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Epic to see Celts fighting on sand dunes, keep it going.

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I call bloody murder..too many arabians dead

but that battle was awesome! a hellene vs. celto-Arabian alliance, all on a collection of sand dunes.. If that is not cool, I do not know what is.

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truly great man!! Once again your screenshots are amazing. The one of the endless horses in the desert is particulary epic! This AAR is totally amazing. creme de la creme!

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All that i can say is that Swiss is right up there with MAA and Chruriegon.
Keep it up.

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I second that emotion

Been lurking and learning a lot from these three gentlemen, just waiting for my new PC to finally be ready - 2 months waiting while the supplier quibbles about replacing the duff motherboard they supplied - so I can run EB at full power and put some of it into practise

Meantime I have been spending more tiem reading these Three's AAR's than just about anything else makes weekend and nightshift work worthwhile !!

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Thank you guys

I hope I can update the Overview-Chapter today. I didn't think a summary and overview would take so much time

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Chapter 19 – The Overview

Introduction:

I'm well aware of the fact, that this summary is very large. This tale is quite complex and almost all peoples of the known world play an important role in it (or will). Therefore I recommend you to just ignore the parts that are not of interest to you.

- Don't you remember what exactly happened in this tale? Well, just take a look at the summarized history of the western and eastern Celts.

- Do you want to know more about one certain people that plays a role in this story (or once did)? Have fun reading the faction-part!

- Do you not like reading a lot of text and want to see some pictures? Then you might want to take a look at the last part of this chapter.

I very much thank everyone who reads this AAR, your kind comments really keep me doing this!
Special thanks go to Maion Maroneios who very, very much helped me in matters of Greek language and different cheats!

The face of the known world very much changed since this tale has been started. Kingdoms have disappeared and new empires did arise. The risk of losing the overview is great. Therefore today we consult the historical traditions of the contemporary annalists and then take a look at the different peoples that live and at others who disappeared.

Summarized history of the western Celts

seventies - Gallic War
272 BC - Battle of Mrogaedu - Clear Victory, Aneirin oi Lugos vs. Dennoros and Cocolitanos (t), Gallic War
272 BC - Submission of Bibracte - Gallic War
270 BC - Brycham moc Eporedemoros becomes client king of Bibracte

sixties - End of the Gallic War and start of the Roman War
269 BC - Battle of Mrogaule - Clear Victory, Aneirin oi Lugos vs. Captain Conan (t), Gallic War
269 BC - Submission of Cenabum - Gallic War
268 BC - Ultimate extermination of the Haedui royal dynasty
268 BC - The Principality of Mediolanum becomes protectorate
265 BC - Submission of Massalia, Massiliote Conflict
264 BC - Tincommios moc Gobannitio becomes client king of Massalia
262 BC - King Aneirin oi Lugos dies of natural causes / Belenos oi Lugos becomes ruler
260 BC - Battle of Patavium - Heroic Victory, Belenos oi Lugos vs. Caivs Avrelivs Cotta, Roman War

fifties - Submission of the Roman Republic
257 BC - 1st Battle of Liguria - Heroic Victory, Belenos oi Lugos vs. Tiberivs Cornelivs Blasio t. Younger, Roman War
256 BC - 2nd Battle of Liguria - Clear Victory, Tiberivs Cornelivs Blasio t. Younger (t) vs. Belenos oi Lugos, Roman War
256 BC - Submission of Segesta - Roman War
255 BC - 1st Battle of Latium - Clear Victory, Caivs Avrelivs Cotta vs. Belenos oi Lugos, Roman War
255 BC - 2nd Battle of Latium - Clear Victory, Tiberivs Cornelivs Blasio t. even Younger vs. Belenos oi Lugos, Roman War
254 BC - Battle at the Lacus Sabatinus - Clear Victory, Captain Decimvs (t) - Erbin moc Custennyn, Roman War
254 BC - Submission and pillage of Roma - Roman War
254 BC - The Roman Republic becomes protectorate
251 BC – Battle of Veldideno – Clear Victory, Belenos oi Lugos vs. Catavignos (t) and subjugation of the Rhaetii
250 BC – Ivomagos d’Aler is entrusted with the high command over the Arverni military forces

