/img4/9751/maa4776.png
The first order given by the new Basileus was to send an army recruited in the west to Demetreia, in Syria. With the death of Philippos, it was feared that the Demetrids would once again make a grab for power. It may have been the new army in Demetriea or may have just been the attitude of Euktimenos, but no uprising came at that time.
The task of managing the entire Arche was a task that would overwhelm Basileus Antigonos III. However, he did not even get the time to make a mistake of his own before everything started to fall apart. As though the gods had been holding back troubles for Philippos, he had an era of peace. When he died, all those troubles were finally unleashed and fell upon Antigonos.
At the same time as the death of Basileus Philippos V, the head of the Romaioi state died:
https://img29.imageshack.us/img29/2870/maa4774.jpg
The council that ruled Roma had elected this man to rule in their stead, reelecting him every few years to the task and allowing him to act as a king would. This had worked out well for Roma's Hellenic protectors, for this man was a friend to Hellas and the Pyrrhic Dynasty. With his death, the Romaioi council once again ruled their city and the territories of central Italia. Though the Romaioi council had been friends of Phyrrhos II, it was unsure how they would react to his grandson, Basileus Antigonos III.
Then came the news of an attack on the city of Hippone. For nearly twenty years, since the Mauretanian campaign of Basileus Philippos V, the Numidians and Mauretanians had been quiet, defeated. Although it was unrelated to the death of Philippos, they seemed to unleashed an attack only after his death.
https://img9.imageshack.us/img9/8492/maa4761.png
The city had one of the largest native garrisons in all of the Arche and was able to handle the attack on its own. The Numidians employed desert dwelling mercenaries to try to take the walls, but the state equiped local Thorakitai were able to hold them on those walls.
https://img15.imageshack.us/img15/3935/maa4765.png
Though the city took great damage and many towers reached the walls, the large garrison was able to defeat their attackers. As the battles still waged atop the walls, the governor of Hippone rallied his cavalry and charged out of the city to confront the Numidian general.
https://img43.imageshack.us/img43/9830/maa4767.png
The cavalry of Hippone killed the Numidian general while the infantry of Hippone held the walls. Very few soldiers of Numidia survived the battle, but they managed to damage the wall and kill more than a thousand of the city's defenders.
https://img11.imageshack.us/img11/8224/maa4771.jpg
Word reached Athenai and the new Basileus that Hippone had repelled her attackers but soon news came of another invasion. Unexpected and moving quickly, the Kingdom of Sab'yn had marched two armies across the deserts of eastern Arabia and attacked the Arche's allies in Maka.
https://img196.imageshack.us/img196/6029/maa4779.png
Though the cities of southern and western Arabia were of little value to the Arche, the cities and ports of eastern Arabia were necessary for her trade to India. Basileus Antigonos III could not let these regions fall but it was too late to send any reinforcements. The local peoples would have to defend themselves from the Saba armies.
The armies of Sab'yn attacked the city from two sides, bringing up siege equipment on both the side facing the sea and the side facing the land. The defenders were prepared and had a large contingent of slingers. With the slingers positioned them atop the walls, they began to rain down death on the slow moving enemies as they approached the walls with their siege equipment.
https://img34.imageshack.us/img34/9185/maa4781.png
As the Saba soldiers approached the walls, slinger stones were joined by thrown spear, raining down on them. The armies of Saba took heavy losses before they even managed to get atop the walls, but they did manage to get atop those walls.
https://img132.imageshack.us/img132/1902/maa4784.png
With ladders and towers attacking all points around the city, the city defenders were spread thin when the Saba soldiers managed to get atop the walls. All around the city, defenders tried to push back the attackers and back over the walls.
https://img6.imageshack.us/img6/3185/maa4786.png
After hours of fighting, all of the Saba soldiers atop the walls were killed or routed. The ladders were pushed down and the siege towers were destroyed. With defeat before them, the horsemen of Saba turned and retreated back across the desert.
https://img193.imageshack.us/img193/91/maa4791.png
In both Hippone and Maka, the defenders had managed to push back the enemies of the Arche. However, in both regions new enemy armies were being gathered to renew the attack on another day. There had been no peace in these regions even during the time of Philippos V, but now things had grown worse. The Arche's enemies were beginning to move.
