The Line of Ptolemy

[Skullheadhq]

Ah, I was planning on a Ptollie AAR as well, in the viewpoint of the pharao's sister-wife, but you beated me, so I guess I've to find another faction, maybe I'll do Sauromatae or Rhomaioi. Well if you need some help with greek words, you can always PM me. Good luck with this AAR, I hope it will be as good (or better) then Chiurgeon's. And you already have a good start.

-Skullheadhq

[Roka]

Chapter III
The Peak of the First Syrian War
264 – 262 BC

As the 19th year of his reign began, Ptolemaios II was encamped in the countryside surrounding Antiocheia. The citizens repeatedly refused Ptolemaios' demands for their surrender, trusting in the reinforcement armies that they had been promised would arrive in the summer. The approach of these armies was also known to Philadelphos however and not wanting to face an attack from two fronts decided to take Antiocheia by force. In early spring he ordered his men to attack. Vastly outnumbered the beleaguered defenders fought bravely until the walls were taken and they were driven back to the centre of the city. Ptolemaios again offered mercy in exchange for the surrender of all Seleukid forces in the city. The Seleukid commander, a man named Kendebaios refused this surrender outright. Ptolemaios was enraged he ordered all forces into the city and prepared to wipe the garrison out, promising to kill every man bearing arms against him. The attack never proceeded however as the remaining Seleukid soldiers threw down their weapons and forcefully restrained their commander. Ptolemaios again showed mercy to the people and even to the soldiers, promising them their freedom once all Seleukid forces in Syria had been dealt with.



Whilst his father was fighting in Syria, Euergetes arrived in the city of Sidon, ready to take
up the governorship of Phoenicia. He had finished his studies the previous year and his father had entrusted him with this province which bordered the Seleukid region of Koile-Syria. This would be the first of many test Ptolemaios laid down for his sons to decide who would become the ruler of his Kingdom after his death.

As the season changed, Seron Themisoniou Phrygikou arrived at Antiocheia to find it under the control of the Ptolemaioi. As he moved to besiege the gates opened and Ptolemios' army started marshalling. It is widely believed that the presence of a second Seleukid army marching from the north greatly influenced Ptoleamaios' decision to sally. A citizen of Antiocheia recorded the battle.



“My name is Simon. I am Ioudaioi. I moved to this city a year ago seeking to increase my family's fortune in the great market of Antiocheia. Since I came here however the city has been twice besieged by the two sides fighting in this war. It matters little to me who rules the city. Although this Ptolemaios seems to be a fair man and has even promised us a local ruler. The word in the market this morning was that the Seleukid general was enraged by how the city capitulated to Ptolemaios' army.

Today there was a great battle in the plain outside the city, most of the citzens, including myself, took to the walls to spectate. We were soon joined by some soldiers bearing bows however as Ptolemaios moved his army through the great gates of the city.



I was unimpressed by how long it took this Ptolemaios to organise his army into something resembling a battle line. I was formerly a mercenary in the city of Halikanarssos so I know a little about battle. Fortunately for the king however his enemy was hesitant to attack his disorganised army in the shadow of the walls. Eventually the line was formed and the army advanced to the waiting Seleukid line.



As the distance between the two armies closed the Toxotai on the walls fired volley after volley. Soon the armies were staring at each other from just out of javelin range. The Seleukid general sent his cavalry to attack the Ioudaioi on the right flank. Whilst the centre came under missile attack.



My countrymen held fast however and soon the cavalry was driven off. Soon they were subjected to attack from units of other Ioudaioi and Pantodapoi as Phrygikou desperately tried to break through the line. He sent more and more units into the fray trying to find a weakspot, all they find however was death as the Ioudaioi showed their worth.



With his right flank engaged, Ptoleamaios ordered his left and centre to engage the rest of the enemy line.



The battle was a stalemate for the next hour or so, until Ptolemaios himself was able to flank the enemy army, driving off Phrygikou and the rest of his cavalry then charging into the rear of the Seleukid phalanx. Soon the entire army was in full rout.”





With this victory Ptolemaios proved that he was as able a general as his father before him. Following the battle he exited the city and marched his army to the north. Leaving a man from the local nobility as ruler in his stead. This man, Antigenes Kleopatrites, would be the semi-autonomous ruler of Syria.





For the rest of the year Ptolemaios guarded the main road to Antiocheia, a bridge over the Euphrates to the north. No attack came however as the Seleukid forces obviously made wary by the victory outside Antiocheia earlier in the year. During this time Ptolemaios' army was reinforced. Some Toxotai Kretikoi (Kretan archers) were also recruited. These men were renowned for their abilities and highly sought after by all the major Mediterranien powers.

