The Rise of the Arche Boukephelia – A Baktrian AAR

[NickTheGreek]

Yeah please don't let this die

[Apraxiteles]

From "The Rise of the Arche Boukephelia"

The Reorganization of the Eastern Satrapies

Most of the year after the conquest of Paropamisadae[271 BC] was spent reestablishing order in the East. Patrokles of Marakand worked to restore his authority in Sogdiana, while Krateros the Ox-headed struggled to pacify Paropamisadae. While he had spent most of his life fighting, his keen mind, tireless dedication, and selfless nature lent themselves well to the task at hand, and he slowly became a competent governor.

However, Polynikes reports that Krateros' men weren't happy with this. They were more and more reminded of the situation of the original Argyraspides. Sent to the far reaches of the Earth to die in infamy. Krateros, in spite of his own anger at this dishonor, had resigned himself to his fate. Despite his love for battle, it seems that his his age had convinced him to settle down. In order to appease his soldiers, he released many of them from service. Many of them returned west, but a few, including Polynikes, decided to stay on as his personal bodyguard.

It was at this time that the First Syrian War came to an end, and it looked, for the time being anyway, like peace would prevail. With the immediate threat to the west relieved, Theodotos, together with Andragoras, in response to the recent incursions into their domains, petitioned Seleukos (II) in Media for more troops, as well as greater military autonomy. Shortly thereafter, in the summer of the 53rd year since Alexandros' death[270 BC], Seleukos handed down an official edict that did exactly that, though not in the way that either Andragoras or Theodotos had wanted.



He completely reorganized the easternmost satrapies. Parthyaia's domains of Margiana and Ariana were given full satrapal status, as was Baktria's Sogdiana region. The recently conquered region of Paropamisadae was also given full satrapy status, with Krateros as satrap. Many of these new satrapies received large garrison reinforcements, and all of them were granted the autonomy that Theodotos and Andragoras had asked for.

On the surface, this act of guile seemed seemed brilliant. He managed to give Theodotos and Andragoras what they wanted, while at the same time lessening their threat. By promoting all of Theodotos and Andragoras' subordinates, he would defuse much of their collective influence, and by reducing their individual territories, he shrunk their powerbases, and made them more dependent on the central government. If any one were to rebel, they would be much easier to crush.

In the end, however, it achieved mixed results. While Andragoras' power was practically broken by this, Theodotos influence seems to have been, for the most part, unaffected. He was just as able to work with strong allies, as weak subordinates. Both Krateros and Patrokles were his sons-in law. Patrokles would listen to the money, whoever it came from, and he had developed a close friendship with Krateros. The new political structure also eventually make the region even more vulnerable to foreign incursions. Initially, the newly bolstered garrisons compensated for this, but when the troops were eventually called off to fight in the next war, this weakness would become all too obvious.

As a result of the larger garrisons, the number of nomad raids dwindled. Patrokles of Marakand was even able to negotiate ceasefire with the Sakai nomads to the north as well as a trade deal, in return for grazing rights in the border regions. Many Sakai warriors began hiring themselves as mercenaries not only to the the local satraps, but to Seleukos [II], and even to King Antiochos himself. During their service to the Arche Seleukeia, they travelled to the far corners of the empire, and when they finally returned home, they would bring their tales of many different lands back to their people. Many of the Hellenic colonists were uneasy about their increased presence, but for the time being anyway, they got along peacefully.



This peace brought many more Hellenic settlers to the region, Baktria in particular. Drawn by the legends of the exotic East, and wanting to escape the constant wars that plagued Hellas and the lands to the west. All these settlers meant even more wealth from taxes coming in. As a result of this newfound wealth, Theodotos began construction of a large new a large new mansion for himself in Baktra.

Meanwhile, in India, Piodasses had finally defeated his brother, Sochimos. However, the carnage that he went through had changed him. He decided let the petty kingdoms of Taxila and Arachosia retain their independence. As a result, the southeastern border of the Arche was, for the most part, peaceful. Krateros' first act as satrap was reportedly to order the construction of a shrine to Herakles. It was completed in the spring of the 54th year since Megas Alexandros' death[269 BC]. At roughly the same time, Krateros young wife, Melissa, gave birth to a son, who they named Kleander.



