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.