Of savage tribes and glorious empires - An Arverni AAR

[SwissBarbar]

Thank you very much

This time it's more to read than usual, but the story is becoming more complex.


Actually they have moved southwards, the Arverni-Green and the Ptolemaioi-Yellow are just very similar, therefore it's hard to differentiate. Look close, veeeeeery close , and you'll see the difference

[Chirurgeon]

Being color blind sucks...I cant tell the difference between the Lusitann and KH or the Aedui or the Romans!

[Olaf Blackeyes]

That does suck.
Epic chapter as always.
Quick question did you photoshop those nation names into the pics? Cuz otherwise you would have had to do some fancy splits.

[SwissBarbar]

Yes, except that I have no photoshop. I did it in Microsoft paint, by cutting out ever single letter of its own from other pics and put them together again on this one...

[A Very Super Market]

A lot of hard work... good job!

[Mjolnir]

I finally got a chance to read this update, very very impressive.

[Hotseat_User]

hehe just one word: AWESOME keep it up

[NickTheGreek]

Wow, that was once hell of an update

[machinor]

Is it possible, that this AAR is getting even better than it was in the past? Obviously it is! Simply amazing.

[SwissBarbar]

A lot of hard work... good job!

I finally got a chance to read this update, very very impressive.

hehe just one word: AWESOME keep it up

Wow, that was once hell of an update

Is it possible, that this AAR is getting even better than it was in the past? Obviously it is! Simply amazing.

Is it possible, that your comments are getting even more kind than they were in the past? Obviously they do! Thank you guys!!

[SwissBarbar]

Hmm, what say you:


Would you like to read a shorter chapter with more pictures about 2 important battles against 2 different enemies (each will have great aftermaths), already tomorrow, or would you wait for the weekend and read a longer chapter?

[machinor]

Vote for short chapter with awesome pictures of epic battles! I'm a "Spatz in der Hand"-man.

[SwissBarbar]

A "Spatz-in-der-Hand" - man? den merk ich mir

[I of the Storm]

Well, come to think of it, you could split chapters geographically. The situation in Asia Minor is almost totally independent from the rest for example... So why not make smaller chapters?

[SwissBarbar]

Right, though this is what I've done before, I just posted them together because they happen at the same time and the map at the end would be the same.

I could split the chapters as you say, and only post the eastern half of the map at the end for the eastern chapters, and the western half of the map for the western chapters.

I think I'll make it that way:

Today: Chapter east + west

Weekend: Chapter about the diffrent factions of the known world (so you don't lose the overview, because many factions are not original anymore: There is The trading Empire of Syrakousai, The Belage, The Celtiberi, The Gallic Confederation, The Milnaht Soldouroi Galatias...)

After next Weekend: Every Wednesday/Thursday a chapter about the east and every Saturday/Sunday a chapter about the west.

Thanks for your inputs

[Hotseat_User]

*press F5* *press F5* *press F5* *press F5* *press F5* *press F5* *press F5* *press F5* *press F5* *press F5*

[SwissBarbar]

It's 13:00 in my country, you will have to wait till 22:00 i guess, I'm not at home before..

[Hotseat_User]

hehe, same time zone, thank you :-)

[SwissBarbar]

Of savage tribes and glorious empires

Chapter 18 – Part One: Settling Old Scores

In the year of 231 BC the Koinon Hellenon razed the city of Ambrakia to the ground and thereby put the great Hellenic war to an end, for the fall of their capital city walked hand in hand with the demise of Epeiros’ royal dynasty.

The power vacuum that arose from their former possessions in Dalmatia and Pannonia Illyrica was filled by the ever-expanding Thracian tribes of the Getae within very short time.

Soon the remains of the formerly strong kingdom of Epeiros were washed away by the waves of time. Almost at the same time, another people who once had survived the pillaging of its capital city, sought for vengeance for this humiliation. The Roman Republic recently had emerged victorious from the war against Carthage and felt strong enough to burst the chains the Celts from the north once put them in.

Since the major part of the Celtic Confederation’s army still was Iberia, a better time to strike would never come. The Romani immediately sent their battle-tested Legio II Sicilica and Legio IV Victrix northwards, commanded by a young Legatvs called Sextvs Cornelivs Scipio, who had excelled in the Punic war.

With the incursion into the region of Aemilia, the Romans declared war on the Celtic Confederation.

