The Pyrrhic Dynasty : A Makedonian AAR

[Centurio Nixalsverdrus]

Great update MAA! But don't you want to claim that tiny strip of Maeotis for yourself, as you already roleplayed your Skythian borders as well?

[MarcusAureliusAntoninus]

Thank you.

My last AAR had almost no pictures, so when I first started this AAR I made sure to have plenty of pictures and I guess I've just gotten used to the style. It doesn't take too long to edit. The battle shots are really easy. I just open them, resize them to 60%, crop them to 750x460, and save. The ones with multiple shots put together take a while longer, but eh I wouldn't do it if it wasn't somewhat fun.

I had originally planned to take Olbia and immediately move to Tanais, but Olbia had almost no infrastructure. I have to keep my army and governor there for now to keep it from falling apart. Plus I don't want to make an enemy of Sauromatae, so I'm going to have to get it to rebel or buy it from them...

[MarcusAureliusAntoninus]

Hey everybody. I've reach a new point in my midgame modding. I finally figured out how to reskin units. I'm not sure what I'm going to do with it, but it opens up a new oppertunity for brand new military reforms in my army.

I made these guys out of Thureophoroi, Roman Eastern Avxilias, and the Basilikon Agema:

[Centurio Nixalsverdrus]

Hey everybody. I've reach a new point in my midgame modding. I finally figured out how to reskin units. I'm not sure what I'm going to do with it, but it opens up a new oppertunity for brand new military reforms in my army.

I made these guys out of Thureophoroi, Roman Eastern Avxilias, and the Basilikon Agema:

Now you've finally run away. Though I think that phalanx-ability on anything other than a proper Makedonian phalanx doesn't look very good. What about giving them underhand spear, and approx. the stats of Sacred Band infantry?

[||Lz3||]

wow damn it's as if you were playing ALL The factions in one!!

AMAZING

I love this story

[Reverend Joe]

MAA, you now kick twice as much ass.

[MarcusAureliusAntoninus]

I'd actually planned to make those guys use the underhand spear animation, but after altering the skin I found out they shared the model with the KH Thorakita Hoplitai, which I had already been using. That picture ended up just being a reskinning of that unit. The model didn't use the merc trick, though, so I'm now using the "roman infantry eastern auxilia" unit changed to use the merc trick:

I wanted to make a non-Makedone eastern Thorakitai unit out of these guys, which I can elist in my army Roman-style (though I'm having trouble finding a unit to convert into a non-Makedone western Thorakitai that I also wanted to make). Although I haven't had a good enough reason to make such a huge roleplaying change, yet.

Next chapter coming soon...

[MarcusAureliusAntoninus]

Chapter 71 : The Syrian War (Part III):
Reconquista

In the two years since Philippos had begun his Syrian invasion, things had turned from bleak to impossible for the Demetrid dynasty. All the garrisons in Syria, Assyria, and Babylonia had been tied down with sieges and the Galatians and Romaioi had managed to completely destroy the field armies of Syria. Without any assistance coming from Aigyptos, the only choice of the Demetrids is to wait for the inevitable.

In Tarsos, the elder brother of Philippos, Sotades, had tied down an army that had been meant to halt any Pyrrhid invasion from Anatolia. Instead of being halted by this army, Philippos simply ordered the city besieged and then bypassed by the bulk of his forces. Now, being the only large force remaining to the Demetrids, the army of Tarsos makes one last attempt to break the siege and move to rescue Demetreia:


The Demetrids inside Tarsos where determined, but outside the city awaited a large army of old veterans who had fought with Pyrrhos himself in Africa, so many years earlier:


While the army of Sotades waits for the Demetrid infantry to line up outside their city walls, the Demetrid kataphraktoi make their move. Their attempt to break around the flank of Sotades' line is quickly countered by the Illyrioi, who pull out their axes to hack through the kataphraktoi armor:


The kataphraktoi quickly break and the Illyrioi do not pursue.

Along the infantry line, the Demetrid phalangitai attack the veteran Pezhetairoi from the west:


After flanking manuevers from Thraikioi and Samnici, the Demetrid infantry begins to take heavy losses and loose morale:


Sotades allows the enemy to retreat and reforms his line. Before too long, the Demetrids reemerge from the city and attempt another attack:


[This is the part of siege battles where the enemy marches out, breaks and retreats before even getting to me, marches back out, breaks before hitting my line and retreats, etc. ]

This time, the Samnici lead the counter attack and push the Demetrids back to the walls of the city...


