[Epeiros/Pergamon AAR] Philetairos' Gift

[QuintusSertorius]

A Change in Direction

With the death in early 252BC of Pyrrhos, the Basilieu, and the accession of his son Ptolemaios to both the Pergamene throne and the leadership of the Pan-Hellenic Confederation, there was a change in the kingdom's strategy. Ptolemaios gathered his generals, governors and advisors in the winter while the armies were quartered away to outline his plan.

"Pergamon must become a naval power." He said opening the gathering. "Until now we have relied on our strength on land and on allies for sea transport, but this must end." He let that sink in for a moment before continuing.

"To our east we are constrained by the fierce Galatian tribes and the great powers of Syria and Egypt. While I think one day we can face their might with confidence, now is not yet that day. To the north east is the domain of Pontos, and while we have beaten them in war once before, it is too soon to free the Greeks of Paphlagonia from Persian rule."

There were mutterings around the table, some of his generals desired a new round of hostilities with Pontos.

"And to our west across the Hellespont the Antigonid kingdom of Makedonia and the Getic tribes to the north constrain us. I do not feel war there would be profitable while we are still settling matters in Byzantion and Tylis."

He paused to take a deep breath, this was the most controversial part of his strategy. "We lack the deep harbours needed to build ships of war. There are islands in the Aegean and Mediterranean, rich islands, just sitting there for the taking. Krete is incessantly at war with itself, the various tribes and factions fighting for control, just crying out for a strong hand. Rhodos and it's command of the sea lanes is right within our sphere of influence, there are factions in the city sympathetic to leaving the Koinon Hellenon. And Mytilene is within sight of the balcony outside this very room."

"Mytilene is the key to all of this. It has the deep harbours we lack and the skilled shipbuilders would could construct a navy of our own. No more would we be reliant on privateers and pirates to ship our troops to where they need to be. This is a dangerous plan, for Mytilene is allied to the Antigonids. We must expect a response from them in our holdings on the other side of the Hellespont. But we are ready."

And so it was agreed upon, there were questions of clarification, but no dissenting voices. This was a bold strategem for the new king, but an appropriate one worthy of his father who had led the expansion of Pergamon from merely a Mysian power to an Anatolian one. Besides the inhabitants of all of those islands were Greek, and thus more Hellenes would be brought into the confederation to unite Hellas.

[Swordmaster]

Nice. Keep an eye on Baktria, though. I see the Saka are having an okay time, so don't be surprised when they siege Baktra into a premature death.

[QuintusSertorius]

Battle of Lesbos

It was in 251 that the king's plan was finally put into action. He sent a relatively inexperienced commander at the head of the army; he would have gone himself but there were far too many things to do in Pergamon.

The invasion prompted an immediate response from the Antigonid allies.



Eleaios drew up in the formation that had become the standard for Pergamene armies.



His skirmishers were busy at the start of the battle.



The remainder of the first Antigonid group were showered with missiles.



Then came on the second, and in that formation the governor of Mytilene.



When they engaged, Eleaios' wings looped around. He led the enveloping maneuver on the right.



He also led two charges to the rear of the Antigonid phalanx.





The second charge broke them, and it was the Gallic mercenary cavalry who killed the last of the enemy.



The governor managed to escape the rout back into the city, but he was killed as the Pergamene troops stormed in after him.



247BC:



I finally FD'd peace with Makedonia a few turns ago when it was clear they weren't actually going to do anything. Now they've turned the tables in Greece, so I may have to intervene. They went from being at risk of destruction to suddenly threatening KH with extinction.

Ptolemies and Seleukids are allies. Strange. Both are pretty strong, either might be a good target for a nice war in a bit.

Meanwhile I've got my army in Mytilene preparing for the invasion of Krete. Given KH's troubles, I think I'll hold off on that for a while yet.

Saka are looking nice and healthy. Same with the Sauromatae. Romans are contained, though they took Messana then declared a ceasefire with Qarthadast. Lusotanii haven't exploded yet, nor have the Sweboz. Still lots of rebel territory out there.

Nice. Keep an eye on Baktria, though. I see the Saka are having an okay time, so don't be surprised when they siege Baktra into a premature death.

They seem more interested in duking it out with Pahlava in the steppes, and Baktria's much-reduced army is besieging Kophen. Perhaps when they've got that I might give them their army back.

[QuintusSertorius]

245BC:



Brief update, Egypt are having problems in the deep desert, and I took Krete.

[QuintusSertorius]

The Seleukid War

It had been ten years since king Ptolemaios' grand plan had come into effect, and it had bourne fruit. Mytliene and Kydonia were now within the Pan-Hellenic fold, productive and happy members of the confederation. It was perhaps out of fear of the rising star on their very doorstep that the Seleukids lashed out. A strong Pergamon might offer the Greeks in that cosmopolitan mix of peoples an alternative to rule from Antiocheia and fragment the already troubled empire.

So it was in 242BC that a Seleukid army attacked Bithynia, hoping to pick off Pergamon's allied city-states one by one.



They were not aware, however, that Pergamon's extensive network of spies and agents had already warned the Basilieu of the Seleukid movements, and that he had already ordered the army to gather and provision themselves for campaigning throughout the winter, rather than resting in quarters as they might. When spring came, they were within striking distance of Nikaia, ready to relieve the city and take the initiative.

242BC:



Captured is one of the three armies I now have (two are smaller, this is an "outsized" one in response to the sheer number of phalangites in the Seleukid force - nine units all told), which I'd already gathered the moment I spotted a full Seleukid stack hanging around Ipsos. They've been quiet for too long so there was little doubt where they were headed. I'm actually hoping they break off from Nikaia so I don't have to mess about with annoying reinforcements.

Rather than use this as an excuse to take Ipsos, I'm going to war with them a bit, then once the reinforcements stop coming (or I can't dredge them up from across their empire), then I'll FD a ceasefire. I'll style this a war of self-defense, rather than conquest.

Been some changes in the world. The Romans finally took Massalia. Ankyra revolted to the Aedui after the Seleukids overcame the full stack there, and got mauled in the process. I gave Bratosporios to the Casse to encourage them to do something in Gaul, and mix things up there.

Baktria are useless, even with that full stack now returned to them. Let the Seleukids take Kophen out from right under their noses. Likely to revolt shortly, though.

[Reverend Joe]

Looking good so far. And condolences on the failure of your last Pergamon AAR.

Also, I gotta note that the Sauromatae are kicking some ass. Not bad for their usual lazy, stoned-ass habits.

[||Lz3||]

baktria always has a bad time dealing with expansion... perhaps they need more money...

nice AAR , same as the other ones

[QuintusSertorius]

Looking good so far. And condolences on the failure of your last Pergamon AAR.

Also, I gotta note that the Sauromatae are kicking some ass. Not bad for their usual lazy, stoned-ass habits.

I'm quite pleased with how this one is going, especially the slower pace of expansion. I was rewarded with a proper battle recently, which was nice. Whether I'll get any more for a while might be different.

I have been "helping" them from time to time by spawning troops in Uspe whenever the Hai try to make a break for the steppe. Otherwise they've managed that all on their own.

baktria always has a bad time dealing with expansion... perhaps they need more money...

nice AAR , same as the other ones

Well I did nerf them right at the start by taking their army away. Now they've got it they're not doing much of use with it. Just let Kophen get taken by the Seleukids, then revolt to Pahlava. Fools. I'm not that bothered, as long as they're not wiped out I can live with them not being a massive presence.