The Pyrrhic Dynasty : A Makedonian AAR

[Maion Maroneios]

Another excellent update, MAA! I'm wondering how things are going to evolve...

Maion

[HunGeneral]

Now this is getting interresting.

Time thoose Numidians learn what happens to those who mess with the Arche ()

[julius_caesar_the_first]

Great update as always. Those Carthaginian nobles are about to learn the error of their ways.

One thing that puzzles me in your campaign is the behavior of the Getai. After so long they have not yet declared war on you. Now did you manage that?

[MarcusAureliusAntoninus]

Thanks for the support.

I recently when back over "The Antigonids" myself. Back when I started this campaign, I was able to get as many as four years into a chapter. Now, so much is going on I'm struggling to fit a year into a chapter. In fact, 148BC is going to take two or three chapters if I decide to put it all up.

It will take a while to get back to Philippos, but the chapter title two or three chapters from now will be "Mauretania". Just a hint...

My theory on Getai is that they want to conquer the Boii and Lugoae. Until they are able to overcome the respawning rebels (which is never), they won't turn on me. They do occationally march a small army up to my borders, though. Checking to see if my towns are still well garrisoned, I guess.

[MarcusAureliusAntoninus]

Chapter 85 : The Median War (Part II)

Wherever the Basileus and his heir went there was success, but all along the eastern borders of the Arche Makedonia the Median Empire controls the open field and besieges the garrisons and armies of Babylonia, Assyria, and Armenia. The aging Isidoros Oresteus had yet to request assistance for Babylonia. No matter the case for Babylonia, in Demetreia, Sotades had begun to prepare an army to assist Assyria. The army would take some time to raise, however, and the border settlements such as Arbela would have to defend themselves:


Fortunately for the city of Arbela, the Medians had placed their entire siege plans behind their trust in a single great siege tower. When the that tower went up in flames, so did the Median plan for taking the city:


The Medes withdraw, they took few losses but are forced to return to their own lands to resupply:


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The battle at Arbela wass decided quickly and easily, but just under a year later the Medes try to take the city of Armavir in Armenia and the story is different. The hellenized Armenian general Andriskos Argaios and his garrison of mostly archers defend the city against two separate forces from Media:


The huge number of archers within the city all set their arrows ablaze and rain fire down on the enemy siege equipment as it approaches the walls of the city on a fog filled morning:


Despite the rain and fog, the shear number of flaming arrows that stick to the sides of the equipment set them on fire and end the hopes of taking the city from the east:


On the far side of the city Andriskos Argaios rushes his cavalry from the gates and attempts to circle around the back side of the second enemy army but is quickly countered and unable to retreat back to into the city. His cavalry attempt to fight off the enemy but are far too susceptible to the underhanded spearmen:


When Andriskos dies by the spear, his men break and run back into the city:


Now unchallenged, the forces to the west take up their siege equipment and take the walls. Hearing of the success to the west, the larger Median army in the east circles around the city and joins up forces. This unified Median force then marches into the city and toward the old Hai palace at the center.

The archers on the eastern walls rush toward the center of the town to meet up with the Medes, but are beaten to the center of the city:


After drawing the enemy phalangitai into the open, the lightly armed archers surround their enemy and begin attacking them from all sides:


More Medes join the battle and the fight goes on for several hours. Finally, the Medes break and flee out of the city. The native archers line up in the street facing the western gate...


...but no more Medes enter the city. Later that day, the archers move to the western wall and find noting. All the remaining Medes had retreated.

The city is saved and a great many Medes lie dead but the death of Andriskos Argaios and the bulk of the garrison leaves Armavir vulnerable and rioting:


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Around the exact same time as the battle in Armavir, Median forces move to take the city of Seleukeia from Isidoros Oresteus:


The army going up against Isidoros is primarily the forces that Media conscripted in Maka, during their short time of ownership in the region. The Arabs are fighting in an army of foreigners against other foreigners, with almost assured failure ahead of them. It can easily be said that these Arabs are not greatly enthusiastic and willing to stand their ground.

The Median siege towers reach the walls of the city in short order and the lightly equiped Maka forces go up against the heavy Babylonian elites...


...with little success.

The attack atop the walls proves unsuccessful, but the field is somewhat leveled when the Medes take down a section of the wall to the west:


Abandoning their attempt to take the walls with towers, the entire remaining Median army charges through the gap and pours into the city. On the other side of the wall, the find even more elite Babylonians, spears ready:


The Medes try to break through the shieldwall with a cavalry charge but are instantly halted and loose many horses. When the entire Median army pushes up against the Babylonians they take ground and force the Babylonians backwards but only slowly and at great cost:


When more Babylonians come down from the walls and attack from the side...


...the Medes break and flee back out of the breach. The Babylonians pursue the Medes from the city but are quickly called back by Isidoros, personally:


With his infanty guarding the walls and the breach in the wall, Isidoros then leads his cavalry out from the city to confront the remaining enemy who try to regroup. While his medium cavalry faces off against the enemy cavalry, the light Babylonian cavalry harrasses the remaining Median infantry:


By the end of the day, there is almost nothing left of the great Median force that was besieging the city that morning. Isidoros wins another battle but looses many more men and is forced to quickly repair the damages to the wall. Still he requests no aid from Syria:


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The garrisons along the border with the Median Empire manage to win all of their battles and resupply their cities, but before the next winter all the border garrison once again find themselves hiding behind walls and staring at an army of Medes.

Still in Ptolemais-Theron, Alypios Antigonos, heir to the throne, finds himself behind walls staring out at enemies. Alypios, however, is not willing to wait in the city for the Ptolemaioi to make the first move:


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The known world in 148BC:

Next: Chapter 86 : The Fifth Ptolemaic War (Part III)

[Kuningaz]

Goddamnit, I hate those sneaky Ptolies Send assasins to kill all their FMs if you dont wanna take Kush

[Centurio Nixalsverdrus]

Great update, as always. Did you help the Medes with their armies? Because I see a very rare unit there, I think Parthohellenikoi Hoplitai?