...and even chase them into the city streets:


The day ends in a draw, with the few remaining Demetrid soldiers still in control of the city:


However, with losses from the battle and lack of supplies within the city, the few remaining Demetrids and their disgraced general decide to surrender the city. So, once again the city of Tarsos and all of Kilikia is returned to the hands of the Basileus of Makedonia, Sotades' younger brother Basileus Philippos V:


Soon after taking the city, Sotades learns what a desperate enemy is capible of. One night an assassin comes of his life but is narrowly thwarted. Aware of the risks, Sotades learns to be ready for anything, even in the dark of night:


Soon after the fall of Tarsos, the forces of Sophene report that the Hayasdan region has surrendered and the bulk of Armenia and its resources are now back in the hands of Makedonia:


Over the next couple months, there is little activity in the civil war as besieger and besieged await the inevitable. During this time, the city of Ippone is once again threatened...


...and in Hellas, Philippos' youngest brother, the troublesome one, begins to mature and even gain knowledge of governing and of warfare:


Laandros is soon exposed to his first crisis when an earthquake hits the area. Laandros is forced to deal with a real problem, being the man in charge of administering Hellas:


Back to the east, Herodes of Bosphoria manages to negotiate the surrender and disarming of the garrison at Edessa:


With the fall of the city of Edessa, the entire region of Assyria firmly falls into the hands of Philippos. This separates Babylonia and Syria, the only two regions with Demetrid garrisons still standing.

Doing his part in the war and seeking to remove the last army loyal to the Demetrids outside of Demetreia, King Isidoros Oresteus of Babylon launches an attack on the city of Seleukeia:


With great siege towers pushed across the plains, Isidoros assaults the walls of the great city:


Once on the walls, his elite Babylonians meet with some resistance...


...but no matter the costs, the walls are taken:


And with the walls under their control, the assualt forces open the gateways of the city for the bulk of the Babylonian army to enter:


The battle at the gateway is short, with most enemies falling while attempting to retreat. The survivors retreat to the center of the city, where they reform their lines under the command of the local governor. Isidoros' men are well trained and don't give pursute to the center of the city, where rested enemy forces await. Instead, the army of Babylonians take their time to rest and slowly march on the city center. Once they are in possition on three sides of the city center, Isidoros gives the word for the archers to release their arrows:


Most of the remaining infantry of the city guard quickly fall. The governor of Seleukeia, under a rain of arrows from all sides, decides to take his chances and launches a counter attack against the southern force of Babylonians:


The spearmen absorb the charge and hold their ground against the assault by the heavy kataphraktoi:


While the kataphraktoi fight with the Babylonians to the south, the Babylonian forces to the east and west charge the city center and quickly wipe out the last of the city guards. These two forces then charge south toward the battle with the kataphraktoi and attack their enemy from the rear:


One at a time, the kataphraktoi fall dead. Soon only the governor remains:


When the Makedonian governor falls dead, the city falls into the hands of the Babylonians and thus all of Mesopotamia is once again under the control of the city of Babylon, for the first time in centuries:


King Isidoros learns much from the battle...


...but at this point in his life decides he much rather prefers governing over warfare:


King Isidoros Oresteus of Babylon takes control of the city of Seleukeia as well as all of the territories along the two great rivers, from Assyria in the north to the border of Median control near the sea. Isidoros promises Philippos that the region will return to the Arche Makedonia, but until the war is over it is to be managed by Isidoros and the Babylonians. Philippos is worried at the thought of another uncontrollable client state, but at least Isidoros is getting old and has no sons.