As winter came, new troubles brewed for the Arche and her new Basileus. In Gallia, the war that had been going, off and on, for more than a century looked as though it was coming close to an end. For years, there had been a balance of power in the region, ever since the defeat of the Romaioi. However, disagreements between the Arverni and the Sequallia had grow so bad that the Sequallia had abandoned the Arverni and joined their enemy. With the balance of power shifted, the Aedui Confederacy began to attack the Arverni and her remaining allies. The Aedui threatened to defeat the Arverni, an ally of the Arche, and perhaps one day threaten nearby Hellenic cities such as Massalia.
https://img193.imageshack.us/img193/6016/maa4778.png
That same winter, there were reports of gathering Persian armies along the eastern border of the Arche. Basileus Antigonos III knew that the Persian Empire could not be trusted, and as soon as they had rebuilt their economy and military they would attack the Arche yet again. He had expected betrayal to come sooner, but he knew that it would come.
https://img21.imageshack.us/img21/4186/maa4793.png
When spring came, two huge armies from the Kingdom of Sab'yn moved against a different front of the Arche. They marched north, across the deserts, and attack the army of the Arche that was garrisoned at Macoraba. This was the last outpost that stood between Arabia and Syria. Were it to fall, the Kingdom of Sab'yn would be able to attack at the heart of the Arche.
https://img10.imageshack.us/img10/2084/maa4794.png
The troubles just seemed to pile up for the new Basileus. He tried to handle them, but the more troubles that came, the more he sought to avoid the tasks of managing the Arche. Quickly, the council of nobles in Athenai took up the tasks that Philippos had done and Antigonos now avoided. Lacking a strong hand in management, the power of the council grew at the cost of the new Basileus.
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The known world during the second year of the reign of Basileus Antigonos III (127BC):
https://img9.imageshack.us/img9/364/hxmak1272edit.png
Next: Chapter 135
Uh, never saw the Sabeans field Troglodytikes. :smash: Hopefully those democrats won't get too much power. :sweatdrop:
I have a question. Does the game force you to quit at 14 AD? Because ur getting awfully close to it.
He's not that close ;)
Finally I managed to read trough all since I had left up. Simply great:2thumbsup:
This new Basileus seems to be the start of an interresting part in the history of Makedoni.
Keep up the good work:2thumbsup::2thumbsup:
I have a bad feeling about this...
I've been following this AAR since the beginning and it's still brilliant.
Let's hope for a successful reign of the new Basileus!
Discovered this about a week ago and I've finally caught up. Great job!!!
Makes not only for an excellent AAR but creates its own alternate history of the world.
Now just go and create a new language created from Greek and Persian influences and you'll be on the same level as Tolkien.:beam:
What's going on here? Me and a lot of ppl are yearning for news about the Pyrrhids!
Totally agree Centurio!
Ya seriously
Sure do, this AAR is passing into legend.
:bow:
Thanks for the continued interest. Sorry I haven't updated lately. I started my final year at university and I've been busier than other years. I'm also taking a history class on the Islamic Middle East and I've had the urge to play Broken Crescent in the little time I do have for games. Additionally, I bought Dragon Age a week ago and have been spending my free time in the last week playing that.
I have played this campaign for another five or so years and have enough content for three or four chapters, but there hasn't been much fighting. I seem to have achieved an era of peace. Although there have been some interesting developments that I can role play for a decent story. I have a half of a chapter written up from about a month ago. I think I'll just use that half chapter, finish it up, and make a short chapter to post today or tomorrow. It doesn't really have any interesting content though.
I noticed that I haven't even commented my AAR threads since I last posted a chapter, so I'd like to just say thanks to everyone who has been reading, new and old. Also, thanks for the comments and support.
In other news, since I last posted my AAR (including original thread) has passed its second anniversary. I've been writing about this empire for two years now. :sweatdrop:
:bow:
Chapter 135 : Forgotten by Some
In the last years of the reign of Basileus Philippos V and the early years of the reign of Basileus Antigonos III, the Arche enjoyed and era of peace. Ever since the peace agreement with Persia had been agreed to, there had been no major wars fought by the soldiers of Hellas. This was not an era of absolute peace for everyone across the Arche, however. In far flung corners of the Arche there were riots and rebellions, mostly kept in check by large garrisons that not only guarded the borders from invasion but also from secession. There were bandits and brigands in poorly governed provinces, though the reforms of Philippos V had almost completely removed them from Hellas, Anatolia, and Syria. There were border skirmishes with barbarian raiders and tiny tribes, but these were a constant problem along any empire with a barbarian frontier. There were even wars being fought against the Arche, but these were so small that they were largely ignored in Hellas.
Iberia suffered from all these problems with troubles that seemed to only grow by the day. The Keltoi along the northern borders of the Arche were discontent by Hellenistic rule, but due to large border garrisons did not openly rebel like the Iberians. The north-western coasts of Africa were newly conquered and discontent, as well as suffering from invasions by the Numidian Kingdom. The most heated war was also the most ignored war. This was the war in Arabia.
