Results 61 to 90 of 515

Thread: Regional Descriptions: Help the EBII Team

Threaded View

Previous Post Previous Post   Next Post Next Post
  1. #11

    Default Re: Regional Descriptions: Help the EBII Team

    Here's the complete regional description for Aitolia. I reduced some parts but generally due to the loads of historical info available for Hellenic regions, compared to other places, I think it serves its purpose well. Perhaps the descriptions of some events prior to the EB time-frame could be briefer but I will leave that on the team to decide.

    Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 
    Province: Aitolia



    Traveller’s Log:

    Shall the traveller leave the fertile plain of Boiotia and continue towards the direction of the setting sun, that person should find oneself in the land of Aitolia. Aitolia is home to the Phokaeis, the Ozolai Lokroi, the Aitoloi, the Akarnanes and the Dolopes. Any person travelling from Attike, Rhodos, Sikelia or some other place inhabited by proper Hellenes should be warned. Do not be fooled by the similarity of their language to that of the Spartiates or the Korinthioi. They are semi-barbarous people and although some of them live in small poleis, the majority is not accustomed to the civilised life of the polis preferring instead a life similar to that of the barbarous ethne of the north. It has to be stressed however that although the people of this land live a simple and unassuming life, they are fearsome warriors and hard as the land they inhabit. So, these people have recently shown great potential and perseverance. The inhabitants of Aitolia, together with the Malians of southern Thessalia, have formed the now mighty Aitolikon Koinon which rules this rugged land of high mountains, fabled caves and sacred springs.

    The first region under the Aitolikon Koinon one shall encounter on his travels is that of Phokis. Here, on the slopes of Parnassos mountain the Python guarded the Navel of the Earth until Apollo slew him and established his most sacred precinct, that of Delphoi.

    Leaving Delphoi and continuing west across the plain of Krissa, the traveller will reach the land of Ozolia Lokris also known as Esperia Lokris and its people are members of the Aitolikon Koinon. On the western edge of the plain of Krissa the traveller can visit the main polis of the Ozolai Lokroi which is called Amphissa. Beyond Amphissa lies the imposing Aselenon Oros. Continuing on a western or south-western course, the daring traveller would come upon the mountain range of Korax. It is of great height and similar to Aselenon. At this point, the traveller should reach Naupaktos, the main port of Ozolia Lokris.

    After Ozolia Lokris, the traveller will enter the region of Aitolia proper, home of the Aitoloi who are the founders of the Aitolikon Koinon. Aitolia is divided in two parts. The first is Archaia Aitolia, the original home of the Aitoloi and is bounded by the coast to the south, Acheloos river to the west, Euenos river to the east and Thermon to the north. The second is called Aitolia Epiktetos, which signifies that this part was acquired in a later time by the Aitoloi and is exclusively mountainous. The main polis in Aitolia is Thermon. It is one of the most important meeting places of the Aitolikon Koinon and serves as an administrative and religious centre for Aitolia.

    To the north of Aitolia Epiktetos, there are the mountains inhabited by the Dolopes. They are members of the Aitolikon Koinon and their land is no different to the mountains of Aitolia or Ozolia Lokris.

    To the west of Archaia Aitolia, after crossing the river Acheloos the traveller will find himself in Akarnania. The Akarnanes are reluctant members of the Koinon their relationship with the Aitoloi is uneasy as they inhabit one of the most fertile areas of Aitolia which they have to share with the Aitoloi. The main polis of the Akarnanes is that of Stratos situated inland, on the plain of Acheloos.

    Off the coast of Akarnania are several islands of note. The first is Leukas. Formerly a peninsula and part of Akarnania until the Korinthioi dug a canal on the isthmus thus separating Leukas from the coast. Some fifty stadia off Leukas one can find the islands of Kephallenia and Ithake. Kephallenia is a Tetrapolis and its land is mountainous. Ithake is much smaller but equally rugged. Further south, off the coast of Elis is Zakynthos. It is a wooded island with good soil. All these islands are rightly famous as in the past they belonged to the basileus of Ithake, the cunning Odysseus.


