Once again you fail to dissapoint. Incredible screenshots to go with the well done text. A nice twist to an Epic work.
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Once again you fail to dissapoint. Incredible screenshots to go with the well done text. A nice twist to an Epic work.
So true. :laugh4:Quote:
Originally Posted by Olaf Blackeyes
Thanks, everyone. :bow:
The next chapter is going to be in the same style and though there will not be a listed title, I title it "Revolution or Reform".
Viva Le Revolution!!!!
Great chapter, though I preferred the old format!! When are you going back to the median war?
Alypios Antigonos, heir to the throne, is still assembling armies in Syria. The Persio-Hellenic War will continue/heatup in two or three chapters.
I bow to your superiority yet again, Markos:bow:
Maion
[The lost Sections of 3 and 4 of Book 4 recounts the story of Philip V confronting his brother
outside the city of Pella, the entering of the city of Pella, and his greeting of the people. Other
authors record that Euphrantos greeted his brother and joined with him expecting to use their
combined forces to take the city and remove the nobles. Instead, Philip peacefully enters the city
and adresses the people.]
Histories of Alkman Thermaios
Book 4 - Section 5
The speech of Philip [V] was all that was needed to win over the last of the crowd who had
assembled before him. The nobles of the council had tried to turn the people against their emperor
but the people have always loved a hero. Emperor Philip had proven himself a victorious hero time
and time again. Now, in the face of betrayal, the emperor had extended a hand of forgiveness and
sought no retribution.
With his brother and the royalists from the council at this side, Emperor Philip began his campaign
of reform and rebirth of his great Empire. As he promised in his speech, the power of the council
would be expanded as well as the size of the council itself. The first additions to the council were
nobles from Epeiros and Thessalia, as well as a number of lesser nobles of Makedonia. The
highest levels of noblility of central Makedonia would no longer have complete control over the
council.
The emperor then granted power of adminstration of Makedonia, Epeiros, and Thessalia to the
council itself, granting them the same powers of that of a governor. With this move, the aged
Euphrantos was relieved of his position and allowed to retire. The lands of Makedonia were now
governed neither by the emperor or by one of his appointees for the first time ever.
Over the first months of the newly reformed council, the emperor defined its role and continued to
expand its power. Laws and matters of local concern were now overseen by the council. Many
reforms were also put through the council's consideration.
Amoungst them, one of the most important was the consideration for military eligibility. Over the
lifetime of Emperor Philip, the phalanx had been implemented less often, in preference of the more
manuverable infantry styles. Requirements for service had not officially been changed dispite the
other changes to the military of Emperor Philip. First, the council declared that any man with the
equipment or enough money to purchase their own equipment was now capible of joining the ranks
of the infantry line. No longer was it required that a man be a landed Hellene, he could be any man
of sufficient Hellenization, willing to serve his emperor. Soon after, the emperor announced that the
treasury of the Arche would offer to pay for equipment and hire any man, of sufficient Hellenization,
no matter his social standing. Salary reductions from these men would pay for the equipment over
the first several years of service.
Histories of Alkman Thermaios
Book 4 - Section 6
The next reform within the Empire was the great act of unification and redefintion that the emperor
had spoken of in his speech. After only a couple months of holding the new council, Emperor Philip
[V] announced another set of changes. No longer would a member of the council gain his seat by
birth but by selection from amoungst the people of his region. The great era of Democracy that had
been born in Athens would return to Hellas and the people would rule themselves once more.
To expand this great wave of Democracy, the emperor once again added more seats the council.
Now seats in the council were granted to the cities and lands of southern Hellas. Each city would
have their own representatives, based on population, and all Hellenes would be equal in the great
Empire of Philippos. The council immediately agreed with the emperor and all of Hellas was unified,
as equals, for the first time ever.
With a new age dawning, the old ways and symbols of the past had to be done away with. Athens
had been the center of Democracy and now it would be the center once more. The emperor ordered
a new council chamber built near the Athens agora and the emperor officially moved his center of
government to the great city of my birth. The city had been burned during the war with the Spartans
and great patches of the city were still in ruins. There was plenty of space for the new government
structures and the redesign of the city to be the capital of the world.
Once in Athens, the council went to work. There first act was the granting of citizenship to the
peoples of all of Hellas and defining the needs to vote in each individual region. All those
considered a Hellene were immediately given full citizenship, with many foreigners living in the
region being considered soon after. After the first year of meeting in Athens, the council granted full
citizenship to all free men living within the council areas.
A unification of laws and practices came soon after. All laws within the council areas were
standardized, as well as weights, measurements, and language. Bringing people together as one,
regional laws were abolished and standard justice was ensured for all. The official language of the
Council Region became Hellenic and no other language was permitted for official or trade usage.
Worship within the coucil region became a matter for the council. A high priest to Zeus was now
appointed by the council and managed all the religious matters of the state.
Two years later, council seats were granted to all of the islands of the Aegean, the Ionion cities of
Anatolia, and southern Thrace. After this addition, the council became stable and seats were only
added when there was a great enough argument that a city or region had grown in size or
importance.
The Provinces of the Arche c140BC:
https://img16.imageshack.us/img16/1285/am140bst0.png
White = Council Regions (Type1 government)
Red = Provinces (Type2 governments)
Yellow = Satrapy (Type3 government)
Orange = Military Controlled Region (roleplayed Type3 government)
Green = Client State / Ally (Type4 government)
Histories of Alkman Thermaios
Book 4 - Section 7
The next reform from the emperor came to be the redefinition of how the Satrapies would be run.
Local autonomy within the satrapies had lead to the great civil war and brought about great
destruction. No longer would the local nobles decide the affairs of the Satrapies and choose whom
they would follow. By order of the emperor, the majority of the satrapies were converted to royal
provinces. These provinces would be run directly by the emperor through men appointed to govern
each region. These men would be selected and withdrawn by the command or the emperor or
Council and have complete control over their province. The act put an end to region family alliance
for power and the practice of families creating minor kingdoms within the Arche and choosing whom
they would follow. No longer would there be the chance for opposition like their had been amoungst
the families of Aigyptos at the end of the civil war.
Within the new satrapies, the laws of the council would be inforced and the official language would
be Unified Hellenic. Citizenship would be granted to most Hellenes within the provinces and many
non-Hellenes. The harsh taxation that had been imposed on the satrapies was lowered. Many
Hellenes from the council region, who were guarenteed to retain their citizenship, moved out into the
provinces to take advantage of cheap land and low taxes.
Not all satrapies were removed, as many did not have sufficient Hellenic populations or did not
practice Hellenic customs. These regions would be continued to be governed by local nobles or
Hellenic noble families under the supervision of the military as they had been before.
To extend upon the military reforms of Emperor Philip, the emperor later added a division of
provincial guards to the official military. Within the provinces, mounted light infantry would patrol the
roadways and ensure the safe travel of all traders and peoples. Within a decade, these men would
be partolling newly rebuit roadways engineered by Italian road builders. With new guarded
roadways, safety in the provinces became greater than it had ever been before, allowing for new
waves of land trade and transport.
In a matter of three years, Emperor Philip [V] had transformed his Empire from a kingdom to a
democratically run land of united Hellenes. With this new unity, the ferver of the people of Hellas
turned eastward to rescue the enslaved peoples suffering under the tyranny of the Persian Empire.
In my next set of writtings, I will cover the events in Athens and Hellas during the war in the east
over the several years.
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Next: Chapter 97 : Another Point of View
This chapter was a bit boring. If you don't feel like reading it, you can just wait until the next chapter when I review and rebut this chapter. Also, any comments/questions about plausability of these events in this timeframe should also wait until the next chapter. The next chapter will probably be short and will be in the standard voice of my AAR rebutting this interpretation of events and leading into the next part of my AAR. The next couple years are dominated by conflict...
ET TU, MARCE? NON REGNUM ESSE NUMQUAM REGES SERVITUR!
Apologies for my bad Latin, but I'm shocked. Athens capital? Democracy? Romaioi customs? :sweatdrop: :no:
Oh, aside from that I like your chapter! It's in no way boring, instead it's very refreshing after all the battles.
(Has a MASSIVE WTF meltdown)
Roman control techniques?!?!
Roman Style government?
Is this a Greek controlled version of the Roman empire?
Great job MAA. Its important to mix it up sometimes. You have done a wonderful balancing act. The chapter is information heavy but that is not boring. It adds to the already incredible depth of your AAR. Not every chapter has to have battles. As you well know the readers of these AARs are diverse. It is nice to take a break from battles and get the context of the times the people are living in. Excellent job!
I liked the last chapter, very good.