When the Makedonian Civil War ended, the Arab tribes along the southern edge of Mesopotamia and Syria became an ever growing problem. Although loosely united under the banner of the Sab'yn Kingdom, these tribes were easily turned to the side of the Arche once Sab'yn envoys garrisons had been expelled. Several client kingdoms had been established in Arabia shortly after the Makedonian Civil War, but as the First Persian War drew the attention of the Arche, the Sab'yn Kingdom revived and rebuilt. One by one the client kingdoms fell and the Sab'yn Empire was reestablished.
In Syria an army was assembled and placed under the command of a minor noble named Aidesios Thermaios. They were to march south and to save the city of Carna but were too late to save the city. Unable to save the southern clients and unwilling to retake those cities alone, General Thermaios camped his army in the small trade city of Macoraba, attempting to hold onto the western coasts of Arabia.
These regions were not suited to feed and supply an army of this size, however. Soon food, supplies, and morale were nearly depleted. Aidesios Thermaios sent requests for aid but the leaders in Hellas simply wished to ignore this distant war. The army took what they needed from the locals, but there was not enough and this only angered the people of the surrounding towns and oasis.
https://img268.imageshack.us/img268/4725/maa4795.jpg
When the armies of southern Arabia arrived to take the city, General Thermaios decided to march out against them. The Sab'yn army expected a long siege of the city and a forced surrender. They were not prepared for General Thermaios to sally forth. He knew if he could surprise the Sab'yn army and chase them from the field, he could capture their baggage train and maybe get enough attention from Hellas to get support.
https://img10.imageshack.us/img10/5875/maa4797.png
The army of the Arche marched from the city unopposed. They took the battlefield and slowly marched toward the Sabaean army. To test the lines, the Sabaeans sent skirmisher cavalry forward and threw their spears. The cavalry seemed surprised to receive a volley of spears in return from the Thermaios' army.
https://img688.imageshack.us/img688/7230/maa4800.png
The skirmishing did not last long. The Sab'yn cavalry withdrew and formed a line just in front of their infanrty. Slowly the army of the Arche marched forward to confront them. Just as they drew close, a great wind came up and filled the air with sand and dirt.
https://img42.imageshack.us/img42/6417/maa4802.png
Not letting this distraction go to waste, General Thermaios immediately ordered his light infantry to charge forward and into the Sabaean cavalry.
https://img21.imageshack.us/img21/9529/maa4803.png
With the cavalry disorganized and pinned down, they lost any advantage they might have had and began to fall to spears of the light infantry. Seeing their cavalry falling, the Sabaean infantry charged forward and attacked the Arche's light infantry. General Thermaios held back his men long enough for the Sabaean infantry to begin to tire. Then as his own light infantry began to falter, General Thermaios ordered the center of his line to charge forward. The native thorakitai infantry charged in and slew horse and man alike.
https://img202.imageshack.us/img202/4775/maa4804.png
As the battle drew on, the center of the Sabaean line began to be pushed back. Soon the battle lines took the shape of an arch, with most of the fighting on either side. General Thermaios personally moved to the center of this arch so that he might encourage his men to fight on.
https://img682.imageshack.us/img682/3212/maa4806.png
When the center of the Sabaean line broke, those thorakitai fighting in the center moved around the rear of the Sabaean troops on either side of the line, enveloping them in two separate places.
General Thermaios ordered his cavalry to give chase to the retreating Sabaean troops through the gap in the line. They chased down the Sabaean infantry and charged forward to capture the Sabaean baggage train just beyond the battlefield.
https://img691.imageshack.us/img691/6001/maa4808.png
When the Sabaean general fell, all those fighting around him surrendered or fled, leaving only one small pocket of fighting. The full force of the Arche's army easily crushed them and took the battlefield.
https://img682.imageshack.us/img682/7679/maa4811.jpg
General Thermaios managed to win the battle, destroy an enemy army, capture their supplies, and defend the city of Macoraba. The victory and supplies improved the moral of the troops for a short time. Never fond of the southern Arabians, even the people of Macoraba were happy with the victory. Their happiness did not last long. The occupation of the city continued and discontentment continued to grew in the city, the camp, and between them.
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The known world during the third year of the reign of Basileus Antigonos III (126BC):
https://img9.imageshack.us/img9/364/hxmak1272edit.png
Next: Chapter 136 : The King's Son
Yay! That's a great day for me, first I destroyed the Sabeans today and now I can read of your war against them. Keep this up if you can spare the time please. :yes:
Finally! http://i.fokzine.net/s/static.gif
Great!
Thanks for reading. The next chapter has a lot of developments in the royal family. However, the era of peace continues, so there isn't much combat to fill out the AAR content. The next chapter may be short or text heavy, depending what all I manage to add to the story of the royal family.
