Basileion Bosphorou: a Tale of the Pontos Euxeinos

[Ruepelheinz]

This AAR ist very entertaining, I keep checking every day for an update. Thx



Why did you remove the slingers from your army?

[Potocello]

Aww too bad Lysandros isn't fighting anymore, I liked him. Great update though!

[Mjolnir]

This AAR ist very entertaining, I keep checking every day for an update. Thx



Why did you remove the slingers from your army?

Well thanks. I was shooting for a more "professional" army after I upgraded my barracks, but considering how badly I fared, I'll probably be reworking my army composition and they may make a comeback.

Aww too bad Lysandros isn't fighting anymore, I liked him. Great update though!

Don't worry, I hear Akadios is quite similar to his uncle. ;)

[the man with no name]

If you aren't already, ally with the ptolies so you won't have a potential threat from them. Good chapter man.

I agree with Potocello. I liked Lysandros alot alot and alot.

[Potocello]

Don't worry, I hear Akadios is quite similar to his uncle. ;)

Good to hear can't wait for the next chapter.

[Mjolnir]

Chapter 8: Hatching a Plan

Spring, 257 BC

I feel as a man who stands alone with his back to a precipice and an entire army in front of him. I now hold a beachhead in Byzantion, but on the other side of the straight the Basileion Pontikos is already raising an army to retake the town and to the west the full strength of Makedonia will eventually be turned to us. And we must hold this town and the Chrysokeros, should we lose our access to the Aigaio Pelagos and the Mesogeios our Basileion may very well whither and all my and my father’s gains will be for nothing. I fear nothing but bold action can save us.

I have called a meeting to discuss our future course of action. Myself, Nikanor, Akadios, Synedros Kresios commander of the cavalry, and a number of infantry commanders are present. Akadios had received a nasty wound on his shoulder where a Makedonian pike glanced off his shield and missed his throat by inches and his shoulder is still bandaged although it is no longer in a sling.

“Akadios, I see your shoulder is getting better, but you’ll have a nice scar there”

Akadios grunts, “Blood is the price of glory”

I laugh, Nikanor chuckles.

“Will you be able to carry a shield?”

“If there’s a battle I’ll be there shield or no”

I nod. “Well then done down to business”

After I lay out our situation Nikanor whistles, “If you can’t go back, and you can’t stand still, the only way to go is forward”

Three hours and many arguments later, we have a plan.

Orders are immediately sent to Mytileaios to have the shipwrights in Chersonesos begin the construction of a fleet of Triereis class galleys and to Phrixos in Pantikapaion to send replacements for the hoplites losses.

**********

Summer, 257 BC

We send the time waiting for the reinforcements by upgrading the defenses of Byzantion and convincing some of the local Thraikian tribes to supply soldiers for a garrison. As summer grows towards its peak we received an embassy from the Makedonians led by a man named Kyphios. I receive them in the meeting room of the house I am staying at.

“Welcome to Byzantion” I greet them.

“Thank you for your gracious welcome” Kyphios says was a bow, “I am royal ambassador for the Basileus of Makedonia. I am afraid that it is my duty to bring you a decree from my Basileus”

“Well?”

“His highness, commands you to hand Byzantion and Kallatis over to him as rightfully belonging to the Basileion Makedonia by right of Megos Alexandros's lineage. If you do so and pay an annual sum to the Basileus he will not lay claim to any of your other territories and will consider you under his protection”

I cock an eyebrow, “And if I refuse?”

“Makedonia’s armies are currently engaged in Illyria, but they will not always be so. Byzantion and Kallatis will be ours whether you agree to this or not, my king simply wishes to give you the easy way out”

“Perhaps he has forgotten how the last army he sent for me fared”

“With all due respect, that was but a small expedition sent against the Pontikos garrison before we realized you had taken the town, our main armies are much more formidable” He takes a piece of parchment from one of his aides and hands it to Nikanor who steps forward to take it, “Here is a treaty along the lines I have laid out already signed by my king, it awaits only your signature.

You will want some time to consider it no doubt, so I-”

“Ambassador Kyphios, the Basileion Bosphorou will be signing no such treaty” I interrupt as he turns to leave, “I will hold on to this treaty though, and give it back to your king as I am burning Pella to the ground around him” I motion for the guards to take Kyphios and his party from the room.

“Are you sure that that was wise, taunting him like that? Makedonia will surely send an army now after their ambassador has been threaten and mocked” Nikanor asks after they have left.

“Our course has already been set even if those terms were acceptable, and if Makedonia does send troops to Byzantion – well that plays right into our plan, doesn’t it?” I smile.

Nikanor nods.

**********

Spring, 256 BC

At winters end the fleet of a dozen Triereis galleys carrying 3,000 hoplites and 3,000 slingers arrive in Byzantion. The ships are quite a sight to behold, massive ships built to inflict destruction.

I load my army on to the ships for the short journey across the straight and then send the fleet south to blockade Nikaia’s port.

Accompanying us is a man named Damastor Kamarinaios. He is a noble from the area east of Nikaia. He was driven from his lands by the Pontikos when they took the city almost 10 years ago and has been fighting a little private war with them ever since. He has sworn loyalty to me in exchange for the promise that he will be granted governorship of Nikaia after I take it. He will act as our guide.

We land 22,000 strong and march east and then south following the eastern bank of the Sakarya River. We reach the fords due east of Nikaia and camp on the eastern side.

The next day the main Pontikos army of 27,000 men moves to engage us.

The enemy general foolishly doesn’t wait until we cross, but throws his own army across the ford at us. I set up my hoplites three rows deep blocking the exit of the ford with the archers and slingers in the rear.

As they splash across the ford towards our waiting spears my ranged units unleash volley after volley of missiles.

Like an oncoming wave they smash into my line...

And like a wave on rocks they break on my wall of spear and shields.

Synedros Kresios orders his cavalry forward and the Pontikos army routs. The river runs red.

**********

Summer, 256 BC

Having crushed the Pontikos field army, I move to besiege the town itself and its sizeable garrison.

I, Nikanor, and Kamarinaios elite hoplites lead the attack. Punching through the walls we engage the garrison.

The outcome was never in doubt even with the Pontikos Basileus’ son leading several valiant charges against Kamarinaios’ column.

Nikaia is ours and the Pontikos royal line is without hiers. Later that month we received news that Amaseia had fallen to the Seleukids and the Pontikos Basileus slain. The Celtic Galati tribes wasted no time in slaughtering the Pontikos garrison and restoring their own tribal governments. The Basileion Pontikos is dead.

Leaving Kamarinaios in charge of the garrison at Nikaia, I lead the army to the port to load back on to our fleet. Step one in our plan is complete our rear is secured and our hold on the Chrysokeros solidified, time to begin step two.

**********

The Known World in 256 BC

[SwissBarbar]

Yeah, show those wannabe alexanders who's boss Looking forward to the Makedonian armies coming

[Hotseat_User]

hehe, I don't want to spoil but I expect a ... ... on ...! But we'll see whats going to happen soon.
Nice chapter!

[the man with no name]

Glad 2 hear that those damn pontics are fucked up!!!!! No offense to pontic lovers but, ...PONTUS SUCKS!!! And also, who are the yellow guys on italia, The green-blue guys?

[Mjolnir]

Yeah, show those wannabe alexanders who's boss Looking forward to the Makedonian armies coming

hehe, I don't want to spoil but I expect a ... ... on ...! But we'll see whats going to happen soon.
Nice chapter!

Thank you all.

[Chirurgeon]

This needs an update!