fourties - The Second Gallic War
249 BC – Mediolanian assault at Lugonesis – Clear Defeat, Motios moc Ceretheros vs. Belenos oi Lugos (t)
249 BC – Ivomagos d’Aler, responsible for Belenos’ death, becomes high king
248 BC – Cenabum becomes capital city of the League of the Arverni
247 BC – Founding of the Great Gallic Council in Cenabum
246 BC – Principality of Mediolanum declares war upon the League of the Arverni
245 BC - The tribes of the Veneti, Pictones, Tarbelli, Volcae-Arecomici, Bituriges, Bellovaces and Nerves join Mediolanum in the war against the Arverni, Second Gallic War
245 BC – Battle of Armoriae – Clear Victory, Ivomagos d’Aler vs. Captain Fergusoe (t), Second Gallic War
244 BC – Assault on Massalia – Lugort oi Lemovicae vs. Tincommios moc Gobannitio, Clear Victory, Second Gallic War
244 BC – Amminos oi Lugos dies of natural causes
244 BC – Ambush at Volcallra - Tincommios moc Gobannitio vs. Lugort oi Lemovicae (t), Clear Victory, Second Gallic War
244 BC – Battle of Darioritum – Clear Victory, Ivomagos d’Aler vs. Captain Riankiadoc (t) and Captain Caratawc (t), Second Gallic War
244 BC – Capture of the city of Darioritum by Ivomagos d’Aler, Second Gallic War
243 BC – Attack on Bibracte – Heroic Victory, Dumnacos oi Bragolos vs. Brycham moc Eporedemoros, Second Gallic War
243 BC – Battle for Sequallra – Clear Defeat, Belgae tribes vs. Haedui, Sequani and Treveri, Second Gallic War
243 BC – Region of Sequallra conquered by the Belgae, Second Gallic War
243 BC – Conquest of Lemonum, Second Gallic War
242 BC – Battle of Volcallra - Clear Victory, Tancogeistla moc Verucloetios (t) vs. Tincommios moc Gobannitio, Second Gallic War
242 BC – Second Battle of Volcallra – Heroic Victory, Caburos moc Ceanatis vs. Tincommios moc Gobannitio, Second Gallic War
241 BC – Ambush at Mediolanum – Clear Defeat, Cintugnatus moc Amminos vs. Motios moc Ceretheros (t), Second Gallic War
241 BC – Battle near Tolosa – Clear Victory, Captain Prasutagos (t) and Caburos moc Ceanatis (t) vs. Tincommios moc Gobannitio, Second Gallic War

thirties - End of the Second Gallic War, submission of western Iberia and Second Roman War
239 BC – Battle at the Isubramrog Forest – Clear Victory, Cintugnatus moc Amminos and Erbin moc Custennyn vs. Captain Berdic (t), Second Gallic War
239 BC – First Battle of Avaricum – Clear Victory, Cadeyrn moc Teutomatos and Dumnacos oi Bragolos(t) vs. Riankiadoc moc Drappes, Second Gallic War
239 BC – Second Battle of Avaricum – Clear Victory, Praesutagos moc Galba(t), Cadeyrn moc Teutomatos(t) and Captain Acco(t) vs. Riankiadoc moc Drappes, Second Gallic War.
239 BC – Capture of Avaricum – Riankiadoc moc Drappes, Second Gallic War
239 BC – Capture and pillage of Mediolanum - Cintugnatus moc Amminos, Second Gallic War.
238 BC – Surrender of the Aquitani and end of the Second Gallic War
238 BC – Cunovindos oi Sucellos becomes client king of Aquitania
238 BC – Ceasefire with the Belgae, restitution of Sequallra to the Arverni.
238 BC – Founding of the “Gallic Confederation”
237 BC – Establishment of trade routs to the Celtic tribes of Britannia
234 BC – Invasion into the Iberian peninsula by Riankiadoc moc Drappes, accompannied by Riankiadoc’s son-in-law Berdic moc Ceanatis and Ivomagos’ eldest son Epasnactos d’Aler, because of Iberian assaults on Celtic trading routs to Britannia
234 BC - Lightning war which results in the submission of the Cantabri and the Lusotannan territories along the western seacoast of Iberia.
233 BC – Reorganisation of the Celtic Confederation’s military juggernaut.
232 BC – Alliance between the trading empire of Syrakousai and the Celtic Confederation
231 BC – Seeking independence, the Roman Republic declares war upon the Celtic Confederation
231 BC – Battle of Aemilia – Clear Defeat, Cintugnatus moc Amminos vs. Sextvs Cornelivs Scipio, Second Roman War.
231 BC – The Roman Republic captures Bononia, but has to make a ceasefire with the Celtic Confederation due to the many losses at the battle of Aemilia.

Summarized history of the Celtic emigrants

fourties - Exodus from Gallia to Hayasdan
243 BC – Fergalos moc Lannildot and Calpornos moc Ollovico escape eastwards with Faros oi Lugos and Cunobelin oi Lugos, so they don’t get killed by Ivomagos d’Aler.
242 BC – Attack on Ak-Ink – Clear Victory, Fergalos moc Lannildot and Captain Brasos (Getai) vs. Calpornos (t)
241 BC – Bloodbath of Gelonus – Clear Defeat, Fergalos moc Lannildot vs. Babai and Spadinos (Sauromatae)
240 BC – Founding of the town Morgandy in Hayasdan.

