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Thread: The Pyrrhic Dynasty : A Makedonian AAR

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    EB TRIBVNVS PLEBIS Member MarcusAureliusAntoninus's Avatar
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    Default 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:


    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:


    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:


    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:


    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:


    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:


    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:


    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:


    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:


    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:


    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:


    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:


    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:


    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:


    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:


    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
    Last edited by MarcusAureliusAntoninus; 04-30-2008 at 04:02.


  2. #2

    Default Re: The Pyrrhic Dynasty : A Makedonian AAR

    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...

  3. #3

    Default Re: The Pyrrhic Dynasty : A Makedonian AAR

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

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    Probably Drunk Member Reverend Joe's Avatar
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    Default Re: The Pyrrhic Dynasty : A Makedonian AAR

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

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    AtB n00b Member chairman's Avatar
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    Default Re: The Pyrrhic Dynasty : A Makedonian AAR

    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!

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  6. #6

    Default Re: The Pyrrhic Dynasty : A Makedonian AAR

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



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    I is da bestest at grammar Member Strategos Alexandros's Avatar
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    Default Re: The Pyrrhic Dynasty : A Makedonian AAR

    You carried on, great!
    - my first balloon, from Mouzafphaerre
    - LS balloon

    Modo Egredior
    https://www.perseus.tufts.edu/cgi-bi...ookup=Plb.+toc <- read this!
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    When it's not worth dying for?"

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    Member Member paullus's Avatar
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    Default Re: The Pyrrhic Dynasty : A Makedonian AAR

    great, Marcus!!
    "The mere statement of fact, though it may excite our interest, is of no benefit to us, but when the knowledge of the cause is added, then the study of history becomes fruitful." -Polybios


  9. #9

    Default Re: The Pyrrhic Dynasty : A Makedonian AAR

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

    MARMOREAM•RELINQUO•QUAM•LATERICIAM•ACCEPI

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    EB TRIBVNVS PLEBIS Member MarcusAureliusAntoninus's Avatar
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    Default Re: The Pyrrhic Dynasty : A Makedonian AAR

    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...


  11. #11
    The Bad Doctor Senior Member Chaotix's Avatar
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    Default Re: The Pyrrhic Dynasty : A Makedonian AAR

    Awesome, Marcus! I'm so glad that you decided to continue the AAR!
    Keep your friends close, and your enemies closer: The Gameroom

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    The Rabbit Nibbler Member Korlon's Avatar
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    Default Re: The Pyrrhic Dynasty : A Makedonian 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.
    Ongoing EB Campaigns:
    1.0 Pontos (245 BC)

    Remanent or Supremacy - An EB Pontos AAR - Unfortunately postponed indefinitely.
    1.1 Saka Rauka Gameplay Guide
    1.1 Lusotannan Gameplay Guide

  13. #13
    EB TRIBVNVS PLEBIS Member MarcusAureliusAntoninus's Avatar
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    Default Re: The Pyrrhic Dynasty : A Makedonian AAR

    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.


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    The Rabbit Nibbler Member Korlon's Avatar
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    Default Re: The Pyrrhic Dynasty : A Makedonian AAR

    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.
    Last edited by Korlon; 05-01-2008 at 04:14.
    Ongoing EB Campaigns:
    1.0 Pontos (245 BC)

    Remanent or Supremacy - An EB Pontos AAR - Unfortunately postponed indefinitely.
    1.1 Saka Rauka Gameplay Guide
    1.1 Lusotannan Gameplay Guide

  15. #15
    EB TRIBVNVS PLEBIS Member MarcusAureliusAntoninus's Avatar
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    Default Re: The Pyrrhic Dynasty : A Makedonian AAR

    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.


  16. #16

    Default Re: The Pyrrhic Dynasty : A Makedonian AAR

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

  17. #17

    Default Re: The Pyrrhic Dynasty : A Makedonian AAR

    Oh my God!!!!


    I can hardly wait for the second part of this AAR

  18. #18
    Member Member DeathEmperor's Avatar
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    Default Re: The Pyrrhic Dynasty : A Makedonian AAR

    Looks like another masterpiece is in the making!

    Can't wait to see this story unfold.


    "I fought with all that I had, but at the end I was left wounded, bloodied, and broken and asking myself, "Why?"."

