Getai in Eastern Europe; Baktrians in Iran - How to Call Them?

**Centurio Nixalsverdrus** · 03-08-2009, 19:36

Hi, for my Makedonian campaign (171BC atm) I need your thoughts.

1. I conquered the Getai (sadly they did not launch a single counter attack), and now they are reduced to Coutinoe, Neurije and Bastarnolandam. So they are Celtic, Slavic and Germanic, ruled by Getian aristocracy... What would such a faction be called? I feel that plain "Getai" is simply not appropiate any more. "Basileis Getikoi", "The Getic Kings", or something along these lines?

2. When civil war is done, the Baktrians will most likely take advantage of the power vacuum in Makedonian Iran and take control of everything east of Mesopotamia (they represent the counter-faction anyway). How would they call themselves? I could simply go with "Baktro Persian Empire", but they'd never call themselves this way. What about "Basileion Makedonon", "Makedonian Kingdom"? Or "Arche Baktrias", what do you say?

**DaciaJC** · 03-08-2009, 20:29

1. The Getic Confederacy?

**keravnos** · 03-08-2009, 20:41

Basileion Baktrias=Baktrian Kingdom. I imagine they would call themselves Baktrians. Remember when Demetrios (probably NOT Demetrios II but rather a general of the Indogreeks called Demetrios-but called King by Justin none the less-) is mentioned he is called "King of Indians". This seems to indicate that the Basileis (plural of Basileus) of Baktria would call themselves "King of Baktrians" or "Basileus Baktrion" with "Basileion Baktrias" being the title of the realm.

Originally Posted by Justin XLI,6

"Eucratides led many wars with great courage, and, while weakened by them, was put under siege by Demetrius, king of the Indians. He made numerous sorties, and managed to vanquish 60,000 enemies with 300 soldiers, and thus liberated after four months, he put India under his rule"

and

Originally Posted by Justin XLI,6

"Around the same time, two great men started to rule: Mithridates among the Parthians, and Eucratides among the Bactrians"

Ancient Greeks would call themselves "the people of said state" rather than "state representing people" meaning "Athenaioi" (Athenians) or "Demos Athenaion" (Municipality of Athenians). Hence it is most likely that the Baktrian Kings would call themselves "King of Baktrians" rather than anything else. The greatest title they would have (that would be Eukratides, modest ... that he was) would be "Megas Basileus" aka "Great King". (Maharaja in Sanskrit/Pali). The title of a big Baktria would be "Mega Basileion ton Baktrion" or "Great Kingdom of the Baktrians". This is one title of them I think they might have used, and there is enough evidence to support.

The following coin, found in Ai Khanoum, confirms his title. ΒΑΣΙΛΕΩΣ ΜΕΓΑΛΟΥ ΕΥΚΡΑΤΙΔΟΥ = "(of) Great King Eukratides "

the following, a billingual coin aimed mainly at the Indian subjects, aka those southern of the Khyber pass,
https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikiped...Eucratides.jpg

As for the Getai, they were part of the greater Thraikian nation, or the Northernmost of Thraikians.

**Centurio Nixalsverdrus** · 03-09-2009, 23:24

Mega Basileion ton Baktrion - is the "ton" bound to be there?

About the Getai, I know they were northern Thraikians. But now they are northward. They don't actually rule over Thraikian subjects any more, but over Celts, Slavs and Bastarnae.

**Tellos Athenaios** · 03-10-2009, 00:17

Depends. It's 'more correct' that way, but often enough the ancients dropped particles if it proved more convenient.

**Maion Maroneios** · 03-10-2009, 17:14

That's some great info there, keravnos. I don't have any proposal for the Getai, nor the Baktrians (since keravnos did a most excellent job there), but I can tell you that the "ton" doesn't have to be there. It depends selely on you

Maion

**Centurio Nixalsverdrus** · 03-10-2009, 21:36

Thank you very much, especially keravnos! I'll call it Mega Basileion Baktrion then, but it's still a couple of years ahead.

About the Getai, I make some proposals and you say if it's correct (at least grammatically), right?

The Getic Kings - oi Basileis Getikoi ?

Kingdom of Lucarottea - Basileion Loukarotteas ?

Getic Confederacy - Getike ??? ?

**Maion Maroneios** · 03-10-2009, 23:52

Originally Posted by Centurio Nixalsverdrus

Thank you very much, especially keravnos! I'll call it Mega Basileion Baktrion then, but it's still a couple of years ahead.

About the Getai, I make some proposals and you say if it's correct (at least grammatically), right?

The Getic Kings - oi Basileis Getikoi (OK, though the 'oi' is unnecessary)

Kingdom of Lucarottea - Basileion Loukarotteas (highly doubt this)

Getic Confederacy - Getike ??? ? (Symmachia, or Alliance might do)

Maion