The Pyrrhic Dynasty : A Makedonian AAR

The Pyrrhic Dynasty

Yes, that's right, the Pyrrhic Dynasty of Makedonia. This is a continuation of my last AAR, which can be found here: https://forums.totalwar.org/vb/showthread.php?t=92870. I'm playing on an internal version of EB that is just pre-v1.0, so there are many things that are v1.0 and some that are still v0.8x. The Pyrrhos in question is not Pyrrhos of Epeiros but another Pyrrhos, Megas Pyrrhos Argeades the Crippled of Makedonia. This AAR starts at 175BC and is about the Makedonian Civil War, where the corrupt decendants of Antigonos fight the family of Pyrrhos, who is a hero to the people and a great leader of the military. Now for a "quick" overview of the situation so far...

Introduction: The Reign of the Antigonids

After the death of Megas Alexandros, the land of Makedonia traded many hands. When Keltic forces attacked Makedonia and looted Hellas, it was Antigonos Gonatas who defeated them and claimed the throne of Makedonia.

The Reign of Antigonos Gonatas (ruled Makedonia 277-241BC)

Antigonos had enough problems controlling Makedonia itself, at first and trouble only increased when Pyrrhos of Epieros returned from his failed campaigns in the west. Looking for money, angry over Antigonos not supporting him, and claiming the Makedonike throne, Pyrrhos invaded Makedonia. By 272BC it looked like the Antigonid line would end and Pyrrhos would take control of Makedonia, but then Pyrrhos became distracted. Before his campaign in Makedonia had ended, he withdrew his forces and began a campaign in Illyria.

This gave Antigonos the chance to take on his other enemy, the city-states of Hellas. Gathering all the forces he could, Antigonos marched on the two greatest of the Hellas polis, Athenai and Sparte. Within two years, the forces Hellas had been all but defeated. Antigonos did not subjugate the cities or occupy them by force. Instead, Antigonos set up Makedonia-friendly tyrants or councils that would run the city with almost entire autonomy. A portion of taxes and trade income was due to Makedonia, but the amount of economic and infrastructure improvements that Antigonos made to Hellas more than made up for this.

Pyrrhos then shifted his attention back to Epeiros. Pyrrhos and the bulk of his army had been lost in Illyria and the little nation of Epeiros was now broke and leaderless. In a quick strike, Antigonos conquered all of Epeiros. Rather than subjugate them, and not feeling like giving them direct autonomy such as in Hellas, Antigonos instead added Epeiros into the greater territory of Makedonia and granted the people the same rights as those that lived in Makedonia. Even though this upset many Makedones, it completely won over the people of Epeiros.

By 260BC, Antigonos had emerged as the only true power in greater Hellas:
https://img155.imageshack.us/img155/...xmak260ct3.jpg

Antigonos then rested and shifted his attention to rebuilding the broken economies of Makedonia, Hellas, and Epeiros. The next decade and a half were slow. During this time, Antigonos' third son, Euboulides, was born. Antigonos' second son Demetrios, during this time, was able to raise a second army and use it to consolidate power in Hellas, as well as conquer Crete, Milos, and Rhodos. With the economy then rebuilt, Antigonos left his son Alkoyneus in charge of Makedonia and invaded Thraikia and conquered it. By 250BC, Antigonos and his sons had established a powerful base of power, but to the east their ally in the Arche Seleukeia had lost the Syrian Wars and was now being pushed back ever further:
https://img297.imageshack.us/img297/...xmak250zj6.jpg

At this time, Alexandros, nephew of Antigonos led an invasion of Illyria, not only to capture its resources but to put an end to raids and pirate attacks from Illyria.

When Babylonia and Anatolia fell to the armies of Ptolemai, Antigonos assembled his armies and marched eastward. He and his son, Demetrios, then led an invasion of Ptolemai-controlled Anatolia. After taking the city of Sardis, Antigonos fell ill, and died a few months later.

The known world at the death of Antigonos Gonatas, in 241BC:
https://img297.imageshack.us/img297/...xmak241lt0.png

The Shared Reign of Alkyoneus and Demetrios (241-228BC)

When Antigonos died, he named both his sons as his heirs. The brothers were really close and they both accepted the shared leadership, but there was much competition between them. When Hellenic trade cities along the coast north of Thraikia requested assistance from the Getic Confederation, Alkyoneus quickly responded. Alkyoneus had assumed that this would start a war, in which he could gain territory and fame, but the Getic Confederation simply withdrew and respected their alliance with Makedonia.

Demetrios, on the other hand, gained many victories, first against the Ptolemaioi then against the lesser kingdoms of Anatolia. In less than five years since his father's death, Demetrios had securred all of western Anatolia, even making Pergamon a client state. In the next five years, Demetrios pushed eastward, defeating the Ptolemaioi at every encounter. Eventually joined by his son, Aristotelis, Demetrios invaded Syria and liberated the city of Antiocheia in 233BC:
https://img155.imageshack.us/img155/...xmak233bx9.png

It was then that the Kingdom of Pontos betrayed the Antigonids and attacked her Galatian allies and Makedonike cities in Anatolia. Alkyoneus responded to this while Demetrios secured the borders against Ptolemaioi agression. Taking a newly formed elite army from Makedonia, Alkyoneus countered the Pontic forces, and won many victories, took lands, and restored "autonomy" to the Galatians. All went well until one unfortunate day. Outside the last city of the Kingdom of Pontos, a huge battle was waged. Although the Makedones won, Alkyoneus fell dead on the field.

The known world at the death of Alkyoneus, in 228BC:
https://img297.imageshack.us/img297/...xmak228wq5.png

The Reign of Megas Demetrios (241-204BC)

Taking the throne at 35 (at first with Alkyoneus), the reign of Demetrios would be the longest and most successful of any Makedonike Basileus, rivalling even the acomplishments of Megas Alexandros. The majority of Demetrios' life was dedicated to the distruction of the Ptolemaic Dynasty and the crushing of its armies. After Demetrios took Anatolia and Syria, he began work rebuilding the city of Antiocheia and the lands of Syria.

When Alkyoneus died, Demetrios left his son, Aristotelis in charge of Syria and sailed to Makedonia to ensure the sons of Alkyoneus didn't divide what was now being called the Arche Makedonia in civil war. Once there, both his brother Euboulides and his nephews Perseus and Chrysoloras accepted him as Basileus. Demetrios then sent Euboulides eastward to finish off the kingdom of Pontos and get revenge for their brother.

Once Pontos fell, what was left of Alkyoneus' elite army returned to Makedonia, where Demetrios rebuilt it. Leaving Makedonia in the hands of Perseus and Chrysoloras, Demetrios sailed south to the Hellenic colony of Kyrene. Taking Kyrene, Demetrios opened up a new front with the Ptolemaioi. From there, Demetrios began taking Lybia from the Ptolemaioi.

During the next decade, Demetrios waged war with the Ptolemaioi, but war also came from the west and the east. Both the city of Kart-Hadast and the Kingdom of Hayasdan attacked the Arche Makedonia. Defences at Kyrene held off the Qarthadastism, while Euboulides fought Hayasdan in the First Armenian War. Back in Makedonia and Illyria, the families of Alkyoneus and Alexandros gained territory to the north and built up a defensive barrier along the Istros River.

220BC:
https://img297.imageshack.us/img297/...xmak220eu6.jpg

The next five years gave the Arche Makedonia some of the greatest territorial gains. With forces finally ready, Demetrios began his invasion of Aigyptos. First the great city of Alexandreia fell, then Demetrios worked his way up the Neilos wiping out ever last Ptolemaic soldier. Finally, he turned for the deserts and made a trek to the Oracle at Ammonion, where he received several messages of prophecy. As this happened, his son Aristotelis invade the Ptolemaic holdings in the Levant and established a client state in Ioudaia. Eventually the Ptolemaic Dynasty was isolated to Assyria. Finally the big three powers of the Hellenistic world met and ended all wars between the Arche Makedonia, the Arche Seleukeia, the Ptolemaioi, and the Kingdom of Hayasdan.

215BC:
https://img181.imageshack.us/img181/...mak215wgc5.png

There would be no peace in the life of Demetrios, however. With only the city of Kart-Hadast remaining as an enemy, Demetrios made plans to invade Sikilia and liberate the Hellenes there. Though as he planned, the Romaioi in Italia made their own plans and betrayed a long standing treaty, invading Illyria. The Romaioi had conquered all of Italia, had failed in an attempt to take Sikilia, and then invaded Gaul. They had established themselves as a power in the west, only rivalled by Kart-Hadast, their ally.

Prior to this time, all wars in the Arche Makedonia had been fought directly by the Basileus or someone close to him. With Demetrios in Sikilia, Euboulides defending against the Kingdom of Hayasdan, and Aristotelis defending to prevent renewed Ptolemaic agression, this war fell to a distant branch of the family. In Illyria, the descendants of Alexandros had seen this war coming for a long time and were ready for it. So, Demetrios gave permission to Nepos and his three sons (Neikolaos, Gelon, and Pyrrhos) to invade Italia. With three large armies, the family of Alexandros brought war back to the Romaioi. Demetrios attacking from the south, Nepos from the north, the Romaioi military was broken by 210BC:
https://img155.imageshack.us/img155/62/hxmak210ca9.png

Demetrios established a Syrakousian military force to defend Sikilia and then sailed north. Taking the islands west of Italia, then the city of Massalia, Demetrios arrived in Gaul. With the Romaioi territories cut in half, the Gallic tribes began fighting back and defeating the Romaioi occupation. With help from Nepos' son Neikoloas, Gaul was liberated and the Romaioi there completely defeated.

In 207BC, the Ptolemaioi, having rebuilt their military, betrayed the cease-fire and invaded Syria. Aristotelis was ready, however, and within a year the Ptolemaic Dynasty had been put to an end. Or so it was thought. It turned out some Ptolemaioi had survived and had escaped to Nubia when Demetrios had invaded the Neilos valley. They then lived in Nubia, in exile.

As 204BC came along, Nepos was growing too old to fight and the command of the Romaioi War was given to his youngest son, Pyrrhos. Pyrrhos renewed the war by invading southern Italia with a new army of Pezhetairoi from Epeiros.

Dispite success across the Arche Makedonia, the year 204BC was a sad one. Having stayed in Massalia for half a decade, Demetrios fought sickness and finally succome to illness. As the Oracle of Ammonion predicted, he died quitely with only his grandson, Neokles, at his side. Demetrios had done what no man had done since Megas Alexandros. But unlike Alexandros, Demetrios had ensured security for his conquered regions and successfully handed them off to his heir.