As the 20th year of Ptolemaios II Philadelphos dawned, his first grand-child was born. A girl by the name of Eubiota. Her father Lysimachos was still in Alexandria finishing his education at this time. Berenike, daughter of Philadelphos also married a man named Pyrrhos Andriakeios. However not all was good news for Ptolemaios in this year. A Seleukid army had managed to sneak by his force during the night and was now approaching Koile-Syria. Ptolemaios moved to engage this army. Phillipos once again told his experiences of the battle.



“We were camped to the north of Antiocheia guarding the river crossing when worded reached us that there was a Seleukid force to the south-east. Soon we were in pursuit of this army, the Basileus driving us hard as we tried to make up the ground the enemy had gained on us during the night. Realising we would catch them the enemy general turned to fight. He must have been confident in his numerical superiority, but we were being led by a great general. On the eve of the battle, Ptolemaios' son-in-law joined our force at the head of 1000 Prodromoi.

The next day battle was joined. Our force waited patiently on the enemy to advance but they seemed content to wait for us at the extreme range of our Toxotai.



After a few volleys the order to advance was sounded, the terrain made it difficult for us to keep a cohesive formation. The enemy were obviously eager to die however as they too advanced. Trying to probe our line for weakness. Battle was joined on our left and in the centre. Two things made me think the enemy general was a fool. Firstly he had left the majority of his army in reserve and secondly he had strayed to within range of our Toxotai. Volley after volley rained down around him, slaying many of his bodyguard and wounding him.



In the centre the fighting was fairly routine and the enemy were soon retreating. However on the left the enemy were proving to be a tougher. Amongst those fighting against our forces here were a contingent of men fighting in the old Hoplitai style. They were holding back the Ioudaioi with ease until the Galatikoi flanked them and drove them from the field.



With this initial encounter resolved we once again advanced on the enemy. This time the enemy general ordered his full force to face us and our full line was engaged in fighting. On our left our Galaikoi came up against some of their own kind.



The fighting was hard in the centre as were up against enemy Phalangitai. But on the left the fight was going much better. The Galakitoi were able to drive their foe away then they started moving towards the centre ready to flank the Babylonian Spearmen who were causing our Thureophoroi such a problem. As this was happening the Gallic mercenaries fighting our forces on the right were also driven away, allowing Pyrrhos to lead his cavalry round to the flank of the enemy formation in an attempt to bring the enemy cavalry into a fight. They never took the bait however, instead choosing to commit all forces to the fight in the centre, including their cavalry.



This charge caused us minor problems but soon it was halted and Pyrrhos began moving his cavalry into the centre to flank the enemy phalanx. But he was halted by the enemies Gallic cavalry



With the majority of his force retreating the enemy general fled the field. Pursued by Pyrrhos and his cavalry. The enemy camp was captured after the battle and Ptolemaios shared the spoils with the men. He is known to be a generous man.



With all Seleukid forces in Syria defeated, Ptolemaios was able to free the prisoners in Antiocheia as promised, he also returns the army to its previous position, guarding the river crossing to the north of the city.

Timeline of this period:

264 BC

Spring ~ Aristonike, 3rd daughter of Karpion Soter is born.
~ Euergetes moves to Sidon
~ Antiocheia surrenders to Ptolemaios II

Summer ~ Ptolemaios defeats Seron Thermisoniou Phrygikou outside Antiocheia

Winter ~ Teiseas Philoterias is born.
~ Antigenes Kleopatrites named ruler of Syria.

263 BC

Spring ~ Alexandros Thraikikos marries Nefertiti
~ Eubiota, daughter of Lysimachos born.

Summer ~ Pyrrhos Andriakeios marries Berenike.
~ Ptolemaios II defeats a Seleukid force led by Hermokrates Iopoleod Syriakes.

Winter ~ Euergetes marries Niko.

The known world 262 BC:



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Sorry about the delay guys

[Molinaargh]

Well done, I'm liking it!

[Horatius Flaccus]

Fantastic update, can't wait for the next one!

[Vasiliyi]

Nice work. I meant to comment earlier, but I forgot. I find a ptolemic aar is a refreshing poinyt of view, as I've never really played as them, (I play AS instead). Anyways, I hope you update soon.

[johnhughthom]

Sorry about the delay guys

I don't think anybody minds a delay when the updates are so good. That looks like a well organised AS army you came up against, which .exe are you using? Any formation mods?

[Roka]

Well done, I'm liking it!

Thanks, I'm really enjoying the campaign myself, never played as the Ptolies before.

Fantastic update, can't wait for the next one!

I'm not sure when the next update will be, the domestic football season starts tomorrow so I imagine i'll be pretty drunk this time tomorrow.

Nice work. I meant to comment earlier, but I forgot. I find a ptolemic aar is a refreshing poinyt of view, as I've never really played as them, (I play AS instead). Anyways, I hope you update soon.

Yeah, i usually play as AS or Makedonia myself. Never played the Ptolies before starting this AAR, but the tactics etc. are pretty similar so the learning curve wasn't too steep.