The only ones who could answer to this threat were the Liguri and the cities of Bononia and Mediolanum. The Celtic counterattack was led by the Ligurian general Cintugnatus moc Amminos, who in the second Gallic war had defeated the main army of the Principality of Mediolanum, led by the fearsome Gaesatae. The Liguri could deploy the most soldiers and therefore formed the main force with 14’000 Gaemile Liguriae and 2’000 Liguriae Epos. Erbin moc Custennyn, governor of Mediolanum, could send 3000 light cavalrymen to support them, but his infantry couldn’t get there in time. The city of Bononia could field 2’400 heavy Gaesatae, 4’800 Lugoae as light infantry and 3’600 Sotaroas as supportive archers. All in all the Celtic Confederation arrayed a little more than 30’000 warriors to meet the Romans.

The two Roman legions deployed 3’200 Hastati in the first battle line and 3’200 Principes in the second. 1’600 Triarii made the elite- reserve for cases of emergency. Traditionally weak, the Roman cavalry only was composed of 2’000 Eqvites. 2’400 Leves and 1’200 Accensi acted as skirmishers. This made the two legions consist of a bit over 13’500 men, exclusive the Legatvs’ bodyguard.

Of course the Romans also deployed forces they had recruited from their allies. When the Celts had conquered Roma, the Italic peoples, especially the Samnites, had joined them and had protected their border line to the Roman Republic. But since in the Second Gallic war the force of the Italic allies had been heavily decimated, being wasted on the fearsome Gaesatate of the enemy, they had lost their faith in the Celts. Now the Romani even had defeated the mighty Carthaginians, the Italic peoples, with the Samnites leading the way, had formed an alliance with the Roman Republic.

Roman Leves

Thus Sextvs Cornelivs Scipio could draw on auxiliary forces from all over Italy. The Samnites contributed 3’200 Hastati Samnitici, the Bruttii 1’600 Pezoi Brettioi and the Lucanians had sent 1’600 Aichmetai Leukanoi. Since Roman cavalry generally was quite weak, their allies traditionally had to field a way larger amount of cavalry. In this case the Campanians contributed 4’000 Eqvites Campanici. In addition 4’800 Akontistai from the former Hellenic cities in Italy arrayed as skirmishers, which made the amount of the allied force consisting of over 15’000 men. Therefore the Roman army was composed of almost 30’000 men.

The two armies met on a rainy day in summer 231 BC. Cintugnatus moc Amminos let his main force, his Gaemile Liguriae, form in the center.

The light Lugoae from Bononia protected the flanks, while the fearsome Gaesatae arrayed in front of the Gaemile. The 3’000 Leuce Epos from Mediolanum deployed at the left flank, while the 2’000 Liguriae Epos hid in the forest at the right flank. The archers stood behind the infantry in the center, from where they could shoot at the enemy while being protected by the men in front of them.

As it was tradition in Celtic warfare, the light cavalry opened the battle by skirmishing. The Romani had exactly the same idea and so the 4’000 Eqvites Campanici and the 3’000 Leuce Epos met in the middle of the battlefield and started to pelt each other with javelins.

The Eqvites Campanici were some of the best cavalrymen one could find in the whole Italian peninsula. But still they could not match the lightest of Celtic cavalrymen. The Celts knew that, and though outnumbered passed over to melee.

The Leuce Epos could push back the Campanici and even could make half of them rout. But when the Roman heavy infantry approached, they had to retreat. The Celts sent forth their Ligurian infantry, which met the Roman main battle line short after the Gaesatae had thrown themselves at the enemy. A division of Eqvites Romani tried to attack the Ligurian’s flank, but the Leuce Epos joined the battle again and could stop them and force them to melee.

When the battle peaked, the Samnitici could push back the left flank of the Liguri, while the Gaesatae and the Ligurian infantry had managed to break the first Roman battle line and to drive back the center of the Roman heavy infantry, now defended by the Principes. The rest of the Campanian cavalry and 1’000 Eqvites Romani had tried to outmanoeuvre the right flank and got surprised by the Liguri Epos who were hidden in the forest. While the Eqvites Romani had died like flies, the Campanian cavalry could resist and gradually managed to gain the upper hand.

After an hour of fighting, both armies had incurred great losses and turned out to be technically evenly matched. But now the soldiers were tired and raddled from the wounds they had received, the superiority of the Roman art of warfare was given expression. Just at the right moment Sextvs Cornelivs Scipio sent his rested Triarii into combat.