Although Philip V sriking back at regions held by family members is strange, considering his father fought the civil war based on the fact that he was related to every governor in the west:beam:.
Great chapter :)
I'm still wondering about the democracy bith though...
Well, to be fair, just about everything "Roman" was actually an Etruscanized Greek custom.Quote:
Originally Posted by Olaf Blackeyes
I personally think MAA just redoubled his level of awesome, even if it's only roleplay.
Ok ill give u that one.Quote:
Originally Posted by Reverend Joe
How can u measure his awesome level?Quote:
Originally Posted by Reverend Joe
It can't ;)
Dammit my awesome meter broke
I think that's the greatest compliment Olaf has ever given.Quote:
Originally Posted by Olaf Blackeyes
I think your right!!Quote:
Originally Posted by Subotan
Chapter 97 : Another Point of View
Near the end of 142BC, Basileus Philippos V moves four veteran armies within sight of the walls of Pella. By 140BC, the Basileus has managed to reform his government, military, legal system, trade system, and imperial mechanisms for control. Many at the time saw the acts of Philippos as a movement away from totalitarian rule and a move to a rule by the nobles or an actual rule by the people. In actuality, the creation of the Council of Elders and the democratic reforms only increased the power of the Basileus.
When Philippos II conquered Hellas, the Hellenes saw the Makedones as conquerers and saw themselves as occupied. Under Antigonos II, the Hellenes were once again conquered, but this time Antigonos II gave them regional autonomy in order to prevent revolt. Peace was very unstable. When Perseus and Chrysoloras decreased the autonomy of Hellas during the rule of Demetrios II, the Hellenes rebelled but were once again occupied. This time each city-state of Hellas was given status equal to that of a Satrapeia. During the Makedonian Civil War, the city-states of Hellas once again tried to gain independant rule from Makedonia. Under the leadership of Sparte, the Peloponnesos League took control of southern Hellas, but the burning of Athenai and the slaughter of its people cost Sparte the support of the rest of Hellas. When fighting the Peloponnesos League, young Philippos first came in contact with the idea of a unified Hellas. The Hellenes were willing to unify with the Makedones in order to defeat the city of Sparte. Over the years, the differences between Makedone and Hellene had vanished and the idea of apposing them as alien seemed archaic in the minds of the common Hellene. This campaign and what Philippos saw amoungst the Hellenes stuck in the head of the Basileus until it became the idea of a unified Hellas.
Upon reaching Pella, Basileus Philippos is met by Euphrantos (younger brother of Philippos) and the old Royal Army, which is basically an army of retired veterans being rewarded with a life of service. Rather than fight with his brother, Euphrantos bows down to Philippos as a servant. Together they would appose the rebels in the Noble Council.
Philippos enters his capital and is met by a crown that had been riled up by the rebellious members of the Noble Council. In a great speech, Philippos adressed the crowd and reveals his plans for the future. The theme of the speech is a unified Hellas; the idea that all are the same: Spartan or Athenian, Ionian or Dorian, Makedone or Hellene, and even barbaroi or Hellene; and finally that all are the people of the Arche. Perhaps due to shear charisma, the crowd chears and follows their Basileus.
Basileus Philippos V does not do away with the council or even have its rebellious members executed, for they had not actually directly apposed the Basileus. To the exact contrary, the Basileus extends the council and increases its numbers. The powers he gives the council are insignificant and buerocratic in nature. The increase in size would ensure that the new members, thankful to Philippos for their position, would weaken the power of the old members. First Epeiros, Thessalia, and northern Makedonia are given seats in the Council of Elders, then later the lands of southern Thrakia, Hellas, Ionia, and the Aegean.
Once Hellas is added to the Council Regions, the capital was moved to Athenai and the city is redesigned and rebuilt to be a great capital. Basileus Philippos V had always been a man who was drawn to the southern Hellenic culture and invisioned an Arche that was truely Hellenic:
https://img13.imageshack.us/img13/8581/maa4275nu9.png
The laws and reforms that the council pass are also all from the mind of the Basileus. The vast amount of new members are nothing but puppets to the Basileus who will pass any idea that he gives them to pass. Under command of the Basileus, the Council of Elders pass laws to unify the justice system of greater Hellas, create a unified standard language, change the requirements of military service, change religious organization, reform the academy system, create a system of guarded roads, and most importantly the creation the Province System. The Province system simply changed the borders and system of governance within the Arche's Satrapeia. Now, all government of the provinces is done through direct representatives of the Basileus, in itself a giant move toward totalitarian power.
One noteworthy change in boundries is the redrawing of the borders of the Pontos province to the old Satrapiea bounderies before the civil war. This pushes Galatian control out of Pontos and restores the city of Amaseia to control from Sinope. The Galatians do not offer any resistance to this action, but become very resentful of the decrease in power.
The Provinces of the Arche c140BC:
https://img16.imageshack.us/img16/1285/am140bst0.png
White = Council Regions (Type1 government)
Red = Provinces (Type2 governments)
Yellow = Satrapy (Type3 government)
Orange = Military Controlled Region (roleplayed Type3 government)
Green = Client State / Ally (Type4 government)
The conflict within the Council of Elders pits old rivalries against eachother and prevent any true power from being gained by the council. The expansion and changes to the Council Region continued until Philippos was content with the complete lack of cooperation within the council. Basileus Philippos V manages to unite the peoples of greater Hellas under an idea of unity, but within the council encourages old rivalries and oversees a completely worthless exercise in beurocracy.
Many called this new age an return to Athenian democracy, but that was far from the truth. In most regions, the elites would choose a representative from amoungst themselves or only offer the people once choice of representative. Those who are permitted to make the choice varied from region to region, often requiring an substancial level of wealth to cast a vote. Even in Athenai, you are required to own land. A system of bribery and outright cheating comes about soon and the system is far from democratic, but Philippos only requires that it appear democratic to the people.
Basileus Philippos V decides to remain in Athenai and oversee the Council of Elders as he continued his push for further reforms in his old age.
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The brothers, sons, and daughters of Philippos, as well as all their families, all come to Athenai to see the new government and support their Basileus. During this time, Alypios Antigonos (son and heir of Philippos) and Sotades (elder brother of Philippos) met with Basileus Philippos and discussed the plans for the counteroffensive against the Persian Empire. It had been several years since the armies of Media occupied Babylonia and Armenia but the armies of the Arche had held the line.
It was decided that Alypios Antigonos would lead the invasion of Babylonia. Commanding the other armies would be Antisthenes Kyphios (son-in-law of Philippos), Maikenas Pagasiaos (son-in-law of Philippos), Laandros (youngest brother of Philippos), and Euktimenos Demetrios (last of the Demetrids) dispite the fear he could betray the Arche. The plan is to draw the bulk of the Median army into a battle, defeat them on the open field, and force them back over the mountains. While Philippos pursues, the other armies will take out any force remaining in Babylonia and retake the lands.
After spending the winter together, the family once again went their ways. Sotades, Alypios Antigonos, Antisthenes Kyphios, and Maikenas Pagasiaos all sailed for Syria, with Laandros to follow a few months later. Euphrantos returned to his estate in Makedonia to live out his days in excess. Philippos remained in Athenai to oversee the government.
Before leaving Syria, Rhode (wife of Alypios Antigonos) had thought herself with child but was not certain. In Athenai it was confirmed and by the time of the return journey, she is full with child. Alypios stays by her side as much as he can and even ignores many of his minor duties. Just under a month after arriving back in Syria, Rhode gives birth to a healthy son. The boy is named Hippostratos and word is sent out to the far reaches of the Arche that the line of Pyrrhos II is secure for another generation. The great fear that another civil war might occur as another family line came to an end vanished all at once. Now it is this childs duty to live and to become a great leader:
https://img382.imageshack.us/img382/1346/maa4251sn5.png
Alypios Antigonos stays with his wife and son as long as he can, but duty soon comes that cannot be avoided. The armies on the Persian border are almost all assembled and it is time to retake Babylonia. Antigonos says his farwells to his family and quickly changes from family-man to general. Studying the tactics of the Median armies, he prepares for this war to come:
https://img6.imageshack.us/img6/9661/maa4264ls0.jpg
The family of Alypios Antigonos was left in the care of his uncle Sotades, but Sotades does not live much longer. Dying quietly in Demetreia, Sotades joins his father, Pyrrhos, in the afterlife:
https://img382.imageshack.us/img382/2853/maa4252qk3.jpg
Sotades had never desired great power and had found happiness in managing every minute detail of administering the lands of Syria. A general in his early life, he came to hate warfare in his midage. Sotades had been the most trusted general and advisor to both Basileus Pyrrhos II (father of Sotades) and Basileus Philippos V (younger brother of Sotades). Other than his wife, Thebe, Basileus Philippos trusted no one person greater than his elder brother, Sotades. When the news arrived in Athenai that his brother is dead, the Basileus goes into mourning.
