The Annals of the Yervanduni Dynasty: A Haikakan AAR

[J.R.M]

Ok nice update, seems those Epirots and Romans wiill meet again soon.
An wacth out for those Sauromataes!

[the man with no name]

Nice world history chapter. Can't wait for more.

[Brave Brave Sir Robin]

Yeah just started a Hai campaign today though I did it a bit differently. Ignored Seleukids and instead took the Caucasian provinces though this will surely provoke the Sauromatae. Only about 5 years in and I now own 4 provinces, moving to take Atropatene currently though no doubt this will cause the Seleucids to invade. Oh well, I need an excuse to invade anyway.

Oh, and from past experience from an older Hai campaign which I accidently saved over....Sauromatae are tough. Their archers outrange yours and your lightly armed spearmen will be slaughtered in droves. Build stone walls if they start raiding. Thats really all you can do actually...

[Epimetheus]

Ignoring the Seleukids as Hayasdan is a much safer way to go usually, but this time I wanted to try something a bit different. I am genuinely surprised, though, how little attention the Seleukids have been paying to me since the ceasefire in 271. Over a decade in and they haven't really bothered me yet. They extort money from me every now and then, but little else so far. The Sauromatae are part of why it's taking so long for the next update, but it should be ready in a day or so.

[Epimetheus]

Chapter V: An Unlikely Alliance



Samus was coronated soon after his foster-father's death, just after the new year began[260 BC]. Almost immediately he was confronted with a host of problems. Seleukos II Eupator, having returned from his Anabasis, was massing his troops along Hayk's eastern border. Then, just when they looked as though they were going to invade, as though by the grace of Anahit, his army turned back. Ptolemaios Philadelphos had once again invaded Syria, sparking the second Syrian War. This forced Seleukos Eupator to give up on all expansionist objectives for the time being.



Despite this stroke of good fortune, Samus did not let his guard down. He knew all to well that the kingdom of Metz Hayk' could easily get drawn into the conflict. Samus decided to establish permanent town garrisons in Metz Hayk' and Dsopk' in order to better protect them in case of Seleukid attack, and to allay the fears of the citizens. Ordinarily, the Nakharars would have balked at the suggestion permanent garrisons under the Arkah's control, however, most of them understood the necessity of them, and assumed that they would be disbanded once the danger had passed.



The greatest threat to the Caucasus, however, came not from the South, but from the North. The Sarmatian tribes of the steppes had united under the banner of their great king, Äluton. Less than a year after Samus assumed the throne[259 BC], Äluton led a massive army over the Caucasus.



The ancient Georgian kingdom of Kolkhis fell first. However, Kartli, which had only recently united under their first king, Pharnavaz, put up a much fiercer resistance. Samus debated with the nobles about whether to send them aid or not. The consensus was against the Georgians. They had allied themselves with the Seleukids many years ago, and had often fought border skirmishes with the Hayk'. In fact, many would have been quite glad if the Sarmatians wiped them out. Samus himself was in favor of sending aid. Being from Dsopk', he did not have as much of a personal grudge against them, and was for more concerned with what Äluton would do once he conquered Kartli. However, in the end he conceded to the judgement of the nobles.



Samus doubted that Äluton would be content with just a foothold in the Caucasus. Samus could deal with Georgians, he could even deal with his hated foes, the Seleukids, but Äluton was another matter. He had heard rumors of the man from Greek traders. Supposedly he had massacred the Greek colonies of Tanais and Olbia on the northern shores of the Pontos Euxeinos. He had so far ignored the Bosporan Kingdom, and it was said that Pairisades, the Bosporan king, was paying inordinate amounts of tribute to Äluton, hoping to buy him off, and so far, it had worked. Because of this, many Haikakan nobles believed that he could be bought off, but Samus had knew better. While prosperity had indeed come to Hayk', true riches had not. And even if they had, throwing meat to a wolf would only make him hungry for more.