With the fall of Kilikia, Armenia, Assyria, and Babylonia into the hand of Philippos, the western Arche Makedonia is once again the undisputed greatest power in the known world:


With his powerful mother at his side, Euktimenos takes control from the failure of his, court, advisors, and what remains of his generals:


With failure surrounding him and his own end quickly approaching, the young Euktimenos Idomeneus of the Demetrid line finally takes complete control of the eastern Arche Makedonia. However, now the eastern Arche Makedonia consists of only that which is within the walls of the city of Demetreia. Euktimenos Idomeneus is the direct line of Antigonos I Monophthalmos, Demetrios I Poliorcetes, Antigonos II Gonatas, Demetrios II Megas, Aristotelis, Bykoli, and Pefkolaos Idomeneus. Great men preceed him in his family line, but there is little greatness in the future of Euktimenos. The only choice left to Euktimenos is whether he will die fighting of surrender to the armies of his distance cousin, Philippos V.

The known world in160BC:

Next: Chapter 72 : The Syrian War (Part IV): The Fall of the Demetrids

[Maion Maroneios]

Another great update, MAA! Finally we will see the Arche Makedonia united again!!

Maion

[MarcusAureliusAntoninus]

Chapter 73 : The Syrian War (Part V):
The Fall of the Demetrids : Introductions

Philippos V, son of the famed Pyrrhos of Makedonia and current Basileus of the vast Arche
Makedonia, stands in a quiet street of the city of Demetreia. Surrounded by a circle of royal
guard, Philippos notices only the deafening sound of silence in the streets around him. His own
men surround him silently, only moving their eyes to look for any possible threat. Along the edge
of the road the soldiers of his enemy stand as dead and motionless as statues. To Philippos, the
silence seems to stretch all the way from himself, down the road, through the open gate, across
the vast no-mans-land, and to the very faces of his own men standing, waiting at the pallicades.
The silence seems to build until it is completely unbearable, then suddenly their is a noise which
seems to tear the entire moment apart. The sound is a simple footstep, but it draws Philippos'
attention.

From the entrance to the villa, Philippos sees two of his own guards emerge. One of them give a
simple nod and the whole group around Philippos begins to move. As soon as the group moves,
all the other noises seem to return. Philippos hears a man cough, and when Philippos looks to his
side, he sees one of the soldiers in the enemy garrison grab his side and lean against the wall, as
though the man had finally lost the last bit of energy left in him and is incapible of even standing
for the extra moment before Philippos enters the building.

The entrance to the villa opens up into a courtyard rather than the building proper. The gardens
within the courtyard looks well tended, with small statues around the ege and a fountain in the
center. In the corner of the garden a small fruit tree stands, but unlike the rest of the garden, it
looks quite sickly. In the center of the courtyard there is a large table with seats along two sides.
On the far side of the yard there stand two guards in elabrate armor. The two men are quite old
but they look healthy and strong, unlike the men outside. A breif thought passes through
Philippos' head that these men may well have been guards of Bykoli, who were assigned to guard
Euktimenos and have done so his entire life.

Two of Philippos' guards move inside of the main structure, while three stand on either side of the
door they just passed through. The rest of Philippos' men remain outside in street. Philippos and
his lieutenant sit at the table and wait.

Just as they sit down, the door to a side building, the door guarded by the two elder Demetrid
guards opens. Philippos instinctively puts his hand to his sword at his side but quickly moves his
hands back to his sides. Two more guards immerge from the doorway, followed by an old man, a
woman, and a youth. The guards stand to the sides and the three others approach the table. The
old man begins to speak and annouce their presence. A string of formallities flow forth and the
youth is announces a Euktimenos of the Demetrid line and the woman as his mother, Antigone.
Philippos remains seated for the event with an emotionless look on his face. After some time the
old man becomes silent. Philippos and his lieutenant glace at eachother, sharing the same
simple thought, 'Finally.' Philippos and his lieutenant then stand and his lieutenant begins to
introduce Philippos. With another chain of formalities, Philippos is introduced. On the other side
of the table the listeners attempt to remain emotionless but remain standing, although there is
visible irritation in the eyes of Antigone when Philippos' lieutenant purposely emphasized, "the
rightful heir of Megas Demetrios," in his description of Philippos.

Finally, with the introductions finished, all those around the table sit down and face eachother. It
is at this time that Philippos realizes just how large the table is. Although they sit at the same
table, it would take a sarrisa to thrust at someone on the far side. Philippos also notices that the
seats on the far side are raised higher and seem to be the point of honor on this table. This
simple act makes Philippos smile ironically as the old man once again opens up in a series of
bureaucratic ramblings and talk of terms.

