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

[PriestLizard]

Chapter 5: Paragon

„The bravest sight in the world is to see a great man struggling against adversity.“ -Seneca

Large temple of Zeus-Ahura Mazda in Kydonia, 205 BC.

THE ARCHE PTOLEMAION

By the end of the third century before christ, the ptolemaic empire had repacified all the known lands from egypt to india. Ptolemaios and his descendants had created an impressive empire and – more important – were able to hold it. Their story of success began with the syrian wars, when the Ptolemaioi had beaten the seleucid on several occasions, capturing the important cities in Syria like Sidon or Antiocheia. The seleucid empire was threatened on all borders and the Ptolemaioi used that advantage to advance more and more into the heart of the Arche Seleukeia.

The war between the Arche Seleukeia and the Ptolemaioi lasted for more than sixty years, only being paused by a short ceasefire in 254 BC. In 229 BC, the ptolemies had already captured Babylon and pushed the seleucids more and more into the east. Another twenty years later, in 206 BC, the Ptolemaioi reigned over all former seleucid provinces and basically restored the vast empire of Megas Alexandros.

Arche Ptolemaion 206 BC, 201 BC, 197 BC.

The Ptolemaioi used the typical successor-warfare tactics that was typical for that period of time. Phalangitai were the core of each army and were used to pin the opponents on a strong and defenseful battle line. Skirmishers and cavalry were used to break the opposing battle line untill one weak spot was created. The ptolemaic generals perfectionated these tactics and adapted them even against the steppe factions from the north, like the Sauromatae and the Hayasdan. Even though their continious wars caused many casualties, the Ptolemaioi were always able to make up for their losses.
The key to this success were the coastal cities in Syria. It was their major advantage over the seleucids to have control over the trade in the mediterranian area. Their homeland provinces in egypt were never threatened by war and so were the cities in Syria. That gave the Ptolemaioi the opportunity to develop a strong economy. They used their financial power to support the local governors of allied provinces so they would follow the ptolemaic rule. This was a strong contrast to the way the seleucid ruled over the lands in asia. They never had such economical possibilities and therefore had to rely on their military strength only.

By the time the Arche Ptolemaioi had repacified the eastern and northern regions, they turned their attention to asia minor. The pontic kingdom of Mithridates had been a loyal protecorate for several centuries but in 206 BC, Pontus, who ruled over most provinces in asia minor, saw their chance to revolt against the Ptolemaioi. The ptolemaic ruler immediatly sent his huge forces to engage the traitors and to show the world, that such a behavior would not be tolerated. The campaign only lasted eight years and in the end, Pontus was crushed below the hoofs of the ptolemaic cavalry.

The kingdom of Pontus, finally destroyed 198 BC.

However warfare was not the only accomplishment of the Ptolemaioi. Even though they walked in the footsteps of Megas Alexandros himself, conquering all the known eastern world, they also forged a cultural unity that had never been before. It must have been the dream of Alexander the Great, to see the union of several cultures in one great ecumenism. For the first time since the short time of Alexanders reign, there was peace in the lands between egypt and india. The ptolemaic rulers were able to sign peace treaties with both the Saka tribes and the Sauromatae, so that their northern and eastern borders were secured as well.

So besides the military achievements, which are obvious, the Ptolemaioi also brought peace to the eastern part of the mediterranian ocean. While the west was shaken in wars and rebellion, the east enjoyed a period of prosperity and peace.

ARSAKES ASTERAIOS ENTERS THE STAGE

At the end of the third century BC, a character enters the stage of history which will play an important role in the changes that would occur to the western part of the mediterranian world. Arsakes was the third son of Menander and when the former king of Kydonia died in 215 BC, Arsakes was only seven years of age. Not much is known about the childhood of Arsakes but we know that at first, he didn't seem much like his father. In the short time Arsakes knew his father, they did not have a very close relationship.
Arsakes had his coming of age in 206 BC, few years after Herakon had died during his campaign in sicily and Antimachos was announced sole owner of the kydonian crown. In that time, Arsakes had close connections to the criminal schemers in Kydonia and we do know, that Antimachos even thought about sending his younger brother to exile. It was not the first time that Antimachos hesitation changed the course of history and it is sure, that the fate of the western world would have been different if he had sent his disloyal brother into exile.