It's the greatest moments of your AAR when you describe policy and such, not the battles, imho.
Yeah, I'll admit that my battle reviews tend to be pretty dry. Although battles tend to fill out the AAR.
Chapter 136 : The King's Son
The third and fourth years of the reign of Basileus Antigonos III (126-125BC) were important years for changes in the royal family of Makedonia. The family had many branches who claimed descent from Antigonos I and Demetrios I, but some had died out or were disappearing. Only two could claim descent from Antigonos II. One was by direct male descent and one was descended from Demetrios II Megas.
That winter tragedy hit the most distant branch of the family, who were descended of Antigonos II through one of his sons, other than Demetrios II Megas. In the lands north of the Pontos Euxinos, Anaxagoras died quietly in his sleep. His death left his son the sole surviving man who could claim direct male descent from Antigonos II.
https://img687.imageshack.us/img687/8168/maa4817.jpg
Not even the Demetrids could claim direct male descent from Antigonos II, seeing as they were descended from Antigone (the daughter of Bykoli) and Pefkolaos of Thraikia. The Demetrid line has slowly continued, oddly having only having one son per generation. Euktimenos, who had claimed to be Basileus when he was a boy, still lived. His son Synlekteinos "the Untrustworthy" managed to continue the Demetrid line when his wife gave him a son, Hylaios.
This was not good news everywhere it was received. Many, including the Pyrrhid family wished to see an end to the Demetrid line that would not require another war. However, this news did not draw attention for long. At nearly the same time, Basileus Alypios Antigonos III was given a second son. The boy was named Euphrillos and immediately became the second in line to the throne.
That same eventful year for the family, his older brother, the first prince and heir, Hippostratos, took his first steps toward manhood.
https://img197.imageshack.us/img197/8488/maa4814.png
He had spent most of his life in Athenai, but at the age of sixteen Hippostratos was sent from the schools of Athenai to Alexandreia in Aigyptos. There he was to study with the great master who collected and maintained a vast amount of knowledge in that city.
With Hippostratos to Aigyptos came many servants and guards. Most prominent amongst them was the nanny who raised him when he was a child in Athenai and the leader of his guards. The captain of his guard was an old Nubian man who has started out as a common soldier and worked his way up to become the captain of the guards for the heir to the throne. It had been this man who had taught Hippostratos to fight and was almost like a second father to him.
Hippostratos was a smart and energetic person. He worshiped the gods and believe in doing what was right. He was a decent leader and could influence people, but he greatly lacked a certain something. Like his father, he had very little charisma. However, unlike his father, he understood how to manage the details of an army and how to run a city or empire. In less than a year of study at Alexandreia, Hippostratos nearly became an expert at the art of management.
https://img20.imageshack.us/img20/1825/maa4819.png
At the Library of Alexandreia, Hippostratos studied things such as mathematics, debate, and philosophy, but he sought to lead men into battle like his father (Antigonos III), his grandfather (Philippos V), and his great-grandfather (Pyrrhos II) had done. Soon an opportunity would arise.
https://img44.imageshack.us/img44/2981/maa4822.jpg
A year after arriving in Aigyptos, Hippostratos was joined by his father's cousin, a man a year younger than himself. Two of Hippostratos' great-uncles had been given children late in their lives. These two men were younger than Hippostratos but actually a generation before him. Hippostratos met the first, Theophilos (fifth in line to the throne), for the first time in Alexandreia, where they both were studying.
While Hippostratos studied in Alexandreia that first year, his father continued to rule from the city of Athenai. Basileus Alypios Antigonos III was a good leader of men and armies, but he simply could not rule an empire like his father. The Council of Elders in Athenai, representatives from all of Hellas, continued to take up more tasks and gain power at the cost of the Basileus.
During this time, a massive earthquake hit the island of Kypros. Thousands died and tens of thousands were homeless. The Council of Elders quickly sent aid to the island and began the task of rebuilding. Fortunately, from a fiscal point of view, the damages were restricted mainly to loss of life.
https://img687.imageshack.us/img687/29/maa4815.png
News came to Athenai that concerned the Basileus. Reports came of the collapse of the Arverni Kingdom in Gallia. The Arverni tribe had lost the confidence of her allies and her loose alliance had fallen before a confederation of tribes headed by the Aedui. Although the Aedui were not and had never been enemies of the Arche, the Arverni were allies of the Arche. Although the Basileus was concerned for the Arverni, the true fear was that of a unified Gallia, if only loosely. The Arverni continued to fight on, though separated from her few remaining allies.