Fighting in a compact Greek phalanx formation, the Triarii could push back the Ligurian battle line and make the difference. Most of the Celtic heavy Gaesatae were dead and the tired Ligurians could not take the punch of the Triarii.

Cintugnatus moc Amminos tried to withdraw his army in an ordered retreat, which he managed with his center formation. But the light infantry and cavalry at the flanks got the order too late and was broken.

At the end of that day, 20’000 warriors of the Celtic Confederation and 13’000 warriors of the Roman Republic were dead.

Since the force from Bononia was the one, which had been broken first and had suffered from many casualties, the city was defenceless and had to surrender to the Romans. The remaining force of the Celts had to retreat to the cities they came from in order to protect them.

But the Romans had not reckoned with that much casualties. Though they had won the battle and conquered the region of Aemilia, they were not strong enough to advance further. By the time they had reinforced their army, the Celts already had sent reinforcements from Massalia and Viennos. Thus the Romans used their military force to protect their new lands and the border to the Celtic Confederation. This was not the last time the Romans and Celts would clash violently, but for now, with the exchange of prisoners of war, the Celts and Romans concluded an armistice.

Though this great and brutal battle would not be forgotten by the peoples in Europe, and though it would turn out to have great effects on future events, it was nothing compared to what was going to happen on the dunes in the wilderness in the east of the Dead Sea….

(The second part of this chapter follows tomorrow)

.

[Hotseat_User]

short and good.

[Dragonslicer]

This story is absolutely amazing. I started reading today and couldn't stop. I even called off work all afternoon just so I could keep reading it. Truly epic. Keep up the good work

[SwissBarbar]

Aha, that's why you took off. Now I got you. I'm your boss, you know.

[SwissBarbar]

Of savage tribes and glorious empires

Chapter 18 – Part Two: Fall Of A Dynasty

Only three weeks after reaching Hierosolyma, the Galatian army stormed the city and took it by force. The 7’500 men of the garrison and the 6’000 Ioudaioi locals who had come to help defending the city, died aside their leader Bion Thraikikos.

The citizens of Hierosolyma didn’t fare better. As before, the Galatai killed every man older than fifteen years and sold the rest into slavery.

After this victory, Cunobelin oi Lugos and Faros oi Lugos decided to stay in Hierosolyma in order to keep peace and secure the stream of supply for their troops, which continually flowed from Galatia to wherever their army would march. To compensate the men he separated from the army to protect the new conquered city, 6’000 new Galatikoi Kluddolon from Ankyra joined the main force, which now was commanded by Calpornos moc Ollovico. Calpornos extended his army further with archers by hiring Toxotai from Ioudaia and started to march with 25’000 men towards the Ptolemaioi armies of which he had heard recently.

Ioudaioi Toxotai

At the same time the three armies of the Ptolemaioi marched in three columns towards the invaders.

The first army was led by Ger-Ashtart Ptolemaios, eldest son of the empire’s ruler Xanthos Ptolemaios. Sailing from Alexandria along the seacoast till they reached the border to Ioudaia and then continuing on land, this force of 35’000 soldiers had advanced quite fast. Out of these 35’000 men, 10’000 were elite Klerouchikon Agema and another 5’000 were Toxotai Kretikoi, hired from their trading partner Syrakousai who controlled the island of Krete. These units turned this army into the pride of the Ptolemaioi and the sheer nightmare of every enemy.

Toxotai Kretikoi

The second army was led by Kallimedes Ptolemaios, second of the two sons of Xanthos, and was composed of 40’000 men from Memphis, mostly native Egyptians, who were called “Machimoi”. The Machimoi fought as swordsmen, also armed with several javelins, or as Machimoi Phalangitai. The most noble ones formed the Machimoi Hippeis, some of the best horsemen the Ptolemaioi could field.

Aigyptoi Machimoi

The third army was led by Timophron Apites. This young man was the vicegerent of the southern territories and kept the ever-truculent Nubians and Ethiopians under control with an iron fist. From there he brought an army of 10’000 native soldiers with him, mostly cavalry but also fearsome Ethiopian swordsmen.

Aithiopikoi Machairophoroi

According to his plan, Calpornos moc Ollovico retreated his more mobile army, when he was near the enemy force, and provoked them to chase him. After hunting him through southern Ioudaia, the Ptolemaioi armies finally could deploy in the east of the Dead Sea, where the Galatian army now stopped and set a camp. Here it was, where the fight should take place.

