Demosthenes the General - 425 BCE

[Franconicus]

So the games stops because I am too - smart?
So it happened again!

Jokes asise - there must be someone out there with much better ideas!! Come on!

[Marshal Murat]

I've just read Peloponnesian War by Donald Kagan (again!), and I've decided I'll give this another shot. It's unfair of me to penalize Franc for making a wise decision. So I'll take your suggestion, and hopefully I'll have a (large???) update by next week. I'll see how this works out.

[Franconicus]

Great!
Go on!!!!

[Prince Cobra]

In few weeks I can also join.

[Marshal Murat]

Rhegium, Italy, Spring 425 BCE
Demosthenes followed the friendly Senator as he weaved his way across the Rhegium agora. Surrounding Demosthenes was the alien town, bustling in strange colors and with strange customs. There were Greeks, but also Italians like the Etruscans, Sabines, and Samnites. There were Carthaginian traders, Spanish and Gaulish merchants. All crowded into this one agora. Spectacular. Demosthenes pressed on through the heaving crowd as he followed the Senator (who moved very fast for someone approaching 70), who arrived before the open bronze doors of the Rhegium Senate.
"Wait here, I'll announce you." That was all the Senator said as he disappeared into the seats of Senators of Rhegium. Quickly a herald appeared and announced loudly, hushing the assembled Senators.
"General Demosthenes of Athens to speak before the Senate."

Demosthenes strode in boldly, his blue cape lined with chasing dolphins dragging on the marble floor. The Senators eyed him quietly, sizing up the Athenian warmaker before he ever began to speak. Demosthenes stopped in the middle of the semi-circle of Senators and put his hands behind his back. (Deep breath)
"Senators of Rhegium, I come from Athens, and I come in peace. I'm leading with my two generous commanders a naval armada to defeat the threat of Syracuse and bring peace to the island of Sicily and her surrounding environs. My armada of 50 ships is no great fleet to subdue you or any honest Greek city-state. We are protecting our allies in Sicily, as you would your allies. We are humble supplicants, asking for your help in protecting Sicilians from the Syracusans, by lending us soldiers and ships to drive the Syracusans from their ill-gotten gains and restoring them to the, to use your tongue, "ante-bellum" situation. If you do not seek to assist us, it will be your loss when we divide up the spoils of Syracuse to all those she wronged on this island and beyond. Thank you Senators."
Demosthenes then bowed and looked to exit by the bronze doors, but the two heralds shook their heads, and Demosthenes turned to the assembled Senators.
"Demosthenes, why have you really come here? What is your purpose in this part of the world?"
"I'm here, Senator, to prevent the tyranny of Syracuse. Leontini has asked for our help, and we are here to assist."
"Surely, Demosthenes, you heard of the Congress of Gela? Sicily is at peace."
"Ah, yes, that false peace. If that is so, then why does Syracuse need allies in Messana? Why do Syracusans hold other Greeks in bondage? We are here, by order of the Athenian Congress, to drive Syracusans from their hostage cities, to defeat Syracuse and her allies, and to liberate the Greeks from the Syracusan yoke."
"I think Demosthenes this is simply Athenian imperialism, taken to a new level. Far from your stomping grounds in the Aegean, aye Athenian?"
If I was here to conquer Greeks and expand the Athenian hegemony, then I would've brought more ships.
Thank you, Demosthenes, that is all
Demosthenes strode out, head high as the Senators began to deliberate.

