Anabasis Pyrrhou - An Epeirote AAR

[Olaf Blackeyes]

Id say go go Carthage or Egypt.

[Maion Maroneios]

Excellent, truly excellent Hax! I just read everything through, after my week-long absense from the fora to enjoy my vacations Good to see an Epeiros AAR and hope it will continue for us to see the "Arche Apeirou" or "Megale Apeiros" in the future

Maion

[Hax]

@johnhughthom: Actually, the Ptolemaioi have been targeted so much by other players, I've decided something else! Thanks for reading!

@Olaf: Yesss, Karkhedon is indeed evil. You'll see what happens! Thanks for reading ^_^

@Maion: Glad you liked it! I'm hoping to create an empire that would make Alexandros proud, if you know what I mean. Whether it's east or west, I'll just see where the wind takes me!

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Chapter V - Over the Sea?

Years passed as the Aitolian garrison withered. After almost three years, the Aitolian council decided (against the will of the military leaders) to surrender the city to Pyrrhos, hoping that he would not raise an arm against the inhabitants. Even though Pyrrhos did not touch any of the city's inhabitants, the Aitolian council had been formally disbanded, effectively ending the Aitolian League.



At this time, Hellas prospered as it had not done since the death of Kassandros Antipatros. The entire Kingdom was now in a period of wealth and prosperity, which would later be known as the start of "the First Epirote Golden Age". From the Makedonian plains of Pella to the hills of Dodona and Epiros, money was flowing like the waters of the Neilos in autumn, allowing the many cities to increase their standard of living;



It was also this that allowed larger ports and markets, suited for trade;





Remarkebly, the wealth of the many mines of Thraikia and Makedonia was not only used for cultural and economical growth, but also for the maintaining of larger military forces and armouries.



It was at this same time that several Syracusan ships came from Sikilia, telling how the Phoenician traders had built an empire which exceeded even the Epirotes and the Ptolemaic and Seleukide dynasty.



As Pyrrhos was growing old now, he no longer had the strength to go to Sikilia himself. Knowing that his former general, Hieron was still in power, he sent another young man who had risen to a promising position amongst the Epirotes. His name was Pergamos Poitneonios, of whom we shall speak of more later.

Studying under Pyrrhos' son, Alexandros, Pergamos had learned the ways of trading and speaking excellently, which made him well-loved amongst the Hellenes of Ambrakia. He had quickly raised an army, which consisted out of some 5,000 Illyrian phalangites from Ambrakia, 3,200 thorakitai, a relatively new invention. Armed with a thureos and armed with shorter spears than the phalangitai, they were disciplined and well-armed. Then there were the 4,000 psiloi, made up evenly from slingers and Cretan mercenaries. Pergamos' personal bodyguard consisted out of his 750 man-strong somatophylakai and 2,000 noblemen from Makedonia, known as the Loncophoroi in the Greek tongue. The fore-runners, or Prodromoi, made up another 2,000 men. And finally, the pride of Epiros, there were 360 Elephantes from India, a personal gift by Antiochos I, for his proven loyalties.





As the ships were loaded, Pyrrhos bid his last farewell to Pergamos, and sending a note to his son Ptolemaios, who was still in Thermon to pacify the region, he laid down on his bed in Ambrakia. And as the sun started to drop behind the horizon and the ships sailed into the evening red, Pyrrhos, King of the Epirotes, Hegemon of the Aitolian League, and Lord of the Korinthians breathed his last breath.

So ended the reign of Pyrrhos.



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Next: Chapter VI - On Karkhedon

[Olaf Blackeyes]

NUUUUUUUUUUUU!!!!!!!!!!!! Pyrrhos CANNOT DIE!!!!!!!!! At least not like a weak woman! He must die a heros death!
(is sad)

BTW great chapter.

[Centurio Nixalsverdrus]

I like the style of your AAR very much.

Though I must say that "360 Elephants" seems like the typical exxageration of our contemporary historians.

[Hax]

Yeah, I usually multiply by ten on that kind of stuff, but for Elephants I haven't really found a suitable number. Do you have any idea what a lot would be?

[Centurio Nixalsverdrus]

I have the impression that elephants and bodyguards shoud be treated 1:1. From what I remember, Hannibal had only a handful of elephants with him on his famous trail. So, 12 Elephants with 3 men each I think would fit. Remember that they are really expensive, and I can't imagine the Epeirotes (or any other faction in any other place) to have stables for breeding more than 360 elephants. I think 30 or something (animals, not riders) would already be really imperial.