The known world at the death of Megas Demetrios, in 204BC:
https://img297.imageshack.us/img297/...xmak203yy5.png

The Reign of Aristotelis (204-183BC)

Aristotelis had grown up in Makedonia, attended the Spartan Agoge, and been educated in Athenai. When he was in his early twenties, he made a trip to Thraikia, Dacia, and into the Getic Alliance. There, he assembled and army of Thraikioi and defeated many brigands. When his father invaded Syria, he quickly followed with his mercenaries. Before taking command of Antiocheia, Arisotelis personally conquered Kypros and established the short-lived client state of Sophene. Later he ruled Syria, conquered the Levant, established the client kingdom of Ioudaia, and defeated the Ptolemaioi in Assyria.

As Aristotelis came to throne, there was no real enemies left for the Arche Makedonia. There was the city of Kart-Hadast to the southwest, but those distant arid lands would have to be completely conquered and subjugated to put an end to the menace, and that task was a large unwanted one. To the east there was the Arche Seleukeia. The two Arche had long been allies, which worked well when there was an enemy between them, but now the Arche Seleukeia was looking westward at the territories they once held and the Arche Makedonia was looking eastward to reuniting the empire of Alexandros. Aristotelis had long dreamed of recreating Alexandros and hostilities with the Arche Seleukeia would give him that chance.

In Bosphoria, Euboulides began taking control slowly, but in the first few years of the reign of Aristotelis, the only true military successes were those of Pyrrhos over the Romaioi. By 200BC, the Romaioi had lost all of their conquered territories and all of her allies had fallen:
https://img155.imageshack.us/img155/...xmak200fm9.png

Urged by Aristotelis, Lysippos (son in-law of Euboulides) invades Armenia and brings an end to the Kingdom of Hayasdan. The war is quick and the rich lands of Armenia quickly fall into the hands of the Arche Makedonia.

The Arche Seleukeia then suffers a series of setbacks that encourage Aristotelis. To the south, the Seleukid army is crushed and the Kingdom of Sab'yn retakes lands conquered by the Arche Seleukeia. In the east, the Indians invade Seleukid Iran and push all the way to Persis. And in the north, territories rebel and a renewed Median Empire declares itself free of Hellenistic control.

While Aritotelis and his second born son, Bykoli, perpare for an invasion of Babylonia, Aristotelis' first born son, Neokles, fights in Iberia. With an alliance with the Iberian Confederacy, Neokles fights to push all influence of the city of Kart-Hadast from these lands.

194BC:
https://img297.imageshack.us/img297/...mak194wkf3.png

War is finally declared with the Arche Seleukeia, when the Seleukids lay claim to land in Assyria. Aristotelis uses this opertunity to invade. Over the next few years, most of Babylonia falls into the hands of the Arche Makedonia. Most of the fighting, however, is done by Bykoli, his friend / son-in-law Pefkolaos, and their army. Seeking a fight, Aristotelis takes his army and marches deep into Seleukid territory. At this point, his two sons are cut off from him and forced to run the Arche on their own from opposite sides of the know world.

190BC:
https://img297.imageshack.us/img297/...190editak8.png

Aristotelis eventually arrived at the city of Sousa and took it by force. Retreating into the palace of Sousa, Aristotelis became a recluse while his army ran the city and the land of Elymais.

Meanwhile, his first born son, Neokles had planned an invasion of Africa and the holdings of Kart-Hadast. While Neokles landed in the west, Pyrrhos and his sons landed to the south of Kart-Hadast and Antisthenes Gortynois came by land from Kyrene. City after city fell to the Arche Makedonia with most battles being fought by Pyrrhos. Eventually Neokles marched against the great city of Kart-Hadast itself, but was unable to seige it due to its massive walls. Before the city fell, he received word that his father had died and he was now Basileus.

The known world at the death of Aristotelis, 183BC:
https://img291.imageshack.us/img291/...xmak185sd0.png

The Reign of Neokles (183-177BC)

In the first years of the reign of Neokles, both conflicts on either side of the Arche were quickly consolidated. The city of Kart-Hadast eventually surrendered and Neokles marched in victoriously. Leaving the city and region in the hands of Pyrrhos, Neokles then sailed for Makedonia. In the east, Bykoli and Pefkolaos conquered the last Seleukid hold-outs in Babylonia and secured the eastern front. Bykoli and Pefkolaos then began an invasion of the new Median Empire and strove eastward to finish Aristotelis' dream of reuniting the empire of Alexandros.

In Makedonia, Neokles began his reign. Seeking to establish an era of peace, Neokles negotiated peace with his neighbors in Numidia, Mauretania, Nubia, and with the Arche Seleukeia. Neokles then lowered taxes, decreased the military, and attempted to reform the government.

What had started as a dream of a new era quickly turned, however. Old wars started up again, new wars began with allies betraying agreements, natural disasters struck, and a great plague his Makedonia and Hellas. Overworked and tired, the plague eventually took Neokles and his reign ended short.

The Arche Makedonia's greatest extent under Neokles, 177BC:
https://img291.imageshack.us/img291/...xmak177wg0.png

Civil War (177BC- )

When Neokles died, the whole Arche was shaken. Neokles and Bykoli were the last of the line of Megas Demetrios and only they and the line of Euboulides remained of the descendants of Antigonos Gonatas. Neither Neokles or Bykoli had a son. Neokles had not been a great man, but Bykoli was far worse. The council of nobles in Pella had long disliked Bykoli, for he was stupid, decadent, and was easily manipulated by his friend / son-in-law Pefkolaos. Bykoli had also been accused of hiring assassins to kill ruling members of the council and even some in the royal family, including Pyrrhos' elder brother. Fearing Bykoli's control of the Arche, the council of nobles turned to Pyrrhos to lead them. With this, Pyrrhos had to act, for even if he had turned them down, it meant that he would be seen as an ememy to Bykoli's and he and his family would be in danger of retribution.

So in 177BC, three men set out on a trek to Pella, with their armies, to get the support of the council. To the north, there was Herakleon, first born son of Euboulides, who should have been next in line after Bykoli. Herakleon did not live long, however, as he died from poisoning while being visited by "envoys" from Bykoli. Second was Pyrrhos, who quickly gained support from subjugated Kart-Hadast, the nobles of Sikilia, and the Romani client-state. With his own family ruling northern Italia, southern Gaul, the Iberian holdings, Illyria, and Epeiros, his movement for support was quick. Then there was Bykoli, who travelled slowly across Babylonia, Assyria, Armenia, and Syria to ensure support for his cause. During his withdraw from the east, Lysippos negotiated a ceasefire with Media in exchange for the return of all Median lands.

When Pyrrhos arrived in Pella first, it appeared that Bykoli had lost. Bykoli considered retreating to Babylonia, but Pefkolaos urged him forward, to confront Pyrrhos in battle. Bykoli died, however, when one of his own men stabbed him while he walked through their camp. The assassin died quickly and nobody was sure why he did it or if anyone hired him. It seemed Pyrrhos was left the only option for Basileus, but Pefkolaos did not give up. Claiming his own son, grandson of Bykoli, was the rightful heir, Pefkolaos pushed forward and met Pyrrhos. So, in Thraikia, the two men met with their massive armies...

The division of the Arche Makedonia at the end of 176BC:
https://img135.imageshack.us/img135/...763editca5.png

Other Noteworthy Men of the Arche Makedonia

Perseus and Chrysoloras: The two sons of Alkyoneus, who did not challenge Megas Demetrios in his claim as Basileus. They were left to administer Makedonia, Thraikia, and Hellas. During their lifetimes, not only did the improve infrastructure and the economy, but added to the Arche Makedonia just to the north by annexing all lands south of the Istros. These two brothers also brought an end to autonomy in Hellas, removing tyrants, kings, councils, and puppet-rulers and replacing them with direct control from Makedonia. There were some rebellions and rioting during this time but the direct control greatly improved the region for all people. Neither of the brothers had any sons and they both died quietly, ending the line of Alkyoneus.

Euboulides: The third born son of Antigonos Gonatas. Euboulides was born when Antigonos was already an old man and saw little of his father. Educated in Makedonia, Euboulides did little noteworthy until he took control of the leaderless war against Pontos. Pontos was already all but defeated and Euboulides only finished it off. Euboulides then took control of Pontos and later defended the region in the First Armenian War, taking Egrisi in that war. After another long stretch of administration, Euboulides took his three sons and invaded Bosphoria, claiming it for the Arche Makedonia. He died not too long after and left his sons to run the newly conquered region.

Lysippos: Lysippos was son-in-law to Euboulides and the only member of the Euboulides branch of the family that did not participate in the Bosphorian invasion. When the Second Armenian War started, it was left up to Lysippos to defend Egrisi and during the Third Armenian War it was Lysippos who conquered all of Armenia and defeated the Kingdom of Hayasdan. Later Lysippos assisted in Aristotelis' war with the Arche Seleukeia and Bykoli's war with Media. When civil war seemed all but unavoidable, Lysippos made peace with Media for the Arche and withdrew to Egrisi with two large armies. His loyalty is definately to his brothers-in-law in Bosphoria who ended up siding with Pyrrhos.

The Family of Pyrrhos: Descended from Antigonos Gonatas' nephew Alexandros, the "Illyrian Branch" of the royal family lacked much power for a long time. When the Romaioi War came, however, the head of the family, Nepos and his son led the war. The eldest son, Neikolaos, took an army of Keltic mercenaries and went northward, liberationg Gaul. Nepos and his second born son, Gelon, took the Makedones and went for the center and conquered northern Italia. Pyrrhos, a man crippled since birth, took an army of Illyrians and struck center Italy, then an army of Pezhetairoi and worked his way up from the south. Pyrrhos conquered the city of Roma, but did not kill and loot. He restored the Romani Senate and relinquished central Italia to their control. For this, the Romani hesitantly loved him, especially those he raised to power in the reformed Senate. When Nepos died, Gelon took over administration of nothern Italia, Neikolaos took over control of the holdings in southern Gallia, and Pyrrhos moved to Sikilia. When war with Kart-Hadast began again, Pyrrhos and his first-born son, Sotades joined in on the invasion and fought the majority of the battles. Pyrrhos then gained control of newly conquered Africa when Neokles ascended to the throne. Pyrrhos had planned an invasion of Numidia, but it was cut short when Neokles died.

Philippos: Second son of Pyrrhos, Philippos was just too young to join in on the war in Africa. While his father and brother fought, Pyrrhos trained in the Agoge with the Spartans and learned from the greatest minds of Athenai. When was in his early twenties, Philippos gathered an army and began his military career fighting random rebels, pirates, brigands, and thieves. While in Aigyptos, Philippos assisted in the defense from Nubians sent by the young king of Meroe, Ptolemai. Having grown up in Italia and trained with Spartans, Philippos had a different outlook on military composition. He experimented with different army compositions and attempted to form a more flexible army without pikemen. When his father requested he go to Iberia to fight the Iberian Confederacy, who had betrayed the alliance, Philippos assembled an army of Thorakitai. After several battles in Iberia, Philippos began to change his army yet again. When the civil war started, Pyrrhos ordered his son to stay in Iberia. Not only did he not want the Iberian front to fall, but he wanted at least one of his sons to stay out of the dirty politics that were about to come. When the council of Pella declared Pyrrhos Basileus, Pyrrhos declared Philippos his heir.