The Ptolemaioi were not very surprised, when they saw two armies of the Sab’yn array in front of them. They had been their enemies for ages and it didn’t escape their notice that the Sab’yn and the Galatai had become allies.

One of the Sab’yn armies was led by Ham Yatha’, a member of the Sab’yn royal dynasty. He had led his army from Bostra to this place. This force was composed of 25’000 warriors. Many of them came from the regions at the Red Sea, and fought as light infantrymen, called “Giusim Aravim 'im Garzenim”. Also many Dorkim Ezra'him – Sabaean Levy Spearmen – were among them. But the core of heavy infantry in this army was formed by the famous Red Sea Hoplites. Though they were not as heavily armed as the original Greek Hoplitai and more were meant to fight light infantry, they still represented a capable force.

Sab’yn Hoplitai Troglodutikes - Red Sea Hoplites

The other army was an Arabian auxiliary force, led by a young captain called Zari’. The Arabians had sent 20’000 men, mostly light skirmishers and cavalry. The pride of the Arabians were their horsemen and of course their famous archer-spearmen, who not only were deadly at high range, but also could stand their ground in melee.

Giusim Aravim Tsfonim - Arabian Light Archer-Spearmen

The 85’000 Ptolemaioi still not only outnumbered the 70’000 Galatai and Sab’yn, they also were heavier armed and armoured and therefore arrayed on the dunes of Ioudaia and Nabataia with no doubt that they would eliminate the invaders. But they did not know, that Calpornos moc Ollovico had another ace up his sleeve.

Calpornos moc Ollovico deployed his army along the dunes. Though the Phalangitai formed the core of his force, he knew they could not match the Ptolemaioi Phalangitai – especially not the Klerouchikon Agema – and therefore stationed again his Kluddolon in front of them, in order to get under the enemy phalanx and open breaches. His heavy naked warriors, the Gaesatae and Tindanotae were deployed behind the Phalanx and the Kluddolon as a elite-reserve.

Just in front of the Galatai, Ger-Ashtart Ptolemaios arrayed his heavy cavalry on a hill. Their mission was clear. Should the infantry - against expectation - not break through, they were supposed to roll up the enemy’s line from the flank or the rear.

But only if the Toxotai Kretikoi left something over, for these archers were known for their excellent marksmanship.

The center of the Ptolemaic formation was formed by the Klerouchikon Agema, flanked by lesser kinds of Phalangitai.

While the Nubians and Ethiopians formed a semicircle behind the Ptolemaioi armies, Kallimedes Ptolemaios arrayed his force at the right flank of the battlefield. Like his brother's army also his formed a terrible wall of spears, ready to pierce every approaching enemy.

In the center of their opponent’s force, the Sab’yn arrayed a dense formation. Obviously they intended to throw themselves at the phalanx and to push trough.

The Arabian force at the left flank had another strategy. Since most of them were fighting as skirmishers, they deployed in lighter formation.

The battle was opened by the Toxotai Kretikoi, who caused a bloodbath among the light Galatian and Sabaean units.

The Galatians sent forth their naked warriors, who, though not protected by armour, had huge shields and could protect their comrades. When the Toxotai Kretikoi retreated behind the phalanx again, the infantry on both sides started to move down the dunes and met just in between those little hillocks. Immediately the Kluddolon tried to get under the enemy phalanx and gut the heavy Klerouchikon Agema from within.

But the Agema were too strong, the Kluddolon had to retreat and the phalanxes met. Being certain of victory and by the command of their general the Ptolemaioi Phalangitai in the second rank and behind, started to sing archaic war songs in order to lower the enemy’s morale and to strengthen their own. But ironically this also had a positive effect on the Galatai. They were so impressed by their enemies and even started to have fear, which Celtic warriors usually did not know, that they didn’t left their formation in order to gain glory in melee, but kept the phalanx in order.

In the center of the battlefield, the Sab’yn threw themselves at their opponent’s phalanx and tried to break trough. Their light infantry suffered from many casualties.

The Red Sea Hoplites could keep their formation and challenge the lighter infantry who protected the flank of the Phalanx.

The Arabians, on the other hand, immediately started to pelt the Machimoi with their javelins and arrows.

Their lethal missiles darkened the sky and caused great despair among the enemy.

The Ptolemaioi were not prepared to that. While the Galatai and the Sab’yn heavily were under pressure, the Arabians managed to break the enemy’s right flank due to the total chaos their skirmishers had caused.