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The Persian War: Opening Shots
The first battle of the war against the unified Persian Empire occures in an isolated region of the world. Since the fall of Seleukeia, there had been no major battle between the Arche and Persians, only a few border skirmishes in Armenia. The first move is not by the armies of Alypios Antigonos but by the armies of Media.
A force from Babylonia moves down the coast of eastern Arabia until it comes to the garrison of Gerrha, where the Aigypto-Nubian army had set up their base. The Persians assume they can take the city with ease but are surprised when reinforcements from Maka arrived. Assembled to assist in the invasion of Babylonia, the allied kingdom of Maka already had an army moving north.
When the army of Maka attack the Persians, the Aigypto-Nubians quickly reinforce:
https://img382.imageshack.us/img382/9153/maa4253zs5.png
The Aigypto-Nubian forces take up position in a draw:
https://img13.imageshack.us/img13/3555/maa4254ue5.png
Meanwhile, the army of Maka set themselves up on a ridge just to the north. Once all the armies are in position, the Arabians move forward:
https://img382.imageshack.us/img382/5901/maa4256fz5.png
The Persian army moves up the hill to face their enemy and make attempts to circle forces around the northern flank. Seeing this, the Nubian cavalry rush over the draw and to the flank of the Maka army. Meanwhile the Arabians hold their ground and the desert slingers target the enemy medium cavlary:
https://img382.imageshack.us/img382/7726/maa4258ao1.png
The flankers are easily broken and chased off by the Nubian cavalry:
https://img13.imageshack.us/img13/5206/maa4259nj2.png
Once the flankers are broken and the Median cavalry are destroyed, the infantry charge. Seeing the charge, the Persian army brakes without a fight:
https://img19.imageshack.us/img19/6773/maa4261jk1.png
To the south, the Aigyptoi charged the southern flank and together with the men from Maka chase down and slaughter the Persians:
https://img24.imageshack.us/img24/2374/maa4263cp0.jpg
The Aigypto-Nubian army, under Makedonian leadership, join with the forces from Maka and start to slowly move up the coast to push the Persians back to the Euphrates.
North of Babylonia, Alypios arrives at his camp along the western edge of the Euphrates and makes the final plans for his invasion. To his immediate north is an army from Pontos and Ionia under the command of his brother-in-law Maikenas Pagasaios. North of him is the army of Syria, reinforced by the survivors of Isidoros' Babylonians, under the command of Alypios' brother-in-law, Antisthenes Kyphios. Then there is the allied army of southern Syria, followed by the army of Euktimenos Demetrios defending Assyria. In Armenia, the Thraikio-Armenians defend their homeland against invasion. In Iberia [not pictures], are two armies. One of steppe cavalry and one of levied Armenians:
https://img19.imageshack.us/img19/7546/maa4267nw8.png
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The known world in140BC:
https://img502.imageshack.us/img502/...mak140edit.png
Next: Chapter 98 : The Persian War: First Act
Holy Crap, that last screen looks awesome, as in the old sense of the word; dread-inducing. Would anyone care to calculate how many real soldiers that would represent, because I have a feeling that that invasion would be the largest single movement of troops up until probably WW1/2. You also need a name for this huge campaign...an Operation _______.
Philippos' scheming is cool as well. Although for some reason, I bet that Hippostratos turns out to be a real douche.
I think Arche should get some defeats in the beginning and then kick butt in the end. Also awesome chapter!!!
Dull/Uncharismatic/Langorous for the win ;) Great chapter by the way, MAA!Quote:
Originally Posted by Subotan
Great chapter, MAA. I definitely see the Augustus in Philippos. Now go and drive the Persians before your mighty armies... one rush unto the Oxos!
Your armies are huge!!! Go chase the persians back to parthia.
First of all, excellent updates MAA! Secondly, replying to your question about the estimated number of the invasion in RL, Subotan, it would probably be something like this: 6 armies x 3,000 soldiers (approximately for Huge unit size settings) equals 18,000 soldiers in-game. Usually, people multiply this by 10 to represent the RL numbers, so this means that (in RL terms), this invasion would probably number 180,000 soldiers RL :dizzy2:Quote:
Originally Posted by Subotan
Maion
Wow! That's about the modern estimate for the Persian force at Thermopylae :dizzy2:
Ofc, I'm sure various Makedonian historians will "correct" that number to one much more glorious.
If i EVER saw an invasion force like THAT coming my way i would **** my bowels out.
:fainting::fainting::fainting:~:shock::scared::scared::jawdrop::jawdrop::jawdrop::jawdrop:~:mecry:~: mecry:~:mecry::surrender:
Well duh, because you always play Sweboz.
Actually, I think the thing that would make this so impressive would not be the number of troops so much (which is damn impressive anyway, if we're comparing it to Thermopylae) but the fact that they will not be marching together, but rather in multiple groups in a coordinated invasion.Quote:
Originally Posted by Subotan
Now that's unprecedented.
Time for a good old fashioned expedition to the Indus.
So it begins...Excellent job MAA...I am truly ready for a fight of the ages!!
Thanks for the comments.
I wanted to wait on responding to comments about Democracy and reform until this chapter was posted. As you can see, they are far less democratic and far more Machelavelian. The province system and official council did get some inspiration from Roma. Philippos was raised in Italy and spent the time from about when he was 5 to 15 within the city of Roma itself. Between his experiences in Italy and his love of all things Athenian, I made this reform. In the end, the Arche was just too large for one man to efficiently control without a complex system of beurocracy and centralized loyal government.
I estimated the army strength at about 220,000. (12.5x for infantry, 8x for cavalry, and about 10x for auxileries) Although, the total force is stretched out along a front longer than 1,000 kilometers and has never gathered in a single location. I gathered about five full armies for my "Syrian Invasion" that ended the civil war and Philippos had four armies in Pannonia a few chapters back, so this isn't the first time I've gathered a huge force. This is probably the biggest army I've ever assembled, though (especially if you include the reinforcements and replacements in the city of Edessa you can see there and Palmyra you can't see).
I have been quite fortunate to get three great leaders in a row. So far the Pyrrhic Dynasty has had Pyrrhos II, who was a great general; Philippos V who followed in his father's footsteps, ended the civil war, and reformed the Arche; and (Alypios) Antigonos III who is turning out to be a good general and leader if a bit overly noble. You're probably right, Hippostratus will probably turn out to ruin everything that his line created and cause all kinds of trouble. We shall see, and hopefully Alypios will have another son or two so I can have a couple to choose between.
I hope this will not the walkover it looks to be ;)
Thank God, for a minute there I thought Phillipos was actually going democratic.
Would that actually be possible in the Ancient World? I tried it on my glorious Epeiros campaign, with Operation Blue Storm which involved four armies blitzkreigen Anatolia as fast as possible, weaving in and out of each other to attack the Antigonids. The amount of communication and co-ordination required would be incredible, even for a front as narrow as Anatolia. For the 1000+ mile front the Phyrric Dynasty is planning, it would be unprecedented.Quote:
Originally Posted by Reverend Joe
Philippos is definately not a democrat. His son is very similar to him, so you can expect similar governance in the next generation, too.
I've played the next four years of my campaign, which is actually many hours of gameplay. I've fought about ten battles and the Persians continue sending more armies at me. I may have to cut down on my goals for the war, but you will all see.
It may be impossible to have this many men in the ancient world, both for reasons of supply and communitcation. I'm trying to keep things simple for roleplaying, though. As far as Babylonia is concerned, the orders to the armies are quite simple. Philippos is to go in ahead of the rest and then the other four armies are to move up opposite sides of each river and fight anything that was passed by. Their orders are simply to move slowly to the gulf and stop advancing if you hear one of the other armies has been delayed. In Armenia, things are a bit more difficult to coordinate. We shall see if it all works out.
I hadn't editted my pictures of a while and the last chapter caught up with my editting. So, I've been editting hundreds of pictures and have finally gotten to the writing stage of the AAR. Not sure when I'll have it up, but don't expect anything exciting unless you like battle reviews.
By Ahura Mazda, you put so much effort into this.
The story of the First Persian War can be found here:
https://forums.totalwar.org/vb/showthread.php?t=113588
Chapters 98 through 124 are told in first person from the perspective of a
Nubian bow hunter who joins an army of Makedonia, fights a war against
the Neo-Persian Empire, and ends up becoming a Royal Guard to the heir
to the throne.