It was then three years later that Arsakes joined the pirates on Krete, unknown to his royal kin. This moment marks the start of a new chapter in both kydonian and mediterranian history. In the following years, Arsakes and his comrades seized all major cities in the western mediterranian ocean. It is unknown how many mnai they looted during their raids but some sources mention a loot of more than 400.000 mnai. It is an unthinkable amount and we can only imagine the power that Arsakes and his comrades gained with such a high sum.

Arsakes Asteraios in Alexandreia, 202 BC.


Pharos Alexandreias, spared by Arsakes and his comrades.

At the dawn of the second century BC Arsakes also seized Athenai and Chalkis. This ends his raiding campaign with him probably being the most opulent man in the known world. Arsakes now was twenty-six and he was already a formidable general. Even though he and his comrades never saw a huge opposition force when they raided the cities, he still had a lot of combat experience and he truely was in the pink. He was a conquering hero for his friends and soldiers (which consisted mostly of mercenaries) and in his following decisions, he was probably also influenced by them.

Cities seized by Arsakes and his pirates, 203 – 197 BC.

THE THIRD PUNIC WAR

In 196 BC, six years after he had left Kydonia, he turned his attention to sicily again. Due to his wealth, Arsakes was a much more powerful thread to Carthage and their terretories in sicily than Herakon almost twenty years before. It had been a dream of kydonian rulers since Menander took the crown in 242 BC, to set foot in sicily and continue the story of greek colonies. In winter 196 BC, Arsakes led a force of about thirty thousand mercenaries to sicily and took control of Syrakousaei and Messana with little effort. The carthagian empire which ruled over the cities in sicily, were busy fighting the remaining roman provinces in Germania and were cought by surprise. Arsakes used this advantage to free the greek colonies and give them their autonomy back. He deployed local governors who were basically independent from kydonian rule – they were only forced to support Arsakes with soldiers.

Arsakes Asteraios on his way to sicily.


Italy and its factions, 194 BC.

Arsakes entered sicily as an old fashioned conqueror. There is a story which tells that Arsakes role model was Pyrrhos of Epeiros and he truely followed this ideal. Arsakes' plan was to forge his own empire in italy and he was successful in doing so. Two years after he had arrived in sicily, he had completely taken control of the island and removed the carthagian rulers – and another two years later he captured Rome. The italian cities had suffered several years of harsh reign of carthagian sovereignity and probably saw Arsakes as a liberator.

Mons Capitolinus et Templvm lovis Optimi Maximi, Rome.

The campaign in italy went very well for Arsakes and in 190 BC, the third punic war entered another level when Arsakes landed in Africa with an army of 56820 mercenaries. It was the first time that Carthage was threatened by another faction directly in their homeland. Historians do not fully understand why Arsakes made this decision to invade Carthage. He was known as a great strategist and he could not truely believe he would be able to capture and hold the cities in Africa. Even though Carthage had lost much of its power due to their lost provinces in italy, it was still the major power in the western mediterranian world. Arsakes probably knew that he could not oppose this force directly. This leads to the theory that Arsakes only wanted to weaken the carthagian empire to secure his own lands in italy. Even though he still was a servant of the kydonian crown, officially still worn by Antimachos, it is obvious that Arsakes already had his own ambitions to become king.

Arsakes quickly make himself a name as a great strategist and commander.

Anyway Arsakes landed near Carthage in 190 BC and he was immediatly engaged by a carthagian army in Zeugitana. The numbers were quite even as the carthagians also fielded about 60000 men under the command of Zimrida of Carthage. The following battle was epic.

The opposing forces at Zeugitana.

THE BATTLE OF ZEUGITANA

Both forces fielded an enormous battle line against each other. The carthagian army consisted of african elite spearmen and even elephantoi. Twenty years before, Herakons forces suffered heavily under opposing elephants – but Arsakes was well prepared. He ordered his cretan archers to shoot fire arrows on the engaging elephants. This caused those monsters to run amok and they broke out into their own carthagian lines.

The armies collided and created a wide and long battle line where both sides pinned each other. Arsakes personally fought on the right flank and his guards were able to route some enemy units.

At the same time, the left flank of Arsakes forces had a slight disadvantage as the sacred band cavalry engaged. Arsakes reacted promptly and ordered his guards to the left to help his forces in battle. In the center, there was still a draw with phalangitai on both sides pinning each other.