I don't think anybody minds a delay when the updates are so good. That looks like a well organised AS army you came up against, which .exe are you using? Any formation mods?

I'm using Alex.exe and i'm also using the mini-mod pack, i'm pretty sure there's a formations mod in that.

@ everyone, thanks for the comments, they are all appreciated

[Roka]

Hi everyone, sorry for the long period of inactivity, RL has thrown a couple of spanners into the works and lately have found it hard to motivate myself to do anything nevermind update my AAR.

After a few weeks and copious amounts of alcohol I will be continuing this at some point over the next few days.

Thanks for reading, Roka.

[Horatius Flaccus]

Take your time, but please continue this!

[Roka]

Chapter IV
The End of the First Syrian War
262-260 BC

As the 21st year of Ptolemaios II's reign begins (262 BC) the Basileus/Pharaoh is preparing his army to march on Damaskos for the 3rd time, hoping to finally bring it under his control. His daughter Berenike, wife of his trusted general Pyrrhos Andriakeios, gave birth to a girl named Stratonike. According to popular belief the invasion of Koile-Syria was delayed for a year so that Pyrrhos could spend time with his first-born child. The rest of the year was spent in Syria with occasional raids being launched into the neighbouring Seleukid province.

As his 22nd year as Basileus began Ptolemaios was ready to march on Damaskos for the third and final time. However a spanner was thrown in the works once again when Karpion Soter, governor of Alexandreia and Dioiketes of the Ptolemaic Kingdom died. This left Philadelphos with a difficult decision to make. Should he appoint another man as governor of Alexandreia which would also mean he would be practically running the kingdom? Or should he appoint another man as leader of the expedition to Damaskos? Eventually he decided that his son Lysimachos should govern Alexandreia, also making him the Satrap of Aigyptoiu. With this obstacle overcame the invasion of Koile-Syria could commence.

Ptolemaios marched his army into Koile-Syria in late autumn, but was unable to draw the Seleukid forces into battle until winter when he faced the combined armies of Seron Thermisonou Pheygikou and Kallimandros Kybiosaktes. A Ptolemaic soldier known only as Patrokles recorded the battle. This account was found in the great library of Alexandreia.



“We awoke on the morning of the battle to find the ground was covered in snow. The snow reminded me of when my father used to take my up into the mountains hunting when I was a youth. If he could see me now, riding in the Prodromoi of Ptolemaios II. The order to advance was given and the whole army moved as one.



According to Pyrrhos the hammer and anvil tactics of Megos Alexandros would be used in this battle. The line had only advanced a short distance when the army under the command of the general called Phyrgikou advanced down the slop to meet us. Evidently there had been some sort of disagreement between the two enemy commanders as the other army held its position.



Once their comrades started dying however they had no choice but to come to the rescue. With both enemy armies attacking our line the battle became viscous. We waited for the better part of an hour as the fight carried on ahead of us. Eventually Pyrrhos raised his sword and ordered us to ride to the extreme right of the enemy line and turn it's flank. We chased away the enemy Sphendonetai and lined up to charge into the rear of the enemy line. Seeing the danger the enemy general known as Kallimandros led his cavalry up the slope against us hoping to pin us long enough for the rest of the Seleukid cavalry to engage us. His plan backfired however as he was pierced by the lance of one of my comrades in the Prodromoi in the initial stages of the fight. Unfortunately the man who killed him was cut down shortly afterwards.




With one of their leaders dead and cavalry harassing their rear the enemy army decided to flee. Unfortunately we were unable to run down the other leader of the enemy force and rumour has it he is seeking refuge in the hills around Damaskos. With no armies left in our way and the garrison of Damaskos scattered around the countryside we entered the city the next day and were greeted as liberators.”




With Damaskos finally under his control Ptolemaios decided to seek an end to hostilities with the Arche Seleukia. With Ptolemaios almost completely cutting him off from the Mediterranean the Seleukid king agreed and in the summer of 260 BC the First Syrian War ended. With the increased territories gained in this time and also the trade that would now flow between Ptolemaic and Seleukid lands the Ptolemaioi flourished at this time.

Timeline of this Period~

262 BC

Spring

• Zenon Philoterios born
• Stratonike, daughter of Pyrrhos born.

261 BC

Spring

• Karpion Soter passes away
• Charias Ptoleamaios, son of Euergetes is born.

Summer/Autumn

• Ptoleamios once again marches on Damaskos.

Winter

• Ptolemaios II defeats the combined armies of Seron Thermisonou Phrygikou and Kallimandros Kybiosaktes.
• The people of Damaskos welcome Ptolemaios' army into the city
• Phanagoras Thraikikos, son of Alexandros born.

260 BC

Summer

• Chairas Andriakeios is born
• First Syrian War ends

Autumn

• Kleaineth, daughter of Sosandros born
• Tyrphania, daughter of Leontiskos born

The known world at the end of 260 BC