Far from Gallia, purposely ignored by both the Basileus and Council of Elders, the war between the Kingdom of Sab'yn and the Arche's allies in Arabia continued. The garrison at Macoraba had bought themselves another year or two, but the Sabaeans were determined to dislodge the garrison from Arabia. With the bulk of their army, they surprised the Hellenes and Syrians at Macoraba by marching a mass of men through the desert and toward the city.
https://img251.imageshack.us/img251/9526/maa4820.png
In the east, as well, the Kingdom of Sab'yn was marching to war. With a much smaller force, the Sabaeans marched against the Arche's important ally in Maka. This ally was much more vital to trade than cities like Umar, Carna, and Macoraba and the Arche might be willing to fight to defend them.
https://img692.imageshack.us/img692/35/maa4821.png
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The known world during the fourth year of the reign of Basileus Antigonos III (125BC):
https://img31.imageshack.us/img31/72...ak1252edit.png
Next: Chapter 137 : Rebellion in Egypt
I haven't said this in ages:
ALL HAIL MAKEDONIA!!!!
I never said your battles were dry ;) Great update, and All Hail Makedonia, of course. :egypt:
Love it! (and your battle reports!)
Good that Hippostratos turned out to be quite a good ruler.
Thanks for reading.
No, but others have and I agree most of the time. Sometimes I just don't put enough effort into writing about battles. I prefer writing about more complex developments in the royal family or the dynamics behind a war, and it shows.Quote:
Originally Posted by Centurio Nixalsverdrus
Yes, he turned out pretty good, though lacking charisma and optimism. Too bad his father, the Basileus, is falling apart. He has no 'Management' and is slowly loosing his 'Influence'. He's becoming one of those old crazy family members early. Nice opportunity for roleplaying for the AAR, though.Quote:
Originally Posted by Horatius Flaccus
I've been contemplating whether to continue this or not for about a week now and have decided that I'll continue and see if anyone is still going to read it. I have decided to continue playing the campaign, and I have about three chapters worth of content ready to go right now. Since it has been a while, I'll write a little info to remind myself and everyone else what is going on and show some pictures:
Recent History of the Arche Makedonia:
After the Makedonian Civil War, the Pyrrhic line of the western branch of the Antigonid Dynasty came to power. Pyrrhos II and his son Philippos V defeated the descendants of Demetrios II Megas and reunified the Arche.
After the conquest of Aigyptos, the Mauretanian coast, and northern Iberia, Basileus Philippos V returned to Hellas and initiated a series of comprehensive reforms. Most notable was the creation of a Council of Nobles with theoretical power, the transfer of the capital to Athenai, and the reformation of the military to be based mainly upon the Thorakitai heavy infantry equipped with state purchased equipment.
Shortly after this came the First Persian War. Philippos V's son Alypios Antigonos III lead the Makedonian troops in the war and reconquered Mesopotamia, Armenia, and Elymais. The war did not last long and was settled by a peace agreement. Both the Medio-Persians and the Makedonians wanted to avoid drawing the Parthio-Persian king into the conflict. The peace settlement angered many in the Makedonian military and nobles back in Hellas.
With the end of the First Persian War came the beginning of an era of peace. Alypios Antigonos III returned to Hellas and joined his father in Athenai.
When Philippos V died, Alypios Antiognos III became the new Basileus. However, unlike his charismatic grandfather who was a great military leader and his father who was a good commander and great administrator, Alypios Antigonos III was lacking. Antigonos was a decent military command but was bad at associating with his troops and a downright awful administrator. Due to his ineptitude, the Council of Nobles began to gain true power in administration of the Arche.
Meanwhile, Basileus Alypios III's first born son, Hippostratos, was sent to Alexandreia to study. There, Hippostratos began to show promise. (See last chapter for recent family developments.)
Other things occurring around the Arche during this era of peace were:
Tension between Hellenic settlers and natives in Iberia.
A war in Arabia.
The collapse of the Arche's Arverni allies in Gallia.
And growing military tension along the Persian border.
The provinces, satrapies, and boundaries of the Arche:
Spoiler Alert, click show to read:
Family Tree of the Antigonid Line:
Spoiler Alert, click show to read:
Good to see you back in the biz.
Re-subscribed.
EDIT: 2000th post!
Chapter 137 : Rebellion in Egypt
Aigyptos was a land that had always been known for her fertile river, ancient wonder, and rebellions. Throughout the history of Aigyptos, she has resisted conquest and rebelled against foreign occupiers. Perhaps not the most difficult land to occupy, but Aigyptos was always trouble for those who sought to control her. Aigyptos had resisted almost all foreigners who sought to control her, with the notable exception of Megas Alexandros.
