:stupido2:Quote:
Originally Posted by MarcusAureliusAntoninus
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:stupido2:Quote:
Originally Posted by MarcusAureliusAntoninus
Keep it up, MAA, the AAR is great!
But speaking of bodyguards, don't the KH ones have two different kinds- spartans and non-spartans?
Yes, but the Spartan ones only come for some of the starting generals. You could give a starting general anything as bodyguards, but the ones born in the game all get the same.
Chapter 63 : The Next Generation
While Pyrrhos and his sons fight the civil war, his brothers' families continue to rule in Northern-Italia, Gallia, and Iberia. A great blow comes to the family when Gelon dies in Bononia. Gelon was the second-born of Nepos' three sons and brother to Pyrrhos. With the death of Gelon, Pyrrhos is left the last member of his family in the older generation:
https://img365.imageshack.us/img365/3941/maa2984ic0.jpg
The rule of the western satrapies falls to Pyrrhos' nephews, sons of Neikolaos and Gelon. Due to the long lives and early successes, both of Pyrrhos' brothers leave many sons, who rule in their fathers' places.
Around the same time in Bosphoria, Pythianos dies. Pythianos was second-born son of Euboulides' three sons and uncle to Herodes, who fights in Kappadokia:
https://img359.imageshack.us/img359/8690/maa3007ti9.jpg
Isolated in far off Babylonia, Isidoros Oresteus rebuilds the city walls of Babylon. The construction of the walls being only the first part in Isidoros' plan to restore Babylon to its former glory:
https://img365.imageshack.us/img365/5787/maa3009zx7.jpg
During the winter of 170BC, Sotades decides to take the garrison at Side by force. Having fought wars since he was young, Sotades tires of war but continues to do his father's bidding. Hoping to quickly complete his task of taking southern Anatolia and then switch to defending tactics, Sotades attacks the city to seize it by force:
https://img186.imageshack.us/img186/1530/maa3011aq3.png
With such a small garrison, the walls are attacked and taken with almost no effort:
https://img48.imageshack.us/img48/5024/maa3012xo8.png
Then the Pezhetiaroi march into the town and toward the city garrison hiding within:
https://img186.imageshack.us/img186/889/maa3013hg1.png
While the Pezhetairoi attack the enemy infantry...
https://img186.imageshack.us/img186/4063/maa3015xk4.png
...the Thraikioi circle around the rear and take out the slingers:
https://img148.imageshack.us/img148/2141/maa3016gb6.png
The city falls quickly and easily, with the majority of causalties falling to arrow fire from archers within the towers at the very beginning of the battle:
https://img186.imageshack.us/img186/512/maa3019ck7.jpg
As the spring of 169BC comes around, Pyrrhos decides to return to Makedonia. As he grows older, his ledgendary skill at battle begins to fade. Rather then risk his health, he turns over the war effort to Sotades and makes his way back to Pella. Pyrrhos ruling in Pella marks the first time a Basileus has ruled from the capital since Alkyoneus did during the shared rule of he and Demetrios.
Sotades is not very earer to lead in his father's stead and sets up defensively in southern Anatolia. After securing the territory in Anatolia all the way up to the edge of Kilikia, Sotades shifts to plans of defence in case of a counter-attack without any plan for advancing. The war on this front comes to a standstill.
In Pella, Laandros, fourth-born son of Pyrrhos' four children comes of age:
https://img186.imageshack.us/img186/2899/maa3020ch3.png
At the same time, Anaxagoras comes of age. Anaxagoras is second-born son of the murdered Herakleon and brother of Herodes:
https://img186.imageshack.us/img186/107/maa3021tf7.png
Anaxagoras moves to Pella for his education, there he meets Laandros and the two become friends. Pyrrhos encourages their friendship in hopes of solidifying the alliance between his family and the family of Euboulides. Due to the troubles in Hellas, they are not sent to the Spartan Agoge or to the schools of Anthenai, but the schools in Pella are nearly as advanced anyways.
While getting their education in Pella, the two youths are adversly influenced by Laandros' elder broter, Euphrantos. Euphratos introduces the two to the vices of Pella's underworld and the pleasures of the ruling class. Thus the two are torn between the day-time world of their education and the night-time world of pleasure. They do not develop into the outstanding men that Pyrrhos had hoped for.
In northern Kappadokia, Anaxagoras' elder brother, Herodes, attacks the city of Ani-Kamah. The city of Ani-Kamah had originally been a fort city of the Armenian peoples, but since its capture by the Arche Makedonia it had begun to develop into a decent sized city:
https://img166.imageshack.us/img166/276/maa3024sx3.png
With many seige towers, Herodes attacks the enemy walls. The seige starts off on a bad note, as many seige towers are destroyed and many men lost to missile fire at the base of the enemy walls:
https://img166.imageshack.us/img166/386/maa3025kz2.png
Once on the walls, however, the Makedones wipe out the enemy archers with little effort:
https://img186.imageshack.us/img186/851/maa3026dq6.png
With the walls in their control, the attacking force takes a pause to rest and await the possible surrender. When the surrender doesn't come, Herodes orders his Bosphorian archers onto the walls.
Once on the walls, the Bosphorian archers open fire on the enemy below. With archers, who are superior to even those from Persia, the enemy is quickly wiped out:
https://img166.imageshack.us/img166/3905/maa3028hj5.png
The Makedones then advance on the city center, where they attack from multiple sides and surround the remaining enemy:
https://img148.imageshack.us/img148/7372/maa3030nf5.png
The city falls and Herodes dedicates the victory to his fallen father as well as Basileus Megas Pyrrhos. Few men die, but the cost is far more than originally suspected:
https://img166.imageshack.us/img166/8749/maa3031po8.jpg
With this victory, the regions between Kappadokia and Armenia are conquered, and Pyrrhos gains an easily defendable border:
https://img186.imageshack.us/img186/2984/maa3032rp8.png
Just after his victory, Herodes receives word from Bosphoria that his uncle Polyades has died. With the death of his two uncles, and having no cousins, Herodes and his brother are the last of the line of Euboulides:
https://img186.imageshack.us/img186/8150/maa3033pc0.jpg
Around the same time, a great blow is dealt for Lybia. In the city of Kyrene, Antisthenes Gortynios, governor of Lybia, dies. Although he is not well known across the Arche, in Lybia, Antisthenes is a hero. After marrying into the family of Demetrios, Antisthenes spent almost his whole life defending Lybia from the agression of the city of Kart-Hadast. When Neokles invaded Africa, Antisthenes helped in the invasion, winning more support in Lybia. Later, he provided Lybia to Pyrrhos at the outbreak of the civil war due to his respect of Pyrrhos' fighting in the African invasion:
https://img166.imageshack.us/img166/2394/maa3035vp1.jpg
The deaths during this era take the lives of the majority of the important people of the former generation. The three families of the Arche Makedonia are almost completely shifted to the younger generation. The family of Demetrios had lost their older generation, as well as most of their younger generation, at the very onset of the war. The death of Herakleon had crippled the family of Euboulides at the beggining of the war, and in the last, year both his brothers have died. Pyrrhos is now the last of the sons of Nepos, the three brothers who had defeated the Romaioi. Besides Pyrrhos, only Lysippos surrives of the older generation and both these men are done with warfare.
As Pyrrhos looks to the younger generation, he is glad he sent Philippos to Iberia. The civil war and the excesses of the homeland seem to have corrupted his two younger sons and war fatigue tired his first-born. When news reaches Pyrrhos that Philippos is returning eastward, Pyrrhos sends word to him to hurry, for he is needed.
The known world in 169BC:
https://img166.imageshack.us/img166/...169editqx8.png
Next: Chapter 64 : A Lull In the War
Damn the curses of age.
What will Philippos do when he comes home? Retake Hellas? Land at Antiocheia (or Demetreia as I believe you´ve renamed it) or just get corrupted.
The title on the next chapter sounds strange, but at least we will perhaps see what exactly Orseteus has in mind. King of Babylon? Strange man indeed.
Philippos attended the Spartan Agoge, so when he gets back to Hellas, there will be a chance for some good roleplaying. Although I haven't done it yet, my plan is to take all of 'greater' Syria in one quick move.
Isidoros Oresteus is in a weird situation. I've made a nice army for him, but he doesn't really have anywhere to go. If he goes south, Sab'yn will attack me. If he takes Seleukeia, Media will attack me. And he can't go north because the Demetrids have huge numbers of forces in Assyria. Until the next big push in the war comes, I guess he'll just sit in Bayblon, rebuilding the city.
Great installments!! You do this so that it seems almost feaseble from a historical perspective. Well done!
Thank you, Chirurgeon.Quote:
Originally Posted by Chirurgeon
Ironically, you said you will be doing more updates now that it is summer, I'll probably be doing less updates now that it is summer.
That said, :clown: here's an update:
Chapter 64 : A Lull In the War
With the complete conquest of Anatolia and Kappadokia, the armies of Pyrrhos come to a halt. Due to Pyrrhos' age and health, he has retired from warfare and moved back to Pella. His first born son, Sotades, who he has left in command of the armies also becomes tired of warfare. Sotades settles down and sets up a defensive line between Anatolia and Kilikia, where he rests. While in the city of Side, Sotades begins to develop skills for governing:
https://img260.imageshack.us/img260/6092/maa3057wi2.png
To the north, the young Herodes also halts. Young and inexperienced, Herodes does not wish to fight a war all by himself. There too, defensive lines are made and Herodes defends the Kappadokia - Armenia border.
In Babylonia, Isidoros Oresteus is forced to remain on the defensive, as well. With secret contact to Makedonia established, Isidoros keeps informed of the status of the war and is ever ready for the day when orders come from Pyrrhos that the final invasion of Syria is coming. While he waits, Isidoros also becomes quite attuned at governing Babylon:
https://img171.imageshack.us/img171/576/maa3056rp6.jpg
Back in Pella, Makedonia, Pyrrhos runs the political and economic affairs of the Arche Makedonia. Now retired from warfare, Pyrrhos becomes quite satisfied managing the internal runnings of the Arche:
https://img260.imageshack.us/img260/1316/maa3055rx6.jpg
Still seeking to impress the local nobility, Pyrrhos builds a great gymnasion. Built to complement the games, that were established the previous year in Pella, Pyrrhos once again out does the city of Olympia:
https://img136.imageshack.us/img136/15/maa3058bj1.png
Although the war slows down and the eastern borders remain stagnant, three important points of interest appear. The first is in Armenia, where the allied army of steppe cavalry continues to pester the Demetrid garrison at Armavir. Originally dispatched by Lysippos, these men are tasked simply with weaking the Demetrid hold on Armenia. Although direct confrontations are rare, as the snow piles up on the ground, the two apposing armies of the region meet:
https://img171.imageshack.us/img171/9595/maa3036bb9.png
Taking the initiative, the steppe cavalry quickly surround the Demetrid detachment and fire their arrows at them from all sides:
https://img263.imageshack.us/img263/7996/maa3038ja0.png
The lightly armored soldiers are quickly wiped out and soon only heavy phalangitai remain:
https://img263.imageshack.us/img263/108/maa3039ft2.png
Once the phalangitai are severly paniced from being surrounded and from taking losses, the steppe horsemen charge in from all sides:
https://img171.imageshack.us/img171/9622/maa3040gy5.png
The enemy stand no chance and are all eliminated. When the garrison from Armavir arrives, the steppe cavalry fire their few remaining arrows at them and then turn northward to retreat:
https://img171.imageshack.us/img171/1578/maa3041ny1.png
The short hit-and-run battle is a great success and about a third of the Demetrid forces in Armenia are lost:
https://img263.imageshack.us/img263/9691/maa3042fl4.jpg
The second eventful region of the time is the city of Ippone. The city itself was an important port for Kart-Hadast and was one of the first cities taken in the African Invasion, but now it is simply a problem site. The city itself is isolated along the Numidian coast, with a large discontent population, under constant attack from the Numidians. Fed up with the region, the previous governor had resigned and returned to Kart-Hadast, leaving the young Zaikedenthes Echinaieus in command of the garrison as the city is once again attacked by Numidian forces:
https://img260.imageshack.us/img260/7136/maa3043gv5.png
With great walls around the city, the enemy are forced to try and take the city with siege equiptment. The Numidians begin the battle and start moving their equiptment forward. To counter them, the local archers set their arrows on fire and attempt to light up the enemy equiptment:
https://img260.imageshack.us/img260/8210/maa3044lc7.png
Just as they get near the wall, the first tower is caught on fire and begins to burn to the ground:
https://img260.imageshack.us/img260/8104/maa3045ho4.png
Though one tower goes down, at the other side of the gateway, the Numidian seige tower safely reaches the walls and the enemy rush onto them:
https://img171.imageshack.us/img171/1268/maa3046sf0.png
Firing great distances, the local archers set on fire a Numidian mining entrance. The wooden entry way collapses, killing all inside:
https://img263.imageshack.us/img263/48/maa3047xm3.png
As more men rush to climb the last remaining tower, the archers finally set it on fire, too:
https://img260.imageshack.us/img260/1005/maa3049ou1.png
The wall defenders easily wipe out the last of the enemy, who are now trapped on the wall and surrounded:
https://img260.imageshack.us/img260/8585/maa3050xg9.png
With no more siege equiptment remaining, the last of the Numidian army retreats and Ippone remains in the hands of the Arche Makedonia, for now:
https://img260.imageshack.us/img260/4908/maa3051zt7.jpg
The third, most important, and most tragic event of the time occurs in Hellas. The Spartans had managed to form an alliance with almost all of the Hellenic city-states in the Peloponnesos. With an alliance to the Demetrids, the Sparatans' Peloponnesos Alliance directly apposes Pyrrhos, but there had yet to be combat in Hellas.