Antisthenes Gortynois: Son-in-law to Megas Demetrios, Antisthenes was the governor of Kyrene for decades. During his time there, he fended off dozens of invasion attempts from Kart-Hadast. Dispite his poor military skills, he gained the support of his armies and the peoples of Kyrenaia and Lybia. Dispite having closer family connections with Bykoli, Antisthenes Gortynois sided with Pyrrhos in the civil war due to Pyrrhos' ability to defeat the armies of Kart-Hadast. The support of Antisthenes gained Pyrrhos the coast of Lybia from nearly Kart-Hadast to Alexandreia, where he had their loyalty.

The Delphikos Family: An unimportant family of nobles that were given the job of defending the Makedonike colony at Bostra. When the Kingdom of Sab'yn invaded, it was this family, led by Eulandros, who defended the borders of the Arche. Since Aristotelis and Bykoli gave them no support in the war, they decided to support Pyrrhos once forced to join sides. Now isolated passed the client-state of Ioudaia, they don't expect to hold out long.

Next: Chapter 52 : The Battle of Thraikia

Awesome...been waiting for this for a while MAA. I liked your progression pictures. Im going to do that soon in my AAR. This should be a fight for the ages...

I'm gonna go ahead and declare this the greatest thing ever.

Holy damn, Marcus. You just graduated to genuine alternative-history novella writer. Congratulations. :2thumbsup:

Seconded!

The only problem that I see with starting a new thread is that it doesn't show new people how huge the old one was. Oh well.

Awesome!

Chairman

amazing that you have chosen to play out the civil war and good introduction of new AAR!!!!!!!!:2thumbsup:

You carried on, great! :2thumbsup: :2thumbsup: :2thumbsup:

great, Marcus!!

Thank you for deciding to continue with this AAR! :beam: I can't wait for the battle...

Thanks for the comment everybody, I'll try to have the next/first/52nd chapter up in a couple days.

I kind of wrote too much there. I've got a whole alternative history set up for a kingdom that never existed... :egypt:

Awesome, Marcus! I'm so glad that you decided to continue the AAR!

Just how exactly did you formulate this civil war? I would like to be able to do such a thing as well in a game.

To get the civil war, I actually just used forced diplomacy. I first crushed all of the forces of Baktria in the east and gave away all her territories but Baktra. Then I used forced diplomacy to give Baktria all of the territories I wanted to in my empire. Since Makedonia and Baktria share factional MICs, they will spawn and be able to train normal units in those regions at the same levels I previously could. I disbanded all of my stuff from those regions then waited. They moved their capital, trained new troops, gathered those spawned in the FD, and magically spawned new family members in the way the AI seems able to. By altering the text files, the name and colors were changed and I had a whole new faction to have a civil war with. The eastern side still controls the city of Baktra, but I edited that photo so that it looks like the old color only over there.

Ah, I thought it might've been something like that, just that with Baktria on the map it made me wonder about that.

By the way, what's with the Sweboz? Their lands are disjointed and weird.

I don't know if it is my version, a v1.0 thing, or just by rare chance but Sweboz has been basically broke the whole game. They were stagnant for a long time, then when threatened to the west the decided to expand eastward to Silengoz. After I gave them all the Rhineland and Netherlands after buying them from the Aedui (this was before I installed FD), they invaded Kimbrioz (Denmark). The weird thing is in the Baltic is a territory that rebelled from the Sauromatians. For the last couple decades they have been having a cold war with the two Gallic factions. Sweboz has generally been a disappointment in my campaign.

You are batshit crazy. Has anyone ever told you that Marcus? :laugh4: Really awesome though!

Oh my God!!!!


I can hardly wait for the second part of this AAR

Looks like another masterpiece is in the making! :2thumbsup:

Can't wait to see this story unfold.

Thanks guys!

I think that's a compliment from Teleklos... :laugh4:

Magnificent, i can hardly wait :laugh4:

Chapter 52 : The Battle of Thraikia

It is already after the harvest when Pyrrhos, old and exhausted from his long trek to Pella, and Pekolaos, newly appointed leader of the east, meet in Thraikia. Both have elite armies, Pyrrhos with the royal army of the Basileus and Pefkolaos with the Syrian army that was originally raised to fight against the Arche Seleukeia. The majority of both armies is Makedones, meaning this battle would be a true battle of brother against brother. If Pefkoloas wins this battle, he would take Thraikia and push the family of Pyrrhos back to Makedonia, where he could wipe them out. If Pyrrhos wins this battle he can move into Anatolia and restore this rich portion of the core of the Arche Makedonia. Dispite his exhaustion and sickness, Pyrrhos engages the battle:
https://img72.imageshack.us/img72/1584/maa2666dq4.png

The two armies line up on a flat plan, bisected by the east-west trade route of Thraikia:
https://img297.imageshack.us/img297/1559/maa2679we1.png

On Pefkolaos' left flank is his one true advantage, the elephants from Syria, which rush forward:
https://img238.imageshack.us/img238/8210/maa2680pf2.png

On Pefkolaos' opposite flank, his cavalry rushes forward, ahead of the main force, and moves to Pyrrhos' left flank:
https://img87.imageshack.us/img87/979/maa2681tj4.png

And at the center, with arrows bouncing off them, Pefkolaos leads his army forward with his frightening new Hetairoi Kataphraktoi:
https://img238.imageshack.us/img238/3520/maa2682vf3.png

As Pefkolaos' main force slowly moves forward, Pyrrhos takes his Hetairoi and moves to his left flank to counter the enemy cavalry:
https://img87.imageshack.us/img87/5268/maa2683fg1.png

Rather than engage Pyrrhos' line, Pefkolaos' main battle line comes to a halt and waits as both flanks begin to engage eachother:
https://img87.imageshack.us/img87/9260/maa2684ah6.png

To the north, Pyrrhos personally leads a cavalry charge in at the flank cavalry:
https://img87.imageshack.us/img87/9158/maa2685oq8.png

The charge is a huge success, but Pyrrhos quickly pulls out of the battle, not loosing a single man in the fighting. Then he lines up his Hetairoi again and charges in a second time:
https://img87.imageshack.us/img87/553/maa2687no1.png

To the south, the heavy Peltastai of the Basilikon Agema attempt to skirmish against the enemy elephants, but the great beasts charge in and attack the unit before they are able to withdraw:
https://img87.imageshack.us/img87/4910/maa2686wo8.png

The heavy Peltastai fall back but the elephants regroup and charge forward directly at them:
https://img297.imageshack.us/img297/2777/maa2688mj7.png

As was planned prior to the battle, the wing holds their ground against the elephants. Soon the Hypaspistai charge in and javelin and spear are thrust into the sides of the beasts. As they start to fall, the surviving elephants panic and run away, toward the west:
https://img87.imageshack.us/img87/8030/maa2690dm4.png

With half their elephants dead or fleeing and their entire cavalry force wiped out, the army of Pefkolaos has no choice but to move forward:
https://img238.imageshack.us/img238/702/maa2693wx9.png

They Syrian Pezhetairoi move forward and form a pike line. Halted just before the Makedonike line, they begin to skirmish:
https://img87.imageshack.us/img87/294/maa2695gq1.png

The battle then comes to a pause. Pyrrhos tries to take the time to rest his men and horses, but noticing Pefkolaos moving to the southern flank, he rushes his Hetairoi to counter. As he moves, he gives the order for his men to march forward and engage the enemy. The Makedonike Pezhetairoi slowly move forward, with their pikes down:
https://img87.imageshack.us/img87/9018/maa2696gd8.png

Finally, the two lines clash. Across the entire length of the field, two great masses of men and pike collide against eachother:
https://img87.imageshack.us/img87/6373/maa2697og1.png

A battle of Makedonike pikemen, unseen since the Aigyptos Wars, begins as the two sides push against eachother and thrust their sarrisa across at their enemy:
https://img87.imageshack.us/img87/1249/maa2698hm0.png

On the southern flank, Pyrrhos moves forward to confront Pefkolaos, but in the north it is Pefkolaos' men who make their move. Pushing through their own men, the remaining elephants move in to make a hole in the battle line. This section of the line falls into disorder and a hole begins to form. Tasked with filling any hole that develops in the line, the Bosphorians rush forward into the gap to confront the giant beasts:
https://img87.imageshack.us/img87/8978/maa2700sr0.png

Facing a great number of men, the elephants fall back again, but the northern side of the battle is already in chaos.

Back in the center, men begin to tire and many fall dead. With Pyrrhos' Hetairoi tied down and Pefkolaos' elephants unable to push through, neither side is able to circle around the flanks or push through the line to deal a killing blow:
https://img87.imageshack.us/img87/9339/maa2702qc8.png

As the battle begins to drag out and men begin to suffer from the lack of any resolution. Pyrrhos is stuck on the southern side of the battle, tied down by Pefkolaos' Kataphraktoi. Pyrrhos' Hetairoi have skill and experience on their side, but the heavy armor of their enemy proves to be a difficult challenge:
https://img87.imageshack.us/img87/531/maa2701rk7.png

While the infantry suffer, the Hetairoi finally manage to cut through their enemy and eliminate most of the heavy horsemen, surrounding Pefkolaos:
https://img297.imageshack.us/img297/103/maa2704by9.png

With his men almost entirely wiped out, Pefkolaos turns and flees from the battle, breaking out of the Hetairoi. If Pefkolaos falls, this could end the war right now. Knowing this, Pyrrhos and all the Hetairoi give chase, abandonning the infantry:
https://img297.imageshack.us/img297/4007/maa2705kz8.png

The infantry battle streches out and sections of both sides begin to break and run from the field of battle:
https://img297.imageshack.us/img297/3285/maa2703ep0.png

Ironically weakened by their own elephant attack, Pefkolaos' northern flank begins to falter. The Bosphorians and Pezhetairoi on the flank push forward and break the line. The elephants move in to assist, but they quickly fall to the Makedonike charge. The flank then circles around to surround the center of Pefkolaos' line:
https://img87.imageshack.us/img87/3362/maa2707ow0.png

Soon sections of Pefkolaos' line are breaking, then reforming, then breaking again. The Makedonike line breaks formation and charges forward to surround small groups who still stand and try to break them quickly:
https://img87.imageshack.us/img87/3127/maa2709lr1.png

Several groups of Pyrrhos' line charge forward randomly at enemy groups trying to reform and break them again before they can regroup. Pyrrhos' men take heavy losses but deal even greater losses on their enemy. With the entire Syrian infantry line broken, the Bosphorians chase the enemy archers, last men standing, from the field:
https://img297.imageshack.us/img297/9417/maa2710ns6.png

Pefkolaos manages to escape and takes the remnants of his army back into Anatolia, where he rests in the city of Nikaia:
https://img238.imageshack.us/img238/5273/maa2715xe2.png

At first glance it would appear that this battle was a success for neither side. Both leaders still live and both armies were almost entirely wiped out. Though it will turn out to be a great victory for Pyrrhos. The Syrian army was the only standing professional army that Pefkolaos and the Demetrids had. Pyrrhos, on the other hand, had two professional armies in Thraikia and another in Iberia, as well as a great number of allied armies ready to assist him in his war.