Seeing their right flank break, the Ptolemaioi ordered Timophron Apites to bring in his rested Nubians and Ethiopians.

But this was exactly, what Calpornos moc Ollovico had waited for. Long before this battle, he had contacted the Nubians and Ethiopians through the Sab’yn, and made a pact with them. Since they were subjected by the Ptolemaioi, they had waited for a chance to free themselves. Now it had come. Calpornos moc Ollovico ordered one of his Archers to shoot a burning arrow into the air, the only sign he could send from the other side of the battlefield.

The Ethiopians killed Timophron Apites and his bodyguard, swivelled in and crashed into the rear of the entirely surprised and shocked Ptolemaic army.

The Sab’yn Hoplitai and the Galatian heavy infantry now did all they could do for the final push.

Between the large shields of the Red Sea Hoplites and the horses of the Nubians and Ethiopians, the enemy phalanx literally got crushed.

The two only sons of Xanthos Ptolemaios died with their soldiers.

The impossible had become truth. The unbreakable armies of the Ptolemaioi were broken, the dynasty of old Xanthos Ptolemaios seemed to be annihilated. Note many more than 2’000 Ptolemaic warriors survived this battle. Though the Galatai had held their line quite good, they had lost about 6’000 soldiers. The Sab’yn force under Ham Yatha’ was most badly affected and had lost over 12’000 men. The Nubians and Ethiopians under captain Murthid and the heroic Arabians under captain Zari’ did lose less than 3’000 warriors each, but had killed the greatest amount of enemies.

After this battle the Ptolemaioi were broken. If Calpornos had invaded Egypt and captured Alexandreia, nothing would have stopped him from subjugating the Ptolemaic empire. But he could not do that. The Arche Seleukeia had managed to recapture the city of Karkathiokerta and now threatened his northern conquests and therefore he had to return to Antiocheia with his army. From Hierosolyma Cunobelin oi Lugos returned to the army and took over command again. Faros oi Lugos stayed in Hierosolyma to protect the southern border.

But this wouldn’t have been necessary, for the Ptolemaioi now threw themselves into a civil war. Now the sons and heirs of Xanthos Ptolemaios were dead, a mighty man called Charopidas Helinaios tried 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 called themselves Apeleutherotai Aigyptou – Liberators of Egypt.

In the north of the empire, the highest general of the Ptolemaioi, Leontiskos Thraikikos, whose father recently fell defending Hierosolyma against the Galatai, 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 pretended to be defending the legitimate rulers of Aigyptoi and therefore his retainers were known as Pistoi en Ptolemaiois – the ones faithful to the House of Ptolemaios. But in fact he intended to elevate himself to the leadership over the former Ptolemaic empire.

While the Ethiopians in the very south remained independent, the Nubians made an alliance with the Sab’yn and hoped this friendship would help them keeping the Hellenes out of the land of Kush, which they had claimed for themselves.

Meanwhile the Galatai established first contacts to the peoples in the east, the Kingdom of Baktria and the mighty tribes of Pahlava. Maybe they could help to keep the still powerful Arche Seleukeia away from Antiocheia…..

Known territory in 229 BC

[penguinking]

Great update.

[Olaf Blackeyes]

DAMN!!! GO GETAI!!!!!!

[SwissBarbar]

Thank you Yeah, the Getai are expanding as I did never see it before, though they didn't get no help from me, unlike the KH, Epeiros (in order to fight each other in an epic war with fullstacks - worked excellently) and Pontos (to push the Seleukids out of Mikra Asia and conquer Galatia) got from me.


Concerning the Map, I just saw I made a mistake. It's the known world in 229 BC, not 231 BC. I just changed it.

[I of the Storm]

Epic! Especially the screenies, they're great ... again.

[Hotseat_User]

nice nice nice

but where do you get these agyptian factions from? just change the color of the yellowDeath or?!? the dead epirotes?

[SwissBarbar]

Exactly. The Apeleutherotai Aigyptou (blue) are made of Epeiros, the Pistoi en Ptolemaiois (red) are the Ptolemaioi.

Actually no single faction has yet been kicked out of the game, also not the ones who were "destroyed" in roleplay.


This weekend I will post a short overview over the known world.

[machinor]

The epic scale of this campaign and AAR is second only to MAA's "The Pyrrhic Dynasty". Amazing in every aspect.