After several months of bitter guerilla warfare, Pharnavaz finally fell to Äluton in battle, and Kartli was taken. Without even stopping for breath, Äluton's army continued it's march South, ignoring any and all attempts at negotiation. Within days, he would reach the Haikakan capital of Armavir. As Samus did what he could to ready the city's defenses, reinforcements arrived from a surprising source. Pharnavaz's 16 year old son, Saurmag, who had fled Kartli with about three thousand men, what was left of his fathers army.



As the bulk of his men waited outside the city, Saurmag was brought before Samus in his small palace. To everyone's surprise he kneeled before Samus' throne with his face pressed to the floor, an ancient gesture once given to the Persian king of kings. It is said that Samus was so shocked by this display of humility that it took several moments before realized that he had to tell Saurmag to raise his head.

"O Samus, great Arkah of the Hai. For many years the sons of Kartlos and Hayk have fought each other. Your people have always fought valiantly and well, and I was raised on tales of heroic battles fought by our forefathers against each other. I have heard tales of the brave Yervand, who won your people's freedom and twice defeated the armies of Antiochos, and of you, Samus, and your deeds of valor in uniting your people. While we may have been foes, I have always held the greatest respect for you and your late father.

We have been attacked by the savage nomads to the North, and now, my father, Pharnavaz, king of Kartli, and my grandfather, Kuji, lord of Egrisi, have both fallen, and our kingdom is lost. We have forsaken our honor and fled our lands in the hope that together with you, great Arkah, we might end this scourge in the Caucasus, and so that I might avenge my family. I ask for nothing more than to allow me to fight beside you."

Samus is then said to have stood up and walked over to the man, who was little more than a boy, and placed his hand on his shoulder.

"Rise, son of Pharnavaz. No prince as noble as you, who has gone through such hardship and suffered such dishonor so young, should bow before me. I have done nothing to be worthy of such praise from you. I did not send you aid when your father was attacked, as I should have. Having met you, I know that I will carry the burden of that shame until the end of my days. If you will fight by my side in the coming battle, then I swear by Mihr that I will do everything in my power to free your people and restore your throne. And if we are victorious, then let there never again be another war between our peoples. Let sword of Kartlos always be ready to fight for the Hai, and let the bow of Hayk forever serve in defense of the Vir."



It is said that Saurmag's humility and respect won over not only Samus, but most of the Hai nobles present as well. While a few remained antagonistic towards him, the bulk of them, following the Arkah's example, offered Saurmag their condolences and support, and some began speaking of a new era of peace and prosperity across the Caucasus. Samus reminded them that such a dream could not be realized until Äluton was defeated and the Sarmatians driven back to the steppes. Until that day came, he said they should have no other thoughts in their mind, save achieving that victory, for Äluton was coming, and all hands were needed to fight the oncoming scourge.



Next: The Iberian War

[artavazd]

very nice. FUN FACT: The Pathriarch of Georgians who is Kartlos, and the Pathriarch of Armenians who is Hayk/Haik are brothers. They are sons of Torgom. Mythology/fable and science actualy connect on this one, because geneticaly Armenians and Georgians are very close


Haik (Հայք) - first son of Togarmah, inherited Mount Ararat and founded the Armenian nation.
Kartlos (ქართლოსი) - settled in north-east from Ararat, founder of Kartli (Sa'kartvelo) who united other brothers and founded the Georgian nation.
Bardos
Movakos (Movkans)
Lekos (Lek) - settled in Caucasus Mountains
Heros (Herans)- settled in the eastern part of Ararat
Caucas (Kovkases) - settled beyond the Caucasus Range
Egros (Egers) - settled between the Black Sea and Likhi Range. (western Georgia)

[Epimetheus]

During the research I've been doing for this AAR, I did come across the "sons of Torgom" fable. I'm thinking about referencing it whenever I get around to having the "Pan-Caucasus Empire Reform" kick in.