Chapter 125 : The First Persian War :
The Armenian Front (Part I) : Sitzkrieg
In the twenty third year of the reign of Basileus Philippos V (142BC), the Median armies of the newly reformed Persian Empire finally broke through the walls of the great city of Seleukeia and brought an end to the short lived Kingdom of Babylon. Not only was the Kingdom of Babylon an ally to Philippos, but the city of Seleukeia was the home of many Hellenes who had settled in the lands of Mesopotamia. When the Medes took the city, they ignored the orders of their king and slaughtered thousands of those within the city walls and sold many more into slavery. This brutal act united the people of the Arche in a call for vengence and brought the armies of Makedonia to war with the new Persian Empire.
https://img31.imageshack.us/img31/3819/maa4215.jpg
The fall of Seleukeia was quickly followed by an invasion of Assyria and Armenia by Persian forces. Both of these areas were within Philippos' Arche, but they was unprepared for war. The Arche was still recovering from the Makedonian Civil War. Although it had been nearly two decades, the Makedonian Civil War had caused a great wounds in the east which required much time to heal. In their state, the border provinces did not stand a chance against the onslaught and fell quickly. In Armenia the Persians were even welcomed by many of the people.
Basileus Philippos V was wagin war in Iberia at this time and could not personally lead the troops against Persia. Philippos rushed back to Makedonia but was drawn away when the Boii invaded the lands of Pannonia and forced Philippos to strike back.
https://img194.imageshack.us/img194/9284/maa4247.png
The Boii hordes were crushed, but with heavy losses. Basileus Philippos returned to Makedonia, but saw his only chance for reform slipping away. Rather than lead the armies of Hellas in the war against Persia, Philippos ordered his son to take command of the armies and retake the lost lands. While his son, Alypios Antigonos III, prepared for his invasion, Philippos began a sweeping reform of Makedonia's political system. This was followed by many other reforms in the military, province system, and rights of cititzenship. Alypios Antigonos III took little interest in these reforms and was first preoccupied by the birth of his first son and then by the matters of the war.
In the twenty fifth year of the rule of Basileus Philippos V, his son began the invasion of Armenia and Babylonia, to retake lands lost to the Persian Empire. With his two brother-in-laws, his uncle, and the old Basileus of the Demetrids, Alypios Antigonos III lead five armies into Assyria and Babylonia. At the same time, two armies supported by a large number of steppe horsemen were to invade Armenia. The southern army of Klerouchoi Thraikioi was lead by Isodorianos Kremasteus and was to attack from Assyria and move up from the southeast. The second army was commanded by Ainesidemos Pydnaios and was to attack from Pontos and head directly east. Both of these men were simple generals and had no relation to the royal family nor political interests.
The invasion began with Alypios Antigonos III taking his lone army into Mesopotamia and confronting the Persians. Along the border between Assyria and Babylonia, Antigonos confronted the Persians for the first time (See Chapter 99 : Drawing out the Enemy). This battle was quickly followed by a series of battles within sight of the city of Seleukeia (See Chapter 100 : The Battle of Seleukeia (140BC)). After the Battle of Seleukeia, the Persians retreated behind city walls and waited to be reinforced. Rather than attack any of the garrisons in the region, Antigonos took his army across the river Tigris and blocked any Persian attempts to reinforce the few remaining forces in the region. Several months later, near a town established by the Persians, Antigonos fended off several attacks by the Persians and holds his position (See Chapter 101 :The Battle of Etesiphon (140BC)). The Persians are unable to reinforce the cities of Babylonia.
With these victories behind him, Antigonos set up a camp and awaits the other armies of Makedonia. The remaining four armies in Babylonia moved forward and began their sieges of the various cities and garrisons of Mesopotamia. In Armenia, the armies were to move forward at this time, as well. In the south, Isodorianos Kremasteus moves out of Sophene and into Assyria, then turns north for Armenia. To the west, Ainesidemos Pydnaios' army was not yet prepared to march and he delays moving for several months. With Isodorianos' army gone from the Lake Van region and Ainesidemos still in Pontos, eastern Kappadokia was left exposed and the Persian take this advantage.
A detachment from the city of Armavir is sent first into Kappadokia and then turns north for the city of Kotais. The only thing that stands in the way of the Persians is a small garrison and the steppe horsemen. Underestimating the steppe warriors, the Persians charge forward only to get ambushed. The steppe horsemen make their first of many sacrifices in the war that day when they take on the much heavily armored Persian cavalry.
https://img193.imageshack.us/img193/852/maa4323.png
Due to greater numbers and experience, the steppe cavalry wipe out every last Persian on that battlefield. Even those who flee are chased down and hit in the back with arrow and sword.
In Mesopotamia, the secondary forces of the invasion begin to achieve their goals. The first city to fall is Edessa in Assyria, which falls to Euktimenos of the Demetrids (See Chapter 101 :The Battle of Etesiphon (140BC)). Then Seleukeia and Babylon fall to the brother-in-laws of Alypios Antigonos III (See Chapter 102 : Winter Snows).
Winter comes to the lands of Mesopotamia but they hit Armenia much harder. Isodorianos falls ill and is forced to halt his advance into Armenia. His army considers move against the Persian without him but none of his lieutenants are confident in their command ability and there are no skill leaders within traveling distance that are not already occupied. So, the Klerouchoi Thraikioi army set up camp for the winter. Ainesidemos fairs no better to the west. Hearing of Isodorianos' illness, Ainesidemos halts in Kotais to raise the additional soldiers he will need if he is forced to invade Armenia alone. As Babylonia falls, the Armenian front of the war is not even opened yet.
Once again, the steppe horsemen are forced to wage the war alone. This time, they defeat an army of ill equiped levies in the Lake Van region. Firing arrows from afar, the steppe horsemen wipe out several thousand men in a series of surprise attacks. When the Persians break and flee, the steppe horsemen give chase again and kill every last man.
https://img268.imageshack.us/img268/3851/maa4390.png
When news arrives that a relative to the Persian king has come to take command of the Persian forces in Armenia, Ainesidemos sends the steppe cavalry in to try and ambush him. Near the city of Armavir, the steppe cavalry set their trap:
https://img32.imageshack.us/img32/3811/maa4393.png
A small group of horsemen attack the Persian noble while he patrols the countryside with a small army. They pelt their enemies with arrows then flee. The foolish Persian noble gives chase but soon finds his cavalry isolated from his infantry. Out from a wood and over a hill, the entire force of steppe warriors charge the isolated group of heavy cavalry:
https://img194.imageshack.us/img194/543/maa4398.png
The Persian have no place left to run and fight off the thousands of barbaroi surrounding them. Even with their heavy equipment and training, they cannot hold out long. The Persian noble falls dead alongside his men on the snowy field:
https://img41.imageshack.us/img41/5164/maa4399.png
Unable to face the remaining forces of the Persian army, now reinforced by the garrison of Armavir, the steppe horsemen retreat. A great many fall that day, but their actions prevent the Persian general from using his skills in warfare against the armies of the Arche in the following years.
That same winter in southern Syria, Chrysoloras Delphikos dies quietly in in sleep. He had been one of the great generals who retook Syria during the Makedonian Civil War. Once that war had ended, he lead an army to victory in the lands of Arabia. Due to this skills in battle and iron will, the lands of western Arabia fell to the Makedones and the Kingdom of Sab'yn was crippled for decades.
https://img269.imageshack.us/img269/3798/maa4404.jpg
Off in the lands he helped conquer, trade was continued to be built up. The lands of Arabia had proven to be very valuable to the trade with India and the Indo-Hellenic Kingdom. The allied Kingdom of Ubar uses Makedonian silver to build a trading port and assist / profit from that trade.
https://img43.imageshack.us/img43/5617/maa4406.jpg
That spring, Antigonos moved into Media, trying to draw the Persians into a decisive battle over the fate of Media. The battle does not come. Instead, the Persians remain behind the walls of their cities and Antigonos is forced to retreat back to Seleukeia. In Armenia, both armies of the Arche do not move. In Kotais, locals are trained and equipped using money from Hellas for the first time and in Assyria, Isodorianos' illness does not break. The only good news from this entire year comes from the far south. Laandros, brother to Philippos and uncle of Antigonos takes the last remaining city along the coast and secures the last portion of Mesopotamia. In a battle using phalangitai, Laandros crushes the last remaining Persian force in Mesopotamia (See Chapter 104 : A Wasted Year). For the first time since before the Makedonian Civil War, the mouths of the Tigris and Euphrates are returned to the Arche.