After a short time, the Peloponnesos Alliance turns to Athenai to join them. The Athenians are hesitant, but reluctantly join the alliance. In order to "defend" the city, the Spartans then send an army to Athenai. Because the hesitance to join the alliance and the long standing rivalry between the cities of Sparte and Athenai, the Athenians rejected the idea of Spartans inside the walls of Athenai. Though, when the Spartans arrived, they are allowed into the city. In short order, those who apposed the alliance start causing a upheaval in the Agora. The events in the agora quickly spread and soon their is rioting all across the city. It is only a matter of time before that anger is then shifted toward the Spartan garrison.
When the Spartan garrison is attacked by rioting Athenians, they are quick to respond. To calm the rioting, the Spartans turn to their old friend, violence. Soon, all the city is behind the rioters and against the Spartans, but it does not matter. By the time the violence ends, almost all of the inhabitants of Athenai lie dead and half the city is on fire:
https://img260.imageshack.us/img260/4006/maa3052sz1.png
The day is remembered throughout time as one of the worst events of the Hellenistic world. Athenai, the center of education, democracy, culture, art, and the very heart of Hellenism itself is destroyed. Not since the burning of Persepolis has such a horrid event taken place. With the loss of the cultural center of the Arche, the Arche Makedonia looses its top place. The Arche Seleukeia, rising from their own ashes once again takes the place of the most advanced Hellenistic people in the known world:
https://img260.imageshack.us/img260/2489/maa3053ay2.jpg
The destruction of Athenai does have a possitive side effect for Pyrrhos, though. With the destruction of Athenai, the Peloponnesos Alliance begins to fall apart. Wanting nothing to do with those who destroyed Athenai, many cities seek to leave the alliance and those not yet in it swear loyalty to the Arche Makedonia. Some cities within the Alliance even secretly contact Pyrrhos and request aid against Sparta. To deal with the problem, the Spartans set up garrisons and occupy all cities who are seeking to leave the alliance and begin a campaign of conquest. The rest of Attike quickly falls, then Euboia, and finally the islands of the Aegean. When the city of Chalkis resists the Spartan rule, it too is burned to the ground and its citizens slaughtered:
https://img136.imageshack.us/img136/7677/maa3060jz6.png
After such events in Hellas, events in the other regions seem moot. But in Numidia, the city of Ippone is once again attacked...
https://img260.imageshack.us/img260/8087/maa3062au4.png
...and Zaikedenthes Echinaieus successfully defends the city once again:
https://img263.imageshack.us/img263/2679/maa3063fb2.jpg
This battle marks a change in the policy of those adminstering the region from nearby Kart-Hadast. The losses received from defending the city of Ippone has cost the lives of many Hellenes and Makedones. Wishing no more losses, the remaining Hellenistic forces are withdrawn to Africa. Dispite the withdrawl, Zaikedenthes Echinaieus remains in Ipone as governor and leads the all local garrison. On the positive side, Zaikedenthes learns from the battle and becomes a better leader:
https://img260.imageshack.us/img260/2261/maa3076kx7.jpg
In Armenia, the steppe cavalry once again gets into a fight with the local Demetrid forces:
https://img260.imageshack.us/img260/6173/maa3064gy1.png
Isolating a small detachment, the steppe horsemen surround and rain arrows down upon their enemy:
https://img136.imageshack.us/img136/1522/maa3066hh4.png
Soon, only a few kataphraktoi remain. Due to their heavy armor, the steppe horsemen decide to cease fire and charge in to fight the kataphraktoi, hand to hand:
https://img260.imageshack.us/img260/6529/maa3067wy0.png
Although the kataphraktoi are stronger in all categories, the superior numbers of the steppe cavalry win the day. The kataphraktoi are quickly wiped out and General Boxos Zariaspaios is killed.
As the garrison from Armavir approaches, the steppe cavarly once again fire their remaining arrows and flees back to friendly territory:
https://img136.imageshack.us/img136/7594/maa3069kn3.png
The steppe cavalry win another fight and continue their campaign to annoy the Demetrids in Armenia:
https://img260.imageshack.us/img260/1226/maa3071ph7.jpg
Around the same time, an earthquake hits the cursed city of Ippone. As one of the largest quakes to hit the area, ever, great losses are taken and damage dealt:
https://img260.imageshack.us/img260/4760/maa3072qa0.png
Outside of the Arche Makedonia, other wars continue. The Arche Seleukeia continues their war with Gandhara and continues to push them back, retaking Iran. The Kingdom of Sab'yn, however surprises the Arche Seleukeia, when they suddenly attack Persis with a large attacking force:
https://img260.imageshack.us/img260/508/maa3054wj5.png
In Aigyptos, Ptolemai VII and his son bypass the territories of their Demetrid allies and move their armies northward, into the deserts of Lybia. Now, the forts set up by Antisthenes Gortynios become a barrier for not only the Demetrids but for the rebuilt Ptolemaioi:
https://img136.imageshack.us/img136/338/maa3061ky4.png
The era of little activity by the royal family comes to an end when Philippos lands in Epeiros. With his veteran army, reinforced by new recruits from Massalia and Syrakousai, Philippos is finally home. He eyes turn southward to Hellas:
https://img136.imageshack.us/img136/6360/maa3074zs1.png
The known world in 167BC:
https://img260.imageshack.us/img260/...167edityk6.png
Next: Chapter 65 : Illyrians and Indians
Flashy stuff. Which faction are the Indians? Pontos? Hai?
Palahvans. The violet Media is Hayasdan.Quote:
Originally Posted by Swordmaster
After Phillipos reclaims hellas, perhaps you can reinforce the garrison in Iudaia, and possibly attack Egypt.
That war doesn't seem to be going well for the Demetrids....(Maybe you can spawn a few experienced and heavily armed armies in Syria, as the AI doesn't seem to be able to cope well with recruiting..)
I think that, in terms of reality, it would be extremely difficult for the Demetrids to respond to such repeated attacks from all sides. So giving them elite stacks will probably just end in their fragmentation into smaller units and spread to the ''pseudoarche's'' cities. Apart from the fact that it will further drain their economy. I don't know if you have ever played as a phalanx nation, but if you haven't I can tell you that an elite Alexandrian phalanx army requires huge amounts of cash. It really is a pain in the @$$, especially if you have many of them:laugh4:
Pahlav as Gandhara, Hayasdan as Media, and the Ptolemaioi as the Kingdom of Meroe.
I was hoping that Aigyptos would be taken away from the Demetrids without me doing anything, but as you can see by the second to last picture, the AI hardcoding programming is screwing up my plan.
I would have thought that Ioudaia would have been conquered by now, but the AI just can't get their stuff together. They'll besiege it now and then, but rarely ever complete the siege. The whole AI for the Demetrids is acting quite stupid. But I'm adding that to the roleplaying that they lack any true leadership. They aren't really a challenge, but the AI rarely ever is.
I was thinking about spawning some armies for the Demetrids when I attack them next. But I should probably wait so that I fight an actual army all at once and not just groups of two Pezhetairoi here an there.
Nothing beats the AI willingly agreeing on a ceasefire and attacking the same turn again. I try to keep my calm, but if I ever met the AI in person, I'd give him a serious beating for being so bewilderingly stupid.Quote:
Originally Posted by MarcusAureliusAntoninus
:2thumbsup::2thumbsup::2thumbsup:
Cool update. Did you have to cheat to create that Lakonian aggression, or did they act on their own?
I think they did it on their own, but MAA definitely left the southern Greek cities completely undefended to encourage them.
The Spartans didn't really do anything until I started "poking at them". That is to say, they just stood there in a half stack next to Sparte for a long time. Then I took the tiny garrison of Thessaly and attacked their half stack, auto-calc'd, and lost. Then, they started moving and took most of Hellas, which was undefended.
I have been reading this AAR since chapter 4 or 6, (The Antigonid Dynasty). Because I have been lurking for a year now I guess I should say
Very Nice!:2thumbsup:
Haven't read this for a while (exams=:wall:) but good updates, I really want to see what happens to Sparta.
I say, burn it to the :daisy:ing ground. Not out of retribution for their rebellion, but out of revenge for the movie "300." :smash:
Can't wait for next update. I joined the .org because of this AAR :2thumbsup:
Thanks, everyone.
I've been working on the next chapter and I might have it up as soon as today.
Chapter 65 : Illyrians and Indians
Peloponnesos League, led by the Spartans, had taken most of Hellas, but the destruction of Athenai and Chalkis had cost them a great deal of support. They are now faced with a strong enemy border. Thessalia is a strong supporter of Makedonia but Aitolia is still available for conquest. In order to prevent another region joining, falling to, or being destroyed by the Spartans, Philippos quickly moves his army to Aitolia and occupies the city of Thermon. Because of the destruction of Athenai, the Spartans have lost all support in the area and Philippos is welcomed to the city as a protector:
https://img386.imageshack.us/img386/7282/maa3077ak5.png
Before he can challenge the Spartans, Philippos has to sure up control of Aitolia and prepare for what will happen to Hellas once it is retaken. Only a fool gets into a war without a plan for what comes after. Philippos also begins secret negotiations with the Athenians, the Korinthians, and a few other city-states who are ready to betray the Peloponnesos League.
The Eastern Front
While Hellas awaits a war, allied forces move in the east. After taking control of Kappadokia and restoring the region to Makedonike control, the Galatians and Illyrians moved into Kilikia. The Galatians moved south and the Illyrians moved east. After wandering through the mountains of eastern Kilikia for a while, the Illyrians decide to move south into the plains of Syria and pick a fight:
https://img258.imageshack.us/img258/8059/maa3079wd0.png
In a lightly forested region, the Illyrians corner a small Demetrid army of mostly levies. While the spearmen move forward, the slingers open fire on the enemy to weaken them up:
https://img386.imageshack.us/img386/62/maa3081ns0.png
Then, as they come close to the enemy, the spearmen throw their javelin and prepare to charge:
https://img261.imageshack.us/img261/4875/maa3083jp4.png
The Demetrid army tries to fall back, but the Illyrians give chase and catch them just inside a small grove to trees:
https://img386.imageshack.us/img386/176/maa3085ha7.png
The fighting goes on for a short time, but the Demetrid army lacks much strength. While moving around the flank of the battle, the Illyrian cavalry notice a flanking manuever by the enemy. While their infantry hold down the Illyrian spearmen, Demetrid kataphraktoi are moving around the rear to charge. The Illyrian cavalry quickly move to counter the flanking and charge in at the kataphraktoi before they can charge the battle line:
https://img258.imageshack.us/img258/1877/maa3086gb8.png
The kataphraktoi hit the battle line but are quickly followed by the Illyrian cavalry who hit them from behind. Loosing their mass and speed, the kataphraktoi get tied down in melee combat. Seeing their elite kataphraktoi surrounded, the Demetrid infantry panic and the whole battle line gives way and begins to flee, with the Illyrian spearmen giving chase just behind them:
https://img261.imageshack.us/img261/9430/maa3087qu0.png
The kataphraktoi soon break as well, but the Illyrian cavalry do not follow. Rather, they join the spearmen in chasing down the enemy infantry:
https://img386.imageshack.us/img386/1041/maa3089wd1.png
Although few are elites, the Demetrids have lost a great deal of men by the end of the day:
https://img261.imageshack.us/img261/7770/maa3090dd1.jpg
In Aigyptos and Lybia, Ptolemai VII and his son move into the desert, only to encounter a line of desert forts and a defense force well aware of their movements:
https://img258.imageshack.us/img258/3001/maa3091no2.png
In Armenia, the army of steppe cavalry continue their campaign of destruction and annoyance against the Demetrids. Having surrounded the city of Armavir and cut off outside supplies, the Demetrids send in reinforcements to relieve the city. The steppe horsemen turn to meet their enemy and prepare to fight from two sides:
https://img258.imageshack.us/img258/5351/maa3092jq3.png
The horse-mounted archers once again use their tactic of firing at the enemy from all sides...