Beyond that, Pyrrhos controls Makedonia. When his professional army of Makedones is wiped out, he can simply fall back and build a new army from the sizable, though plague weakened, population of Makedonia. The number of Makedones in the east is small, and the closest center of Makedonike population is in Syria. Pefkolaos cannot assemble and move a professional force forward nearly as quickly.

While Pyrrhos falls back to Pella to rebuild his army and get some personal rest, his son Sotades takes his old army and moves forward to put pressure on the Demetrids the following spring:
https://img87.imageshack.us/img87/8316/maa2716em8.png

The known world in the spring of 175BC:
https://img72.imageshack.us/img72/41...763editqh5.png

Next: Chapter 53 : Arabian Problems

Damn that was a good battle! Great chapter, MAA!

yep...the AI even did *decently* with what it was given, at least in comparison to what I normally expect from the AI. Beautiful shots too.

Incredible chapter MAA! :2thumbsup:

Reading your AAR has inspired to right my own about my Arche Seleukeia campaign.

Still amazed at the truly epic scope of this AAR, very tense battle that was! I'm still loving this very very much

Wow! This is great!

Amazing, good battle!!!!!!!And was it a heroic victory or just a clear victory?

Wow, I didn't even notice this great AAR until now! Civil War in the Macedonian Empire, now that's class.

MAA that was amazing! A truly Epic chapter. It reminds me of the Roman civil wars. You must have been smiling ear to ear with that fight. Two lines of Sarissa wielding men as far as the eye can see locked onto each other to the death. Truly, a glorious battle.

Arche Phyrros vs Arche Syria?

How long do you think It'll take to reclaim the Empire, and, eventually, reunite all of Alexandros's Empire?

Also, what do the Median Kingdom's Army look like?

:2thumbsup: :2thumbsup:
Well Done with this

Thanks for following, everyone, and thanks for commenting. :bow:

Quote:

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Originally Posted by paullus

yep...the AI even did *decently* with what it was given, at least in comparison to what I normally expect from the AI. Beautiful shots too.

---

Yeah, the AI behaved quite well, all things being relative. The only things they didn't do well was: 1- Their cavalry looked like it was moving it to flank me and could have easily done so, but stopped and did nothing in stead. 2- Their infantry kept moving forward a little at a time but never engaged me, I had to do it. And 3- They charged their elephants through their own battle line...

Quote:

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Originally Posted by hrrypttrbst

Amazing, good battle!!!!!!!And was it a heroic victory or just a clear victory?

---

Actually, it was a "Close Defeat". I was never able to catch up to those Syrian Archers and chased them around the map for about ten minutes until the timer ran out and the defender won by default. I then took a small army and auto-calc'd against Pefkolaos twice, getting him to retreat to Nikaia.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Chirurgeon

MAA that was amazing! A truly Epic chapter. It reminds me of the Roman civil wars. You must have been smiling ear to ear with that fight. Two lines of Sarissa wielding men as far as the eye can see locked onto each other to the death. Truly, a glorious battle.

---

I find myself thinking of the Roman civil wars and the east-west split, but I'm trying not to exactly recreate them with another nation. It is indeed nice when the AI behaves and you're able to have an actual sarrisa battle. Too bad I wasn't ever able to deliver the cavalry hammer to the sarrisa anvil.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Olaf The Great

Arche Phyrros vs Arche Syria?

How long do you think It'll take to reclaim the Empire, and, eventually, reunite all of Alexandros's Empire?

Also, what do the Median Kingdom's Army look like?

---

Right now I'm calling them the Pyrrhic Dynasty and the Demetrid Dynasty (after Megas Demetrios)(though it seems like it should be Demetri-id). Once Pyrrhos conquers enough, I intend to restore the name "Arche Makedonia".

I've played about five years and I've lost one territory while gaining about five, so it will be slow to reclaim...

The Medians were fielding mostly Pantodapoi and Pantodapoi Phalangitai when I last fought them. Although, I tore down all of their regional MICs and spawned them L3 factional MICs in all of their towns when I restored all that territory to them. Hopefully, they will have at least some form of eastern army in the future. (Most of their current standing army is "slaves" that spawned when I gave them their towns.)

I remember you're on a slightly outdated build, and that the general skins are of KH's style

Well, just so you know, changing skins is save-game compatible

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Olaf The Great

I remember you're on a slightly outdated build, and that the general skins are of KH's style

Well, just so you know, changing skins is save-game compatible

---

Yeah, I know. I've thought about doing it before too, but the model was changed to accomodate the variations in different factions. I just haven't cared about the appearance enough to go to the effort...
I've also considered updating the strat map models, but haven't.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by MarcusAureliusAntoninus

Yeah, I know. I've thought about doing it before too, but the model was changed to accomodate the variations in different factions. I just haven't cared about the appearance enough to go to the effort...
I've also considered updating the strat map models, but haven't.

---

Well cool, anyway when can we expect a new update

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Olaf The Great

Well cool, anyway when can we expect a new update

---

I cross my fingers for tomorrow

Great chapter Marcus!:2thumbsup:

Sorry for being late. I just found the time today to read the massive introduction and the first chapter. The battle was really cool and reminded me of the numerous phalanx-battles I fought Makedonia vs. Seleukeia.:bow:

I'm glad you continued your AAR and I hope to read more soon.:yes: :yes: :yes:

Thanks, Centurio. :bow:




I'll have the next chapter up tommorrow...

That's good to hear:2thumbsup:

Aaaaaaaarghhhh....for me tomorrow is here already

Chapter 53 : Arabian Problems

The Arche Makedonia is torn apart by civil war. Foreign powers begin to recongnize that two seperate powers have taken the place of the one. They realize that while united the Arche Makedonia was undefeatable, torn in two they are weak both internally and externally. For the first time in decades, the Arche Seleukeia becomes the most powerful nation in all of the known world, secure in Persia and winning their war against Gandhara:
https://img137.imageshack.us/img137/4512/maa2726uw8.jpg

While Pyrrhos rebuilds his army that winter, his son defends the Bosphoros and Hellespontos. With no imediate push eastward in Anatolia, the areas loyal to Pyrrhos in the east are isolated and forced to fend for themselves. In Egrisi, Lysippos and his massive force is not even threatened. In Galatia, the Galatians begin increasing the size of their army and are quite secure. Meanwhile in Iuodaia, this poor client kingdom and the Makedonike colonies to the east are completely isolated and powerless:
https://img292.imageshack.us/img292/893/maa2717sf2.png

With a garrison of Syrians and Anatolians, the city of Hierosolyma begins to experience disertion and rioting. Faced with the problem of defense, the Hellenized Phoenician King of Ioudaia begins recruiting spearmen from amongst the Jewish population, something that had never been permitted before in the Arche Makedonia.

East of there, the Delphikos family is forced to defend the Makedonike colonies, centered in the city of Bostra, from Arabian and possible Demetrid agression. Cut off from reinforcements and unable to equip newly trained men, the family is forced to defend the city with what Klerouchoi he has standing. As the desert summer begins to reach its high, an army from the Kingdom of Sab'yn once again reaches the Delphikos doorstep:
https://img137.imageshack.us/img137/9308/maa2719vq0.png

Once again, Chrysoloras Delphikos takes command of the army and lines the men up to defend the city. The army of Sab'yn ignores the fact that they are outnumbered and charges forward at full speed:
https://img137.imageshack.us/img137/59/maa2720iz8.png

Their charge proves to be a success, as the Arabians charge through the sarrisa line and start killing the Delphikos' Klerouchoi phalangitai:
https://img292.imageshack.us/img292/865/maa2721eu7.png

Chrysoloras orders his Klerouchoi peltastai to circle around from the flank and attack the enemy rear, but as soon as they move forward they are countered by enemy cavalry:
https://img143.imageshack.us/img143/3308/maa2722pi2.png

With the center of the line completely breaking, Chrysoloras orders the flanks of his line to move in and behind to reinforce the newly formed hole:
https://img292.imageshack.us/img292/5559/maa2723nu8.png

Facing a second line, though the Arabian attackers are winning they decide to give up the fight, turn, and flee. Chrysoloras gives the order to pursue:
https://img292.imageshack.us/img292/2323/maa2724fc6.png

Chasing the enemy from the field, the Delphikos family manages to once again wipe out an Arabian army. Although their losses are small, they are all from amongst the Klerouchoi phalangitai who are vital to the defense of the city and irreplacible:
https://img137.imageshack.us/img137/3333/maa2725ij6.jpg

To the west, Antisthenes Gortynios arrives in Kyrene and is warmly welcomed. The old governor of Kyrene was son-in-law to Demetrios, but the death of his wife Artemidora distances him from the Demetrid branch of the family. That and his respect of Pyrrhos in the African Invasion had pulled him over to the Pyrrhic side, bring all of Lybia with him. Antisthenes Gortynios immediately goes about the business of defending Lybia from Demetrid forces in Aigyptos:
https://img292.imageshack.us/img292/9173/maa2728sv4.png

In far off Iberia, Philippos, second-born son of Pyrrhos and heir to the throne, besieges the capital of the Lusotannan tribe at the city of Oxtraca. Attempting to bring the majority of Iberia under Makedonike control quickly, Philippos rushes his war, hoping to finish it and soon join his father in Anatolia:
https://img292.imageshack.us/img292/5779/maa2729oi2.png

Other than his arm of Thorakitai, Philippos has with him two similarly sized armies of coastal Iberia allies and mercenaries, as well as sizable garrisons in every Iberian city. Such forces take huge sums of money to maintain and pay wages. A few years prior, the resources of Anatolia and Armenia were enough to support huge standing armies and military forces all across the Arche. With the loss of these regions, the economy of Pyrrhos' Arche is falling apart and the treasury has all but vanished.