After some hours, the right flank of Arsakes' forces gained the upper hand and started to encircle the center of carthagian troops. On the left, it was still a draw with Arsakes and his guards trying to counter the sacred band bodyguards.

At the near end of the battle, the left flank seemed lost for Arsakes, as many of his units started to flee. Arsakes and his guards conducted a bold move though: They directly engaged for the enemy general and were able to take him down. This caused the carthagian forces to route and the battle was won for Arsakes.

With the carthagian army beaten, Arsakes captured Carthage and the city was taken by an opposing faction for the first time ever. Arsakes showed no mercy. More than thirty thousand citizens were sold as slaves and the great temples of Ba'al and Astarot were destroyed and looted.

The port and walls of Carthage.

What made the battle of Zeugitana so important was the fact, that one man single-handedly opposed a vast empire like Carthage and succeeded with that. When Arsakes captured Carthage, it was the moment Kydonia finally entered the stage of the most powerful factions. Untill then, Kydonia was a small kingdom with mere influence apart from Krete itself. The crisis of Halikarnassos showed their ambitions but ended in an ultimate loss. The first claim of sicily was nothing but a short intermission as well. But now Arsakes had taken control of sicily and southern italy and he had forged an empire which could be able to compete with the other major factions in europe – and all that without even being king.

Arsakes must have known the importance of his achievements in italy in africa. In 188 BC, shortly after his raid of Carthage, Arsakes returned home to Kydonia after almost fifteen years. Of course Antimachos and his children knew about Arsakes' accomplishments and they were aware of the situation. The people of Kydonia were supporters of Arsakes though, as he was a victor – a hero – and Antimachos was never able to achieve the love of his people. In fact, his influence was small.

Arsakes left Kydonia as a criminal and he returned as a hero. He called himself out as new King of Kydonia and Antimachos disappeared with his loyal family members. It is uncertain if Arsakes killed him or ordered his death – it seems possible though. After he finished his short mission to wipe out the royal family of Kydonia, Arsakes returned to his new capital Syrakousai. The third punic war was far from over and Arsakes still owed the world a proof that he was more than just one more condottieri like many before him, and that he was capable of building an empire in italy.

Also for Carthage this chain of events during the third punic war held some changes. During the last centuries, the military class had gained more and more influence. The war against Rome went good from a military aspect – but it also slowed down the economy and trade. As the military class became more and more stronger, the people seeked for a stronger hand to lead them. The carthagian Republic was about to break. The raid of Arsakes on their capital was just what the hardliners needed to bring their military to absolute power over the people of carthage. Just when Arsakes lifted himself to the throne of his own kingdom, Carthage abandoned his senate and became an empire on his own.

The known world in 188 BC.

TIMELINE

205 BC Hayasdan becomes protecorate of the Arche Ptolemaion. Agathokles, son of Devnet and therefore true heir or Theodotos' crown, is born in Thebes, Egypt. Large temple of Zeus-Ahura-Mazda in Kydonia.

203 BC Arsakes and his pirates start to raid the ptolemaic cities in egypt, syria and asia minor. Cities who became targets: Paraitonion, Alexandreia, Salamis, Tarsos, Rhodes, Halikarnassos, Athens, Chalkis.

201 BC The tribe of the Aedui is destroyed by the Lusotana.

The Aedui destroyed, 201 BC.

198 BC Kanishka Asteraios, fourth son of Menander Asteraios, is assassinated in Kydonia. Pontus is destoyed by the Ptolemaioi. Kydonia has more than 350.000 citizens.

195 BC Arsakes lands near Rhegion with a force of about 50000 mercenaries. The third punic war begins. Arsakes quickly captures Rhegion, Messana and Syrakousai.

194 BC Lilbeo is captured. Arsakes forges an alliance with the Lusotana.

192 BC Arsakes captures Arpi and Rome.

191 BC Devnet dies in Thebes.

190 BC Arsakes conquers Capua and moves on to Africa to directly assault Carthage. The Arche Indohellenon is down to one province.

The royal seleucid family almost destroyed, 190 BC.

189 BC Battle of Zeugitana. Carthage is raided by Arsakes and his mercenaries.

188 BC Arsakes returns to Kydonia and wipes out the royal family. He is announced new King and moves the capital to Syrakousai. Carthage disbands its senate and the carthagian empire under military rule is formed.

End of Chapter 5.