thirties - Galatia and Ptolemaic War
237 BC – Assassination of Erasistratos Gambreiou Mysiakou (t) by the Celts, based on misinformation
236 BC - Retaliation campaign of the Seleukids, destruction of Morgandy and exodus of the Celts
236 BC – Attack on Karkathiokerta by Pontos with Celtic support – Clear Victory, Calpornos moc Ollovico and Captain Oxyartes vs. Captain Antiochos Soter (t) and Captain Metrophanes (t)
235 BC - Assumption of power over Galatia
233 BC – Assassination of Fergalos moc Lannildot by a Pontic murderer. Pontic spies deliver messages, which make the Ptolemaioi responsible for this murder. Thereby Pontos tries to make the Galatai protect their border to the Ptolemaioi.
232 BC – The Pontic plan gets out of control, the Galatai declare war on the Ptolemaioi and lay siege to Antiocheia.
232 BC – Ambush near Antiocheia – Clear Victory, Cunobelin oi Lugos vs. Krates Kleopatrites (t) and Demokrates Aradou Syriakou (t), Ptolemaic War
232 BC – Surrender and pillage of Antiocheia
232 BC – Teutomatos moc Brycham becomes governor of Antiocheia
232 BC – Alliance between the Sab’yn and the Galatai
232 BC – Battle near Sidon – Clear Victory, Demosthenes Terenuthites (t) and Hippomedon Krokodilpolites (t) vs. Cunobelin oi Lugos, Ptolemaic War
232 BC - Surrender and pillage of Sidon
232 BC – Tincommios oi Bregonae becomes governor of Sidon
231 BC – Surrender and pillage of Hierosolyma
231 BC – Bloodbath of Nabataia – Clear Victory, Calpornos moc Ollovico, Ham Yatha’ (Sab’yn Army), Captain Zari’ (Arabian Army) and Captain Murthid (Nubian and Ethiopian Army) vs. Ger-Ashtart Ptolemaios (t), Kallimedes Ptolemaios (t) and Timophron Apites (t), Ptolemaic War

The world’s peoples

The Gallic Confederation: Many Celtic tribes once populated the lands of Gallia. Much as progressive they were – they carried on commerce to distant peoples, were masters of rhetoric arts and used Greek scripture - they also loved nothing more than fighting each other. After two great wars, the tribe of the Arverni managed to unify the Celtic peoples under their banner. Now at the Ogmioteriam Odemorix, the leaders of the Arverni, Volcae-Arecomici, Bituriges, Pictones, Veneti, Aulerci, Haedui, Treveri, Sequani, Raetii and the Segusiavi, and also the king of Massalia and the rulers of the Aquitani and Liguri periodically meet and form the Gallic Council. They rule the fate of over one Million people from eastern Gallia to Iberia and command the most capable military juggernaut in the western world.


Milnaht Soldouroi Galatias: The Celts from Galatia call themselves “Milnaht Soldouroi Galatias”. Milnaht is a Celtic word and means great men. The word Soldouroi comes from the Celtic word Solduros, which means “devoted ones”, and is Hellenised. “Milnaht Soldouroi Galatias" therefore means broadly translated “great men devoted to Galatia”. Galatia already was populated by Celtic people who had come with Brennus to Greece and Mikra Asia decades ago. When the Celts, who emigrated from Gallia because of a civil war, arrived there, the Galatai began to flourish. Though being a Pontic protectorate, the Galatai could avoid having to join Pontos’ war against the Arche Seleukeia, mostly thanks to the diplomatic skill of a man called Fergalos moc Lannildot. When also the Ptolemaioi appealed to the sword, the king of Pontos let murder Fergalos and put the blame on the Ptolemaioi. He had hoped that due to this action, the Galatai would protect his border and deter the Ptolemaioi from joining the war. But in their rage, the Galatai invaded Ptolemaic territory, sacked the cities of Antiocheia, Sidon and Hierosolyma and – with great help from the Sab’yn, the Arabians, Nubians and Ethiopians – crushed the Ptolemaic forces in the “Bloodbath of Nabataia”. Almost 75’000 Ptolemaic soldiers lost their lives. This catastrophe resulted in a Ptolemaic civil war. The only thing that held the Galatai from invading Afrika, was the fact that the Seleukids recently won the overhand in their war against Pontos and now also threaten Galatian territory.


Ptolemaioi / Pistoi en Ptolemaiois: Ptolemaios I. Soter – an epithet he got after his victory over Demetrios of Kypros in 304 BC – once was a general of Alexander the Great and was entrusted with the governorship over the Satrapy of Aigyptos. After Alexanders death he managed to keep his Satrapy safe even trough the wars of the Diadochi. After his death in 282 BC, his heir even could conquer more territory and the Ptolemaic empire became one of the greatest powers in the near east. Under Xanthos Ptolemaios the empire reached its greatest dimension and ruled the lands from Nubia to Augila and from Antiocheia to Ethiopia. When Xanthos Ptolemaios lost his two only sons and heirs in the “Bloodbath of Nabataia”, the Ptolemaic dynasty was at and end and therefore civil war came upon the empire. The highest general of the Ptolemaioi, Leontiskos Thraikikos, declared martial law and took over the army. Controlling the cities of Augila, Ammonion, Paraitonion, Memphis, Salamis on Kypros and the capital city of Alexandreia, he pretendes to be defending the legitimate rulers of Aigyptoi and therefore his retainers are known now as Pistoi en Ptolemaiois.