From Pella, Pyrrhos has to start making cutbacks. The war in Iberia was vital to the Arche, for it is one of the only resource and silver rich regions in the west and taking control of those resources is a priority. Leaving the standing forces alone in Iberia, Pyrrhos starts making cuts elsewhere. Standing armies of locals or mercenaries all across the western half the Arche Makedonia, who had been on retainer, would have to be removed from the payroll. There are many standing armies that had once had purpose, then were forgotten, and are now no longer needed. There were mercenaries in northern and southern Italia prepared to defend against a Romaioi rebellion, armies in Sikilia who had been trained in case of a counter attack from Kart-Hadast, and heavy defensive forces along all borders, even those of allies. Unable to pay all these men and needing money for his war in the east, Pyrrhos quickly dismisses these locals and mercenaries. Even with this act, however, the economy only balances itself and no profit is seen. Refusing to confiscate property and make enemies of the nobility, Pyrrhos is forced to take out loans from the noble Makedones and acquire debt.

Far from Philippos or Pyrrhos is an odd man, Isidoros Oresteus. Isidoros had already planned and started an invasion of eastern Arabia when the civil war first started. He had taken with him the army of Babylon, originally raised to prove their loyalty to their new masters, they had taken the city of Charax at the end of the campaign in Babylonia. With Elymais secured, as it was at the time of Isidoros' planning, and no need for a standing army in southern Babylonia, Isidoros Oresteus had gathered the Babylonian force and marched it into the desert to confront the Kingdom of Sab'yn. When the civil war began, Isidoros had simply ignored it and continued with his campaign.

Reaching the oasis city of Gerrha, Isidoros and the Babylonians besiege it. And within a year, a few scattered troops cross the desert from Maka and attack them:
https://img143.imageshack.us/img143/4741/maa2731zk8.png

Isidoros does not have any desert fighting experience but he is no fool. He and his men take up position on a dune and wait for the enemy to come to them:
https://img143.imageshack.us/img143/9095/maa2733gl1.png

His force, heavy in archers, quickly eliminate the bulk of the first force. As the enemy numbers become low, Isidoros orders his cavalry on both flanks to charge forward and wipe out all those who are left:
https://img137.imageshack.us/img137/7381/maa2734zs9.png

The enemy quickly fall and the cavalry once again returned to their positions on the flanks. Soon the other forces of the enemy arrive, and unlike the previous army, they are able to reach Isidoros' battle line:
https://img137.imageshack.us/img137/342/maa2736pq3.png

Even though they get to the top of the dune and attack Isidoros' men, they are no match for them and soon flee. Isidoros and the entire cavlary force then quickly rush forward and give chase:
https://img292.imageshack.us/img292/4244/maa2737ab9.png

In the pursuit, Nawfim Il Watar falls dead along with all of his men. So the coast of eastern Arabia falls into the hands of Isidoros:
https://img143.imageshack.us/img143/1129/maa2739bu1.jpg

Isidoros quickly establishes control of the city and moves his men south, heading for Maka and to the lands that control the opening of the Persian Gulf. The city of Gerrha and the conquered lands along the coast then default to the Demetrids, although Isidoros Oresteus simply says that he is handing them over to "the Arche Makedonia" when he leaves.

Back in Iberia, the Iberian Confederation once again attacks the city of Emporion. Unable to move their men down to Lusotannia to relieve one of their capitals, they instead attempt to draw Philippos north. Even when he hears news of an invasion in northern Iberia, Philippos does not change his plans. He has faith in the garrison of Emporion and continues his siege of Oxtraca:
https://img292.imageshack.us/img292/4655/maa2741zk5.png

South of there, another border is threatened when Numidian forces attack the African city of Ippone. There too there is no army to come to their relief and the garrison is forced to fend for itself:
https://img137.imageshack.us/img137/9287/maa2740nr3.png

Even though war still wages on the borders of the Arche Makedonia, the attention of all those within the Arche Makedonia is still focused on the civil war itself. With the defeat of Pefkolaos and the loss of the Syrian army, many in the east begin to think that they are on the loosing side, but most remain loyal to Pefkolaos.

https://img292.imageshack.us/img292/7245/maa2742uf6.png

In Armenia, where Bykoli and Pefkolaos had never been able to sure up support, some regions decide that it is time to switch sides. In the north, those living in the central Caucasus mountains and the northern edges of Armenia decide to switch sides. They send messengers to Lysippos in Egrisi and request his assistance and protection. With his army of Pontic Hellenes already moving into Pontos, Lysippos orders his army of steppe cavalry, Armenians, and Medians to move to the city of Mtskheta and defend the region.

Just south of there, there is rioting in Armavir and all across the territory of Hayasdan. Here, however, they do not wish simply to switch sides but rather yearn for independance from either side. In the Lake Van region, the Armenian locals and Thraikioi settlers begin to take up arms and declare the region under their control in support of Pyrrhos.

Finally, in the far south of Armenia, the territory of Sophene expels their Demetrid-friendly garrison and declares the region loyal to Pyrrhos. They send word to Lysippos, but he is unable to send reinforcements to assist the area at this time.

Although news is good in the north for Pyrrhos, south of the area the Delphikos family is forced to abandon Bostra. Under threat of invasion from the Demetrids to the north and continued threat to the south from the Kingdom of Sab'yn, the Delphikos family is forced to abandon their claim to Bostra and falls back to Ioudaia. Since most of their army is Klerouchoi with their homes in the area, very few men choose to follow their generals when the retreat. With the family's withdrawl, the region defaults to Demetrid control:
https://img137.imageshack.us/img137/7100/maa2743ud8.png

As this happens, envoys from the Demetrid capital of Demetreia reach southern Arabia and met with the king of Sab'yn. The Sab'yn king recognizes the Demetrid claim to the Arche Makedonia and promises a ceasefire:
https://img143.imageshack.us/img143/8587/maa2727wp3.jpg

Both the Delphikos family and Isidoros Oresteus are outraged by this act. The Delphikos family travels to Hierosolyma and receive assylum from the king, but meanwhile, Isidoros finally chooses his side. Turning his army around, Isidoros marches his Babylonian force back to Babylonia, promising to get revenge on those who betrayed him...

Pyrrhos finally retrains, replenishes, and assembles his army in Makedonia. Leaving the city of Pella in command of his third-born son, Pyrrhos marches east. Pyrrhos' third-born son, Euphrantos is crippled like his father, but besides that doesn't take after him too much [dispite having the "Takes After His Father" trait]. Having been raised in Italia and Africa, Euphrantos is overjoyed to be in a huge city of his own culture. He quickly falls into womanizing and wasting his time and money on pleasures:
https://img292.imageshack.us/img292/2417/maa2744pq9.jpg

Unwilling to cross the Bosphoros, Sotades instead had crossed the Hellespontos and moved against Pergamon. While he besieges that city, his father Pyrrhos moves to the Bosphoros to move against the city of Nikaia where Pefkolaos hides:
https://img292.imageshack.us/img292/5927/maa2745tl3.png

The two men and their massive armies finally begin the core of the civil war as the winter hits. Seeing Pyrrhos approaching, Pefkoloas calls for as many reinforcements he can gather from Anatolia. Meanwhile, he sends his advisors and government administrators to Demetreia where he sets up a government for his son. While Pefkoloas leads the war, this government takes control of management of the territories.

Several months after Pyrrhos begins his offensive, that the Demetrids decide to begin their own counter-attack in Sophene and Armenia:
https://img292.imageshack.us/img292/9855/maa2746ip9.png

The known world in the winter of 175BC:
https://img137.imageshack.us/img137/...751editfc4.png

Next: Chapter 54 : Philip's War (Part II)

Wow awesome chapter! I hope Phillipos manages to finish his war in Iberia in time to help his father.

historical chapter just amazing

Very good. I hope Orestheus eats the dirty buggers up from behind.:grin:

Great chapter! Oresteus could really be useful to you. If he can take Babylon and Seleukeia back, then you'll have the Demetrids pretty much surrounded from all sides.

Thanks for following.

My plan for Philippos is to take Lusotannia and Celtiberia, then halt. Hopefully, the Iberians will have enough forces to defend the region and Philippos can move eastward.

The funny thing about Isidoros Oresteus is that I had originally planned to take Gerrha and Maka, then disband his army, kill him, and hand the territories over to the Demetrids. When they made peace with Saba before I could do that, I saw it as a great roleplaying oppertunity.

cool shot:

https://img292.imageshack.us/img292/865/maa2721eu7.png

nice update.

Thanks, paullus.

The weird pathfinding in cities without walls leads to the AI actually pushing through my phalanx. I think it is one of the few AI oddities which actually proves useful to them.

Just caught up on this MAA! Looking good and there should be some major tension forthcoming. Excellent job

https://img182.imageshack.us/img182/...757edittq7.png
Chapter 54 : Philip's War (Part II)

The Pyrrhic Dynasty had been suffering from attacks from Numidia, Mauretania, and Iberia, but the Demetrid Dynasty had their own border problems too. The Demetrids had managed to make peace with the Kingdom of Sab'yn and had managed to not provoke any of their other neighbors, however, they were surrounded by those who hated the Arche Makedonia. South of them, Ptolemai VII and his Nubian forces assembled on the weakened border of their old enemy:
https://img255.imageshack.us/img255/2220/maa2747ei5.png

In Media and Elymais, the reformed Median Empire was building up their forces and looking north to Armenia, west to Babylonia, and east into Seleukid Persia:
https://img255.imageshack.us/img255/9753/maa2748oj8.png

In Anatolia, the Demetids in Pegamon had been besieged by Sotades and now Pyrrhos had pushed east with his rebuilt army and cornered Pefkolaos in Nikaia. Although Pefkolaos had managed to assembled a decent force, almost none of them were professional soldiers:
https://img110.imageshack.us/img110/567/maa2759rl4.png

East of there, the Galatians had begun to move. Taking their entire army, they moved against Demetrid Pontos, where there was a minority of their Galatian brothers:
https://img166.imageshack.us/img166/9438/maa2760ju8.png

In Lybia, Antisthenes Gortynios had set up a series of desert forts, beginning at the coast and extending south until the circled Ammonion. Isolated in the desert, supplies and water were short. Due to this, the garrison of each fort had to be small and relatively self sufficient. These garrisons were made up of Hellenic Thorakitai or loyal Aigyptian peltastai:
https://img110.imageshack.us/img110/5683/maa2761ks2.png

And near Lake Van, forces of the Demetrids had arrived and surrounded the newly rearmed force of Thaikioi settlers. The Thraikioi took refuge behind a hastily assembled palisade and waited:
https://img166.imageshack.us/img166/2803/maa2763vx8.png

Even with a civil war, the center of action for the Pyrrhic Dynasty during this time is centered in Iberia. When the civil war started, the war in Iberia was already well underway. Unable to negotiate peace and seeking the resources of inland Iberia, Pyrrhos ordered his second-born son and heir, Philippos, to remain in Iberia and draw the war to a conclusion. While Pyrrhos marched eastward to Pella to be declared Basileus, his son conquered the Iberian city of Baikor then moved into Turdulia. For a couple years he had waited and established military control over the conquered regions [Type3 governments].

