Re: The Rise of the Arche Boukephelia – A Baktrian AAR
From "The Rise of the Arche Boukephelia"
The First Battle of the Zariaspa
The city of Baktra (modern Megale Boukephela) had a strong natural defense. The many forks of the Zariaspa River made it impossible to approach from the south or east, and Iochibanes' forces, had to cross the river at least twice in order to reach the city. Rather than approach by the main road, he decided to march the shortest path through the less developed region south of the Zariaspa, which meant, ironically, that the invasion from the east would end up attacking from the west.
It is surprising that any first-hand accounts of the First Battle of the Zariaspa have survived to this day. It was by no means a large battle, and none of the commanders who fought in it would live long enough to write anything about it, if they would be inclined to do so anyway. However, the testament one of Krateros' soldiers, a man named Polynikes has remarkably survived.
Polynikes would eventually serve Krateros' son as his chief adviser, and after his retirement would eventually write his memoirs about his service during the wars of the Diodochi. Sadly most of his writings were lost in the great fire that destroyed the original library of the Akademia district of Baktra. A number of fragments remain, mostly covering the period after Krateros' arrived in Baktria, as well as the early campaigns of Krateros' son. It is from his testament the we must base most of our knowledge of much of the early history of the Boukephelaioi.
———
From the "Memoirs of Strategos Polynikes"
"When we finally arrived at Baktra after our long journey east, we found the city in chaos. I had thought that we would go to waste defending this distant land, but on arrival we found our services desperately needed. A small kingdom in the Indian Caucasus was actually launching an invasion on the satrapy. I wondered, had the might of our kingdom withered so much that even the petty mountain tribes at the ends of the Earth were willing to challenge us? Or perhaps this eastern barbarian king was simply an idiot. Personally, I preferred the thought of fighting some rag-tag army of hill-men to those Skythian nomads to the north.
Apparently we were not the reinforcements that Theodotos was expecting, but he welcomed us graciously anyway. The satrap of Sogdiana had marshaled the northern garrison, and was marching south as we spoke He would be arriving any day, but it looked like the invading army would reach the city in before him. The plan was simply to hold the city defenses until reinforcements arrived, with our men forming the core of the core of that defense.
This did not sit well with Krateros. He explained that our men were far more skilled in offense than defense. He suggested that if we were going to be doing the bulk of the anyway, that we might as well do it on the open field. I could see that Theodotos was pondering it intently. He looked at his map of the region, apparently trying to work out where we should meet the enemy were we to march out and meet them. After a moment, he pointed at a location on the map, the last ford that Iochibanes' troops would have to cross before they reached the city. This, he said, is where we would meet them, at the ford of the river Zariaspa.
We set out from the city that afternoon, accompanied only by Theodotos and his son, their elite cavalry echelon, and a small number of native archers who had been quickly levied in defense of their homeland. Before we left the city, he had all his men cast a prayer to Artemis at her great shrine here, built by the natives. We found this somewhat odd, Theodotos explained to Krateros that Artemis was the patron deity of both the Oxos river, of which the Zariaspa was a tributary, and of skill with the bow, and that we would need both on our side in order to win this battle.
We camped that night on the banks of the river. It was bright and clear the next morning when the enemy arrived. Theodotos had hoped that the morning fog which so often blankets the valley would aid us this day. But I doubt even the Oracle at Delphi in Hellas could accurately predict the weather. In terms of numbers, the odds were bad. There were less than three thousand of us against almost eight thousand barbarians. However, most of them were poorly equipped hill-men.
The plan, such as it was, was quite simple. Our archers would take up position on the bank, and fire arrows arrows dowsed in burning pitch at the men crossing the river. When they reached the shore, it was our job to charge and push them back. The cavalry was to be held in reserve, hidden in a small grove near the ford until the time was right.