Apeleutherotai Aigyptou: When the heirs of Xanthos Ptolemaios were dead, a mighty man called Charopidas Helinaios decided to topple the Ptolemaioi dynasty and seize power over Egypt. From his capital city Pselkis, he acclaimed himself emperor while the southern cities of Dispolis-Megale, Hibis and Ptolemais-Theron clustered round him. They call themselves Apeleutherotai Aigyptou – Liberators of Egypt.


Sab’yn: Once a small people beyond the ocean of sand, the As’Sab’yn wal’Jau now govern a huge territory that reaches from Maryab to Palmyra and control a great part of the trade routs between India and Afrika. They are allies of the Galatai and their participation in the famous battle of Nabataia was vital to the success. One of the most capable force they can field, is their auxiliary army from Arabia. Recently the Nubians became allies of the Sab’yn.


Arche Seleukeia: Like the Ptolemaioi, also the Arche Seleukeia was founded by one of Alexander the Great’s generals. And like the Ptolemaioi the Seleukids have seen better times. Baktria and Pahlava have conquered great parts of the eastern empire. At least the war against Pontos seems to turn, for recently the Seleukids could recapture the city of Karkathiokerta.


Pontos: Once a small kingdom, Pontos now controls Mikra Asia and fights a great war against the Seleukids. One of the most fearsome force they can field are the Galatai. Though uneasy to control, they are an essential part of the Pontic empire.


Baktria: This fromer Satrapy of the Arche Seleukeia meanwhile not only managed to become independent, but also to conquer parts of their former lords. Though they can field mighty armies, they have great problems with not yet identified tribes from the north-eastern lands.


Pahlava: Not even the mighty Arche Seleukeia could withstand the power of the Pahlava horsemen. Only the Sauromatae can field horsemen of similar quality.


Sauromatae: The great time of the Sauromatae seems to be over. When the Celtic emigrates from Gallia crossed their lands, they still had controlled a territory from Dayhu Aursa to Budinije. But between then and now the Getai and the Hay have conquered half of their former lands.


Hayasdan: This strong people managed to take great lands from the Sauromatae in the north. In the south they are at war with the Arche Seleukeia for ages, but the borderlines did never move. They once abused their power over the Celtic emigrates who had crossed their lands. First they allowed them to found a city in Hayasdan, but then they wasted them to the Seleukids and thereby forced them to continue their migration. Though they could face mighty peoples like the Sauromatae or the Seleukids, another people now threatens their northern territory. The Getai seem to be dangerous and maybe the Hay soon have to send further armies to the north.


Getai: The Thracian tribe of the Getae became very powerful in the last forty years. Their empire is at least as big as the territory of the Gallic Confederation. They are able to deploy one of the most powerful armies of the known word, composed of swift horse archers and armour-breaking falxmen. The only people that maybe could stop them at the moment are the Koinon Hellenon in the south. But with them they are at peace – for now.


Koinon Hellenon: The Koinon Hellenon control all of Greece and great territories beyond. They had managed to turn Makedonia into their protectorate. When Makedonia got extinguished by the kingdom of Epeiros, the Koinon Hellenon fought a cruel and bloody war against the Epeirotes, which they finally won. Except for their small possessions in Mikra Asia, all borderlines on land are shared with the Getai, so it could be possible that the Getai soon will be witness of Hellenic power from close up.


Senatus Populusque Romanus: The Roman Republic had a very hard time. Their conflict with the Principality of Mediolanum resulted in a war with the League of the Arverni, in which hundreds of thousands of Romans lost their lives. Alone the pillage of Roma itself by Belenos oi Lugos cost 150’000 Roman citizens their lives. But Roma would not have been Roma if it didn’t rise like a phoenix from the ashes. When the great Hellenic War between the Koinon Hellenon and the kingdom of Epeiros spread to the Italian peninsula and Epeiros conquered Messana and threatened the Hellenic city of Syrakousai, Carthage joined the war and defeated Epeiros in several battles. The Roman Republic, ally of Carthage, took the occasion and conquered the Epeirote possessions in southern Italy and the city of Messana on Sicily. Thereby Rome broke its agreement with Carthage, in which Sicily was declared to be within Carthaginian sphere of influence. In the following Punic war, the Roman Republic could push Carthage out of Sicily and win the war. Carthage was forced to hand over the islands of Sardinia and Korsim to the Romans. Not long after emerging victorious from this war, the Senate of Rome declared its independence from the rule of the Celts and could force this through in a great battle, after which the city of Bononia became Roman possession.