During the time of the Ptolemaic pharaohs and the time after the conquest by Megas Demetrios II, there were many rebellions by the native Aigyptoi. The most recent rebellion in Aigyptos had been by Hellenic nobles who sided with the Demetrids in the Makedonian Civil War, then betrayed the Demetrids and declared Aigyptos independent. After a short rule, this rebellion was crushed by Basileus Philippos V. It had been thirty years since this rebellion and the rebellious spirit had once again returned to Aigyptos. This time it was true rebellion, lead by the native people of Aigyptos. While discontentment grew in the cities, small rebel armies began to gather in the deserts and the mountains.
The threat of rebellion was far from critical, but Hippostratos seized upon the situation. Hippostratos had spent only one year learning from the scholars of Alexandreia, but he felt that he was ready to move on. His progress seemed to prove this. With "permission" from the governor of Aigyptos, Hippostratos called as many men as he could quickly gather. He formed an army of half elite soldiers and half native Hellenes and Aityptoi thorakitai, who were equipped at the personal cost of Hippostratos.
https://img203.imageshack.us/img203/191/maa4823.png
The majority of the rebel soldiers had gathered near the delta of the Neilos or in the mountains east of the Neilos. Hippostratos first struck the armies in the delta. Hearing that a green royal was leading a small army, these rebels chose not to flee but rather to foolishly face him in battle, hoping to win a hostage.
https://img708.imageshack.us/img708/6812/maa4824.jpg
https://img11.imageshack.us/img11/8562/maa4825.jpg
The first two armies were crushed and fell apart soon after the battle was met. In one battle, one of the rebel leaders, a local called Hermonthites was captured, taken to Memphis, and executed. Although it was only a small glimpse warfare, Hippostratos quickly showed the signs of a great warrior from these experiences. It seemed that the blood of warriors truly flowed in the veins of the Pyrrhid line. The ability to lead men was a sign of a great leader, but a skill that may not be necessary in a time of peace.
https://img29.imageshack.us/img29/107/maa4826.png
With his victories in the delta and the city of Memphis quieted by the example, Hippostratos moved southeast and into the hills of eastern Aigyptos. Here too, the rebel armies chose to meet the prince on the battlefield. The majority of those who supported the rebellion hid from the Arche's army and fled under threat, but those who were serious enough to gather arms and group as armies chose to fight to the death. And so they did.
https://img708.imageshack.us/img708/9003/maa4828.jpg
With the lands of Aigyptos secured from any organized threat, Hippostratos moved south and into the Arche's Nubian territories. The handful of battles had already given him much practical experience with warfare. However, aside from the rebellions in Aigyptos, there were also rebel bands gathering in Nubia and along the borders with the Kingdom of Meroe. A young Philippos V had fought in Nubia before the Makedonian Civil War and Alypios Antigonos III had waged a suceessful war against the Kingdom of Meroe just before the war with Persia. It made sense that the next in this great line of rulers would lead an army into battle in the lands of Nubia as a youth.
Hippostratos first marched his army down the coast toward the trade port of Ptolemais Theron. North of the city he confronted and defeated a Nubian rebel army.
https://img708.imageshack.us/img708/6049/maa4832.jpg
When the battle was settled, Hippostratos' army turned west and headed back to the Neilos. Along the river, between the fortified city of Pselkis and the city of Syene, Hippostratos and his army defeated another rebel army.
https://img708.imageshack.us/img708/2729/maa4833.jpg
With the defeat of the last rebel Nubian army near the Neilos, the rebellions in Aigyptos and Nubia faded away. There was still discontentment, but it was much quieter. No longer did rebels gather as armies in the wilderness and prepare for war. As before, the discontentment of the Aigyptoi returned to the back alleys and taverns of the cities.
With the rebels defeated, Hippostratos marched his army south and challenged the Ptolemaic King of the Kingdom of Meroe. During the war with Persia, the Kingdom of Meroe had encroached on the Arche without consequence. [They marched armies around in the southern portion of the Pselkis province and I role-played that they took the southern half of that province.] Hippostratos took his army and marched up the river, to the south. Though he had expect little resistance, he was surprised to find none. With the borders of the Arche restored to where his father had left them [I role-played them back to the in-game border between Pselkis and Meroe], Hippostratos turned north again. It is also said that Hippostratos made this journey so the aging man who was his Captain of the Guard, and who was also his mentor, could see his homeland once more.
With the rebels defeated, no challenge from the Kingdom of Meroe, and Hellenic power known well in the region, Hippostratos marched back north. Once he passed the upper cataracts, Hippostratos and his army boarded ships and sailed back down to Alexandreia. Although the campaign had lasted only a year [I used cheats to speed up his movement], Hippostratos had learned a great deal of war and added to his knowledge of leadership. Hippostratos now returned to the schools of Alexandreia, a brave veteran.