https://img261.imageshack.us/img261/6889/maa3094vw4.png
...then charging in and attacking the few demoralized men left standing:
https://img261.imageshack.us/img261/8835/maa3095fh0.png
Repeating this tactic twice in one day, the steppe horsemen greatly damage the two small Demetrid armies but fail to wipe them out and take back the city of Armavir:
https://img261.imageshack.us/img261/3459/maa3096cn4.jpg
The Arche Seleukeia and Gandhara
Divided and engaged in constant war, neither half of the Arche Makedonia can claim to be the sole greatest people in the known world. With the destruction of Athenai and the heart of Hellenic culture, Pyrrhos looses the lead. Meanwhile, the Arche Seleukeia rises from the ashes and is able to call themselves the most advanced people once again:
https://img258.imageshack.us/img258/4056/maa3097px8.jpg
After more than a year of siege, the Arche Seleukeia manages to defeat the armies of Arabia in Persis. With their army wiped out, the Kingdom of Sab'yn negotiates a ceasefire with the Arche Seleukeia but does not give up on their goal of invading Iran:
https://img386.imageshack.us/img386/2223/maa3098ss6.jpg
Although there is no alliance with Media, Media has an alliance with Baktria and Baktria an alliance with the Arche Seleukeia. With this delecate peace and the defeat of the Sab'yn army, the Arche Seleukeia has peace on their western border. Now, they once again shift their whole focus to their eastern border.
Ever since the fall of the Mauryan Empire and the isolation of Gandhara, the war had shifted. The forces of India had at one point pushed all the way to the gates of Persepolis, but now the tides have turned. In a series of victories over the last couple decades, the forces of the Arche Seleukeia manage to push the Indians all the way out of Iran and Arachosia:
https://img386.imageshack.us/img386/6434/maa3099cq1.png
The Arche Seleukeia then starts to push into India itself and to the Indus River. In a few places, they even manage to cross the river and begin a campaign to conquer India itself:
https://img258.imageshack.us/img258/5788/maa3100my3.png
From the Gandharan capital of Taksashila, however, the Seleukid forces are pushed back:
https://img261.imageshack.us/img261/8361/maa3101cu3.png
To the north, the Seleukids have a new problem. Though silent for a great deal of time, the nomads of the eastern steppe begin to move once again:
https://img258.imageshack.us/img258/87/maa3102nx5.png
Back West
In Aigyptos, the envoys of Pyrrhos in Meroe manage to negotiate a deal. Promising the reborn Ptolemaic dynasty many things, they manage to get the Nubians to break their alliance with the Demetrids:
https://img386.imageshack.us/img386/3145/maa3119ru7.jpg
Then, in an even greater move, they manage an alliance between Meroe and Pyrrhos in exchange for even more promises and the agreement of a joint invasion of lower Aigyptos:
https://img261.imageshack.us/img261/387/maa3118ms3.jpg
Meanwhile, having withdrawn back to the mountains of Kilikia, the Illyrians are attacked by Demetrid forces. This battle takes place near a ridge where Demetrios himself had set up a small fort to look down on Assyria so many years ago:
https://img258.imageshack.us/img258/5609/maa3120rq2.png
Taking up position on a hill, the Illyrians wait for their enemy to come to them:
https://img258.imageshack.us/img258/6791/maa3121ov4.png
Although the Demetrid phalangitai slowly move forward, the Demetrid kataphraktoi charge in on the left flank of the Illyrian line:
https://img261.imageshack.us/img261/7689/maa3122on6.png
The charge is absorbed and the Illyrian spearmen begin their fight with the heavily armored horsemen. Meanwhile, the Illryian cavalry moves out from behind the line and begins to make their flanking move:
https://img386.imageshack.us/img386/6986/maa3123bd8.png
Although they are slow to move up the hill, the Demetrid phalangitai eventually join the battle and attempt to hold back the Illyrian spearmen:
https://img386.imageshack.us/img386/2350/maa3124ox0.png
On the left flank, the kataphraktoi gain the advantage and begin to push back the Illyrian battle line, but their victory is short lived. Soon, the Illyrian cavalry charge in from behind and completely decimate the kataphraktoi numbers:
https://img386.imageshack.us/img386/2873/maa3125vu5.png
In the center of the line, the Makedonike commander of the Illyrians falls dead, but the Illyrians fight on:
https://img386.imageshack.us/img386/6261/maa3126id6.jpg
With the left flank now clear, those on the left flank circle around the rear of the enemy phalangitai and begin throwing their remaining javelin:
https://img258.imageshack.us/img258/7149/maa3127xl9.png
Tired from fighting and frightened from javelin fire from behind, the Demetrid phalangitai are quite easy to break and wipe out with a single cavalry charge:
https://img386.imageshack.us/img386/3184/maa3128uy6.png
Although their general dies, the Illyrians win the day and manage to hold the small fort in the hills of Kilikia:
https://img261.imageshack.us/img261/8537/maa3130vf9.jpg
Next: Chapter 66 : The Spartan War
Nice one. Were will you go next?
been a while since ive been here- wow- so much has gone on!!!
very good!
Nice update. However, two things irritate me:
1. "Your forces are attacked by an army of Makedonia"??? I thought you called them Demetrids?
2. In one picture of the last battle, there is the watchtower visible in the background. How did you achieve this? I never see the watchtowers on the battle map in EB, only once as Sweboz in 1.0... but never as Makedonia or Karthago.
Good job spotting that. I'd never thought of watchtowers being visible in battles. I'll have to look out for that.Quote:
Originally Posted by Centurio Nixalsverdrus
Thanks for commenting, everyone.
As the next chapter title says, the next step is on to Hellas. Then I'm waiting to gather my forces and take all of greater syria at once.
It is the Demetrid dynasty, but they are still the eastern half of the Arche Makedonia. Though changing all of the entries in the text file to "Makedonia" was just easier, for one thing.
Watchtowers have been in the game for a while, perhaps since the beginning of RTW. Though, you can only see them if you are on the same tile as them and they will appear off the battle screen. If you are fighting a battle on an tile just next to one, they don't seem to show up at all.
Chapter 66 : The Spartan War
It had been only a decade and a half since Philippos had completed the Spartiatai Agoge, but to Philippos, his training had been many lifetimes ago. It was in Sparte that Philippos learned the basics of warfare and leadership, but he had since built upon that knowledge and become a great leader with many victories. Now, with a successful campaign of conquest behind him, he returns to Hellas to confront the very masters who began him on his journey.
The Spartiatai rebellion and the Peloponnesos League had reached its highest point and lowest point at the same time. The destruction of Athenai would be as far at the Spartiatai would expand. After meeting with his father and brothers to devise the future plans for Hellas, Philippos makes his move. With Aitolia and Thessalia firmly behind him, Philippos takes his army to Attike. Between the Sea of Korinthos and the mountains, Philippos encounters the army of Sparte and her allies. Not far from the ruins of Thebes, the battle is waged:
https://img154.imageshack.us/img154/4936/maa3103qy2.png
Philippos sets up his battle line and prepares for battle, but it is the Spartiatai who make the first move. Surprisingly to Philippos, the entire Spartiatai army charges forward at his line. Philippos orders his men to hold their ground, and they absorb the initial impact:
https://img105.imageshack.us/img105/9594/maa3105lv7.png
In the center are the elite of Sparte, who charge the line of short pikes without fear:
https://img185.imageshack.us/img185/1397/maa3106se9.png
While less than half the Spartiatai force holds down the pike wielding Makedones in the center, the bulk of the Hellenic force circles around both flanks of the line. Philippos quickly sends his sword thorakitai and elite peltastai to counter, but in this move leaves Philippos without any reserves:
https://img105.imageshack.us/img105/496/maa3107um3.png
Leaving orders with his aging Syrian archers to act as the reserves if needed, Philippos takes every last cavalry and moves south. Circling between the southern edge of the battle and the sea, Philippos manages to circle his cavalry around the Spartiatai rear:
https://img105.imageshack.us/img105/8928/maa3109ux0.png
Without any Spartiatai cavalry or even any infantry kept in reserve, Philippos encounters no resistance for his cavalry and is able to arrange an orderly charge. With a single order, ever last horse of the giant Makedonike cavalry devision charges forward at the center of the Hellenic line:
https://img105.imageshack.us/img105/1952/maa3111hb2.png
The charge is a great success and Hellenes fall dead all around the horsemen. With so many horses all around them, moving at great speed, the center of the Spartiatai line breaks and even the most trained soldier turns to run for his life:
https://img154.imageshack.us/img154/4508/maa3112wq0.png
At first, Philippos pulls his cavalry away and lets the center of his line give chase while the flanks of both armies continue to fight. While the Spartiatai retreat, Philippos slowly moves the cavalry parrallel to the fleeing enemy. Then, as the Hellenic forces begin to regain their senses and consider regrouping to confront the pursuing Makedonike thorakitai, Philippos speeds up his cavalry. After gaining a good distance ahead of the fleeing Hellenes, Philippos wheels his cavalry quickly around to the left and charges straight at the routing men. Seeing the cavalry coming at them, the Hellenes pause or even turn around. Soon they find themselves surrounded. On one side are the thorakitai and on the other a huge division of Makedonike horses:
https://img154.imageshack.us/img154/6435/maa3113ib4.png
With these soldiers being the very same who burned Athenai and slaughtered its people, Philippos orders his men to show no mercy and to wipe out every last enemy. Soon the remaining fighting on the flanks of the battle dies down and the Skythian cavalry chase down the very last of the Spartiatai. By the end of the day, almost the entire Spartiatai army is no more:
https://img154.imageshack.us/img154/24/maa3116zk0.jpg
With the victory, Attike and all of the conquered islands of the Aegean expel or kill their Spartiatai garrisons and declare themselves loyal to Pyrrhos and Philippos:
https://img154.imageshack.us/img154/4514/maa3117mt3.png
Philippos then moves to Athenai, where he enters the city as a great hero and is greeted as the savior to the people. Philippos immediately begins to rebuild the city and promises that Athenai will be even great than it was before. Fortunately, for the first time since the beginning of the war, the funds are there to back up the promise. From Athenai to Ephesos to the far reaches of the Arche Makedonia, the renewed treasury funds the repairs and even some new buiding projects. The mines of Iberia, Anatolia, Pontos and Kappadokia finally begin to restore monetary security to Makedonia.
After spending spring and summer in Athenai, Philippos moves to the straights of Korinthos in autumn and into the peloponnesos. After a short siege, Philippos takes the city of Korinthos by force and defeats the Spartiatai garrison. The battle is quick and easy, and ends up being the fatal blow to the Peloponnesos League:
https://img154.imageshack.us/img154/9602/maa3133sa8.png
With the fall of Korinthos, the cities of Argos, Elis, Olympia, and all the remaining allies of Sparte surrender and beg for mercy from Makedonia. After exiling any rebellious leaders, Philippos forgives all of the cities of the peloponnesos and restores them to the control of the Arche Makedonia. The surrender of the Hellenic cities is as much a pyschological victory as a military victory. In asking for Philippos' help and swearing loyalty to Makedonia, the cities give up all future claim to independence from Makedonia, and the act thus solidify the Makedonike control of Hellas.