A second winter arrives. Antigonos spends it in Seleukeia, but in Armenia Ainesidemos finally moves forward. Isodorianos recovers in the autumn, but snows block his advance. Under pressure for action, Ainesidemos is forced to move forward alone and begins his siege of Armavir at the worst time of the year. Fortunately, the countryside surrenders without a battle and only the city of Armavir remains defiant.
https://img195.imageshack.us/img195/505/maa4445.png
The known world during the twenty seventh year of the reign of Basileus Philippos V ( 138BC):
https://img43.imageshack.us/img43/78...ak138edit2.png
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Next: Chapter 126 : The Armenian Front (Part II)
Did you invent chapters you are referring to? Because I don't seem to be able to recall any of these past chapter 99... but maybe I'm just getting old. :dizzy2:
Also I'm surprised, is Sitzkrieg a well-known word in the US? Because I only accidentally stumbled upon it, it's not well known in Germany.
Anyways, great to have the Pyrrhic Dynasty back, MAA. :yes:
Exellent, Ill be looking forward to read this now. :2thumbsup:
Thanks Centurio Nixalsverdrus & Vasiliyi.
The chapters in the sidestory were #98 through #124. I didn't number them in the other thread but I did keep them numbered in my AAR text file and that is how I kept track of them. When I referenced them, I figured I would just leave the chapter number in just to give an idea of where is sat relative to the other chapters in the other thread.
It is hard to say anything is well known in the USA when it comes to history. I suppose anyone who knows a decent amount about WWII will know the term/joke Sitzkrieg, in the USA. It is hard for me to say, though, since I seem to know more about history than the average American.
Agreed, Americans are practically idiots when it comes to anything history. Shame on the public schools here in america. Shame.Quote:
Originally Posted by MarcusAureliusAntoninus
(sorry for spam)
good to see this epic continued
i liked the shift in perspective when you done the side story, but obviously that left of the details of the Arche out
Thanks, Roka.
I'll try to get through all of what happened at the same time as the sidestory and get to some new content soon.
Chapter 126 : The First Persian War :
The Armenian Front (Part II) : Persian Counterattack
In the spring of the third year of the First Persian War (138BC), the Persians began their counter attack. The Persian King Koyroun of Media moved an army into Mesopotamia and besieged the army of Laandros in the city of Charax, near the sea. His mistake, however, was in splitting his forces. Half his army began the siege of the city while the other half was still marching down from Elymais. Alypios Antigonos III prepared his army in Seleukeia, but his army was too far away to intercept the second half of King Koyroun's army. Instead, an army of Aigyptoi and allied troops from the lands of Arabia stopped the reinforcements at a river crossing. They ambushed the Persians as they crossed the river and surrounded the lead of their army while the rear was still crossing (See Chapter 105 : Beginning Again, Fresh). The entire army of Persian reinforcements were killed, drown in the river, or surrendered.
King Koyroun gave up his siege and withdrew back to Elymais. The army of Aigyptoi and Arabs held the key river crossings and forced the Persian king to take the long route back to the city of Sousa, buying Antigonos time to move his army into the region. Once in Elymais, Antigonos turned north and marched on the city of Sousa.
The Persian spring offensive was not restricted to lower Mesopotamia. In Armenia, a small force moved to relieve the city of Armavir. Ainesidemos could handle the garrison within the walls of Armavir, but any additional forces might be too much for his ill trained army. The Persians expected not to see any enemy forces until they reached Armavir, but Isodorianos surprised them east of the city, where he challenged the Persians in the open field.
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The Persian forces positioned themselves defensively along a ridge on the north side of the road, which had been built by Hellenes. Isodorianos was forced the march his men the morning of the battle to the site chosen by his enemy. Isodorianos expected the Persians to hold their ground and give him time to form up his lines. Instead, the Persians charged the Klerouchoi Thraikioi as soon as the emerged from the forest south of the roadway. For Isodorianos, this was not completely a disadvantage. This charge ruined any chance the Persians had for a successful defensive stratagy and Isodorianos knew that even out of formation there was no Persian who could match his soldiers.
https://img22.imageshack.us/img22/1210/maa4477.png
The Persians charged then retreated and then charged again. With every retreat, the Thraikioi were able to gain better formation. Eventually, the line was formed and the skilled men in the center and the spearmen guarding the flanks. Then the archers and cavalry moved forward. Safely behind the infantry line, the archers fired at a high angle down on the distant Persians.
https://img194.imageshack.us/img194/3481/maa4479.png
The Persians tried to move their cavalry around the western flank but were met by Klerouchoi Thraikioi horsemen. Although they were outnumbered, the Thraikioi managed to push back the Persian cavalry and cause them to flee.
https://img198.imageshack.us/img198/8244/maa4478.png
With the Persian cavalry in retreat, the Klerouchoi Thraikioi infantry moved forward and crossed the roadway. The Persians quickly gave up the high ground on the other side which was quickly occupied by Isodorianos' archers. The infantry broke formation and charged, but the majority of the kills at the end of that day were by the archers atop that hill.
Isodorianos did not wipe out the Persian forces that day. This was Isodorianos' first mistake that year. Rather than retreat towards Media, the surviving Persians retreated towards the city of Armavir and managed to reinforce the garrison there.
https://img23.imageshack.us/img23/6765/maa4482.jpg
Isodorainos' second mistake came when yet another army of Persians appeared in Armenia. It was completely unexpected and had managed to circled around behind his position in the east. Isodorianos was forced to give up his defensive position in eastern Armenia and give chase to the Persian army. He was lucky and caught them before they could join forces with the armies in and around Armavir. This time he faced elite Persian infantry and heavy cavalry but had the advantage in archers.
https://img193.imageshack.us/img193/8204/maa4506.png
Because the Persians had been quickly marching towards Armavir and Isodorianos' army was chasing them, both armies were tired and neither had chance to claim the high ground. Isodorianos rushed his cavalry to the high ground as soon as the battle began but had his men march forward on the level ground.
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The Persians did not contend Isodorianos taking the high ground and chose to send their cavarly against the Klerouchoi Thraikioi infantry. The Persians were surprised to find how effective the Thraikioi weapons were. These soldiers carried with them their fathers' or grandfathers' weapons that had been brought from Thraikia. It had been generations since these weapons had been used in the east, but the Persians quickly learned to fear them.
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The Persian cavalry could not last long. They fell or fled from the field. With the Persian horses gone from the field, Isodorianos ordered his infantry forward and to attack the Persian infantry. First came a volley of thrown spears from the Klerouchoi Thraikioi and then a charge.
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The Persian elites tried to hold their ground but the ill trained Persian troops quickly paniced and the battle was over. This time Isodorianos gave chase to the Persians and blocked them from reaching the other forces near Armavir.
https://img198.imageshack.us/img198/1664/maa4515.jpg
While the war with the Persians raged, Euktimenos of the Demetrids took the opportunity to build by his own personal wealth, profiting from the war. From the city of Edessa, Euktimenos slowly built up money for his future and whatever it may bring him and the Arche which he claimed to be loyal to.
https://img189.imageshack.us/img189/787/maa4501.jpg
The known world during the twenty seventh year of the reign of Basileus Philippos V (138BC):
https://img43.imageshack.us/img43/78...ak138edit2.png
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Next: Chapter 127 : The Armenian Front (Part III)
Amazing! Simply...amazing! :dizzy2:
Great AAR, and not to put it down in any way at all, but have you lost any battles? I don't think I recall reading a single major military defeat..or even a close battle..doesn't that get somewhat boring after a while?
Good chapter, but why did you chose to colour Arabia in black? Or does your game still contain Dumatha?
Thanks. :bow:
I lose battles occasionally, though it is quite rare. The AI is so predictable and I never go into battle unless I have the forces to win. I did have a series of losses when the war with the Persians began. I lost five regions to them. I just didn't give an overview of those battles because most were sieges in which I had only a few units. I've had some tough battles too. The battle with the Boii (multi rebel stacks) was quite difficult and cost me almost two stacks of troops. When I took Sousa I almost lost as well. I've already written the next chapter and will touch on that battle again then.Quote:
Originally Posted by TruePraetorian
No, this old version has the same map that is in the current version of EB1, so no Dumatha. Since the Arabian desert is unconquerable, I decided to have it rebel until someone controls the majority of surrounding regions, at which time they would have laid claim to the area in the interior. At one point I had it colored brown for Saba, but then I pushed them back into their corner. But it is just a picture edit I did on the map when I first played this part of the campaign many months back.Quote:
Originally Posted by Centurio Nixalsverdrus
Chapter 127 : The First Persian War :
The Armenian Front (Part III) : The War is Decided
The spring of that third year of the war (138BC) the Persians attempted a counterattack but it was not until the season of autumn of that year that the war was decided. In Armenia, the Persian armies near Armavir finally gathered their forces and attacked Ainesidemos' besieging army. Because this attack came so soon after Isodorianos' battle to the east, his army was unavailable to assist. The steppe cavalry were nearby but they also would not make it to the battlefield in time to help that day.
https://img24.imageshack.us/img24/4487/maa4532.png
This distant battle happened to be the first battle to test the military reforms of Basileus Philippos V. The core of the army of Ainesidemos was made up of men from Pontos and Iberia that had been equipped with weapons and armor purchased directly with money from the Arche. These men wore equipment that was not their own or passed down in their family. It was supplied to them when they were recruited. This armor was not the best available but offered the levied troops greater quality equipment than which they could have brought themselves. It also offered a limited sense of uniformity to the army. Although they had been equipped with weapons and armor, these men were still levied forces with only a few months of training.
https://img24.imageshack.us/img24/3227/maa4533.png
The battle, that day, began with the Persians taking a position on a ridge. Ainesidemos held his troops back and forced the enemy to come down to him. After some mild skirmishing, the whole Persian army came down from the hill and charged the spearmen line. The skirmishers quickly filtered through the line and the levied soldiers prepared for battle.