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Hippostratos was met in Alexandreia not only by Theophilos but also by Athenion.
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Theophilos was Hippostratos' father's cousin, son of Euphrantos. Athenion was one year younger than Theophilos and his cousin. He was son of Laandros (who still lived) and also cousin of Basileus Alypios Antigonos III. These three men were the entirety of the royal family in their generation. Were both Basileus Alypios Antigonos III and Hippostratos to die, one of these two men would become the new Basileus. As it was, death was far from the mind of Hippostratos. He was young and brave. He thought himself invincible and ready for anything. Soon he would have to prove himself ready.
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The known world during the sixth year of the reign of Basileus Antigonos III (123BC):
https://img188.imageshack.us/img188/...mak123edit.png
Next: Chapter 138 : Birth of A Republic?
As always, great to see you alive and kicking.
A republic? This oughta be good...
Good to have you back MAA =] All Hail Makedonia to you!
It's great to see you return to your AAR!
Can't wait for the next chapter.:2thumbsup:
Nice reference!Quote:
It is also said that Hippostratos made this journey so the aging man who was his Captain of the Guard, and who was also his mentor, could see his homeland once more.
EDIT: I took a closer look to your map; the Seleucids have expanded? I thought they were all but dead?
Thanks for reading.
Congratz.Quote:
Originally Posted by gamegeek2
There will be a change of government in the next chapter but I don't want to spoil it.
I was wondering if anyone would catch that reference and remember.Quote:
Originally Posted by Horatius Flaccus
The Seleukids surprised me with that one too. They invaded [Hayasdan] territory and then turned and declared war on [Pahlava] and managed to hold their own.
Just catched up again after not reading for a few months. I'd forgotten how much I enoyed it.
It's comforting to know you can go away for a time, but when you came back to the EB forums MAA's Makedone behemoth will be rolling on.Quote:
Originally Posted by Subotan
It has been a long while since I've been to this forum and played EB. Just started playing again and decided I'd come to the .org. Glad to see this AAR continues, nice work!
You know how much I enjoy this AAR! It's great to see it back! :2thumbsup:
I'm really glad you decided to continue this AAR, it's one of the best if not the best i've ever read
:2thumbsup: How dare you speak such things MAA, of course people read. I enjoy it. Your politics and such are much better than battle descriptions (not that there is anything wrong with them) so don't be afraid to write about them.
Poor Medians. Kicked out of their homeland (as they are really Hayasadan), they aren't able to recruit cataphracts, right?
You should fix that, maybe let them recruit some Asvaran-i Azadan or something.
Thank you for your kind words. I appreciate it.
Thanks to all of you who have been following a long time, good to see you all again. Welcome to the newer commenters. And greetings to anyone lurking.
I'm still trying to decide on my point of view for the next chapter, but the next couple chapters will definitely cover politics. The only battles I'm having are against Sab'yn and occasionally Numidia but I've decided to stop mentioning those individually.Quote:
Originally Posted by Vasiliyi
I hadn't given the Hayasdan half of the Persian Empire any modifications to their recruitment selections because I wanted them to recruit Persian units. You have a good point with cataphracts, though. I hadn't though about them lacking cataphracts. Right now all they have is their super heavy bodyguard cataphracts. They should have some more, especially since I can't now recruit them too.Quote:
Originally Posted by gamegeek2
Right - even if they're supposed to be Persians, they'd be evolved persians, especially as they fought the Parthians, no?
a bit OT actually....but aren't the persians and parthians/skythians related?
I too am still following this, Marcus.
Please continue ~:thumb: .
MAA is much too modest for such a master of the AAR :grin3:
That's really vague, and not really answerable unless you're clearer.Quote:
Originally Posted by satalexton
Following it and re-reading it every now and then...please continue!
I'm glad this exellent AAR is back. I actually liked Down from Africa more than an overview because it focused more on one part. You made an exellent reference.
Again, thank you for the support. :bow:
I'll beginning writing the next chapter tomorrow and have it ready some time this weekend.
IIRC:Quote:
Originally Posted by satalexton
Persians related to the Skythians in modern-day Ukraine? Not really. However they were Indo-European like the Iranians, with a closer relation than say the Persians and the Germans, but not really all that related. The Persians themselves probably migrated into Iran from the steppe. Persians, Parthians, and those who lived on the eastern steppe (Kazakhstan etc) during this time were aryan. Since those on the eastern steppe were often generalized with the name "Skythians" by some Greeks, then yes, those Skythians are related to the Persians.