Now only Sparte remains to resist the Arche Makedonia, but Philippos waits. As winter sets in, Philippos replenishes his army with citizens of Athenai or the peloponnesos who are anxious to prove their loyalty through military service. While the Illyrians fight in Syria and his father negotiates peace with Nubia, Philippos waits and prepares:
https://img154.imageshack.us/img154/284/maa3165eb1.png
Finally, in the spring of 165BC, Philippos moves his army to Argos then Olympia. By summer, Philippos crosses into Lakonike to confront the Spartiatai for the finally time:
https://img105.imageshack.us/img105/1318/maa3182ym7.png
The battle begins when Philippos confronts a small army of Spartiatai outside of the city Sparte. The Spartiatai hold the high ground and Philippos is forced to march up the hill:
https://img105.imageshack.us/img105/1729/maa3183un7.png
At first the Spartiatai hold their ground and don't seem willing to move forward, but then a small group begins to move down from the hill and charges the Makedonike line:
https://img154.imageshack.us/img154/8900/maa3184pw4.png
Assuming this is a feint, Philippos does nothing, but the Spartiatai detachment charges in at the marching thorakitai and disrupt the formation. Philippos orders his men to stop and reform, but the small attack is suddenly joined by another unseen force that comes out of the tree cover. Once again, the Spartiatai surprise Philippos:
https://img185.imageshack.us/img185/570/maa3185md1.png
In order to fill the gap, Philippos rushes his sword thorakitai in, once again giving up his reserves for later use. Once there, the sword thorakitia confront more elite Spartaitai Hoplitai:
https://img185.imageshack.us/img185/7259/maa3187ga1.png
The situation only gets worse for the sword thorakitai when another group of Spartiatai Hoplitai charge in at the flank of the fight, forcing them to fight in multiple directions:
https://img185.imageshack.us/img185/291/maa3188jb5.png
While the battle wages in the center of the clearing, a small group of Spartiatai attempt to move around the flank of the Makedonike line, through a small grove of trees:
https://img185.imageshack.us/img185/8711/maa3189he5.png
However, they are quickly countered by the flank guarding force of spear thorakitai, sword thorakitai, and elite peltastai:
https://img105.imageshack.us/img105/3559/maa3191eo7.png
Throughout the battle, the cavalry attempt to circle around the flank of the battle, but they are constantly countered by light Hellenic troops and unable to make an effective charge. Althought the cavarly cannot charge in at the rear, a small group of sword thorakitai manage to break through the battle and attack a group of elite Spartiatai Hoplitai from the rear:
https://img154.imageshack.us/img154/9056/maa3192hb5.png
This charge leads to the entire Makedonike line bending around the side of the Spartiatai line and causing them to fold in a chain reaction down their line. Finally free from battle, the cavarly quickly circles in and runs down the routing enemy, once again giving no mercy. Yet again, the army of Sparte is completely wiped out:
https://img185.imageshack.us/img185/5774/maa3197ys7.jpg
The victory is so great that no a single Spartiatai who flees the battlefield regroups and takes up arms. Every last Spartiatai soldier disbands and disappears:
https://img154.imageshack.us/img154/5595/maa3198mr3.jpg
After the battle ends, Philippos walks the fields and views the masses of dead or dying. The military surgeons attempt to help those who can be saved, but most are already dead. As he walks, a well adorned Spartiatai body catches his eye and he walks up to it. It is not until he is right next to the body that he realize he knows the man... knew the man. There, covered in blood and far older than he remembered is one of the masters who had instructed him in the ways of warfare so long ago. It would seem the knowledge has come full circle. For a moment Philippos is lost in his thoughts, thinking of both his training and of the battle he just fought. For the first time, Philippos is glad his father kept him out of this civil war as long as he did. Philippos is pulled from the moment when an aid calls to him and he returns to his men, who are already preparing to make the last push to the city of Sparte.
The next day, Philippos and his army marches into the undefended city of Sparte and retake the rebel town in the name of Pyrrhos:
https://img105.imageshack.us/img105/9007/maa3199hl2.png
Many cry for the complete destruction of the city and the slaughter of every last Spartiatai citizen. Others say that they should be forgiven and left unpunished, just like the rest of the Hellenic cities. Philippos is young enough to want vengence but old enough to know that destroying the city would loose him more support in Hellas then it would gain, so he stays his hand. However, the city of Athenai must be avenged. Seeking the balance of his options, Philippos allows his men to loot the city but not destroy it. Once the city is firmly in the control of his army, Philippos collects a portion of the population and orders them relocated to distant colonies in the Arche Makedonia. The citizens of Sparte will live, but they are spread out so that they cannot unify in defiance once again.
The city of Sparte itself is never the same. It had long since stopped being the city of legend with undefeatable mythical soldiers even before the days of Philippos II. Since its conquest by Antigonos Gonatas it had always had some autonomy, even more than most of the cities of Hellas. Now, however, it is the most tightly controlled city in Hellas. The warrior tradition too, is to fade. With the destruction of most of the warrior class and the scattering of many more, Sparte would never again field any sort of elite hoplitai or have her own army. The agoge would remain for a while longer, but it too would not be what it used to be. Ironically, Philippos would be one of the last men of importance to complete the true Spartiatai Agoge.
The known world in 165BC:
https://img167.imageshack.us/img167/...652editoc3.png
Next: Chapter 67 : The Battle for Ioudaia
Good going. At least most of the Greeks were smart enough to realise which the winning side was.
Very cool update. I like it if you give it that immersion, not only telling battle after battle. After all they are "humans". You spawned the Spartans and the Hoplitai for them, right?
Pure coincidence that "The Spartan War" is the name of a chapter of my AAR too. The only difference is that for your chapter there are actually people who really read it... :laugh4: :laugh4: :laugh4: :2thumbsup:
I have to admit honestly that I can't decide which of the two "Spartan Wars" is more enjoyable to read. MAA's is more of an epic battle scene, whereas the atmosphere in Nixalsverdrus' reminds me of a battle description in a history book (especially that governor's wife's window in there :laugh4:). Both make me eager to go out and capture Sparta myself. :whip:Quote:
Originally Posted by Centurio Nixalsverdrus
been a while since I have been on the forums and it looks like the blue team is doing quite well. Impressive indeed :)
great aar but why is ireland a kind of sickly looking yellow
I've been away for a while, but I'm back. Thanks for commenting/complimenting, everyone.
I had been wanting to write more immersion, but I don't really have any characters to write about. I had never really come up with a character in my head for Pyrrhos beyond him being a strict military man but smart. Also, Pyrrhos' traits have gotten horrible in old age and I wanted to avoid roleplaying them. Now that Philippos has entered the main part of the story, I'll try to focus on him more, as he makes his way to being Basileus.
I noticed the chapter titles were the same just before posting the last chapter, Centurio Nixalsverdrus. Don't give up on your AAR, just yet.
Good to see you're back, Chirurgeon.
I did a couple edits to my minimap before posting it. I've recolored the half of "Lusotanna" that I moved to Ireland so that they are the Goidilids.
Chapter 67 : The Battle for Ioudaia
Sparte has fallen. The Spartiatai are scattered. Hellas is firmly in the hands of Pyrrhos and once again part of the Western Arche Makedonia. Now only the Demetrid Dynasty of Syria lay between the Pyrrhids and reuniting the old Arche Makedonia.
For the first time in decades, Philippos returns to his homeland of Makedonia. Though he had met with his father before taking on the Spartiatai, it was but for a day. Now, this is the first true time he has to spend with his aging father. To Philippos, the image of this father Pyrrhos is almost that of a mythical hero. Pyrrhos had been a caring father when he raised his children in Italia, but the image and stories of him as a great hero had been repeated so many times during Philippos' childhood that Philippos had created an image in his head that not even Pyrrhos could fill.
They had seen eachother recently for a short time, but in fact, other than a few short visits Philippos had hardly seen his father since he was sent off to complete his training with the Spartiatai at sixteen. Even in Hellas, Philippos continued to hear stories of how heroic his father was. First in Pyrrhos' efforts in the war against the city of Kart-Hadast, then rumors and propaganda against the family of Aristotelis, and even the tales of the civil war he had heard while in Iberia.
Now, able to spend more time with his father, private time, when Pyrrhos didn't have to be an actor, Philippos began to see the true image of his father. Pyrrhos had now become an old man, crippled from birth but with many additional scars and injuries from a lifetime of warfare. His mind too seemed to be slipping. During their talks, Pyrrhos would occationally quickly change topics to something that didn't seem related or important, only to suddenly get back on topic. And there were times when Pyrrhos refered to the Demetrids and Eastern Arche Makedonia as the Romaioi or the Qarthadastism. Though, for the most part, Pyrrhos kept his wits about. His mind was dulling, but since he had always been sharp, he is still relatively sound of mind.
The topic of discussion was mostly what a father and son would normally speak of after a long time apart. Though one topic came up that was always on the mind of a ruler, succession. When the nobles of Pella had declared Pyrrhos their Basileus, Pyrrhos had appointed Philippos to be his heir, though he was not the first-born. Advanced in years, Pyrrhos now saw his own death coming and feared who would be the heir of Philippos. The younger brothers of Philippos were lazy, unintelligent, and sought only pleasure. Were they to rule, the Arche would fall apart. Pyrrhos' first-born son, Sotades clearly did not want power. He sought neither battle nor great responsibility. Both Sotades and Philippos had daughters, but only Philippos had a son and he was far too young to lead the Arche were Pyrrhos and Philippos both to die. After a lengthy discussion, it was decided that Philippos' son would be next in line, but Sotades would be his regent were Philippos to die before he came of age to rule. It was also decided that Philippos would find another heir were his own son to turn out dull or like his younger brothers. Never again would the Arche Makedonia have to suffer a series of horrible leaders simply because the blood line said it was their right.
In public, Pyrrhos, Philippos, as well as the nobles, advisors, generals, and the rest of the royal family talked of the plans against the Demetrids and the reconquest of Syria. The Demetrids had armies in Kilikia and Syria, with decent defenses in Aigyptos. Armenia used to be a strongly garrisoned region, but over time it had been weakened by allies of Pyrrhos as well as foreign enemies. If Syria were to fall to Pyrrhos, both Armenia and Babylonia would be weakened and fall with little effort. So, the plan was made to use all available forces and take Syria all at once, but first a staging ground would be needed.
Numidia
Not only on the east did enemies of the Arche Makedonia take advantage of the civil war. In Numidia, the Numidian-Mauretanian Alliance had continually sent forces against the city of Ippone in attempts to take the city. After repelling the enemy many times, the governor and Hellenic garrison were withdrawn, leaving the young Zaikedenthes Echinaieus to defend the city with a purely local garrison. When yet another attack comes, the local garrison is put to the test:
https://img244.imageshack.us/img244/8749/maa3135fc5.png
With heavy flame-arrow fire, the majority of the siege equiptment is destroyed, but not all. A lone tower reaches the walls, but the true problem for the defenders comes when a breach is made in the outer city walls:
https://img244.imageshack.us/img244/4349/maa3140ya0.png
The unarmored local garrison defends the breach and even manages to kill off the enemy on the walls, but soon the heavy enemy cavalry comes through:
https://img244.imageshack.us/img244/4880/maa3145yc7.png
The spearmen attempt to hold the enemy in places, but the heavy cavalry quickly cut through the poorly armored defenders. In a last ditch effort, Zaikedenthes Echinaieus gathers his Numidian cavalry and circles around the far edge of the city. Then, surprising the enemy, attacks from the rear of the fight:
https://img244.imageshack.us/img244/4676/maa3148hp6.png
After throwing their javelin, Zaikedenthes' Numidian cavalry charges in at the rear of the enemy cavalry. Now stuck in an unexcapable pincer attack, the enemy finally begins to fall:
https://img244.imageshack.us/img244/5177/maa3150qm3.png
In the process of the fighting most of the garrison falls, but soon every last enemy horseman falls as well. Not only do the Numidians loose their elite cavalry, but two exiled nobles of the city of Kart-Hadast fall dead in that fight.