Just as Philippos had moved against Lusotannia, the Iberians attacked the Hellenic city of Emporion. Now, after a short seige, the Iberians decide to attack:
https://img110.imageshack.us/img110/4251/maa2749hw1.png

With a ram, siege tower, and many ladders, the Iberians move to take the city by force. As soon as they move forward, the ram is targetted by the men in the towers and is quickly destroyed:
https://img110.imageshack.us/img110/9519/maa2751vr0.png

Unable to get through the gateway, the Iberians are forced to scale the walls. Positioning ladders along the length of the western wall, they begin moving up:
https://img110.imageshack.us/img110/4454/maa2752lz9.png

Their tower, however, is not as lucking and is set on fire, just to the south:
https://img166.imageshack.us/img166/1336/maa2753rb7.png

On the walls, the Hellenes, descendants of colonists, defend their home and fight all those who come over the walls:
https://img166.imageshack.us/img166/8760/maa2754lz2.png

The battle on the walls lasts only a short time and the Iberians who climb over the walls are easily defeated. As the second wave of Iberians moves in to attack, the Helenic Hoplitai move outside the city and confront them on open ground:
https://img110.imageshack.us/img110/75/maa2755tq8.png

The Iberian spearmen are no match for the Hoplitai phalanx. The Hellenes surround the last of their enemy and kill them there, before their walls:
https://img255.imageshack.us/img255/5664/maa2756fh2.png

The city is easily defended and relieved from the siege:
https://img166.imageshack.us/img166/6378/maa2758cr8.jpg

West of Emporion, Philippos decides to take the city of Oxtraca by force. Oxtraca, capital of the Lusotannan tribe is one of the key cities of the Iberian Confederacy. Although the capital of the Iberian Confederacy had been moved to Numantia, the Lusotannan tribe were one of the founding tribes of the Iberian Confederacy and the contributer of most of the elite infantry for all their wars. The fall of Oxtraca would be a huge blow to the Iberian Confederacy, militarily, economically, as wells as psychologically:
https://img110.imageshack.us/img110/2862/maa2775aj3.png

As mid-day approaches, Philippos lines his men up along the eastern wall and moves his towers towards the enemy city:
https://img110.imageshack.us/img110/9251/maa2776sl8.png

They approach the walls and the small garrison of elite soldiers throw their javelin as they prepare to fight to defend their city:
https://img255.imageshack.us/img255/9435/maa2777ga4.png

Ready for battle, the gates lower and all four Makedonike siege towers open up. Thorakitai rush out and face the city defenders:
https://img110.imageshack.us/img110/8293/maa2778xv8.png

The Makedones quickly take a foothold on the wall and push their enemy back:
https://img166.imageshack.us/img166/2158/maa2779de1.png

The Iberians to the south of the gateway soon fall, but elite Iberians hold their ground to the north. Reinforcing the one unit holding them down, more Thorakitai rush in to assist. Soon, the single group of Iberian elites are facing the men from three separate siege towers and are completely surrounded and outnumbered:
https://img110.imageshack.us/img110/2998/maa2781ta6.png

While the battle still rages on the walls, Philippos orders his Iberian mercenaries through the captured gateway. On the other side of the walls, they only encounter light infantry and quickly take ground:
https://img255.imageshack.us/img255/971/maa2782ak4.png

Iberian cavalry rush to the gateway to assist in the defense, but the Thorakitai on the walls pelt them with javelin, causing them to retreat:
https://img255.imageshack.us/img255/7705/maa2783wn5.png

As the last Iberian elite falls dead on the walls, Philippos orders his army forward and into the city:
https://img166.imageshack.us/img166/7266/maa2785fz6.png

The mercenaries move forward first and encounter a group of defenders half way between the walls and the city center:
https://img255.imageshack.us/img255/3453/maa2787uo7.png

Outnumbered three to one, these men quickly break and flee.

Slowing marching forward, the mercenaries and Thorakitai spearmen move toward the city center, where the last defenders hide:
https://img255.imageshack.us/img255/7821/maa2788kn7.png

While the mercenaries and Thorakitai spearmen draw the attention of the enemy, the Thorakitai swordsmen approach the city center from the rear and the elite Peltastai from the flank:
https://img110.imageshack.us/img110/5426/maa2789ha0.png

Surrounding the enemy, Philippos orders all his men to charge forward and finish them off:
https://img166.imageshack.us/img166/506/maa2790gg0.png

The few enemies left standing quickly fall and soon the city does as well:
https://img255.imageshack.us/img255/9514/maa2791si0.jpg

With the fall of Oxtraca, not only does Philippos take control of a fortress, but completely conquers the Lusotannan tribe. A few nobles escape, but the majority of the tribe and the vast lands they claim fall into the hands of the Arche Makedonia:
https://img255.imageshack.us/img255/5875/maa2792hm9.png

Next: Chapter 55 : Death of a Basileus

Great Update, I love that line of forts!

Excellent as always MAA :2thumbsup:

Great, but the titel of the next chapter somewhat worries me.

Looks like Pyrrhos is going to meet his ancestors. He was old anyway.

Thank for commenting! :bow:

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Centurio Nixalsverdrus

Looks like Pyrrhos is going to meet his ancestors. He was old anyway.

---

Not necessarily. Remember Pefkolaos is besieged in Nikaia and he is a Basileus too, of the Demetrids. If the siege is successful, it will be Pefkolaos who dies, not Pyrrhos. Then again, it could be Pyrrhos, but both of them are in danger, one from age and the other from (very likely) death in battle.

Great update!!Ilove it!!

Just catching up on this. Makedonian Military Discipline in action! Good update MAA! My question is how is the commander of the Babylonian army going to exact his revenge? His armies are outnumbered and outclassed against the Demetrids forces.

Thanks for following.

There are still many Basileou[sp?] alive. I could be refering to Ptolemai VII in Nubia... :egypt: ...or not...

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Wolfman

Just catching up on this. Makedonian Military Discipline in action! Good update MAA! My question is how is the commander of the Babylonian army going to exact his revenge? His armies are outnumbered and outclassed against the Demetrids forces.

---

Well the Babylonians have two advantages. First of all, they have tons of archers. Secondly, the Demetrids are sending all of their armies to Armenia (because of revolts), Anatolia, or southern Aigyptos, thus leaving Babylonia nearly defenseless. (I wish "Media" would take advantage of this weakness, but they don't.)

bump to the next page...

Chapter 55 : Death of a Basileus

Although the Demetid Dynasty and the Pyrrhic Dynasty are two parts of what was once the united Arche Makedonia, they each have their own strengths and weaknesses militarily. The east-west division separated one side or they other from a certain technology or resource, while at the same time the differences of culture and regional forces bring new technology or tactics into use.

The defining characteristic of the Pyrrhic military is chain armor. This armor had been brought eastward by the Galatians to Thraikia and Galatia. In the Arche Makedonia quality chain armor is produced in the western territories or by Galatian smiths. With all the western territories falling into the hands of Pyrrhos and the Galatians swearing loyalty to Makedonia, all quality chain production is cut off from the Demetrids. In the Pyrrhic army chain is used widely by all classes of soldiers, but mostly by the Pezhetairoi and the Thorakitai. The Demetrid Thorakitai instead is forced to adapt to the east and begins to use scale armor or reverts to linothorax.

The Demetrid military, on the other hand, begins to include eastern influences in their military. Aristotelis had always been facinated with the east and Bykoli had continued his dream of warfare in the east. Already with an interest in eastern warfare, the Demetrids are quick to exploit eastern technology and tactics to help fill their gaps. This shows itself in three different ways. First of all, the Demetrids begin recruiting eastern natives into their Pantodapoi phalangitai, as well as hiring natives to fight in their particular traditional way, to make up for their shortage of of Hellenes and Makedones. Secondly, much of their armor and equipment becomes more eastern, most notably the use of scale armor. And finally, the use of eastern tactics in their core forces. These showed themselves most of all in their Hellenikoi Kataphraktoi and Hellenikoi Hippotoxotai, two elite units of mixed men fighting in the ways of the east. [I changed the name of the Baktrian Hippotoxotai and allowed for recruitment in the same areas as the Hellenikoi Kataphraktoi.]

No matter the differences in technologies, this war is to be decided by resources and number of elite soldiers. As the civil war starts, Pyrrhos has more Makedones under his control, but Pefkolaos controls the resources of Anatolia. Kappadokia, and Armenia. To gain the upper hand in resources, Pyrrhos had ordered his son to conquer the resources of Iberia and moves all other standing armies eastward to Anatolia.

For quite some time, neither side had actually fought eachother, but as both sides make their battle plans and move their troops against the other, the fighting began. In Armenia, the Thraikioi, who had been settled in the Van Lake region after the end of the Third Armenian War and the defeat of the Kingdom of Hayasdan, had mobilized and garrisoned themselves in a fort near their homes along the lake shore. The Thraikioi didn't exactly join the side of Pyrrhos but rather fought against the Demetrids. Laying claim to all of Armenia, the Demetrids sent a military force to wipe out this rebel army:
https://img166.imageshack.us/img166/2803/maa2763vx8.png

Besieged by their enemy, the Thraikioi sally out of their camp and move to meet them:
https://img88.imageshack.us/img88/4892/maa2764tt6.png

This battle gave the Demetrids a chance to try out one of their new cavalry squads of kataphraktoi. These kataphraktoi move forward to confront the Thraikioi to the west of the fort. The Thraikioi counter them by moving forward and throwing their javelin, but they have no effect and simply glance off the heavily armored men:
https://img205.imageshack.us/img205/1482/maa2767li8.png

Their javelin doing nothing, the Thraikioi rush forward to confront the kataphrakoi in melee, but as the move forward they are countered by enemy spearmen who help the kataphraktoi get clear of combat:
https://img241.imageshack.us/img241/7361/maa2768kc5.png

On the eastern side of the battle field, the heavy Thraikioi move forward to confront the bulk of the enemy battle line:
https://img241.imageshack.us/img241/6641/maa2769qn1.png

As the heavy Thraikioi hold down the Demetrid infanty, the Thraikioi on the western edge of the battle finally manage to break through and confront the kataphraktoi:
https://img88.imageshack.us/img88/1020/maa2770jf4.png

The Thraikioi engulf the kataphraktoi and begin cutting through their armor with their large blades:
https://img241.imageshack.us/img241/152/maa2771gi4.png

The kataphraktoi don't stand a chance against the Thraikioi weapons and soon the entire group, including their enemy leader is dead. Confronted with a huge amount of elite troops and now leaderless, the rest of the Demetrid forces in the center break and flee while the Thraikioi give chase:
https://img241.imageshack.us/img241/810/maa2772lr9.png