    Geography:

    The province of Aitolia roughly corresponds to the modern regional units of Phocis, Evrytania, Aetolia-Acarnania and most of the Ionian Islands.

    Modern Phocis consists of Ozolia Lokris and a part of ancient Phokis. The region is dominated by Mount Parnassus to the east, Mount Giona [ancient Aselenon] in the centre and the south-eastern slopes of Mount Vardousia [ancient Korax] to the west. The mountains are composed of limestone and are full of deep canyons, high cliffs, caves and sinkholes. Little open ground exists and is in the form of uplands that are best suited for pasture. All three mountains are rich in underground water and forested while their highest reaches boast an alpine climate. The region has little to show in the form of plains. That of Krissa is bounded by Giona to the north, Parnassus to the east and the sea to the south. It has good soil and is well suited to agriculture. The second is the alluvial plain of Naupactos and is similar to that of Krissa. In antiquity one river of note is mentioned; Hylaithos [modern Mornos]. Hylainthos flows south into the Corinthian Gulf close to Naupaktos.

    Ancient Akarnania and Aitolia proper form the modern regional unit of Aetolia-Acarnania. The north, north-east, south-east and west are dominated by mountains composed of limestone. These are covered by forests and ravines that render them almost inaccessible. Generally, they present an image similar to that of the mountains of Phocis. The most important are the Acarnanian Mountains to the west and Mount Panaitoliko to the north-east. The main river here is Acheloos flowing from north and into the sea to the south-west. The second river worthy of note is Euenos and flows to east of Acheloos in a roughly parallel course. The coast between Acheloos and Euenos consists of a fertile alluvial plain bounded to the north by a range of hills known in antiquity as Arakynthos. North of these hills the lakes Trichonis and Hyria can be found. Beyond these lakes the second plain of the region is located. Through it flows the river Acheloos. This plain is rich and fertile as well.

    The land of the Dolopes is part of modern Evrytania. It is dominated by Mount Tymphrestos, a southern extension of the Pindus mountain range. It is heavily forested and full of ravines making it difficult to traverse. This is where the springs of Sperchios River are located.

    Off the coast of Aetolia-Acarnania the majority of the Ionian Islands are clustered together. They are mountainous and forested with the exception of Zakynthos, which situated to the south, off the coast of the Peloponnese. It is an island similar to the others albeit with good soil suited to agriculture.


    The People, Society and Government:

    The people of Aitolia are mainly of Doric stock and speak the north-west variant of the Doric dialect. These are the Phokaeis, the Ozolai Lokroi, the Aitoloi, the Akarnanes and the Dolopes.

    The majority of the Phokaeis proper live outside the boundaries of the province of Aitolia are of mixed Achaean and Aeolic stock and speak the Aeolic dialect. They inhabit small poleis situated along both sides of the Kephissos River on the plain located immediately north of Mount Parnassos. However, their most prised possession is Delphoi, found on the western extremity of their country. Contrary to the Phokaeis of the plain, the inhabitants of Delphoi speak the Doric language. The plain of Krissa is suited for growing corn, vines and olive trees. Moreover, the forests of Parnassos are an excellent source of game and provide good upland pastures.

    Immediately west of the plain of Krissa is the land of the Ozolai Lokroi. Their land is mountainous and unproductive although the forests provide excellent game and the uplands are suited for pasture. Their armour and mode of fighting resembles that of the Akarnanes and Aitoloi. Their main polis is Amphissa and their main port is Naupaktos.