Although the enemy cavalry is destroyed, the rest of the Numidian infantry manage to reform and attack once more. Exhausted and low on numbers, Zaikedenthes orders his men to fall back to the city center:
https://img244.imageshack.us/img244/3854/maa3155aq8.png
The enemy marches the streets of the city as though they have already won...
https://img174.imageshack.us/img174/1594/maa3156mh2.png
...but when the met with the remaining city garrison, now rested, they are forced to flee:
https://img174.imageshack.us/img174/1053/maa3157cy7.png
Many men die in the defense of Ippone, but fortunately many who fall are only injured and are able to fight again another day:
https://img174.imageshack.us/img174/7013/maa3158sy8.jpg
With only a short window to resupply, the city of Ippone is once again besieged and given no rest from constant warfare:
https://img501.imageshack.us/img501/8593/maa3159jw5.png
Across the sea, to the north, a plague hits the trade city of Emporion and many citizens of the city begin to die as it sweeps through the streets:
https://img501.imageshack.us/img501/6864/maa3161jq4.png
And far off to the east, Sotades contently governs Anatolia. With his so desired repreave from the constant warfare of the civil war, Sotades manages to gain a sizable personal wealth from managing the rich lands of Anatolia:
https://img501.imageshack.us/img501/5255/maa3163jq1.jpg
Ioudaia
Ioudaia, one of the three client kingdoms of the Arche Makedonia and the most rebellious. The region had been ruled by Egyptians, Assyrians, Babylonians, Persians, by Megas Alexandros and his generals, then by the Ptolemaioi. When the region fell into the hands of the Arche Makedonia, it was in a state or rebellion. The rebellion made the region easier to conquer, but simply trading hands of Makedonike dynasties wasn't enough for the locals who were rebelling. In order to establish a sense of autonomy, Demetrios autorized the region's conversion into an "independant" state under Makedonike protection. This had established quick control and most of the natives were fine with their situation, but those rebels and their descendants continued to cause problems.
Over the years, two generations of Hellenized Phoenician kings ruled over Ioudaia. Over that time, rebellions had occured and rioting in the streets of the major cities, but never to the point where it seemed as though the region would fall or the rebels would throw off the Makedones. When the civil war came, the king decided to remain loyal to the land of Makedonia and whoever was declared Basileus there. When Pyrrhos was declared Basileus but the eastern part of the Arche sided with the Demetrids, Ioudaia became surrounded by the enemy. Although it had never happened before under Antigonid rule, the king of Ioudaia began organizing the locals to defend they region by themselves. These locals, along with the isolated Delphikos family and their army were all there was between them and defeat, and all knew the Demetrids would make the region a directly controlled satrapy and not a client kingdom, with even less freedoms for the locals.
Attacks from the Demetrids had come before, both on the king of Ioudaia at Heirosolyma and at the Delphikos family at Megiddo. Prior attacks had been repulsed, but while Philippos battles the Spartiatai, the Demetrids once again attacked Ioudaia:
https://img174.imageshack.us/img174/2460/maa3160lx1.png
As winter hits and snows fall in the hills of Lebanon just to the north, the Delphikos family sallies forth to meet their besiegers with hopes of lifting the siege:
https://img501.imageshack.us/img501/5536/maa3166iq4.png
Eulandros Delphikos leads the army, dispite his age, but he is assisted by his son Chrysoloras and his son-in-law.
Eulandros waits for the enemy and the attack begins when the Demetrid forces move too close to the walls. With the enemy in range, the mercenary Cretan archers open fire while the infantry and cavalry rush out the gates:
https://img244.imageshack.us/img244/8103/maa3167bg8.png
The klerouchoi infantry form a battle line, but the enemy does not confront them. While the infantry hold their ground, the Cretans move out and take up a safe possition behind the battle line where they once again open fire on the enemy:
https://img244.imageshack.us/img244/8040/maa3168or2.png
Attempting to weaken the battle line, the Demetrids launch attacks on the flanks of the line then quickly withdraw. They hope to distract the center, but the peltastai on the flanks hold their ground and do their job:
https://img244.imageshack.us/img244/4756/maa3169lm4.png
While the infantry distract the army and the archers pester them with arrow fire, the hetairoi manage to circle around the side of the battle and charge in, seemingly out of nowhere, at the flank of the Demetrid line:
https://img174.imageshack.us/img174/235/maa3170in5.png
In a series of charges and retreats, the hetairoi manage to frighten and break the Demetrid light infantry guarding the rear, then chase down the routers:
https://img174.imageshack.us/img174/7499/maa3173lh9.png
Forced into a fight, the Demetrid infantry advance forward and attack the Delphikos line. At first, the superior number of Demetrid men seem to be winning the battle, but all changes when the hetairoi return and charge the now unguarded rear of the enemy:
https://img174.imageshack.us/img174/2739/maa3174oy3.png
Although the majority of the enemy army is klerouchoi and light native infantry, the fact that the Delphikos wipe out an army in a defensive battle is still a great feat:
https://img244.imageshack.us/img244/7947/maa3176lc9.jpg
None of the men who survive the battle even return to fight for the Demetrids again. Even the lowest level of soldiers can see the way the war is going and know the inevitable result:
https://img501.imageshack.us/img501/259/maa3177gr7.jpg
Dispite being low on supplies, low on men, and wary of ambushing, the Delphikos family and their army makes ready to march south and assist the city of Heirosolyma. Before they can march, however, tragedy strikes the Delphikos family. Eulandros dies:
https://img244.imageshack.us/img244/3084/maa3235nh2.jpg
Chrysoloras takes command of the army, but delays the march to Heirosolyma. When summer comes, the march is further delayed due to lack of safe water in the war torn region. By autumn, the Demetrids prepare to take the city by force and the garrison is forced for fight alone. Though, fortunately the Demetrid had already pulled the bulk of their attacking force away to quell rebellions in Nabataia:
https://img174.imageshack.us/img174/5871/maa3202xe9.png
As the enemy siege tower moves forward, the local defenders prepare themselves on the walls. These men are neither mercenaries, nor foreign conscripts, or even professional soldiers. They are something more fearsome, they are men protecting their homes and families:
https://img501.imageshack.us/img501/4172/maa3204gm5.png
The lone tower reaches the wall and the attackers pore out, but they are quickly surrounded by the city defenders who push from all sides:
https://img501.imageshack.us/img501/8459/maa3205xv1.png
The first group of men from the tower is wiped out with not too many losses, but the second wave out of the tower is made up of much better trained men with better equiptment:
https://img174.imageshack.us/img174/4016/maa3207si8.png
While the fighting still rages on the walls, the Demetrid attackers also manage to break a hole in the walls and charge through it. The defenders wait and allow the enemy through the hole before charging, leaving the attackers surrounded:
https://img244.imageshack.us/img244/2118/maa3208ez9.png
Although, due to the superior training and equiptment of the attackers, they manage to gain the advantage in both fights and begin pushing the defenders back:
https://img244.imageshack.us/img244/5422/maa3209xx2.png
With the entire Demetrid force engaged in the battle, it is an easy task for the king of Ioudaia to circle his cavalry around the outside of the wall and position himself behind the enemy:
https://img174.imageshack.us/img174/7588/maa3210cy4.png
The king charges his cavalry in at the rear of the enemy, who quickly turn to face the cavalry with their spears:
https://img501.imageshack.us/img501/7289/maa3211qf1.png
The king's cavalry takes losses, but the avantage shifts to the city defenders. The attacking Demetrid forces have now turned their backs on the king's infantry. Even after the king pulls his cavalry out, the attackers are unable to regroup again and face the infantry. Unorganized and surrounded, the last of the Demetrids panic and try to flee but are quickly cut down.
The battle takes a great toll on the city garrison, but the city is defended:
https://img244.imageshack.us/img244/9559/maa3213cb2.png
In one of his first real battles, the king of Ioudaia manages to win a great victory:
https://img174.imageshack.us/img174/3407/maa3216xq1.jpg
The celebration is short, however, as another army arrives soon after to replace the defeated besiegers. Ths time though, word comes from the Delphikos family that this time they are on their way to relieve the siege:
https://img244.imageshack.us/img244/3307/maa3217re3.png
On the edges of Demetrid territory, rebellions begin to grow. Nubia and southern Aigyptos had already chosen to side with the Ptolemaioi. Riots continue in Armenia. In Babylonia, a rebel general raises an army in open rebellion and claims to be a descendant of Seleukos I:
https://img501.imageshack.us/img501/2060/maa3179tr5.png
Rebellions continue for the west, as well. Ever since Philippos and his army left Iberia, things gradually have slipped out of control. Even the long held coastal regions have begun seeing unrest, though ironically the Lusotanna and Arevaci have remained quiet due to the fact they are unders such strict military control:
https://img244.imageshack.us/img244/2306/maa3200dq7.png
While the edges of the Arche falter, all eyes look to Syria. In order to gain a supply base for the Pyrrhic fleets and to knock out the Demetrid fleets, the Romaioi once again attack in the name of Makedonia. Landing in Kypros, the Romaioi begin a campaign to retake the island in preparation of the invasion of Syria:
https://img244.imageshack.us/img244/8894/maa3218pt6.png
The known world at the end of 165BC:
https://img167.imageshack.us/img167/...652editoc3.png
Next: Chapter 68 : A New Era
Epic AAR, Marcus! Keep it up!
Man, this is AWESOME.
How many times have you fooled me into thinking that Pyrrhus might finally die by using a chapter title like that? Perhaps this time it´s actually for real.
God this thing never ends!! And that my friends is a good thing :) Must be hard to stay under that 50 screenshot limit MAA. Anyway keep up the most excellent work!
Probably the best AAR ever written just for sheer epicness!
Thanks everybody. :bow:
I've been trying to show less battle pictures to get more stuff in each chapter, so I've been having less problems with the picture limits.
I'll try to get the next chapter up faster than it took me for this last one. I'm taking more time in the writing phase to get more story of the characters in.
Good update, MAA. Thanks for the encouraging, we'll see...
Thanks, Centurio.
Chapter 68 : A New Era
While Pyrrhids prepare for an all out invasion to finally crush the Demetrids and end the civil war, the Demetrids do all they can to try and counter attack. The first attack on Ioudaia failed, and soon the second fails as well when Chrysoloras Delphikos arrives at Heirosolyma with a newly recruited mercenary army. So, the Demetrids turn north from Syria. In the hills of Kilikia, the Illyrians loyal to Pyrrhos hold an old outpost from which they spy on Syria and Assyria. Seeking to retake this outpost, the Demetrids send a large army from Syria to crush the Illyrian army:
https://img529.imageshack.us/img529/5364/maa3219bi0.png
Unlike their previous battles, the Illyrians now face an organized Hellenistic army, fighting in the Makedonike style:
https://img224.imageshack.us/img224/2092/maa3221zz0.png
The Illyrian spearmen hold their ground and await the enemy line. So, the Demetrids are forced to march forward and meet the Illyrian line, all the while oblivious to the fact that the Illyrian cavalry had already circled around their rear:
https://img529.imageshack.us/img529/7692/maa3223ao9.png
The Illyrian cavalry charges from the rear, but they do not achieve complete surprise. The Demetrids quickly send their reserve forces back to confront the cavalry while at the same time charge the static line of Illyrian spearmen. The battle begins in full force:
https://img224.imageshack.us/img224/373/maa3225aa0.png
While the spearmen hold down the bulk of the Demetrid force, the cavalry manages to break the reserve units:
https://img224.imageshack.us/img224/1091/maa3226io8.png
With the reserves broken, the Illyrian cavalry now have an open way. They line up and charge at the rear of the enemy phalangitai at full force:
https://img529.imageshack.us/img529/2661/maa3227zn7.png
After a series of successive charges, the enemy forces are wiped out or flee. Although though the victory is clear and the Illyrians win the day, the bulk of the Illyrian force is wiped out. The act of holding down phalangitai took too long and cost the lives of many Illyrians. Now they simply hold their outpost and await the invasion, hoping to avoid further conflict:
https://img529.imageshack.us/img529/8919/maa3231ad6.jpg
While Pyrrhos and his family make ready for war, there are also a great many changes in diplomacy around the known world. Tired of raids from the north and having pushed the Indians back into the Indus valley, the Seleukids turn northward and attack the tribes of the north-eastern steppes. In order to retain their alliance with the Seleukids, the rebel Baktrian dynasty also betrays their alliance of steppe tribes:
https://img529.imageshack.us/img529/4424/maa3232st9.jpg
Soon after this, the alliance of steppe tribes manage to create an anti-Seleukid alliance with the Indians of Gandhara:
https://img529.imageshack.us/img529/7121/maa3237bv1.jpg
Already allied to Gandhara, the Arche Makedonia under Pyrrhos jumps at the oppertunity and also joins this alliance against the Seleukid dynasty:
https://img529.imageshack.us/img529/5138/maa3271ag9.jpg
Dispite the alliance against them, the Seleukids continue to push north, retaking territories lost to them more than a hundred years passed:
https://img237.imageshack.us/img237/7448/maa3239dl4.png
Diplomacy remains hostile in Numidia, where former citizens of the city of Kart-Hadast continue to encourage hostilities against the Arche Makedonia. The city of Ippone is attacked once more:
https://img224.imageshack.us/img224/7002/maa3233uq0.png
And once more, the local garrison manages to repel the onslaught:
https://img237.imageshack.us/img237/5697/maa3234wq6.jpg
In the family of Eouboulides, only the murdered Herakleon managed to have any sons. Hearkleon is murdered but his two sons continue the family as the only surviving direct descendants of Antigonos Gonatas. Herodes gathered an army and invaded Pontos to assist Pyrrhos in the war, but the younger son, Anaxagoras is sent to Pella for education. In Pella, Anaxagoras meets and befriends Laandros, the youngest son of Pyrrhos, and the two adopt vices together in the big city. Although, after the fall of Sparte the two are split up. Laandros is sent to Hellas to assist in administration at Athenai and Anaxagoras returns to Bosphoria where he grew up.