As the enemy attempts to flee, the Thraikioi cavalry chases down the routers:
https://img205.imageshack.us/img205/1676/maa2773yl6.png

Although it is not a fair trial, the first usage of kataphraktoi for the Demetrids turns into a complete defeat. The Thraikioi manage to defend their homes and continue to be a thorn in the side of the Demetrids in Armenia:
https://img88.imageshack.us/img88/9179/maa2774rn5.jpg

Soon after the battle near Lake Van, the Demetrids attempt to capture the client state of Ioudaia by besieging Heirosolyma as well as the Delphikos military camp to the north near Megiddo:
https://img205.imageshack.us/img205/7682/maa2815cr1.png

Forced to break from their own besiegement before they can rescue Heirosolyma, the Delphikos family quickly prepares their men and sally out to meet the enemy:
https://img88.imageshack.us/img88/7211/maa2817us1.png

As the first enemy force approaches the fort, the Kretikoi open fire with their arrows and completely wipe them out. When the second Demetrid force arrives to find all their own men dead and confronted by a large force of Kretikoi and Hetairoi, they decide to withdraw rather than fight:
https://img88.imageshack.us/img88/9116/maa2818bx8.png

The Delphikos manage to relieve their own siege but must rest and gather supplies before they can rescue Hierosolyma:
https://img241.imageshack.us/img241/1497/maa2819hw9.jpg

Faced with constant war, Eulandros tires of fighting and desires simply to govern a town again. He then places his sons in command of the army:
https://img205.imageshack.us/img205/1663/maa2820jx2.jpg

It is around the same time as the battle in Ioudaia that Pyrrhos and Pefkolaos met eachother on the battlefield for a second time. Pefkoloas had sent his advisors, administers, and son to Demetreia and barricaded himself in Nikaia, where he was gathering an army. Before he could build any substantial force, however, Pyrrhos had arrived with his rebuilt army and besieged the city. When reinforcement seige equiptment arrives to find the city besieged, Pyrrhos moves to wipe it out before it can reach the city or retreat. Pefkolaos takes this oppertunity to sally out of the city and try to catch Pyrrhos unprepared:
https://img88.imageshack.us/img88/5944/maa2793ii9.png

Facing only a single group of seige weapons, Pyrrhos sends in his Hetairoi and charges:
https://img88.imageshack.us/img88/4481/maa2795vy1.png

These unarmored, poorly equiped men quickly fall dead, but Pyrrhos then notices Pefkoloas' army approaching from the city. Pyrrhos withdraws his Hetairoi behind the battle line and prepares his Pezhetairoi for battle. Pefkolaos sends his cavlary forward, ahead of the rest of his army to meet Pyrrhos:
https://img205.imageshack.us/img205/5416/maa2796pf0.png

While one group of cavalry is wiped out in the center by the archers, a second hits the left flank while Pefkolaos personally leads his kataphraktoi in a charge at the right flank:
https://img88.imageshack.us/img88/9413/maa2797xf0.png

The Basilikon Agema charges in and confronts the elite kataphraktoi as the right flank Pezhetairoi begins to break formation:
https://img88.imageshack.us/img88/8109/maa2798qf2.png

While the Basilkon Agema and Pezhetairoi hold down the Demetrid kataphraktoi and Pefkoloas, Pyrrhos circles his Hetairoi around the right flank. Preoccupied by battle, Pefkoloas doesn't notice this move and Pyrrhos gains the upper hand. Pyrrhos lines up his Hetairoi and orders a charge at full speed, which he personally leads:
https://img205.imageshack.us/img205/3915/maa2799wo8.png

The force of the initial charge alone kills half of the kataphraktoi and then Pyrrhos and his Hetairoi completely encircle Pefkolaos and switch to their swords. History records that the crippled 55 year old Pyrrhos and 35 year old Pefkoloas personally duel eachother and Pyrrhos deals the killing blow against his enemy. It is however, more likely that a random Hetairoi was the one to deal the killing blow and the duel is a myth written by a historian who never actually witnessed the battle. Either way, Pefkoloas falls dead and his army desolves into chaos:
https://img241.imageshack.us/img241/7817/maa2800wd4.jpg

Pyrrhos falls back and reestablishes his battle line, expecting the rest of the army to either surrender of fall back to Nikaia. Instead, they hold their ground, though disorganized and devided into many separate groups:
https://img241.imageshack.us/img241/2389/maa2802ui2.png

Random groups move forward, seemingly without any any plan or organization:
https://img241.imageshack.us/img241/3808/maa2803li4.png

All of these groups break quickly, but then reform and try again. Seeking a surrender, Pyrrhos once again leads his Hetairoi forward to convince the enemy they have lost:
https://img241.imageshack.us/img241/941/maa2805vg6.png

Once out from behind his line, Pyrrhos is confronted by the remaining cavalry force who fight bravely against Pyrrhos' vastly superior Hetairoi who outnumber them three to one:
https://img241.imageshack.us/img241/5161/maa2807fr4.png

The enemy cavalry retreat, but still there is no surrender or retreat. Pyrrhos orders his battle line to defend the hill and returns to a familiar tactic he hasn't used since Italia: superiority though masses of cavalry in quick strikes. Separating his Hetairoi, Pyrrhos charges in at isolated groups:
https://img241.imageshack.us/img241/8535/maa2808pl5.png

Meanwhile, the Basilikon Agema moves forward to counter the largest group of enemy men still standing:
https://img88.imageshack.us/img88/8558/maa2809hw4.png

On the far side of the battle Pyrrhos charges and breaks groups again...
https://img241.imageshack.us/img241/261/maa2810it7.png

...and again:
https://img241.imageshack.us/img241/2383/maa2812cg3.png

Pyrrhos successfully kills or routes the bulk of the Demetrid army, while the Basilikon Agema charges at the remaining enemy:
https://img241.imageshack.us/img241/1545/maa2813kz0.png

At last the remnants of the army finally break and surrender. Pyrrhos has his men collect their dead and march to the city of Nikaia:
https://img205.imageshack.us/img205/4563/maa2816dc3.png

Pyrrhos honors Pefkoloas with a grand funerary pyre, with all the rights due to a great leader. He does not, however, send the remains to Aigai but instead has them taken by envoy to Pefkolaos' family in Demetreia. Once in Demetriea, Antigone (wife of Pefkoloas and daughter of Bykoli) and and Euktimenos Idomeneus (4 year old son of Pefkoloas and Basileus of the Demetrids) honor Pefkoloas and place his remains in the tomb of Bykoli, which had been built there only a few years earlier.

The envoy of Pyrrhos also requests the terms on which the Demetrid family will surrender, but he receives none. The Demetrids ridgidly refuse to surrender and insist on continuing this war. The advisors, nobles, and generals of the Demetrids continue to wage the war, insisting that neither the death of Bykoli, Pefkoloas, nor any man will deter them in their claim at the Arche Makedonia. The court of Euktimenos and especially his mother Antigone rule in his stead. Pyrrhos receives nothing and the war continues. However, with the closes Demetrid army on the far side of Kappadokia, it is only a matter of time for Anatolia to become Pyrrhos'.

The known world in the summer of 174BC:
https://img88.imageshack.us/img88/66...741editxk5.png

Next: Chapter 56 : The Galatians' War

Gotta admit I thought it was going to be Pyrrhos who descended into Hades, but i'm glad I was wrong :yes:

I see that you still have the Ptolemy alive, how 'bout they sees the opportunity and re-etablishes their kingdom through conquest of Egypt?

good chapter and really amazing battles:2thumbsup:

Whoah, great chapter! (btw who used to be the median kingdom?)

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Ayce

Whoah, great chapter! (btw who used to be the median kingdom?)

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The armenians Ayce... and yeah it was another great chapter. You sill keep us glued to this thread MAA

I guess I should say good update. However my heart goes out to my Iberians. They put up a good fight against overwhelming odds.
I didnt see page three so I will say that was some good fighting there MAA. Truly amazing screenshots and I can almost hear the epic music in the background. Keep it up!

Great chapter! I like it epic. :smiley: I'm a bit astonished by the funarary honours you gave to the dirty usurpator. I would have had him dragged behind a chariot seven times round Nikaia... like in the good ol' days you know...:whip: But I'm nasty and unforgiving. Pyrrhos on the other hand is a man of honour. :grin:

Btw, I thought the Baktrian Pefkolaos was just somebody who by pure chance resembled the real Pefkolaos optically? Did you bring him over to the other side somehow, or how did you manage that part?

Great chapter Marcus, keep it up!
Oh, and Centurio, it's kind of hard to see, but I think he photoshopped in Pefkolaos's name.

Thanks for all the comments, everyone. I tried to make that battl more epic than it was, the AI actually acted extremely stupid, as reinforcement armies often do.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Jaertecken

I see that you still have the Ptolemy alive, how 'bout they sees the opportunity and re-etablishes their kingdom through conquest of Egypt?

---

In a few chapters, there is a whole lot of content on Ptolemai VII and his young son... :egypt:

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Centurio Nixalsverdrus

Great chapter! I like it epic. :smiley: I'm a bit astonished by the funarary honours you gave to the dirty usurpator. I would have had him dragged behind a chariot seven times round Nikaia... like in the good ol' days you know...:whip: But I'm nasty and unforgiving. Pyrrhos on the other hand is a man of honour. :grin:

Btw, I thought the Baktrian Pefkolaos was just somebody who by pure chance resembled the real Pefkolaos optically? Did you bring him over to the other side somehow, or how did you manage that part?

---

Pyrrhos was trying to win over some support from the family and friends of Pefkoloas so that he might get a surrender and end the war. The court and especially Pefkoloas' wife, however, would not have peace.

That guy was actually just a random Baktrian general who happened to look like Pefkoloas, just looking the other way. I teleported him over to Thraikia and gave him an army that matched the one that Pefkoloas had had. After that I just let him act as he wanted. (I edited the pictures to include his name.)

Excellent Update Again MAA! Though I must agree with Centurio Nixalsverdrus on your treatment of Pefkolas (spits as he says the name). Pah! It leaves a disgusting taste in my mouth to say his name. I would've done what Centurio suggested, than i would've sent his head as a nice present to your Galatian allies :evil:. The title of the next chapter is making me think that extreme brutality is going to be present. Me like!

Excllent chapter, as always MAA!!! Wonder what the future of the Arche will be...

Very nice update. Just got to ask, what are you doing about the Spartans? Such insolence cannot be allowed so close to Makedonian homeland. The Rhodioi too, should be severely punished.
I´d think now that Pefkolaos is dead at least some cities should go over to Pyrrhus again, especially those in Asia Minor, now largely unprotected.