    To the west of Ozolia Lokris is the land of Aitolia proper which is divided into Archaia Aitolia and Aitolia Epiktetos. The Aitolia Epiktetos is inhabited by several people, not all of them being Hellenes. The mountains north of Naupaktos, on the border with Lokris, are inhabited by the Apodotoi who are not Hellenes. The Ophioneis live north of the Apodotoi and are divided in two tribes. The Bomies, most of them living around the source of Euenos and the Kallies who are concentrated around their main town, called Kallion. To the north of the Ophioneis dwell the Evrytanes whose language is unintelligible to proper Hellenes. Moreover, it is said that they engage in a cult of Odysseus, having an oracle of the hero in their possession. Each of these people is subdivided in village tribes. The villages they dwell are unfortified and their inhabitants rely on raising livestock, hunting and raiding in order to survive. They are hardy people and masters in the use of the javelin. Northwest Aitolia is inhabited by the Agraioi and the Aperantoi. These people form a single tribe and were governed by a king prior to joining the Aitolikon Koinon. Their way of life resembles that of the people described earlier. The Dolopes live to the north of Aitolia, on the border with Thessaly and are not different to the people already described. Archaia Aitolia is inhabited by the Aitoloi proper whose main town is that of Thermon. It should be noted that Thermon is more of a religious and administrative centre rather than a proper polis like that of Athenai or Korinthos. It is also in this place that the treasures of the leaders of the Aitoloi are deposited. The Aitoloi live on the level part of the country as well as on the mountain slopes and hills. The plains produce excellent corn and are very well suited to horse breeding. In fact, the horses bred here are second only to those of Thessalia. The mountain slopes produce good wine and olive oil.

    The Akarnanes live west of the river Acheloos. Although they inhabit a fertile land with rich soil, very few engage in agriculture. Instead they prefer to use the alluvial plain of Acheloos as pasture for their herds and flocks. Other sources of wealth for the Akarnanes are raiding, piracy and small scale iron mining. Most of them dwell in villages and their main polis is Stratos. They fight as light infantry and are expert slingers. The Akarnanes govern themselves through a confederation of villages and poleis that convened in Stratos. The confederation consisted of a council and the general assembly [ekklesia]. At the head of the league a Strategos [general] was elected, usually a person from the upper classes. The council had a Grammateus [secretary] which must have been a person of importance. There was also an Ierapolos [chief priest] of Apollo which was an office of importance as well. Either the name of the Strategos or Ierapolos was used for official dates in a manner similar to that of the First Archon in Athenai.

    By the 3rd century most of these people were members of the Aitolikon Koinon, a confederation of tribal villages and poleis, founded by the Aitoloi sometime in the 4th century. Other members of the confederation included the Malians of southern Thessalia and later into the Hellenistic Age, city-states located elsewhere in Hellas. The Koinon was a federal organisation governed by a council. Participation in the council was proportional to the contribution of each community to the army of the Koinon. The structure of the council varied with the times. The elected chief executive was called Strategos [general]. Later a second office was added, that of Hipparchos. The Hipparchos was probably second in command and commander of the cavalry. The council also elected one Grammateus [secretary] initially that became two, one senior to the other, in later years. These offices changed in importance as time progressed and there is no clear picture of the hierarchy below the Strategos. The upper echelons of the government were formed by an elite oligarchy, the fundamental governing body, however, was the Ekklesia [assembly]. The Ekklesia convened twice per year. The main place was Thermon in September when the Thermike, a festival with games, took place. The other instance was in spring during the festival of Panaitolike. However, this convention was not fixed to one place, probably to accommodate for the expansion of the Koinon in places away from Aitolia proper. Voting rights were probably given to all freemen above the age of thirty. The Koinon conducted a common foreign policy, raised armies collectively and implemented economic standardisation by using a uniform system of weights and measures, a common currency as well as levying taxes from its members.


    History:

    The people of Aitolia, with the exception of the Phokaeis, enter the historical record in the time of the Peloponnesian Wars.

    The Ozolai Lokroi appear to have promised help to the Athenian general Demosthenes but after his defeat they submitted to the Spartan general Eurylochos. In the 3rd century they are members of the Aitolikon Koinon.