For most of the child's youth, the east remained blessed with peace and order. But just beneath the surface, the cracks of ruin were already beginning to spread.

———
AN: Sorry for the wait!

[Apraxiteles]

From "The Rise of the Arche Boukephelia"

Of the Eastern Peace and the Imaus Expedition

Despite the underlying turmoil, the Arche Seleukeia remained at peace for many years after the end of the First Syrian War, even in the distant regions of Baktria. The cities grew, and new roads were built to connect them. Even the cities of Kabura, Kapisa, and Alexandreia Kaukasiana in Krateros' satrapy of Paropamisadae were connected.

However, as the years passed, despite his talent for it, it became abundantly clear that Krateros was not cut out to be a Satrap. While he had the skills, he lacked the temperament. The daily monotony of government bored him to no end, and his bitterness over how his military career ended slowly grew. He came to despise most of the people he governed. He treated new Hellenic colonists well, particularly war veterans. But the natives, and especially the Hellenic settlers who had gone native, were contemptible to him. One famous instance is recorded of him killing a citizen on the spot for not properly honoring the gods. After that, he became more and more reserved around people, including his family and friends. This made his occasional fits of rage seem all the more arbitrary.

Then, three years after Krateros was made Satrap, a number of large veins of silver were discovered, and he began sending local criminals, as well as anyone who angered him to work in the mines. A large amount of wealth began pouring into the local treasury, more than Krateors knew what to do with.



He began to sate his boredom by spending money frivolously. Extravagant personal projects, frivolous decorations, and even prostitutes. Theodotos soon began to hear word of Krateros' behavior from his daughter, Melissa. While Krateros was kind to her, he was nearly ten years older than her father, and they over the years, they spent less and less time together. She spent most of her days raising their son, and looking after the household.

For the past several years Theodotos had been receiving complaints of nomad raids in the eastern reaches of Baktria, but as of yet he had been unable to track down the culprits. The Sakai fervently denied any involvement, and as far as anyone knew the upper part of the Oxos River valley was completely isolated. Even if there were trails leading over the Iaumas Mountains, it seemed impossible that anybody could, or would even bother to cross them just to raid farmland.

And so, Theodotos decided to organize an expedition, led by his son, Diodotos, up the Zariaspa to discover the source of these raids. He asked Krateros to accompany his son, partly out of concern for his son's safety, but also out of concern for Krateros himself. He also seems to have thought that it would provide a good diversion for him. Krateros accepted the proposition immediately. Polynikes, who was still serving Krateros, provides us with first hand testimony of this tragic expedition.

———

From the "Memoirs of Strategos Polynikes"

In the late spring of our ninth year in this distant land, our forces marched out of Kabura, We were to rendezvous with the young Diodotos in the easternmost city of Baktria, Alexandreia Oxiana, and from there, mount an expedition up the Oxos river. The raids from the mountains were becoming more and more frequent. Enough so that they could no longer be dismissed as simply a few brigands.



We left Alexandreia Oxiana soon after Diodotos' troops arrived. Combined, the expedition's forces numbered roughly three and a half thousand. Nearly all of them were native levies, but it seemed like more than enough to deal with whatever threat lay in the mountains. Our experience fighting Iochibanes had made us expect a quick, and easy victory. Krateros and I even offered a prayer at the shrine of Herakles that this adventure would at least be more challenging than that. We should have kept our mouths shut.

The way up the river wasn't easy. The valley was narrow and dangerous. We had to ford the river several times just to keep going. The narrow, rocky valleys made us all worry about ambushes, but despite searching up and down every path we could find, we found no-one. The land was completely empty. This made us suspicious. This land was a harsh one, but not uninhabitable.

Several months went by this way. Spring turned into Summer, Summer to Fall. Before we knew it, Winter was closing in fast. What's more, our shipments of supplies were becoming fewer and farther between. What shipments did get through, brought with them tales of mysterious raiders attacking in the dead of night, and whole caravans of oxen disappearing in the mountains. We started rationing the food, and the men were beginning to grow discontent. We were all exhausted. Eventually, the valley became to narrow for our troops to march on. There seemed to be other ways to continue, but it seemed pointless. Many of us, myself included, were of the opinion that we should head back to Alexandreia Oxiana, and wait for spring, and try searching up a different branch of the river.