While administering Bosphoria, news reaches Anaxagoras that the city of Olbia has rebelled and cast off their Skythian overlords. Now the city is divided on whether to declare themselves independant or join the Arche Makedonia. Seeking to expand his satrapy, his glory, and his purse, Anaxagoras quickly gathers and army of many types of people and marches north into Skythian territory to "rescue" the city of Olbia:
https://img237.imageshack.us/img237/3451/maa3236sg9.png
Preparations for the invasion of Syria are well underway. In Iberia, the unconquered tribes are still hostile, but silent. In Numidia, constant defensive battles are fought. Now, another war had started in the northern steppes to rescue Hellenistic cities. All these conflicts and the Arche Makedonia is still strong. With the wealth of Iberian, Anatolia, and Kappadokia the war funds are secure and all debts have been repaid.
In the east, however, the Demetrid dynasty was in trouble, the loss of Anatolia, Kappadokia, and Armenia had cost them all of their wealthy satrapies. Aigyptos still provided a profit, but the distant members of the royal family and nobility in Aigyptos had begun to disagree with the leadership in Demetreia and at times was near rebelling against the Demetrids. Young Basileus Euktimenos and his mother Antigone were even begining to loose support in their own court. With forces gathering on their borders, the war's end is approaching and the most oppertunistic of the nobles of Syria begin turning on those who seem to be the losers.
The war's end is so evident that in the areas controlled by Pyrrhos, the Demetrids are called "the rebels" and the domain controlled by Pyrrhos has regained the name "the Arche Makedonia" as though he had already unified the fractured empire. It would seems that Pyrrhos is invincible and that nothing can stop him.
As the finally preparations come to a close, with the armies already heading east, Pyrrhos and Philippos prepare to leave Pella and head east as well. One night, during a late meal with some nobles, Pyrrhos announces that he isn't feeling well and wishes to get some sleep. With Pyrrhos' personal slave not nearby, Philippos decides to help his father stand up and helps him by taking him to his room. They speak little and Philippos leads his father to his bed. Once he is laying down, Pyrrhos looks at his son, touches him on the side of his face, and smiles. Philippos smiles back, but before anything is said Pyrrhos' personal slave rushes into the room to offer any assistance to his master. Philippos takes his leave and returns to the banquet.
Philippos is awoken abruptly in the early morning when one of his own slaves wakes him violently. Telling him that he must come quickly. The slave leads Philippos to Pyrrhos' chambers. When he enters the chambers, there he sees a collection of slaves and bodyguards along with a doctor from Athenai. On the bed, Pyrrhos lays motionless and Philippos knows what has happened.
By midday, it is announced to the city of Pella that Pyrrhos is dead:
https://img529.imageshack.us/img529/3796/maa3240pj5.png
Pyrrhos's body is taken to Aigai and burned on a great funerary pyre, then his remains are taken to the tomb of Demetrios, where they are kept until a new tomb is built for Pyrrhos, by order of Philippos. Many attend the funeral, but due to the divide of the Arche it does not reach the size or granduer of Demetrios' passing.
As soon as the time of mourning has come to an end, it is announced that Philippos will succeed his father as Basileus. Due to the fact Pyrrhos announced his successor long before his death and that Philippos is nearly the only logical choice, the transition is an easy one. Philippos is readily accepted by all, even those in the nobility. And so, Philippos, son of Pyrrhos, is crowned Basileus of the Arche Makedonia and is remember by history as Philippos V:
https://img224.imageshack.us/img224/541/maa3241cy5.png
As Philippos becomes leader of the Arche Makedonia, it is once again clear who are the greatest people in the known world:
https://img529.imageshack.us/img529/5851/maa3243yy1.jpg
While Philippos gets used to his new power, events around the edges of the of the Arche continue to unfold. In Numidia, the city of Ippone is once again besieged by forces of the Numidian-Mauretanian alliance:
https://img237.imageshack.us/img237/5096/maa3247br9.png
And in Iberia, the city of Kotais is besieged by a small army of the Demetrids:
https://img529.imageshack.us/img529/3260/maa3248ho4.png
Although, in Armenia, it is clear who is winning. The allied army of steppe cavalry continue their campaign of hit and run attacks. Having wiped out almost all forces that can oppose them, the army starts isolating small groups of Demetrid soldiers and wiping them out before they can group together. In the winter, they meet their first group in the mountains:
https://img529.imageshack.us/img529/9703/maa3244ak9.png
Quickly circling around the flanks of the enemy, they rain arrows down on them from above:
https://img237.imageshack.us/img237/7783/maa3245oi4.png
The allied steppe army easily defeats the little group and moves on to other targets:
https://img529.imageshack.us/img529/474/maa3246lb0.jpg
The army of mounted archers wipe out another army and eventually move to releave the siege of Kotais:
https://img529.imageshack.us/img529/1954/maa3251mi9.png
Once the arrows start to rain down on the enemy they begin to flee:
https://img237.imageshack.us/img237/4033/maa3253li5.png
The enemy manage to escape before many die:
https://img237.imageshack.us/img237/2346/maa3254am8.jpg
The steppe cavalry, though, chases the fleeing enemy army and confronts them once again just before they can reach the city of Armavir:
https://img237.imageshack.us/img237/3948/maa3255pr0.png
The Demetrid army attempts to form two defensive lines to protect against the attacks from both sides, but the mounted archers simply fire at the rear of the far line:
https://img224.imageshack.us/img224/6265/maa3258ca4.png
As all seems lost, the enemy commander attempts to flee and escape back to Armavir, but when his horse is killed beneath him and he falls to his death:
https://img237.imageshack.us/img237/7430/maa3259cm6.png
Once again, the steppe army wipes out a small enemy army:
https://img224.imageshack.us/img224/8521/maa3260jw6.jpg
After almost two years of siege, the last city that holds out on Kypros falls to the Romaioi, guaranteeing a base for naval support for the invasion of Syria:
https://img77.imageshack.us/img77/7915/maa3261xp4.jpg
About the same time, Olbia in the north falls to Anaxagoras as well:
https://img235.imageshack.us/img235/107/maa3262yx2.jpg
This region is an odd mix of Hellenic and Skythian, even more so than the Bosphoria region. With this conquest, the coastal regions from the Istros River to Bosphoria join the Arche Makedonia. The regions just north of the Istros River had been somewhat part of the Arche Makedonia for decades, but military force had never been sent to the region in order to prevent a war with the Getai Confederation. Although Anaxagoras only takes control of the coastal regions, a great deal of Skythian peoples and their culture now fall under the leadership of the Arche Makedonia:
https://img77.imageshack.us/img77/976/maa3329cu9.png
To the south of there, in Pontos, Anaxagoras' uncle Lysippos dies. With the recent deaths of Delphikos and Pyrrhos, Lysippos marks the final death of the old generation. For every commander in the armies of the Arche Makedonia, the civil war has been a fact of their entire adult life and now it is up to them alone to bring it to an end:
https://img185.imageshack.us/img185/930/maa3263eq5.jpg
Diplomacy once again becomes an issue as another year begins:
https://img185.imageshack.us/img185/5058/maa3264fk7.jpg
Most notably, the Medians invade lower Babylonia and attempt to capture Arab holdings:
https://img235.imageshack.us/img235/1492/maa3265li2.png
However, all world events are trumped when Philippos arrives in Kilikia and the invasion of Syria finally begins. To the north, the steppe forces and a conscripted Armenian force under the command of a general from Sophene attacks the last of the Demetrids in Armenia who hide in Armavir:
https://img185.imageshack.us/img185/1595/maa3266wf1.png
The Thraikioi of Armenia move south, into eastern Assyria, and attack the enemy garrison at Arbela:
https://img235.imageshack.us/img235/7900/maa3267os5.png
Herodes moves his Bosphorian army out of the hills and moves down into western Assyria to attack the large city of Edessa:
https://img77.imageshack.us/img77/5422/maa3268oj5.png
Chrysoloras Delphikos moves his mercenary army north from Ioudaia and attacks the ancient Phoenician city of Sidon:
https://img235.imageshack.us/img235/6929/maa3270me6.png
And in Kilikia, the Galatians lead the attack, followed by Philippos and his Thorakitai army, while his brother Sotades holds down the large Kilikia garrison in Tarsos:
https://img185.imageshack.us/img185/3716/maa3269mc8.png
The known world at the end of 163BC, a year after Pyrrhos' death:
https://img185.imageshack.us/img185/...633editlk7.png
Next: Chapter 69 : The Syrian War (Part I)
Another great chapter, MAA!
I can't wait til the start of the Syrian wars.
wow.
i mean, what else can i say?
Good going, but you have´t changed the "You are attacked by an army of the blablabal" in the text something for Numidia. You really should, incredibly easy (as you no doubt no).
This is the part were the Demetrids start to win right?:logic:
Excellent chapter - great stage-setting! Reminds me of that coordinated Corleone Family offensive at the end of the first Godfather movie. :smash: Though it's kinda weird to see a Ptolemaic Meroe full stack up by Bostra...got lost did they?
Hopefully this Phil V will live up to expectations and do a good deal better than the OTL Phil V. He's had a fantastic start in the West after all.
Phillipos Argeades, eh? A good omen indeed.
Excellent chapter. Baktria, huh?
Great Update MAA. You recolored the region at Olbia I asume. As the city controls a lot of Land and not just the costal strip.
Thanks everybody.
I was hoping to get this up sooner, but I got sidetracked and then had a little writers block on the events of Pyrrhos' death. I'd like to say I'll have the next on up soon, but I'm going to be away for the next week, starting tommorrow.
I had only changed the faction name for "Numidia" and not the rest of the text entries since the edit was made to the files back when I was planning an invasion of Numidia. I had planned to conquer Numidia and make the whole faction "Mauretania", but the civil war messed up my plans.
Philippos V is off to a good start. Even his in-game traits are great.
Baktria?
Yeah, I edited the map. There are actually four edits to that map at the end, though all for roleplaying purposes.
Whens this getting made into a movie haha.
Baktria made peace with the Seleukids (or was it the Saka?), although "Baktria" is the Demetrids. Did you photoshop that I think?Quote:
Originally Posted by MarcusAureliusAntoninus
Good hint Ower, the fact that Olbia controls a really huge, clumsy and ill-shaped piece of steppe is the reason I'd never conquer it. :grin:
Yet another victim of the region limit. Damn CA and their engine limits.
Sacrifice Gaetulia then.Quote:
Originally Posted by General Appo
Truly amazing. What a great chapter to return to from vacation. How old was Pyrros when he died? Anyway keep up the good work and I look forward to the Syrian Wars!
Thanks.
Even though they are one faction, I'm roleplaying the Demetrids-Baktria as two different factions. When something happens that seems to involve one side more than the other, I roleplay it was that side. So, for that particular event I made it Baktria and editted the picture.
I roleplay my own borders and have recently decided to start altering my minimap pictures to show that. I just ignore many of the odd shaped regions that the region limit has resulted in. Had I started earlier, I would have edited the Danube as my northern border...
Pyrrhos was 66 years old or around there. For 4tpy, that's a pretty good age. I thought about reloading so he wouldn't die, but decided to just go with it and add it to the story.
I would like to nominate your AAR for the AAR of the month competition over at TWC. I need your blessing first. Here is the link if you want more info :) http://www.twcenter.net/forums/showthread.php?t=182706
Sure. That's cool.Quote:
Originally Posted by Chirurgeon
AAR of the Year, much?Quote:
Originally Posted by Chirurgeon
Added this AAR into the competition over at TWC. There are some really good ones there. Although I lean towards the EB ones :) Here is the link:
http://www.twcenter.net/forums/showthread.php?t=182706
I am doing this mainly to generate interest in EB. I have taken three of the most popular AARs here and posted them over there. I will try to do this each month. There are too many good AARs on this forum and its time to get the word out!