    The Akarnanes after having been deprived of their best ports by settlers from Korinthos desired to ally with Athenai. When Korinthioi settlers from Ambrakia expelled the Aphilochioi from their main polis of Argos Amphilochikon the Akarnanes supported the Amphilochioi in their cause for restoration and sought help from Athenai. The expedition led by Phormion managed to expel the Korinthioi and restore the polis to the Amphilochioi. Following this event, all the Akarnanes became staunch supporters of the Athenian cause apart from the poleis of Oiniadai and Astakos. In 391 BC the Akarnanes found themselves at war with the Achaioi as the latter had captured the polis of Kalydon in Aitolia. The hard-pressed Achaioi asked the Lakedaimonioi for help who sent a force under Agesilaos and laid waste to the country but with no lasting consequences. During the time of Alexandros the Aitoloi had managed to conquer most of Akarnania. As a result, the Akarnanes allied themselves with the Makedones until their submission to the Romans after the latter’s victory at Kynoskephalai. In 191 BC, Antiochos of Syria invaded Hellas and the Akarnanes were persuaded to join him by their countryman Mnasilochos. When Antiochos was defeated, Akarnania passed again under Roman control. It is not certain whether Akarnania was part of Achaea or Epeirus at the time Hellas became a Roman province. It is, however, mentioned later as part of Epeirus. Emperor Avgvstvs moved the inhabitants of many towns to the city of Nikopolis, founded after the battle of Aktion. Strabo describes the region, in his time, as exhausted and worn.

    The Aitoloi did not get involved in the First Peloponnesian War until their country was attacked by the Athenaioi under Demosthenes in 455 BC. As a result of this hostile action they decided to support the Lakedaimonioi. Earlier that year the Athenaioi had settled the Messenioi in Naupaktos and the latter found themselves under constant harassing and raiding from the Aitoloi. Hence, they managed to persuade General Demosthenes to assist them in subduing the Evrytanes, Ophioneis and Apodotoi. Demosthenes set out from Naupaktos with a considerable force but did not manage to cover much ground before coming under attack from the entire force of the Aitoloi near the town of Aigition. The hoplites of the Athenaioi found themselves at a great disadvantage fighting light troops on broken terrain. Furthermore, Demosthenes had few light infantry of his own and could not counter the attacks of the Aitoloi. In the end, the expeditionary force was wholly defeated and routed. Shortly afterwards, the Aitoloi joined the Lakedaimonioi under Eurylochos on their attack against Naupaktos. Demosthenes managed to hold them off with difficulty greatly helped by the assistance provided by the Akarnanes. Thus ends the involvement of the Aitoloi in the Peloponnesian Wars apart from some serving as mercenaries under the Athenaioi in Sikelia. Until the rise of Makedon there is barely any record of the Aitoloi. During this period there must have been frequent hostilities between them and the Akarnanes.

    After the death of Alexandros, in 323 BC, the Aitoloi participated in the Lamian War on the side of the Hellenes against the Makedones. The Hellenes were eventually defeated at Krannon in 322 BC. After making peace with Athenai, Antipatros and Krateros assembled a large army and invaded Aitolia. The Aitoloi instead of confronting the Makedones withdrew in the mountains until the Makedones were forced to retire in order to march against Perdikkas. In the following wars the contenders to the throne of Makedon actively sought an alliance with the Aitoloi due to the latter’s renowned bravery and ferocity in battle. In this manner begun the lasting influence of the Aitoloi in the politics of Hellas and beyond. Their reputation further increased during the invasion of the Keltoi in 279 BC. In the army assembled at Thermopylai the Aitoloi participated with the largest contingent and it was them that bore the brunt of the fighting against the invaders. Moreover, they were the ones to drive back the Galatai who invaded their homeland and sacked Kallion committing many atrocities. Furthermore, they were instrumental in defending the Oracle of Delphoi when attacked by the Galatai. To commemorate these achievements dedicated statues and trophies to the Sanctuary of Delphoi.

