Chapter 2: The First Syrian War.
271:
Spring- Ptolemy II marches his forces into Koile Syria in the spring of 271. Sacking towns and villages along his path he heads north, towards the regional capital of Damaskos.
The Ptolemaioi Navy, under the command of Admiral Naukrates begins the patroling of Syrian waters.
Summer- Ptolemy II's army arrives outside Damaskos in the Summer of 271. He settles down to begin the siege when he is informed by his Spymaster Ploutos Salaminios of willing citizens of the city ready to open the gates for his men in return for promises of his that the armies of Aegypt would not pillage the city, and the citizens would be free from being passed under the yoke.
Ptolemy, the second to bear that name, peered at the ageing man acrossed the desk from him. "They will open the gates? he said."You are sure this is no trick?"
The man nodded. "For assurances of their freedom and the safty of the city they will open the gates. I cannot be positive, but i am fairly sure they mean what they say. There has been no word of a Seleukid army being sent in relief. They know the city is going to fall, they wish to save their families."
Ptolemy sat down the scroll he was reading and smiled at his Spymaster. "By the gods Ploutos this is Tyche smiling on us. Send word to them, i will spare any who raise no weapons against us, and the city will not be pillaged, it will become the capital of Koile Syria, the seat of the Ptolemaic governor."
Two days later Ptolemy lined up his men at the eastern and southern gates of the city, and too his immense pleasure he found them open.
To the east Ptolemy sent his Jewish Taxies along with his Machimoi Cavalry.
THe southern gate he commanded his Phalangitai forward where they met the Jewish soldiers under Seleukid employ.
At the eastern gate the Ioudaioi taxies of Ptolemy were confronted by those citizens within the city still loyal to their Seleukid masters.
With the Eastern gate taken Ptolemy led his Companions around and took the Jewish Mercenaries of the Seleukids in the rear.
Already faltering, they routed and were quickly cut down to the man.
The Ioudaioi under Ptolemy arrived at the city center and engaged the Seleukid Phalangitai garrison.
The Phalangitai under Ptolemy marched into the city and took the Seleukid garrison in the flank.
After some tough fighting the enemy General was slain.
Seeing their General fall the rest of the garrison routed or surrendered.
The city and Koile Syria was in the hands of Ptolemy II.
Ptolemy kept his word and spared any who stayed out of the fighting. He garrisoned his men in the Barracks and began to police the city the same as Ptolemaic Troops did in any other city of the empire. A week after the capture of the city news arrived of a small army approaching from the Mabatu Town of Bostra. Ptolemy couldn't risk letting the Nabatu to get up the nerve to attack Ptolemaic lands. So he sent Ploutos to the south with orders to find what was going on.
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