Genetically, Skythians/Ukranians would be on average more similar to Afghans and Pakistanis than Persians. At least, this is what modern DNA tells us.
http://www.taiwandna.com/KirgizR1aDistribution.jpg
Haplogroup R1a distribution by nation.
Linguistically, they're both part of the Iranian language group, though the Skythian tongue would be East Iranian (seriously!) and Persian is a West Iranian language.
It's pretty cool, actually, how the Indo-Iranian tongues are very closely related to the Balto-Slavic tongues, and the Balto-Slavic peoples are also quite genetically similar to the people of Indo-Iranian heartland in Kyrgystan, Tajikistan, Afghanistan, and northern Pakistan. It's irrefutable evidence of the common ethnolinguistic ancestry of these peoples, and a major confirmation of Indo-European theory. The R1a group also significantly drops when you cross the Oder, which makes perfect sense, as in the EB time frame the Oder was the boundary between Germanic/Celtic groups and Balto-Slavic (mainly Baltic at the time) groups.
Even further evidence is the fact that R1a's sister group, R1b, is found heavily in areas that once had a heavy Celtic presence. It's in over 80% of people living in the British Isles, and over half of all Frenchmen, Belgians, and Spaniards, as well as a large percentage of Swiss, Northern Italians, Danes, and Dutch.
interesting...how we're all closer related that we would think......(wt bout the sino-tibetian group and their relation with indo-aryan?)
wt bout the sino-tibetian group and their relation with indo-aryan?
Say whaaa
Dromeus Krokeaios
Athenai, Hellas
Spring of the Sixth Year of the Reign of Basileus Antigonos III (123BC)
On that day, it had already been more than six years since the death of
Basileus Megas Philippos, our great leader. It is said, since the time of
Antigonos Gonatas, in this Arche, that all great men die quietly. So it was
that our Philippos began his journey into Hades. Six years since Antigonos
became the Basileus. In these quiet years I have heard many stories of the
intrigues of politics. Rumors of poor management. Rumors of corrupt
members of the Assembly. Rumors of a lazy Basileus. Rumors of plotting
and counter plotting. And yes, there were rumors of the Assembly planning
to overthrow the Basileus. Never had I believed these rumors, few did. The
events of that day changed that.
My name is Dromeus, though it matters not. I live in the great city of Athenai,
capital of the Hellenes' Arche, one of the largest and busiest cities in the
world. I am a simple man who works in one of many warehouses that store
goods that have been brought up from the port. Exotic goods, spices, rare
animals, strange people, and stories of foreign lands all come to Athenai from
all across the Pontos Mesogeios and beyond. The work can be difficult but at
least I work for my money. The city has grown so quickly that many simply
live in the streets or hastily built slums begging, thieving, gambling, drinking,
and waiting. On my particular street, it is many of these kinds of people who
are my friends and neighbors. For the evening meal and after, both those who
work and those who do not gather on the ground floor, telling stories and
talking of rumors. A man name Titus, a theiving man from the west, usually
tell the best stories and will exaggerate any rumor he feels like passing on.
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My simple life and those of the forgotten inhabitants of this distant, darkened
street of this great city matter not. The events of that day were more
important issues and concerned men who the gods themselves keep their
eyes fixed upon. The night before that particular day, the rumors had begun.
Titus was on the street, over excited and going on about something even as I
returned that night. I could tell he already had plenty wine in him and payed
him no heed. After I had a little wine in me, I decided to listen to what he and
the others had to say.
Titus was arguing with Diokles, another street "personality" who I believe came
from Ionia. I spent the night as I would any other night, talking with friends
and acquaintances. After some time I was able to figure out what Titus,
Diokles, and there others were talking about. I didn't really care at first, that
night. I didn't believe them either. As their story went, the Basileus had been
removed from power by the Council in the meeting at the Assembly that day.
They said that he had arrived and had given an order to the Council, as was
his right. The Council had refused to follow it and forced him to leave.
All of the arguing between Diokles and Titus had been whether they believe the
Basileus would use the military to overthrown the Council or would simply step
down and let the Council rule. Titus believed that rule by a Council was a
better system, whereas most of others gathered that night believed that the
Basileus had the right to rule. For me, Basileus Pyrrhos had been the
military's Basileus and Basileus Philippos had been the people's Basileus.
As a Hellene, born in Korinthos, I had loved Basileus Philippos. To me, any
descendant of Philippos had the right to rule. Basileus Antigonos was son of
Megas Philippos and the true ruler of all of Hellas and beyond. No Council run
by Athenaioi would take away what rightfully belonged to the family of Pyrrhos
and Philippos.
Before the night was over, rumors began to spread that the Basileus would
speak to the people at the Agora the next day. Diokles and Titus both said
that they would be there to see it.