"You wish to surrender this city?" Philippos says suddenly, cutting in and ignoring the old man all
together.

The old man looks visibly disgruntaled. "Excuse me-" The old man tries to speak but is stopped
by a motion from Antigone.

"A man of action," Antigone begins, "getting right to the point. Just like your father." Philippos is
disturbed by this comment about his father from a woman who never met him but lets her
continue, "We are willing to discuss terms by which you will become the sole inheritor of this great
empire. We wish to help you in a stable transition from war to peace. And there would be no
greater statement then an alliance between your family and ours. What would show greater unity
to the people's of this vast empire than to have our families become one?"

It is at this point that many later writer of history recount that Antigone attempts to seduce
Philippos. Some even say that he fell into her trap and was only brought back to his senses when
the captain of his royal guard intervened. Most, however, recount Philippos turning to Euktimenos
and saying, "What of you, boy? Do you intend to let your mother sell off your inheritance for her
own gain while she casts you aside?"

"How dare you!" Antigone screechs as she rises to her feet. "You are no-"

"SILENCE!" Philippos bellows back at the woman, while simultaneously rising to his feet. In that
moment, Philippos looked to be ten feet tall and towered over the table, even higher than those on
the upper side. Around him there seemed to be an aura of authority and confindence. "Be quiet
woman. This is a discussion between Basileu and no place for the likes of you. Be gone, leave
now or I will."

Antigone motions to move forward and around the table, but the captain of Philippos' guard
quickly put his hand on his sheathed sword and takes a single set forward. The guards behind
Euktimenos do similar, but before anything can occur, Antigone had spun herself around and
marches for the guarded door. As she enteres the room, elder slave woman comes to comfort
her, but Antigone pushes her to the ground. The door closes and the four men returned to their
seats.

With none of the previous fire in his eyes, the ordinary looking Philippos looks across at
Euktimenos, smiles, and says, "Now, shall we continue?"

Next: Chapter 74 : The Syrian War (Part VI): The Fall of the Demetrids

[Centurio Nixalsverdrus]

Ah, a merciless demonstration of power and humiliation of the enemy. I fear for the poor child...

[NickTheGreek]

This AAR is a hundred foot tall and made entirely of kickass, the little character bit with Philippos was excellent. Really added some flesh you know?

[MarcusAureliusAntoninus]

Thank you for your kind words.

I had the next chapter written a couple days ago but I just didn't like it. It made Philippos seem almost evil and I wanted him to be more of a Avgvstvs like figure and less of a Caracalla. I ended up deleting it and am in the process of rewriting it. I hope to have it up today or tommorrow.

Classes finally start for me on monday, so I may visit the forums less. Though, in all actuallity I'll probably visit more often.

[MarcusAureliusAntoninus]

Chapter 74 : The Syrian War (Part VI):
The Fall of the Demetrids : All Must Accept the Fates When They Come for You

Philippos once again stood in the streets of the city of Demetreia, but all is different this time. All
around him, his own men run through the streets. Coming through the city's northern gate, still
opened from when he had entered, thousands more continue to enter the city. At Philippos' side
stands the young Euktimenos, a man who only truely ruled anything from the short time his mother
left the negotiation table until his surrender to Philippos V.

Euktimenos had shown himself worthy during the negotiations but nowhere near the skill or
experience of Philippos and his lieutenant. In the boy, Philippos had seen great knowledge and
wisdom and strangely almost no signs of corruption and greed. It is said that power corrupts, and
this youth had never seen any true power. At first glance it would seem that his mother weilded the
power, but she only truely had control over her son. Since Philippos' father killed Euktimenos'
father in battle, the true power had layed with the nobles and royal advisors. In the negotiations, the
nobles had been represented by the old man at Euktimenos' side, but after what had happened
between Antigone and Philippos, he feared contolling the negotiates and dominating Euktimenos in
front of Philippos.

