The Exile - Kingdom of Kydonia [a fictional semi-observing AAR]

[PriestLizard]

Thank you all for your kind words and encouragement! Here's my update (its rather short), hope you'll enjoy it. If you have comments or gameplay suggestions, just let me know.

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Chapter 1: Of Angels And Men

“Shall our family, then, never be at peace? Shall we always be harassed with war, bloodshed, and exile?“ -Adherbal

The island of Krete and the mediterranian ocean.

“Petrokles Marakandaios called out the kingdom of Kydonia in the year 250 BC. At that time, Kydonia was a small city of barely more than a thousand citizens. Even though Kydonia had a rich history reaching back to the minoan civilization, Kydonia was more of a barbarian settlement than a developed greek city state.
It all changed when Petrokles and his men from the east arrived. Petrokles wore the crown of Baktria, a kingdom forged by the ancestors of mighty Alexander himself. It took little effort for him and his trusted general, Menander Asteraios, to take over the city and establish his own kingdomship.
The people of Kydonia, although skeptical, allowed themselves to be impressed by their new rulers – and it was not for nothing. Petrokles built up schools, a theater and military complexes and allowed the city to flurrish with very low tax rates. Some may have wondered that a man like Petrokles, who was known for his selfishness and a grim hand when it comes to ruling a city, behaved like that. On the other hand though, you may understand that this man, who had crossed all known earth and who knew, that his time might come soon, did not have any interest to gather more wealth, power nor fame. From what I heard, all he wished for was to enjoy his life on greek ground and to create his dynasty on Krete.
In fact, Petrokles was a quitter when he left Baktria and became a hero when he brought the crown to Kydonia.“ -Stratos Kydonaios

250 BC Petrokles Marakandaios calls out the Basileion Kydonias. In the very east, in the province of Baktra, the war between the powerful Arche Seleukeia and the riders from the northern steppes, the Saka, finally starts.

248 BC The Koinon Hellenon is still in war with the macedonian kings and the epirote hegemony. Petrokles' diplomats arrive in Sparte and sign a peace treaty. Kydonia will pay a small tribute and will become a member of the alliance.

246 BC Pontus becomes a protectorate of the Ptolemaioi. After eight years of peace, the war between Arche Seleukeia and the ptolemaic kingdom breaks out again.

Pontic provinces as a protectorate of the Ptolemaioi, 246 BC

244 BC Epeiros is destroyed as Rome captures their last city in italy. The balance of power in greece has drastically changed over the years.

The romani siege Taras, the last epirote settlement, 244 BC


Epeiros defeated, 244 BC

Stratos Kydoniaios, in his work „Kingdoms and Empires“, approx. 232 BC
„The ongoing war between the greek city-states and the macedonian kingdom would change the face of greece completely. The Koinon Hellenon under spartian leadership managed to defeat the macedonians on almost every occasion and slowly, but constantly, pushed them out of greece.
With the kingdom of Macedonia destroyed and their homelands conquered by the greek cities, the royal family took refuge in Pergamon and called out the Basileion Pergamou.
At the same time, the alliance between the city states tattered as their disputes grew stronger again. Euthymedes from Demetrias took the chance and defeated the armies of Koinon Hellenon and brought greece under his control. Although the powerful city states of greece, like Sparte and Athens, still keep their independence, they can be seen as parts of a new greek empire of Demetrias – the Arche Hellenon.

European factions, 242 BC

In the east, the Arche Seleukeia had lost more and more of its terretories in minor asia and were forced to roll back into Syria. The Ptolemaioi had become the major power in eastern europe as they controlled most great parts of Anatolia, plus their homeland in egypt.

And in the west, the romans grew stronger and stronger. No one knew what to expect from them...“

Menander Asteraios, Basileus of Kydonia, 237 BC

242 BC Petrokles Marakandaios dies peacefully in Kydonia. His general and later adopted son Menander Asteraios becomes new Basileus of Kydonia. He continues his fathers strategy to develop a strong city-state on Krete. The city grows larger and larger as the city had become famous for its good conditions for merchants, philosophers and fishermen.

The archons palace, home of Menander


Temple of Ahura-Mazda. The cult was brought from Baktria to Krete by Petrokles and his followers.

238 BC Coming of age for Sophagasenos Baktrios, son of Diodotos and true heir of the baktrian crown. Menander is still unaware of Sophagasenos presence.

Streets of Kydonia, 237 BC

237 BC Kydonia gets the title of large town as a new counting of citizens shows more than six-thousand people.

„Sometimes we wondered if it was too much of us to claim. Too much that we imposed to young Sophagasenos. We were not sure what would happen if Menander had found out the true identity of one of his companions from Baktria.
We just did not know what to do yet and Sophagasenos seemed to be unsure either. We also couldn't forecast what would happen: a reclamation of the crown of Baktria by Sophagasenos? Or would he abandon his identity and fate by getting lost in sins and distraction?“ -Stratos Kydoniaios, 237 BC

Sophagasenos Baktrios, true heir of the baktrian crown, 236 BC

End of chapter 1.