    After the expulsion of the Galatai from Hellas the Aitoloi have come to be regarded as one of the three most powerful states in Hellas, the others being Makedonia and Achaia. The Aitoloi, similarly to the Achaioi, were a federal state. The Aitolikon Koinon was propably formed sometime in the 4th century, perhaps during the time of Phillipos, the father of Alexandros, as hinted by an inscription on the statue of Aitolos found in Thermon as well as from the cession of Naupaktos to the Aitoloi by Philippos. The Koinon, however, was probably formalised during the invasion of their homeland by Krateros and Antipatros as a measure of defending their lands against invaders. After defeating the Galatai, the Aitoloi returned to their casual habits which included raiding and probably piracy as well. As a result, their previous dubious reputation persisted despite their recently acquired glory.

    By 220 BC the Aitolikon Koinon was at the height of its power exerting control over southern Thessalia and Epeiros, Boiotia, controlled Delphoi as well as the Amphictyonic Assemly. Furthermore, its alliances included the island of Kephallonia in the Ionian Sea, several poleis in the Peloponnesos as well as in Mikra Asia. In that year the Aitoloi invaded Messenia starting a war with the Achaioi that came to be known as the Social War. Philippos of Makedonia, having taken the side of the Achaioi, invaded Aitolia in 218 BC and in a lightning march took Thermon by surprise. The polis was sacked, deprived of all its riches and then set to fire. Philippos preserved the statues of the gods but burned the temples to retaliate for the sack of Dion and Dodone by the Aitoloi. The Social War concluded in 217 BC. In 211 BC the Aitoloi declared war on Makedonia again, this time with the support of the Romans with whom they had formed an alliance. The Romans however were too occupied with Hannibal in Italy and could not afford to assist the Aitoloi. Philippos marched again into Aitolia and reoccupied Thermon. Eventually, the demoralised Aitoloi concluded peace with Philippos in 205 BC. This treaty was followed by a peace treaty between Phillipos and the Romans. Hostilities between Philippos and the Romans resumed in 200 BC. The Aitoloi remained neutral until the success of General Galba led them to join the Roman side. They fought with the Romans against the Makedones in the battle of Kynoskephalai with a contingent of cavalry which proved instrumental in defeating Philippos.

    The Romans settled their affairs in Hellas in a manner that left much to be desired by the Aitoloi. Hence, they invited Antiochos of Syria as soon as Flaminivs departed Hellas. This led to a war between the basileus Antiochos and the Romans which ended by the defeat of the former in Thermopylai in 191 BC. The Aitoloi managed to obtain a truce with the Romans but resumed the hostilities as soon as they learned of the successes of Antiochos in Mikra Asia. Consul Marcvs Fvlvivs Nobilior crossed over to Aitolia and laid siege to Ambrakia, one of the strongest poleis of the Koinon. Antiochos was eventually defeated by the Romans in the battle of Magnesia and the Aitoloi pleaded for peace. This time, peace was only obtained at the price of their independence and were reduced to vassals of Rome. After the Romans subdued Makedonia in 167 BC, the Roman party of the Aitoloi with the assistance of Roman soldiers assaulted and massacred around 550 members of the opposition while others were sent to Italy as prisoners. After this event the Koinon was formally dissolved. In the following years Aitolia was included in the province of Achaea although it not known for sure when that happened. As in Akarnania, several poleis were deserted and their inhabitants were moved by Emperor Avgvstvs to Nikopolis. Strabo describes Aitolia after the Roman conquest as a desolate country similar to the state of Akarnania. In later years Roman presence remained minimal and was constricted to the coast were the only road was found. The inhabitants of the interior continued their lives in a manner similar to that of the past centuries.


    Strategy:

    Aitolia’s mountainous terrain render it inaccessible by land for the most part leaving only small corridors suited to the free movement of armies. These access points are the Gulf of Ambrakia to the north, the Delphoi Pass to the east and Antirrhion on the coast which controls the passage to the Peloponnese. As a result it is an easily defensible province, suited to ambushes and can serve as a base from which attacks can be staged to neighbouring enemies. Despite its military advantages, however, it is poor and one cannot expect much economic benefits.
    sigpic67170_1.gif

    Members thankful for this post (6):



Bookmarks

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •  
Single Sign On provided by vBSSO