The fall of the city of Demetreia and the fall of the Demetrids themselves had been assured when
the armies of Assyria and Syria had been wiped out and it became clear that no one was coming to
save the city, years earlier. The negotiations were not been those of peace but rather a negotiation
on the terms of surrender. The Demetrids also had almost no weight to negotiate with. There are
almost no armies still standing and the people and soldiers within the city were starving and running
out of supplies. In the end, Euktimenos was able to gaurentee only one term, that he and his
mother would not be killed by Philippos. So the Demetrids surrendered and the city and what was
left of the army of Syria, including a division of kataphraktoi, are turned over to Philippos:


Although he is not killed, Euktimenos is taken into custody by Philippos' guards and perpared to be
sent back to Makedonia. The Demetrid advisors and nobles who had sided with Bykoli and
Pefkolaos would not be as lucky. Euktimenos is just a boy, without any great desire for power, but
he could be a useful tool for those who did seek power. To remove the chance of future uprisings in
Syria and to make an example to other powerful nobles who might seek power, the worst amongst
the advisors and nobles of Demetreia are ordered killled.

So in front of the palace of Demetreia, a structure originally rebuilt by Demetrios himself, those
deemed responsible for the war are executed. As he stands in front of the palace, Philippos can't
help but think of the time when he visited Syria in his early twenties and feared for his life. It was
the very nobles of the city, who hated his father, who had been forced to flee so many year ago.

Once the act is done, Philippos' men spread out to find the few nobles, generals, and advisors
without even the honor to face their death. Many who are deemed worthy of death still hid and the
palace itself has yet to be fully secured. Philippos quickly turns to leave the palace as his men go
about their business, but is soon stopped when one of his men calls for his attension. Rushing
after the man, Philippos finds a group of his men attempting to force a door open. With one last
great push the great doors to the royal audience chamber flies open, knocking down a group of
servants. Within, Philippos sees the body of Antigone, blood still pouring from her wounds, knife in
her hand. The elderly slave woman at her side reaches down and grabbing the knife turns to
Philippos to speak, "She would not be a prize for you to parade through the streets Pella in
chains." Then without a sound, the old woman uses the knife on herself and falls over, at the side
of her mistress. Deep in thought and with little emotion, Philippos turns and leave the room, the
palace, and the city itself.

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

Word goes out throughout the Arche Makedonia and the surrounding world that the city of
Demetreia has fallen. The story is told that the city is taken without any spilled blood by Philippos'
army and that Euktimenos lives as a guest of Philippos. It is said that Antigone took her own life
but there is little mention of the nobles and advisors killed by Philippos. Only the nobles of Pella
hear the tale, clear of the message being sent to them by Philippos.

Philippos and his army only stay in the city of Demetreia a short time. Soon, Sotades and his
army arrive from Kilikia and occupy the city. Leaving the management of Syria to his elder brother,
Basileus Philippos V heads back to Makedonia.

Although Euktimenos is a prisoner, Philippos honors his royal birth and treats him well, dining with
him and even having long conversations with him as though he is a friend. A short way into
Anatolia, the army meets up with Philippos' family coming to meet up with Philippos on his way
home. Philippos' wife, first-born son Alypios, and two daughters then join Philippos, Euktimenos,
and the army on the way back to Pella.

Euktimenos had seen many faces of Philippos. Philippos had been a strong negotiator, a good
general who walks amoungst his men and talks with them, a strong (though not great) manager,
and even the moster he had seen when he spoke with Antigone. Now, Euktimenos sees another
Philippos, a family man, a loving husband, and a kind father.

Being only a few years different in age and both being raised to lead and empire, Euktimenos and
Alypios find much in common. Euktimenos takes this time to simply forget about the past and the
loss of his mother, deciding to simply travel with the family of Philippos. Although he was promised
his life, Euktimenos is well aware of the fact that he very well may be killed when the arrive in Pella,
but at this point he no longer even cares.

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

Aigyptos had not been returned to the Arche Makedonia formally but, Philippos declarss the civil war at an end and the Arche Makedonia reunited (including Aigyptos as part of his claimed territory). Philippos then orders his father's crest removed from the military standards and the star of Makedonia replaced in its rightful place. Effort would have to be put into forcing Aigyptos to recognize the sole rightful Basileus of Makedonia, but for most living within the Arche Makedonia, peace had finally returned.

The known world in159BC, at the fall of the Demetrids and the reunification of the Arche Makedonia:

Next: Chapter 75 : A New Age

[Codyos Vladimiros]

Good to see an end to the war...but why is Egypt Numidian now?

[Centurio Nixalsverdrus]

BACK TO BLACK finally...