Karthadastim: After having lost the war against Rome, the Karthadastim were not the dominant maritime force in the Mediterranean anymore. But they still are a potent power who could challenge any people in the known world. When they had to forsake the islands of Korsim and Sardinia, they decided to spread their sphere of influence in Iberia instead. Meanwhile they control the eastern coast of the Iberian peninsula and make a good recovery from the war against the Romans. Soon they will be strong, perhaps even powerful enough to challenge the Roman Republic again.


Celtiberi: Once the Lusitani were the most powerful tribe in Iberia. Only the Celtiberi and the Cantabri had remained independent from them, though the Lusotannan had tried to conquer them more than once. When the Celtic Confederation invaded Iberia they conquered the lands of the Cantabri and a great part of the Lusotannan territory. The Carthaginians took the rest. Now the Celtiberi are the last of the Iberian tribes to be independent. They had fought against the Lusotannan with the Celtic Confederation and therefore are their allies.


Casse: Southern Britannia once was populated by the Belgae tribes of the Dumnoni and Cantiaci. When the British tribe of the Catuvelauni and the Cantiaci unified, they formed the great people of the Casse, which conquered great parts of Britain until today. They are a very important trading partner of the Celtic Confederation.


Belgae: The Belgae were known to be the wildest and most fearsome of all Celtic tribes. Once they had colonised the lands in the north and even southern Britannia. All the time they fought wars against the Germanic tribes and remained victorious. Some said, that the Belgians even descend from those horrible Germans. During the last few centuries, there were three tribes of the Belgae that rendered themselves conspicuous. The Nerves colonised the lands closest to the Germanic tribes. Therefore, they were considered to be the bravest and most frightening warriors among all the Belgae tribes. The Bellovaces were the ones who claimed southern Britannia and became very rich through trade. Decades ago there was the great and famous tribe of the Remi, who also populated the territory which now belonged to the Bellovaces. The Remi have been assimilated by the Bellovaces, but still fought in their unique manner in their armies. The Eubrones were the only tribe of the Belgae, which once could be defeated by a Gallic tribe. But only a few years after the tribe of the Treveri had subjugated them, they made peace and established trade. Since that day, the Eubrones were good friends and trading partners of the Gallic tribes and therefore did not participate in this war. When in battle, the Belgae fought in Celtic manner and equipment. But still there were some kinds of warriors, that distinguished themselves from the rest. The Belgae always have been a highly independent people. But when in the north the Swêbóz had unified many Germanic tribes and emerged a very strong and capable military juggernaut, the Belage knew, that they could not withstand the Germans for long, since they heavily outnumbered them now. When the second Gallic war started, the Nerves and the Bellovaces decided to join the Principality of Mediolanum, who promised to let the Belgae keep the lands they conquered. So in spring 243 BC those two tribes left their lands and headed towards the territory of the Arverni with more than 300’000 men, women and children. Not long after their exodus, the Swêbóz conquered the former land of the Nerves. A few weeks later, they reached the lands of the Treveri and Sequani. In a great battle against the Haedui, Sequani and Treveri, the Belgae tribes emerged victorious and could claim the lands of the Sequani and Treveri. But when the Principality of Mediolanum was defeated, they were forced to make peace with the League of the Arverni and to restitute the conquered lands. Now they live between the Celtic confederation and the Swêbóz.


Swêbóz: We don’t know much about the Germanic tribes, except for the fact, that they are they can field some of the most fearsome warriors in the known world. Once living as many different tribes, like the Celts, they were unified by the mightiest of their peoples, the Swêbóz. There are not many people, who could withstand the power of the unified Germanic tribes. Currently their annual raids concentrate on the east, but should they decide to turn westwards the gods may show mercy to the peoples they meet, for the Swêbóz won’t.


Trading empire of Syrakousai: Even during the great Hellenic war and during the Punic war, the Tyrannis of Syrakousai could keep its independence. When the Carthaginians were defeated by the Romans, they had to give up their possessions in Sicilia, Sardinia and Korsim and thereby lost their maritime supremacy in the Mediterranean. The Romans were not able to take over this ascendancy. This situation was taken advantage of by the rich tyrannis of Syrakousai, whose fleets now controlled the main part of the Mediterranean trade. Within short time, Syrakousai brought the cities of Kyrene in Afrika, Emporion in Iberia and the island of Krete under its control and established trading bases at these important key locations all over the Mediterranean sea. Syrakousai got incredibly rich due to the trade with one nation. To face an ominous invasion of wild and fearsome men from the north, the wealthy Ptolemaioi imported Celtic weapons, Greek armour, Iberian horses, foodstuffs from the well stocked granaries of Carthage and Archers from Krete – all through the trading fleets of Syrakousai.