I'm sorry guys, but you can only nominate AARs that are posted on TWC (due to forum policy).
This is awesome stuff though, and I would like to see it race in the competitions.
So MAA, if you could the repost it on TWC, like hooahguy did here:
http://www.twcenter.net/forums/forumdisplay.php?f=109
I'm sure it would finish in the top 3.
PM me if you have any questions.
(If you don't have an existing TWC account, registration takes about 2 minutes.)
This AAR is already over there, in fact: http://www.twcenter.net/forums/showthread.php?t=162579
Adding a link to the twc-thread in the nomination would be a good idea, though.
Thanks, I've corrected the link in the nomination thread! Good luck!
Bumping this to just say that I'm going to try and start working on this again. It's been a busy summer and I haven't been around the forums or able to play the game.
I played this campaign again yesterday, for the first time in months, and I got to a turning point. Its gotten a bit interesting again so I have more drive to write up what I did to get there. Hopefully I'll have the time...
w00t! That's awesome! This AAR is never going to end. (good thing) :2thumbsup:
Chapter 69 : The Syrian War (Part I):
The Fringes
Africa
While Philippos leads a huge invasion force of Makedones and allies in an invasion of Syria, a much smaller invasion into his own territory takes place in Africa. Numidian and Mauretanian forces once again attack the city of Ippone, but this time they are lead by an exiled noble from the conquered city of Kart-Hadast:
https://img91.imageshack.us/img91/4884/maa3276yl0.png
Dispite their skilled leader, they met the same fate as every other invasion attempt of the city:
https://img91.imageshack.us/img91/6605/maa3277uy1.jpg
In the city of Kart-Hadast, things are much different than what the exiles chose to believe. After the initial slaughter by Neokles, Pyrrhos had managed to achieve order in the city and managed a friendly peace with its Phoenician inhabitants as well as the Lybian and Numidian locals of the region. Though the region had been conquered, with many enslaved, there is almost no current discontentment from within the Makedonike controled territories. Many were even glad that the city had been conquered. The people of Kart-Hadast had always been traders and the inclusion into the Arche Makedonia had opened new trade routes to the eastern parts of the Arche that had been previously unavailable due to the war between Kart-Hadast and the Arche Makedonia.
The exiled nobles did not care what it was like back in their city, though. They only wanted their senate reinstated and the Makedones out of Africa. Although the war with Numidia and Mauretania had been a small issue for the Arche Makedonia, it was ever the small itch needing scratching.
Assyria
As part of the invasion of the Demetrid controlled east, the descendants of the Thraikioi who had settled in Armenia had taken up arms and marched south into eastern Assyria. While besieging the Demetrid garrison at Arbela, an army of reinforcements from Babylonia attacks these Thraikioi, marking the first battle in this new Syrian War:
https://img156.imageshack.us/img156/4936/maa3278tv6.png
The Thraikioi line up to face the reinforcement army attacking from the north, but are surprised when the Demetrid men simply stall for time. The Thraikioi are surprised again when it is actually the small number of phalangitai and kataphraktoi from the city that strike first:
https://img440.imageshack.us/img440/955/maa3279er4.png
While the bulk of the Thraikioi force hold the line, the cavalry and elite forces move to face the enemy forces approaching from the city of Arbela:
https://img440.imageshack.us/img440/5356/maa3280ni5.png
While the cavalry tie down the kataphraktoi, the elite Thraikioi attack the phalangitai. While the bulk of the elite force charging directly at the short enemy line, a small group sneaks around the rear and charge in at them out of a grove of trees:
https://img156.imageshack.us/img156/9260/maa3283dy9.png
Meanwhile, the reinforcements from Babylonia advance and face the Thraikioi main battle line:
https://img440.imageshack.us/img440/3059/maa3284db1.png
Soon the Demetrid general, Atrosokes Dionysopolites, falls dead and the forces from the city break and flee. Free from their battle with the enemy phalangitai, the elite Thraikioi join their brothers in battle with the larger army. Now overwhelmed, the large enemy army start to flee from the battle:
https://img91.imageshack.us/img91/2203/maa3285tn4.png
The Thraikioi cavalry chase down all those who try to escape and kill and capture nearly all of them:
https://img440.imageshack.us/img440/9150/maa3286mq8.png
Without any defenders, the city of Arbela surrenders and the Thraikioi gain a stronghold in eastern Assyria where they wait for the remaining invading forces to do their jobs as well.
Phoenicia
With a hand full of his father's klerouchoi at the core of a mercenary army, Chyrsoloras Delphikos had marched north from Ioudaia and into Phoenicia. Having secured Tyre without a fight, the army marched north to Sidon, where the regional garrison is stationed. After only a few short months, Chrysoloras Delphikos and his army is attacked by an army of the Demetrids:
https://img156.imageshack.us/img156/289/maa3287ik4.png
The Demetrid army oddly charges forward...
https://img91.imageshack.us/img91/1888/maa3289ij0.png
...then suddenly stops a short way outside of skirmishing range:
https://img156.imageshack.us/img156/273/maa3290qe9.png
While the bulk of the enemy force watches from their possitions, the enemy cavalry make several suicidal charges directly at the pike line, testing the will of the mercenaries:
https://img440.imageshack.us/img440/6500/maa3291vh3.png
After waiting quite some time, Chyrsoloras finally makes his move and orders his entire cavalry force to the right flank. The enemy forces counter this by making a move against the now undefended left flank. Chyrsoloras' brother-in-law leads his cavalry in a charge in front of the battle line back to reinforce the left flank, but then halts. Noticing enemey kataphraktoi from the city, Chrysoloras' brother-in-law leaves the infantry on the left flank to fend for themselves and charge at the enemy cavalry instead:
https://img156.imageshack.us/img156/8439/maa3293tm7.png
The cavalry get into a scrape and begin hacking at eachother with their swords, both sides too afraid of a charge to let the other side disengage. Soon the fight is joined by Andragoras Dikaios, from Sidon, and his heavy kataphraktoi. Seeing his cavalry falter, Chrysoloras soon joins the battle as well, charging in at an exposed enemy flank of the elite kataphraktoi:
https://img156.imageshack.us/img156/2360/maa3296pu6.png
The fight lasts some time, with the enemy infantry all breaking and fleeing in the mean time, but eventually only Andragoras Dikaios and a small force remain. They try to flee back to the city but are too weighted down from their heavy armor and are easily caught and killed:
https://img440.imageshack.us/img440/1907/maa3297fe9.png
Late to the battle and unaware of their general's death are the phalangitai from the city of Sidon. Now fully refreshed, the mercenaries of Chrysoloras line up to face the new enemy:
https://img156.imageshack.us/img156/7911/maa3301ii9.png
A short battle in the Makedonian style takes place, but after a short time the Demetrid forces are become aware that their general is dead and the cause is lost:
https://img91.imageshack.us/img91/1734/maa3305db0.png
After a very long day, Chrysoloras Delphikos manages to hold the field:
https://img156.imageshack.us/img156/752/maa3306od7.jpg
Fully aware of the ultimate fate of the war, the garrison of Sidon disbands. Before Chrysoloras can take the city, however, another army from the north attacks:
https://img440.imageshack.us/img440/9572/maa3307qd6.png
Once again, on the plains of Phoenicia, two armies of Makedones face eachother and duel with [fields] of pikes:
https://img156.imageshack.us/img156/9954/maa3310sz1.png
Both sides deploy peltastai on the flanks who also face eachother in an attempt to outflank eachother:
https://img440.imageshack.us/img440/1087/maa3311px6.png
Taking a long route through the woods, the full cavalry force of Chrysoloras' army manages to win the game of outflanking and charges at the rear of enemy phalangitai:
https://img440.imageshack.us/img440/4826/maa3312hy7.png
In the style of Alexandros, Chrysoloras takes the field and moves to the city of Sidon:
https://img440.imageshack.us/img440/6981/maa3313fs2.png
Syria
In the city of Demetreia, Antigone, the royal court, and the young Basileus Euktimenos Idomeneus are well aware of Philippos and the invasion. Although they order their generals to fight with everything they have, they are well aware of the fact that it is only a matter of time before Syria is lost. The effort to hold Phoenicia had been an attempt to prevent themselves from being cut off from Aigyptos. If they can flee Demetreia and get to Aigyptos, there is still a chance that they can continue their fight. The loss of Tyre and Sidon have now cut them off from the coastal route. If Demetreia is threatened, the only choice now is to take the inland route and risk going near the they city of Heirosolyma or eastward and through the desert.
In the east, the remnants of the Illyrian army move to control the borders between Assyria and Syria, but soon face a huge army from Demetreia:
https://img361.imageshack.us/img361/4498/maa3314ux4.png
Unable to offer much resistance, the Illyrians are easily defeated and retreat back into Kappadokia:
https://img529.imageshack.us/img529/1456/maa3315bw5.jpg
With the southeast secure, the royal family and royal court in Demetreia prepare for a trip to Damaskos and ultimately to Aigyptos. Philippos once again surprises the Demtrids, though. Risking the winter seas, the Romaioi cross from Kypros and land in southern Syria. Meanwhile the Galatians force march through the cold and approach the city from the north:
https://img361.imageshack.us/img361/5576/maa3316qv3.png
Even in the dead of winter, the Galatians are ready for combat. Cornering an army of the Demetrids to the north of Demetreia, they move in to wipe them out before they can join with the garrison inside the city:
https://img529.imageshack.us/img529/6851/maa3318iz0.png
Oddly, it is the Demetids who go on the offensive and march uphill toward the Galatians. Perhaps they truely believe in their yound Basileus or perhaps they know they are going to die and simply wish to die with glory. Either way, the light force stands no chance against the Galatian warriors:
https://img529.imageshack.us/img529/346/maa3320ev5.png
The light Galatian infantry hold down the enemy combat line while the elites circle around the rear and crush them from behind while the cavalry wipes out the few reserves:
https://img529.imageshack.us/img529/9651/maa3322yh5.png
Without much effort, though some casualties due to carelessness, the Galatians crush their enemy and take control of the valley just north of Demetreia:
https://img529.imageshack.us/img529/7051/maa3324kt1.png
The Arche Makedonia
In Makedonia, an odd event takes place. A grandson of Neokles joins the ranks of generals in Philippos' armies. Although his father had joined Bykoli and Pefkolaos and died early in the war, young Abantes Skionaios ended up living in territories controlled by Pyrrhos and Philippos. After his education he had joined the military, where he was made a general due to his noble blood. As the descendant of Antigonos Gonatas to join side of Pyrrhos, he is welcomed but watched closely.
In Anatolia, vast numbers of kleroi are completed in order to make farming the the region much more efficient. The project to build the kleroi had been begun by Neokles in his reforms, but had stalled during the civil war. Restarted under Pyrrhos, the system of huge agricutural estates spread all across Anatolia are now complete:
https://img526.imageshack.us/img526/4874/maa3326ks7.jpg
As spring returns to Syria, Philippos once again begins his advance. Sotades besieges Tarsos, Herodes besieges Edessa, the Galatians move to block the borders between Syria and Assyria, the Romaioi cut of of way out of Demetreia to the southeast, and the fleet blockades the ports. With all the escapes from Demetreia removed, Antigone and Euktimenos have no choice but to remain behind the walls of the city. And soon those city walls are besieged by Basileus Philippos V of Makedonia, himself:
https://img526.imageshack.us/img526/7009/maa3327ps9.png
Around the same time, though late, Isidoros Oresteus, the self proclaimed king of Babylon, fulfills his promise to Philippos and joins in on the invasion. King Isidoros moves to besiege the city of Seleukeia, which is now deprived of most of its forces after the battle with the Thraikioi:
https://img526.imageshack.us/img526/5525/maa3328hd5.png
The known world in162BC:
https://img361.imageshack.us/img361/...162editac2.png
Next: Chapter 70 : The Syrian War (Part II): The Allies
Glad to have you back. The forums have been rather slow as of late. Excellent update. I like how you beat your enemies into submission but don't completely wipe them out. I have been doing that in my AAR and it makes for some interesting storytelling and scenarios. It seems more realistic too. Keep up the good work!
Awesome! Great to see this return.
I really missed your AAR lately. Great! I finally followed your footsteps partially and also modded Thorakitiai into my Makedonian game. It worked perfectly and I think it won't be the last modification. Thanks for all those inspirations. :bow:
Fantastic that it's back, I can't wait to see the other part of the Syrian war.