  19. #19
    EB TRIBVNVS PLEBIS Member MarcusAureliusAntoninus's Avatar
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    Default Re: The Pyrrhic Dynasty : A Makedonian AAR

    Thanks guys!

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


  20. #20

    Default Re: The Pyrrhic Dynasty : A Makedonian AAR

    Magnificent, i can hardly wait

  21. #21
    EB TRIBVNVS PLEBIS Member MarcusAureliusAntoninus's Avatar
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    Default Re: The Pyrrhic Dynasty : A Makedonian AAR

    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:


    The two armies line up on a flat plan, bisected by the east-west trade route of Thraikia:


    On Pefkolaos' left flank is his one true advantage, the elephants from Syria, which rush forward:


    On Pefkolaos' opposite flank, his cavalry rushes forward, ahead of the main force, and moves to Pyrrhos' left flank:


    And at the center, with arrows bouncing off them, Pefkolaos leads his army forward with his frightening new Hetairoi Kataphraktoi:


    As Pefkolaos' main force slowly moves forward, Pyrrhos takes his Hetairoi and moves to his left flank to counter the enemy cavalry:


    Rather than engage Pyrrhos' line, Pefkolaos' main battle line comes to a halt and waits as both flanks begin to engage eachother:


    To the north, Pyrrhos personally leads a cavalry charge in at the flank cavalry:


    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:


    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:


    The heavy Peltastai fall back but the elephants regroup and charge forward directly at them:


    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:


    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:


    They Syrian Pezhetairoi move forward and form a pike line. Halted just before the Makedonike line, they begin to skirmish:


    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:


    Finally, the two lines clash. Across the entire length of the field, two great masses of men and pike collide against eachother:


    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:


    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:


    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:


    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:


    While the infantry suffer, the Hetairoi finally manage to cut through their enemy and eliminate most of the heavy horsemen, surrounding Pefkolaos:


    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:


    The infantry battle streches out and sections of both sides begin to break and run from the field of battle:


    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:


    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:


    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:


    Pefkolaos manages to escape and takes the remnants of his army back into Anatolia, where he rests in the city of Nikaia:


    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:


    The known world in the spring of 175BC:

    Next: Chapter 53 : Arabian Problems


  22. #22

    Default Re: The Pyrrhic Dynasty : A Makedonian AAR

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

    MARMOREAM•RELINQUO•QUAM•LATERICIAM•ACCEPI

  23. #23
    Member Member paullus's Avatar
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    Default Re: The Pyrrhic Dynasty : A Makedonian AAR

    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.
    "The mere statement of fact, though it may excite our interest, is of no benefit to us, but when the knowledge of the cause is added, then the study of history becomes fruitful." -Polybios


  24. #24
    Member Member DeathEmperor's Avatar
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    Default Re: The Pyrrhic Dynasty : A Makedonian AAR

    Incredible chapter MAA!

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


    "I fought with all that I had, but at the end I was left wounded, bloodied, and broken and asking myself, "Why?"."

  25. #25

    Default Re: The Pyrrhic Dynasty : A Makedonian AAR

    Still amazed at the truly epic scope of this AAR, very tense battle that was! I'm still loving this very very much
    The path is nameless - Lao Tse

  26. #26
    Counter-Revolutionary Member BerkeleyBoi's Avatar
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    Default Re: The Pyrrhic Dynasty : A Makedonian AAR

    Wow! This is great!

  27. #27

    Default Re: The Pyrrhic Dynasty : A Makedonian AAR

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



  28. #28
    NOBAΛO AYΣE Member Ayce's Avatar
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    Default Re: The Pyrrhic Dynasty : A Makedonian AAR

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

  29. #29

    Default Re: The Pyrrhic Dynasty : A Makedonian AAR

    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.

  30. #30

    Default Re: The Pyrrhic Dynasty : A Makedonian AAR

    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?
    Last edited by Olaf The Great; 05-03-2008 at 18:24.
    [COLOR="Black"]Jesus's real name was Inuyasha Yashua!
    Any computer made after 1985 has the storage capacity to house an evil spirit.
    Quote Originally Posted by Fluvius Camillus View Post
    What I'm showing here is that it doesn't matter how well trained or brave you are, no one can resist an elephant charge in the rear

    ~Fluvius

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