The unlucky peoples who have lost their independence to greater powers

Haedui: Generally all Celtic tribes in Gallia now are members of the Celtic Confederation. Some on their free will, others had to be forced. One of these tribes has to be emphasized. Unlike the other Celtic tribes, the Haedui also had formed kind of a League, like the Arverni. Had they not lost the war against the Arverni, surely they would have conquered a great part of Gallia by now.


Principality of Mediolanum: Once Mediolanum was a possession of the Haedui. When they went down in the first Gallic war, Mediolanum became Arverni protectorate. When the young Arverni Ivomagos d’Aler toppled high king Belenos oi Lugos, he had hired a Mediolanian force to ambush his victim. But Mediolanum wanted more and declared war upon the Arverni. The tribes of the Veneti, Pictones, Tarbelli, Volcae-Arecomici, Bituriges, Bellovaces and Nerves joined Mediolanum. After a bloody war, Mediolanum succumbed to the Arverni.


Lusotannan: The Lusotannan once were a mighty people and controlled the major part of the Iberian peninsula. They carried on commerce with many peoples, especially the Celtic tribes from Britannia. When the second Gallic war was over and the Celtic Confederation started to trade with the Casse too, the Lusotannan tried everything to keep the Celtic merchant vessels from Britannia. They even hired pirates to board Celtic ships. But they underestimated the Celtic Confederation. Within two years they conquered the whole western coast of Iberia and drove the Lusotannan back. The Carthaginians, who intended to extend their sphere of influence on Iberia after having lost the Punic war against the Romans, gave the Lusotannan people its quietus.


Epeiros: The kingdom of Epeiros seemed to have everything it needed to become one of the greatest powers in Europe. They had conquered southern Italy, Illyria, Dalmatia and Makedonia. Coaxed by the Principality of Mediolanum, they even started the great Hellenic War, which caused hundreds of thousands of casualties. At the beginning of this war, the Epeirotes could achieve some great victories and managed to drive back the Koinon Hellenon. But then they overestimated themselves and ended up in fighting wars against the Roman Republic, Carthage and the Koinon Hellenon at the same time. This pressure they could not withstand and in the end their lands were claimed by their enemies.


Makedonia: Alexander would be turning in his grave, when he knew what happened to his people of origin. After being defeated by the Koinon Hellenon, Makedonia became their protectorate. The great Hellenic war was started by Epeiros with the merciless extermination of the rest what once was a proud Makedonia.

Impressions

295 BC - Battle of Sentium: The Roman Republic defeats the Samnites in the third Samnite war. 8’500 Romans and 25’000 Samnites and Celts lose their lives.



271 BC – Once again a Germanic tribe invades the lands of the Helveti.



268 BC – Battle of Larissa: The Koinon Hellenon invade Thessalia and can be defeated by the Makedonians. Nonetheless this will be the last victory in the history of this people.



252 BC – Siege of Karmana: Baktria takes the Seleukid city of Karmana



247 BC – Battle in the hills near Sarmiszeghetusa: The Sauromatae invade Getia Koile and get confronted with a Getae army. Though the first impact of the heavy Sarmatian cavalry is devastating, the elite falxmen of the Getai withstand and cause a bloodbath among the Sauromatae.



240 BC – Battle of Sicilia: Epeiros defeats a Carthaginian army in Sicilia and thereby can keep Carthago from besieging Messana.

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Superb!

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AWESOME!!!!!

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this is just insane. I do not know what to say further. Just insane. How is that with the ballons?!? :-D just fill one with air and then overhand it? While reading incredible chapters I've worked on this one

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Very good!

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Very in depth and complex campaign and AAR you have here. Very interesting.

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Thank you

I found out, that the Hellenic war must have been even much more cruel as I told in my story and that it was not only in my roleplay that Epeiros first was winning the war and then overestimated themselves. I just discovered 6 (yes, six) sites of famous battles in Greece, all 6 from Epeirote victories

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6 sites is indeed much. It's always cool to find AI sites of famous battles... it feels like some kind of ingame archeology.

The overview posting is breathtaking as always and so are the screenshots.

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Epic, particularly the battle scenes at the end

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Truly amazing. I know how long that took you to do and I am humbled before you.

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Thank you guys.

@ Chirurgeon: Thank you, I also always read your great AAR and am looking forward to the next chapter

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Great work, Swiss. Back in my AAR, I just put down the rebellion of Avaricum and I'm getting ready to punish its ally, Burdigala.

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I know, I've read the "The Battle of Avaricum"

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Hey SwissBarbar, love your AAR!
But on your signature it says the nextupdate should have been 3-4 days ago,what gives?

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Thank you Yeah, you're right. Atm I have no access to my computer where I have EB , but in 2 days latest i should have it back... the first thing I'll do is updating my AAR

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truly epic!