Athenian Naval Depot on Lipari Islands, Spring 425 BCE
The ships were all cantered on the shore, being scrubbed clean by her crews. Today was a day of light duty as the transports, troop transports, and warships were all being cleaned up and polished. Demosthenes was still in Rhegium, assembling and drilling the soldiers of Italy. Rhegium figured out they had more to gain from this war than to sit on the side-lines. They and their allies ended up providing almost 5,000 soldiers along with 30 warships of various conditions. Now Sophocles, Eurymedon, and Demosthenes' 2nd, Alexander, were all working out the details of their next move.
"We can't move too many men from Himera. The Carthaginians would move in, especially if they see Sicily's strongest forces bleeding each other dry. We head inland, get more troops, and then hit Messana. Link up with Demosthenes, head south." Sophocles proposed first.
"I say we move south to Pachynus, down south. Hit there, move west, to Camerina. We then drop me off with enough soldiers, and then we'll march across Sicily to Leontini. Show how really impotent these Syracusans are, even in their back yard." Eurymedon proposed.
"We move to the Greek fort, demonstrate against Messana, and then Demosthenes hits them from the harbor while they watch the land troops." Alexander proposed.

Syracuse Senate
Midas, a Carthaginian trader and "friend of Athens" watched the deliberations of the Syracusan Congress, as most Syracusans were. The Syracusans were afraid, angry, and ready to fight. Not surprising, really, but that's what they were. Hemocrates, the "genius of Gela" stood before the assembly as he decried the "Imperialism of Athens" and the "Debauchery of the Italians". He knew how to stir up a crowd, and the Syracusans were already mad. Midas took notes, careful notes, as he watched. Two paymasters wanted this information, and he had to get one unbiased copy at least. Hemocrates finally got to what Midas wanted. The call-up.
"We Syracusans must gather our armies, our navies, our allies, and prepare for the coming struggle. Therefore, I propose we call up all levels of soldiers in Syracuse. We send embassies to our allies, to prevent the Tyranny of Athens, we build ships, and we appeal to Sparta and Corinth. Onward, my friends, for today we see the beginning of the Athenian downfall."

Choices - You can open these to interpretation within the general framework.
1. Sophocles Plan
2. Eurymedon Plan
3. Alexanders Plan

[King Kurt]

Welcome back Marshall - good to see this IH back.

I like the look of Alexander's plan - quite simple and makes good use of our best asset - the mobility given to us by the fleet. Messana is the target, so let's not mess about with other things. The fort and the fleet give us a route out if necessary.

[Franconicus]

Yes, it is nice to see it running again.

And it is nice to see that our little platoon grew to an army, now.
Are there any details about our troops? Do we have information about the stregth and destribution of the enemy's navy?

I assume that we command all Greek forces on the map, right?

So now we have an army equal to the army of the enemy. That is good. Yet, Messana is strongly fortified and has a good garrison. We would get a bloody nose attack them from the land or the see side.

Therefore, I would make some other proposals, although I am still uncertain and open for any idea.


First of all, we should send the message we have from the Suracusians to Athens. Tell them that Syracuse is preparing a powerful campaign with strong land and sea forces. This will underline the importance of our mission and maybe give us some golden gifts. Also tell the senate that we found new allies.

About Messana: although this is not the goal of our campaign, we should think about taking it. As I said before, every direct attack is in vane. Therefore, we should try to cut them off. The pro is, that the strong garrison has to be supplied. The con is, that Messana could be supplied be the sea route.

Therefore, we must destroy the fleet of our enemies!!!!
There are three other good reasons for this. First of all, destroying the ships of the enemy will end the grain supply for Sparta, which is our main target. Second, after sinking all the enemy's ships, we will have free hands for the rest of our adventure. Last, but not least, let's make our new allies fight immediately. A naval victory and they will hardly want to change sides. Furthermore they would benefit from the victory, too.

Therefore I say find the ships of the enmy and sink them. I assume that the main squad is at Syracuse, therefore we should attack them there. So go for it and do it now, before they get the fleet alert!!

In the meanwhile our army can start to block from the land side. If we destroy the enemies fleet - which we will if KK commands it - then we can extend our efforts.
We should build one ring around Messina. Fortify our fort and 2,000 men are enough to defend it.
Then we should land south at Leontini with 5,000. This will force the cities there to join us and we can build another line of defence along the river to stop all troops coming from Syracuse.

A final raid to the southern coast to distract the enemies attantion and to release us from unpleasant company.

How about that?

At this point, we should make peace offers! We do not want to conquer this part of the world - not yet I mean.