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After a failed charge at the center of Ainesidemos' line, the Persians found a weakness. On the flanks of his line, Ainesidemos had placed his Iberian spearmen who had been equipped with inferior weapons. and no armor. The Persians recognized this weakness and sent in their elite infantry to break the left flank.
https://img196.imageshack.us/img196/11/maa4538.png
Fortunately, Ainesidemos had seen the weakness of the unarmored spearmen prior to the battle and had chosen to back them up with steppe warriors. He knew if the Persians charged these weak spearmen it would give him the chance to outflank their flanking maneuver.
Once the Persian elites were tied down, the steppe axemen circled around the side of the Persians and charged them. Their axes worked well against the Persian heavy armor.
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On the opposite flank, Ainesidemos moved his eastern horsemen around and charged the Persian levies.
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Soon both flanks of the Persian line were falling apart and Ainesidemos ordered his infantry line forward. The battle slowly moved its way back up the hill the Persians had come down. The Persians held for a surprising amount of time, perhaps hoping the garrison of Armavir would come to their aid. Neither did the steppe horsemen come to the aid of Ainesidemos nor did the garrison of Armavir come to the aid of the Persians. Eventually Ainesidemos took the field. The few remaining Persian soldiers retreated towards Media and Ainesidemos resumed his siege of Armavir.
https://img268.imageshack.us/img268/8461/maa4542.jpg
Although the Battle of Armavir (138BC) was a key battle on the Armenian front of the war. It was the last time the Persians were able to attempt to relieve the garrison at Armavir, but the true successes of that third autumn in the war were accomplished in Elymais. Having lost the chance to challenge the Persian King to battle in Mesopotamia, Alypios Antigonos III had moved northward and begun a siege of the city of Sousa.
For months, the Persians had moved around the city and not engaged Antigonos, but when their king arrived from the east, the decided it was time to challenge the Makedones to a battle. The Persians had managed to gather more than 86,000 soldiers in Elymais to challenge Antigonos and his 30,000 men from the Arche. The battle could have been a victory for the Persians but they were unable to gather all of their men to attack at once.
The foolish governor of Sousa decided to be the first to attack. This nephew of the king marched his troops out and attacked Antigonos outside the city. Although the Persians managed to set a trap for an isolated group of soldiers in that battle, the city garrison was not large enough to take the army of Antigonos (See Chapter 106 : The Battle of Sousa).
A few weeks later, the Persian king arrived and attacked the army of Antigonos. This was the most successful of the battles that season. Though the Makedones lost thousands, the Persian king's army was wiped out and the king was killed (See Chapter 106 : The Battle of Sousa).
https://img27.imageshack.us/img27/976/maa4551.jpg
Upon hearing of their king's death, the remaining forces in the region gathered and attacked in a third battle that season. The Makedones were exhausted and had taken heavy casualties. Antigonos considered retreating but instead decided to fight once more. He set up his men very defensively and tried to avoid any unnecessary fighting that day. At points in the battle it seemed as though the Persians had won, but Antigonos managed to rally his men on the right flank and come to the rescue of those holding out on the left flank. The field was taken, the Persians killed or captured and the city of Sousa surrendered (See Chapter 106 : The Battle of Sousa).
Antigonos had lost 7,000 of his men, nearly a third of his army, but he had killed or captured 75,000 Persian soldiers. In a couple of months, the Persians had been completely broken. For more than a year the Persians would fight each other over who would be the next king. Their military would not be rebuilt for at least a decade.
Once again, winter came.
The known world during the twenty eighth year of the reign of Basileus Philippos V (137BC):
https://img9.imageshack.us/img9/1176/hxmak137edit2.png
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Next: Chapter 128 : The Armenian Front (Part IV)
:2thumbsup:
that was quite a battle there:beam:
What is the unit (spearmen) in the 2nd picture of 1st Persian War, the Armenian front (partIII)?
As immersive as the narrative was, I have to say I missed the previous style of your updates :medievalcheers:
Once again, excellent chapter!
I believe he has modded that unit in, and it's based on the Eastern Auxiliary model of the Romans (Imperial Reforms) and the shield of the Koinon Hellenon Thorakitai. It's part of the reforms of Philippos V.Quote:
Originally Posted by chenkai11
I appreciate the comments. Thanks for following.
The third battle near Sousa was almost lost. Barely came through and decided the war.
Those guys in the first few pictures are modded units to represent a military reform. Part of the full scale replacement of phalangitai tactics. As Horatius Flaccus said, they are the eastern version of levied troops that have their gear supplied by the state. They are based off Roman Eastern Auxilia but have a different face, clothes, and shield. It is my own low-quality skinning job.
Quote:
Originally Posted by MarcusAureliusAntoninus
I love that unit.
Chapter 128 : The First Persian War :
The Armenian Front (Part IV) : Subtle Conquest
In the spring of the twenty eighth year of the rule of Philippos V, the lands of Makedonia, Hellas, Epeiros, and Ionia completed a new system of roadways. Though the mountains of Hellas were difficult to conquer, Romaioi engineers managed to construct a great system of transportation to unite the often divided lands. The road that would be most famous was the great roadway that winded through the hills from Athenai north to Salonika, bypassing Pella, and then traveled inland before turning east and to the city of Byzantion. This became the main road through eastern Hellas, but there were also many others.
https://img23.imageshack.us/img23/5125/maa4455.png
That same spring, the vast army of cavalry mercenaries from the steppes, that had been fighting for the Arche in Armenia, headed east. Traveling from Iberia to the Pontos Hykania, these mercenary warriors completed the easy task of claiming the lands for the Arche. For the people of the region, little would change, as little changed when the were first conquered by the Makedones and then again conquered by the Median armies of the Persian Empire. Only one town resisted. They attempted to face the steppe horsemen outside their city, but the steppe warriors rained down death from all sides and killed every last man that resisted.
https://img31.imageshack.us/img31/9637/maa4574.png
In Elymais, Alypios Antigonos III took command of a new army and marched for the Persian Gates. The Persians did not resist at all that year. They fought internally over who would be their new king and left themselves open. However, for that whole year, Antigonos would not be able to face the Persian in a decisive battle. By winter, he was determined to invade Persis and take the old Persian capital. He would march the next spring (See Chapter 107 : The Persian Gates).
That summer, the Kingdom of Ubar fell to the Kingdom of Sab'yn. This first kingdom to fall to the revitalized Kingdom of Sab'yn cost the Arche a powerful ally in southern Arabia.
Ainesidemos would continue the second year of the siege of Armavir for the majority of that year. Because one army was enough to besiege Armavir, Isodorianos took his army of Klerouchoi Thraikioi east, across central Armenia an into the lands north of Media. As the autumn approached, Isodorianos settled in for what he thought would be a long siege of the city of Phraaspa. As the first snows came to the lands, so did an army of Persian reinforcements.
https://img198.imageshack.us/img198/4629/maa4597.png
A small army of Persians, reinforced by the city garrison, attacked the Klerouchoi Thraikioi. Since the Klerouchoi Thraikioi held the high ground and had superior archers, the Persians were at a huge disadvantage. For the majority of the day, the Klerouchoi stood in the cold and watched the Persians attempt several charges. Only a few charges even managed to reach the infantry line. Once engaged, the Thraikioi cut through their enemy quickly and easily.
https://img33.imageshack.us/img33/201/maa4602.png
After a day of complete failure, the Persians surrendered. The city of Phraaspa then fell and Isodorianos gained all the lands that controlled access between Armenia and Media. Just to the south, many Persian armies gathered, but they were prepared to fight each other and not ready to challenge Isodorianos. The city would remain a secure garrison for the Arche until the end of the war when it was returned to the Persians.
https://img33.imageshack.us/img33/6827/maa4603.jpg
With the fall of Phraaspa, the garrison in Armavir realized they had no chance for continued survival. After holding out for two years, the garrison and the city surrendered to Ainesidemos and his army. This was the last Persian army in Armenia and its surrender brought a close to the war on this front. Neither Ainesidemos nor Isodorianos would risk leaving Armenia ungarrisoned to invade the heavily garrisoned lands of Media.