Thanks for folllowing and thanks for commenting.
I like to keep factions alive so that I can use them again some day, or just to fill out what would be an empty region. In the next chapter I get the Ptolemaioi in Nubia to go to war with the Demetrids and they start to retake Aigyptos. :2thumbsup:
I'm constantly making changes to my game. I tried to do some skinning work, but I can only view and not alter to file format of the skins on my computer and was too lazy to look for a free program that could. I'm thinking of redoing my recruitment system again too, changing it so that non-Hellens can join the ranks of the Thorakitai, Romaioi style.
Hopefully, there won't be another large gap before I post the next chapter... :sweatdrop:
Wow excellent update Marcus :2thumbsup:
Chapter 70 : The Syrian War (Part II):
The Allies
In the time of Antigonos, the population of Makedonia had been depleted by the oppertunity of foreign settlement and what seemed like almost constant invasions and wars. Since the beginning of the Antigonid line and the reforming of the Arche Makedonia, foreign soldiers had been a neccessity in a Makedonike army. Over the years many foreign troops had done great things for Makedonia, such as Neikolaos' Keltoi or Pyrrhos' Illyrioi. Allied armies under the command of foreign commanders had also been a great help to the Arche Makedonia. In the Makedonike civil war, however, they have reached a greater amount of service but with a greater cost. Foreign forces such as those of the Galatioi, Ioudaioi, Romaioi, and Babylonians had served Pyrrhos and Philippos greatly in the war. However, each of those groups had gained greater autonomy and leverage against Makedonia. They now pose a greater risk to the stability of the Arche Makedonia in the post-war years to come.
Lesser known allied forces, such as the steppe cavalary, originally loyal to Lysippos, had also done great deeds for the Pyrrhids. Over the years of the civil war, the steppe forces in Armenia had almost single handedly harrassed the Demetrid forces in the region and prevented any meaningful profit return from Armenia. Now, with an Sophene Armenian general and his army besieging the city of Armavir, the steppe forces take once more to wiping out small isolated Demetrid forces before they can group together and provide a challenge:
https://img295.imageshack.us/img295/1159/maa3330xc6.png
Under the rain of arrows released from the swift horsemen...
https://img295.imageshack.us/img295/7779/maa3333vg6.png
...only death remains:
https://img295.imageshack.us/img295/8530/maa3334tk2.jpg
The steppe horsemen strike again, quickly:
https://img295.imageshack.us/img295/8381/maa3335zl7.png
This time their enemy brings better armor...
https://img295.imageshack.us/img295/8422/maa3337jk9.png
...but it is only a matter of time before an arrow falls at a weak point:
https://img399.imageshack.us/img399/1493/maa3340tk4.jpg
In Syria, the Demetrids are desperate to save their Basileus and relieve their capital. Gathering their forces, the Demetrids send a great army through eastern Syria but are halted by the Galatians:
https://img399.imageshack.us/img399/2892/maa3341bi1.png
With the Euphrates river to their left, the Galatians line up to block the avance of the Demetrid army on Demetreia:
https://img399.imageshack.us/img399/4382/maa3343gw7.png
Just like in past engagements with the Galatians, the Demetrids rush forward to meet them, judging the Galatians upon their numbers alone:
https://img187.imageshack.us/img187/559/maa3344vi7.png
As they approach, the Galatians throw their spears...
https://img368.imageshack.us/img368/7614/maa3345az2.png
...then charge in before the enemy can form a phalanx:
https://img295.imageshack.us/img295/3852/maa3346qa5.png
Unable to form a cohesive line, the Demetrid army breaks into several groups and begins to fight the Galatians. Using their superior numbers to their advantage, each group of Demetrid soldiers attempt to encircle each individual Galatian group, but they still underestimate their enemy:
https://img295.imageshack.us/img295/6020/maa3347vy9.png
The Demetrids ignore the Galatian archers as they move around their left flanks and concentrate on encircling the infantry, but then the archers lower their spears and prove the the Demetrids that you should not turn your back on any Galatian, no matter his perceived battlefield role:
https://img295.imageshack.us/img295/5213/maa3348hm6.png
Meanwhile, the cavalry succeeds at their own flanking along the river to the right flank of the Demetrids and crush the few men holding down the elites:
https://img295.imageshack.us/img295/5340/maa3350et8.png
Free from battle on both sides, both flanks charge toward the center and encircle those Demetrids who were attempting to encircle the Galatian center:
https://img368.imageshack.us/img368/6114/maa3351qa2.png
The center of the Galatian line, previously threatened by encirclement, falls back and allows for the flanks to completely encirlce the remaining enemy. While the encircled Demetrids are slaughtered, the cavalry chases down those who escaped and are trying to flee:
https://img368.imageshack.us/img368/1074/maa3352bs3.jpg
The Galatians move to protect the Euphrates crossing, but their battlefield is remembered as the sites of one of the greatest battles ever fought, both because of the odds and because of the tactics used:
https://img413.imageshack.us/img413/9372/maa3353vf6.png
Their good new is soon dwarved by bad news from their home, however. Their king, the king of Galatia, is dead:
https://img413.imageshack.us/img413/3613/maa3325yg2.jpg
This event posses a difficult situation to Philippos, who also gets a similar message just outside of Demetreia. Though the Galatians are allies and a client kingdom, they have used the war as an excuse to expand their power and territories, claiming part of the Pontos satrapy for themselves. It had been planned to disband their military after the war, then slowly reduce their powers until the point when Galatia could be formally added to the Arche Makedonia, removing their autonomy and the problem. However, now that the king is dead there is an oppertunity to take control of the region of Galatia. If Philippos does not seize this oppertunity and a new king is chosen it will be another generation before this chance comes again. After great thought, Philippos allows the Galatians to choose a new king. Philippos realizes there is far too much risk, with a large standing army, loyal to Galatia and not Makedonia. The first step must be to disband that army and reclaim Pontos.
One ally who had long since proven themselves loyal to the Pyrrhids are the Romaioi. Because of their fair treatment when conquered and their permitted internal autonomy, the people of Roma were friends to Pyrrhos and had proven a valuable ally. Not long after the Galatians repel one army of the Demetrids, a second attempts to break through to Demetreia. This time it is blocked by the Romaioi, under (indefinately extended) Consul Tiberius Aurelius Cotta:
https://img413.imageshack.us/img413/9799/maa3354eo6.png
Rather than face the enemy in the open field, the Romaioi take up the defensive possition at a river ford. The Romaioi assume the enemy will simply wait on the other side or try to find another way around, but he fanatical men, seeking to save their Basileus, decide to simply charge across the waters and into the waiting spears of the Romaioi Triarii:
https://img147.imageshack.us/img147/2373/maa3355bs9.png
While the Triarii take up the front line, the other ranks and Romaioi skirmishers let loose thousands of spears from behind:
https://img147.imageshack.us/img147/6729/maa3356le7.png
With the Demetrids unable to form up their lines in the river, the advantage goes to the Romaioi who hold the line at the river bank against everything that comes across:
https://img147.imageshack.us/img147/5256/maa3358wp2.png
With fanatical drive, every last Demetrid soldier throws himself against the Romaioi line. By the end of the day, on the river banks, at the bottom of the river, and floating down it toward Demetreia are thousands of corpses intermixed with the moans of dying men:
https://img353.imageshack.us/img353/8484/maa3361uu8.png
Tiberius Aurelius Cotta looses very few men and holds his defensive possition, easily winning the battle. When word reaches Philippos of the battle, he sends his personal congratulations:
https://img147.imageshack.us/img147/88/maa3362qv6.jpg
With the armies of Syria and Assyria wiped out and an army of Ioudaioi between him and Aigyptos, Chrysoloras Delphikos takes the remnants of his father's army and his own mercenaries and marches out of Phoenicia and eastward to the city of Damaskos:
https://img255.imageshack.us/img255/2035/maa3365iy4.png
Meanwhile in Makedonia, Euphratos, younger brother of Sotades and Basileus Philippos, manages to acquire a sizable wealth for himself managing the money of the Arche Makedonia:
https://img360.imageshack.us/img360/2056/maa3364or6.jpg
Over the years, the finances of Makedonia had greatly improved. Once Anatolia, Pontos, and Kappadokia were conquered, the fear of debt was gone. Now, with the invasion of Syria in sight, the days of a surplus in the royal treasury are within sight once more. Governors and Generals all across the Arche Makedonia prepare for the future and plan military build-ups and building projects.
To the far west, Zaikedenthes Echinaieus once again is forced to defend the city of Ippone from agression from the Numidians and exiled nobles of Kart-Hadast:
https://img360.imageshack.us/img360/1156/maa3367wk6.png
The city is defended once again, but it is only a matter of time before the garrison is weakened and the Numidians are able to throw a large enoug force at the city to break it:
https://img255.imageshack.us/img255/5324/maa3368zu9.jpg
[In case you hadn't guessed, I got tired of fighting this battles and just started to use "auto_win" on them.]
As the winter months set in, the generals of the Arche Makedonia in Syria and their armies settle into their camps and wait out the sieges of the few remaining Demetrid cities and their garrisons. In southern Syria, however, Chrysoloras Delphikos is surprised when a small army attacks from the south. It would seem that the small force had managed to pass through Ioudaia undetected, but it is little concern for Chyrsoloras and his large amry of klerouchoi and mercenaries:
https://img255.imageshack.us/img255/5186/maa3369gc0.png
On the hills outside of Damaskos, the two armies of phalangitai meet and begin their sarrisa duel:
https://img413.imageshack.us/img413/8617/maa3372wi9.png
As the phalangitai fight the army, from the south, coming from the city, the enemy general and his kataphraktoi cavalry charge in at the flank:
https://img214.imageshack.us/img214/6551/maa3374zf6.png
A group a phalangitai manage to move in and attack the enemy kataphraktoi, but in order to hold them down, Chrysoloras is forced to send in the Kretan archers, who are well capible of performing the task:
https://img505.imageshack.us/img505/7041/maa3377cc1.png
The first army breaks soon after and Chrysoloras Delphikos takes the cavalry to chase it down. The army from the city rushes in to save their general, but neither the general nor any of his men manage to flee the battlefield:
https://img505.imageshack.us/img505/6013/maa3381ox6.jpg
The next day, Chrysoloras Delphikos and his army takes the city of Damaskos. Those in the city are neither angry nor overjoyed. For most inhabitants, nothing changes with this change of power. Though for Chrysoloras and his men it is a plus. They are now able to weather out the rest of winter in the warmth of the city barracks.
Before the winter draws to a close, once again the Galatians are attacked as well. Rather than rescue Assyria from the army of Herodes, the forces in the east all attempt to move westward to their Basileus and to their capital:
https://img205.imageshack.us/img205/439/maa3382pe9.png
At first the two armies face off against eachother across the river, taunting eachother. It is only a matter of time before the Demetrids can take no more and make their move across the Euphrates and into Syria:
https://img505.imageshack.us/img505/9563/maa3383az9.png
The Galatians form an arc around the landing of the bridge and wait:
https://img413.imageshack.us/img413/1962/maa3385ex4.png
Once a sizable Demetrid force is across the bridge, they charge in from all sides:
https://img413.imageshack.us/img413/6527/maa3386cl5.png
The emeny is quickly slaughtered and the Galatians reform their line. Seeing the failure of the larger force, the smaller Demetrid force falls back and leaves the field of battle:
https://img205.imageshack.us/img205/7407/maa3388nh7.jpg
All across Syria, Assyria, Babylonia, and Armenia the garrisons and cities of the Demetrids are running out of supplies and nearing the point of forced surrender. Demetrid envoys from Syria who manage to get passed the armies of the Pyrrhids move to Aigyptos. From Aigyptos a few armies had moved north to assist Syria, but far more of the forces of Aigyptos had remained idle. With Syria doomed to fall and the Demetrid line end, the generals and nobles of Aigyptos turn their back on Demetreia and prepare to take power for themselves, rather than fight and fall with Syria. The Demetrid envoys are forced to return to their Basileus with new of no reinforcements.
The known world in161BC:
https://img413.imageshack.us/img413/...161editpl5.png
Next: Chapter 71 : The Syrian War (Part III): Reconquista
nice update MAA. Man you use alot of screenshots. Must take you a while to crop and organize that. My hat goes off to you on that one :)
Great update MAA! But don't you want to claim that tiny strip of Maeotis for yourself, as you already roleplayed your Skythian borders as well?