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Chapter 20 – The World Ablaze

A few weeks after the bloodbath of Nabataia, the Galatian army under Calpornos moc Ollovico and Cunobelin oi Lugos had reached Antiocheia and camped outside the city. Fortunately the Seleukid threat meanwhile had been defused by Pontos and the Sab’yn. The city of Karkathiokerta was in Pontic hand again. Due to the eastern war, the Arche Seleukeia had to pull out troops from the western frontline, which had given Pontos the opportunity to win the upper hand again.


Too bad that this had not happened earlier, for the Galatians had have the Ptolemaioi on the run and could have defeated them once and for all. By now the Pistoi en Ptolemaiois had secured their borderline to Ioudaia again and it would not be that easy to invade their lands, as long as the trading empire of Syrakousai supplied them with mercenaries from all over the world. As long as the Ptolemaioi could afford those troops, so long they would be able to replace even great losses in short time.

There was one circumstance, that weakened the Ptolemaioi. Their civil war against the Apeleutherotai Aigyptou – the liberators of Egypt. They controlled the southern part of the former Ptolemaic empire, where a great share of the Ptolemaic wealth had come from. To the Ptolemaioi, the main source of wealth now was the Island of Kypros. In the great market of Salamis, the main part of the trade in the eastern Mediterranean has been settled. It was the only serious competition to the trading empire of Syrakousai in these waters.


From the inexhaustible copper mines of Kypros – copper from Tamassos, Politiko and Mitsero was extremely famous for centuries – cargo after cargo left the island trough the great harbour in direction of Alexandreia, Krete or Sicilia.


Therefore this island was the next target of the Galatai. Cunobelin oi Lugos was entrusted with this task, for while his friend Calpornos moc Ollovico was a distinguished expert in pitched battle, as he had proved at Nabataia, Cunobelin oi Lugos was the eminent authority in planning invasions and taking cities, a fact which he had demonstrated by taking Antiocheia, Sidon and Hierosolyma in record time. With the help of Pontic shipbuilders, the Galatai started to construct respectable transport ships in the huge harbour of Antiocheia. Though they worked flat out, it would take a while to build enough ships to carry an army to Kypros.


While the Celts were constructing ships, Pontos took the offensive and invaded Seleukid lands with a force of 35’000 men, of which 4’000 were war chariots. Due to the war the Arche Seleukeia had to fight in the east, the Pontic soldiers could march into the heartland of the Seleukid empire without having met with resistance and reached the city of Seleukeia unharmed. There they came into conflict with the Seleukid royal guard, consisting of a core of 8’000 elite Thorakitai Agematos Basilikou and 5’000 Persian archers, supported by 5’000 native infantrymen and 2’000 men of the Persian heavy cavalry.

Though in the Battle of Mesopotamia 230 BC the Seleukid forces held their ground well against the Pontic superiority, they got overrun by Ponto’s strategically intelligent use of their heavy chariots. Not long after his battle, Pontos took the city of Seleukeia.

Battle of Mesopotamia

Almost at the same time, the Babylonian Ištar-Guard had to face a Sab’yn invading army. Cut off from supply they soon had to surrender. The Seleukid king was in the east fighting Palahva and Baktria, and therefore did not fall to the blades of Pontic or Sab’yn soldiers. As long as he lived, the Seleukid empire would continue in its existence.

Babylonian Ištar-Guard

In the year of 229 BC, when enough ships were ready to transport an army of 10’000 men to Kypros, Cunobelin oi Lugos crossed over with 5’700 Galatikoi Kluddolon, 2’100 Tindanotae and Gaesatae and 1’200 slingers. Though Kypros was ruled by the Ptolemaioi, they still had their own defending system. In the event of war, every town on Kypros had to send between 50 and 500 men to defend their Island. The capital city of Salamis contributed a core of 3’000 warriors. This way the home guard of Kypros could field almost 6’500 heavy infantrymen and 2’400 skirmishers. Other than their Ptolemaic lords, the citizens of Salamis did not preferably fight as a core of a Macedonian phalanx, but as classical Hoplitai.

The first clash of the Galatai and the men from Kypros took place in an alleyway near the eastern seacost. Flanked on both sides by hills and cliffs, the heavier armed and armoured Hoplitai would have an advantage over the lighter Celtic warriors.


Cunobelin oi Lugos deployed his fearsome naked Tindanotae and Gaesatae in the first battleline, for they had the largest shields. Behind he arrayed his light Kluddolon who should act as skirmishers.


The enemy indeed managed to push back the Galatai first. But still the Galatai’s battle line did not break.


Cunobelin had reckoned with the enemy having much heavier soldiers and was prepared. He had stationed his slingers on one of the smaller hills at the left flank. When the enemy had pushed back his line far enough, his slingers appeared and pelted the enemy with their stones from the flank.


The enemy had no choice but to retreat. Though the Hoplitai retreated in order, the skirmishers suffered from many losses.