The known world during the spring of the twenty ninth year of the reign of Basileus Philippos V (136BC):
https://img195.imageshack.us/img195/...mak136edit.png
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Next: Chapter 129 : Hellenic Kings of Foreign Lands
One word to describe this screenshot: EPIC :2thumbsup:Quote:
Originally Posted by MarcusAureliusAntoninus
Truly incredible!! Your dedication towards your aar is great. Here's a balloon.:balloon2:
Thanks strategos roma, Roka.
I took Kabalaka with nearly 2000 horse-archers and fought only three units of spawned slave units. They didn't stand a chance. It wasn't important to the war, but I love those images or thousands of arrows raining down.
Good chapter and I like that you used the Romaioi roads as I did in my campaign as well... But I think it's "Hodoi Hyperterai", because "hodoi" means roads and "hyperterai" means superior. "Megaloi" means great.
Sorry for nitpicking. :dizzy2:
Yep, you're right. I hadn't even thought about it every time I read it. Since I wrote that description more than six months ago, I'm not sure where I got the name. Although, as you can see by all the typos, I didn't put much thought into writing it. :dizzy2:
Besides, I like nitpicking. People are way too frightened to offer constructive criticism these days.
Maybe you will regret saying that soon. :sweatdrop: :clown:Quote:
Originally Posted by MarcusAureliusAntoninus
Chapter 129 : Hellenic Kings of Foreign Lands
While the lands of the Arche Makedonia were separated in a great civil war, the lands of Persia also began to fall into disorder. Weakness within the Arche Seleukeia had given birth to the Kingdom of Media long before the War between the Arche Makedonia and the Arche Seleukeia. When the war of Basileus Aristotelis came, it decimated the armies of the Seleukids. The later withdrawl of Bykoli and Pefkolaos from Persia left a power vacuum in Media and Elymais. This vacuum was quickly filled by the Kingdom of Media before the Arche Seleukeia could recover. The Seleukids lost all hope of easily retaking these lands.
While the Makedones fought each other, the Arche Seleukeia and the Kingdom of Media fought over the lands of Persia. At first it appeared that the Arche Seleukeia would win but then came the hordes of steppe cavalry from the north and the betrayal of the lands of Baktria.
When the steppe warrior tribes invaded Parthyaia, the lands of Baktria refused to fight for the Seleukids any longer. Such a betrayal could not stand and the Basileus of the Arche Seleukeia declared war on his old Satrapy. With this, the Seleukids faced a war against three strong enemies without a single ally. Over a decade, the Seleukids lost army after army and were pushed back to the southern coasts of Persia and Gedrosia. When Persepolis fell to the armies of Media, the Seleukids were all but defeated.
At this same time, the new Kingdom of Baktria turned her back on Persia and launched a massive invasion of India. The Indus valley quickly fell and the armies of Baktria pushed eastward into lands never conquered by armies of Makedones. With the armies of Baktria in far away lands, there were not enough forces in Baktria to defend it when another great horde of horsemen arrived. A people called the Saka Rauka came from lands unknown and poured over Baktria. With Baktria lost to this young state and now separated from the other Hellenes of the Arche Makedonia by the new Persian Kingdoms, a new kingdom was born in the Indus Valley: the Indo-Hellenic Kingdom.
At first, the Indo-Hellenic Kingdom simply continued its wars against the minor Indian kingdoms and against what remained of the Arche Seleukeia. The Seleukids had moved their capital to distant Alexandropolis in Arachosia when Persepolis fell, but several years later it fell to the armies of the new Indo-Hellenic Kingdom. Isolated in a foreign land, the last members of the once mighty Seleukid dynasty had to fight a continually defensive war.
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Lead Epikrates, descendant of Seleukos I, the Seleukids managed to win every defensive battle they fought, but every time they tried to take lands lost to them, they were defeated. With very few Hellenic subjects and no well trained army, the Seleukids began there slow fade into the pages of history.
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Although it seemed as though the rebellious satrapy of Baktria would grow into a great power, there were many setbacks for them. The first had come when the Saka conquered Baktria. The Saka did not stop at Baktria, though. They pushed through the mountains and invaded the Indus valley where the young Indo-Hellenic Kingdom was still being established. Pulling troops from their eastern campaign, they were able to hold off the Saka, but their dreamed conquest of all of India was now impossible.
When the new Kingdom of Parthava and the Kingdom of Media united into one powerful new Persian Empire, the balance of power once again changed. The new power expanded in all directions. Great parts of the northern plains and deserts fell to the Persians, the Arche Makedonia was invaded in Babylonia, Assyria, and Armenia, and the Saka in Baktria were attacked. When the Persians invaded Baktria and defeated the Saka, another great problem fell on the Indo-Hellenic Kingdom. The Persians took the lands of Baktria but the great mass of Saka people that had settled there were once again uprooted. Rather than retreat back to where they had come from, they crossed the mountains and headed for the Indus Valley. The great mass of injured, old, women, and children fell upon the Indo-Hellenic Kingdom and there was nothing they could do to stop them. This new mass of people brought their culture, their technology, their skills, and their problems.
This was not the end of the problems for the Indo-Hellenic Kingdom, for chasing the Saka peoples were the armies of Persia. With Baktria conquered, the Persians turned their eyes to India. Like the Seleukids, the Indo-Hellenic Kingdom was forced to fight a defensive war against a powerful new Empire.
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When the Arche Makedonia began their invasion of Persia, the pressure on the Seleukids and the Indo-Hellenic Kingdom was decreased. With a common enemy, both eastern kingdoms sought the friendship of the powerful Arche Makedonia. From the Arche Makedonia, friendship and silver was given, but first the Seleukids and the Indo-Hellenic Kingdom had to end their war with each other. Soon, all three enemies of the new Persian Empire were united against them, but once the Arche Makedonia sought peace with Persia, the war in the east turned bad for the isolated Hellenes once again. The Indo-Hellenic Kingdom continued to receive silver from Hellas and were happy with the sea trade to Arabia, but they did not forgive the Arche for making peace with the Persian Empire.
https://img9.imageshack.us/img9/3742/maa4705.jpg
In the deserts of Nubia, the descendants of the old Ptolemaic dynasty continued on much as the Seleukids did in the deserts of Persia. Ptolemai VIII Archagathos remained king of Meroe, having gained the throne when his father died trying to invade Aigyptos (See Chapter 98 : Introduction). Against the armies of Ptolemai VIII, the young Alypios first gained experience in war and in Nubia first decided to adopt the name Antigonos. Alypios Antigonos held off the armies of Ptolemai VIII and managed to take Meroe's coastal settlements for the Arche Makedonia.
https://img269.imageshack.us/img269/5524/maa4453.jpg
Since the war with the Arche Makedonia, Ptolemai VIII had failed many time in invading Aigyptos and retaking the coastal settlements lost to him. Like the Seleukids, the Ptolemaic king's only success was in retaining his power in a foreign land. Unfortunately for the Nubians, it seems that the Ptolemaioi would continue their rule when it was announced that Klearchos, son of Ptolemai VIII, was declared heir to the throne of Meroe.
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Nearly all of the lands settled by Hellenes and many lands that had adopted Hellenistic culture had fallen to the Arche of the Antigonids. Though they had lost their Hellenic lands, many of the old Diadochi families did not disappear but instead retreated into foreign lands. Most peoples of these occupied lands saw the small Hellenic force as invaders and resented their foreign kings. In that atmosphere, little was accomplished by those kings, but they all learned to hate the great Arche that had been built by Demetrios II Megas decades earlier and was currently ruled by Philippos V.
Next: Chapter 130 : The Arabian Front
Great, the political overview style I like best! :2thumbsup:
agreed, I especially like it when you talk about the other (losing) factions. Its nice to have a view of whats going in in Egypt, and Pura (which is held by AS).Quote:
Originally Posted by Centurio Nixalsverdrus
Btw, that screenshots with arrows flying everywhere is beautiful, makes me want to write a Sarmation aar.
Good work, though I do miss the old narrative style as well. :2thumbsup:
Second that.Quote:
Originally Posted by Centurio Nixalsverdrus
I'm curious which effects this will have on the real Arche.Quote:
but they all learned to hate the great Arche that had been built by Demetrios II Megas decades earlier and was currently ruled by Philippos V.