I was surprised when Theodotos told us that he would be fighting with us in the front lines. He told Krateros that it was necessary in order to fool the enemy, and that it would bolster the troops' morale. His cavalry unit was placed under the command of his son. I must say that we were all impressed. None of our previous lords had ever seen fit to actually fight beside us before. He did stick out like a sore thumb though. I had never seen a more ornate or expensive looking suit of armor than my life, and I had seen Seleukos Nikator in full royal battle regalia. The opulence of the satrapy of Baktria was certainly not exaggerated.
The enemy archers took up position on the opposite shore, and missiles began flying across the river. Our archers held their flaming arrows in reserve, waiting for the enemy infantry to begin fording the river.
The enemy trrops formed a column, then began charging across the river. Our archer switched their arrows, and began firing on them.
As the first wave approached the shore, we banged our swords against our shield, and shouted taunts at the enemy, then, our unit charged.
Right behind the first group of infantry them was Iochibanes cavalry unit. He was seemed to be using the men in front of him as a screen to protect him from our arrows.
However, the first wave of infantry buckled in on itself at the sight of our charge, fleeing back across the river. Iochibanes, seeing this, broke off his charge as well. It seemed like the enemy might route right then and there, before we even had a chance to draw any blood.
I was amazed as Krateros and Theodotos both broke formation and charged ahead. I don't even know how they managed to run that fast in full armor through a river. They reached the retreating enemy long before we got there, and began slaying their foes like a scythe through wheat.
We were roughly halfway across the river, when Iochibanes blew his horn. Suddenly all his men stopped and turned to face us. This had apparently been his plan all along, to lure us into the water where our heavier armor would put us at a disadvantage.
A fierce melee ensued. I remember seeing Krateros stand his ground against one of the charging horses, and with a single swift stroke, slit its throat. Despite what might seem a disadvantage for us, using swords against horsemen, we cut them down in droves. Iochibanes own mount was soon slain from under him. He quickly recovered, and managed to retreat back behind his own men.
We continued pushing them back, despite their superior numbers, but we were beginning to lose men quickly as the enemy started to surround us. We managed to annihilate the enemy cavalry, but at that moment, we saw Theodotos go down. Krateros rushed to his side. I'll never forget the look of anguish on Krateros when, for the first time in his career, ordered us to retreat. Despite the troops closing in on us from all sides, Krateros still managed to somehow bear the wounded satrap out of harms way.
Seeing this Theodotos' son charged out of his position, abandoning any pretense of strategy as he rushed to aid us.
Faced with the thundering charge of the vengeful Diodotos, the enemy finally routed.
I'll never forget the sight of the Zariaspa river that day. How it ran red with the blood of friend and foe alike. How, at the end of the day, the flow was nearly choked off with corpses.
–––
From "The Rise of the Arche Boukephelia"
They had won an improbable victory. Out of nearly eight thousand enemy soldiers, it is estimated that only about four hundred had escaped, including Iochibanes himself. Theodotos managed to survive his wounds, although he became lamed as a result. He would never be able to fight on foot again.
Historians are puzzled to this day as to why he chose to head Krateros' advice and marched out to meet Iochibanes, and why he chose to fight on foot by Krateros' side. It seems likely that he was suspicious of Seleukos' (II) motives in sending Krateros, and thus was trying to win Krateros over. It also appears that Theodotos had grown to despise his son-in-law, Patrokles, who was marching to his aid. and was willing to do anything to avoid being in his debt.
Regardless, as a result of this, Krateros and Theodotos seem to have earned each other's respect, and friendship. As a result of his performance in the recent battle, Krateros became something of a local hero to the Hellenes of the region. In return for saving his life, Theodotos offered Krateros his youngest daughter, Melissa's, hand in marriage. Krateros, who's first wife had apparently died many years ago without bearing him any children, accepted, and they were wed soon after.
All of this would earn Krateros the ire of Theodotos' other son-in-law, Patrokles of Marakand, satrap of Sogdiana.
To be continued…
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Originally Posted by Roka
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