Disappointed by this not crushing but still shameful defeat, some smaller towns on Kypros surrendered to the Celtic invaders. Due to this fact, the Kypriote army lost a great part of its light skirmishers. The main core of the hostile army retreated in direction of Salamis, but did not reach the city before the faster Galatai showed up too and forced the Kypriotai to the decisive battle.


In open field the more flexible formation of the Galatai was vastly superior to the rigid phalanx formation of the enemy, who could not cover his flanks by light infantry anymore, and eased to a victory.


By this complete victory the Galatai gained control over Kypros and thereby cut off the Pistoi en Ptolemaiois from their major source of wealth, which had great effects on other nations in the world. By this weakening of the Ptolemaioi, pressure was taken off the Apeleutherotai Aigyptou, who still fought out their civil war with the Pistoi en Ptolemaiois. Now the “liberators of Egypt” could send expeditions southwards and conquer the so called “goldlands” of Nubia and the territory of the Ethiopians, known for their mineral wealth and abundance of fearsome mercenaries.

Attack on a military camp of the Apeleutherotai Aigyptou by a Nubian force near Meroe

Even greater than in Africa and Asia were the battles in Europe, when two of the most powerful peoples in the known world went to war with each other. Feeling threatened by their Getae neighbours, the Koinon Hellenon decided to make a preventative strike and invaded Getic territory in Scorcouw and Odrysai with tremendous forces. But still they had underestimated the Getae, whose armies were not as heavily armoured as the Hellenic ones, but still extremely fierce and large in number, for they were masters to all the Thracian tribes, who even the great Hellenic historian Hēródotos had defined as the second-most numerous people in the known world, and potentially the most powerful.

In two great battles, which were surpassing each other in cruelty and mercilessness, the Koinon Hellenon got beaten back by the Getae. Especially about the battle of Tylis many myths and legends wandered the world. In one of these myths, told by many Hellenic historians, the Getai had built a temple for their war god, with a size of the floor area of 60’000 square feet and 65 feet high pillars, constructed with naught but the bones of the fallen Greek soldiers. Another legend, extolled by Thracian bards even centuries after this battle, explained the great number of Getic casualties not by being killed by hostile soldiers, but by being drowned in Greek blood.

Of course one can not give credit to such tales. Most probable about 30’000 Greeks and 38’000 Getae lost their lives in the battle of Tylis, which still is a great amount of human lives thrown away.

Battle of Tylis: 45’000 Greeks and 60’000 Getae and Thracians meet

Despite their initial success, the Getae soon had to split up their armies and send a great number of soldiers north-eastwards. No one had expected it, but the Sauromatae were back. After being driven away by the Getae and the Hay, the Sauromatae had recovered and conquered wide lands from Dahyu Aursa to the border of the Saka Rauka. The surprised Hay stood no chance, when thousands of riders appeared at the horizon and swashed over the land like a deluge. The Sauromatae started to cut off the northern possessions of the Hay from their homeland, conquered Maeotis and thereby again shared a borderline with their former enemies, the Getai.

How the mighty fall in the steppe of Dahyu Yaziga

This had two effects. For one thing the Hay lost a great part of their leading nobles to the lances and arrows of the Sauromatae. This weakened the Hai in the south of their lands and allowed the heavily stricken Arche Seleukeia to attack the Pahlava, who now could not hope for Hay help. Yielding to the superior forces from the west, the Seleukids expanded eastwards and soon laid siege to the city of Asaak, which had been taken from them only a few years ago by the Pahlava.

Siege of Asaak

And for another thing, the Getai could not protect their vast borderlines against 2 strong enemies after the great losses at Tylis and Sigdunum. Therefore, though they had emerged victorious from the battles against the Koinon Hellenon, they had no choice but to accept Hellenic rule in order not the get exterminated at to frontlines.


Ever since the Koinon Hellenon ruled the Getai, they seemed to be unstoppable. Now that they had secured the northern borderline, they could focus eastwards, as they always had wanted. Already smaller groups of Hellenic scouts skirmished with Pontic patrol in Bithynia.

Struggle in the forests of Bithynia

Not long and the Galatai would have to defend their homes against Greek intruders. Since a great part of Pontos’ armies fought in the east, they surely could not hold back the Hellenic invaders alone. Elaborate preparations immediately were begun.

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ye ye ye yeah! another awesome chapter. uhhhh damn it, I'm mind-fighting with my hands not to start EB 'cause this would steal a lot of sleep -_-;

but Swiss, waiting for the next one

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thanks, glad you enjoyed it.

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Great update!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

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I stand in awe for this AAR! Great update!

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'Nuff said.

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Wow. I finally managed to read it all and I must say I'ts great.

Swiss, you even got me a bit scared of those celts although I always categorized them as "average warriors" - quess I was wrong

I will keep following this fantastic AAR.

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