I'm not sure which style of writing I prefer. I was getting a bit tired of the character stories, but that was mostly because I was trying hard not to get too deep by not being able to help it.
Other than the Ptolemaioi in Meroe, the other Hellenistic factions really aren't a threat to me. I've actually been trying to keep them alive. But due to the war I had fought with AS and the fact that Baktria was my other half in the civil war, the AI hates me and won't accept any deals, even at this great distance from me. I've FD'd peace and trade rights but I know that the second I border either of those two again they'll attack me. That's the gameplay side of it and on the roleplaying side, one ally backing out of a war and leaving the others still fighting really would make them angry.
Chapter 130 : The First Persian War :
The Arabian Front
Before the war with the Persians, one of the most active military theaters for the Arche was the Arabian peninsula. Several armies had invaded these dry lands in the years between the Makedonian Civil War and the First Persian War. They had broken several kingdoms from the Kingdom of Sab'yn and created client kingdoms for the Arche. As aggression built in Persia, the armies of the Arche withdrew and left their new allies to defend themselves. At first, the task was simple because the armies of Sab'yn had been destroyed after facing the Arche in open battle. After several years, the Kingdom of Sab'yn recovered and sought to reclaim her lost territory.
The first attack from the Saba came the very same year at the Battle of Sousa (138BC) that Alypios Antigonos III fought in Elymais. The Kingdom of Ubar had been liberated from the Kingdom of Sab'yn but left to govern itself. Only a few dozen Makedones remained behind to advise the new king. King Argeos had managed to build himself an army but his lands were poor and vulnerable to attack. Without a wall to hide behind, he was forced to confront the Saba armies when they came.
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Just outside the city, the two armies met. The Saba soldiers chose to run forward and all clash with the Ubar line all at once.
https://img29.imageshack.us/img29/795/maa4484.png
The fighting was fierce but not very complex. The two armies simply pushed against each other and tried to cut down the other side. The Saba attackers tried to break through the Ubar line with the defenders simply bought time for their king.
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The battle was finally decided when the king of Ubar surprised the Saba with a cavalry attack from behind. With his overwhelming force of mounted soldiers, he charged his enemy and scattered them into the desert.
https://img40.imageshack.us/img40/3048/maa4489.png
Only the Saba elite chose to hold their ground and fight the cavalry. Though they and their general fell, the Saba cost the Kingdom of Ubar a great toll in horses and men that day.
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The King of Ubar lost more than half his men in the battle but held his kingdom.
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King Argeos of Ubar sent word to the Arche Makedonia for assistance but none would come. The Makedones were too busy with their own war and were only able to send a small amount of silver to aid the Kingdom of Ubar. King Argeos was angry but could do nothing about it. He simply waited and tried to rebuild his army.
Two years later, the armies of the Kingdom of Sab'yn came again to the city of Ubar. This time, Argeos was completely outnumbered and couldn't hold the field. His men tried to form a line but feared being surrounded and broke soon after the battle was joined.
https://img268.imageshack.us/img268/1347/maa4588.png
The battle moved into the city of Ubar itself. There, King Argeos tried to rally his people in defense of the city but was cut down by a Saba soldier. He died on the battlefield as a hero, but his death meant the fall of Ubar.
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The Saba soldiers stormed the city and fought the last survivors of the Ubar army near the market that had been built by the Makedones.
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The city fell and the Kingdom of Ubar was reabsorbed into the Kingdom of Sab'yn. The Saba army chose to be kind and did not punish the people of Ubar. They would not always be this fair.
A few more years passed and the war against the Persians continued for the Makedones. After a great battle outside their capital (See Chapter 110 : The Battle of Persepolis (134BC), Alypios Antigonos III captured the city of Persepolis and forced the Persians to consider negotiations for peace.
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While the army of Antigonos camped within the walls of Persepolis, the people of the Kingdom of Carna cowered behind theirs. The Kingdom of Sab'yn had managed to consolidate power in Ubar and moved her armies to the west. Though there were several small kingdoms along the west coast of Arabia, only the Kingdom of Carna had an army that could resist the Saba. If they fell, there was nothing stopping the Saba from marching all the way to Makedonian Syria.
https://img24.imageshack.us/img24/4227/maa4671.png
Unlike Ubar, the Kingdom of Carna was rich and had a large population. She had large walls surrounding the city and a sizable army, but the Saba came to her walls with two armies.
https://img194.imageshack.us/img194/5036/maa4673.png
When the Saba approached her large walls, the soldiers of Carna rained death down from above. Still the Saba came with ladder and siege tower. Most Saba soldiers fell before they even got to the walls and the rest fell quickly atop them, though a couple groups of elite Saba soldiers made the Carna soldiers pay heavily.
https://img24.imageshack.us/img24/9408/maa4676.png
Outside the walls, the king of Carna gathered his cavalry and circled around the city to face the Saba cavalry that had gathered outside his walls. With a great charge and counter-charge the two groups of horsemen raced toward each other and clashed on the parched desert soil.
https://img194.imageshack.us/img194/2420/maa4678.png
The battle was explosive but short. The Saba cavalry did not stand long. After destroying the Saba cavalry, the Carna cavalry split up and chased down all the remaining Saba infantry that still stood outside the walls of Carna. All went well for the Carna cavalry until one group confronted the Saba elite swordsmen. The Saba elites cut right through the light Carna cavalry but were overwhelmed with the bulk of the Carna horsemen joined the battle.
https://img190.imageshack.us/img190/1306/maa4680.png
The king of Carna managed to defeat a force twice the size of his own but lost more than half his own army doing so, including much of his cavalry.
https://img194.imageshack.us/img194/2236/maa4683.jpg
Soon after this battle, Alypios Antigonos III managed to achieve peace with the Persian Empire. The Makedones returned many conquered territories but were able to gain official control over all the lands of Mesopotamia as well as the lands of Elymais.
https://img9.imageshack.us/img9/5164/maa4697.jpg
With the Persians defeated, the Arche's Arabian allies hoped that they would soon be getting the promised help from their powerful ally to the north. However, the Arche had grown tired of warfare and few in the Arche noticed, or cared, what happened in distant Arabia. After many requests for assistance, Antigonos was finally convinced to send help to the south. In Syria an army was gathered to march south to Carna, but the Kingdom of Sab'yn was also busy rebuilding her army.
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The known world during the thirty second year of the reign of Basileus Philippos V (133BC), after the peace agreements with Persia:
https://img43.imageshack.us/img43/2848/hxmak133edit.png
Next: Chapter 131 : An Era of Peace
Captain Rab :laugh4:
I find that hilarious because Rab is a nickname for someone named Robert in Scotland, it's also a fictional fisherman that me and my friends from uni have created. Often during classes we detail his and his faithful sidekick Tam the alcoholic's misadventures.
Anyway, back on topic, nice chapter.
Good chapter. I recognize one of your images from a chapter of a distant past.:smash:
The one with the cavalry charging eachother? I think thats the one you were talking about.Quote:
Originally Posted by Centurio Nixalsverdrus
Anyways, good chapter MAA. Although, im wondering. Are you re-writing everything that happened when you did your other narrative, right?
Exactly.Quote:
Originally Posted by Vasiliyi
Thanks for following. :bow:
My favorite is when the Carthaginians get an admiral named Akbar.
Yes, I've been reviewing the time during the war in Persia that I covered during the narrative. I meant to only do two chapters but it turned into about five (though that always happens for my AAR). Sorry about the repeated information. After the war ended, I managed to avoid anything major (a war) from happening for about a decade. Also, since I've had a busy summer, I haven't played this campaign much. Those two factors together give me little content after the war's end. I'll probably have a couple chapters on random events such as births, deaths, and such, then one more chapter on Arabia and I'll have gotten through the next decade. Because of that, I was repeating some old content I had taken away from the main push of the war in Persia to buy me time.
It is a very interesting AAR Marcus, but I was wondering how do you document your campaign???
Do you use the traditional, and always popular, paper & pencil?
Do you update it in real time or do you wait a few years and document?
I hope you can answer this questions.
Cheers.
I usually just take screenshots of everything I plan on mentioning in the AAR. Then I go through my screenshots when writing, only posting about half of them to actually show and using the rest to remind me of details or what else to mention. I usually don't write the AAR until I have moved on several years (in game) and months (in reality), so a lot of what I write I write from memory about the screenshots or roleplaying / making things up to fill in the gaps.Quote:
Originally Posted by Publio Cornelio Escipión Africano Mayor
Next update will be coming today or tomorrow, if anyone is still following.