Diodotos and Krateros had a different notion, however. Some scouts had just returned, and reported that they had found a trail leading through the mountains to the north, into the valley of the Northern fork of the Oxos. Diodotos and Krateros decided that we would take that route back instead, allowing us to continue our search as we returned.

The path through the mountains proved to be even more treacherous. We lost several of our men in a landslide which blocked the path back. This cut off our supplies completely, which forced us to cut rations even further. Our remaining men were in poor spirits. Diodotos remained optimistic, however, and we all knew that the only way back, was forward.

As we crossed over the last ridge. snow began to fall. As we had feared, we had taken too long. At this, many of us began to despair. It seemed we now faced almost certain death. However, our scouts reported that by the grace of the gods, we had somehow managed to stumble onto the home of our mysterious enemy.



It was a huge camp, on a plateau overlooking the river. Diodotos estimated that there had to be at least five thousand horses. It looked like this was their winter camp. But there were also a few more permanent buildings. This place probably had some special importance to them.



As we approached the camp, their leader rode out and met us. He was clearly a Scythian, of some sort, though he didn't carry the banner of the Sakai Confederacy. One of our guides was nonetheless able to translate for us. The man, who called himself Pidandos, curtly ordered us to leave his people's land at once. Diodotos politely replied that we would be happy to leave, if Pidandos were willing to give us some supplies, and cease his raids on our territory. The barbarian became enraged at our suggestion, and rode off, giving us a final warning that if we didn't flee now, none of us would return home alive.



Of course, there was no way we could abide by his wishes, even if we wanted to. And there was no way that Krateros, or I, for that matter, was going to suffer the indignity of running from these barbarians. However, our forces were badly outnumbered, and what's worse, most of our men were undisciplined, starving barbarians. Any sane man wouldn't have dared lead us against them, but we were desperate. That, and our two commanders were a youthful optimist, and a prideful and temperamental veteran.



As we approached the camp, a veritable horde of enemy horsemen poured out to meet us. Alongside them were a number of foot archers. We began exchanging fire, and the sky turned dark with arrows.



Their archers seemed far superior to ours, out-ranging us significantly. Despite this, after a few volleys, they fell back to their camp. As they did so, we surged forward, hoping to close the distance gap before they could take up position again.



At the same time, number of horse archers appeared out of the camp and started moving toward our right flank. Diodotos' cavalry broke formation, and attempted to intercept them, leaving Krateros in charge of the main line.



Despite having closed the gap in range, our men were being cut down in droves. Seeing that our men couldn't beat them in ranged combat, Krateros ordered us to do the suicidal. If we couldn't close the gap in range, then we would close the gap in melee. Desperate, we charged into the camp, in spite of the arrows continually raining down on us. Our unit of Peltastai were well armored, so we took the lead, attempting to draw the enemy fire away from the levies that made up the bulk of our troops.



We soon arrived in the center of the camp, only to find ourselves surrounded by horsemen on all sides. They bore down on us with frightening speed, and most of our troops routed right there. They were killed. All of them. Only our unit of Peltastai survived more than a few minutes.



At this moment, Diodotos' cavalry arrived to support us, but it was already too late. Even Diodotos' thunderous charge could not turn the battle in our favor now. That hadn't stopped us from winning in the past, so we fought on as hard as we could, but soon even Krateros himself was in despair. Our men were dying. We had taken casualties in the past, but nothing like this. Men who had followed us for years, some even decades. They had fought with us, bled with us. Even now. Even when we were seemingly exiled to the ends of the earth. They were our friends, and our comrades, and they were falling like the snow all around us.



We saw Diodotos break off from melee, and mount one last, desperate charge at Pidandos. He must have died heroically. To our shame, however, the few of us left alive did not stay around to watch. In spite of all our pride, in spite of all our honor. In spite of all of it, we ran. Out of three and a half thousand men, only seven of us managed to escape the battle with our lives.

[Vaal]

Ouch.