Thanks for commenting. :bow:

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Wolfman

Excellent Update Again MAA! Though I must agree with Centurio Nixalsverdrus on your treatment of Pefkolas (spits as he says the name). Pah! It leaves a disgusting taste in my mouth to say his name. I would've done what Centurio suggested, than i would've sent his head as a nice present to your Galatian allies :evil:. The title of the next chapter is making me think that extreme brutality is going to be present. Me like!

---

Pyrrhos is just the kind of guy to be gracious to his enemies. He's never exterminated a town or punished a defeated enemy. When he took Roma, the capital of the people who he had waged war with for two decades, he didn't purposely harm anyone. He ever returned the Senate back to power. And even after Neokles had enslaved Kart-Hadast, Pyrrhos took over the town and tried to be kind to the remaining people. If he is kind to these levels of enemies, he would respect a fellow citizen of the Arche Makedonia.

I based his kind behaviour on traits he had when younger. (Though, he is getting a lot of weird old age traits that a dropping every single one of his stats. He used to have five or six command stars, now he's down to two or three. I've decided to just ignore the bad traits and pretend he still has the same stats as a decade ago, though...)

Quote:

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Originally Posted by General Appo

Very nice update. Just got to ask, what are you doing about the Spartans? Such insolence cannot be allowed so close to Makedonian homeland. The Rhodioi too, should be severely punished.
I´d think now that Pefkolaos is dead at least some cities should go over to Pyrrhus again, especially those in Asia Minor, now largely unprotected.

---

I had hoped the Spartans would cause more trouble and give me a story, but they've been very quiet. Though, seeing as they aren't a threat, I can wait to deal with them. Rhodos is a bigger problem. Rhodos was my main naval base and it is very important strategically (roleplaying, gameplay wise navies aren't that important). Interestingly enough, the AI is actually been building a fleet at Rhodos...

Chapter 56 : The Galatians' War

When the envoy returned to Pyrrhos to inform him there will be surrender, Pyrrhos realizes that he is in for a very long war. Pyrrhos thus makes plans for the future. First, he plans to ensure the safety of his current holdings by securing his borders and ensuring no further foreign conflicts. Then he'll take all of the forces he can and take control of Anatolia, Pontos, and Kappadokia. With the resources of these regions, he'll be able to restore the strength of the Arche Makedonia as well as restore many of the border forts in the west that were taken down due to shortages of funds. Once the greatness of the Arche Makedonia is fully restored, he'll strike at Syria and cut the head from the snake at Demetreia.

To begin his plan, Pyrrhos sends word to foreign powers that were once hated enemies of the Arche Makedonia, but now are far from lands controlled by Pyrrhos. First he sends word to Ptolemai VII in Nubia and easily gets an agreement to a ceasefire and restored Lybia-Nubia trade:
https://img253.imageshack.us/img253/8303/maa2821ta7.jpg

Then word is sent to Arabia and to the Kingdom of Sab'yn. A ceasefire is achieved but not much more, seeing as the Kingdom of Sab'yn had already allied with the Demetrids:
https://img291.imageshack.us/img291/5471/maa2822lr7.jpg

Pyrrhos himself takes a break from fighting and secures the city of Nikaia, but his son besieges Pergamon while a newly arrived army of Illyrians moves into Bithynia and then moves south:
https://img253.imageshack.us/img253/9746/maa2823ly3.png

To the east, in Pontos, another front had been opened. Old Lysippos had moved his force, after being rebuilt in Trapezous, to attack Sinope. The Galatians had moved into Pontos, as well, hoping to unite with some of their brothers who live outside of the Kingdom of Galatia and to fight for Pyrrhos.

Now, while besieging the city of Amaseia, the Galatians are attacked by a small Demetrid army:
https://img185.imageshack.us/img185/8896/maa2824cv2.png

While the enemy approach, the Galatians line up in three rows, infantry in the front, followed by the archers, then the cavalry:
https://img291.imageshack.us/img291/3847/maa2825tq4.png

The elite spearmen guard the flanks with the swordsmen in the middle, but in the exact center the general, nephew of the Galatian king, deploys his elite heavy swordsmen:
https://img291.imageshack.us/img291/6134/maa2826by8.png

The enemy approach without much order and the archers in the second line open fire on them over the heads of their own soldiers:
https://img253.imageshack.us/img253/5763/maa2827zs5.png

When the enemy get near the line, they attempt to get into formation. With the second enemy army in view, the cavalry breaks off to the left flank to get around the back of the enemy:
https://img291.imageshack.us/img291/6528/maa2828en1.png

The Demetrid phlangitai halt for a moment then decide to reorganize their line. While they are between formations, the Galatian general orders the charge and they attack their unorganized enemy:
https://img291.imageshack.us/img291/6706/maa2829bz1.png

The unorganized phalangitai are unprepared to fight and choose instead to flee. As they turn to flee, they are confronted by the Galatian heavy cavalry who had circled around their rear.

While the cavalry mop up the retreating enemy, the Galatian swordsmen regroup. The reinforcement army from the city of Amaseia chooses to charge this reformed line and completely ignores the elite spearmen who are still in possition guarding the flank of the archers:
https://img185.imageshack.us/img185/8052/maa2830ji4.png

Both the main line and the flank of elite spearmen charge in. The Demetrid reinforcements, like the first army, choose to flee rather than face the Galatians:
https://img253.imageshack.us/img253/8650/maa2831uq5.png

The Galatians give chase and follow the Demetrid garrison all the way back to the gates of Amaseia:
https://img291.imageshack.us/img291/6291/maa2832br5.png

The Galatians win an easy victory, but the fail to take the city and return to their siege:
https://img291.imageshack.us/img291/3604/maa2834lm8.jpg

While the Galatians wait, events unfold elsewhere. In Iberia, the Iberian Confederation once again takes advantage of the open front in the north. This time they attack the city of Seguntum and once again Philippos leaves the city garrison to deal with the problem:
https://img185.imageshack.us/img185/3900/maa2835of2.png

South of there, Numidians once again attack the port city of Ippone:
https://img185.imageshack.us/img185/9218/maa2847ng9.png

In eastern Arabia, harsh treatment of the locals causes a loyalist uprising in the city of Gerrha. Requesting help from the Kingdom of Sab'yn, the town is reinforced. Quickly, the region is reintegrated into the their kingdom and war breaks out between the Kingdom of Sab'yn and the Demetrids over the region:
https://img291.imageshack.us/img291/5551/maa2846my4.png

A while later, back in Pontos, the Galatians are once again under attack. This time, the Galatians are confronted by the largest Demetrid army that side of Syria:
https://img253.imageshack.us/img253/8782/maa2836kz4.png

The Galatians once again line up in the same formation as before and await their enemy. This time, however, they are attacked by ballistae from behind the advancing enemy line:
https://img253.imageshack.us/img253/1791/maa2838uu6.png

The Demerid army approaches in a long thin line, but the Galatians allow the light infantry to go around the flanks and concentrate on the heavier enemy infantry in the center:
https://img185.imageshack.us/img185/968/maa2839yf8.png

The Demetrid kataphraktoi charge in at the left flank, and the elite Galatian spearmen hold their ground:
https://img291.imageshack.us/img291/3707/maa2840vv6.png

The Galatians have heavy cavalry that could have countered the kataphraktoi, but they are busy on another mission. Avoiding the battle and circling a long way around the whole battlefield, the Galatians cavalry charges the undefended ballistae:
https://img185.imageshack.us/img185/9934/maa2841pz6.png

Even without cavalry support, the Galatian spearmen make quick work of the kataphraktoi while the swordsmen wipe out the enemy infantry in the center:
https://img291.imageshack.us/img291/4473/maa2842ag6.png

When the light enemy infantry circle around the flank and attack the rear, they expect to make quick work of the Galatian archers, but the archers fight back. The archers charge their attackers and defend the rear of the line with great skill:
https://img185.imageshack.us/img185/2066/maa2843my5.png

Once again the Galatians defeat their enemy. This time, they take the city of Amaseia and gain control over central Pontos:
https://img253.imageshack.us/img253/7104/maa2844jm9.jpg

Rather than peacefully restore central Pontos to Makedonike control under Pyrrhos, the Galatians begin a campaign of terror. The Galatians raid and terrorize the countryside, killing vast numbers of people and enslaving many. The Hellenes, Makedones, and Galatian inhabitants are mostly unharmed, but the natives and Persians of the region are slaughtered. After gaining control through fear, the Galatian king sets up a different one of his nephews as king of the region and enforces Galatian laws [Type4 government].

The act is looked down upon by all those in both side of the Arche Makedonia, but is actually an act of revenge. Several generations back, the Kingdom of Pontos had exterminated vast amounts of the Galatian population during two separate attacks on Galatia and when the Arche Makedonia conquered the Kingdom of Pontos, the Galatians felt they went unpunished. Generations of hatred finally boiled over into the uncontrolled, unordered violence that followed the fall of Amaseia.

Pyrrhos is privately outraged by the violence and perhaps even more so by the installation of a Galatian king. Although he does not say anything publicly, out of fear of loosing the Galatians as allies, Pyrrhos definately changes his mind about the Galatians and his plans for the future of Galatia.

The known world in the summer of 173BC:
https://img185.imageshack.us/img185/...173editao2.png

Next: Chapter 57 : King of Babylon

Excellent Update again MAA! It never ceases to amaze me how you can revive a dead campaign. It's seems as if Pyrrhus has had it with his Galatian "allies". I can see a Makedonian Type 1 or Type 2 government being instituted in Ankyra in the near future. From the title of the next chapter I guess the commander of the Babylonian Army is going to take back Babylon. Just a question this may be asking to much. Is it possible for you to mod your campaign so that you can recruit babylonian spearmen?

It is, actually. You must enable the recruitement of them in EDU (add macedon), then alter the EDB file as to be able to recruit them in your local or regional barrackses. Dunno if this is active or retro-active, though...

Beautiful. Though my weak spot for the Galatians still make me wish they were allowed to continued a life in relative freedom. And after all, they did conquer Amaseia, perhaps they deserve to rule it.
And if Pyrrhus refuses them this right, perhaps some frustrated galatian will decide to end his rule, with force. Mohahhaha!! A suitable end to a great Basileus, killed by Galatians.

Excellent storyline, MAA.

Thanks for the comments.

The Babylonian heavy spearmen are quite easy to mod in. Since they are using the merc slot, all you have to do is add recruitment to the EDB and any faction you want can use them. As long as the unit is preexisting, almost any unit can be modded to your faction while remaining compatible. I have since added them to "macedon," in my campaign. :2thumbsup:

Only Roma, Galatia, and Ioudaia remain as semi-autonomous client kingdoms of the Arche Makedonia. Because of the cultural (and recruitment) differences, there is no rush to remove their status. If the Galatians don't leave Pontos or if they continue to cause problems, though, there will be troubles for them. :juggle2: