The Rebirth of the Greeks: A Syracuse AAR

[seleucid empire]

Hello Im going to write this mini AAR before i go back to my Seleucid one. This is KH as Syracuse on H/M. I just went off to a bad start so i mite start writing this tomorrow. I had a shocking game just then were i got all of my FMs and army on the ships but then the Macedonians, Seleucid and a random Pirate fleet attacked my fleet and sunk it killing all my FMs and ending my campaign right there >.<

[seleucid empire]

Prologue: A desperate Decision

Akrotatos, Prince of Sparta, stood at the bow of the ship, watching the high walls of Syracuse come ever closer. What had lead them here he wondered. How could his father agree to this plan? To abandon Sparta? Those untrustworthy Athenians were part of it he thought. Those Rhodians too. He looked back towards the deck where his father Areus was discussing his battle plans with the Athenian statesman Chremonides. It had been several months since he had heard the news. All of Sparta and Athens was to be evacuated and the combined army to sail away to Syracuse. Akrotatos had been in shock. To abandon the ancient city and begin a new life in Siciy alongside these Athenians? The plan sounded ludicrous. Yet here they were, approaching Syracuse where they were to be find a new life, or death beneath its walls. Tomorrow they would land, and the future of all Greeks would rest on the shoulders of 25 000 brave men

The young prince sighed wearily and withdrew to his cabin to rest. Akrotatos would need his all of his strength for the days ahead

[Bob Doad]

cool

[seleucid empire]

Chapter 1: The City of Archias
Syracuse in the year 268 BC (click to enlarge)

Akrotatos stopped for a moment to rest. He didnt know where he was going, he just needed a quiet place to think and to get away from the squabbling which was happening in the Ortygia, the fortress of the tyrants. The Athenians and Spartans were squabbling over their areas of jurisdiction again. Even before they had captured Syracuse, they had begun to argue over who would control the city. The Spartans wanted their old Oligarchical government while the Athenians naturally argued for a democracy. In the end it was decided that a council would be formed consisting of the most powerful Athenians and Spartans, including the 5 Spartan ephors and the two Kings. The Council would make the decisions of the alliance. The Athenians got administrative power and the Spartan Kings would be dual commander-in-chiefs of the army. Akrotatos forgot what they were arguing about today.

The siege of the city itself took two long years. The Syracusans refused to engage the Spartans on the field and often launched raids into the Athenian camp. The combined Athenian and Rhodian Navy lead by the seasoned admiral Nikandros destroyed the Syracusan fleet and blockaded the city near the end of the siege. It was in the finals months before the end of the siege that Areus and Akrotatos had received the message. Sparta had fallen. Akrotatos had secretly wept and and wondered if he would ever see his home again. The final battle was a massacre. The hungry and dispirited Syracusans charged out of the city numbering 10 000 and were routed by a counter charge from the Spartans. The city wasn't looted and the Syracusan population peacefully received the Spartans and Athenians. However, the inhabitants of the cities surrounding Syracuse didn't Surrender so the Athenians dispatched 6 000 men to conquer the rest of the cities in Trinakrie. After the cities submitted, Areus established the old system of Helots. The enslaved Greeks from Trinakrie were put to work on the fields to support the army. This move shocked the Athenians who reprimanded the Spartans for enslaving other Greeks. However, Areus and Akrotatos convinced the council that their army needed to be ready and they would need it in the very near future.

"Akrotatos!", a voice distracted the prince from his thoughts. He looked up to see his friend and comrade Kleomonos running towards him
"What is wrong?" he asked?
"The King sent me. You are needed in the War council immediately"
'War council? What had happened now?' he thought. But this news renewed his spirits. He was a Spartan after all. Battle was his call and he knew that if they were at war with someone else, they would at least stop fighting each other. With a new determination, he marched quickly back towards Ortygia

[seleucid empire]

Chapter 2: A Rock between two Boulders
The chamber of war was filled completely by the time Akrotatos arrived. The most important men from both Athens and Sparta were all here. Areus looked up as his son arrived and gestured for him to take a seat around the main table. Areus began to speak

"I have called you all here to discuss our invasion of Western Sicily"

The room erupted with cries of protest, panic and confusion. Akrotatos was taken aback. They had only just conquered Trinakrie and he also recalled that Western Sicily was in the hands of the powerful Carthaginian Empire. Areus called for silence.

"I do realize most of you will be uncomfortable with this decision as this is clearly an act of war against Carthage"
"Why must we declare war on them?" asked a Athenian politician

It was not Areus but Chremonides who answered, "The Greeks in Sicily and the Carthaginians have always been at war."
"Thats no reason to begin one now, when we havent even consolidated our rule over Trinakrie yet" replied the other Athenian
"No it isnt" Chremonides calmly replied," but that doesnt mean war wont come to us. Let me explain further. As some of you may know, we have recently received envoys from two of the most powerful states in the Western Mediterranean, Carthage and Rome. Now these empires are officially allies. However, recently the Romans have won the war against Pyhrrus and the Carthaginians have agreed to a peace treaty with the Numudians. Conflict between these two empires is inevitable. Their battleground will be Sicily."

The room became deathly silent

Chremonides continued, "Both of these empires sent a proposal for trade rights and more importantly, a military alliance. What they really want is as a buffer against the other empire. We stand right between the Carthaginians and the Romans. If they go to war, we will have to declare our allegiance to one side. We cant remain neutral or they will both turn on us. And if we support either party and we lose then we lose our independence. Similarly, if the empire we support wins then they will own 2/3rds of Sicily and eventually we will become but a vassal. So what we really need to do is prevent the two empires from going to war. To do this, we must rid the Carthaginian presence in Sicily and prevent a clash on the island. Now i know that means a direct confrontation with Carthage, however their presence in Sicily is weak right now, their garrisons have been shipped back to Africa and Iberia to face the barbarian incursions. I believe if we take Lilybaeum, they will not be able to muster a counterattack in Sicily before we build our defenses up."

Akrotatos could see that Chremonides' speech had swayed most in the room. The only question left was who would lead to the expedition. A question which Areus was quick to answer.
"My son Akrotatos should lead the force"

Akrotatos felt every gaze in the room fall on him
The Athenian who spoke earlier replied,"What makes you think this 'boy' has the capabilities to lead the army, and against such a powerful enemy aswell?"

"Well, Im sure you've heard of the late Pyhrrus of Epiros? The Greatest Greek general of our time? And im sure you heard he came to Sparta, with 20 000 men, intent on taking the city while i was campaigning in Crete. My son lead the defense in my stead. Outnumbered 10 to 1 he held off Pyhrrus until I returned. Now who else among you can claim to have bested Pyhrrus?"

There were no further objections. The council was dismissed and Akrotatos pondered his father's decision. Was he ready to lead the Greeks to glorious victory or would he fail and cause the destruction of his people?
'Stop worrying" he said to himself,"your acting like an Athenian"

[seleucid empire]

Chapter 3: The Road to Lilybaeum
The long column of men marched slowly. From the distance it looked like a long winding snake. It was too disorganized thought Akrotatos. If the Carthaginians set up an ambush they would be completely destroyed. The Greek army was only 3 days away from the Greek-Carthaginian border and Akrotatos had sent his friend Kleomonos and a few Spartiates ahead to scout for any Carthaginian forces. He turned to another comrade Nikieus and commanded, "Issue the order, we make camp here tonight and make sure the Athenians and Spartans are separated, i don't want anymore brawls happening"

Akrotatos silently cursed Doros Attikos. While Akrotatos was preparing the Spartans to march, Chremonides had convinced the council to send the Athenian forces in the expedition as well with his son Doros as their leader. Both Areus and Akrotatos knew that the Athenian army was only there to make sure the Spartans shared control of the city once it was conquered. However the Athenians did send a sizable force with 800 elite hoplites under Doros as well as 1 600 peltasts and 1 600 well armed hoplites. Akrotatos would make sure they were put to good use.

Doros Attikos

In the distance he saw four horsemen approaching their position. Kleomonos had finally returned
"What news", asked Akrotatos when his friend had dismounted
"There were no forces along the road so we socuted all the way to Lilybaeum itself. The city has only a garrison of 6 000 men but the Carthaginians are shipping more men every day. Maybe they are aware of our plan to surprise them."

Akrotatos thought for a moment. Then he ordered the camp preparations to stop and to begin marching again. There was enough light for a few more hours of marching...